The Dreaded Nurse Research Paper – Pointers for Success
August 30, 2009 by Rn2b
Filed under Becoming a Nurse, Earning Your Nursing Degree, Featured Nurse News, General Nurse Information, Nursing Books, Registered Nurse (RN), Testing and Exam Help
The Dreaded Research Paper – Pointers for SuccessIf you have finished a graduate school program, then you would also have experienced doing the boon of all graduate students – the much hated research paper assignment. The moment the deadline is given, it will eventually sink in to you that you have so many things to do yet so little time. You then realize that you cannot help but procrastinate. Is there any possible way to break the spell?
There are different research paper styles depending on the graduate program you are in. Initially, one needs to have the “shell” of your paper ready depending on what approach your program entails. Nursing programs usually entail its students to use the APA style of research papers. In order to start you need to set up the first page (title page), the second page (abstract page), and third page (level one heading) and the reference page.
Do not get overexcited after you have the “shells”. Keep in mind that the “shells” are not yet the whole content of your research paper. You can check out page 306 of the 5th edition of the APA manual. You can use it as a sample guide.
The APA formatting and style guide is a really superb source of form. It already has a background framework of the title page and abstract. You can look up the sample reference page located at the APA Sample Reference Page.
When you have finished creating the “shell” for you research paper, you can already say that you have actually started the wheels of your research paper rolling.
For the abstract, research papers usually have three portion. However, here is a formula that is commonly used by many:
The paper uses the compare and contrast method and is separated into three portions: The first fraction examines the object of comparison, the second fraction reviews (can be related to literature significant to the objects being compared) and the final fraction which pictures out the differences and similarities using different perspectives. Inferences and implications for the research and practice are conferred in the paper as well. Please remember that information websites such as Wikipedia is not a scholarly supply of your information. You have to
To study about other intellectual references, you can use dogpile.com metasearch engine or Google Scholar. Look for journal articles using CINAHL. Please keep in mind that Wikipedia and other information websites like it are not a scholarly source of information. You need to differentiate scholarly from non-scholarly sources by researching about legitimate sources of scholarly information. Wikipedia may be an easy source of information, but not all of it are accurate as people can actually tamper with the information being posted which has a tendency for bias and prejudice.
Professors from graduate school usually prefer primary sources instead of secondary and tertiary levels. In order for you to pinpoint primary sources, you may look for secondary sources and search for the reference list of your secondary source. You can try to see whole sections of particular books at Google Books Search. You can use it anytime free of charge. Another resource of information is Questia. You must, however pay for its services at $100/ year, but you will realize that it is all worth it.
The next thing you would do is to start the a rough outline of your paper. A little patience is needed here; don’t be too fastidious in this process as constant proofreading will smoothen the section. The important thing now is to get the ball rolling and start the process.
Anything You Need to Know About Associate Degree in Nursing
August 28, 2009 by Rn2b
Filed under Becoming a Nurse, Earning Your Nursing Degree, General Nurse Information, Registered Nurse (RN)
Anything You Need to Know About Associate Degree in Nursing
The different multiple entry points into becoming a registered nurse include the Associate in Nursing (which is also termed ADN), BS Nursing or BSN, diploma in nursing, and last is entering directly in graduate programs of nursing. Such options have made it confusing for the public especially to those who would like to pursue nursing as a profession. One of the options, Associate Degree in Nursing is the main focus of this discussion.
The programs for ADN started in 1952 when Mildred Montag, a nurse and also an educator from Columbia University took it as a subject of her dissertation. According to Montag’s study, the 2-year associate degree programs is possible, by cutting short the time needed to educate nursing students, because during that time, they are required to study for 3 years for them to obtain a diploma. During that time, there was a big shortage on nurses because the war has just ended.
About 60 percent of new-minted nurses in the US are from associate degree programs. The associate degree program helps students prepare for beginning a career in professional nursing practice. After completing an accredited program which takes two years, the graduates are qualified for the NCLEX which means National Council Licensure Exam.
Typical associate degree in nursing course takes seventy to eighty hours per semester. The curriculum includes nursing theory as well as varied clinical experiences which provide skills for care centered towards the patients in different situations. Opportunities for employment are in an intensive care units, private clinics and agencies for the community.
Listed here are some of the positive sides to associate degree in nursing:
• Lower cost of education compared to BSN
• It will take lesser time in finishing the course because it only takes 2 years.
• Services to isolated areas can be facilitated
• Local people are given the chance to work and gives them the chance to render service to their community
However, there are also drawbacks on associate degree in nursing and listed here are some of these:
• A number of applicants who are qualified are not shortlisted or they still need to wait because the class size of ADN is limited and many are applying to get in
• The co requisites in most programs are considered as prerequisites
• Students in some scenario are forced to re enroll in science and other subjects for a good standing so that they can equal other candidates in very competition-oriented process of admission into program.
• It happens that many students are not given the recognition they deserve, academically speaking for extra hours in the semester and their difficult work.
• They often get bedside nurse positions because they lack educational qualifications for management, education, and other roles.
Lastly,
• There are fewer opportunities available for advancement in the field they chose because many associate degree nurses fail to cope up with the stressful clinical environment as they age.
With this, consider the options before choosing your career path. It is also necessary to think twice and ponder on your options so that you maximize your time and resources for the fulfilling career you would like to achieve.
Nurse Certifications in the Emergency Department
August 26, 2009 by Rn2b
Filed under Becoming a Nurse, Critical Care Nurse (CCN), General Nurse Information, Nurse Programs, Types of Nurses
Certifications in the ED
For those nurses who would like to experience challenges and surge of adrenaline, then applying for a position in the Emergency Department is recommended. Emergency Department or more commonly known as ED is one of the main component of a hospital. Here is where patients are rushed in for urgent situations such as accidents, stab wounds, gun shots, poisoning and the likes. In order to be an Emergency Department nurse, you are required to have several certifications and qualifications in hand. In this article, you will be able to know what certifications are usually wanted or needed for you to become an ED nurse.
These nurses are those who are front liners when it comes to initial patient care. They are very keen when it comes to assessment of the patient, flexible but follows basic nursing principles, sharp when it comes to categorizing the patients according to their conditions (ED triage nurses), acts quickly but accurately, and can handle a lot of pressure. They give primary care to preserve life such as initial pulmonary – cardiac support and first aids.
Nurses who want to apply in the ED often have the problem of thinking what they might be asked for. For you to become and ED RN, you must have BLS or Basic Life Support, ACLS or Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and a little of Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course or ENDPC certification. If you want a little extra boost in your vitae, you can also opt to acquire Trauma certifications such as TNCC or Trauma Nursing Core Course, and/ or TNS (Trauma Nurse Specialist – which is only recognized in Illinois) and CEN or Certified Emergency Nurse. You must, however keep in mind that most hospitals offer now additional pay or incentives for extra certifications, so you may as well take the minimum certificates required for you to become an ED. However, at some point, you may wonder if you should only be acquiring minimum certificates in order to become an ED nurse. If you feel like taking it a little further than you have to, don’t hesitate to do it because the better it will be for you. Nurses should try hard to continuously elevate their standards not only for the sake of passing the requirements but for their own professional growth as well. Many new ED nurses would like to acquire all the certifications needed for ED – this is a good thing, because they can be very flexible as an ED nurse in the future compared to those who have taken the minimum requirements. ACLS, BLS, Standard First Aid, Peds and Trauma certifications should be obligatory for Emergency Department nurses.
Because of a lot of required certificates, some nurses tend to overlook the CEN certification. However, this is not recommended. CEN or Certified Emergency Nurse is a national qualification which confirms that you have undergone basic training and learned the primary competencies as an ED RN. If you want to exceed expectations, you should invest in study materials and take the test needed for it.