Nurses can practice self-care by taking time away from work, getting regular exercise, maintaining a well-balanced diet and getting adequate rest. But nursing burnout is difficult to manage alone. Systematic change is needed. 

In addition to the mental and physical toll on nurses, burnout is expensive, as well. A report from the Annals of Internal Medicine made a “conservative” estimate that annual healthcare industry losses caused by nursing burnout amount to $4.6 billion. This includes loss of clinical hours and increased employee turnover. 

Anyone in a nursing degree program should understand that nursing burnout is a real issue and something all nurses must try to safeguard against. To understand how to stop nursing burnout, it’s important to understand the inherent aspects of the job that make burnout such a risk. 

What Is Nursing Burnout? 

Nursing burnout is considered one of the top challenges of nursing. The recent PRC National Nursing Engagement Report found 15.6 percent of all nurses surveyed reported feelings of burnout. A much larger number – 41 percent – of “unengaged” nurses experienced feelings of burnout. 

PRC defined nurses as unengaged when they do the bare minimum on the job, feel “ambivalent” about whether their hospital succeeds, and find few rewards in their work. Overall, 14.4 percent of nurses felt unengaged. However, among Millennial generation nurses, that number rose to 17.1 percent. 

Others have reported higher burnout numbers. A study by the National Academy of Medicine, as reported in the Washington Post, found that almost half of all doctors and nurses in the United States experienced symptoms of burnout. 

Nurses are at greater risk of burnout than other professions because of a large workload, high levels of stress and the chaos they often work in, particularly in emergency departments. They also have frequent, often highly emotional, contact with patients and their families. 

To assess the prevalence of burnout, PRC developed a “burnout assessment” that centered around three main questions. They asked nurses if they felt: 

• Emotional exhaustion 
• Disconnection from patients 
• Lack of confidence in their ability to overcome the challenges of their work 

The National Academy of Medicine also said feelings of cynicism are common, as well as a lack of all enthusiasm or joy for work. And these feelings can happen quickly. Writing for the  American Journal of Nursing, nurse Maureen Shawn Kennedy described her experience of burnout in a hospital’s emergency department this way: “I loved it until I didn’t.”  

What Are The Signs of Nurse Burnout? 

Kennedy wrote that many issues led to her nursing burnout. They included budget cuts, hiring freezes, the departure of experienced colleagues who were not replaced, night shift rotations happening more frequently and working double shifts to cover for insufficient staff. 

Those were causes for her burnout. The signs of her burnout included bickering with other nurses “over scheduling, restocking supplies, or who we were paired to work with.” Kennedy “stopped treating patients as real people and saw them as assignments to get through on a shift. It was time for me to leave.” 

PRC’s report described similar burnout signs: looking for a shift to end, always focused on the next break, calling off during times of stress and feeling as if a patient is less a person and more a task. 

Ways To Stop Nurse Burnout 

As pointed out by clinicians and other experts interviewed in the Washington Post, there’s only so much an individual can do to stop nursing burnout on their own. Yoga, taking days off away from the hospital, consistent physical exercise, and healthy diet all can help. 

But the real solution is systematic change. The PRC report found that nurses feel more engaged and experience less burnout when hospitals create an environment that emphasizes three key areas:  

• Making nurses active participants in patient care and having leadership that values their opinion 
• Creating supportive nursing teams in which all members are respected 
• Offering trustworthy leadership, which lessens nurses’ stress and chances of burnout, especially if leaders are accessible and responsive to their needs 

Kennedy voiced similar sentiments, writing that “we need to be fiscally responsible, but nurses’ main priority shouldn’t be patient throughput or implementing changes that save money while compromising care and patient outcomes. Nurses must be enabled to nurse.” 

The post How Can We Stop Nursing Burnout? appeared first on Houston Baptist University Online RN to BSN.

It’s a difficult battle. Despite a decade of high-profile attention, the opioid crisis has worsened in the past decade. However, with more nurses getting involved, there is hope that the number of opioid-related deaths will soon reverse into a downward trend.

The Opioid Epidemic in America

Every day in the United States, 130 people die from an opioid overdose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This includes both illegal and prescription opioids.

The numbers are getting worse. In 2017, 68 percent of all drug overdose deaths involved opioids, according to the CDC. The number of opioid deaths in 2017 was six times higher than in 1999.

The CDC separates the opioid epidemic into three waves. The first happened in the 1990s when the number of prescriptions for opioid painkillers skyrocketed. The second started in 2010 with an increase in heroin-related overdose deaths. The third started in 2013 with an abrupt increase in overdose deaths caused by synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.

How Nurses Can Prevent Opioid Abuse

Nurse practitioners work on the frontlines of healthcare. Among all medical professionals, they have the most direct contact with patients and their families. They have started to fill a role in healthcare once held by general practice physicians. This puts them in a position to help prevent opioid abuse.

Prescribing Buprenorphine

Buprenorphine is the first opioid dependency treatment medicine that the federal government allows physicians to prescribe and dispense. It is one of the most common treatments for opioid addiction. Buprenorphine, while producing some of the same euphoric feelings as opioids, can also reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms and has a lower risk of misuse, according to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Under the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016, nurse practitioners can now prescribe buprenorphine for patients with opioid use disorder. That became permanent with the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act, signed into law in October 2018.

When obtaining a Drug Enforcement Administration waiver to prescribe buprenorphine, nurse practitioners also can receive free training on the drug’s use.

Providing Care in Underserved and Rural Areas

It’s becoming increasingly difficult for patients in rural communities to find physicians in their area. According to a study in the Journal For Nurse Practitioners, about 90 percent of all nurse practitioners who can prescribe buprenorphine practice in urban areas. And 40 percent of those who are working in rural areas are not accepting new patients.

That same study, however, pointed out that nurse practitioners can have a “tremendous impact” on treating patients with opioid use disorder if they decide to practice in “rural and underserved areas.”

For those who earn a Master of Science in Nursing and become nurse practitioners, the opportunities in rural and underserved communities are large. The number of new nurse practitioner graduates is outpacing the number of new medical doctors. The federal government projects a 26 percent increase in the number of nurse practitioners between 2018 and 2028, and also notes that they are “becoming more widely recognized by the public as a source for primary healthcare.”

Expanding Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment

By working in underserved areas, and with the ability to prescribe buprenorphine, nurse practitioners can expand access to medication-assisted treatment to more patients. Medication-assisted treatment is a long-term but effective solution to opioid use disorder. The acceptance of nurse practitioners as primary care providers is key.

As noted in the study published in the Journal for Nurse Practitioners, opioid use disorder treatment is not a “quick fix.” Nurse practitioners can provide “holistic, patient-centered care” and are “well-positioned to step in and take on the role of caring for patients with OUD.”

Education and Training

Another key element in the battle against opioid abuse is education and training for prescribers. The American Nurses Association believes that the education nurse practitioners receive prepares them to “effectively and safely prescribe opioids.” The ANA also is working with 40 provider groups to provide additional education and training to more than 540,000 opioid prescribers.

Nurses will increasingly play a central part in the battle against the opioid epidemic. For those who enter the nurse practitioner profession, there will be many opportunities to make an important contribution to containing and eventually ending the epidemic.

The post Can Nurses Help Prevent Opioid Abuse? appeared first on Houston Baptist University Online RN to BSN.

A 2019 nursing graduate from Houston Baptist University, Vesely now works in the same field her mother did, providing care for others and feeling fulfilled after many years spent in hotel management.

Her journey toward a more rewarding career started when she realized she wanted to attend a faith-based university. Her search led her to HBU’s Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner degree, where the program provided the educational experience she wanted.

“The FNP program has equipped me with discipline, courage, knowledge, and made me feel more responsible and empathetic for the patients that I encountered in the past two years, and the ones that I will meet in the years to come,” Vesely said in a recent interview.

As for the rewards of the job, Vesely said: “I like that my patients love me as much I love them every day. Nursing is a mutual reward.”

 Making the Switch to Nursing

Vesely grew up learning about the nursing profession. Her mom worked as a nurse and Vesely enjoyed seeing how she cared for patients who needed her “in a great and affectionate way.” Seeing her mother’s devotion to the job sparked an interest in nursing.

However, when the time came to choose a career path, Vesely opted for hotel management, where she worked for 15 years. The job also had a strong component of customer service and care, but Vesely felt unsatisfied.

“Something was missing. I needed more. I realized that I was not completely satisfied in my job and that I needed to give more to others. I needed to love more,” Vesely said.

The birth of her two children helped change her life’s direction. Vesely said she enjoyed her stay at the hospital and the nursing care she and her children received.

“Something clicked, and I realized that is what I wanted to be, a loving and professional nurse who brings care and love to other people. Moreover, my mom is a nurse, and I loved seeing people calling and coming to my house to receive her advice or loving care. Nursing is in my veins!”

Hybrid Education at HBU

Vesely felt good about her decision to enroll in the faith-based online nursing program at HBU from her very first interactions with HBU staff. HBU representatives had “affection” and “are all very professional,” she said.

Vesely’s faith played a significant part in her decision to attend HBU. She said she feels God brought her to a faith-based university and that the faith of people on the HBU staff made her feel welcome. For example, she said Dr. Kathryn Reveles sent bible verses along with her emails and “that always encouraged me to know that she was there for us, not just as my instructor, but also as my spiritual leader.”

HBU delivers its courses in a hybrid online and hands-on clinical format. Once she got into the program in 2017, Vesely found the online experience worked well. She liked the ability to interact with professors and that any questions she had at the beginning of the course received answers.

“I loved the online aspect of the program since it offered me exquisite flexibility. I was able to continue to work and fit my hobbies and course work easily around my busy, but very organized, schedule,” Vesely said. “The online course gave me the freedom where I can study in my own environment – home, cafés, in the hospital lobby – and interact with my instructor and classmates at my own pace.”

The school also worked with students during Hurricane Harvey, which hit the Houston area just two weeks after class started. Professors postponed assignments and students had the chance to deal with any issues caused by widespread flooding.

Becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner: A Life-Changing Experience

Asked if the program had changed her life, Vesely said: “Yes, of course. A program of this caliber makes you stronger, more professional, more enduring, more perseverant, and makes you respect more the work of the family nurse practitioner.”

She particularly praised the effort of Dr. Reveles. “I have seen Dr. Reveles molding and giving life to this program, and fighting for us for scholarships, applying and achieving successfully for CCNE certification, besides also working in a pediatric clinic. So yes, I have learned hard work from a great example, Dr. Reveles.”

She also said her family has made sacrifices for her in the past two years, “and that has shown me how much they love me.”

She also said HBU has provided her with a “spiritual learning experience that has guided my wonderful peers and I, with the help of Jesus Christ, who has always been my landmark, through this challenging, but embracing journey.”

The post Online HBU Nursing Student Makes Career Switch, Enjoys New Rewarding Career appeared first on Houston Baptist University Online RN to BSN.

State leaders understand the issue. The state Legislature formed the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies to better understand the scope of the issue and develop ways to solve the shortage program. The center now projects a shortage of 60,000 nurses in Texas by 2030. Some estimates put that number closer to 71,000.

Those who earn a Master of Science in Nursing are prepared for an in-demand career as a nurse practitioner. Federal projections call for an astounding 43.8% growth in the number of nurse practitioners in Texas between 2018 and 2028, far above the national average of 26%.

Houston Baptist University offers an MSN in both Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner concentrations.

What Drives Nurse Practitioner Growth in Texas

Many factors drive the need for nurse practitioners in Texas. Like the entire country, the population in Texas is aging, which leads to the need for more healthcare services for seniors.

By 2030, one in every five people in America will be of retirement age. But in Texas, that number represents just the tip of the iceberg. Other issues include the following.

Population Growth in Texas

Texas ranks as the second most populated state in the country, behind only California. Between mid-2018 and mid-2019, the state’s population grew by 367,000, resulting in almost 29 million people calling Texas home. This is at a time when population growth is slowing across the nation as a whole.

Rural Areas Need Nurses

Texas is home to four of the Top 30 largest metro areas in the United States: Dallas-Fort Worth (4th), Houston (5th), San Antonio (24th) and Austin (30th). The need for nurses in these metro areas is high. However, the state is so large that much of it is still considered low density and rural. Nurse practitioners increasingly provide services to these areas, much like those provided by general practitioner doctors in the past, according to a study published online by the National Institutes of Health.

Rising Number of Chronic Illnesses

As with the rest of the country, Texas residents have experienced an increased number of diagnoses for diseases such as adult-onset diabetes and obesity.

Aging Workforce

Nationwide, the nursing workforce is aging. According to the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical center in the world, the average age of nurses is 56. That means about 25% of workers will retire within 10 years.

Why Become a Nurse Practitioner in Texas?

Houston Baptist University is helping solve the nursing shortage in Texas by providing quality nursing programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.  HBU offers its BSN program in a 100% online format and MSN programs in a hybrid format that mixes online learning with clinical experience. Both can be finished in less than two years for full-time students.

HBU graduates learn the latest theories in medicine combined with practical knowledge on how to apply those theories to real-world issues. The staff is led by educators with years of experience in the nursing field.

Becoming a nurse practitioner in Texas has many advantages.

• The demand for nurse practitioners is higher than in any other state.
• Cutting edge education. HBU is affiliated with the Texas Medical Center, giving students opportunities for experience while they are in the program and career advancement after they graduate.
• Big markets for nurses. The Dallas and Houston metro areas both rank in the Top 10 areas for the highest employment of nurse practitioners.
• Better salaries. The average annual salary for a nurse in Texas is $111,060, higher than the national average.

Becoming a nurse practitioner in Texas allows ambitious nurses to fulfill the goal of becoming leaders in the medical field. Texas ranks as one of the top states in the country when it comes to the attractive combination of job growth and above-average pay for nurse practitioners.

The post The Growth of Nurse Practitioners in Texas appeared first on Houston Baptist University Online RN to BSN.

There is arguably no more selfless act than that of becoming a nurse. In an article published in AJC.com, Laura Raines writes: “Woven within our communities are strong, nurturing and selfless people. We call them nurses.”

Nurses are the conduit of care between patient and doctor. They must be quick on their feet (not to mention on their feet all day), be able to calmly adapt to critical and often fluid situations, and, above all, they must be caring.

In any health emergency, especially a fast-moving viral outbreak, nurses working in hospitals, clinics, schools – and sometimes parking lots – take charge at the front, providing care in response to an evolving situation.

The Impact of Nurses During a Healthcare Crisis

Most of us, fortunately, have only ever witnessed a healthcare crisis on television. We can imagine a scene where the nursing staff, in what had been a quiet hospital, is suddenly thrust into the chaos of an oncoming crisis. Art imitates life.

During public health emergencies, from car crashes to pandemics, nurses are among the first responders. In the case of a viral outbreak, they are first on the scene. Within hospitals, clinics, and schools, nurses assess the crisis, coordinate logistics of care, monitor and care for individual patients, and support doctors. They comfort and communicate.

An article entitled “Communicating the Changing Role of a Nurse in an Epidemic” published in the Journal of Healthcare Communications highlights this vital link of communication:

“Effective communication is the key to (a) successful healthcare team. Nurses communicate with physicians, nutritionists, physiotherapists, patients, families, and many others. Communication takes place through body language, touch, listening, writing, reading and if necessary by speaking.”

In other words, from doctors and other practitioners to patients and their families, it is nurses to whom we turn in the midst of a healthcare crisis.

Nurses Lead the Charge Against Coronavirus

Describing the essential nature of how nurses take charge as a virus outbreak ripples through a community, the Journal of Healthcare Communication article states:

“In the event of outbreaks of infectious diseases, the role of the nurse changes to adapt to the needs of the patient, their families, and the hospital.”

The COVID-19 pandemic exemplifies this terse description in historic ways. The alarming spread of the Novel Coronavirus and uncertain response in the face of this unknown threat is anchored by nurses responding as best they can in extremely difficult circumstances.

Putting their own health at risk, nurses offer care to a frightened world when it’s needed most. One of the most poignant messages from the Coronavirus pandemic is the real heroism of nurses around the world, stepping unquestioningly into their roles as healthcare coordinators

Nurses on the Frontlines

In light of the work nurses do every day, let alone during a global-scale health emergency, it is clear that we need more people to answer the call. For those who are and ready to become a nurse or advance their careers, it is the singular mission of institutions like Houston Baptist University to make that calling a reality. Their online nursing degree programs give aspiring and advancing nurses the theoretical grounding, real-world experience, and one-on-one support they need.

Nurses and Infection Control

In our next article, we’ll examine the importance of infection-control protocols for nurses. The American Nurses Association says that “infection prevention and control is one of the first topics introduced in nursing programs.”

Introduction and theoretical understanding are one thing, but the ANA goes on to say that these basic principles are often “lost or forgotten.” This emphasizes the many ways nurses and nursing students need the support of world-class, ongoing training and degree programs.

When professional nurses have the flexibility to maintain and advance their skills, they are more ready to deal with the next health crisis.

Likewise for aspiring nurses. Beginning their journey immersed in a nursing college, they gain the knowledge, experience, and relationships they’ll use throughout their career. With that, nurses are better prepared to join the ranks of their nursing and healthcare colleagues. Those people “woven into the community” who are on the frontlines, keeping us safe and healthy.

The post The Impact of Nurses on the Frontlines During a Virus Outbreak appeared first on Houston Baptist University Online RN to BSN.

From the time students decide to explore MSN programs, to the time they enroll or even begin the program, many continue to wonder about their ability to be successful in an online learning curriculum.  Student concerns include: Will I have the time? Will I be able to juggle my work schedule? Will life just get in the way?  These concerns can feel imposing, especially with an online program where the students spend much of their time on the other side of a laptop—but the MSN ambassadors assured the incoming class there’s no need to worry.

Houston Baptist University uses their Orientation program to help incoming students feel more comfortable as they enter their online/on campus MSN program.  Recently, Chelsea Gargour, and Amanda Crandell met with HBU students to let them know they are not in this program alone.  They discussed how with a few simple initiatives, a student can build confidence and a support system to help lead them towards success.

Chelsea and Amanda spoke about important student concerns such as time management, difficulty of the program, and why they should already feel confident as they enter the program.  In discussing time management and program workload, it was important for these incoming students to understand that others have gone through this and felt similar concerns.  While Chelsea works at Houston Methodist, and Amanda is employed at HCA Southeast Regional Hospital, both reinforced that it can be done, even with an already demanding schedule.  As Amanda shared, “This is doable.  It’s doable for people who have kids.  It’s doable for people who are working.”

Part of the success involves building a support group, whether it’s fellow students, or faculty who are determined to help you succeed.  “One of the good things about HBU is that it’s very personal”, said Amanda.  “The Professors actually really care about you and care about you making it, so they will work with you”.  Amanda also discussed how she would get together weekly with fellow students to discuss class topics, but also admitted that while schedules can make that difficult, the group used other options to get together, whether it be FaceTime or group text.  Chelsea added that she also often used group texts and encouraged students to make as many connections as possible.

The parting message for the students throughout this conversation was to work hard, keep going, and be confident in what they’ve already accomplished as they enter the program. Chelsea informed the group, “You are a Nurse.  You already have a strong foundation. You’re just building on it.”  No matter how difficult it feels at times, Amanda encouraged the students to keep driving forward, “It’s a little like running a marathon.  As long as you go step by step, you will get there.  YOU WILL.”

If you would like more information on Houston Baptist University’s MSN program, please visit https://d3buyuscvhe9eh.cloudfront.net/ .

The post MSN Students Speak With Incoming Class   appeared first on Houston Baptist University Online RN to BSN.

A recent white paper published in the Journal of Pediatric Health Care anticipates a critical pediatric nurse practitioner shortage. The paper predicts difficulties in providing quality healthcare services to the nation’s growing number of children without a significant influx of new pediatric nurse practitioners. This highlights the need for professionals in nursing to advance their education and careers to meet the need.

Houston Baptist University (HBU) is helping to meet the need by offering a Master of Science degree in Nursing as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. It prepares nurses for leadership roles in this important field and is designed to prepare professional nurses with the skills they need to immediately make an impact on pediatric primary care.

That is important in the current situation. In a news release issued about the impending PNP shortage, Dawn Garzon Maaks, president of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP), said: “It’s in the best interest of our country to build a PNP workforce that will provide high quality, value-based, evidence-based care and treatment for our youth so they can become healthy, thriving and productive adults.”

The Extent of the Nurse Practitioner Shortage

While the number of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners has increased over the past decade, their number has not grown at the same rate as other nurse practitioner specialties. Of 270,000 nurse practitioners who work in the United States, less than 8% are pediatric, according to NAPNAP.

The organization also reports that about 1,025 pediatric nurse practitioners are licensed each year. The total workforce is about 18,100. In the white paper, researchers wrote that these numbers show a pediatric nurse practitioner shortage is just around the corner. They also point to other issues that are leading to, and associated with, the expected shortage:

• There is currently an insufficient number of pediatric primary care providers to handle the complex needs of children, leading to a shortage in many U.S. counties
• Underserved urban areas and rural areas are feeling these shortages the most
• There are currently 74 million children in the U.S., which is about 23% of the population. That number is expected to grow to 76 million by 2030, making the demand for care higher

What this Means for Nurses

The pediatric nurse practitioner shortage offers graduates from MSN-PNP programs like the one offered by Houston Baptist University more career opportunities than ever. The HBU curriculum is designed to prepare graduates for the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care certification examination offered through the Pediatric Nurse Certification Board. They are now the only ones offering the exam as of 2019.

The program includes 531 clinical hours. To offer the flexibility working nurses need to maintain a job while seeking a higher-level degree, the program combines online classes and coursework with clinical and practicum experiences offered in partnership with healthcare providers, all designed with convenience in mind for the student. Students come to campus for an intensive weekend once a semester to interact with faculty.

While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not track Pediatric Nurse Practitioners separately from other types of NPs, the federal agency projects a 26% increase in all nurse practitioner’s jobs between 2018 and 2028. Texas has the third-highest number of nurse practitioners among all U.S. states and also one of the largest populations in the country.

In the white paper, the researchers encourage additional analysis of the pediatric nurse practitioner workforce. They also advocate for more education in this important area, as well as an effort to increase awareness among healthcare leaders about the potential impact of a pediatric nurse practitioner shortage.

The post What Will the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Shortage Mean for You? appeared first on Houston Baptist University Online RN to BSN.

These advantages and disadvantages are experienced by both registered nurses and nurse practitioners. For those who decide to move ahead with their education in nursing, the degree programs at Houston Baptist University can give them the skills and knowledge they need to meet challenges in ways that go beyond what they learn in the classroom.

The Benefits of Nursing

Nursing is one of the nation’s largest professions. There were more than three million registered nurses in the United States in 2018, in part because of the many benefits of a nursing career.

Caring for Others

One of the main reasons people choose a nursing career is the opportunity to care for others. In some situations, a nurse can mean the difference between life and death for a patient and many nurses see their job as more of a calling. Certainly, no job offers the same kind of satisfaction for those who wish to help others.

Great Pay

Because demand is high, nurses command a good salary. Keep in mind that pay can vary depending on where you live and your specific job. In Texas, registered nurses made a median annual salary of $72,890 in May 2018, according to the latest numbers available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Strong Job Growth

The number of nurses is expected to grow 12% by 2028, according to BLS projections. In Texas, that rate is 24.1%, according to Projections Central. An anticipated nursing shortage in Texas also has led to a higher demand for nurses who hold a BSN or MSN in Nursing.

Diverse Work Environments

Nurses pursue careers in many different settings. These include hospitals, ambulatory care, community centers, outpatient clinics, and long-term care homes. Some also choose to work as travel nurses, taking full-time, short-term jobs at different locations around the country.

Multiple Career Paths

Many nurses start by earning a two-year degree before moving on to an RN-to-BSN program. BSN nurses can choose to go further with their education, earning graduate degrees to become a pediatric nurse practitioner or a family nurse practitioner.

The Challenges of Nursing

Nurses face many difficulties in their profession. Some of the most frequently mentioned challenges including the following.

• Physically demanding. Many of the duties of a nurse require lifting, bending and staying on your feet for many hours.
• Emotionally draining. Dealing with people who are ill, as well as their family members, can lead to highly emotional situations.
• Stress. When you are dealing with life and death situations, stress is something you will experience.
• Tough work schedules. At some point as a nurse, you will certainly work weekends and holidays.

How An Online Program Prepares Nurses For Challenges

At Houston Baptist University, the online and hybrid nursing programs help prepare nurses to handle the challenges of their profession. The program focuses on teaching nursing skills and knowledge but also educates students on the best practices for applying what is learned in school to situations they face on the job.

That’s why clinical hours are so important. Most students who enter the BSN or MSN programs are working nurses. However, Houston Baptist University offers new experiences for students through partnerships with healthcare hospitals and clinics.

The university partners with the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical center in the world. Through that partnership, Houston Baptist University can offer students clinical experience. Students also work with nursing professors and professional nursing coaches, getting one-on-one instruction from those with professional experience.

A faith-based degree can also help nurses deal with the ups and downs of nursing, including stress. Houston Baptist University students enjoy a close community who support one another in faith, academics and attaining career goals.

Nursing is not without its challenges. But the benefits are many. Earning a degree from Houston Baptist University can help students prepare for those challenges and better position themselves to enjoy the rewards.

The post What are the Challenges vs. Benefits of Nursing? appeared first on Houston Baptist University Online RN to BSN.

A Foundation in Faith

Houston Baptist University offers an online faith-based RN-to-BSN degree that prepares graduates to take on the challenging job of nursing care in the 21st century. But what makes a faith-based program different?

The first difference can be seen in the HBU mission statement. The statement includes the idea that the school “instills in students a passion for academic, spiritual and professional excellence.” HBU leaders state that “HBU strives to not only develop each student academically but spiritually, physically and relationally as well.”

The Baptist General Convention of Texas created HBU in 1960 with the goal of establishing a university in Houston that stressed both quality of life and quality of learning. The school strives to have an ethnically diverse group of students, mirroring the diverse population of Houston itself. HBU has been named by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top regional universities in the west for campus ethnic diversity.

 A Faith-Based BSN 

A career in nursing offers an opportunity to serve others and demonstrate a Christian-based approach. HBU keeps this in mind, including components within the coursework itself that stress Christian values such as strong ethics and a mentality of serving others. The program has courses that examine in detail the skills nurses need and how to apply them to the real-world of practicing medicine.  They also provide courses such as “Care of Vulnerable Populations” and “Nurses in the Community; Nursing the Community” that focus on providing care for the more vulnerable people in society.

In all its programs, HBU incorporates the school’s initial mission as envisioned in The 10 Pillars. They call for an academic institution that incorporates faith, learning and a strong foundation in the liberal arts. The school strives to provide professional behaviors and personal characteristics that lead to life-long learning and service to both God and the community.

All this is appealing to those who seek a faith-based RN-to-BSN program. It’s a path worth taking for those who want a top-notch education that also is faith-based.

The post The Benefits of Earning a Faith-Based RN-BSN   appeared first on Houston Baptist University Online RN to BSN.

That’s a step in the right direction, according to studies. For example, the BBC reports that a Harvard study found average attendance at lectures typically falls from 79% at the start of class to 43% by the end.

Also, students only retain about 10% of what they hear in lectures even just a few days afterward.

The RN to BSN program at Houston Baptist University takes a no-lecture format approach to the degree program, which is 100% online and allows RNs to earn their bachelor degree through eight self-paced courses.

Components of Online Learning

There are four main components of online courses, as explained by U.S. News and World Report. They are as follows.

The Learning Management System (LMS). This is the most important aspect of online learning. The LMS is where students sign in to see all the course materials – text, videos, audio files, links to other resources, etc. This is also the system through which students interact with  other students, including topic discussions and projects.

Course materials. Much of this is reading material assigned by professors including text files online or books that you must order. Materials can also include PowerPoint presentations, podcasts, webcasts, and instructional videos.

Assignments and group projects. All assignments and due dates are in the LMS. In addition to papers, students are often asked to participate in discussions on message boards (they may also be asked to moderate these discussions). While the rules vary, students may be required to make substantive posts to the message board to further the conversation. Many classes require group projects with other students and completion of written assignments that can be submitted through the LMS.

Grading. Tests and assignments make up the grade, as usual. Many tests are proctored to prevent students from cheating.

Who Benefits from Online No-Lecture Formats?

The flexibility of online learning is often touted as a major benefit, allowing students to sign in to the LMS and do their coursework at the time and place of their choosing each day. But there are also educational advantages of using a no-lecture, online format.

According to the Open Education Database, students report that they are better able to concentrate on learning through online classes because there are no classroom distractions. They can also repeatedly review important information in video or audio files.

The self-paced nature of online learning is also a benefit. Everyone learns at their own pace. Online learning allows each student to approach their education in a way that is best for their learning style.

Online classes help students who otherwise might not participate in classroom discussions to enter into the conversation. Typing and posting on a message board is easier for many people than speaking up in a crowded classroom.

While online education offers a different approach that may be unfamiliar, many students find that the advantages of a no-lecture format course are in some ways creating a learning environment that is superior to traditional on-campus learning.

The post What is a No-Lecture Format Degree? appeared first on Houston Baptist University Online RN to BSN.