How can I Earn my BSN Degree online?

by meeta on May 5, 2012

Earning your BSN degree offers you the chance to become a leader in the nursing industry or enter the world of nurse management and training. However, before you can do that, you will need to have the education necessary to earn your credentials. How do you go about earning a degree from a BSN school?

Find a School

The first step to getting your degree is to find the right school. Nursing schools differ significantly from one another. You will find private schools, public schools, distance learning programs and more. Make sure the program you choose is a good fit for your needs, both academically and financially. Check the school’s wait time for new enrollment, their tuition costs and student to teacher ratio. There is tremendous opportunity in choosing an Online program over a traditional on-campus program as these provide flexibility to work in parallel to taking the BSN.

Enroll

The next step, obviously, is to enroll in the BSN school of your choice. However, this might be easier said than done. Quite a few schools have rather lengthy wait times due to high enrollment. Before you decide on a school, make sure you won’t have to wait to get your education. Consider the opportunity cost associated with waiting for  an enrollment. If you can speed up the return on investing in an RN to BSN program by starting and finishing in a timely manner, you will definitely be ahead of your game.

Earn Your Bachelor’s Degree

Once you’re enrolled in the school of your choice, you can set about earning your bachelor’s degree. Many factors determine the length of your study program, but in most cases, an online degree program can help you cut down on the length of time you spend in school.

The process for earning your degree is relatively straightforward. However, that does not mean it’s simple and easy. You need to be dedicated to getting your degree and advancing your career. You also need to ensure that you’ve made the right choice in schools. For help in reducing your enrollment period, consider attending a school that offers an online program.

To learn more about Online BSN degree programs, contact Unitek College, a nationally accredited industry leader in providing career training through programs such as Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN Program), Registered Nursing (RN) and  Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN). To learn more about Unitek College and the programs we offer at each of our campuses, visit http://www.unitekcollege.edu or call 888-735-4355.

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Top 5 Nursing Web Resources

by admin on January 13, 2012

I’ve checked out a lot of websites and web resources which focus on health care, nurse news and job information and there are a few tried and true ones that I have come to depend upon. I thought I’d share this information with you as you pursue your RN to BSN degree. When you know where to look for information, it helps with time management and these sites can become a valuable friend.

1) Scrubsmag.com – I don’t know how many times I’ve used this resource for finding information for this blog. From valuable interview skills to surviving nursing school to interacting with patients, this site has a ton of great information. I also love the sense of humor it brings to an otherwise stressful or frustrating occupation. Its people in the know writing to their peers.

2) NurseZone.com – This site is also perfect for getting job finding tips, locating nursing conferences and events and for getting the latest online nursing news. It’s quite a bit more serious and cut and dry than Scrubs Magazine, but it has a ton of practical information for current nurses and for those who are just entering the field.

3) FierceHealthcare.com – Want to know the latest news stories in health care? This is an in depth site that also sends out daily posts on the top stories. I check this site almost daily to report to you on the most current trends, strikes and reports that impact nurses and those in the medical field.

4) Google Alerts – I discovered this great tool when I started blogging. Type in Google.com/alerts and you can get up to the moment stories on whatever topic you are interested in. You can choose how often, what time of day and what media you want sent to your e-mail address. I’ve selected topics such as RN to BSN news, nursing news, etc. but it would also be perfect for San Francisco nursing jobs, BSN jobs, etc. to keep you updated on the nursing world.

5) Bls.gov – Okay, this one may seem a little lame, but the government’s reports concerning the Bureau of Labor Statistics is pretty cool if you want to keep tabs on where nurses make the most money, what the job market projections look like and where the most job growth is.

So those are my favorite sites to stay up-to-date on the nursing world. Hopefully as a student getting an online RN to BSN degree, you’ll find this information as valuable as I have.

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The Special Role of a Hospice Nurse

January 11, 2012

I had a dear friend of mine battle cancer for three years before the disease took her life. I had the honor of staying with her when her husband had errands to run and I took her to some of her doctor’s appointments and tried to get her mind off of the pain for a [...]

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Health Coaches New Role for Nurses

January 9, 2012

The longer I write this blog, the more amazed I am at the variety of options there are out there for nurses with an RN to BSN degree. I’ve come across a ton of specialties from oncology to pediatrics to gerontology to insurance advisors and now there is a new one that has caught my [...]

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Health Care and Business Collaboratives Reduce Costs and Improve Patient Care

January 6, 2012

We’ve all heard that high administrative and medical costs are greatly effecting hospitals causing higher nurse-to-patient ratios, a decline in patient care, and various cutbacks. However, there is a new plan that cuts costs AND can improve patient care. This system may even help nurses with a BSN degree on the job. Harris Meyer writes [...]

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Avoiding Compassion Fatigue

January 4, 2012

Nursing is a demanding field. Not only do you have to care for the physical needs of your patient but also the emotional stress they carry along with the family members who are concerned for their loved one. Caring for the heart, mind and soul is just as important as caring for the body. With [...]

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How to Study More Effectively

January 2, 2012

It’s a brand new year and there is nothing as refreshing as starting over with a clean slate. Whether you were dwelling on failed diets, dust covered exercise equipment or a stack of bills as high as the Empire State Building, there is something wonderful about the beginning of a New Year and the possibilities [...]

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BSN Nurses are Taking Over the World

December 30, 2011

Well, maybe BSN nurses aren’t taking over the world, but they are sure going back to school in droves and making a difference in countless patient lives. The word is out that there is a nursing shortage and many are heeding the call to help those with ailing health. Now more than ever is the [...]

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Latex Gloves Aren’t Impenetrable; Hand Washing is Vital

December 28, 2011

Latex gloves are as much of a part of a nurses’ uniform as wearing comfortable scrubs and white tennis shoes. They feel like an impenetrable wall between you and the germs and fluids that may make you terribly ill. However, this false security is causing many patients to contract infections. Here is what students in [...]

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Partnership for Patients Initiative to Improve Patient Care

December 26, 2011

One of the best ways to study is with a fellow nursing student to share experiences, knowledge and accountability. Now the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is doing something similar by having bigger hospitals with high patient care ratings share their methods for success with struggling hospitals. This could create better working [...]

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