Nursing Degrees Are Getting Harder To Obtain Every Year

Earning nursing degrees is far from being easy. For one thing, admission to nursing schools and programs has always been competitive, but in the past ten years or so it has gotten much more so. There are a few reasons for this. One of the biggest ones is that America is experiencing a severe shortage of nurses.

Currently there are a couple hundred thousand more nursing job openings than qualified nurses to fill them. Another reason is that this current shortage is only the tip of the iceberg. Older people are the biggest users of health care, by far, and America's population is rapidly aging. Every day, from now to around 2025, ten thousand "Baby Boomers" will move into retirement age every single day. This will add a staggering burden to our healthcare system. Seeing this, many people see nursing as a job offering tremendous financial security (and they're right). Third, the current recession means many people have lost jobs and are looking for training in an area where they'll have no trouble finding a job. Nursing fills that bill nicely.

All of this adds up to the perfect storm when it comes to nursing school admissions; it's always been tough to get into nursing school, it's been getting tougher for the last ten years, and it's only going to get more and more difficult for the foreseeable future. Part of the blame also lies with government, at both the state and federal level. These entities knew decades ago that the huge wave of Baby Boomer retirements would lead to a massive burden on our nation's health care system, and would require many more trained health professionals to deal with, and they knew exactly when it would happen, yet they've done little or nothing to address the problem. Government should have gone about funding the creation of many more nursing programs and medical schools to gear up to meet these shortages, but they didn't. Now it's a bit too late to start addressing the problem, as it takes years and years to commission, design, build, fund, accredit and staff such schools and programs.

Does this mean that you can't get into nursing schools unless you're a member of Phi Beta Kappa? No; not at all. So don't despair; while nursing schools admissions are competitive, they're not exactly cutthroat yet, or at the level of schools like Harvard and Yale. There's no denying that nursing degrees are getting harder to obtain every year, but a person who applies today, who has a good high school GPA, a high score on the SAT or ACT, strong references, and the ability to write a powerful college admissions essay has a very good chance of winning admission to a nursing program. But it can't be stressed enough that anyone interested in becoming a nurse should apply as soon as possible, because every year in the future they will be competing against even more people seeking nursing degrees.

Ryan Gold is a freelance writer in Texas. He has written on a wide variety of subjects, including many articles on nursing degrees.

Medical Assistant Programs in High Demand

Medical assisting is one health occupation in high demand, and according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics it is one career that has experienced the fastest growth in the country. In the next four years, job opportunities for medical assistants will grow exponentially. Medical assistants are valuable to doctor's offices, hospitals and other health care facilities. They receive training in assistant programs that include clinical and administrative duties. These attributes make assistants important members to any health care location.

Medical assistant programs require 24 months of study and hands-on application. Clinical courses cover a wide variety of topics necessary for working at any health care facility. You will study phlebotomy, which is the act of drawing blood, or venipuncture, from a patient for lab tests. Also, you learn to take vital signs such as measuring height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, and pulse rate. Other courses include assisting with physical examinations, minor office surgeries, collecting and testing specimens, conducting electrocardiograms, administering oral medications and interviewing and recording patient concerns prior to the doctor's examination. Assistants also receive training for explaining procedures to patients and answering patient questions in a professional manner. Sometimes doctors dictate prescriptions to medical assistants prior to authorization and giving it to the patient; therefore, you will learn appropriate medical terminology for writing a prescription. Additionally, courses in radiography give you a background in x-ray procedures, which is an advantage since many health care facilities have in-house radiography services.

After completing courses in the classroom setting, your skills are tested in a hands-on environment when you apply what you learned from classroom instruction. Your instructor guides your use of medical simulation mannequins or virtual patients so you become a highly proficient assistant in the area of patient care. It is better to make mistakes and correct errors on virtual patients rather than real ones.

In addition to learning how to care for patients, administrative courses are an integral part of the 24 month study of medical assistant programs. You will master clerical duties such as medical coding for procedures, billing and filing insurance claims. Other important clerical skills include collecting documentation for medical records, scheduling appointments in the office, a hospital or out-patient care. All of these office skills combined with clinical knowledge, make you a valuable member in any health care facility.

Upon completion of medical assistant programs, students earn an Associate in Science degree in Medical Assisting. Yet, getting a certification with your degree is the next logical step. Consider this as a possibility: be able to advance rapidly in the field of assisting. Have a professional advantage over other assistants with greater credibility and better job security. A Certified Medical Assistant credential is recognized nationwide and appreciated by many health care facilities. In addition to becoming a CMA, consider a certification in EKG and phlebotomy or a basic x-ray operator license. All of these certifications only add to your marketability as a CMA and increase your employment opportunities.

Working as a medical assistant is an exciting career, and medical assistant programs prepare you for success. The time required for program completion is minimal compared to the knowledge and benefits you gain. It is career in high demand with avenues for quick advancement and job security. Consider if this field is right for you.

Amy Russell is an independent college counselor who enjoys helping others achieve their education goals. Recently, she has seen many students interested on training in medical assistant programs to purse a healthcare profession. Being a South Florida local, she tends to refer students in the area looking for schools nearby to http://www.cbt.edu/academics/school-of-allied-health-a-science.

Colleges And Universities Enhance Campus Experience With Outdoor Movie Events

It is well-known that completing a college degree is almost essential in today's economic environment. Although the traditional picture of college life is one of having fun, learning and making new friends; for many new college students it is difficult to adjust to college life and feel at home on campus. In fact, according to American College Testing (ACT), twenty-five percent of students leave before their second year, and many students end up completing their degrees at another university.

Universities are turning to special events like outdoor movie nights, welcome back events in the fall, spring flings and other special events on campus to create a sense of community and help students feel more connected to the school and their fellow classmates.

A welcome event in the fall to greet new students and welcome back returning students is a great way for a college to start the year off right. New students are often nervous and looking forward to meeting new friends; and the first week of school is always busy and sometimes stressful. An outdoor movie event is the perfect way to get students together at the beginning of the year, enjoy the crisp fall weather and set the tone for the school year.

For winter events, or in case of inclement weather, an indoor cinematic experience can be easily set up. A gym or an auditorium can be quickly turned into a movie theatre with an inflatable movie screen. Inflatable movie screens can be set up and taken down all in one day; so the room will be available for normal use the next day.

Inflatable movie screens come in many sizes and can be set up anywhere; the quad, the parking lot or even an athletic field. An outdoor movie event is a fun way to get a great spring fling started. The latest blockbusters can even be shown before they are released on DVD. An outdoor movie event production company can guide your organization through the licensing process.

School clubs can also utilize an inflatable movie screen to promote a cause using a movie or documentary. The Earth Day club might show a movie about the environment, a cultural club might show a film about a specific culture or event, or a political club might show a film or project election results onto a large inflatable screen.

Watching a movie as a group is a great way for college students to relax together and bond over common interests. Students who might not get the chance to socialize and make new friends in class might get that chance during a special event or movie night. Students who enjoy their college experience and make friends on campus are more likely to return to the school and, ultimately, complete their valuable degree there.

Paul B. Murray is the founder and owner of Southern Outdoor Cinema, LLC, the LARGEST producer of outdoor movie events in the United States for professional sports teams, movie studios, film festivals, marketing agencies, Fortune 500 Companies and cities. Using cutting edge outdoor cinema equipment paired with a proprietary movie event planning system, Southern Outdoor Cinema helps clients create highly successful and highly entertaining outdoor movie events. To learn more about Southern Outdoor Cinema, visit http://www.SouthernOutdoorCinema.com

Benefits Of Earning An Associate's Degree

Investing in Your Education

You probably keep hearing about the importance of getting an education, but may be wondering how it's possible. If you're one of many people who are juggling many responsibilities, such as work or family, then going to college may be the last thing on your mind. Finances are also another issue that many people are faced with when thinking about college.

Associate's degrees exist as an option that takes less time and money than a Bachelor's degree. For people without time to devote to an extensive degree program, this can help you reach you goals, while giving you the freedom to keep the rest of your life in order. Getting qualified for a rewarding career is made easy and accessible with this degree option.

Choosing a Program That's Right for You

When making the decision to go to college and earn your two-year degree, it will be important to make sure that the area you are going to major in will provide you with a stable career and income. You can do research online to find out details about the salary and expected rate of growth in your field of choice. Working in an occupation you are passionate about is also necessary, so finding a career that will meet all of these requirements may take some reflection and searching.

Why Choose an Associate's Degree?

If you complete your Associate's degree at a part-time pace, it can still take less time than a Bachelor's degree, which makes it a great option for someone who can't make a long-term commitment to a degree. In 24 months, you can be done with your education and working in the field of your choice.

A two-year degree, like many others, can be done online. Whether you choose to complete a portion of your education or the entirety online is up to you, but this has proven to be a way to make classes accessible to people who don't have the means to commute to a college campus every day. All you need is a computer and the internet, and you can be on your way to finding some great online colleges.

You may eventually want to earn a Bachelor's degree, and this is an option for people who complete their two-year degree because the credits can be transferred to another college at a future date. While earning an Associate's degree, you will be racking up credits that can go towards you advancing your education and career even further if you choose to. Not having to make the initial commitment to a four-year degree will allow you to get your education at whatever rate you see fit.

Your Associate's degree will make your four-year degree more affordable in the long-run. Paying less per credit helps you to keep the cost of your education down, so you aren't working for so long to repay your debts. Earning the first two years of you Bachelor's degree at a community college will mean that you are paying community college prices, which is fantastic news for someone who can't afford to pay expensive tuition costs right away.

A college education at any level is a worthwhile investment, because it is an investment into your future. Achieving a higher standard of living is the goal of many people who often feel like they just don't have the time or money to earn a degree. An Associate's degree provides a stepping stone towards better jobs and more accessible education in the future.