Degrees in Nursing Education

Nursing education consists of the theoretical and practical training offered to nursing staff with the purpose to prepare them for their duties as health care experts. This knowledge is offered to nursing staff by experienced nursing staff and other medical professionals who have qualified for educational tasks. Most countries offer nursing education programs that can be relevant to general nursing or to specialized areas including mental health nursing, pediatric medical and post-operatory nursing. Courses leading to an autonomous registration as a nurse typically last four years. Nursing education also provides post-qualification programs in specialist subjects within nursing.

Among health professional teachers, justifications continue about the ideal balance of realistic planning and the need to inform the future specialist to handle medical care and to have a wider view of the practice. To meet both requirements, nursing education and learning is designed to create a long term student who can adjust successfully to changes in both the concept and practice of nursing. An associate degree in nursing often is the entry-level certification for RNs. Their clinical work in two-year programs allows them to sit for the same licensure examination as nursing staff with four-year degrees.

The difference is in the training. Bachelor’s level courses include classes on such topics as management or leadership, along with more specialized training in areas like public or behavior wellness. Nationally, 60% of all nurse candidates in 2011 did not have bachelor’s degrees, according to an April 2013 report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Solutions Administration. In Michigan, approximately 42 % of RNs had affiliate degrees, while 46 % organized bachelor’s qualifications, according to a 2014 survey by the Michigan Center for Nursing, a project of the charitable Michigan Health Authorities.

The share of RNs holding master’s degrees in nursing was about 9% in the same study. Fewer than 1 % obtained doctorates in nursing.

National League for Nursing Accelerating to Practice

The National League for Nursing (NLN) declared the release of an important effort of the NLN Center for Academic and Clinical Transitions. The center is reinforced by grants from Laerdal Medical, the innovator in healthcare education and learning equipment, and Wolters Kluwer Health, publishers of Lippincott nursing content. This unique collaboration of not-for-profit and private businesses will create collaborative programs to better prepare nursing staff for the progressively complex requirements of nursing practice.

“The requirements placed on modern practicing nursing staff are accelerating, with more sick sufferers, more complex treatments and digital medical records all including new levels of complexity to basic nursing proper care,” said Beverly Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN, CEO of the NLN. “This center will build a link between those providing nursing education and learning and those guiding nursing staff in practice. Together, we can create the solutions and resources modern learners need to succeed in this challenging field.” National League for Nursing President Judith Halstead, PhD, RN, FAAN, ANEF declared that the NLN Center’s first program, Accelerating to Practice, will focus on building relationships to enhance the conversion of new nursing staff from education and learning to practice.

A team of major health professional teachers and medical center nursing directors will draw on active research to determine the specific capabilities that new nursing staff need to ensure job success. Then, together with Laerdal Medical and Wolters Kluwer Health, the National League for Nursing will create an Accelerating to Practice system programs and material, which will be available for adopting and execution by 2015.  Wolters Kluwer Health and Laerdal Medical have previously joined on items that incorporate digital health records learning resources with individual cases and manikin simulator, helping learners master the skills of patient history presentation, individual care and follow up certification. The incorporated items link to Lippincott books, referrals and e-Learning material, to enhance clinical knowledge and verdict and create interesting student experiences.

The Accelerating to Practice working group includes experts from many of the country’s major nursing educational institutions, academic health techniques and community health techniques. Founded in 1893, the NLN offers staff development programs, social media opportunities, examining services, nursing research grants and public policy projects to its 38,000 members and 1,200 institutional members across the variety of nursing education and learning.