Nursing school myths debunked

[cougarnurse]

Here's an article from TX for those interested: The Shorthorn - Nursing school myths debunked at forums

The Nursing Constituency Council held the Successful Sophomores Start Here forum, educating students on how to get prepared for nursing school and clarifying misconceptions that have been circulating amongst nursing applicants.

Nursing adviser Justin Gerstenberger said he wants students to understand that you do not just apply to nursing school. He said the program actually wants to know more about its students then them just having a 4.0 grade point average.

NCC President Jaime Parker said the UTA nursing programs are diverse with students who applied one time and others that applied more than once but applicants should have fun in the application process.

“I hope that students get encouragement for the program even if they are not accepted to nursing school next semester,” she said.

The council holds this program once every semester for applicants who have applied to the nursing program but this year the forum was open to freshmen, too.

This spring the school is starting the fast-track online program. This program will be different from the typical program the school offers because it will include a 16-week program during the summer.

Sue March, School of Nursing administrative assistant, said that the online program helps address the nursing shortage because it allows students, who work at hospitals throughout the state, to get clinical experience in hospitals that they could work at in the future.

She said this allows students to be familiar with the hospitals’ procedures and transition easily into being a registered nurse.

According to the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies, schools are unable to produce sufficient RNs to meet the health care demands through 2020. Between 2005 and 2020 the demand for RNs will increase by 86 percent.

In response to the nursing shortage, Texas Legislature created the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies to gather data and implement this information into nursing fact sheets and action plans.

The data comes from nursing staff demographics, educational and employment progressions, supply and demand trends and the movement of nurses throughout the state. This information gives the public an overview of what is happening with the nursing shortage and how it is affecting Texas residents.