Certified Nursing Assistant

The College of Staten Island is a part of the City University of New York System and situated on Staten Island. The college offers graduate and undergraduate programs through the Division of Humanities and Social Science and the Division of Science and Technology. It has largest campus in New York City, measuring 204 acre, which includes a Center for the Arts, an Astrophysical Observatory and Recreation Center. This college is only public college located on Staten Island.

This college started offering a quality Associate in Applied Science degree (AAS) with a major in nursing in 1965. The accreditation of National League for Nursing (NLN) was sought and received for the graduation of the first class student and has continued throughout the progress of the program. A Bachelor of Science degree with a major in nursing was initiated at CSI in 1982 and in due course received the National League for Nursing (NLN) accreditation.

A Master of Science in Adult Health Nursing was initiated, providing for Clinical Nurse Specialist preparation in Adult Health in the year 2000. A Federal grant of $637,000 was offered to the college for the resources to meet its program goals. A Masters in Gerontological Nursing, with preparation in the role of Geronatolical Clinical Nurse Specialist was added in 2002 and in 2003, Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) and Clinical Nurse Specialist/Nursing Practitioner (CNS/NP) was offered for nurses holding master’s degrees include the Advanced Certificate in Adult Health Nursing and the Advanced Certificate in Gerontological Nursing.

Associate Degree

Associate in Applied Science (AAS)

This degree program is for high school graduates, and individuals with other degrees or planning to pursue second career. Through this program, a student can set scientific foundation for generalist nursing practice. This program offers supervised clinical learning to the nursing students and practice nursing skills in state-of-the-art nursing laboratories, including a High Fidelity Simulation Center. The student will be eligible to appear for the Registered Professional Nurse licensure exam after graduation.

Bachelor of Science (BS)

The Registered Professional Nurse can continue with professional education by opting for Bachelor of Science (BS) degree. RNs completing an associate degree or diploma program can join this degree course and can opt for study full or part time, pursuing education on health promotion, community health, critical care, leadership, and research. BS graduates offers leadership, management, and more independent nursing roles skills.

Master of Science (MS)

An RN with a baccalaureate degree in nursing is eligible for this course, which prepares for an advanced practice nurses for the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) or Clinical Nurse Specialist/Nurse Practitioner (CNS/NP) roles. The program has characteristic of cultural competency in the care of diverse populations, theoretical foundations of nursing science, advanced path physiology, examine health policy, and study advanced clinical concepts associated with the care of adults or older persons. This program offers the opportunity of engaging in evidence-based practice through research. The student may opt for full time and part time study.  Full-time students may be eligible for grant-funded assistance. Graduates of the MS in Adult Health Nursing or Gerontological Nursing can assist the profession and their clients’ welfare through evidenced-based practice, leadership, education, and as a consultant in their chosen specialty.

The Doctor of Nursing Science (DNS)

The Doctor of Nursing Science (DNS) Program is offered by The Graduate Center in conjunction with the three CUNY master’s programs in nursing:

• Hunter College,
• Lehman College
• The College of Staten Island.

The program addresses the two-pronged mission of The Graduate Center:

• Address the needs of the community
• Provide doctoral education for traditionally underrepresented groups.

The curriculum for DNA program includes

• Study of nursing and other health-related theories
• Research methods

Health policy/health economics in a context of multidisciplinary partnerships to provide quality-based, comprehensive health care.

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You my be looking for the most ideal health care center for offering quality care to one of your parent, but the selection of right centre for his/her treatment might be a dilemma or puzzling for you. The reason being, there are hospitals, long term care units and numerous nursing homes and, choosing the best among them is a sturdy task. You never know the quality of the treatments these health centers provide to their patients or how good are their facilities?

If you are not able to afford sufficient time to offer personal caring in the home or if your loved one needs constant physicians and nurses observation then, Nursing Homes can be your ideal choice for their treatments.

Today, there are more than 20,000 nursing homes in America and more than 3 million aged and disable people receive their treatment there. There are various reasons for the popularity of nursing homes for the health cares. The main factor which makes people opt for these nursing homes for their loved ones are easy accessibility, approachable locations, long term care needs, cost factors and busy time schedule.

But, as Nursing Homes provide treatment to different types of ailments and, quality and facilities are also not similar in all nursing homes, it becomes necessary to check out their efficiency in providing Nursing Care to its patients. You can carry out your checking by enquiring with friends, your physicians, or other health practitioners, state’s nursing home ombudsman, surveys and others. Following points should be remembered, while selecting the right nursing home:

1. Quality of Services and nursing 2. Facilities offered 3. Goodwill of the nursing home. 4. Comparison of various nearby located nursing homes. 5. Availability of your resources and means for the long term care. 6. Medicaid and Medicare Certification 7. Five Star quality Rating 8. Nursing Home’s health Inspection results. 9. Check Nursing Home Checklist and other resources. 10. Hours of Direct Care. 11. Staff Retention 12. Temporary Staffing for additional better cure 13. Proportion of single rooms. 14. Safety 15. Vital Care giving resources availability 15. Quality of personnel, staff and nurses

Keeping these points in mind you can select the best nursing home, which can provide the effective and compassionate nursing care to your close relatives.

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The fundamentals of nursing practice are the base for the Nursing Research. It is common belief that, while making any medical assessment by a nurse, her decisions and actions are the result of the findings and existing tendency of the nursing research.

Through long years of studying by nurses, doctors, medical academicians and scholars about patient’s medical and physiological behavior, the facts and outcomes have been studied and implemented to improve the treatment and to provide moral support to patient and their families. Similarly, effectiveness of various types of medications, its uses and side effects are studied over and published for general awareness. The publication of nursing research articles on medical journals, magazines and webs are great source for creating awareness about different innovative findings on medical science.

It is also to be noted that when a nurse acts differently or in contrast to the nursing research, he/she may be held responsible for medical negligence or acting in contrary to nursing research. The reason being research has developed and come a long way since the time of Florence Nightingale to the present day, where researchers work in universities, health care centers and hospitals. Such researches put importance on implementing the evidence from the research, in order to rationalize nursing intervention. Thus, the nurses acting differently from these evidences generated through research may be held responsible for their negligent actions.

In nursing professional, there are two areas, where nursing research is commonly applicable and they include:

• Quantative Research: This research mainly concentrates on the exercise of testing controlled trial settings.
• Qualitative Research: This research is based on the qualitative results as experienced by the patient.

Thus, Nursing Research can be termed as systematic and original investigation to enhance the knowledge and understandings to implement principals and facts, for introduction and creation of new improved ideas and facts. It helps in generating qualitative knowledge for understanding and providing excellence in nursing care of the patients. Nursing data are collected through experiments, surveys, case studies and other methods to ascertain the facts, which are analyzed for better quantitative and qualitative approaches, which can be absorbed or rejected.

Hence, Nursing Research can be termed as dynamic intermingling of nursing theory with nursing practice in the professional working or studying field for implementation or rejection.

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Workplace stress is most common among workforces in different working places. This phenomenon has been increasing day by day and now it has reached to an alarming proportion especially in health care centers. The nursing workforce has been greatly affected by such distresses in the health care centers, hospitals, long term care units and nursing homes. Numerous researches have been carried out to find the reasons behind these problems and Nursing Interventions for them.

The main reasons that have been responsible and short listed for stresses from theses researches are based on following situations:

• Disagreements with doctors and physicians
• Indifferent behavior of the Management and leadership/management style
• Conflicts with colleagues, peers and supervisors
• Discrimination
• Excessive Workload
• Inadequate knowledge and experience
• Emotional cost of caring
• Dealing with death and dying patients
• Dealing with patients and their families
• Lack of Rewards
• Shifts and family commitments
• Inter professional Conflict

These reasons are the main factors leading to insecurity, emotional up heal, stress and other behavioral problems, which has prompted many nursing personnel to leave their nursing jobs and look elsewhere for employment.

The research findings have targeted organizational Interventions as short and medium term distress and disengagement controlling measure. The other interventions include better support, understanding and their involvement in day today workings.

Reducing workload and flexible shifts allotments can also offer them relief from their emotional distress. To meet these ends proper staffing of the nurses, increasing administrative workforce for reducing paper work burdens among the nurses are other remedial measures to reduce stresses and retention of nursing workforce.

Improved leadership/management styles can minimize intra professional and inter professional conflict to a great extent. The effectiveness of this system lies with eradication of harassment and discrimination among employees. The formation of a committee comprising of management, administrative personnel, doctors and physicians, registered and senior nurses and other nursing staffs to look after these distressing problem will go long way in assuaging the stress and emotional problems of nurses of all level.

Lack of pay or reward is also creating dissatisfaction among the nurses leading to their frustrations. It is understandable factor that there is disparity of pay scale among nurses and people employed in different services. There remains the disparity, which must be corrected with proper salaries for the nurses.

These remedial measures can go long way in reducing the stress, distress, disengagement and emotional problems in nursing personnel.

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A Nursing Case Study is collection of vital information about a patient, written by a nurse for other nurses, physician, and any other medical staff who is involved in providing the nursing care to the patient. Case Study can be termed as an effective means of communication between nurse and other medical personnel involved in the caring of the patient.

In Health Care Centers or Nursing schools and other nursing institutes, Nursing Case Study is often used to train new nurses, as well as nursing students, for research purposes, nursing education up gradation, introduction of new equipments and so on. Few specific case studies are even published in medical journals and magazines as a research topic. When case study is presented to other nursing or medical staffs, on few occasions, even patient is invited to attend the presentation.

Case Study is used for different purposes including:

1. By a registered nurse, who prepares Case study about a patient, working together with doctors, physicians of the patient and presented to family members, other nurses, rehabilitation staff, and so on.
2. When the patient is transferred to another nursing home or health care center or when the patient is discharged from the hospital and goes back to his home. In such cases, Case Study is provided to other nurses and medical staff of that health care center or family members of the patient, showing the status of patient’s health, his present condition and informs them about present and future need of the patient.
3. In Nursing Schools and Nursing educational institute’s case study is presented to educate and make the medical students familiar with different aspects of nursing care to the patients. Student nurses even have the subject on case study, which they have to prepare on a patient. Nursing instructors uses case study to evaluate nursing competency of the student.
4. Case Studies are also used for degree programs and continuing advance education. In such cases, Case Study is mainly used for academic or research purposes. They are even published in journals and magazines.

Nursing Case Study basically includes:

• Topic (based in reality and relevant)
• Objective
• Introduction
• Integration of more history and background
• Questions for analysis and critical thinking
• Feedback (Informational and reinforcing)
• References

Thus, Nursing Case Study prepared with these points provides in-depth knowledge about the patient’s condition, situation and other vital information about the patient, which are essential for effective nursing care of the patient.

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NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) is held to provide licensing to nurses in America. There are two types of Licensing, the NCLEX-RN and the NCLEX-PN. National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN) has the responsibility and own NCLEX examination. NCSBN administer these examinations in 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four U.S. territories American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands.

The need for passing NCLEX is essential for public protection and to provide patients with effective health care. NCLEX – RN test is held for registered nurses and NCLEX – PN is held for vocational or practical nurses. The examination is designed to measures the education, knowledge, skills and abilities in a nurse to provide safe and effective nursing at the entry level. NCLEX examinations are held in a CAT format and administered by Pearson VUE in their network of Pearson Professional Centers (PPC).

The main difference in NCLEX -RN and NCLEX-PN examination is different number of questions for each exam. NCLEX-RN test has 75 to 265 numbers of questions, whereas NCLEX -ON test contain 85 to 205 numbers of questions. Both test measures competency of nursing practice and knowledge. Both tests are offered with 4 multiple choice answer settings.

It is necessary to apply for the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN examination in the specific state from where, a medical student want to be licensed. Once this formality of applying is completed, a candidate registers with Pearson VUE for the NCLEX test through mail, phone or online. It is also wise to understand that, Pearson VUE is also the administrator of the exam. A candidate can avail the NCLEX exam registration form and details about the exam fees etc, through NCSBN website and candidate bulletin in the same website.

After the registration is completed, Pearson VUE directly sends the confirmation of your registration. This step also facilitates the NCSBN to approve your application for the test. NCSBN approval also makes Person VUE to provide you with Authorization to Test (ATT) and scheduling of exam time. The NCLEX examination is held in Pearson Professional Centers (PPC). All information regarding exam scheduling and other similar information can be accessed in Pearson VUE site or Candidate Handbook.

NCLEX RN and NCLEX PN tests can be given on a computer and, tests are of variable lengths, depending upon the candidate’s response of each questions and test items. The test is deemed to be over, once it is ascertained that the candidate has appeared for minimum questions that are required for measuring the competency of the candidate including above or below passing standard with 95% certainty.

A candidate is offered 5 hours to complete 85 to 205 multiple choice questions, including 25 non scoring pretest questions in NCLEX-PN test and up to 6 hours for 75 – 265 multiple choice questions, including 15 non scoring pretest questions in NCLEX-RN test. The candidate also gets the opportunity for the best guessing choice of answers, if they are not able to answer question.

The questions are based on 4 major categories, which are needed for effective care of the patient, such as Safe and Effective Care Environment, Health Promotion and Maintenance, Psychosocial Integrity, and Physiological Integrity. These categories are broken into numerous sub categories and questions for the test are prepared on these subjects.

By scheduling your time for each question and assigning one minute for each question, you can easily complete all NCLEX questions in the given time frame. But remember that last 60 questions can be judged for the passing standard and if you achieve passing standard in last 60 questions, you are deemed as passing the test.

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Mental health Nursing is related to the pivotal role of mental health nurses in providing the overall and effective care to people suffering from mental problems and emotional up heals. Today Mental Health Nursing has become the integral part of all nursing programs.

The mental health nursing professionals are employed in various patient care settings, including mental health centers, hospitals with special wing for Psychiatric patients, government set up mental health units, universities,  community colleges, mental health clinic and private doctor’s office, military service and both state and federal prisons in America.

Basically, the function of the mental health nursing professional is to find out the status of mental health of the patient, his treatment requirements and prepare effective treatment plans. The treatment of mental health can be termed as specialized treatment, as the cure not only relates to patients mental illness but also necessitates preventing, further deterioration of the condition.

Thus, the nursing of patient by a mental health nurse includes: a) work with patient and his family to determine the mental status of the patient. b) Improve patient’s coping capability and prevent further deterioration of the condition. c) Provide a treatment combining mental and standard health care. d) Offer counseling services.

In general the Mental Health Nursing is provided in two levels, which includes:

Basic: In this level the registered nurses interacts with individuals, families, groups, communities and societies to diagnosis the mental problem, prepare the nursing plan and implement the plan accessing  mental condition of the patient.

Advanced: In advanced level of training, nurses needs to acquire degrees in Masters Degrees in Psychiatric Nursing, which facilitates them to work as a Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist. Their function is mainly to provide nursing care and diagnosis psychiatric disorders and problems. They work in different health care units, long term care units, nursing homes, hospital administrators, faculties in community colleges and universities, and so on.

A  Nurse can pursue, 2 years associate degree program, hospital based 3 years diploma in nursing or 4 years degree in psychiatric nursing. The graduation in any of these degrees offers them, Certification as Registered Nurse.

Degrees in advanced practice registered nursing make them eligible for Gero-psychiatric Nursing, Substance Abuse and Child-Adolescent Mental Health Nursing. Even specialization for consolation specialization is available for counseling people suffering from psychiatric problems or physical illnesses.

It is also necessary that Mental Health Nurse should posses reasoning power, patience, understanding and compassion for effective nursing cure of the people suffering from psychiatric disorders, emotional up heals and problems.

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A Nursing Case Study is collection of vital information about a patient, written by a nurse for other nurses, physician, and any other medical staff who is involved in providing the nursing care to the patient. Case Study can be termed as an effective means of communication between nurse and other medical personnel involved in the caring of the patient.

In Health Care Centers or Nursing schools and other nursing institutes, Nursing Case Study is often used to train new nurses, as well as nursing students, for research purposes, nursing education up gradation, introduction of new equipments and so on. Few specific case studies are even published in medical journals, magazines and web as a research topic. When case study is presented to other nursing or medical staffs, on few occasions, even patient is invited to attend the presentation.

How to prepare Nursing Case Study?

Following guidelines should be followed, while writing a Case Study:

Data of the Patient

• Obtaining the data of patient is essential for getting the vital information about the patient for his own protection and confidentiality. If necessary, fictitious name can be used replacing the original name of the patient. It is also necessary to get the permission of patient or his/her family member to release the case study for any publication.

Patient’s medical Diagnosis and other relevant information

• Generally doctors or physicians are the best medial personnel to provide relevant medical and diagnosis information of the patient, including medical guidelines and treatments directives. Again, confidentiality of the patient should be respected and all medical diagnosis and treatment information must be kept confidential and only released to other medical members or closest family of the patient, that also with the due permission of the patient.

Guidelines for Nursing Care

• Every Nursing Case Study should follow precise nursing guidelines as obtained from the specific diagnosis, planned treatment and proposed nursing care. These directives are formulated by the Registered Nurse with the active assistance of physicians and doctors, along with other care givers. This subject may include medication, therapy, treatments, rehabilitation and so on.

Patient’s Needs

• Different patients have different needs and registered nurse or other care giver should effectively access the need of the patient, while providing needed nursing care. Such information should be documented as a chart and the nurse, who is involved in writing the case study, should easily access this chart.

The chart includes information on the progress of the patient, patient’s needs and preferences. It assist in following the realistic approach for general well being of the patient including action that can be taken for maintaining the health status of the patient.

The information may also include private information of the patient, such as credit aspects, family relationships, religious inclination, privacy, visiting restriction and so on.

Short and long term Projection, Expectations and realistic Goal

• It is essential to put certain information about the short and long term projections, expectations and goals of the diagnosis and treatment. This assessment is best carried out by the physician and nurses after the patient is thoroughly accessed or checked up.

Nursing Case Study are left open till the time of its presentation or publication for adding additional information, as the condition of the patient may change by that time.

Keeping these guidelines in mind, effective Nursing Case Study can be written

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The Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse certification shows the advanced specialization in treating or offering nursing care to the patient suffering from mental illness. Such treatment requires over seeing of the treatment effectiveness on the patient and risk of side effects from such cures. These reasons make it necessary to monitor the condition of the patient frequently for such curing results.

Eligibility

In order to get the advanced certification, a RN must meet the educational and clinical practice requirements, as stipulated by American Nurses Credential Center. Nurses who meet all criteria for certification and pass the national certifying examination are granted Certified Specialist for 5 years in either Adult or Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing. In order to maintain the certification beyond 5 years, a RN should complete the certification renewal process.

A nursing student planning to appear for the Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse certification exam must hold a licensed Registered Nurse with an Associate Degree. A diploma from an accredited 2-year RN program also makes one eligible for the certification. Further eligibility for the certification exam includes,

• RN must have worked for 2 years as a psychiatric and mental health nurse or professional, legally recognized degree/diploma equivalent in another country, which meets the requirements of ANCC.
• Completed 2000 hrs working within the past 3 years in these health care centers.
• Completed 30 hours of continuing education in psychiatric and mental health nursing over the past 3 years.

The Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse certification exam are held throughout the year at various testing centers all over America. It is necessary for a RN to appear for the certification exam within 90 days, after receiving the test ticket.

Exam details:

• 175 multiple-choice questions
• 150 scored questions
• 25 non scored pretest questions
• Exam focus on specific psychiatric diseases.
• Nursing Interventions performed on psychiatric patient
• Questions include patient and family education
• Questions on frequent re-assessment of the psychiatric patient.
• Questions on evaluation psychosocial issues

Once a RN receives the certification, it remains valid for 3 years. Within this period a RN must complete 1000 hours of working as a psychiatric and mental health nurse including 75 hours continuing education or any other related education as stipulated by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Psychiatric nurses who meet below given qualifications are granted prescriptive authority by the support of American Psychiatric Nurses Association:

• Listed with the State Board of Nursing as a registered nurse (or advanced practice registered nurse) by a
• Hold a Master’s Degree in the field
• Posses Certification as a specialist granted by the American Nurses Credentialing Center

Show expertise or competence in physical assessment, neuroscience, and clinical psychopharmacology

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Do you want to get Adult health specialty?  If you are planning for the highest medical surgical nursing standard, you should get MSN certification. The certification will make you Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN) and you are allowed to work in, HMOs, long term care units, clinics, health care centers, inpatient care unit, surgical centers, ambulatory care units, home health care, nursing homes, universities and others.

Medical Surgical Nursing Certification Board oversees the Certification process to offer highest level in Adult Health specialty. In order to get CMSRN) certification, a medical nursing student should complete MSN education and pass MSNC Board examination. By acquiring the credential after passing the examination, the medical student is awarded CMSRN credential and listed as medical-surgical nurse.

Eligibility for CMSRN:

In order to get the certification, a medical nursing student should complete all eligibility criteria, such as complete the Application form, deposit all fees and successfully clear/pass the certification exam.  The MSNCB certification program is open to all people irrespective of national origin, religion, sex, age, race, color, affiliation, or disability.

The student should meet below given requirements for CMSRN:

1. The nursing candidate should posses completed current unrestricted license as a registered nurse (RN) with an Associate Degree or diploma from an accredited 2-year RN program in America.

Or

1. You can also be eligible, if you are holding current unrestricted license as a first level nurse in the country, where the nursing education was completed. But, it is also essential to meet the RN licensure criteria, which is stipulated by Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS).
2. You must have worked as a RN in adult medical-surgical setting for 2 calendar years.
3. You should complete minimum 2,000 hours of practice within the past 3 years as a medical-surgical nurse in adult medical-surgical setting, which includes fields, such as management, clinical and education.
4. Should complete 30 hours of continuing education hours in medical-surgical nursing over the past 3years.

The MSN Certification test is offered throughout the year in various testing centers in America. Once the nursing student receives test admission ticket, he/she should appear for the exam within 90 days.

If you are holding MSN certification from another certifying body, you can opt for the examination exemption for CMSRN, provided you meet below given requirements:

Examination Exemption Eligibility

• Should possess a current MSN certification
• Completed Continuing education of 90 contact hours in past 5 years, which includes 68 hours or 75% in the medical-surgical nursing specialty.
• Posses current unrestricted RN Certification and license in America.
• Should complete 1,000 hours of practice within last 5 years as a clinical nurse specialty, staff nurse, faculty or supervisor.

Recertification Requirements

Certification is valid for 5 years only and after this period it has to be renewed for recertification:

• In order to get the recertification, you should hold certification for a 5 year period.
• You should complete Renewal Application Form and submit all required fees.
• Passed Certification Examination or attended required continuing education.

If a nurse does not meet the recertification criteria or do not renew their certification at the expiry of 5 years then, CMSRN designation would be removed from all AMSN and MSNCB records

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