Travel nursing

If you’ve earned your online nursing degree and are ready to chuck the computer and stretch your legs, consider applying for nursing jobs that will keep you on the move. The best part is that you can still pursue an online degree from any college you desire as you travel – with your job – from location to location.

If you’ve never considered a career in travel nursing, you most likely have a lot of questions about it. Here are some of the most common questions that prospective travel nurses ask.

What are the basic requirements to become a travel nurse?

First, you must graduate from an accredited nursing program in the United States. If you are an LPN, you may want to consider taking an online LPN to RN degree program while you’re jetting from place to place. Of course, you’ll have to provide proof of licensure and be legally able to work in the U.S. For some assignments, you may be required to get some experience in a traditional medical setting first, depending on the specialty area and requirements of the job.

How do I find nursing assignments?

There are a variety of companies available that can assign you to a traveling job. You can do an online search for “travel nurse companies” and easily find one in your region.

To get you started, here are ten of the most popular companies that provide travel assignments:

• Freedom Healthcare Staffing

• Nurses in Partnership, Inc.

• Premier Healthcare Professionals

• TaleMed

• Expedient Medstaff

• Healthcare Seeker

• IPI Travel

• PRCS

• Valley Healthcare Systems

• TG Healthcare

For a more comprehensive list, visit the Highway Hypodermics website.

Will I qualify for medical and dental benefits?

Absolutely! Travel nurses are in high demand, and companies provide the same benefits for travelers that other medical facilities provide. Be sure to check out all the benefits that each company offers before signing with a company.

Can I refuse an assignment?

The great thing about travel nursing is that you can pick and choose where you’re placed. You may turn down an assignment that is not compatible to your interests. If you wish, you can even do all of your traveling in your hometown. It’s your decision.

How much will I earn?

Industry standards dictate that you’ll earn approximately 15% more than nurses working in a traditional work environment. Of course, you’ll need to compare travel nurse companies to compare pay rates and benefits. Hint: California, Wisconsin, and Texas are considered the “hot spots” for travel nursing (states that pay the best salaries).

May I take my family with me?

Here’s the good news; you may absolutely take your family along with you. Typically, traveling nurses are housed in two-bedroom, two-bath condos or apartments close to their work assignments. Some travel nurses prefer to take assignments together – with a friend – so that they’ll have a companion in each new location.

Travel nursing is an exciting career for individuals who like to travel. For more information about this alternative medical career, visit the TravelNursing.com website.

Courses are offered online and through teleconference. Interactive videos are also used to supplement course content. A breakdown of each program is as follows:

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

According to the MSU website, “The focus of the family nurse practitioner option is to prepare advanced practice nurses who will manage the primary health care of families across the lifespan. Elements of the practitioner role blend with the unique features of rurality, rural nursing, and rural health care systems. Socialization to the advanced practice role emphasizes the development of a strong nursing identity and prepares the student for interdisciplinary collaboration.”

Students who pursue this option may choose from a 2-year program of study or a 4-year program of study.

Clinical Nurse Leader

The Clinical Nurse Practitioner program is offered for 1½ and 2½-year program of study options. Graduates will provide a generalist role in clinical leadership but will not qualify to practice as a family nurse practitioner. Graduates of the program are eligible for the CNL certification.

Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

This program of study, offered as a 2-year program of study as well as a 3-year program of study, “uses distance learning methodologies and linkages with mental health providers across the state of Montana to: (1) make advanced psychiatric and mental health nursing education accessible to nurses throughout rural Montana; (2) contribute to improved healthcare outcomes for underserved populations by active recruitment of graduate students from minority and disadvantaged backgrounds; and, (3) help Montanans and others in sparsely populated areas of the region gain access to high-quality, psychiatric and mental health care.” This program is ideal for individuals who are interested in advancing their careers in psychiatric nursing.

Non-Degree Certificate Programs

You can also attend online university at MSU to pursue a Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate and a Certificate in Nursing Education. The Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate consists of 36 semester hours of study while the Certificate in Nursing Education requires four theory courses in preparation for a career in nursing education.

How to Apply

There’s no better time than the present to take advantage of the online opportunities available at Montana State University. With the current nursing shortage – and the anticipated need for even more healthcare providers in the future – earning an advanced degree or certificate in nursing can put you head and shoulders above the rest when applying for jobs.

Interested individuals may apply by visiting the MSU online website. Nurses who want to advance their level of education but don’t have the time or resources to attend classes at a state university may find that pursuing coursework online at Montana State University is a viable option.

Options Available for Students and Graduate of the Program 

According to the college website, students can pursue a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Nursing Administration or a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Nursing Education. 

MSN in Nursing Education 

Upon graduation from the MSN with a specialization in Nursing Education, individuals will qualify for the following positions: 

• Clinical Nurse Educator

• Director of Education

• Adjunct Professor 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics cites that individuals with an MSN in Nursing Education can earn upwards of $73,000 annually. 

MSN in Nursing Administration 

Graduates from the MSN with a specialization in Nursing Administration may qualify for the following positions: 

• Chief Nursing Officer

• Chief Executive Officer

• Nursing Director 

According to PayScale.com, nurses with master’s degree can earn more than $94,000 per year as Director of Nursing. 

Tuition Discounts Available 

Jacksonville University, along with the University Alliance, have formed partnerships with healthcare organizations across the United States. Information is available through participating human resources departments and education departments. Check with your employer to see if your healthcare organization is a partner with Jacksonville University. 

Requirements for Admission to Jacksonville School of Nursing 

If you’re ready to take advance your career in nursing, now is a great time to get started. Here are application requirements, according to the Jacksonville University School of Nursing website: 

• “Completed application form

• $35 nonrefundable application fee

• Active U.S. RN license

• Current driver’s license or government-issued ID

• Official transcripts from the college or university from which a BSN was earned

• Applicants must have graduated from an NLNAC- or CCNE-accredited BSN program with an overall undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale

• Students whose overall undergraduate grade point (GPA) is below a 3.0 must submit an official copy of GRE scores reflecting a total score of 900 or more on the combined verbal and quantitative sections

• Three recommendations, two of which should be professional reference and include a supervisor familiar with the student’s clinical abilities and, if possible, an educator who taught the student

• An essay describing reasons for pursuing an advanced degree and outlining professional goals

• Professional resume

• TOEFL (minimum score 650) if the applicant’s primary language is not English” 

Nursing Shortage will Continue as Baby Boomers Age 

It’s no secret that there is a vast shortage of nursing professionals nationwide. As the baby boomer population ages, this shortage will continue to grow without qualified professionals to fill the gaps. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for qualified nurses to fill job openings is expected to grow by 22% through the year 2018. This paints an optimistic picture of the future for anyone interested in earning a Master of Science in Nursing.

Work Hours and Conditions for Nurses

Nurses enjoy a variety of scheduling options. Nurses can choose to work a nine-to-five schedule in a physician’s office or work rotating shifts in a hospital or medical clinic. Traveling nurses may move from place to place, spending only weeks or months in a particular location before moving elsewhere. Nurses may take blood pressure and assess a patient’s immediate needs and document them for the attending physician, or they may work in a high-stress, critical care situation in an operating room.

Individuals who work as nurses must have a keen eye for detail and the ability to write clear and concise medical notes. They must also be able to remain calm and think clearly during stressful medical emergencies.

Nurses work long hours, often 12 hours or more in a single day. Individuals are often attracted to this healthcare profession for this very reason because what follows is more time off in between work weeks (e.g. working four days on and then enjoying three days off work).

Educational Requirements for Nurses

Today’s nurses may enter the healthcare profession with an associate’s degree. With each subsequent advanced degree, nurses become more specialized and, therefore, more in demand and they qualify for higher salaries. With the current nationwide nursing shortage calling for more-educated professionals and accelerated nursing programs, nursing is an ideal career for individuals who like helping others and want a career that offers a variety of advancement options.

Future Entry-level Nurses May Need a Bachelor’s Degree

Many states are considering bills that would require nurses to have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree as an entry point because nurses spend more time with patients than any other healthcare professional. The push for more highly-educated nurses will mean that patients will get more specialized care, and the end result will be better patient outcomes.

The concern is that because the majority of nurses have the lowest level of education among healthcare professionals, patient care is adversely affected when nurses are not highly-educated. If the proposed changes in educational requirements are passed, they will impact future nursing students. Nurses currently practicing will most likely be grandfathered in and not required to meet the new minimum standards.

Nursing Salaries

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average nursing salary in 2007 was $57,280, although this figure varies greatly depending on location, level of experience, and degree. Graduate-level nurses may earn six-figures yearly, depending on their specific position. Because working overtime is a normal part of a nurse’s schedule, individual salaries may vary by several thousand dollars per year.

Earn a Nursing Degree Online

If you’re interested in earning a nursing degree either partly or entirely online, now is a good time to get started, while you can still enter the field with a two-year degree. There are many high-quality nursing programs delivered via distance learning by accredited universities. If you’re interested in becoming a nurse, be sure to check out the hiring requirements in the office, clinic, or hospital where you’d like to work. Above all, check the accreditation of the online nursing program of your choice.

Jacksonville State University Online Nursing Degree

Individuals who are interested in pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing or Clinical Nurse Specialist degree may pursue these options at Jacksonville State University. At a cost of $8,100.00, this university is ranked second by GetEducated.com in the master’s-level healthcare category.

Located in Alabama, this program is offered 100% online and is accredited by Regional Board – Southern Association of Colleges & Schools. This non-profit, public institution of higher learning charges $225.00 per semester credit, regardless of whether a student in a resident or non-resident of Alabama.

Students interested in attending this program must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) prior to admission. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in the same subject area and must meet these additional requirements:

• Baccalaureate from nationally accredited program
• Current RN license
• Three professional recommendations
• Personal phone interview
• Written statement of goals

This is not an accelerated degree program.

University of Texas System – UT Telecampus Online Nursing Degree

The Master of Science Nursing program at UT was ranked fourth out of the 38 schools listed on the GetEducated.com website. The tuition cost for residents is $10,105 and for non-residents, the total cost is $21,013.

This online MSN program is a 36 credit hour program and prepares nurses for certification through the National League of Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC). The University of Texas program also offers the following career tracks:

RN to BSN
Ph.D. in Nursing
Evidence-Based Practice Certificate
Graduate Certificate: Nursing Education

The UT online nursing program is taught 100% at a distance, with no residency requirement. UT does not require a GRE prior to admission. Admission is based on the applicant’s grade point average, letter of interest, and resume. Applicants in the nursing program must have a cumulative average of 3.0 or above to qualify for admission.

Indiana State University Online Nursing Degree

Indiana State University’s online nursing program ranks eighth in the GetEducated.com online master’s degrees in healthcare and nursing category. This Master of Science in Nursing Education degree is priced at $11,250.

This 100% online program is accredited by the Regional Board – North Central Association of Colleges & Schools. It is a non-profit, public institution. The degree requirements are 35-38 hours with a $294 per credit hour tuition rate for all students.

Distance learning students must pay these additional fees:

• $50 per course distance learning fee
• $60 per semester technology fee

Applicants must possess a current RN license in the geographical location of the practicum. For acceptance into the program, students must meet these additional requirements:

• Three letters of reference (at least one academic reference and one professional reference)
• Personal statement
• Proof of one-year full-time RN work experience

Get Educated Before You Pursue an Online Master’s Degree in Nursing

Individuals who are interested in pursuing a graduate-level nursing degree have a variety of options. Before applying to any online degree program, do your homework. Make sure that the degree you seek meets all your personal and professional needs and will be accepted by future employers once you graduate from the program.

Legislation is pending in 18 states that would require working RNs to earn a BSN in order to continue working in the nursing field. With aging baby boomers in need for more medical care as they get older, practitioners with advanced degrees will be more qualified than ADNs (nurses who have an associate’s degree in nursing) to provide critical care to a growing geriatric population.

Carnegie Foundation Report Calls for Advanced Nursing Degrees

The Carnegie National Nursing Education Study calls for a “radical transformation” in educating nurses. Because nurses spend the most time caring for patients, it is critical that they are well-educated in patient care. Studies show that when nurses possess a BSN or more advanced nursing degree, patient care is enhanced with better patient outcomes.

The study, conducted by Dr. Patricia Benner and her team at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, is published in a book titled Educating Nurses: A Call for Radical Transformation. Dr. Benner’s study found that the level of nursing education plays a critical role in patient care and outcomes.

The Carnegie report also found that many nurses are under-educated to meet the demands of clinical practice. In 1965, the American Nursing Association recommended that nurses earn a bachelor’s degree as an entry point for practice, a recommendation that is currently supported by the American Organization of Nurse Executives and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing; however, this suggestion has never been seriously considered as an entry point for practitioners until the recently proposed legislation.

The report also calls for a stronger integration of clinical and classroom instruction, as well as rigorous instruction in nursing science and technology and other specified areas. The report makes several recommendations in support of a more rigorous nursing curriculum and clinical training.

Recommendations of the Carnegie Nursing Study

According to an article published in The Medical News, the Carnegie report makes the following recommendations:

1. Developing a set of prerequisites for all students entering nursing education programs.
2. Recruiting more diverse faculty and students into nursing programs.
3. Strengthening articulation agreements between associate degree (ADN) and higher degree nursing programs and creating more AND-to-master’s degree programs.
4. Immersing nursing students in the discipline in the first two-years of study.
5. Increasing the variety of clinical settings in which nursing students are educated.
6. Requiring one-year clinical residencies for all new nursing graduates.
7. Enhancing student competency in the areas of inquiry and research.
8. Preparing nurses to be influential leaders and innovators in the political and public areas.

For more information about the Carnegie nursing report, visit The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching website.

Online Nursing Degrees Offer Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Nurses who have earned an ADN may opt to pursue A BSN online program of study. Online nursing degrees allow busy adults the opportunity to pursue advanced studies while working a full-time job. Because of the recent push for advanced nursing education and impending legislation in several states, nurses in remote areas may choose to pursue advanced studies online to meet the requirements of what appears to be the future in nursing education.

Individuals who are interested in pursuing a career in nursing – or are already working as nurses – can take part in the UN’s effort to achieve the Eight UN Millennium Development Goals:

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
2. Achieve universal primary education.
3. Promote gender equality and empower women.
4. Reduce child mortality.
5. Improve maternal health.
6. Combat HIV, AIDS, malaria, and all communicable and non-communicable diseases.
7. Ensure environmental sustainability.
8. Develop a global partnership for development.

The theme of the IYNurse is “Creating a Healthy World.” The UN is celebrating the achievements of nurses who are promoting world health by posting tributes on its website.

Chamberlain College of Nursing and DeVry University Celebrate 2010 IYNursing

The Chamberlain College of Nursing and DeVry University are celebrating by opening a new campus, as well as offering an exclusive exhibit that pays tribute to Nightingale. Chamberlain, along with DeVry, has a new facility at Maryland Heights, MO. Chamberlain will offer the following onsite and online nursing programs at its new facility:

• Three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Fast-track RN to BSN Online Degree
• Master of Science in Nursing

Chamberlain College has been in existence for 120 years and is committed to participating in progressive advancements in nursing. Chamberlain was established in St. Louis in 1889 and was called the Deaconness School of Nursing. When DeVry acquired the college in 2005, it established the goal of providing more students with access to high-quality healthcare education.

According to Daniel Hamburger, president and CEO of DeVry, Inc., “With the extreme need for healthcare professionals in today’s economy, DeVry’s Medical and Healthcare Group is answering the call, and we celebrate that commitment today with the co-location of Chamberlain College of Nursing and DeVry University on this new campus.”

The new facility is located on a 55,000 square-foot campus and includes state-of-the-art technology, as well as nursing skills labs, pediatrics and obstetrics labs, intensive care, and high-fidelity simulation. Chamberlain will provide high-quality, progressive nursing education and offer a diverse range of nursing experiences.

Along with its online program, Chamberlain has several locations across the United States. Open house dates for the following campuses are as follows:

• Addison, IL Campus – April 22, May 15, August 31, and October 5
• Chicago, IL Campus – April 29, May 11, and June 3
• Columbus, OH Campus – May 12
• Jacksonville, FL Campus – April 17 and May 11
• Phoenix, AZ Campus – May 11
• St. Louis, MO Campus – April 17 and May 11
• RN to BSN and MSN Virtual Events – April 24

For a complete list of event times, visit the Chamberlain College of Nursing website. In addition, the Chamberlain College of Nursing is presenting a Florence Nightingale exhibit at its Maryland Heights campus, which includes two original letters written in 1861 by Nightingale.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing cites that “the percentage of men in baccalaureate and master’s nursing programs are 10.4% and 8.9%, respectively. In doctoral programs 7.1% of students in research-focused programs and 10.2% of students in practice-focused programs are men.”

Male nurses have suffered from an identity crisis. The 2000 movie Meet the Parents injected Gaylord “Greg” Focker’s career as a male nurse as comedic relief. Men who work as nurses have been portrayed in a less than favorable light but colleges are working to dispel those stereotypes. In most professions, job titles are not as quickly associated with a gender as nursing. In nursing profession, however, public perception has it that there are nurses and male nurses.

Appealing to the Macho Side of Nursing

Nursing is not just about writing on charts and changing bed pans. Nursing can be an exciting, adrenaline-charging career that requires quick-thinking and strength. Unfortunately, this is not the image that has been promoted over the years.

Male nurses at Samuel Merritt University are an integral part of recruiting new men into the nursing program. An article by Elizabeth Valente on the SMU website states that “In May [2009] BSN graduate Michael Davidson and current BSN student Juner Valencia re-established the Bay Area Chapter of the American Assembly for Men in Nursing (AAMN)” in an effort to promote and provide support to men in nursing.

CareersandColleges.com notes that “man-to-man recruiting” is one of the best ways to reach out to male students. Colleges should also provide a support system for men entering nursing, a career that is primarily composed of women. Finally, colleges should make an assertive effort to make their nursing programs “male friendly.”

10 Male-Friendly Nursing Schools

Many colleges are making positive strides in recruiting more men into their nursing programs. Male Nurse Magazine lists these programs as the top 10 male-friendly colleges in the United States:

1. University of Pennsylvania
2. University of Texas-Houston
3. The Ohio State University
4. Duke University
5. Auburn University
6. Raritan Valley Community College
7. The Florida State University
8. Michigan State University
9. The University of Tennessee
10. San Diego State University School of Nursing

As efforts intensify to recruit qualified individuals into nursing programs, college administrators hope that nursing will be soon be perceived as a viable profession for all and not just a gender.

According to a March 10th article published on mlive.com, the Michigan Nursing Association is concerned that the shortage of qualified nurses will put patients at risk. “The state projects a shortfall of 18,000 nurses statewide by 2014, a shortage that prompted Gov. Jennifer Granholm in 2007 to establish the Michigan Nursing Corps, a $45 million initiative to train 3,000 new nurses by this year. To date, however, only 1,100 new nurses have been trained, as a result of steep cuts in funding for the program.”

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing reports that “the U.S. nursing shortage is projected to grow to 260,000 registered nurses by 2025. A shortage of this magnitude would be twice as large as any nursing shortage experienced in this country since the mid-1960s.”  Because of this gaping hole in the number of needed medical workers, many students are flocking to nursing schools to fill the gap.

Michigan Nursing Scholarships Ease Financial Burdens of Tuition

Students who want to graduate with a nursing degree have scholarships available to them. Michigan offers a variety of nursing scholarships to help students cover costs associated with earning a nursing degree. Here are three of the state’s most popular programs:

Mary Free Boyd Minority Scholarship Program

This program offers a one-year scholarship for minority individuals who are U.S. citizens and have permanent residency in the West Michigan area. Recipients must be enrolled (or accepted) in an accredited nursing or therapy program as a full-time student and must also meet academic requirements as well as demonstrate leadership abilities, and a commitment to serving diverse populations. Awards vary according to individual need.

Michigan League for Nursing Student Scholarships

This $1,000 award is for individuals who are currently enrolled in one of the following programs: LPN, ADN, or a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing Education program.  Recipients must have completed at least one nursing course with a clinical component with at least a grade of “C.”

Michigan Nurses Foundation Scholarships

At least four $500 scholarships are awarded to students enrolled in a Michigan nursing program who are in good academic standing and making satisfactory progress toward completing a nursing degree.

Is Relief in Sight?

According to WZZM13.com, Shawn Ulreich, the chair of The West Michigan Nursing Advisory Council, has indicated that  “the medical community has spent a lot of time and money attracting quality candidates to the field to reduce the chances of reaching a critical shortage.” According to Ulreich, hope may, after all, be in sight and the nursing shortage may not reach the level that had originally been predicted.

Furthermore, with the advent of Obama’s healthcare initiative, the shortage of healthcare providers will increase unless measures are taken to churn out more nurses at a faster rate. That’s why many colleges are offering accelerated nursing degrees to provide some relief to bridge the gap between the number of jobs available and the number of qualified applicants needed to fill those positions.

What is an Accelerated Nursing Degree?

An accelerated nursing degree is designed for individuals who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field of study and want to become licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN). Depending on the program, students can complete their degrees in 11-18 months. Master’s programs take three years to complete.

These degree programs differ from traditional nursing programs not only in the length of completion but also because they are designed for individuals who already have a track record of success in college. Because of the rigors of such programs, individuals enrolled in accelerated nursing programs are encouraged not to work for the duration of their studies.

Colleges That Offer Fast-Track Nursing Programs

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing website details colleges that offer accelerated nursing degrees:

“Accelerated nursing programs are available in 43 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. In 2008, there were 218 accelerated baccalaureate programs and 57 accelerated master’s programs available at nursing schools nationwide. In addition, 26 new accelerated baccalaureate programs are in the planning stages, and 7 new accelerated master’s programs are also taking shape.”

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing website has a detailed list of accelerated nursing programs. For a list of accelerated nursing programs, click here.

Increased Demand for Nursing Degrees Creates Unique Problems

In many instances, nurses are turned away because there aren’t enough faculty to teach the courses. The shortage of qualified nurses is compounded by the fact that cuts in educational budgets are resulting in a reduction of force in many post-secondary institutions. A Special Survey on Vacant Faculty Positions for Academic Year 2009-2010 reveals a 6.6% vacancy rate for nursing faculty in the 2009-2010 academic year. In a survey of 554 schools of nursing, there were 803 vacant faculty positions. (The response rate for this survey was 70.2%)

As the demand for nurses increases, more colleges will offer programs to meet these needs. The good news is that college grads who want to enroll in an accelerated degree program may qualify for scholarships and financial aid resources.