felbrymaster, Author at Felbry College

Posted on May 1, 2017

When it comes to our concept of a nurse, more than likely, we are all guilty of conjuring up an image of an outdated stereotype, something we were used to seeing in movies or on television: it’s the image of a woman dressed in white, wearing a white hat and carrying a tray of pills to a patient’s room. She doesn’t ask questions, she simply carries out doctor’s orders.

Times have changed.

Nursing Education

Today’s nurses play a major part in patient care, and they receive intense medical and patient care training that prepares them for tasks well beyond handing out pills and learn the important place that critical thinking in nursing occupies in practice.

One of the most important aspects of their education, critical thinking in nursing truly rounds out a nurse’s expertise and effectiveness. Developing critical thinking skills, nurses position themselves to manage and strategize patient care situations, deal with multiple physicians, family members and others involved in a patient’s treatment, and enhance their expertise in such a way as to truly excel in their occupation.

Critical thinking in nursing is integral to a nurse practitioner’s success.

Nursing Research

When it comes to health care research, the critical thinking required in nursing practice plays a unique role. Of all the health care professionals involved in a patient’s treatment, none stay as closely involved in day-to-day care as nurses. Certainly, they provide medical care to patients, but more than that, they offer understanding, compassion and a chance for patients to talk through not just their physical reactions to treatment but their feelings about it.

Simply put, nurses connect with their patients. A recent article in John Hopkins University’s Nursing Magazine, describes how a nurses’ relationships to patients proves vital to the field of health care research. Who better to offer observations, analysis and a human perspective of treatment than nurses in the thick of helping patients get through their care physically and emotionally?

Nursing Careers

Critical thinking in nursing makes a significant difference to the health care profession as a whole. As the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates, nurses represent the largest health care occupation, holding 2.75 million jobs. The medical skills and critical thinking they bring to patient care have the power to enhance medical treatments for decades to come.

Learn more about the different types of nursing career specialties and nursing education options.

Posted on March 11, 2017

Qualified Registered Nurses Needed

As baby boomers in the United States age, the demand for qualified nurses is increasing. Because of the shortage of qualified nurses, registered nursing is anticipated to be one of the hottest jobs over the next decade. The nursing shortage means that many people earning their nursing degrees can write their own ticket to success.

Contributing Factors

Some contributing factors impacting the nursing shortage:

Enrollment in schools of nursing is not growing fast enough

Limited nursing school faculty

With fewer new nurses, the average RN age is climbing

An aging U.S. population

Addressing the Nursing Shortage

The American Association of College of Nursing (AACN) is extremely concerned about the shortage and is diligently working with schools, policy makers, the media and other organizations to bring attention to this health care crisis.

The AACN compiled a number of nationwide strategies taking place to address the nursing shortage:

In 2006, many statewide initiatives were started to encourage current nurses to return to school to earn graduate degrees to teach the next generation of nurses.
Nursing colleges and universities are forming strategic partnerships and seeking private support to help expand student capacity in schools.
In September 2010, AACN announced the plan to expand NursingCAS, the nation’s centralized application service for RN programs, to include graduate nursing programs. This plan is expected to maximize the educational capacity of schools of nursing.

Online Nursing Programs to the Rescue

Nursing schools are increasingly unable to accommodate the influx of new students because they don’t have enough space or qualified teachers. To make up for this challenge, one thing that schools such as University of Phoenix, South University and Kaplan University are doing is developing high-quality online nursing programs.

Advantages of Online Nursing Programs

Sheila Marks, DNS, APRN, BC, is an Associate Professor of Nursing at South University in Savannah, Georgia. Marks is careful to explain, online nursing programs are not secondary to traditional programs—they are filling a void and offering students wait-listed at traditional schools an alternative. “The prospective students on waiting lists now are not marginal students. They are good students who can’t get into nursing school because there is not enough faculty,” she said.

What You Can Do

“There are many reasons why prospective students should consider nursing,” Marks said. “The field offers an active, varied work environment and job security. There is also flexibility—most nurses can either work part time or full time.”

Anyone who is interested in science and enjoys working with others should apply to nursing school. “We want the best and the brightest to enter the profession,” she said. An aptitude for science is critical. Marks said that the emphasis on science is much more now than when she was in nursing school in the 1970s.

What are her final words of advice for the would-be nurse? “Do it!” she said enthusiastically. But, she warned, “It is a rigorous scientific field, so take it seriously.”

Posted on August 9, 2017

The Felbry College-School of Nursing is a place to enjoy community, learn real world skills, and experience a world class education. When deciding to join our program, Felbry commits to providing the best academic and social environments to support student success. Professionals who come from underprivileged, under-served and underrepresented populations will be provided the opportunity to thrive at Felbry.

More Than Education

A nursing degree from Felbry College means more than a piece of paper certifying your professional certification to get hired. From the moment students come into the classroom, staff and instructors are instrumental in teaching hard and soft skills such as clinical and business skills, professional and ethical standards, as well as resume writing and critical thinking, all of which are required in today’s job market. The School of Nursing is built around nurturing student goals and ambitions to be the best nurses in the world. Felbry College is not just a place to learn, it is a community that thrives on connection to community and remains dedicated to professionalism.

Meeting Goals

Some prospective students struggle to find the right place to study and lose hope of ever getting into a professional career. Discouragement in moving towards goals can be common for some people but Felbry College does not let that deter prospective students from coming to study. With a willingness to learn and build accountability to professional standards, any student can find success at Felbry College and in your later nursing career. Students are not just customers, every individual’s contribution is valued and the best educational experience is afforded to everyone equally.

Philosophy

Every individual is made up of many moving parts from physical to spiritual and psychological components. Health needs arise when the body is thrown off course for many different reasons, affecting quality of life, health, and overall wellness. This may, in turn, impact interactions with family, friends, and loved ones. Felbry College places a high value on teaching potential nurses to learn balance in work and life but also how to help patients achieve homeostasis in their lives as well. Helping patients return to a better quality of life is what Felbry College – School of Nursing’s philosophy is all about.

The Felbry Family

Students who graduate from Felbry College find it is more than an institution of higher learning; it’s a culture and way of life. Commitment to student success does not stop when someone leaves Felbry. Felbry Alumni Association provides assistance with transition from student to LPN or RN. Our alumni balance busy work schedules with family commitments and school until graduation. The Felbry College Alumni Association is the perfect way to stay connected with former classmates, instructors, and the wider community. Graduation is not the final hurdle for many graduates as career paths take many different forms and some students benefit from the networking opportunities and resources available to alumni as professional careers thrive and take off. Felbry College is committed to supporting students for the long haul with the Alumni Association, just one of many ways to stay connected to the Felbry family.

Felbry College provides students with resources and tools to be successful in their chosen careers.
Contact us to find out how we can support you in achieving the career of your dreams.