Nurses can take advantage of higher education opportunities
If there has ever been a time to consider a career in nursing, the time is now.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected the employment of Registered Nurses to grow 12% until 2028 for a variety of reasons. These include increasing rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes and obesity, the increased emphasis on preventative care and the demand for healthcare services for the baby-boom population.
Salaries for registered nurses with a bachelor’s degree are reported at $73,300 annually. Those with specialties such as nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners with a graduate degree earn $115,800 per year.
University of St. Thomas’ Claudine Dufrene PhD, RN-BC, GNP-BC, CNE, Assistant Professor, Chair, BSN Program, said their UST Peavy School of Nursing offers a traditional four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Since the program began in 2012, they’ve seen increased interest and significant growth, Dufrene said.
In August 2020, UST will launch an accelerated BSN (ABSN) for individuals who have an earned bachelor’s degree in another discipline and would like to pursue nursing as a career.
“Both of our programs are pre-licensure programs,” said Dufrene. “The programs consist of coursework in foundational and specialty nursing courses in addition to laboratory skills, simulation activities, and hands-on supervised experiences in the clinical settings. Students who successfully complete the programs are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam, the national licensure exam for entry into nursing practice.”
The UST Peavy School of Nursing offers two tracts. The BSN program can be completed in three years beginning with courses at the sophomore level. For an ABSN, students with a prior bachelor’s degree who are accepted into the program, after completion of nursing prerequisites, complete the program in one year.
Erica Yu, Ph.D., RN, associate dean and department chair for undergraduate studies at Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth in Houston, said their two tracks in the BSN program are Pacesetter BSN and RN to BSN. Pacesetter BSN is an entry to practice degree program to become a registered nurse. RN to BSN is for nurses who wish to obtain a BSN degree.
UTHealth’s accelerated BSN program allows students to complete the degree program in 15 months. Students can complete RN to BSN program in two or three semesters.
It’s important to know the basics to get started. Students must complete 60 hours of nursing pre-requisites before enrolling at UTHealth Houston Cizik School of Nursing including general education courses and science courses such as anatomy and physiology, microbiology, and chemistry. An entrance exam is required.
“There are two commonly accepted entrance exams, the TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) and HESI A2 (Health Education Systems Admission Assessment). At UTHealth Houston Cizik School of Nursing, HESI A2 is the accepted entrance exam. Once enrolled, students will complete 60 hours of nursing courses in four semesters (15 months),” said Yu.
Upon successful completion of their nursing program, students will be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) licensure exam. The NCLEX is a nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses in the U.S. and Canada. Upon passing the NCLEX exam, they will become registered nurses.
One of the highest-earning nursing specialties according to Yu is a Certified Nurse Anesthetist, who has the highest beginning salary ranging from $150,000 to $200,000 and is based on years of experience and specialty area.
Kathryn M. Tart, EdD, MSN, RN, Humana Endowed Dean’s Chair in Nursing, Founding Dean and Professor, College of Nursing, University of Houston, said students interested in pursuing a nursing education not only have to do research for their prospective school, they must be serious about their grades to be admitted, as schools are highly competitive.
“Learn about the nursing programs you are interested in at the program’s website and attending information sessions. Ask yourself if you meet the admission criteria. Talk to a recruiter at the program. Make sure the programs you are interested in have acceptable NCLEXRN first-time pass rates. In Texas, you can verify the NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates by going to www.bon.texas.gov. Make sure the program you apply to has national accreditation. National accreditation signifies excellence in the program,” said Tart.
Tart also advised applying early as well as meeting the requirements for the nursing program of your choice as these programs have strict deadlines. Once you’re in school, be ready for hard work, she said.
“When you are accepted, study hard, make good grades, and learn as much as you can in the simulation labs, classrooms and in the clinical environments. Work no more than 10 hours per week outside of your studies. Trust your faculty and preceptors. Become friends with your classmates. They will become your colleagues. Most importantly, this journey to becoming a nurse is not about you. It is about the people that you will care for, our patients. Keep the patient at the center of all that you do. Your hard work to becoming a nurse will give you a lifetime of satisfaction and purpose,” said Tart.