Nursing Studies in the US

In this article, you can read about Nursing studies in the U.S.

Sykepleie i USA - Støtte fra Lånekassen

Lånekassen har to generelle restriksjoner når det gjelder finansiering av sykepleierutdanning i USA. Den ene er at Lånekassen ikke gir noe støtte til det første året (freshman year) av en amerikansk bachelorgrad. Den andre er at skolen man skal studere sykepleie ved må enten være akkreditert (dvs. godkjent) av The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) eller av Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) for å være støtteberettiget av Lånekassen. Disse to akkrediteringsorganisasjonene har hver for seg godkjent en rekke amerikanske universiteter og colleges.

For en oppdatert liste over skoler med godkjente sykepleieprogrammer, sjekk

(Kilde: ANSA)

The Study of Nursing in the US

Nursing Qualifications

There are various types of nurses in the US, including Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Registered Nurses (RNs) and Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs). Educational programmes for each are given at different types of institutions. Individuals should consider their personal and professional goals and interests when choosing a particular educational path.

Each US state has a nursing board, see the National Council of State Boards of Nursing , which serves as the authority for training and licensing. Upon the successful completion of a state-approved programme, a graduate must take the licensing examination given by the state. Only when this exam is passed can a person work as an LPN, RN, or APN. As licensure is only valid in the state where issued, anyone wishing to work in another state would have to contact the appropriate nursing board.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

An LPN programme involves 12 months of training at a state approved vocational/technical school or community college. Upon completion of a training programme, students must sit the state licensure exam to become a licensed nurse. Licensed nurses are usually employed in a hospital, providing basic bedside care under the supervision of physicians and registered nurses. Their responsibilities and potential for upward mobility are, however, more limited than the RN's.

Registered Nurse (RN)

There are three types of training programmes available for those wanting to be an RN: an associates degree in nursing (ADN), a bachelor of science degree in nursing (BSN), and a diploma programme. All successful graduates are prepared to begin general nursing duties in hospitals, clinics, etc. Upon completion of a training programme, students must sit the state licensure exam to become a registered nurse.

Advanced Practice Nurse (APN)

The master's degree is the standard educational qualification for Advanced Practical Nurses. The most common APN is the Nurse Practitioner (NP). Nurse Practitioners are RNs with advanced clinical skills such as conducting physical exams, prescribing medication, diagnosing and treating illness, interpreting lab tests and counselling patients on health care options. 18 of the US states allow NPs to practice independently of physicians. APNs also include Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS), Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM) and Certified Registered Nurse Anaesthetists (CRNA).

Undergraduate Nursing Education

Licensed Practical Nurses obtain their nursing education through technical/vocational schools, community/junior colleges, or even high schools, hospitals or universities. Many LPN training programmes require a minimum of five academic GCSEs at grade C or higher to apply. The practical nursing programmes include both classroom study and supervised clinical practice (usually in hospital).

Registered Nurses obtain their nursing education through the four-year Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN), a two-year Associate's degree in nursing or a three-year hospital training diploma. Although all three educational paths meet entry requirements for nurse registration and licensure, the primary path to professional nursing is the BSN. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) recognises the BSN as the minimum educational requirement for professional nursing practice.

Associate's Degree

Courses last approximately two years. Associate's degrees combine nursing courses and supportive college courses. They are usually available at community and junior colleges, although they are also offered at some universities and technical institutes. Graduates receive an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree. To obtain a bachelor's degree after receiving an associate's degree, a student will have to spend at least two additional years at a university or college that offers bachelor's or combined bachelor's/master's degrees. Lånekassen does not provide support for an Associate Degree .

Diploma Programmes

These are often run by hospitals or community health care centres and take two to three years to complete. 12 years of school education are needed to apply to diploma programmes. Diploma holders can enrol in a bachelor's degree or a combined bachelor's/master's to upgrade qualifications.

Associate's degree and diploma holders can begin practice as an RN, but may find that they are limited to staff positions as health care generalists and not qualified for certain positions outside the hospital. Lånekassen does not provide support for Diploma Programs.

Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)

These four-year programmes are offered at colleges and universities. The first two years are comprised of courses in natural sciences, humanities and social sciences. The final two years concentrate on nursing courses and on-site clinical training in hospitals, clinics and outpatient centres.

Bachelor's degree holders are prepared to practice in all health care settings, such as critical care, public health, primary care and mental health. This is crucial, since health care is shifting from the hospital to more primary and preventive care in community centres. In addition to providing greater employment opportunities, the degree also serves as a basis for postgraduate education.

Postgraduate Nursing Education

Nursing professionals in the US can prepare for specialisation at the postgraduate level.

Master's Degree

Master's degrees in nursing last 18-24 months and involve classroom and clinical work. The curriculum generally includes nursing science theory and application, health care management, research and courses in the student's specialisation. Admission requirements vary but typically include an accredited bachelor's degree, a RN licensure, clinical work experience and the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). International applicants may be required to have Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) certification.

There are many different types of master's degrees to cater to different applicants. There are programmes for BSN graduates, condensed bachelor's-to-master's degree programmes for RNs who have associate's degrees or Hospital Diplomas, programmes for RNs with non-nursing degrees, programmes for non-RNs with non-nursing degrees, and joint-degree programmes like Nursing/Public Health.

Doctoral Degree

Doctoral programmes vary in length and can take up to five to seven years. Admission requirements are often an accredited bachelor's degree, an accredited master's degree, RN licensure and clinical work experience and the GRE. Doctoral programmes prepare nurses for health administration, faculty positions, clinical research and advanced clinical practice.

The curriculum generally includes nursing history and philosophy, nursing technique development and testing, data management, research methodology and socio-economics of nursing.

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