Nursing Training Programs

Drawing upon the rich resources of the Ohio State community, including city hospitals and University medical resources, the Ohio State College of Nursing provides a full selection of academic programs ranging from a bachelor’s degree as a route to becoming a registered nurse to advanced graduate programs and continuing education opportunities for active nurses.

With a full set of National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grants and world-class faculty and facilitates, the College is considered one of the top programs in the country. Over 10,000 active alumni create a network of opportunities for placement across the country, in roles ranging from hospital administration to patient care and public health policy roles.

The variety of programs allows nurses at nearly any point in their careers to pursue opportunities in the field. Fully accredited by the Ohio Board of Nursing as well as the Commission on Collegiate Nursing education, programs prepare students for the National Nursing Licensure Examinations as well as providing hands-on experience with the latest advances in medical technology. For existing nurses seeking further credentials, there are advanced R.N. to B.S.N. programs which provide a streamlined route to a degree in the field. Advanced research as the doctoral level helps prepare students for the highest levels of the field, including administration and policy roles. Within Columbus, the medical community provides an opportunity to make connections with advanced medical professionals at all levels, including work in the University’s hospital system in collaboration with the Medical School.

As one of the most prominent nursing programs in the country, NYU has been offering advanced nursing education since 1923. When the College become formalized in 1947, it emerged as a leading center of medical education, drawing from a variety of disciplines and the vast medical resources of the University.

Today, New York University’s nursing programs include both undergraduate and graduate clinical programs which have deep interaction with the medical community, including work with Brooklyn research and hospital centers. With specialty programs focused upon clinical practice and Geriatric nursing, students gains both knowledge and experience in a variety of fields.

The school’s programs range from a bachelor’s program to a master’s and PhD graduate program, as well as providing advanced continuing education to active nurses. Students learn in formal classroom as well as clinical settings, as well as performing research in the school’s various institutes, including joint programs with the World Health Organization. As a result, students gain valuable experience through placements in community hospitals both regionally and internationally, giving them exposure to a wide variety of medical settings. Many nursing students embark upon careers in public health and advocacy, helping to shape public and private policy surrounding health organizations, in addition to performing core nursing tasks. The active New York policy environment, with a number of major organizations such as the United Nations centered in the city, allows students to take a number of routes as part of their careers.

As part of career advancement opportunities, nurse practitioners are trained in advanced medical education within a specific specialty. The designation as a nurse practitioner signifies an advanced degree in nursing, as well as a high level of experience and knowledge in treating a specific subset of medical conditions.

The basic philosophy of nurse practitioners is a high level of personalized care and attention to the overall wellness of the patient. To that end, practitioners go well beyond the standard nurse duties and collaborate with doctors to help foster an improved clinical environment. Additionally, practitioners may help counsel patients regarding wellness programs and help to perform complex diagnostics. Many specialized situations, such as pre and neo-natal care, chronic disease and behavioral issues are often addressed by nurses.

Advanced nurses work in a variety of environments, from heading up departments in hospitals to helping to organize medical clinics and working on administrative roles within HMOs and health care organizations. Making an investment in further nursing education can open doors to a number of career opportunities. Nearly any nurse can embark upon additional education and certifications in order to elevate their knowledge base and career ladder, with a focus upon improving their overall medical knowledge as well as specific-area understandings in a specialty. Most supervisors within nursing departments have advance degrees, allowing them to interact more closely with physicians, hospital administrators and patients, helping to ensure a well functioning, efficient structure of patient care. As part of the AANP, advanced nurses join a community of professionals dedicated to advancing the profession and improving patient outcomes at the clinical and policy level.

Once you have obtained a certified nursing degree, ranging from a general certification to a specialty, on-going education becomes particularly important. Most major hospitals and health organizations provide active seminars, learning opportunities and courses to help you keep up with advances in science and technology. Additionally, most major credentialing bodies provide continuing education services to their members, ranging from seminars to formal coursework, with an aim of continual re-certification and knowledge improvements.

The major source of continuing education for nurses is the American Nurses Credentialing Center, which provides on-going learning experiences for certified nurses. The organization helps to organize seminars and learning groups throughout the country where nurses participate in learning seminars based on both general and specialized topics.

In addition to generalized educational opportunities, many specialty organizations within nursing provide renewal educational programs to their members. For oncology nurses, the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation provides professional development opportunities for its members, ranging from academic course work to seminars and volunteer opportunities. Other specialty organizations, such as the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board also provide on-going on-line and in-person educational opportunities. Networking is a major part of on-going educational opportunities, as study groups and seminars provide an opportunity to meet fellow professional nurses and to trade ideas and experience. Working with other nursing professionals allows you to gain valuable knowledge and approaches to specific medical and administrative issues that may arise.

To some, the idea of an on-line based medical degree program may seem difficult to understand. The reality of the programs, however, is that they are hybrid programs, with certain course requirements completed on-line, while others require in-person learning. Primarily, the programs based classroom learning on on-line based lessons, including lectures, textbook learning and core skills, while laboratory and hospital experience is used to supplement students’ knowledge.

The first issue you should consider is how well your program allows you to meet the state requirements for working as a registered nurse. Depending on the state, there are various requirements which include classroom based experience, so make sure the program is sufficiently flexible to allow you to work in the state you are interested in. More states, as a baseline requirement, have certain clinical hour requirements in addition to NCLEX exam certification as a pre-requisite to working as a registered nurse in the state.

Additionally, if you are interested in a particularly area of specialty, you should examine the program offerings to determine what additional courses may be required. Of particular note are specialty medical settings in your area - in certain cases, meeting these requirements may require travel to nearby facilities, so factor in that time investment. Take time to compare various programs, given the wide range of degree offerings available so you can select the program which offers you the best long-term return on your educational investment. Many major nursing colleges offer hybrid on-line programs, so make sure to compare prominent and on-line focused schools, with a focus to finding an accredited program that will help build your career.