MESSENGER POST MEDIA

An honorary section for the week of May 3, 2015

Help us in celebrating the profession of nursing

and honor those who have so passionately
dedicated their lives to patient care.

the many career

paths of
modern nursing
quick growth
expected through 2020
By Molly Logan Anderson | MORE CONTENT NOW

Folks inclined to investigate a career in health care just might find what theyre looking
for in nursing. A profession that once held only a generic title, modern nursing has
many career paths and emerging opportunities.

Licensed practical nurse

Responsibilities: LPNs provide basic bedside patient care, take patient medical histories,
monitor patients vital signs and provide assistance with feeding and wound care. In
some states, LPNs are able to give medications or start intravenous fluids, according to
the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education: LPNs must complete a one-year licensing program at a community college
or vocational school and pass the National Council Licensure Examination for LPNs.

Clinical nurse leader

Responsibilities: According to the American Association of the Colleges of Nursing

website, a CNL evaluates patient outcomes, assesses risk and has the decision-making
authority to change care plans when necessary. This new role in nursing is still being
developed to assess deficiencies in patient care and address them through interventions
that would promote safer and more effective care.
Education: A CNL is a registered nurse with a masters degree in the science of nursing.
Certification is part of all CNL programs.

Certified nursing assistant

Responsibilities: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the duties of a CNA are
focused on assisting patients with the activities of daily living. Grooming, bathing,
feeding and clothing changes are common responsibilities for a CNA. A CNA is
considered an entry-level position in the nursing industry.
Education: CNA training courses are offered at high schools, vocational institutions

and community colleges. The federal government requires 75 hours of training and passing of a
competency test for certification.

Nurse practitioner

Responsibilities: According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners website, NPs provide
high-quality health-care services, similar to those of a physician. NPs are able to diagnose and treat a
range of health problems and are uniquely focused on care and cure. They have the authority to order,
perform or interpret diagnostic tests and may prescribe medication. Most commonly, NPs practice
in the areas of family practice, womens health, pediatrics, acute care and geriatrics, according to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education: NPs have advanced degrees and clinical training beyond RN requirements. Most have
a masters degree in nursing, and many have doctorates, according to the American Association of
Nurse Practitioners.

Registered nurse

Responsibilities: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, RNs treat patients and educate them,
and the public, about various medical conditions. They provide advice and emotional support to
patients family members as well. RNs also record medical histories, assist with diagnostic testing,
operate medical machinery, give treatment and medications, and help with patient follow-up and
rehabilitation.
Education: There are three paths to becoming an RN: a bachelors degree in nursing, an associates
degree in nursing or a diploma from a nursing school. All states require individuals to take and pass
the National Council Licensure Examination for RNs.

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follow the money

opportunity
knocks

How to find scholarships

for nursing education
By Karen Caffarini | more content now

aacn.nche.edu

Nursing students not only

will have some of the best
chances of finding a job in
their graduating class
there will be 3.2 million U.S.
registered nurse jobs available
by 2018, according to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics
they also could be among
those graduates with the least
amount of student loan debt.
There are many scholarships
and loans available to nursing
students that could defray
higher-education costs. The
trick is knowing where to find
them. Your schools financial
aid office is one source. Here
are some other good starting
points.

This website of the American

Association of Colleges of
Nursing provides information
on several scholarships,
including those offered
in conjunction with the
association. The AACN has
joined with the Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation to offer
up to 400 $10,000 scholarships
to students in accelerated
baccalaureate and masters
nursing programs in an
effort to alleviate the nations
nursing shortage. Preference is
given to students from groups
underrepresented in nursing
or from a disadvantaged
background in the RWJF
New Careers in Nursing
Scholarship Program.

the NURSING job market

is growing
more content now

An aging baby boomer population, people living longer with chronic

illnesses and advancing technology have created unique challenges
in the health care profession. To help meet those challenges, the job
market is growing welcome news for aspiring and working nurses.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nursing profession
is experiencing better-than-average growth that will continue until
at least 2020. Nursing is going to be growing in all directions, says
Rose L. Hoffmann Ph.D., RN, assistant professor and Clinical Nurse
Leader Program Coordinator for the University of Pittsburgh School
of Nursing.
There will be opportunities in nursing education, research and point of
care as the nurse role as a health care collaborator grows. The nurses
role is not just in an acute care setting at the bedside, Hoffmann said.
Theres so much more to patient-care delivery now.
Those who are interested in the bedside setting will find plenty of jobs
in geriatric care as baby boomers age, according to Mary Otting, EMS
coordinator at Lurie Childrens Hopsital of Chicago. There will also
be more opportunities in home health care, she said.
Otting, who practiced as a nurse for more than 25 years before
completing her bachelor of science in nursing degree, said a license
alone is no longer sufficient for most people who aspire to a nursing
career. To get hired now as a new grad, you really have to have a
BSN, she said.

nursingscholarship.us

nsna.org

discovernursing.com

hrsa.gov

This website includes a

huge database, providing
users information on
scholarships offered by the
U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, states,
nursing associations, private
companies and others. The site
apprises users of scholarships
strictly for minorities, for
male nursing students and
for students willing to work
in an underserved area for a
given period of time. It tells
of commercial companyoffered scholarships, such
as Cherokee Uniforms,
which offers scholarships
to students who watch an
online video and then submit
an essay and application.

The National Student

Nursing
Association,
nsna.org, state nursing
associations and state student
nursing associations provide
information on national
and state scholarships. The
Foundation of National
Student Nurses Association
has its own scholarship
program and provides
links to other scholarship
sites. The Michigan Nurses
Association has a list of
national and state-specific
scholarships, including four
$1,000 scholarships offered
each year by the Michigan
Nurses Foundation.

The website for Johnson &

Johnsons Campaign for
Nursings Future has a list
of 363 scholarships available,
79 of which are open to
students with good grade
point averages and 85 of
which are open to doctoral
programs only. Some require
a 2.0 GPA, others 3.0 or
above. Some require state
residency. Among those
listed: GotChosen is giving
away $40,000 in scholarships
based on a random drawing,
not academic achievement or
financial need. Participants
complete a registration
process and apply; increase
your chances of winning by
having a sponsor.

The website for the U.S.

Department of Health
and Human Services
Health Resources and
Services Administration
lists scholarships and loans
available through the federal
government in an effort to
increase the diversity of the
health care workforce and the
number of providers working
in underserved communities.
The agency provides money
to accredited schools, which
in turn provide scholarships
and low-interest loans to
students with financial need.

An advanced degree can help boost a nurses career to the next

level, and online programs can help keep working nurses balance
career, family and school by allowing students to complete classwork
somewhat at their convenience while receiving the same education
theyd get with on-ground courses.
The University of Pittsburgh offers three online masters degree
programs in the field of nursing as well as an online Doctor of Nursing
Practice completion program. Course work mirrors whats done in the
live classroom, and students and faculty keep in touch by phone, email
and webcams, Hoffman said. Its important that the students know
that the faculty is there, she said. A programs clinical element if it
has one is done in a live setting.
Nursing can be an incredibly rewarding career, but Otting advises
those considering the profession to think seriously about whether its
the right one for them. It requires critical thinking and thinking on
ones feet while maintaining calm in a hectic environment.
We have been the most trusted profession for years, she said. Its
a calling. But its not for everyone. Hoffmann advises any practicing
nurse who is considering furthering her education to carefully research
the options before committing to a program. Go out there and see
whats available, she said.
Talk to the faculty about the course work, and ask what program
graduates are doing, Hoffman advised. Also key is the programs
certification rate, and US News and World Report ranks top online
graduate nursing programs.

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VA Medical Center Canandaigua

and Rochester Outpatient Clinic

NURSES
Caring for
Americas Heroes

Thank you to the NURSING HEROES who care for AMERICAS HEROES.

Congratulations

Annually, The Secretarys Awards For Excellence in Nursing honors one Registered Nurse in a staff nurse role,
one Registered Nurse in a non-staff nurse role, a Licensed Practical/ Vocational Nurse, and a Nursing Assistant or
Health Technician who are actively engaged in the care of patients at a Department of Veterans Affairs facility.

The recipients contributions to the care of patients in the VA health care setting are patient-centered and demonstrate
such excellence as to merit recognition from peers. This award can only be given once in an individuals VA nursing career.

to the Canandaigua VA Medical Centers 2015 Secretarys Award

for Excellence in Nursing Award recipients!

Shirleen Bennett, Registered Nurse, MS

Helen King, Registered Nurse

Michelle Burgess, Licensed Practical Nurse

Shelley Johncox, Nursing Assistant

With appreciation. VA Medical Center at Canandaigua and Rochester Outpatient Clinic.

SALUTE TO NURSES ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO MESSENGER POST MEDIA FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 3, 2015 PAGE 5

tell me
about it

NURSing
blogs that
entertain
and inform

Interested in what other nurses have to say? Want to learn from others experiences,
their successes and challenges? Want to stay current? Here are a few of the best
nursing blogs that are updated frequently, easy to navigate and generally fun to read.

Nurse Power

JParadisi RBs Blog

Inspiring women and healthcare professionals

to be happy in their careers and to reach their
full potential, Donna Cardillo is a powerhouse
of energy, wisdom and humor. Her blog shares
the passion and pride of nursing. Her Nurses
Connection newsletter is packed with
expert career advice.

This unique blog combines J. Paradisis

passions and experiences as a nurse in adult
oncology, visual artistry and writing. Her
approach blurs the lines between science and
art with an illuminating, humanistic touch.

donnacardillo.com/category/nurse-power/

The Nerdy Nurse

thenerdynurse.com

Brittney Wilson, aka The Nerdy Nurse, blogs

about nursing, health care, parenting and
various lifestyle topics. This blog really shines
its light on technology in nursing and health
care. Wilson is also a social media guru who
keeps readers up to date on Twitter, Pinterest
and Facebook.

Off the Charts

ajnoffthecharts.com

Well-written and informative, Off the Charts

is a valuable blog by the American Journal of
Nursing. Posts by editors and contributing
editors, policy leaders, patients and working
nurses highlight whats most interesting,
troubling, important and provocative in
nursing and health care.

jparadisirn.com

Madness: Tales of an
Emergency Room Nurse

emergency-room-nurse.blogspot.com

A strong and straightforward look at the

adventures of a veteran nurse in an inner-city
ER, this blog doesnt sugar-coat what being
an emergency room nurse is really like.

Nurse Nacole

nursenacole.com

Nacole Riccaboni, a registered nurse, blogs

about her experiences as she goes through
nursing school to become a nurse practitioner
and starts out in her career.
She posts daily on her school experiences and
nursing tips, and encourages your requests for
advice. She also has her own Etsy site where
she creates educational materials for nursing
students.

Innovative Nurse

Not Nurse Ratched

innovativenurse.com

When any patient mentions HIPAAscrambled for anonymity, Megan Duffys

blog about nursing is light-hearted and fun
with a down-to-earth writing style that draws
readers in. Humor, technology, nursing,
medicine and off-the-wall tutorials will help
you solve problems you didnt know you had.
Plus, cute animal pictures.

RT Connections

notratched.net

International Nurse Support

internationalnursesupport.com

Registered nurse Joyce Fiodembo offers tips

and advice to help you thrive as a nurse with
a goal to inspire, support and help nurses
succeed in their careers. Her niche is that she
offers a different perspective whether you are
an international nurse who has migrated to the
United States, a nurse working in a different
cultural setting or a minority nurse.

Registered nurse Kevin Ross offer savvy tips

for nurses to reach their potential in areas such
as starting a businesses, technology, social
media and living well.

blog.rtconnections.com

Renee Thompson is an expert on nurse

bullying and the negativity that often
accompanies working with nurses. Her blog
focuses on a variety of issues, advice for future
and current nurses, and helping individuals
eliminate disruptive behaviors.

The Digital Doorway

digitaldoorway.blogspot.com

NurseKeith, Keith Carlson, dedicates his blog

to helping nurses stay current and further
their profession without getting burned out.
Hes also the co-host of a popular online show
on RNFM Radio dedicated to nursing.

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the nurses
quandary
Author attempts
to solve current
issues by looking
at the past
By MELISSA ERICKSON | more content now

Despite dramatic scientific and technological

advances since the advent of professional nursing
in the 19th century, a close analysis shows that
modern nurses face many of the same challenges
as their predecessors.
In her new book, The Nurses Reality Shift:
Using History to Transform the Future, Dr.
Leslie Neal-Boylan, dean of the College of
Nursing, University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh,
points out trends and issues that have been
consistent in nursing throughout history with a
goal of improving the system and helping future
nurses perform their jobs better.
Ive been in nursing a long time, and Ive seen
many of the same issues over and over again,
Neal-Boylan said. My mother was a nurse, my
grandmother was a nurse. They experienced
many of the same challenges nurses encounter
today.
The nurse practitioner with an active practice,
who is also a part of academia, thought, Lets
trace back and look at history, look at why there
have been these problems and what we can do to
resolve them, she said.
Some of the issues both past and present include
excessive patient loads, staffing shortages,
long shifts and overtime, colleague bullying,
and incomplete or inconsistent facility-based
training.
For example, Neal-Boylans grandmother
picketed for an eight-hour shift. Working 12hour shifts, her grandmother knew, was too long
for a nurse to provide good care.
The quality of care suffers when nurses are tired,
but the working day remains the same, NealBoylan said. Today, many nurses typically work
12-hour shifts. Why do we (work excessively long
shifts), when we knew in the 1920s that it wasnt a
good idea? Neal-Boylan questioned.
Another issue is a lack of unity within the nursing
profession.
Theres a gap between the nurse who is full-time

at the bedside and the nurse whos a

researcher, an educator or in academia,
she said. There are over 3 million
nurses, and theyre really divided into
two groups. Theyre often not reading
the same journals or attending the same
conferences. This separation limits
nurses as a whole stifling their voice,
holding them back and curbing the work
they can accomplish, Neal-Boylan said.
While analyzing the past and using
modern survey techniques to give voice
to current issues, The Nurses Reality
Shift sheds light on why nurses are
where they are and, more importantly,
how nurses can approach the future in a
different way.
I have selected key events in our history
to show that many of the issues we
started out with have remained with us
and require resolution, Neal-Boylan
said. We should not continue to ignore
them or use Band-Aid solutions. My
goal in writing this book was to help
myself and others see, all in one place,
the present and past issues that repeat
themselves time and time again.
While the profession may have changed
in some ways and stagnated in others,
nurses share the common experience
of being nurses and a passion for this
most special profession.

SALUTE TO NURSES ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO MESSENGER POST MEDIA FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 3, 2015 PAGE 7

school nurses

lead the way to a healthy year

Each year this countrys 74,000 school nurses
are charged with helping maintain a healthy,
thriving student body for the school year.
The nationwide average ratio of school nurse
to students is one-to-1,150, which is higher
than the one-to-750 ratio recommended by
the National Association of School Nurses
(NASN) and Healthy People. While there is
a shortage of funded school nurse positions,
many states are moving to improve their
ratios; 38 states increased their school nurseto-student ratio between 1999 and 2009.
The health care industry is shifting toward
a community-based approach to health, says
Dr. Bonnie Saucier, president of Chamberlain
College of Nursings Tinley Park, Ill. campus.
Community health centers, clinics and
schools all play an important role in keeping
the population healthy. As the health care
industry focuses on prevention, the school
nurse plays an even more vital role in
delivering health and wellness programs to
students and their families.
School nurses serve to remove barriers to
learning by providing early intervention
services like scoliosis and eyesight checks
to the entire student body. They also manage
individual student cases, which include
moderating allergy triggers or allocating
prescribed medication. It is estimated that 20
to 30 percent of children have chronic health
conditions. In many cases, the school nurse is
the only health care professional students see
on a regular basis; 9 percent of children do

not have health insurance, which makes the

role of the school nurse even more crucial.
Schools that employ a nurse report increased
attendance as chronic illness is identified
and managed; teaching staff can focus on
teaching, rather than providing health care;
and less strain falls on other health services
because of reduced number of emergency
calls, according to NASN.
In order for a student to be successful in
the classroom, he or she has to be physically
and emotionally well, says Jennifer Joseph, a
school nurse in Oak Park, Ill., and graduate
of Chamberlain College of Nursings Bachelor
of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program.
As a parent and school nurse, knowing my
kids have access to a baccalaureate-prepared
nurse in their schools makes me feel more at
ease when I send them to school each day.
BSN degree programs, like Chamberlains,
enable students to earn their degrees in as
few as three years of year-round study. The
program introduces students to a variety of
work settings including schools through
diverse clinical experiences, and allows
students to enter the workforce faster than
peers in traditional four-year programs.
Nurses who choose to serve in schools have
the unique responsibility to care for students
in the absence of their families, says Dr.
Saucier. The academic success and vitality
of the community starts at the school, and
the school nurse is at the center of it all.
Brandpoint

MESSENGER POST MEDIA

Celebrates the profession of nursing and honors those who

have so passionately dedicated their lives to patient care.
We join the American Nurses Association in celebrating National Nurses Week,
which is held May 6-12, every year. The purpose of the week-long celebration is to
raise awareness of the value of nursing and help educate the public about the role
nurses play in meeting the health care needs of the American people.
In honor of the dedication, commitment, and tireless effort of the nearly 3.1 million
nurses nationwide who promote and maintain the health of this nation we are
proud to recognize nurses everywhere during this particular week for the quality
work they provide seven days a week, 365 days a year.

MESSENGER POST MEDIA advertising supplement

a division of gatehouse media inc.
73 buffalo street canandaigua ny 14424 585.394.0770 www.MPNnow.com

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