During the first semester of the Nursing Education Program, students begin to learn basic patient care skills in the nursing laboratory. The clinical experiences are obtained in a variety of hospitals and other settings in and around the College's service areas. Students entering the Nursing Education Program are exposed to a variety of educational teaching methods. Students are introduced to the concepts of client needs, safety, communication, teaching/learning, critical thinking, ethical-legal, cultural diversity, nursing history, and the program's philosophy of nursing. (http://www.jeffstateonline.com/programs/nursing-education/).
Nursing is a demanding, yet rewarding career field that involves assisting patients and working closely with health care professionals. The role of the nurses in healthcare is to promote health, prevent, diseases, and help the patients and their family cope with illness. Job opportunities should be excellent, even in hospitals, because of the relatively high turnover of hospital nurses. To attract and keep qualified nurses, hospitals may offer signing bonuses, family-friendly work schedules, or subsidized training. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that nurses have some of the best job prospects in the country, not to mention solid earning potential. Employment of registered nurses is expected to grow 26 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations. All four advanced practice registered nurses clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, nurse-midwives, and nurse practitioners will be in high demand, particularly in medically underserved areas such as inner cities and rural areas. .
The two most common ways to become a registered nurse are to get a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN) or an Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN). After finishing one of these programs you will also have to pass an exam given by your local licensing board.
