Nursing is a rewarding career that can earn you a big salary while you help people. Nurses with advanced degrees are in demand and projected to have major job growth over the next decade. Earning your advanced nursing degree or RN to MSN degree can give you the training you need to become a high level nursing professional.

US News ranks the top 10 graduate schools for graduate nursing degrees.

1. University of Washington

2. University of California–San Francisco

3. University of Pennsylvania

4. Johns Hopkins University

5. University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

6. University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill (School of Nursing)

7. Oregon Health and Science University

8. University of Illinois–Chicago

9. University of Maryland–Baltimore

10. University of Pittsburgh–Main Campus

In some areas of nursing, and advanced degree is absolutely necessary. You can however begin your nursing career with only a bachelor’s degree such as a registered nurse. Nurses often go back to earn their degree while remaining on the job they currently hold. To make sure you make the most of your education dollar, and the time invested, research what kind of nursing you want to do before you go for your advanced degree. Some nursing jobs with an advanced degree are certified nurse midwife, nurse anesthetist, nurse practitioner, and oncology certified nurse.

Arthur J. Acton, Ph.D., Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, Extended Programs, Clarion University of Pennsylvania joins us today to discuss distance education.
Tell us about the distance learning programs offered at Clarion University of Pennsylvania.
Clarion University offers eleven certificate, associate, bachelors and masters degrees fully on-line. These include certificates in education; associate degrees in arts and sciences and early childhood; bachelors degrees in liberal studies and nursing (degree completion program); and masters degrees in Library Science, Nursing, Rehabilitative Sciences, Business Administration and Mass Media Arts and Journalism.
What is the typical duration of each of your programs?
The duration depends upon the degree level and whether the student goes full time or part time. The certificates take about a year, the associate degrees 2-4 years, bachelor’s … | Read the rest of this entry »

Are you interested in furthering your nursing career, expanding it to include opportunities that are not currently available to you? If so, you may want to consider earning a Certificate in Life Care Planning from Kaplan University. With a Certificate in Life Care Planning, you’ll be well-trained to work with people who are unable to take care of themselves properly, including those with chronic illnesses, severe disabilities, or those who have suffered from debilitating injuries.
The Certificate in Life Care Planning program is designed for people who have already completed their primary education and are currently working in their field, such as RNs, occupational therapists, physical therapists, rehabilitation counselors, nurse practitioners, and special education professionals. While studying for your Life Care Planning Certificate, you’ll … | Read the rest of this entry »

The Master of Science in Nursing degree program at the University of Phoenix is designed to provide nurses with a unique blend of advanced nursing and healthcare related business skills to manage in today’s evolving health care delivery systems. The program combines essential elements that provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively examine and evaluate issues and trends impacting health care.
The Master of Science in Nursing program is designed for those nurses who want to pursue more advanced positions in today’s challenging health care environment. The program blends nursing theory and advanced practice concepts necessary to successful work within the structure, culture, and mission of any size health care organization or educational setting.
This Masters Degree program consists of three major areas: the … | Read the rest of this entry »

Are you interested in pursuing a career in the field of health and nutrition? If so, you may be interested in learning more about the Clayton College of Natural Health Bachelor of Science in Holistic program. Through this program, you will gain a synergistic view of nutrition as a part of a spiritual, integrated, and harmonious life on this planet.
With a Bachelor of Science in Holistic Nutrition from Clayton College of Natural Health, you’ll learn to teach people how to discover the impact of lifestyle on health, and you’ll learn how to maximize wellness through healthy living. This unique program focuses on the current trends within natural approaches to healthy eating and living.
While studying for your Bachelor’s Degree in Holistic Nutrition, … | Read the rest of this entry »

Are you interested in a career working in the field of healthcare? If so, a certificate in Iridology Studies from Clayton College of Natural Health may be right for you. An excellent natural health assessment tool, iridology aids the practitioner in identifying the client’s potential strengths and health challenges without diagnosing disease. This information may become the starting point from which the practitioner educates his or her client in how to achieve and maintain good health.
While studying for a Certificate in Iridology Studies at Clayton College, you will learn Comprehensive Iridology, the official style of the International Iridology Practitioners Association (IIPA). Comprehensive Iridology draws on the most up-to-date research in both the American and European models of practice. Students will have the opportunity … | Read the rest of this entry »

Interested in investigative sciences and victim advocacy? Consider the challenging field of forensic nursing. Forensic nursing combines clinical nursing practice with the law enforcement arena. If you are interested in a medical career that is combined with a criminal justice career, you should look at Kaplan University’s Forensic Nursing Certificate program.
Nurses have always worked with victims and perpetrators of violent crime, but it wasn’t until the early1990s that the term “forensic nursing” became a widespread description of this work. Kaplan University offers an online self-study program that can be completed in twelve months. Students in this program will learn skills in the legal, scientific, and psychosocial aspects of forensic nursing. Students also learn to identify injuries and/or death and their … | Read the rest of this entry »

Are you a working nurse looking to brush up on your knowledge or learn about the latest in innovations and technology? There are many continuing education courses available to nursing professionals today. Current nurses can supplement their education to either move ahead in their careers, or stay at the top of their game.
Nursing education provides the basic building blocks of medical, scientific, and nursing knowledge, but competence in the nursing profession requires an ongoing process of continuing education. Continuing education for nurses is necessary for the nurse to remain up to date with the latest practice issues and it is necessary for patient’s safety as well. Some states have made continuing education for nurses mandatory and require a certain number of course credit hours be … | Read the rest of this entry »

It is a well-known fact that there is a shortage of qualified healthcare professionals across the nation. Healthcare professionals such as medical technologists, lab technicians, and physician’s assistants are also in high demand. As our population ages, we will continue to see an increased need for their services.
The health care profession overall is in short-range and long-range jeopardy” of not being able to find enough qualified employees, said Nancy Foster, corporate director of human resources for Lake Hospital System.
There are about 6,200 allied health professional jobs in Northeast Ohio, according to a study released in July by the Center for Health Affairs’ Northeast Ohio Nursing Initiative. That figure is expected to grow as new health care equipment demands special training for those … | Read the rest of this entry »

A lack of qualified nursing teachers is causing concern for the future of nursing programs. This shortage of nursing teachers is making entry in to nursing programs more difficult for students.
Nursing programs at the state’s colleges and universities turned away 2,357 acceptable applications last year, partly because of inadequate faculty, according to the report by the Maryland Board of Nursing and the Maryland Higher Education Commission.
Nurse educators need a master’s degree to teach nursing at the state’s many community colleges. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the preferred degree for faculty at a four-year college is a Doctor of Science in Nursing or a Nursing Ph.D.
In the last five years, enrollments in baccalaureate and associate nursing degree programs have risen 38 … | Read the rest of this entry »