The Daily Iowan interviews 4 nurses and shares their experiences of nursing and academia. Quite a telling piece:

On my second day here, I honestly didn’t sit down all day.

Read more at The Daily Iowan

The Argus-Press writes that Baker College in Michigan is focusing on increasing the number of nurses in the state, in anticipation of a growing nursing shortage over the next few years. Baker College is part of a state-wide effort to offset the shortage by offering nursing programs to students interested in entering the field

But there is a plus side for anyone wanting to work in the field. Mary Slingerland, Associate Dean and Director of the Program said:

“Our students tell me that many have jobs before they graduate, and our graduates have a 99 to 100 percent employment rate.

That takes some beating, eh?

The Medical Careers College in Richmond, VA has announced that it will offer a Practical Nursing diploma program. The Program will prepare students in becoming a valued member of a healthcare team under the supervision of a physician or registered nurse. Graduates who obtain state license typically find employment as Practical Nurses in a range of locations including Nursing Homes, Hospitals, Physicians’ Offices, and Public School Systems.

Read more about the Practical Nursing Program.

The Springfield News-Leader reports that the Missouri Hospital Association Center for Education is now accepting applications for financial assistance through its Graduate Nursing Faculty Financial Assistance Program.

The program offers grant funds to registered nurses seeking faculty positions at Missouri nursing schools, which they can use to offset living expenses and some academic costs associated with a graduate degree.

Marc D. Smith, MHA president said…

Faculty shortages at Missouri’s nursing schools have created a significant bottleneck for nursing students [and] funds from the financial assistance program are designed to ease the burden of pursuing a master’s degree, which is needed to teach at Missouri’s nursing schools.

It’s worth noting that the grants can be used for all education-related expenses including textbooks, lab fees, uniforms, tuition costs that are not covered by other scholarships or outside funds, plus some living expenses, such as utilities, car payments and child care.

You can apply online at mhanet.com, and the deadline for submitting an application is May 23rd 2007. For more information call Linda Shields at (573) 893-3700, ext. 1375, or send e-mail to lshields@mail.mhanet.com.

Hanover Hospital is holding a free Nursing Symposium from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on April 26 2007. The theme of the event is Nursing - The Next Generatio. and will cover hte future of nursing together with an overview of the trends that are set to shape the next 5 years of healthcare provision.

But more importantly, it will give you an insight into where you need to look for nursing jobs throughout the next 10 years.

Oh, and there’s a free dinner and a continuing education credit for anyone who attends.

You’ll need to register by April 20 - so either call 646-7076 or e-mail colem@hanoverhospital.org to grab your place.

The Lisle Sun is reporting that Lisle-based Benedictine University and Triton College have announced a partnership that will allow graduates of Triton College’s associate degree nursing program to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Benedictine at Triton’s River Grove campus.

The program emphasizes critical thinking, focuses on giving the student the knowledge and the tools to make sound decisions and helps students develop the self-confidence to take their careers to the next level.

… said Ethel C. Ragland, chair of the department of nursing and health at Benedictine.

For more information, jut get in touch by calling 630-829-6583 or dropping an email to eragland@ben.edu.

As a nurse navigator with over 20 years’ experience of training new nurses and traveling the world, Marilyn H. Jiggitts, R.N., MSN, has received numerous decorations including medals for meritorious service, commendations, achievement and organizational excellence. She’s now actively involved in providing educational information and emotional support to women and their family members concerned about their breast health - and it’s seen her labeled as one of the US’ 25 Top Businesswomen. But as an unofficial spokesperson for the nursing profession, she says the rewards of the job are too numerous to count.

Nursing is a passion, not just a job.

…she says.

Read the rest of the story over at RedNova

The University of Washington (UW) School of Nursing again has ranked first among nursing schools in the US for the 23rd time, in ummm… 23 years. According to rankings of graduate and professional schools provided on March 30 by U.S. News & World Report, the School received first-place rankings in three Clinical Nurse Specialist focal areas: adult / medical-surgical, community / public health and psychiatric / mental health. In the Nurse Practitioner area, the school also ranked first in family nurse practitioner, third in adult nurse practitioner, fourth in pediatric nursing, and tenth in gerontological nursing.

Dean Nancy Woods said…

We are so honored to again receive this high level of recognition from our esteemed peers. Their acknowledgement of the strength of our programs reflects the quality of education we provide to students and the impact of our research. We are committed to providing innovation in nursing; for example, our momentum continues with this year’s launch of our new Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program and expanded global health opportunities.

So, if you’re looking for the ultimate place to get your nursing degree - and a guaranteed advantage when it comes to finding a nursing job - you know where to head.

You can read the full story at UW News