CampusRN Job Blog
New specialty license plates to honor nurses
Saturday, May 19, 2012
This summer, a great way to support nursing will hit the streets — a new specialty nurse license plate.
“This is a great way to honor nursing, whether you are a nurse, know a nurse, like a nurse or just respect the profession,” said Georgia Barkers, Ed.D., MBA, MHA, BSN, RN-BC, NEA-BC, president of the Georgia Nurses Foundation. “After years of planning, designing and working through the process, we are so excited and can hardly believe that it is finally happening.”
Who knew that a license plate could involve so much red tape? Barkers said the Georgia Nurses Association (GNA) and the Georgia Nurses Foundation (GNF) had been talking about a license plate long before she joined the foundation as director of leadership development four years ago.
The design, which includes a red Florence Nightingale lamp logo (borrowed with permission from the American Nurses Association) and the phrase, “Nurses Save Lives,” was selected by the GNA Convention and Membership Assembly in Athens in 2009.
“This year, the Georgia Legislature passed HB 732, which dedicated a portion of the funds derived from the sale of specialty nurse license plates to the Georgia Nurses Foundation,” Barkers said. “The money will help the foundation do more things for Georgia nurses.”
Barkers noted that the money received from by GNF from specialty license plate sales would go toward nursing scholarships and for workforce planning and development.
The 2013 state budget allocates $27,000 in new funding for the RN Workforce survey. Experts agree that more data on the nursing population is needed in Georgia.
“Once we have more data on the status of nurses in Georgia, we can do a better job of planning health care needs for the state,” Barkers said.
posted in: Georgia
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Darton begins 4-year Nursing Program
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Students have about one more month to apply for Darton College’s first 4-year degree.
Classes in the new Nursing Baccalaureate Degree program start in just four months. Admission will be competitive because the program will start small.
Nursing students working on their associates degree at Darton are buried in books, studying for exams just two weeks away.
“You have to put a lot of effort into it because you have to put a lot of effort into it to become a good nurse, you basically have to know your stuff,” said Lois Kamau, a Darton College Nursing Student.
Just last month the college was granted initial approval for the Bachelors Program and is working with SACS and other agencies to gain the needed accreditation. Enrollment is underway.
“We’re planning on accepting application through May 15th,” said April Reese, DPN, CNM Darton College Dean of Nursing.
The response has been overwhelming especially from those who’ve graduated from the 2-year program.
“Most of the students I’m advising are former graduates and a lot of them have previous degrees, or bachelor degrees in other areas,” said Tracy Suber, MSN, RN Darton College Assistant Dean of Nursing.
Digging Deeper Darton College has an unheard of 10 professors working on their doctoral degrees. They’re helping to shape what the program will eventually include.
“The board of nursing and our accrediting bodies have certain courses that have to be include and those courses are research, courses in leadership and community health. Apart from that we have some freedom for other courses we want to develop,” said Reese.
As the economy improves more nurses, especially supervisors who’ve held off retirement and faulty will leave the workforce, creating openings for students with advanced degrees.
posted in: Georgia
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State Expands Nursing Education
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
The University System of Georgia is expanding the state’s nursing programs.
The Board of Regents Tuesday approved a measure that will allow Darton College in Albany, and Georgia Highlands College in Rome, to offer four-year programs in nursing.
Georgia could be 38,000 nurses short in 10 years, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services.
posted in: Education, Georgia
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University Receives Grant For Online Doctor of Nursing Practice Program
Monday, March 07, 2011
Earning a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) can be beneficial for professionals in the nursing field who wish to qualify for higher salaries or promotions. These individuals may want to consider enrolling in online nursing degree programs that offer the flexibility that working adults often require.
posted in: Education, Georgia
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ATC begins evening nursing program
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Nurses are in high demand.
South Georgians interested in that career have a new option for nursing school.
Albany Technical College is offering a new program this Quarter that caters to students with full-time jobs.
The school expanded its Practical Nurse program into the evenings.
posted in: Georgia
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Nursing careers essential for Georgia
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Competent, compassionate nurses can make all the difference in our health care. They work in hospitals, clinics, homes and hospices, and without them we’d be lost.
That’s why I’m glad that The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and ajcjobs.com recognizes National Nurses Week (May 6-12) with a “Celebrating Nurses” section in Sunday’s paper and special write-up of Nursing Excellence Awards winners.
After all, if you were introduced to Kristen Earley, Milton High School valedictorian of 2006, who has studied at Berry College and Emory University to become a nurse, you’d want to tell her she’s made a good career decision.
And if you needed the nursing crew at Emory University Hospital, where my oldest daughter is an emergency department R.N., or the nurses at Grady Memorial Hospital or any other Georgia hospital, you’d thank them all for learning the nursing skills needed to keep you alive.
And if you talked to science-minded middle and high school students hoping to help humanity, you’d want to mention the benefits of a nursing vocation for both males and females.
We need all these people — current nurses and lots of new nurses — because our state faces a severe nursing shortage. A study from the University System of Georgia’s Nursing Education Expansion Plan (NEEP) states that while “an adequate supply of registered nurses is essential to achieving quality, accessible health care for all people,” we face a shortfall of 16,400 registered nurses this year and 37,700 by 2020.
The nursing shortage presents challenges. First, we must reach more students such as Kristen, the graduating nurse from Milton, who says she was teased by bright classmates for “stopping at nursing” instead of wanting to become a doctor. The idea that nurses aren’t as smart as doctors is outdated.
Indeed, nursing today is a profession seeking intelligent, hardworking students of all ages able to grasp sciences such as anatomy and pharmacology; perform clinical work in areas such as acute care, pediatrics, labor and delivery, psychology, and community care; and pass the NCLEX — a comprehensive exam for the licensing of registered nurses.
But Georgia nursing also needs people and places to teach and train aspiring nurses. The Georgia NEEP study, submitted by the Nursing Education Task Force in September, notes that faculty shortages, constrained budgets and a lack of clinical training sites are “stressing the health care delivery system” around our state.
It’s also essential that our best hospitals have enough money to hire and train our excellent new graduates, who may go on to advanced degrees and service in other medical areas, including becoming nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants and nursing instructors.
New graduates like Milton’s Kristen Earley are the face of Georgia’s nursing future. With coordinated efforts among our educational institutions and governmental and private sector support, we can make our state a preeminent place for excellent health care. Recognizing and appreciating the vital work of our wonderful nurses is a great place to start.
posted in: Georgia, Employer News
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OT’s and PT’s - We’re offering a $4500 Sign On Bonus!!!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Memorial University Medical Center is hiring Occupational Therapists and Physical Therapists. We’re offering a $4500 sign on bonus with an 18 month work agreement!
Memorial University Medical Center in beautiful Savannah, Ga., is located just minutes from the beach in a city that’s known for its charm and hospitality. In addition to sand and sun, Savannah has renowned restaurants, museums, and a thriving Historic District.
posted in: Georgia
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Program trains nurses to treat vets
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
An innovative partnership between the Medical College of Georgia and Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center of Augusta will better prepare nursing students who want to treat veterans.
The Dedicated Clinical Nurse Leader-Students to Veterans Program allows six MCG clinical nurse leader students to complete three of their four clinical rotations at the VA hospital, fostering a consistent learning-teaching environment that familiarizes them with the health-care needs of veterans. MCG’s clinical nurse leader program is a master’s-level program that trains students to oversee the care coordination of groups of patients.
posted in: Georgia, news
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Memorial University Medical Center in beautiful Savannah, Ga
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Memorial University Medical Center in beautiful Savannah, Ga., is located just minutes from the beach in a city that’s known for its charm and hospitality. In addition to sand and sun, Savannah has renowned restaurants, museums, and a thriving Historic District.
Memorial University Medical Center is a 530-bed hospital with a Level 1 trauma center, a children’s hospital, and major medical education and research programs. We hold a Clinical Excellence Award from HealthGrades, meaning our clinical quality ranks among the top 5 percent in the nation. We are seeking registered nurses to join our world-class specialty teams in orthopedic trauma, medical-surgical, emergency care, critical care, and more.
posted in: Georgia
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Eliminating nursing program would be grave mistake
Monday, March 08, 2010
President William Bloodworth of Augusta State University has a tough job. With mandated budget cuts from the state, he had to sit down with his red pen and decide what academic programs at ASU would be put on the chopping block.
I assume that in doing this, he considered the impact not only on the local student population, but on the needs of the community on the local and national level.
posted in: Georgia, news
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