NURSING NOW ■ MAY 5, 2013
Nursing instructor Beth Hamon, RN, MSN, left, with students Christa Albu of Green Township, center, and Jenn Sisky of Monfort Heights in a teaching lab in the Health Professions Building at Cincinnati State’s Clifton campus. Choosing a nursing school is a matter of finding the right match for your goals and lifestyle, experts say. PROVIDED
How to choose the nursing school that is right for you By Val Prevish Enquirer contributor
W
ith many accredited nursing schools that graduate more than 2,000 students each year, Cincinnati offers lots of choices for anyone looking to pursue a nursing career. But how do you know which nursing school is right for you, and what features do you look for when you search for a program? Leaders from several of the region’s top schools say there are important features to
INSIDE:
look for in all nursing programs – such as accreditation, passing rate for licensure exams and access to clinical settings – and then it’s a matter of finding the right choice for your goals and lifestyle. “One of the major initiatives nationally is matching students with the right program,” says Nathan Long, president of the Christ Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences. “Each student has to pick the program that’s right for them and their life pace.” As health care reform continues, nursing is also changing, however, and there is pressure
mNurse as patient, family hand-holder » Page 4
in the profession to attain at least a Bachelor of Science degree. Many see nurses taking on a greater role in preventive care to avoid unnecessary and costly hospitalizations, and with continuing advances in medicine the complexity of care demands greater education. This means nurses should look to attain higher-level degrees in order to meet the needs of the future workforce, say nursing experts. In fact, the Institute of Medicine issued a report in 2010 that recommended that at least See CHOOSING, Page S2
mTop health care callings for tomorrow’s nurses » Page 9
S2 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 /// THE ENQUIRER
Choosing a school Continued from Page S1
80 percent of nurses achieve a bachelor’s degree (BSN) by 2020, citing better patient outcomes and lower mortality rates for nurses who achieve this greater level of education. Only about 50 percent of nurses attain that degree today, the report indicates. “As a profession, we’re moving toward the BSN degree,” said Denise Rohr, associate dean/director Cincinnati State Bethesda School of Nursing. “We would like to see all our students go on to get their BSN. We con-
NURSING NOW Nursing Now is published annually by Enquirer Media’s Specialty Publications Department. Send questions or comments to: Jo Kovach Specialty Publications Editor Enquirer Media 312 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Phone: 513-768-8367 jkovach@enquirer.com To advertise, contact: Dan Dugan Recruitment Advertising Manager Enquirer Media Phone: 513-768-8348 ddugan@enquirer.com
sider ourselves to be a pathway,” she says of the school’s two-year associate degree program and one-year practical nursing certificate program. Rohr says Cincinnati State is a good place for students to start if they are not ready for a larger four-year university or college setting. They can continue their education at a university or college after they graduate from Cincinnati State. “Somebody who might not feel confident to enter a university environment would be right for our campus,” she says. “People who want a smaller environment or who want to enter the workforce quickly because they have families also choose us.” Long says students with similar needs frequently choose Christ Hospital’s program, which offers an associate degree in nursing. Where his program differs, he says, is that it is a campus solely focused on nursing education and offers students a chance to get into the hands-on clinical portion of coursework quickly through the affiliated hospital. “We differ in that students go direct to clinical in their first year of coursework,” he says, adding that this is a full year before many other programs begin allowing students into hospital settings. “Our graduates feel they’ve gotten a full education from the moment they walk in the door.” For students who want to go straight into a four-year BSN pro-
Emergency room staff nurse Michael Peach of Villa Hills, Ky., reviews doctor orders in a nurse station at Bethesda North Hospital. Peach, 29, graduated from Northern Kentucky University’s 16-month accelerated BSN program in December 2012, and chose nursing as a second career. PHOTO BY MARTY WHITACRE FOR THE ENQUIRER
IS THIS THE BEST SCHOOL FOR ME? Nursing educators at the region’s top colleges and universities recommend asking these questions before you enroll at a nursing school: » Is the school accredited? This is critical for earning credits that will transfer if you continue your education elsewhere. Look for accreditation from these agencies – the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, The National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission, and The Southern Association of Schools and Colleges. » What is the passing rate for students on the licensing exam? All nursing school graduates must pass a licensing exam in order to work in their field. A high passing rate for this test is an indication of thorough preparation, say nursing education experts. » How quickly are students rotated into clinical studies? This is the portion of a nurse’s education where he or she works hands-on in a hospital or health care setting. If a school does not have adequate access to clinical settings, it could take longer to earn a degree.
See CHOOSING, Page S5
Delivering Quality and Innovative Patient Care
...and bringing the joy of healthier kids to the world Our pediatric nurses at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center embody the tenets of quality and innovative patient care. Whether they are caring for patients at the bedside or leading improvement efforts in their clinical areas of practice, our nurses are strong advocates for exemplary practice, compassionate patient interactions and quality outcomes. Our Magnet® hospital takes great pride in its nursing team. They are always striving to develop best practices, go above and beyond the call of duty and continually grow in knowledge and expertise. To our nurses, for all that you do, and all that you are:
THANK YOU! If you are a nurse interested in working with the best of the best in pediatric care, we invite you to explore a future with us. nurses4kids@cchmc.org or 1-877-636-0219
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THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 S3
“Critical care background is always valuable for those who want to pursue roles in an in-patient hospital setting.” NANCY ROBERTO, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
APNs are valued as leaders in newborn, child, adolescent care “It’s a profession,” says Michelle Widecan, a pediatric nurse practitioner in the ER at Children’s, where she recently celebrated her 20th anniversary. “They need to look beyond the salary. You need to like working with people, and understand the depth of the responsibility.”
By Jeff Wallner Enquirer contributor
Advanced practice nurses (APNs) are among the most highly educated, skilled and sought-after in the nursing industry. It also is among the most popular career paths for nursing students. The American Public Health Association estimates that the number of APNs could double nationally by 2025. Typically, APNs hold master’s or doctorate degrees and have education or clinical knowledge in a variety of specialties. Nurse practitioners are able to take health histories, diagnose and treat many acute and chronic health problems, order tests and interpret test results, and prescribe medications. At Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, there are more than 240 nationally certified APNs in more than 30 specialty areas who are valued as expert leaders dedicated to meeting the physical, emotional and development needs of infants, children and adolescents.
Nurses say working with families is best part of job
APN has become one of the most popular areas of nursing
Most studies show that advanced practice nurses are among the most highly paid in the nursing industry. According to PayScale.com, APNs with up to four years of experience earn between $65,000 and $80,000 annually. Those who have been in the field for up to 10 years can earn around $90,000 per year. Not surprisingly, it’s become one of the most popular areas of nursing. While the myriad of day-to-day responsibilities and job pressures can come as a surprise to those new to the profession, pediatric nurse practitioners prefer to focus on the job’s many rewards. Nancy Roberto, clinical director of the advanced practice nurses at Cincinnati Children’s, recently spoke
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Michelle Widecan, pediatric nurse practitioner, shown in the Emergency Department at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. “You need to like working with people, and understand the depth of the responsibility,” Widecan says. PHOTO BY MARTY WHITACRE FOR THE ENQUIRER
with nursing students at the University of Cincinnati. “My advice to those who are already nursing students considering a career as a nurse practitioner is to get a few years of RN experience in a role that is related to the area you would like to work in as a nurse practitioner,” said Roberto, who’s been with Children’s for 25 years. “Critical care background is always valuable for those who want to pursue roles in
CHRIST COLLEGE OF NURSING & HEALTH SCIENCES
an in-patient hospital setting. Experience is valuable in making the transition from an RN to a nurse practitioner in any area.” Roberto also recommended that aspiring nurse practitioners work as a patient care assistant (PCA) at a nursing home or hospital while in school. New grads who enter nursing with practical experience earn respect and are better prepared to handle the rigors of the job, she said.
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During nearly a half-century of combined experience at Cincinnati Children’s, Roberto and Widecan have experienced all of the rigors and stress working as a pediatric nurse practitioner has to offer. Working with young children can be a rewarding experience, but also a heartbreakJena Bargon ing one at times. Through both triumph and tragedy, pediatric nurse practitioners say working with the families is the best part of their job. “What keeps you going is when a child survives against incredible odds,” said Roberto. “There are times when patients die for reasons out of your control. The reward is helping the families through that experience. Sometimes in the emergency room you have to move on to the next emergency. Because they (the patients) need your care.” Jena Bargon was hired as director of the Neonatal Intensive Care at Good Samaritan Hospital six months ago, after spending more than 30 years as a NICU nurse in Michigan. Good Sam has 14 neonatal nurse practitioners under Bargon, 12 of whom were formerly nurses in the hospital’s NICU before returning after obtaining further education. “It shows loyalty,” Bargon says. “The more years, and bedside nursing experience, the better. It helps if they are a staff nurse first to build a strong foundation to deal with highrisk deliveries and to plan care.” m
TRIHEALTH 513-569-4500 trihealth.com
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI 513-558-3600 nursing.uc.edu
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI RAYMOND WALTERS COLLEGE 513-745-5600 www.rwc.uc.edu
UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX CINCINNATI CAMPUS 513-772-9600 phoenix.edu
XAVIER UNIVERSITY
513-745-3814 xavier.edu
S4 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 /// THE ENQUIRER
Compassion an essential quality in a nurse’s role
2013 NIGHTINGALE AWARD RECIPIENTS
By Dave Etienne Enquirer contributor
It was a night like any other for nurse Stephanie Smith. She was tending to some paperwork when a patient’s wife ran into the hall and told her something was wrong with her husband. When she went to check on him she found a man who had been diagnosed with cancer crying uncontrollably. After ensuring he was not having a health crisis, she consoled and prayed with him until he got his emotions under control, then asked him what was wrong. He said he’d seen an angel in the corner of the room and it looked like her. “I took that as a sign from God that I was meant to be there,” said Smith, who is an RN, BSN in the urology unit at St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Edgewood, Ky. “I think about that night when I’m feeling stressed and it brings me comfort.” For Smith and thousands of area nurses, the role of engaging patients and their families may be the most rewarding and the least understood. Everyone has an idea what nurses do from watching medical dramas on television or receiving medical care themselves. But along with administering med-
Registered nurse Stephanie Smith reviews a chart outside a patient’s room at St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Edgewood, Ky. PHOTO BY TONYA BORGATTI FOR THE ENQUIRER
ications, charting patients’ care, communicating with physicians, completing treatments and all the other clinical activities they undertake during their working shifts, nurses are interacting with patients and their families – people who, in many cases, have just received devastating news or are facing uncomfortable procedures or long recoveries. “Early in my nursing education one of my professors quoted Theodore Roosevelt, who said ‘Nobody
cares how much you know until they know how much you care,’ ’’ said Alicia Lay, RN, BSN, CURN, also in St. Elizabeth’s urology unit. “I have adopted this as my philosophy.” The nursing curriculum at area colleges and universities addresses the beyond-clinical aspect of nursing through specific classes, and by interweaving empathy, caring and compassion in all coursework and clinicals. See COMPASSION, Page S5
Now in its 21st year, the Florence Nightingale Awards recognize excellence in nursing. The Board of Advisors of the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing hosts the Florence Nightingale Awards for Excellence in Nursing annually. The goal of the awards is to recognize professional nurses for their contributions to direct patient care. Board of Advisors Nightingale award winners receive $1,000, as well as a commemorative award. Dean’s award winners receive $400.
THIS YEAR’S WINNERS INCLUDE:
» John Bendele, VA Medical Center » Jennifer Lemmink, University of Cincinnati Medical Center » Jamie Cooper Meyers, The Christ Hospital » Stacie Nance, St. Elizabeth Healthcare » Rommel Padillo, Mercy Health Fairfield » Jane Swaim, St. Elizabeth Healthcare » Sr. Carole Temming, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish
WINNERS OF THE DEAN’S AWARD INCLUDE:
» Peggy Brooks, Oncology Hematology Care » Lynn Brown, Northern Kentucky University » Michelle Daniels, Elm Street Health Center » Christina Joy Davenport, Drake Center » Maria Koegel, VA Medical Center » Sr. Kay Kramer, St. Elizabeth Healthcare » Jonathan Ramos, VA Medical Center » Anne Wainio, VA Medical Center » Jessica Wiles, University of Cincinnati Medical Center » Sheree Young, Atrium Medical Center
Every Nurse Matters and Makes a Difference!
IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE ADDITION OF
NOELLE Birthing Simulator ® SIM-MAN® TO NURSING EDUCATION AT BECKFIELD COLLEGE.
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LPN* LPN to RN* RN* RN to BSN Legal Nurse Consulting No Wait List for Nursing Classes or Clinicals! • High NCLEX First Time Pass Rates!** *upon licensure **based on rates published by the Kentucky Board of Nursing and the Ohio Board of Nursing.
Please join us for a Ribbon Cutting and Reception in celebration of our expansion during NATIONAL NURSING WEEK 2013 • Nursing Program Simulator Lab Ribbon Cutting and Demonstration • Nursing Labs and Campus Tours • Toast to Nurses • Hors d’oeuvres and Refreshments Tuesday, May 7, 2013 4:00 p.m.
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THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 S5
Choosing the right nursing school Continued from Page S2
gram, there are several local colleges and universities that offer accredited programs. Students who are attracted to these schools are often recent high school graduates looking for a full college experience, or students seeking continuing education to further their training. “We attract a student who wants to be a part of a large, major university,” says Greer Glazer, dean of the College of Nursing at the University of Cincinnati. “People who are interested in innovation and looking toward the future are the people we seek.” As one of the oldest baccalaureate nursing programs in the country, UC’s tradition of nursing education is well-established, says Glazer. The university is known for its research
and leadership in health innovation and is on the forefront of training nurses to be a part of the health care reforms that are taking place today. “Our vision is to lead health care transformation through technology,” says Glazer. “We are infusing technology into our curriculum to help students integrate it into their studies.” Denise Robinson, dean of the College of Health Professions at Northern Kentucky University, says the role of nurses is evolving and they are being incorporated into more management and interdisciplinary work every day. Education is a key component in preparing them for these new challenges. “It’s really a lifelong process,” says Robinson. “Having a good foundation in general education can only help.” m
Lindner Center of HOPE wishes to thank our Nurses for the outstanding care and compassion they show our patients throughout the year.
Compassion is a key nursing trait Continued from Page S4
According to Dr. Lisa Torok, chairperson of the nursing department at Thomas More College, “We offer a course in interpersonal communications where we stress therapeutic communications – dealing one-on-one and with families about grief, intense emotions and death,” said Torok. “Plus, we stress throughout our program that the patient is not just the person in the bed but the whole family, and often they are in stress-
lindnercenterofhope.org 513-536-HOPE (4673)
ful situations that demand our utmost caring and understanding,” Torok said. St. E’s Smith and Lay echo this sentiment. “The patient is most important but the family often plays a vital role in the whole care process and it is important to include the family in care provision whenever it is possible,” said Lay. Lay summed it up this way: “It will be some of the most rewarding and most exhausting days of your life.” m
Comprehensive Mental Health Center 4075 Old Western Row Road, Mason, Ohio 45040 CE-0000555070
COMPASSIONATE NURSES TO HELP YOU
Every day the nurses of Mercy Health provide compassionate, advanced care to every patient they serve — whether it's in our hospitals, physician offices, senior living communities, medical centers, social service agencies or administration. We are proud that Mercy Health nurses have been serving the Cincinnati community for over 160 years. Please join us in thanking all of the nurses that help our patients be well. Walton — St. Theresa, Marie Leist-Smith — Fairfield Hospital. Middle Row: Darla Tarvin — Clermont Hospital, Nancy Benner — Rookwood Medical Center, Janis Conrad — The Jewish Hospital, Courtney Seitz — Mercy Health Physicians, Adam Harrison — Mt. Airy Hospital. Front Row: Tracie Owens — West Park, Tammy Adams — St. Raphael, Chelsea Gries — Anderson Hospital, AJ Lawhorn — Western Hills Hospital.
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Back Row: DeAulo
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S6 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 /// THE ENQUIRER
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2013 RECIPIENTS The University of Cincinnati College of Nursing created the Florence Nightingale Awards in 1982 to honor the extraordinary dedication and achievements of local nurses working in direct patient care. Each year the Board of Advisors invites Greater Cincinnati physicians, patients, family and friends of patients, and other health-care workers to nominate nurses who exemplify the spirit of caring embodied by Florence Nightingale, the “Founder of Modern Nursing.” From hundreds of nominations, Seven Board of Advisors Award winners and ten Dean’s Award recipients were chosen as 2013 honorees. The winners were recognized at a reception April 25th at the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati. Board of Advisor Award winners receive $1,000 and a Florence Nightingale bust. Dean’s Award recipients received $400 and a commemorative plaque. Money for awards is provided through sponsorships. Funds generated beyond expenses for this event will be used to support scholarships for students of the UC College of Nursing. Congratulations and thank you to our local nightingales.
NIGHTINGALE AWARD RECIPIENTS
John Bendele
VA Medical Center
Jennifer Lemmink
University of Cincinnati Medical Center
Jamie Cooper Meyers The Christ Hospital
Stacie Nance
St. Elizabeth Healthcare
Thank you to the Cincinnati Enquirer and all sponsors of the Florence Nightingale Awards for Nursing and to all the nominees for their Rommel Padillo
Mercy Health Fairfield
Jane Swaim
St. Elizabeth Healthcare
Sr. Carole Temming
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish
excellence in nursing.
THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 S7
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2013 RECIPIENTS DEAN’S AWARD RECIPIENTS
Oncology Hematology Care
Peggy Brooks
Northern Kentucky University
Elm Street Health Center
Michelle Daniels
Christina Joy Davenport Drake Center
VA Medical Center
Sr. Kay Kramer
Jonathan Ramos
Anne Wainio
Jessica Wiles
Sheree Young
St. Elizabeth Healthcare
Lynn Brown
VA Medical Center
VA Medical Center
University of Cincinnati Medical Center
Maria Koegel
Atrium Medical Center
Florence Nightingale The “Founder of Modern Nursing,” Florence Nightingale was born on May 12, 1820, in Florence, Italy. In 1825, her parents purchased a home in Embley Park near Romsey, England. Despite her parents’ objections, Florence pursued her desire to be a nurse. She traveled to study European hospitals and worked as a nurse in France and Germany. When the Crimean War began in 1851, Florence Nightingale organized a group of nurses and took them to the battlefront in Russia. There she found that nearly half the sick and wounded soldiers were dying because of primitive sanitation methods and lack of nursing care. As a result of the nursing methods and strict sanitation she set up, the death rate greatly decreased. To describe the reduction in deaths, she drew ornate statistical diagrams known as coxcombs which indicated her prowess as a nurse researcher. Upon her return to England, she started the Nightingale School of Nursing at St. Thomas Hospital, London. The opening of the school marked the beginning of professional education in nursing. During a number of other wars, including the American Civil War, she was consulted on questions concerning the organization and operation of battlefront hospitals. Florence Nightingale died at her home in South Street, London, on August 13, 1910. She was buried on August 20, 1910, at St. Margaret’s Church, East Wellow, England. The tombstone reads: F.N. Born 12 May 1820 • Died 13 August 1910
S8 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 /// THE ENQUIRER
In a simulation center at the UC College of Nursing, Chief Officer of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Debi Sampsel demonstrates how a telehealth robot, far right, is used to monitor a patient remotely. Sampsel said the technology will continue to expand the reach of nurses and physicians into rural areas and communities where there are shortages of health care practitioners. The distance between the caregiver and the robot isn’t a factor as long as both have Internet access. PHOTO BY MARTY WHITCARE FOR THE ENQUIRER
Telehealth robots extend the reach of health care providers By Tom N. Tumbusch Enquirer contributor
Late last year, students at the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing started working with some new high-tech partners. Two telehealth robots, affectionately nicknamed “Flo-Bot” and “Junior FloBot” after Florence Nightingale, enable patients to receive remote care from nurses and physicians. “We think it’s vitally important for the workforce of tomorrow to see and understand exactly how telehealth works during their schooling,” says Debi Sampsel, chief officer of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UC College of Nursing. “We see it as a great opportunity to expand the breadth and depth of our students’ understanding of technology in the clinical setting, the community and the home.” UC launched telehealth service delivery in October 2012, creating a program that focuses on education, research and practice using a pair of remote-controlled telehealth robots. “The real advantage of telehealth is that you can expand the reach of nurses and other health care providers,” Sampsel explains. “We also see it as a great opportunity for our advanced practice nurses to look for
new ways to partner with other health care providers, put it into underserved areas and be able to expand the reach of much-needed health care providers.” “Flo-Bot” is a 5-foot-4-inch-tall metal body on wheels, with a twoway monitor for a “head.” In addition to providing two-way communication, various appendages can be connected to the robot, allowing a caregiver to listen to a patient’s heartbeat, take their blood pressure, get a close-up look at skin conditions, and perform many other routine diagnostic tasks. “Junior Flo-Bot” is a smaller robot without diagnostic appendages, but that doesn’t limit its usefulness. Using the robot, a care provider anywhere in the world can talk to patients, examine X-rays, look at a patient’s monitor or IV drip, examine incisions, or drive the robot to a nurse’s station to request assistance from someone on-site. “There’s so much I can visualize but not have to be physically present,” Sampsel says. Although neither robot is selfaware or able to move independently, they can function in any facility with a broadband wireless network of sufficient speed. The caregiver operating the robot uses a laptopbased control station. Laser sensors
in each robot’s body supplement the two-way video to help the operator move the robot safely. The distance between the caregiver and the robot isn’t a factor as long as both have Internet access. “We can use our control station from most anywhere,” Sampsel says. “We could be in McDonald’s, Starbucks or on the side of the road. I’ve had the good fortune to use the Flo-Bot-type of remote-presence robot in other states and even in other countries. That’s why they’re being used so effectively in intensive care units and emergency areas – you can quickly get on the laptop and be there in person in a split second.” The college is also working on research to determine the effectiveness of robot-assisted care, evaluating the reactions of patients, students and providers while tracking patient outcomes. “Our long-term plan is to deploy more nurses out into disadvantaged health care areas and also into places where there might be a lack of health care providers,” Sampsel adds. “For example, right now we’re looking at how we can deploy our telehealth into a homeless shelter and out into rural areas. It definitely has value for how we’re going to do health care in the future.” m
What is telehealth? Rising costs, demand for caregivers in homes and underserved areas, and the growing availability of high-speed Internet access are among the factors responsible for the growth of “telehealth.” This rapidly expanding field is creating new opportunities for health care that previous generations could only imagine, and changing the way many providers think about serving their patients. Broadly defined, telehealth is any method of delivering health-related services using telecommunications or electronic data. A caregiver talking to a patient by phone is the most basic form of telehealth. Sending digital X-rays to doctors in other locations is another way to reduce the need for caregivers to be physically present. More sophisticated telehealth technologies enable nurses, physicians and other caregivers to diagnose patients, provide treatment, prescribe medication, and even perform surgery from half a world away. While this may sound like a vision of the future, all of these things are possible today with existing technology. Telehealth is also likely to be a growing field in the next five years thanks to support from both government and health care organizations. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is working actively to increase and improve the use of telehealth technologies, including videoconferencing, the Internet, store-and-forward imaging, streaming media and communications (both land-line and wireless). In the near future, telehealth supporters predict more preventive care and maintenance in the home. Devices that monitor weight or blood pressure, for example, could automatically alert nurses to contact patients whose readings fall outside a normal range.
Tom N. Tumbusch
THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 S9
Graduate certificates help nurses to advance careers As the U.S. health care system continues to evolve, industry demand for more highly educated nurses is growing. Data from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing shows current and prospective nurses are responding to rising education requirements: enrollment in all types of programs at nursing schools across the country increased from 2010 to 2011. Some nursing schools offer graduate certificates that allow nurses to expand their expertise and meet critical areas of need in the nursing profession. Offered to nurses with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, graduate certificates are designed to enhance nurses’ professional competencies and prepare them to apply for national certification in specialized disciplines. “As the patient population becomes more diverse, and the delivery of care more complex, nurses with advanced knowledge and skills can influence the quality of care that patients receive,” says Carole Eldridge, director of graduate programs for Chamberlain College of Nursing. “With expertise in in-demand disciplines, nurses can also expand their current scope of practice and increase their professional marketability.” Graduate certificate programs
help meet the Institute of Medicine’s recommendations for nurses to achieve higher levels of education and for nursing schools to find new ways to prepare nurses to better meet evolving patient needs. They can also help nurses respond to areas of need in the health care workforce. One such area is nursing education. Without enough educators, the industry cannot prepare enough incoming nurses to respond to the growing national shortage. Health care informatics is another fast-growing field. A 2012 report by Jobs for the Future and Burning Glass Technologies measured online job postings from 2007 to 2011 and found that health care informatics positions grew by 36 percent, while total online job postings for that same period grew by only 6 percent. The modern health care setting is dependent upon nurses with the specialized knowledge to oversee implementation of innovative information technology, such as electronic health records. Nurses with a graduate certificate in nursing informatics can be prepared for a variety of related roles, including clinical informatics analyst, informatics nurse specialist or chief nursing information officer.
ARAContent
Top health care callings for tomorrow’s nurses Changes to government regulation, emerging technologies, and new approaches to collaborative health care are all factors likely to create increased demand for nurses in the next five years. “With the Affordable Care Act, we’re going to have more access to care for a lot of folks,” says Dr. Susan Schmidt, director and professor/epidemiologist at Xavier University School of Nursing. “Nurse practitioners as well as physicians are going to be in demand.” Promising trends include: » Retail Health Care Delivery – Care outside hospitals in major retail chains, such as The Little Clinic, Kroger and Walmart stores. “We need to staff them with well-trained experts who can provide high-quality services,” Schmidt says. » Informatics and Telehealth – Health care services, administration and education delivered with the help of communication and data technology. » Aging in Place – A top priority for baby boomers, these services help the elderly remain in their homes and communities rather than moving to a health care facility or nursing home. Supporters anticipate a growing need for nurses and nurse
practitioners to provide in-home care. Telehealth technologies may also play a key role by allowing off-site nurses to monitor patient data such as weight and blood pressure. » Forensic Nursing – Nurses who specialize in treating victims and perpetrators of crime, while assisting the legal system with the collection of forensic evidence. » Interprofessional Collaboration – An emerging movement encouraging collaborative teamwork between nurses and other health care providers to reduce costs and improve care. “We need our specialists because no one person can know it all, but we still need to be able to tie them all together,” Schmidt explains. “Clinical nurse leaders can ‘cross the silos.’ ” Schmidt sees the greatest opportunities for nurses with advanced degrees and cross-disciplinary training. “The longer people live, the more they have exposure to chronic illnesses. We want nurses to be prepared at higher levels – baccalaureate and higher degrees – so they can think critically and give the best possible care to each person.”
Compiled by Tom N. Tumbusch, contributing writer
Here’s to the team that puts the ‘care’ in healthcare.
Our nurses help make St. Elizabeth a healthcare provider like no other. If you’ve ever been a patient at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, you know how unbelievably caring and compassionate our nurses are. And we’d like to thank each and every member of our amazing nursing team for their unmistakable healing touch. We wouldn’t be the hospital we are without you. Edgewood | Grant | Covington
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S10 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 /// THE ENQUIRER
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