One of the great things about a career in nursing is that there are different levels of nursing, and this is true in all types of nursing, be it obstetrics nursing or geriatric nursing. The three most common levels are Certified Nurse’s Assistant (CNA), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and Registered Nurse (RN).

Becoming a CNA is the easiest of the three. Training usually lasts anywhere from a week to a few months. CNAs work directly under the supervision of an RN, and they are expected to do much of the physical care of patients. Truth be told, this is the most hands-on side of nursing, and many of the aspects of being a CNA are not pretty. However, because CNAs are in such high demand, their salaries are on the rise.

That means it may be of interest to those seeking LPN or RN degrees to first become CNAs. Doing so will give you a job while you work your way through your more advanced degrees. More importantly, it will give you experience, which will look great on your applications to nursing school and on your resume.

The key to affording any kind of school is to work to put yourself through. Even if you only work part-time, that will help cover some of the costs. 

Loans are also a viable option, primarily because student loans in the United States tend to have very low interest rates. That means you can afford to take out loans to help you get through school. Just remember that it is best to take out the smallest amount possible and supplement the rest through working hard. Keep in mind that loans aren’t free. You’re going to have to pay the money back, with interest. 

As you choose a school, be smart. Look at the cost of tuition. Pay attention to the cost of living for the area where the school is located. Find out how the degrees compare to other nursing degrees from different institutions. Be sure to factor in all these costs as you look at the total cost of the university.

While it is possible to earn your CNA degree then work towards an RN degree, you should do the math and see if that is the best situation for you. Many states have very affordable local colleges or community colleges where you can earn your LPN. If you live in an area with community colleges nearby, consider attending one for two years, then transfer your credits to a four-year institution. 

If you work hard and play your cards right, it should be very possible for you to earn a nursing degree. With nurses and nursing assistants in such high demand, particularly in the field of geriatric nursing, now is the time to earn a degree.

Technorati Tags: geriatric nursing, nursing school

What Do Obama and McCain Have to Say About Long-term Care?

Both candidates favor home-based care for the elderly. This seems obvious as the Baby Boomers make up the majority of the voters in America, and both candidates are naturally catering to the likely voters. But what does home-based care mean for people interested in geriatric nursing?

It all boils down to numbers. When seniors are taken care of in a home or center there are fewer nurses and other caretakers needed because they can monitor numerous people at one time. However, when patients are residing in their own residences, it is less efficient for nurses to care for them. That means there will need to be even more geriatric nurses to care for the elderly who are residing in their own homes.

This prospect is excellent news for anybody in the field or planning to be in the field. Of course, it also means that if there are not enough geriatric nurses that many seniors of America will not get the care they need. However, if the demands for geriatric nurses are met, then the care the seniors receive will be far superior to what they generally receive in a nursing home or other residential facility.

Technorati Tags: geriatric nursing

Technorati Tags: geriatric nursing

There is a general shortage of nurses in the United States right now. That shortage is attributed to a variety of factors, a few of which include:

• inadequate science education in America’s public schools
• limited entry in University-level programs (that is many nursing programs accept a limited amount of students each year)
• lack of interest in nursing as a career

Regardless of the causes of the nursing shortage, it is widely recognized as one of the most serious problems facing the healthcare community today.

According to an article at Medscape.com, there is an especial shortage of geriatric nurses currently. This is mainly because careers in geriatric medicine are not as lucrative as careers in other areas of medicine. Clearly, this is a serious crisis. As America’s baby boomers begin entering the age category of “senior citizens” it is obvious that the demand for geriatric nurses will skyrocket.

Fortunately, most careers work with the ebb and flow of the economy. When demand for people in a field is high and supply is low, the salaries for those positions will increase. Although, it will likely take government intervention to increase the salaries of geriatric nurses and other practitioners of geriatric medicine since the majority of them receive their payments through the Medicare system.

So, although the pay in geriatric nursing right now is not on par with most other nursing jobs, the salaries in that field should be on the rise within the next twenty years – as the Baby Boomers age. Plus, with the demand already being high, many geriatric nurses are pleased with their wide array of options in hospitals, nursing homes and other care centers and at-home nursing agencies. For some geriatric nurses, the perks of being in high demand make up for the less-than-ideal salary.

With the high demand for geriatric nurses, now is a great time to get into the field. That way when the salaries go up and more people enter the field of geriatric nursing, you will already have years of experience and maybe even seniority in your hospital or nursing home, and that will allow you more ready access to raises and promotions.

Technorati Tags: geriatric nursing