Posts Tagged ‘continuing education’

Choosing the Best Online College; First Choose your Questions

September 25th, 2011

The number of colleges and universities offering online degree programs has more than tripled in the last twenty years. Never have there been nearly the number of choices that there are today.

While that’s something to celebrate, it does give students a lot of institutions to investigate before choosing one.

Fortunately, the narrowing down process is easier than it may seem. Step one is for students to ask themselves what they are looking for in an online college or university. As that question is answered, it raises the questions students must answer about the colleges they wish to consider.

Below is a list of questions to which all students should get answers by reviewing college publications and websites and/or speaking with admissions representatives. You can and should add to them, depending on what you are looking for.

First, students should eliminate from consideration any institutions which are not fully accredited by an agency which has been approved by the United States Department of Education.

Next is the question of majors? Which colleges offer the major in which you are interested? How strong are their programs? Do they offer concentrations or specialties of interest to you? What are the backgrounds of faculty? All are questions worth asking.

Finances, of course, are important to most people. But, asking only about tuition does not result in a full picture. Be sure to find out about the availability of scholarships, student loans, grants and tuition installment options. All can play a role in making an institution affordable.

If you have done prior college coursework, or if you have experience for which you might be granted college credit, ask about colleges’ credit transfer policies. Specifically, be sure you understand what you must do to determine which transfer credits you might receive and the number of such credits which might be applied to your degree. In addition, ask if you can be informed, in writing, which credits will be accepted before you enroll.

The final “must” questions are about student services. Is anyone available to help you with filling out financial aid forms? How tough is it to contact a professor if you have a question? Does the college offer free job placement, and if so, how effective has it been?

Take some time to think about and clarify your educational and professional objectives. You’ll then be able to know which questions to add to those we’ve already discussed. As you obtain answers to those questions, you will be able to rule out some of your potential choices fairly quickly and identify others worthy of continued consideration.

Once you have the right questions, getting the answers is relatively simple. So, you’re in luck. Enjoy the process.

Daniel Kane has been assisting students for more than 25 years through his positions in higher education and more than a dozen educational websites on distance education and degrees and online universities.

No comments »

Posted in Online College Degree

Tags:

Become A Certified Nursing Assistant With CNA Classes

July 24th, 2010

Are you a caring people person? Do you want to be a nurse but don’t know what kind or where to start? You don’t have to be confused any longer because this article will present to you the different kinds of nursing school programs you might encounter.

If you’thought about becoming a nurse assistant, you might want to consider the Red Cross CNA class (Certified Nursing Assistant). The Red Cross class gives you a nationally recognized certification.

The majority of people start as a Certified Nursing Assistant. The CNA is basically a nurse’s aide. It is entry-level work because the CNA requires little training, and you will perform simple tasks like bathing and feeding patients and making beds. The technical programs that train you for this career only take a few weeks to complete and they include practical experience. Once your education is completed you can be certified and begin your career.

The next step up from a CNA is the Licensed Practical Nurse. The LPN are the foot soldiers of the nursing world. They supervise CNA’s and take their instructions from an RN. You would be responsible for patient charts, medicating patients, assisting other nurses, injections, and more. To be an LPN, you must obtain an associate’s degree in nursing, but this can be completed in one to two years. At the end of your courses, you will have to pass the NCLEX-PN exam. Only then can you become licensed and being work.

The Registered Nurse or RN is the most sought after class of nurse. They are able to perform all the work of the CNA and LPN. However, they have more a more crucial role to fill. They are involved in serious procedures and surgeries and answer only to the presiding doctors. While you can find work as an RN with only an associate’s nursing degree, the majority of employers prefer a four-year bachelor’s degree. No matter which course you choose, you still will have to take and pass an exam called NCLEX-RN. Then you can be licensed and start working.

If you are already an LPN or RN, universities offer you options to continue your education. There is a program called RN to BSN, which provides a registered nurse with only an associate’s degree to achieve a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The same exists for an LPN but is slightly different. If you still want to take your education farther, you can climb all the way up to a PhD with hard work and ambition.

Hopefully, you are now not as confused as you were about the types of nursing school programs and nurse classifications. They all take work, even the Red Cross CNA class, but give you a great career helping people in need. Health care systems grow exponentially each year, so there is always a high demand for nurses. Talk about job security!

The author is currently researching Home Wine Making brands and Family Tree Searches for upcoming review articles.

Medical School search terms:

No comments »

Posted in Nursing School

Tags:

Getting Your Certified Nursing Assistant License

July 17th, 2010

CNA Training programs are a critical element in assuring that people who enter this part of the health care field are successful. CNAs’ provide almost 80% of the one to one care that is received by individuals living in care facilities. As the population continues to age there is a greater need and they play an increasing vital role in the health of the elderly and chronically ill.

Each state has different requirements that must be met through CNA Training before they can take an exam to be certified. The training includes both an educational component and a clinical component.

Completion of a CNA program can occur in as little as a few weeks or take several months. Contacting the department that handles training in your state to get the requirements for becoming licensed is very important.

There are two phrases to the CNA Program that must be completed before an individual is allowed to take the certification examination.

The educational portion of the training will take place in a classroom setting. In some states the educational requirements are designed to take place in a very short time. In other states the educational portion of the training is set up so that a person receives college credits for some of the classes and these last through a college semester.

Clinical experience is gained through work at a facility. States differ on the number of clinical hours that an individual must work. The hours can range from a few weeks to a month to attain the required hours of clinical training. Some facilities pay a person who is working on their clinical hours and then hire them when they have passed the certification examination.

Once all requirements to take the examination have been met, the documentation with proof of completion are submitted to the State with an application to take the exam. The test that is given will consist of an educational component and a clinical component. This test is designed to assure that a person has the necessary knowledge and skills to do their job safely and effectively.

After a person has completed the training and passed the examination they can work anywhere in the state where they are certified. If they move to another state however they will need to complete a Request for Reciprocity.

The author is currently researching Homedics Back Massager and Homedics Massage Chair for a magazine article on massage.

Medical School search terms:

No comments »

Posted in Nursing School

Tags: