Three Steps for Increasing Your Entry into Nursing School

To increase your chances of getting accepted into the competitive field of nursing, it’s imperative that you understand today’s admission requirements. Like anything you plan to invest your time and money in, being prepared is of the utmost importance. With this in mind, consider the following steps as you pursue entry into nursing school.

Taking the Pulse: Entry into Nursing School

In 2017, nursing schools rejected nearly double the average number of qualified candidates they turn away, affecting over 56,000 undergrad applicants. These numbers aren’t designed to scare you – they’re here to paint a clear picture of the acceptance landscape.

This increase in rejections is driven by lack of resources. There are nursing faculty shortages in many parts of the country and schools also face limited clinical sites willing to accept students for clinical placements. Cost containment in healthcare is one variable that influences this limitation.  Nursing schools have been inundated with applicants, making it difficult to keep up with growing application. As such, it’s critical that you make thoughtful choices as you pursue your education in nursing.

Where to Start

1.   Selecting a Program

Something that makes nursing unique are the many education paths that can lead to a career in this field. With this in mind, be sure to assess which education satisfies your needs. For instance, are you considering launching your career as a registered nurse through an Associate Degree Program, or do you plan to dive into a Bachelor’s of Nursing? While associate degrees are good launching points, they’re often complemented by a bachelor’s or master’s degree that allows for advanced career placement in the field of nursing.

Fact: If you’re considering the latter, some accelerated associate programs can be successfully completed in as little as two years.

Regardless of the path you choose, be sure to select a nursing program accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Also make sure the state’s Board of Nursing approves the program. 

2. Understand Entrance Requirements

When it comes to accepting nursing school candidates, most institutions require a few standard criteria. This usually includes the following: high school diploma/GED, an application, minimum-required scores (or higher) on the school’s standardized testing, college transcripts, and a minimum-required score (or higher) on the ATI TEAS Exam, this exam tests academic performance in Science, Math, Reading and Language Skills.

3. Find the Right Match

If you don’t fulfill all of the criteria, don’t sweat it – chances are, you can still become a nurse. There are flexible entry solutions available for non-traditional students. For instance, some schools like Northwestern College, grant “conditional entrance” into their nursing programs.

This means that students can enroll in the nursing program and begin taking their general education credits. To stay enrolled, students must maintain the minimum-required letter grade (or higher) for at least two quarters of pre-nursing coursework. And then, only after securing the required ATI TEAS score, will students be officially admitted into nursing school.

Learn More

There are no guarantees of getting accepted into a nursing program, but these steps may better position you among other qualified candidates. With the United States requiring an estimated one million more trained nurses by 2022, this is your chance to enter one of the fastest growing fields in healthcare.

To learn more about Northwestern College’s nursing program, complete the form on this page.

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Tips for Postsecondary Education Success

As you enter your postsecondary education, you’re likely to get a lot of advice about ways to succeed. And while it may be easy to feel overwhelmed from competing advice, there are a few simple things you can do to ensure your success in this exciting chapter.

Choose a Program That Interests You

First and foremost, choose a program that interests you. This is especially true if you’re in a trade school or certificate program that is designed to provide training around a very specific skill set. Not only are you more likely to stick with an area of study that interests you, but you’re also more apt to enjoy it. Because trade schools are set up to hone specialized skills for a specific job, you’ll want to be sure that your program is something you feel will bring long-term pleasure.

Build a Schedule That Works

The next rule of thumb is building a schedule that works with your other obligations and resources. For instance, if you’re not likely to make an 8 a.m. lecture, schedule afternoon and evening classes. And if reliable transportation is a concern, coordinate classes with public transportation schedules.

Alternatively, consider online classes. With popular programs and certificates now available entirely online, you can often swap an in-classroom class for an online equivalent.  An entirely online program may even be something to consider. On the brink about which solution is best for you? Consult a college counselor, who has expertise in building individualized schedules and solving for logistical challenges.

Tap Available Resources

These same college counselors can also be a great resource for students who need guidance on financial assistance. No matter what budget you have, there are tools available to make a higher education more affordable. Most college websites have an entire area dedicated to providing information on loans, grants and financing. Some even provide tuition calculators.

Perhaps you have good grades and don’t want to acquire debt? There are many scholarships available through colleges and outside networks. Just do your research to find the best fit for you.

With these three tips in mind, you’re likely to find a rewarding education path that sets you up for long-term career success.

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Taking the Plunge into Trade School: Important Considerations

From career fairs to campus tours, by the time you’re a junior or senior in high school you’ve heard a lot about college. Something less discussed is trade school – sometimes referred to as vocational school or vocational college. This shouldn’t be written off as a lesser education than traditional college programs, though. The main distinction between trade school and traditional college lies in its focus.

Providing a Job-centric Focus

While college is where some students go to “find themselves,” or try on different majors for fit, trade schools are often designed for students with a clearer focus on their post-graduation goals. When it comes down to it, a main distinction between trade school and traditional college is that they genuinely focus on helping students secure the education needed to find a career in their field of study after graduation.

This isn’t to say that other postsecondary institutions don’t share some of the same underlying goals. Rather, trade schools typically have a curated education offering that supports fields where they see placement success and long-term opportunities for career growth.

Emphasis on Technical Skills

Another difference is that many programs offered by trade schools -by proxy- hone more technical skills. These technical skills can include pipefitting, skilled nursing, dental hygiene or medical coding, to name a few. The important thing is that students in these programs are securing technical skills that directly translate into employment. Even better, these skills often present different employment opportunities unavailable to the masses. Additionally, a certain level of job security often accompanies individuals with these skills. The reason is because trade school provides specific training that’s usually not offered to students in a traditional education program.  

Whether you feel that trade school or a traditional college education is right for you, it’s important that you take time to assess your post-graduation career goals. While something may be fun or interesting to study in college, it’s important to evaluate if it presents quality employment opportunities after graduation.

To learn more about trade school programs, complete the form on this page. A lifelong career is just a click away.

 

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Picking a Program: In-Demand Education & Training

A higher education is important to your career success; however, not all programs are created equally. Some require more lectures and labs, while others provide more post-graduation opportunities for employment. Although post-graduation employment shouldn’t be your only criteria as you evaluate education programs or certificates, job outlook should remain a key consideration. After all, you don’t want to find yourself newly graduated and unemployed, or worse, newly graduated and unemployed with amounting student loan debt or other bills.

To help guide you as you make this important decision, we’ve created a shortlist of some in-demand programs. To kick off this series, we will take a look at programs focused on one of the fastest growing areas of employment in the United States: medicine and healthcare.

 

Medical or Healthcare Programs

As boomers age into assisted living or just require more healthcare services, the need for trained medical and healthcare personnel is crucial.

Medical Assisting

Becoming a medical assistant is a good entry into the promising world of healthcare. Medical assisting is a great program for individuals who may not have decided whether their interest lies in the clinical or administrative side of healthcare. The reason is because these roles often marry some of each skill set. As such, programs that prepare students for this career blend clinical and administrative training.

In terms of earning potential and job growth outlook, there’s also great opportunity here. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job growth outlook for this profession over the next 10 years is 29-percent, which is much higher than other areas in healthcare. More, medical assistants can earn approximately $32,500 a year, with some earning upwards of $45,900.

Nursing

Perhaps you have an interest in healthcare, but aren’t ready to take the plunge into a comprehensive program. Nursing is as rewarding as it is a smart career path. Even better, there are a number of programs available for all levels of nursing.

For instance, did you know that you can earn a good living while working as a nursing assistant? In 2017, nursing assistants made an average annual salary of approximately $28,000. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also projected an outlook of 11-percent job growth for nursing assistants the next five years.

Registered nurses, on the other hand, can earn anywhere between $48,690 and $104,100 a year. With a reported median salary of $70,000 in 2017, the Bureau projects an outlook of 15-percent hiring growth during the same time span.

Begin a Lifetime of Caring

The field of healthcare has lots of opportunities, and these are just a few of them. To learn more about higher education and training healthcare programs, complete the form on this page.

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What to do after a Career Fair?

A Career fair provides an excellent opportunity to meet recruiters face-to-face and to begin to network to identify open positions. Once you have attended a Career Fair, here are some suggested practices you should do shortly after the Career fair:

GET ORGANIZED: Keep track of all the contacts you made as well as the positions that interested you.  Organize your employer business cards and get ready to follow up with the information you discussed with the recruiter at the fair.

FOLLOW-UP: Go to the company website and apply for the positions that interested you. Make sure to write down the job title and the job number so you could convey that information in your follow up email.  When applying for the position, try to identify your key skill sets as they relate to the position. When asked how did you hear about the position, state from Northwestern College’s Career Fair.

BRUSH UP YOUR LINKEDIN PROFILE: Make sure to update your profile, listing your key skill sets.  Try to connect on LinkedIn with the recruiters from the companies that you are interested in.

EMAIL THE RECRUITER: Your email should include the title and job number of the position that interested you along with mentioning something from your conversation at the Career fair.  You want the recruiter to remember you, so he/she pulls your application and calls you in for an interview. In your email, you can also suggest an interview.

CONTINUE TO PRACTICE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS and ANSWERS: You need to be ready and prepared to interview so continue practicing your interviewing answers.

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Do you have your 20-second elevator speech?

A 20-second elevator speech is a sales pitch, and it’s very short.  It is a sound bite that sells you to a hiring manager or a networking contact that can help you get to an interview.  The 20-second elevator speech (long enough yet short enough to begin and end between floors) immediately gains attention and leaves the receiver wanting more.  It is a perfect speech to give when meeting recruiters at a CAREER FAIR.

     A good elevator speech includes your name, your occupation, your accomplishments, your goal and your USP (unique selling point).  It is what will set you apart from the competition and leave an impression on the mind of the recruiter. 

Answer the following questions:

1. What are your key strengths?
2. What adjectives come to mind to describe you?
3. What is it you are trying to ʹsellʹ or let others know about you?
4. Why are you interested in the company or industry the person represents?

Prepare your elevator speech for Career Fair on Thursday, November 8, 2018, from 9:30 am-12:00 noon, along with your resume. 

BE PREPARED and don’t forget to dress professionally and bring plenty of resumes.  The Career Fair is open to all NC students, alumni, and the general public.  If you are not looking for a full time or part time job, it’s a great way to make an externship contact.

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Why Become a Nurse?

Nursing is a rewarding career that can make you really feel good about yourself and the work you’re doing – work that you can do in a variety of locations (some that you might never guess). Although the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there are more than 2.9 million nurses in the United States, there is still a shortage. If you are considering becoming a nurse, your job prospects look pretty good. First, though, see if nursing is the right career for you.

The Importance of Nurses

According to the United States Department of Labor, nurses make up the largest group of healthcare workers in the country. They are vitally important for patient care and to the doctors they work with. They are the most trusted healthcare workers and are the heart and soul of the healthcare world.

The Nurse’s Role

A nurse is so much more than the person who checks your vitals and gives you your annual flu shot. The profession is ideal for someone who enjoys diversity because of the number of roles the nurse takes on. The primary role of a nurse is to advocate and care for patients, supporting them throughout their days, in health and in illness. In addition, a nurse also serves as a teacher, caregiver, critical thinker, administrator and wellness coach.

Where a Nurse Can Work

Besides working in hospitals, clinics and physicians’ offices, nurses can practice their profession in other environments:

• Schools
• Nursing homes and assisted living facilities
• Research facilities
• Military bases
• Zoos
• National parks and theme parks
• Sports centers
• Cruise ships
• Airports

The field offers flexibility and even opportunities to travel the world. Travel nurses, for example, go where they are needed to manage clinics, treat patients and educate local staff. Their assignments change every eight to 13 weeks. Flight nurses handle pre-hospital care, usually going to sites of natural disasters or emergencies, and they accompany patients on helicopters and propeller aircraft.

The Skills Needed to Become a Registered Nurse and the Duties Nurses Perform

Registered nurses need to learn a number of skills to perform their day-to-day duties, which include:

• Administering medicine intravenously
• Applying dressings and bandages
• Drawing blood
• Moving patients carefully and positioning them in hospital beds
• Helping diagnose diseases and injuries
• Planning treatment and recovery
• Recording patients’ symptoms and medical histories
• Measuring and reading vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure and pulse rate
• Operating medical equipment

In addition to the technical skills nurses learn in school, they need to have interpersonal skills to deal with patients:

• Listening to patient questions and concerns
• Compassion
• Inner strength to deal with day-to-day stress, difficult patients and outcomes
• Emotional maturity
• Problem solving
• Critical thinking
• Self-confidence
• Endurance for working long hours

The Core Values of Nursing

According to The Journal of Professional Nursing, there are five core values of nursing – the professional standards of ethics nurses need to follow and live up to every day so that they can advocate and properly care for their patients:

• Human dignity to respect patients’ privacy, dignity and personal rights no matter what
• Integrity to always remain ethical and take responsibility for their actions
• Autonomy to be confident about making sound decisions
• Altruism to treat and care for patients without thought of personal reward or compensation
• Social justice to care for patients fairly, regardless of their race, gender, personal values, ethnicity or background

The Benefits of Nursing as a Career Choice

Doing a job that is meaningful and rewarding can make a difference in your career satisfaction. A nursing degree can provide that satisfaction. You’ll understand what a gift good health is and how to treasure each moment of life. You can take pride in the comfort, peace and care you give their patients, and know that you can make a difference in their lives. Some other benefits of nursing help you directly, such as:

• Schedule flexibility to work the hours that meet the needs of you and your family
• Diverse work location options in hospitals, clinics, doctors’ offices, schools and more
• Certifications and opportunities to continue your education
• The opportunity to specialize in a particular field, such as neo-natal, pediatrics, geriatrics, oncology, trauma, etc.
• Benefit packages that may include health and life insurance, disability insurance, paid sick leave, vacation time, etc.
• Good salaries – the median salary is $70,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics

The Northwestern College Nursing Program

You can prepare for a career as a Registered Nurse (RN) with an Associate in Applied Science degree from Northwestern College’s Violet L. Schumacher School of Nursing. The curriculum is designed with the demands of the healthcare industry in mind. You’ll learn via the classroom and with a hands-on approach in simulation labs and clinical practice. Once you earn your degree – in approximately two years – you’ll be able to hit the ground running and practice nursing, an in-demand career.

For more information about how to prepare for a career as an RN, contact Northwestern College.

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