The Board of Nursing (BON) exists to promote, preserve and protect the safety, welfare and public health of the entire public through registered professional education, control of practice and practical nursing and legislative regulation.

Contents:

• The GA Board of Nursing Services
• Board of Registered Nursing
• General Practice Information
• Advanced Practice Information
• Nursing Practice Act
• The GA Board of Nursing Licensing
• The GA Board of Nursing Education Program Approval
• The GA Board of Nursing Enforcement
• The GA Board of Nursing Continuing Education Requirements
• The GA Board of Nursing Endorsement

The GA Board of Nursing Services

The GA Board of Nursing carries out this statutory mission by providing services in various areas including:

1. Licensing
2. Nursing Education Program Approval
3. Enforcement
4. Information

Board of Registered Nursing

Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) advocates and protects the safety and health of the entire public by ensuring the best quality registered nurses (RNs) in various states. Some state boards of nursing approved by the BRN include:

1. Georgia Board of Nursing
2. California Board of Nursing
3. Virginia Board of Nursing
4. Oklahoma Board of Nursing
5. Kentucky Board of Nursing
6. Arizona State Board of Nursing
7. Louisiana State Board of Nursing
8. Arizona Board of Nursing
9. Nevada State Board of Nursing and others

General Practice Information

BRN provides the general practice information such as nursing practice information, guidelines, and advisories to guarantee ongoing communication of proficiency standards for registered nurses, consumers, educators, employers, and other regulators. This information is often updated due to the changes and growth of the scope of Registered Nursing practice.

Advanced Practice Information

BRN also provides advanced practice information, guidelines, and advisories to guarantee ongoing communication of proficiency standards to employers, consumers, educators, regulators and advanced practice nurses, including nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists, and psychiatric or mental health nurses). Numerous updates in information are due to the changes and development/growth in the scope of Advanced Practice Nursing.

Nursing Practice Act

The nursing practice act (NPA) is the body of state laws that mandate the boards of nursing to outline the responsibilities and scope of practice for registered nurses. Nurses are required to comply with or follow the law & related rules to maintain their nursing licenses. The nursing practice act describes:

• Qualifications for licensure
• Nursing titles which are allowed or recommended to be used
• Scope of practice, nurse specialty or what RN is allowed to practice
• Actions that might or will happen in case the nurse doesn’t follow the nursing laws, rules or regulations

The GA Board of Nursing Licensing

The GA Board of Nursing offers licenses for nurses through examination & endorsement from other recognized states. The board also approves qualified Registered Nurses (RNs) to enter practice as Advanced Practice Nurses (APRNs), including nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse anesthetists.

License applications are regularly reviewed within 15 business days from issuance of receipt of every required document. Issues like previous disciplinary actions or past criminal behavior may prolong these time duration specifically to allow for disciplinary or board staff review.

Licensure services include:

• Approval of the applicant before sitting for the NCLEX
• Issuance of a license after successful examination
• Issuance of permanent license upon completing all application requirements
• Renewal of the nursing license
• Approval of full APRN’s authorization upon completing all application requirements
• Renewal of an APRN authorization

The GA Board of Nursing Education Program Approval

The GA board of nursing approves all nursing education programs which effectively prepare nurses for first entry into the nursing practice. Currently, there are 25 practical nursing education programs and 51 registered nursing education programs approved by the Georgia board of nursing.

Nursing education program approval services include:

• Annual review of the approval status of every nursing education program
• Routine site visits of every nursing education program to decide continuing education approval status. Additional site visits might be scheduled while responding to complaints from consumers or a drop in the pass rate of graduates who sit the NCLEX
• Guidance and consultation for programs that do not comply with the Board’s regulations

The GA Board of Nursing Enforcement

The GA board of nursing enforces the Board Rules & Regulations and Nursing Practice Act (NPA) by deciding minimum standards to support nursing education and nursing practice, adjust complaints, and conduct investigations of various complaints against nurses.

To administer enforcement, the board is approved to take any of these disciplinary actions:

• Refuse to renew or grant a license to the applicant
• Administer a private or public reprimand
• Suspend any nursing license for a definite/indefinite period with all conditions that can be attached to restoring the said license
• Restrict or limit any license when the board considers necessary for public protection
• Revoke any license
• Withhold pending formal disposition or condition a penalty upon the licensee’s or applicant’s submission to such counseling, treatment, or care as per the board’s directive
• Impose a fine for each violation of the law, rule or regulation related to the nursing practice
• Impose on an applicant or licensee charges or fee in an amount fundamental to reimburse the board for the legal and administrative costs incurred by the board in disciplinary proceedings or conducting an investigative

Any person who knows of any conduct or practice by a licensed nurse that violates the Board Rule, GA Nurse Practice Act, or related federal or state law can report the alleged violations to the Georgia board of nursing.

The GA Board of Nursing Continuing Education Requirements

The Georgia board of nursing has continuing education requirements for practical nurses as well as registered nurses.

Practical Nurses

All licensed practical/practice nurses must complete 20 hours of continuing education for license/licensure renewal. Practice nurses can also meet licensure renewal requirements by completing an accredited or approved academic program/course in registered professional nursing, as certified by the board.

If audited, the applicant or licensee must submit all documentation upon completing one of the 2 options.

Registered Nurses

All registered nurses must complete the competency requirements or continuing education for license/licensure renewal. Registered nurses can also meet licensure renewal requirements through the following options:

1. Completion of 30 hours of continuing education by a board approved provider
2. Maintenance of re-certification or certification by a national certifying body identified by the board
3. Completion of an approved/accredited academic program in nursing or any other related fields as identified by the board
4. Verification of competency or proficiency by an entity, physician’s office or health care facility, and at least 500 hours of practice as shown by your employer
5. Completion of a board certified/approved graduation or re-entry program from a program of nursing education

If audited, the applicant or licensee must submit all documentation upon completing one of the 5 options. Licensees or applicants are selected for renewal audit, once they submit the renewal application.

If licensees or applicants don’t complete or meet the audit requirements, their licenses aren’t renewed due to submitting an incomplete renewal.

Please note, GA Board of Nursing doesn’t approve individual CE providers.

The GA Board of Nursing Endorsement

The GA board of nursing offers licensure through endorsement if the licensees meet the requirements below:

1. Individuals who are licensed as a registered nurse (RN) in another state must provide evidence of at least two years of Clinical Nursing Practice within the past three years in order to apply for licensure through endorsement. A $60 application fee is also required.
2. Individuals who are licensed as a practical nurse in another state must provide proof of at least two years of Clinical Nursing Practice within the last three years in order to apply for licensure through endorsement. A $75 application fee is also required.

Overall, licensees are required to renew their licenses every two years. To renew your nursing license, please visit the GA Board of Nursing website. It is very essential to maintain all contact information for your state’s board of nursing, this is to ensure that you stay updated about all state laws, rules & regulations regarding continuing education, licensing renewals, fees and charges, and much more. Make sure you contact the GA board of nursing to update your practice and contact information and renew any licensing.

SOURCES:

nursinglicensemap.com

www.georgianurses.org

www.ncsbn.org

www.board-of-nursing.com

Currently, nurses have a wide range of working conditions, from choosing the type of heath care center they want to practice in to deciding what kind of specialty they want to perform. More options are also available for nurses who decide to continue their education, like family nurse practitioners. Nurse practitioners are indeed nurses with more job responsibilities than registered nurses, so it makes sense that family nurse practitioner salary, as well as job requirements, would be higher. They also typically have an advanced degree, either a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).

Contents:

• What Is a Family Nurse Practitioner?
• Family Nurse Practitioner Salary
• Family Nurse Practitioner Salary by State
• Family Nurse Practitioner Salary: Top Paying States

What Is a Family Nurse Practitioner?

FNPs or Family Nurse Practitioners are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who examine and treat clients independently and in collaboration with other medical or health care professionals. They ensure proper injury & illness care, as well as disease diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and recovery. FNPs need state authority, master’s degree in the field of specialty, and Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner’s (CRNP) certification for advanced practice. Family nurse practitioners should be familiar with various field’s concepts, procedures, and practices, alongside having a great level of creativity and latitude. Some subspecialties available to them include:

1. Medical-Surgical
2. Cardiac
3. Endocrine or Diabetes
4. Renal or Urology
5. Perinatal
6. Long-term Care
7. Orthopedics
8. Rehabilitation
9. Pulmonary
10. Pediatrics
11. Gerontology
12. ER or Trauma
13. Postpartum
14. Psychiatric
15. Critical Care

Family Nurse Practitioner Salary

The average annual Family Nurse Practitioner salary is $99,258, with a range generally between $92,095 and $107,824, but this can vary hugely depending on various factors. The family nurse practitioner salary is higher compared to the licensed practical & vocational nurse’s average salary of $43,420, respiratory therapist’s average salary of $58,490, registered nurses average salary of $69,790, and physical therapist’s average salary of $83,940.

The National Salary Report showed that the average salary of family nurse practitioner differs depending on setting and subspecialty:

• Gerontology ($94,485)
• Mental Health ($92,396)
• HIV Clinic ($89,506)
• Family Practice ($89,317)
• Diabetes or Endocrinology ($88,397)
• Retail Clinic ($96,800)

The average hourly rate for family nurse practitioner salary is between $40 & $62 an hour.

A survey conducted by the American Academy Of Nurse Practitioners indicated that the average salary for an NP was $91,310, whereas the average salary for FNPs was $96,910.

Average salaries for NPs differ by practice setting:

• Private NP ($111,750)
• Private Physician ($95,680)
• Community Health Center ($92,110)
• Rural Health Clinic ($92,560)
• Hospital Outpatient Clinic ($98,720)
• Employee or Occupational Health ($99,030)
• Urgent Care or Emergency Room ($115,070)
• In-Patient Hospital Unit ($103,650)
• Veterans Admin Facility ($111,110)

Family Nurse Practitioner Salary by State

The following is a list of FNPs salaries by state:

Alabama

Average FNP salary of $96,000, 1% higher than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Alaska

Average FNP salary of $70,000, 26% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, a graduate degree with 500 hours of well-supervised clinical practice, a consultation & referral plan describing the NP’s expected client population, clinical practice along with the use of referrals.

Arizona

Average FNP salary of $78,000, 18% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Arkansas

Average FNP salary of $97,000, 2% higher than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

California

Average FNP salary of $102,000, 7% higher than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Colorado

Average FNP salary of $84,000, 11% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Connecticut

Average FNP salary of $109,000, 15% higher than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Delaware

Average FNP salary of $83,000, 12% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Florida

Average FNP salary of $88,000, 7% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Georgia

Average FNP salary of $108,000, 14% higher than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Hawaii

Average FNP salary of $59,000, 38% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Idaho

Average FNP salary of $62,000, 34% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Illinois

Average FNP salary of $108,000, 13% higher than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Indiana

Average FNP salary of $91,000, 4% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license or RN license & graduate degree, national certification, and NP certificate program completion.

Iowa

Average FNP salary of $93,000, 2% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Kansas

Average FNP salary of $87,000, 9% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Kentucky

Average FNP salary of $82,000, 14% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Louisiana

Average FNP salary of $85,000, 11% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Maine

Average FNP salary of $84,000, 12% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and NP program graduation.

Maryland

Average FNP salary of $98,000, 3% higher than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and NP program graduation.

Massachusetts

Average FNP salary of $114,000, 20% higher than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Michigan

Average FNP salary of $96,000, 1% higher than the national average. NP requirements include RN license and national certification.

Minnesota

Average FNP salary of $83,000, 13% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license and national certification.

Mississippi

Average FNP salary of $99,000, 5% higher than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Missouri

Average FNP salary of $93,000, 2% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and NP program graduation.

Montana

Average FNP salary of $79,000, 17% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and NP program graduation.

Nebraska

Average FNP salary of $69,000, 27% higher than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Nevada

Average FNP salary of $72,000, 24% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

New Hampshire

Average FNP salary of $94,000, 1% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

New Jersey

Average FNP salary of $103,000, 8% higher than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and NP program graduation.

New Mexico

Average FNP salary of $83,000, 13% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

New Mexico

Average family nurse practitioner salary of $83,000, 13% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

New York

Average FNP salary of $115,000, 21% higher than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

North Carolina

Average FNP salary of $91,000, 5% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license and national certification.

North Dakota

Average FNP salary of $84,000, 11% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Ohio

Average FNP salary of $91,000, 4% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Oklahoma

Average family nurse practitioner salary of $88,000, 8% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Oregon

Average FNP salary of $92,000, 3% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Pennsylvania

Average FNP salary of $92,000, 4% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Rhode Island

Average FNP salary is $87,000, 9% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

South Carolina

Average FNP salary of $94,000, 1% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

South Dakota

Average FNP salary of $72,000, 25% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license and national certification.

Tennessee

Average family nurse practitioner salary of $88,000, 7% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Texas

Average FNP salary of $92,000, 3% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Utah

Average FNP salary of $74,000, 22% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Vermont

Average FNP salary of $84,000, 12% lower than the national average. NP requirements include National certification and graduate degree.

Virginia

Average FNP salary of $84,000, 12% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Washington

Average FNP salary of $98,000, 3% higher than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

West Virginia

Average FNP salary of $90,000, 6% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Wisconsin

Average FNP salary of $85,000, 11% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Wyoming

Average family nurse practitioner salary of $78,000, 17% lower than the national average. NP requirements include RN license, national certification, and graduate degree.

Family Nurse Practitioner Salar y: Top Paying States

The top paying states for the FNP occupation include:

1. Hawaii

• Hourly mean wage ($55.71)
• Annual mean wage ($115,870)

2. Alaska

• Hourly mean wage ($55.61)
• Annual mean wage ($115,670)

3. California

• Hourly mean wage ($55.51)
• Annual mean wage ($115,460)

4. Oregon

• Hourly mean wage ($53.44)
• Annual mean wage ($111,160)

5. Massachusetts

• Hourly mean wage ($51.55)
• Annual mean wage ($107,230)

Overall, Family Nurse Practitioner salary varies hugely depending on a state. It is also important to note that the cost of living may vary based on state and city as well.

SOURCES:

www.graduatenursingedu.org

nursejournal.org

www.payscale.com

www1.salary.com

Forensic nurses are trained in collecting medical evidence, forensic photography and they also get to learn all there is to know about the criminal justice system.

After they have attended to the patient’s medical needs, a forensic nurse is expected to collect evidence that is crucial in compiling a medical testimony that they give in the court. The information they collect also help them in consulting legal authorities.

The job of a forensic nurse is detail-oriented in that, much attention is given to details; there is no room for mistakes or misdiagnoses.

They are mostly found in the emergency room since they have to get the first diagnoses of the victim before he/she is taken to surgery for instance. This helps the forensic nurse to be accurate in their assessment of the victim’s condition. It is also important since they are also expected to expound on any of initial sign of foul play.

Forensic nurses also investigate potential cause of incidence of disease and death in large numbers in diverse settings.

Contents:

• What Is a Forensic Nurse?
• How to Become a Forensic Nurse?
• Forensic Nurse Jobs and Salary
• Forensic Examiners
• What Makes a Great Forensic Nurse?
• International Association of Forensic Nurses

What Is a Forensic Nurse?

A forensic nurse is a person who gives care to the sick who are first and foremost trained as nurses, but specialize in patients that are victims or perpetrators in a traumatic situation. They are responsible for more than just medical care, they also identify and assess injuries and record their findings. Moreover, they act as fact witness (the person who witnesses what took place as it happened) or an expert witness (the person that gives their point of view or opinion on what took place) in courts.

Forensic nursing is the latest addition to the American Nurses Association (ANA), which is a body that is made of a group of professionals that specialize in connecting healthcare and the legal system. In simpler terms, they serve as a link between medicine and law. It comprises of usage of nursing education or science in proceedings that are legal. It involves administering health to correctional facilities, providing medical care to victims of assault and examining crime scenes.

How to Become a Forensic Nurse?

There is much that you should do before you get to the specifics of becoming a forensic nurse.

That is:

• Decide if either an advanced course or a certificate course will meet your career objective.
• Look at all the requirements that your state board of nursing or similar organization sets for forensic nurses.
• Create networks where you get to know different people in different fields. This helps you to get diverse opinions and to even get to connect with people that have already become successful in the field.

Below is a step-to-step detailing of how to become a forensic nurse:

• Get a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree

This four-year program prepares the graduate nurses for post- graduate study.

It helps them to get into the workplace with already established skills in clinical assessment, analyzing a situation and critical thinking.

You are obliged to take part in complete rotations in the local medical facility, and you also get to have a clinical experience, which helps in exposing you to various specialties. These include but not limited to:

• Psychiatry
• Obstetrics
• Community health
• Surgical nursing
• Paediatrics

This program is also important since you finish a course work in the following crucial fields:

• Clinical nutrition
• Pharmacology
• Health patterns
• Physical assessment
• Transcultural nursing
• Pathophysiology
• Adult and pediatric health patterns

All these are crucial in making you a qualified forensic nurse, none of what is involved in this program should be taken for granted. This program lays a foundation for your forensic nursing career, which is very important in defining you as a forensic nurse. It also helps to make everything else a little bit easier since it is built of what you learn in this program.

• Earn a Registered Nurse (RN) Credentials

In the U.S. specifically, a forensic nurse has to sit for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) exam, National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Eligibility goes to any nurse who has graduated from a nursing program that is accredited. Once one passes the exam and meets all other requirements that the states puts out for them, then one can be assigned the license.

• Obtain Post-Baccalaureate Training

A forensic nurse can acquire training by either of the following two options:

1. Going through a shortest post-graduate certificate program in forensic nursing — this kind of program is frequently found in nursing schools’ postgraduate departments. This program prepares the registered forensic nurse in the following areas:

• Recognizing abuse and neglect
• Administering inflicted trauma’s clinical investigations
• Learn how to react effectively when faced by disasters
• Injury assessment
• Working together with law enforcers or enforcement

2. Completing a 2-year Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) program with an emphasis on forensic specifically- this graduate program aims at preparing the practicing forensic nurse for forensic clinical roles which include working as the following:

• A nurse coroner
• A consultant in legal nursing
• Forensic psychiatric nurse
• A death investigator

Additionally, when the forensic nurse is done with this program they are expected to have the capability of doing the following:

• Help in legal investigations
• Recognise and help to avoid domestic violence
• Showcase advanced analyzing and documentation skills
• Advocate for health care and safety
• Work effectively and efficiently with and in the legal system

Most Registered Nurses (RN) become more successful forensic nurses by starting out as Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE). To achieve this, one is obliged to take a Sexual Assault Examiner class, which consists of forty hours training in the classroom plus an average of forty hours clinical training. The International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) offers education guidelines that help one to go about this. It also offers training, whereby if one is a member they get networking opportunities, discussion forums, career resources and access to a forensic nursing journal.

1. Employment assurance

Since the introduction of forensic nursing, there has been an immense growth of the job market. Where you find there are a lot of job opportunities for a forensic nurse that will be expounded on later on.

      2. Career advancement opportunities

This involves continuing one’s education, which can be done through webinars, seminars, joining the professional organization (IAFN) and taking courses. This also helps the forensic nurse stay current, in that they are aware of what is latest in the field especially changes in law and protocol.

Working as a forensic nurse is a nursing specialty that has just been around for a shorter time compared to other specialties. There are a few programs in the university that are dedicated to forensic nursing. Although, even among the few Cleveland University has topped the list as it offers an all-around forensic nursing program.

In order to be admitted into a forensic nursing program you need to attain or have the following:

• You must be Registered nurse license from the U.S.
• Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
• You must have completed a graduate-level statistics course
• You must present all post-secondary education transcripts

In Cleveland University, they offer different programs to forensic nurses. The student is expected to either complete a thesis, two research, and clinical courses or completing three clinical courses and one research course instead of completing the thesis. Although, if one is aspiring to pursue a PHD later on, option one where you complete the thesis is the wise choice for you. Additionally, one requires a minimum number of 39 hours to graduate.

Their masters of science in forensic nursing program’s curriculum comprises of the following:

• Introduction to forensic nursing
• Nursing of populations 1 & 2 forensics
• Practicum in population health care
• Thesis (optional)
• Theory development in nursing
• The legal system
• Professional role development for population health nursing 2
• Health care policy
• Nursing research methods 1, 2
• Independent study (optional)
• Strategies for population health assessment in forensic nursing.
• Required elective (ethics)

On top of this, there is also a Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) – population focus forensic track with/without the thesis is available .The track contains the following courses:

• Introduction to population health nursing
• Nursing research
• The legal system
• Theory development in nursing
• Ethics for advance nursing practice
• Health care policy
• Evidence-based practice
• Introduction to forensic nursing: crisis theory
• Population assessment- 100 clinical hours
• Forensic methodologies
• Population interventions- 100 clinical hours

When the thesis curriculum is not present, the credit hours used for the final thesis is replaced by population-based nursing practicum courses. It involves population health nursing for 200 clinical hours, together with a 200-hour capstone project in population health care.

One of the main factors that should guide you when you are choosing the suitable program is that jobs in forensic nursing are in different settings. Therefore, it is advisable to consider that along with other factors in order to attain your career objectives.

Duquesne University is the other institution with a great forensic program that we will focus on. They have an online and on-campus program that is fully accredited. Their course work is the same as that of Cleveland. To make the online course effective and efficient to the students, they have rigorous assignments that have strict deadlines. Although, the students are able to work together in order to achieve their academic goals and work on solutions together. The faculty also give feedback and one on one advice to the students as they continue on with the program. The advanced technology gives the students a chance to have in-depth discussions and learning principles that are integrative. The students are supervised by clinical preceptors in a clinical setting that is nearby.

Forensic Nurse Jobs and Salary

The main question that one asks themselves before they even start pursuing a certain career is how much money will I get paid for this?

It may not be out loud but we all ask it. Even back when you were confused on what you want to become, every career that came up, you always asked how much you would make out of it. Same case goes to forensic nurses; the much that we have said about it is not enough if we leave out the salary part. Well, you don’t have to wonder anymore. In 2010, the Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) report did not give an exact figure for forensic nurses. However, averagely registered nurses earning was $64,690 annually in 2010. With the top ten percent earning $95,130 and the other earning $44,190. Most of the forensic nurses fall under the top ten percent, although one has to put in mind that one’s salary is dependent on a number of things like the job location, the forensic nurse’s experience and the cases being handled.

That being said, here are some of the career opportunities for forensic nurses out there mainly for those that have advanced their education. They are:

1) Forensic nurse investigator — they reveal conditions surrounding death that was unexpected or was violent in nature. They work under coroners or medical examiners. They inspect and examine the body, help in doing the autopsy, investigate the scene, gather the deceased’s social and medical history.

2) Legal nurse consultants — they work with attorneys in cases where medicine and law intersect. The forensic nurse has to apply their clinical experience, and what they learned in school to explain and examine information related to medicine. These cases may include personal injury, workmen’s compensation, and medical malpractice. They teach the attorneys medical facts involved in the cases and act as expert witnesses in court.

3) Forensic clinical specialist — these forensic nurses serve as clinicians, consultants, expert teachers, administrator and researcher in various forensic settings. They have doctoral or masters forensic nursing degree making them specialists.

4) Nurse coroners — they are also called death investigators. They must be the first to get to a peculiar death scene, so they can determine the appropriate death time and probably cause of death.

5) Correctional nursing specialist — these forensic nurses administer medical care to individuals that have been detained. Either in a juvenile facility, jail, prison or any other correctional facility.

6) Forensic gerontology specialist — they help to examine and look into cases involving the violation of elders’ rights. They advocate and create awareness on human right issues.

7) Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE Nurses) — these forensic nurses specialized in forensic nursing education, since they examine injuries, gather and put together the crime’s evidence and comment on the victim’s continued care. They frequently appear in court as the victim’s expert witness. They provide prompt and empathic care to victims of sexual assault.

8) Forensic psychiatric nurses — these forensic nurses give rehabilitative care to offenders with psychological, behavioural and social disorders.

Forensic Examiners

The American Nurses Credentialing Centre gives forensic nurses credentials. This is earned by sending your portfolio and not sitting for an exam, which is peer-viewed by a panel of expert nurses. In the portfolio, you are supposed to present your nursing practice and theory application, specialized skills, and knowledge. It must bring out the following domains:

• Ethical and professional nursing practice
• Professional development
• Safety and quality
• Collaboration and teamwork

The American College of Forensic Examiner Institute also certifies forensic nurses that can collect evidence properly, who understand forensic examination components, and can identify forms of violence. The certification you get improves your reputation as professional and personal accomplishments.

What Makes a Great Forensic Nurse?

1. Attention to details — a forensic nurse has to have an observant eye, meaning he/she should be able to notice when something is going wrong, or when something is off.
2. Critical thinking skills — this is a very vital skill that every forensic nurse should possess. It helps them to think fast especially in a crime scene and when doing evidence collection.
3. Emotionally stable — a forensic nurse is exposed to situations where the victims are looking up to them for strength. There are surrounded by people that are undergoing traumatic situations that turn their world upside down. Therefore, you have to be collected and put on a calm front. This comforts the victim making evidence collection easier and effective.
4. Compassion — the kind of victims the forensic nurse deals with require empathy wherever they can find it. Hence, compassion is an important skill to have in such a setting; it also makes the victim comfortable with you. Compassion also helps you to be patient with the victims especially those that take long to compose themselves.
5. Organizational skills — since as a forensic nurse you are collecting evidence, photos, samples, and writing reports, you need to organize it perfectly. Reason being that you need all these when giving your testimony in court. Moreover, professionalism demands that you be in a position to locate all your work whenever it is needed.
6. Solid knowledge of criminal proceedings, law, and forensic science — the day to day life of a forensic nurse is spent in the court as much as the hospital. Additionally, you cannot be giving testimonies in the court when you have no knowledge of what goes on there.

International Association of Forensic Nurses

They Have 3000 plus members.

They offer online learning programs and certification.

By establishing a minimum SANE, their eligibility requirement with the commission for forensic nursing certification and accredited nursing programs were aligned together.

For SANE you need 300 clinical hours within the past three years, which involves teaching, being on-call, consulting, patient care and contributing to peer review.

You acquire Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner-Adult/Adolescent (SANE-A) or Paediatric (SANE-P).

Forensic nursing is one of those careers that you need to do a thorough research about before pursuing. This helps to evaluate yourself and determine which direction you will take, and what kind of a forensic you want to become. Visit forensic nurse websites, especially International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN), American Forensic Nurses (AFN) and American Nurses Association (ANA). You will learn more about certification as a nurse on top of forensic nurses and suitable accredited nursing programs.

SOURCES:

iafn.site-ym.com

www.allnursingschools.com

study.com

www.forensicnurses.org

When patients are brought to the hospital in a critical condition, it is the job of a critical care nursing professional to handle them and provide them with the much-needed support. Some of these patients could be unconscious, erratic or even close to death. As such, a critical care nurse is the one entrusted with the noble task of dealing specifically with human responses to life-threatening conditions. This individual must, however, be properly trained, experienced, disciplined and above all licensed to provide these services in a professional environment.

A day in the life of a critical care nursing professional revolves around caring for critically ill patients, some of them are highly vulnerable and unstable hence requiring vigilant medical care. Statistics from the Department of Health and Human Services shows that there were over 500,000 trained nurses who were licensed to work in 2007.

Fast-forward to 2013, the number of critical care nurses had grown to 2,600,000 all thanks to an exponential growth of job opportunities. Actually, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the demand for this labor-skill will grow by 19% over the next 7 years. This being faster than 11% of all average job positions available today.

Contents:

• Who Is a Critical Care Nurse?
• Where Do Critical Care Nurses Work?
• How to Become a Critical Care Nurse (Specific Steps)
• Critical Care Nurses Associations
• What Is the Salary of a Critical Care Nurse?
• What Is the Future of This Career?
• What Are Some of the Challenges That Critical Care Nurses Face?
• What It Takes to Excel In the Field of Critical Care Nursing — Tips
• Who Can Make a Good Critical Care Nurse?

Who Is a Critical Care Nurse?

In a nutshell, critical care nurses are health experts who practice their career in medical facilities where patients require complex assessment, interventions, high-intensity therapies and continuous nursing vigilance. Experts serving in this field of practice rely upon specialized scientific knowledge and skills to provide patients with an environment that is humane and conducive to healing.

So, firstly, critical care nursing experts are patient advocates. They make sure the patient obtains necessary care and intervene when the best interest of the patient is in question.

In order to qualify to work in this career field, you first need to earn a diploma in nursing, a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) or an associate’s degree in nursing (AND). These are, however, just basic requirements and some states may impose a few more hurdles and exams for purposes of quality assurance.

Ideal candidates for this professional are highly organized individuals who are committed to continued learning. One should also have the ability to quickly gather and assess available information in order to respond to changing situations. Ability to work under extreme hours and go outside the ordinary in a fast-paced environment is also an important quality of the candidate.

Where Do Critical Care Nurses Work?

For those who would like to seek advanced training and specialize, there are three areas of specialization namely: adult critical care nursing, neonatal care, and pediatric care. The typical work environment for these nurses is:

• In hospitals
• In intensive care, cardiac and telemetry units
• In emergency care rooms
• In medical evacuation and transportation services
• In nursing homes and outpatient clinics

50 per cent of these spend most of their time in an intensive care unit (ICU) with almost 25% spending their workday in emergency departments.

How To Become A Critical Care Nurse (Specific Steps)

Step 1: Education

Apart from the diploma in nursing or BSN, a prospective critical care nurse should be accredited by one of the accrediting bodies. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) are just but a few examples of the top accrediting bodies serving in the USA. As a basic requirement, nurses must also pass the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX).

Step 2: Certification

Only those who pass the NCLEX are eligible for further certification, commonly known as CCRN certification (Certification for Adult, Pediatric, and Neonatal Critical Care Nurse) which is offered by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN).

CCRN certification is renewable – a measure that the authority has taken to enhance continue competence among the professionals. Renewal can be done by Synergy CERPS at $200 for nonmembers and $120 for members or by Exam whose fees if $275 for non-members and $170 for members.

This certificate is valid for a period of 3 years. In order to be eligible for future renewals, the nurse must maintain their licensure and compete 100 continuing education recognition points (CERPs) in critical topics such as:

• Caring practices
• Response to diversity
• Clinical inquiry
• Collaboration

Step 3: Advanced Certification

As a nurse in this field of practice, you can choose to take your experience to a whole new level by acquiring advanced certification. One of the options you can go for is the Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) which entails courses in acute stroke care, airway management, ECG pharmacology among others. Another option is the Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) which provides courses that enable experts to administer or recognize, prevent and treat cardiorespiratory arrest in children.

Step 4: Masters and PHD Training

You might first need to accumulate a few years of experience as a traditional nurse in order to work fully as a critical care nurse. But once you have landed a position in this career, you may need to enrich your critical care nurse resume in order to bolster your chances of success. You can go for a master of science in nursing degree (MSN) or DNP (PHD). The MSN will take you 2 additional years while the DNP will take you about 4 years to complete.

Critical Care Nurses Associations

Apart from classroom training, you might consider joining a relevant organization in order to acquire mentorship and industry insights. Some of these organizations include:

• American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care
• Critical Care Societies Collaborative (CCSC)
• American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN)
• Canadian Association of Critical Care Nurses (CACCN)
• Society of Critical Care Medicine
• British Association of Critical Care Nurses

What Is The Salary Of A Critical Care Nurse?

Recent data from the BLS show that annual salaries of critical care nursing professionals can vary somewhat based on industry (e.g. residential facilities, hospitals, government). Nurses with advanced training and work-based experience may also receive higher compensation. On average, in 2007, a trained and licensed critical care nurse earned $62,480 per year. That grew to $67,720 by 2010 and further to $68,910 in 2013.

Some states pay better than others. Overall, California leads with an industry average of $96,980, followed by Hawaii ($85,380), Massachusetts ($83,720), Alaska ($83,640), Oregon ($80,440) – according to the data contained in the Occupational Employment Statistics report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in February 2015.

What is the future of this career?

It is an exciting time to be a part of the healthcare industry because the future of critical care nursing is very promising. With so many changes in care delivery, technological advances and increased patient expectations, the role of critical care nurses as healthcare professionals is really growing and evolving. And as opportunities in this field are evolving so too are the skills and work environments associated with the field.

However, this industry is starting to face some hard obstacles and the nursing career of the future will be shaped by these problems including a shrinking field of expert critical care professionals and an aging population. The population of these critical care nurses is declining because the average age of a critical care nurse is now 47 and they are not being replaced fast as everyone would expect.

Current trends in both the America population and the demographics of critical care staff dictate that this industry will change very fast. With hundreds and millions of baby boomers starting to age, the demand for critical care facilities, especially within hospitals, will also increase.

In addition, the critical care nursing industry of the future will need a robust life support system that allows platforms or baskets to be attached for convenience items like otoscopes or sphygmomanometers, organizes information and delivers electrical capacity and medical gas utilities. Today’s critical care nursing utilizes three formats with some variations including overhead booms, head walls, and power columns. In the future, all of these systems will be greatly advanced and even wirelessly integrated with improved communication and documentation systems. However, not all medical institutions will adopt the most flexible and elaborate systems for reasons such as cost and patient acuity.

As a matter of fact, the demand for this career is estimated to grow by 19% over the next period of seven years according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This demand will probably increase as the population ages. However, in some areas, the demand will be as a result of the need to fill acute staffing shortages. It is, therefore, true to say that the future of the critical care industry looks more promising than we could have ever thought. So if you are a registered nurse looking to broaden your career opportunities, critical care nursing could the right specialty for you.

What are some of the challenges that critical care nurses face?

Critical care nurses face various problems in their line of duty. These include conquering variations in charting systems, becoming oriented to a new environment (especially for the case of critical care travelers), struggling to zip it when tempted to explain a better way of doing a task, learning physician and staff preferences and grappling with gaining respect from the staff.

They also face other difficulties based on the acuity of the patient population they serve. Some family members can be verbally abusive when upset that their loved could be on the edge of dying, with the critical care nurse bearing all their frustrations.

However, one of the biggest challenges these nurses face is inherent with the role. This is because in most cases there are difficult ethical decisions that need to be made by the family of the patient and the team of staff.

What it takes to excel in the field of critical care nursing — Tips

To excel in this career specialty you need more in your toolbox than simply the basic nursing skills you acquire in a class. Both providers and patients usually rely on the critical care nurse to be their eyes and ears, so they can be able to identify quickly even minute changes in patients. This capability, however, only comes with great experience in this field of critical care nursing. Nurses with three plus years of strong critical care experience and exposure to all different types of critical care units are in demand today.

Another way to excel in this field is to have strong communication skills. You need to communicate equally with members of the interdisciplinary team, patients and their families too. These skills can give you a leg-up in the job market.

Additionally, critical care industry is surrounded by technology as patients are dependent upon it. So having immense experience with respirators, electronic medical records (EMRs), different types of monitors, medical technology, and another equipment is very important if you must excel as a critical care nurse.

And finally, with the demand for critical care nurses increasing every year, don’t ignore advanced education and lifelong learning even after acquiring the licensure to a practice as critical care nurse. Certification is just another way to gain the competitive edge so ensure you enrich your critical care resume by advancing your education to bolster your chances of success in this competitive market.

Who can make a good critical care nurse?

The critical care nursing field of practice makes sure all critically ill patients get optimal care for their injuries and illnesses. To achieve that, experts with this training use specialized skills as well as in-depth knowledge of the human body alongside with the latest technology in the field. Most of these nurses work in hospitals although it is also possible to find them in flight units, outpatient facilities, and nursing homes.

Working in this kind of environment requires careful assessment and monitoring of patient progress in order to watch for subtle or sudden changes in a patient’s condition that might require emergency intervention. And because critical care nurses work with patients who have life-threatening complications, they often encounter end-of-life or ethical matters that may sometimes involve withholding medical care.

At the same time, these nurses are tasked with the difficult duty of updating family members of the patient, so that they can make informed decisions regarding available treatment options. As such, critical care nurses should always be ready to work for long hours and deal with life-and-death situations on a day-to-day basis.

Excellent teamwork, interpersonal communication skills, and multi-tasking are essential for a nurse serving in this field, as is the ability to remain calm under pressure. However,  many individuals find a critical care nursing career rewarding because they play a crucial role in helping save lives. Nurses in this area of practice often work in conjunction with a multidisciplinary team of consultants, doctors, physiotherapists and various other specialists to ensure optimal patient care.

There is an increasing need for every type of healthcare professional, including Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), due to an increase in medical care requirements among Americans. Studies show that Americans have become more active, have healthier lives, and they’re living longer, because of more involvement in their personal medical care and taking charge or responsibility of their health. Therefore, there is a sharp increase in CRNA opportunities not only in traditional operating room settings but also in hospital labor & delivery units, military & governmental medical facilities, rural healthcare clinics as well as primary providers of anesthesia. CRNAs, are generally expected to create the 2nd largest number of new job opportunities in all occupations, and so is the CRNA salary. Additionally, the imminent shortage of anesthesiologists in the USA will only escalate the need for CRNAs.

Contents:

• CRNA Salary
• CRNA Salary by State
• Temporary CRNA Salary

CRNA Salary

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are mostly employed by hospitals, plus they are the major providers of various anesthesia services in the country, state, and rural facilities. Certified nurse anesthetists form a part of the client’s or patient’s healthcare team. They usually collaborate with doctors as well as other healthcare professionals in many types of healthcare settings, including:

1. Labor & delivery units
2. Hospital surgical suites and ambulatory centers
3. Veteran and military healthcare establishments
4. Plastic surgeons’ offices
5. Rural healthcare clinics

The main role of a Nurse Anesthetist is administering anesthesia to patients.

CRNAs are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who can practice independently & be directly reimbursed by the Medicare program. To become a CRNA one must meet particular experience & education requirements as well as complete a national certification examination. While a CRNA’s job involves a high level of professional responsibility and knowledge, it is highly rewarded with respect along with top earning wages. Certified Nurse Anesthetists are paid one of the highest salaries/wages in the nursing profession or specialty, with an annual average salary ranging from $141,000 to $160,000.

CRNA Salary by State

CRNA salaries differ from state to state due to location, setting and specialty. Average salaries range from $86,000 (lowest paying state) to $ 172,000 (highest paying states). The following are CRNA salaries by state, rankings, and available job openings:

Alaska

Ranked 49th, the average CRNA salary in Alaska is $102,000. Job openings include:

• ADEX Medical Staffing
• Cardiac Services
• U.S. Air Force (Agency-Wide)
• Accountable Healthcare Staffing

Alabama

Ranked 12th, the CRNA average salary in Alabama is $139,000. Job openings include:

• U.S. Army Medical Recruiting
• Providence Hospital
• Department of Veterans Affairs

Arkansas

Ranked 14th, the CRNA starting salary in Arkansas is $138,000. Job openings include:

• ADEX Medical Staffing
• Cardiac Services
• Arkansas Heart Hospital

Arizona

Ranked 44th, the CRNA salary in Arizona is $114,000. Job openings include:

• Laser Spine Institute
• Anesthesiazone.com
• Cardiac Services
• Tuba City Regional Healthcare Corporation

California

Ranked 7th, the average CRNA salary in California is $148,000. Job openings include:

• Stanford Hospital
• Kaiser Permanente
• AMEDD
• Cardiac Services

Colorado

Ranked 34th, the CRNA average salary in Colorado is $122,000. Job openings include:

• Banner Health
• ADEX Medical Staffing
• Odyssey Staffing
• University of Colorado

Connecticut

Ranked 4th, the CRNA starting salary in Connecticut is $158,000. Job openings include:

• Quinnipiac University
• EmCare
• Western CT Medical Group
• Yale New Haven Hospital

DC

Ranked 1st, the CRNA salary in Washington, DC is $172,000. Job openings include:

• TeamHealth
• Global Consulting International
• QuarterLine
• Randstad Healthcare

Delaware

Ranked 38th, the average CRNA salary for job postings in Delaware is $121,000. Job openings include:

• Anesthesia Services
• P.A.
• Cardiac Services
• Regional Medical

Florida

Ranked 28th, the CRNA average salary in Florida is $128,000. Job openings include:

• University of Miami
• ADEX Medical Staffing
• TeamHealth
• US Army Medical Recruiting

Georgia

Ranked 5th, the CRNA starting salary in Georgia is $157,000. Job openings include:

• U.S Army Medical Recruiting
• Emory University
• ADEX Medical Staffing
• Grady Health System

Hawaii

Ranked 52nd, the CRNA salary in Hawaii is $86,000. Job openings include:

• Cardiac Services
• Kaiser Permanente

Iowa

Ranked 19th, the average CRNA salary in Iowa is $134,000. Job openings include:

• Cardiac Services
• Iowa Department of Administrative Services
• Department of Veterans Affairs
• Sanford Health

Idaho

Ranked 51st, the CRNA average salary in Idaho is $93,000. Job openings include:

• Medical Staffing Network
• Cardiac Services
• Steele Memorial Medical Center

Illinois

Ranked 6th, the CRNA starting salary in Illinois is $156,000. Job openings include:

• Hospital of Chicago
• Staff Care
• Anesthesiazone.com
• Odyssey Staffing

Indiana

Ranked 22nd, the CRNA salary in Indiana is $132,000. Job openings include:

• Union Hospital
• Somnia Inc
• Travel Nurse Jobs
• CompHealth

Kansas

Ranked 31st, the average CRNA salary in Kansas is $126,000. Job openings include:

• CompHealth
• Loyal Source Government Services
• The University of Kansas Physicians
• Cardiac Services

Kentucky

Ranked 43rd, the CRNA average salary in Kentucky is $118,000. Job openings from include:

• US Army Medical Recruiting
• Anesthesiazone.com
• Cardiac Services
• LPSC

Louisiana

Ranked 39th, the CRNA starting salary in Louisiana is $121,000. Job openings include:

• Iberia Medical Center
• Department of Veterans Affairs
• Lafayette General Medical Center
• Christus Health

Massachusetts

Ranked 3rd, the CRNA salary in Massachusetts is $165,000. Job openings include:

• CompHealth
• Odyssey Staffing
• Faulkner Hospital
• UMass Memorial Medical Center

Maryland

Ranked 10th, the average CRNA salary in Maryland is $141,000. Job openings include:

• Johns Hopkins University
• Kaiser Permanente
• Pro-Touch Nurses Inc
• UMMC

Maine

Ranked 35th, the CRNA average salary in Maine is $122,000. Job openings include:

• Mid Coast Hospital
• CompHealth
• Mid Coast Health Services
• MaineGeneral Health

Michigan

Ranked 13th, the CRNA starting salary in Michigan is $139,000. Job openings include:

• Henry Ford Health System
• LifePoint Hospitals
• Botsford Hospital
• Sparrow Health System

Minnesota

Ranked 41st, the CRNA salary in Minnesota is $120,000. Job openings include:

• Essentia Health
• Hennepin County Medical Center
• Park Nicollet
• Avera Health

Missouri

Ranked 18th, the average CRNA salary in Missouri is $135,000. Job openings include:

• Department of Veterans Affairs
• Freeman Health System
• AMEDD
• Truman Medical Centers

Mississippi

Ranked 9th, the CRNA average salary in Mississippi is $143,000. Job openings include:

• U.S Army Medical Recruiting
• Cardiac Services
• University of Southern Mississippi
• Methodist Olive Branch Hospital

Montana

Ranked 40th, the CRNA starting salary in Montana is $121,000. Job openings include:

• Indian Health Service
• Department of Veterans Affairs
• Bozeman Deaconess Hospital
• Staff Care

North Carolina

Ranked 26th, the CRNA salary in North Carolina is $131,000. Job openings include:

• Novant
• Park Ridge Health
• Wayne Memorial Hospital
• AllCare Clinical Associates

North Dakota

Ranked 36th, the average CRNA salary in North Dakota is $122,000. Job openings include:

• Essentia Health
• Trinity Hospitals
• Cardiac Services
• CompHealth

Nebraska

Ranked 50th, the CRNA average salary in Nebraska is $101,000. Job openings include:

• TeamHealth
• ADEX Medical Staffing
• Cardiac Services
• Rhino Medical Services

New Hampshire

Ranked 17th, the CRNA starting salary in New Hampshire is $136,000. Job openings include:

• Surgery Partners
• Cardiac Services

New Jersey

Ranked 8th, the CRNA salary in New Jersey is $148,000. Job openings include:

• Veterans Affairs
• Veterans Health Administration
• Cardiac Services
• CompHealth

New Mexico

Ranked 42nd, the average CRNA salary in the state of New Mexico is $120,000. Job openings include:

• Indian Health Service
• Cardiac Services
• Concentric Healthcare Solutions
• Nationwide Anesthesia Services

Nevada

Ranked 47th, the CRNA average salary in the state of Nevada is $106,000. Job openings include:

• Department of Veteran Affairs
• AMEDD
• Concentric Healthcare Solutions
• ADEX Medical Staffing

CRNA Salary NYC

Ranked 2nd, the CRNA starting in New York is $166,000. Job openings include:

• N.American Partners in Anesthesia
• LLP
• N.American Partners in Anesthesia
• Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center
• Hospital for Special-Surgery

Ohio

Ranked 23rd, the CRNA salary in Ohio is $132,000. Job openings include:

• Promedica
• Ohio State University MedicalCenter
• Department of Veteran Affairs
• Rhino Medical Services

Oklahoma

Ranked 29th, the average CRNA salary in the state of Oklahoma is $127,000. Job openings include:

• Loyal Source
• Memorial Hospital, Texas County
• Loyal Source Gov. Services
• Concentric Healthcare Solutions

Oregon

Ranked 24th, the CRNA average salary in the state of Oregon is $132,000. Job openings include:

• Columbia Memorial Hospital
• Department of Veteran Affairs- Travel Nurse Jobs
• Lake Health District

Pennsylvania

Ranked 25th, the CRNA starting salary in Pennsylvania is $132,000. Job openings include:

• Geisinger Health System
• CompHealth
• N.American Partners in Anesthesia
• PinnacleHealth

Rhode Island

Ranked 32nd, the CRNA salary in the state of Rhode Island is $126,000. Job openings include:

• Cardiac Services

South Carolina

Ranked 20th, the average CRNA salary in the state of South Carolina is $134,000. Job openings include:

• U.S Army Medical Recruits
• Department of Veteran Affairs
• McLeod Health
• Beaufort Memorial Hospital

South Dakota

Ranked 48th, the CRNA average salary in South Dakota is $104,000. Job openings include:

• N.American Partners in Anesthesia
• Avera Health
• Cardiac Services

Tennessee

Ranked 30th, the CRNA starting salary in the state of Tennessee is $127,000. Job openings include:

• U.S Army Medical Recruits
• University of Tennessee MedicalCenter
• ADEX Medical Staffing
• Vanderbilt University

CRNA Salary Texas

Ranked 21st, the CRNA salary in Texas is $133,000. Job openings include:

• Greater Houston Anesthesiology
• P.A
• UT Southwestern MedicalCenter, Dallas
• ADEX Medical Staffing
• AMEDD

Utah

Ranked 46th, the average CRNA salary in the state of Utah is $108,000. Job openings include:

• ADEX Medical Staffing
• Cardiac Services
• AMEDD

Virginia

Ranked 15th, the CRNA average salary in Virginia is $138,000. Job openings include:

• Valley Health
• Winchester Medical Center
• American Anesthesiology
• Cardiac Services

Vermont

Ranked 37th, the CRNA starting salary in Vermont is $122,000. Job openings include:

• CompHealth
• Rhino Medical Services
• University of Vermont
• University of Vermont, College of Medicine – Department of Anesthesiology

Washington

Ranked 11th, the CRNA salary for in the state of Washington is $141,000. Job openings include:

• Peacehealth
• AMEDD
• Staff Care
• Samaritan Healthcare

Wisconsin

Ranked 33rd, the average CRNA salary in Wisconsin is $123,000. Job openings from include:

• CompHealth
• TeamHealth
• ADEX Medical Staffing
• Cardiac Services

West Virginia

Ranked 27th, the CRNA average salary in West Virginia is $130,000. Job openings include:

• WV University Healthcare
• CompHealth
• Cardiac Services
• St.Marys MedicalCenter

Wyoming

Ranked 45th, the CRNA starting salary in the state of Wyoming is $114,000. Job openings include:

• Cardiac Services
• CompHealth

Temporary CRNA Salary

Due to the shortage of Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), qualified health professionals can earn an excellent salary for temporary work (Locum Tenens). Although salary rates change/vary by assignment setting and location, on average CRNAs make close to $100 per hour. In particular areas, CRNAs can make $95 to $105 an hour. That translates to roughly $3,800 to $4,200, for 40 hours of work a week.

The Locum Tenens study’s income results are more compatible with other CRNA salary reports, including:

1. CRNA Salaries are acquired from CRNASalary.com. Data was collected using the current job postings.
2. The cost of living by state information was collected using results of the Missouri Department of Economic Development’s survey (this was a national study, but the source was from a state government). The survey rates all states on their cost of living index.

A state with a complete average cost of living is represented with a score of 100. A state with a score higher than 100, is an expensive state, while a state with a score lower than 100, is a cheap state. The lowest score was 89.72 (Oklahoma), and the highest score was 166.11 (Hawaii).

3. Information concerning a surplus or shortage of CRNAs was obtained from the RAND Health Report. The report was based on 151 pages of nationwide analysis pertaining the labor markets for anesthesiology.

The certified nurse anesthetist job has a great level of responsibility. Therefore, those interested in pursuing this nursing specialty must be capable of solving problems very quickly, able to work properly in stressful situations, knowledgeable and skilled. CRNAs are basically salaried, their compensation falls behind anesthesiologists, plus they generally don’t receive overtime pay.

SOURCES:

www.all-crna-schools.com

www.anesthesianurse.info

www1.salary.com

www.payscale.com

www.indeed.com

ER Nurse Job Description

Before even thinking about ER Nurse Salary in the USA, if you are considering this career, it is essential to know what this profession is all about. Most of the time ER nurses work in the emergency rooms in hospitals but apart from this they can also work in other places where their primary role is still to respond to emergencies. They are usually the first people to attend to patients facing different conditions as a result of accidents and other conditions that may require urgent medical attention. Due to the nature of their work they are expected to be sharp and have the ability to stay calm since most of the situations that they deal with are tough. And so before you decide to take this as your nurse specialty due to the attractive salary, it is important to understand the nature of the job and what is expected of you. One of the biggest challenges that you are likely to be faced with in this career is that in most cases you will not get time to plan for the intervention because even wasting a minute may mean life or death due to the state of the patients. The nature of the job explains why on average this nurse will earn more than most other registered nurse specialties.

Contents:

• ER Nurse Job Description
• Emergency Room Tasks of an ER Nurse
• What Determines What You Earn as an ER Nurse?
• Which States Pay the Best ER Nurse Salaries?
• Other Well-Paying Nurse Specialties 
• Tips for Getting a Good ER Nurse Salary
• Why You Should Choose a Career as an ER Nurse
• Job Outlook for ER Nurses

Emergency Room Tasks of an ER Nurse

• The biggest responsibility of an ER nurse in the emergency room is to identify triage. Triage is a method of prioritizing injuries based on the medical need and in the emergency room the most life-threatening injuries should be dealt with first.
• A nurse will also be tasked with identifying the medical problem that in this case include the physical tissue wounds and other internal issues that require urgent intervention.
• In the ER, the nurse is also tasked with documenting the patient’s medical history to aid in further intervention once the emergency is dealt with.
• Monitoring of the patient’s progress and consulting with the physician in charge is, even more, important in an emergency situations because the condition of the patient is not very stable.
• The nurse is also tasked with identifying any possible allergies and also whether the patient is under any medication or not.

What Determines What You Earn as an ER Nurse?

Just like for any other nursing careers different factors determine what you make as an emergency room nurse. Whereas the national average salary is currently, about $73,000, some nurses make way much than this while others will also earn less than the average. Knowing the factors that influence the salary that you get is important in your career growth. The following are five things that commonly affect what you earn as an ER nurse.

• Place of Employment: Contrary to what most people think ER nurses do not just work in hospital emergency rooms. In fact, they work in almost as many places as a regular registered nurse. You can find an emergency nurse in a stadium, cruise ships, crisis intervention centers and also in prisons. Most of these alternative work environments pay much more than hospitals and so if you want to earn a better pay you should consider them.
• City: There is probably no other country in the world where salaries vary as much from city to city like in the USA. An ER nurse working in a town in California will earn several thousand dollars more than one with the same level of experience but employed in Hawaii.
• Type of Employment: Contract based jobs for emergency nurses ma,y have shorter employment tenures, but they pay more. On the other hand, permanent jobs provide you with job security, but the salary is often lower than what you would earn from contract work.
• Experience: This is probably the biggest salary determinant for ER nurses. If you have been in the practice for several years, you will earn more than new graduates. Experience means that you have dealt with several and different emergency situations, and so the hospital is confident that you will bring more value to their organization

Which States Pay the Best ER Nurse Salaries?

1. New York: New York is probably the best place to work as an emergency room nurse. Apart from having more hospitals than most other states there also many other non-hospital facilities that employ these nurses. This means that finding employment should not be a problem. To make it even a more perfect place to work these nurses earn an average annual salary of $89,000 which is more than almost what they earn in all the other states.
2. Massachusetts: The ER nurses working in the state of Massachusetts in hospitals and other facilities make an average salary of $89,000 making it the best paying state. This average is also 20% higher than the national average pay for these professionals.
3. New Jersey: Working as in an emergency room if you are a nurse you will earn an average of $80,000 annually which is not only way much higher than the national average wage but also much better than what nurses in other states are earning.
4. California: California employs one of the largest numbers of these nursing professionals but even with such high figures the nurses here can expect to earn an average annual salary of $79,000 per year, and this is also 7 % higher than the national average.
5. North Carolina: If you are planning to look for an ER Nurse job in the beautiful state of North Carolina then it is not such a bad idea. With the right qualifications and some experience, you should expect to earn an average emergency room nurse salary of $79,000 each year. Just like for California it is 7% more than the national average.
6. Maryland: ER nurses in Maryland earn an annual average of $76,000 annually that is still 3% higher than the national average. And the good thing about Maryland is that there are several employment opportunities and so finding work is easier than in most other states.
7. Washington: The average emergency room salary in Washington is $76, 000 just like in Maryland and this is a very attractive package for any nurse who wants a well-paying job.

Other Well-Paying Nurse Specialties

• Nurse Practitioner: There are many types of nurse practitioners, and they are among the best-paid professionals with an average income of $95,000 per year. Although it can be much higher than this for example for anesthetist practitioners, the average is way much more than $100,000 annually.
• Pediatric Nurse: A pediatric nurse is one of the most common specialties and they also have more employment opportunities than other. The national average income is $65,000 that is 13% higher than postings for other jobs.
• Nursing Informatics Specialist: On average nursing informatics specialists take home a salary of $87,000 each year. The high pay is an accurate reflection of their important roles in the health sector.
• Travel Nurse: Apart from giving you the opportunity to travel to different parts of the USA or even globally to help those in need of medical services a traveling nurse career is also well paying with an average income of $67,000 per year.
• Labor and Delivery Nurse: Working as a nurse to help women bring new life to the world will earn you an average salary of $70,000, and you also benefit from greater opportunities because these nurses are always in demand.
• NICU Nurse: Caring for babies who are in critical condition is more stressful and emotionally draining than most other nurse jobs and so to compensate them for this, NICU nurse earn an average of $80,000 per year.
• Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner: The average salary for a psychiatric nurse practitioner is $102,000 which makes it one of the best-paying jobs.
• Nurse Home Administrator: A nurse home manager earns $75,000 annually on average but unlike other types of nurse the salary will be more dependent on the employment type and also the roles that they do as administrators.
• Nurse Manager: A nurse manager does more managerial tasks than actual nursing and in some hospitals this is a significant role with an enormous salary. However, the national average salary is $67,000.

Tips for Getting a Good ER Nurse Salary

• If you have enough experience and are well educated, then you can work on contractual terms because they pay much better than permanent employment. You should also not worry about getting contracts since the shortage of nurse’s means that the demand is higher than the supply especially for experienced nurses.
• Try to look for employment away from the traditional hospital environment because they are several other places that pay ER nurses way much better. Working for emergency response center, humanitarian organizations or in stadiums will earn you a better salary than in a hospital.
• The third tip is to get as much experience as possible as you can use this to negotiate for a better pay. Hospitals value experienced nurses a lot because they can handle different situations calmly having been through many things in their careers.

Why You Should Choose a Career as an ER Nurse

An emergency nurse career is one of the best paying nursing specialties in the USA. When getting into any profession salary is one of the things that motivate you and so what you earn in this job is much better than what you can get from most other in the US. Apart from the pay, there are also many other benefits that you get working as an ER nurse especially in a hospital setting, for example, you can get sponsorship or tuition reimbursement to pursue masters or doctoral degree. However, there is way much more to this profession than the financial rewards and career growth. When working in an emergency room, you get the opportunity to save someone’s life on a daily basis, and this is very rewarding both emotionally and mentally. Knowing at the end of the day that you have saved countless lives will give you more satisfaction than any amount of money that you get paid to do the job. Although you will not always get to save everybody, every person that you help save makes a big difference.

Job Outlook for ER Nurses

The BLS estimates that work opportunities for registered nurses will grow by close to 20% in the next decade. Emergency room nurses are among the most common types of registered nurses, and so this shows that their demand will continue to rise in the foreseeable future. The need for these nurses in new sectors as more people and organizations continue to see the importance of preparing for emergencies is also going to rise. The ER nurse salary will also increase to respond to the growing demand. Hospitals will have to increase pay to attract the few available caregivers. This merely shows the future is bright for anyone in the emergency room nurse profession.

One of the most advanced career fields in the health care sector is that of a clinical nurse specialist. These experts provide general care to patients in one of a variety of medical specialties, such as geriatrics, pediatrics, oncology as well as emergency care. CNSs, as they are commonly known, also work as consultants helping other medical professionals by working to improve health outcomes in all stages of care. According to the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists, the CNS career is normally categorized as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) career because it requires clinical and graduate-level training. Due to a high level of knowledge and precision demanded of this job role, CNSs are usually relied upon to provide leadership roles and advice to other nurses.

Contents:

• Career Overview
• What Roles Does a Clinical Nurse Specialist Handle on a Daily Basis?
• History and Future Outlook of CNS Career
• Clinical Nurse Specialist Salary
• CNSs on the Job
• How to Become a Clinical Nurse Specialist?
• Are Online Clinical Nurse Specialist Programs Available?
• What Are Some of the Challenges CNSs Face?
• Clinical Nurse Specialist vs. Nurse Practitioner

Career Overview

This is a pretty interesting career which, although challenging, can open one’s future to a myriad of opportunities. The best candidate for a clinical specialist’s job is one who is able to make quick, informed decisions concerning health matters and treatment. One who enjoys collaborating with teams of professionals to achieve specific goals and improve patient care. Also, in order to ensure maximum productivity, one needs to be an effective communicator so they can communicate easily with patients, caregivers, and administrators. Above all, one should be enthusiastic about enhancing positive impact in patient care science through management skills, leadership as well as coaching.

There are different areas that one may choose to specialize in. For instance, you can choose to focus on community health matters or gerontology. Other areas of specialization include:

• Pediatrics
• Home health
• Diabetes management
• Child psychology and mental health
• Adult mental health and psychiatric
• Adult health

The typical work environment for this nurse is mainly around hospitals, physicians’ offices, community health centers, laboratories as well as colleges and universities.

What Roles Does a Clinical Nurse Specialist Handle on a Daily Basis?

Generally, clinical nurse specialists are trained on improving things for both nurses and their patients. As such, they develop positive changes in the health care system by striving to develop new practices that help improve recovery chances for a diverse range of patients. Through a strong focus on evidence-based practices, these skilled nurses are relied upon to serve as clinical experts in their respective fields of specialization.

A day in a CNS’ life revolves around these five core responsibilities.

1. Conducting physical exams
2. Conducting research to improve knowledge about their areas of specialization
3. Promoting wellness and disease prevention
4. Advising other nurses and medical practitioners on patient related issues
5. Treating injuries, diseases and disabilities commonly associated with various fields of medical expertise
6. Observing patient conditions and diagnosing problems and illnesses
7. Ordering medical tests and evaluating test results

History and Future Outlook of CNS Career

Just like other APRN job roles, demand for persons with CNS skills is on the rise. Generally, demand for healthcare expertise has risen consistently over the decade, especially as services provided by qualified CNSs and other nurses tend to be slightly cheaper than those provided by a physician.

Data shows that overall, there are fewer individuals working in APRN-related fields of nursing as compared to other professionals such as registered nurses (RNs). For instance, in 2013, there was an estimated 113,370 practicing clinical nurse specialists as compared 2,661,890 RNs. This happens because of the strict requirements for courses that are recognized under APRNs – in APRNs, you need a graduate degree, RN license, national credentials and state licensure to practice.

Still, demand for persons with APRN qualifications is high. For instance, the BLS projects that demand for CNSs will grow by 31% which is 19% faster than the projected growth of RN field.

Clinical Nurse Specialist Salary

The salary is comparable to other professions within the expansive healthcare industry, with almost 50 percent of employed CNSs making over $70,000 annually. As stated earlier, there is high demand for specialized workers in this profession also meaning that individuals who secure these jobs often end up getting good salaries. The salary figures are normally affected by several factors such as education credentials, experience, and job location. If you are planning to work in a metropolitan area, you can expect a better pay package than your counterparts working in suburban settings.

Currently, the leading areas in hiring CNSs are New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. States that pay the best salaries to their CNSs include Alaska $111,800 per year, California $110,590, Oregon $107,560, Hawaii $106,700 and Massachusetts $105,010.

Like in most professions, the level of experience of the individual plays an important role in the clinical nurse specialist salary sheet. Individuals with between 1 and 5 years of experience get the lowest packages while those with over 10 years of experience attract the highest salaries. Here is a simple table showing how a clinical nurse salary can vary with experience.

• 1 to 5 years $55,000 – $75,000
• 5 to 10 years $75,000 – $105,000
• 10 years and above $105,000 – $125,000

Office physicians are the leading employers of clinical nurse practitioners followed by general and surgical hospitals and outpatient care centers respectively.

CNSs on the Job

Unlike traditional RNs, clinical nurse specialists are trained to do much more than care for patients by helping to treat and prevent ailments under the supervision of a physician. They can also diagnose, treat conditions, disabilities and injuries as long as they are within their area of specialization. CNSs work directly with patients as well as other nurses when consultations are needed – in line with their primary role of improving health care system for everyone.

It is worth noting that CNS life is generally seen as a venerable one-man show with five core responsibilities on one professional’s shoulders: research, clinical practice, management, consulting and teaching. Healthcare does not operate with one set of guidelines, and as such the experience of clinical nurses is vital to its overall success. Because they also work as patient advocates, it is their job to coordinate money-saving practices and resources while still providing optimal health outcomes.

This is, therefore, a career suitable to those who are good at caring for others. So if you have a knack for solving complex problems while putting the interest of others before self, then clinical nursing could just be your right alley.

How to Become a Clinical Nurse Specialist?

Becoming a CNS requires significant schooling because it is one of the four advanced nursing practices. So here is a step-by-step guide on how to become a CNS.

Step One: Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing

Most CNS degree programs require aspiring CNSs to earn a bachelor’s degree in a nursing school. The programs generally take 4 years. Courses under nursing degree programs include physiology, patient health assessment, pharmacology basics, anatomy, nursing throughout all life stages and pathophysiology basics.

Step Two: Acquire a state license as Registered Nurse

All states require CNSs to be licensed before practicing. Clinical nurse specialist degree programs on the other hand also require applicants to be licensed as a registered nurse. While the majority of states require students to pass the National Council Licensure Examination for RNs which is administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), some states may have additional state nursing board licensure requirements. Additionally, CNSs licensed in one state can always apply for a license but only by endorsement in another state.

Step Three: Acquire Experience

Most graduate degree programs require candidates to have acquired experience as a registered nurse in the specialty they have chosen. On the other hand, schools require one to two years direct patient experience in a clinical setting. This experience can be gained by performing registered nurse nursing duties in private practices, hospitals or even outpatient settings.

Step Four: Obtain a CNS Master’s Degree

These programs usually take two to three years to complete depending on the specialty. You can earn your Master degree either online or in a traditional classroom setting. The safest way to ensure the rigor of the program’s academics and the validity of your degree is to choose a CNS program that has been accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body. Most CNS programs usually have accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Education and Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

Step Five: Apply for Certification

The certification is not required in all 50 states hence, not all CNS specialties have a certification credential available. However, certification is highly recommended since most employers require their clinical nurse specialists to have it. The American Nurses Credentialing Center(ANCC) offers a nationally recognized certification for clinical nurse specialists. Some of the certifications ANCC offers include:

• Pediatric CNS
• Adult-Gerontology CNS
• CNS Core
• Adult Health CNS
• Diabetes Management Advanced
• Home Health CNS
• Child/Adolescent Psychiatric Mental Health CNS

The qualification for every certification varies but the certification body usually requires that the students have a current RN license, have obtained the minimum required number of hours of clinical experience in the specialty (i.e. at least 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours), have completed a graduate degree in the selected specialty from an accredited school and pass the certification exam. In addition, ANCC requires certification renewal after every five years.

Step Six: Acquire an Advanced Practice Nursing License

Most states usually require CNSs be licensed by the State Nursing Board. The qualifications include having a graduate degree from accredited advanced practice nursing school, maintaining a registered nurse license and being certified by a well-recognized CNS certification authority.

Are Online Clinical Nurse Specialist Programs Available?

Nursing is a very hands-on profession, so most people might assume CNS online nursing programs are not available, but they actually do. Candidates can earn the bachelor and master degrees online at a range of schools with some even offering part-time curriculums as well. These online programs usually provide live web-based teaching in some cases and when time comes to finish clinical hours, they set the students up at a website the school has partnered with.

What Are Some of the Challenges CNSs Face?

CNSs in clinical practice usually face different challenges. One common challenge most CNSs face is a lack of clear-cut role definition within and outside the health-care arena. This is because some people are not familiar with the title CNS despite having over 75,000 CNSs in America. Another challenge is inadequate time for self-or organization defined responsibilities and accomplishments. This challenge serves as a barrier for CNSs’ effectiveness. They also face problems like learning staff preferences, becoming oriented to a new environment and grappling to gain respect from the staff.

Clinical Nurse Specialist vs. Nurse Practitioner

CNS and NP are both advanced practice nurses who sometimes work in the same types of health care facilities. While both are acknowledged as leaders in nursing credentialing and care, their roles remain distinct from one another. So to help aspiring advanced practice nurses make a good decision about which role will best suit their skills and personality, below are the core differences between the two nursing professionals.

• Common Practice Settings

A clinical nurse specialist typically works in a large health care facility or even an entire department wing. They may practice in occupational health settings, hospitals, long-term care facilities, educational institutions, at a private practice setting, mental health settings, and even community health centers.

On the other hand, nurse practitioners mostly work in a private practice physician’s setting. Here they take over patient care duties in place of the physician but for certain patients. Other settings NPs may work in include nursing homes, school-based clinics, community clinics, ambulatory clinics and health maintenance organizations.

• Job Duties

CNSs are often in charge of a department of nursing either at a hospital setting or at a private practice location. They have the expertise and education to lead the nursing staff in improving the patient care process. They assess, plan and intervene in complex cases providing support to nursing staff, patients, and their family members.

Nurse practitioners, on the other hand, work under the indirect supervision of physicians. They diagnose chronic illnesses, perform health assessments, manage acute episodes, interpret diagnostic tests and promote disease prevention. They are also involved in making medical treatment referrals and may sometimes prescribe medication depending on the state they practice in.

• Salary

According to the Healthcare Profession and Salary Database, CNSs earn an average annual salary of around $70,000 with the highest paid clinical nurse specialist earning more than $120,000. On the other hand, the highest earning general nursing practitioner earns around $92,670 with average figure being at around $60,000 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Generally, CNSs earn more than their general nursing colleagues with the same years of job experience.

A CNA license is a permit from the State Nursing Board or the CNA Licensing Authority to become a member of a healthcare team, and to play the role of a Certified Nursing Assistant such as to provide nursing care to patients, residents, clients, and customers in different health care settings, provide patients with assistance such as eating, using the toilet, oral care, dressing when they are not in a position to.

Contents:

• What Is a CNA License?
• Requirements for CNA Licensing
• How to Get a CNA License?
• Verification of the CNA License
• How to Verify Your CNA?
• CNA License Renewal
• How to Renew a CNA License?
• CNA Number
• How to Get a CNA in Florida?
• CNA Online

What Is a CNA License?

A Certified Nursing Assistant requires minimal hours in the training program, which explains why the profession is popular and is in high demand.

CNAs are known as nurse aides and nurse assistants, and the following are some the tasks they are required to perform:

• They serve as assistants to Registered Nurses (RN) License Practising Nurses (LPN), other nursing and healthcare professionals.
• They provide basic, day-to-day patient care in nursing homes, assisted living centers, hospitals, and other health facilities.
• They are required to report crucial information to senior nurses.

Requirements for CNA Licensing

The requirements vary from one state to another, but only by a slight degree.

The requirements for obtaining a CNA license comprise of:

1. The applicant should be at least between 16 to 18 years of age, in some states, a 16-year-old is eligible for the license, while in others you have to be 18 years of age to get the license. The flexible CNA training program enables students, who are finishing high school and are continuing their education at a community college or a 4-year university, to work part-time. Notably, although some states issue the CNA license to 16-year-old applicants, they may not be employed according to the employment requirements, thus leading to the suspension of your license.
2. The applicant must have completed their high school education and be a diploma-holder or must have completed their GED. Exceptionally, the states that issue 16-year-old with licensure require them to have completed a minimum of eight years of grade school.
3. The applicant must have a clean criminal record, which must be free of criminal convictions such as misdemeanors and felonies, mental health conditions, chemical dependency or medical conditions. Minor violations such as citations, tickets, traffic, juvenile offenses may not disqualify you from getting a CNA license including violations that happened 10 to 7 years ago prior to a clean criminal record. All this information is collected from the applicant’s fingerprint.

Some of the criminal convictions may not stop you from getting a CNA license, but it may not qualify you for a job, as some employers may not employ someone with a record regardless of what you did.

How to Get a CNA License?

After you are certain you have met the requirements expected of you in order to acquire a CNA license, you have to go through the following steps to get the license:

1. Ensure that you meet the basic eligibility requirements for getting into an accredited training program and applying for a CNA license. This is to make sure that you don’t go so far into the steps without being aware of your eligibility.
2. Complete an accredited training program — it is offered in different institutions such as community college, Red Cross, high school and vocational schools. The institutions you choose must be approved by the State’s Nursing Board. You should be aware that there is a time frame between when you finish the training program to when you get the license.
3. Submit your CNA license application — it is 1 to 2 pages, whereby you are required to fill in the following kind of information:

• Name
• Phone number
• Address
• Criminal background
• Height
• Social security number
• Weight
• Eye color
• Driver’s license or state ID number
• Hair colour
• Prior actions taken against you by a health-related licensing, certification disciplinary authority.
• Information about the CNA training program, the institution you went to, when you completed the training program and if applicable the program ID number and a document showing that you completed the training program sent either directly by the school and from you should be sent to the State Nursing Board or the CNA Licensing Authority.

1. Provide your fingerprints — this helps the licensing board to do a criminal background check on the applicant. They are submitted with the application, or in some states before the application is given in. They help in carrying out a thorough background check on the CNA license applicant, to point out a criminal record on the applicant’s record. Felonies like manslaughter, murder, sexual assault, domestic violence, or assault with intent to kill will prevent you from getting your CNA license.
2. Pay the processing fee — the applicant is expected to pay for the fingerprint check fee, application fee, and examination fees. If the applicant is already at a job somewhere as an aide or in other health care areas already, the employer may cover the certification fee. In some states, your employer is obliged to pay some or all of your fees.
3. Study and pass the certification exam — the exam is divided into two parts:

• The written or theoretical part — it contains multi-choice questions with one correct answer. The applicant is required to answer 60 questions in 90 minutes depending on the state they are in.
• The clinical part — involves the applicant performing an assigned set of specific skills. The time allocated depends on the skill being tackled, although the total time is usually 30-40 minutes. It doesn’t really test performance as much as the competency in performing the given tasks, which is proven based on a specific nurse aide elevator checklist to score the applicant’s performance. Some of the skills tested out here are dressing a patient’s weak arm or measuring the patient’s radial pulse. Every applicant is given three opportunities to pass within two years of completing the training program, if one fails all the three times, the applicant will have to redo the training program or restart the application process.

After finishing all these steps, you receive your license in a period of 4 to 8 weeks if you passed.

Important to note is that, nurses who have other training may not go through the standard application process such as a graduate nurse won’t have to do the CNA training program, but will do the CNA Licensing Exam, an RN and LPN have to do neither the CNA training program, nor the CNA Licensing Exam. The applicant is required to notify the State Nursing Board or the CNA Licensing Authority when their education, training or certification doesn’t require them to go through the standard application process as a new nurse aide.

Verification of the CNA License

The CNA should be verified regularly due to the following reasons:

• To keep your CNA active so as to meet employment requirements, since when it inactive you may not get the job you are applying for.
• To make sure you do not have any negative items on your records, especially if you suspect someone reported you for a charge to the State Nursing Board such as neglect or abuse, to be sure of your current status.
• To confirm your renewal date, that is to be sure of when you are required to renew your CNA so you don’t forget the expiration date. This also helps you to avoid a situation where you have to apply for a new, which takes more time compared to just renewing.
• To know your CNA number, this may be required by your employer.

How to Verify Your CNA?

The process of verifying your CNA varies from one state to another.

Most of the states allow the CNA to verify only by searching your name or your number through an online verification system and submitting this information.

If when verifying you find negative reports on your record, you need to contact the State Nursing Board for more information and to get to know if your will be revoked or suspended and the difference between the two.

Please note that CNAs are advised to have a hard copy of the license, which they can obtain by filling out a form, although in some states you only get to apply for it once so you have to keep it safe.

CNA License Renewal

As a CNA you are required to keep your CNA active by renewing it regularly, in most states every two years.

Requirements for CNA License Renewal 

It must have reached its expiration date, which you get to know when you receive the license, so you should verify it or you can get it from the certification verification website or the State’s Nursing Board website.

A clean criminal record

You need to provide paid nursing service for a specific number of hours and a given period of time, be and remain in the state board’s good status, and complete continuing education classes.

To renew the license before the expiration date you are expected to have worked consistently as a CNA for a recommended number of hours weekly depending on the state, and your record must be clean of any criminal convictions. If you are not continuously working as a CNA your CNA status will be null or void, in this case, you will be required to reapply for a new CNA, pass the background check and take the CNA certification exam again.

If you don’t meet the minimum number of hours required of you as a CNA weekly or education requirements, you may have to retake the CNA Certification exam to show your knowledge is still up-to-date although, those that fail the retake are required to undergo the CNA training program again. To avoid this kind of predicament, the CNA is advised to check the state education requirement regularly before the renewal.

Consequences of not renewing your CNA License:

• You are required to pay a late or delinquency fee in some states.
• If it has expired for long you have no choice but to apply for a new CNA and take the CNA certification exam again, you will also be required to pay for application again, background check and examination fee, which could have been avoided.
• It takes longer to get a new CNA compared to renewing, which you will be required to get a new one if you do not renew your licenses in time.

How to Renew a CNA License?

Most states offer online CNA renewal if you don’t have to change the status of your or update information such as your name. You must not be delinquent, and you are required to pay using your credit or debit card.

On the other hand, you can print off the renewal form from your State’s Nursing Board.

CNA renewal postcards are issues out about 120 days before the expiration date.

If you do not meet the state’s requirement for renewal you need to contact the State Nursing Board or CNA Licensing Authority to find out about other renewal options.

Renewals take two to three weeks to process.

Once you have renewed it, ensure you have recorded the next expiration date on your calendar.

Ensure you keep good records, that is records of continued employment (pay stubs, contracts among others) for a minimum of four years in some states, when former employment closes, or when contact with a former supervisor is lost, or your address because they send the CNA renewal postcard to the address you gave.

CNA Number

It is a unique number used to identify your CNA.

It is used by employers to look up the CNA’s license status, verify it with your State’s Nurse Aide Registry.

It is very crucial when applying for a job, as most employers ask for it.

If your paper certificate or CNA was sent to you by the State Department of health or Board of Nursing, the CNA number is clearly visible on it.

Many CNA Regulating Agencies offer access to one’s CNA number online, where one is just required to input their first and last name, social security number and application date and it appears next to their current status. All this information is required to help them verify your identity.

If you happen to lose your CNA number, you can check for it in the CNA Registry Search from your state, or you can also contact your state’s Licensing Authority.

How to Get a CNA in Florida?

Applicants who want to acquire a CNA in Florida require the following:

• The applicant must have a high school diploma
• The applicant must be at least 18-year-old
• The applicant must have completed the curriculum development under Enterprise Florida Jobs and Education Partnership Grant and achieved a minimum score.
• The applicant’s record should show no criminal convictions when the background check is done.
• The applicant must hold current or up-to-date certifications.
• The applicant must pass the certification exam, both the written and the clinical to get a CNA in Florida, this exempts approved reciprocity candidates.

Basically, the process of acquiring the CNA is almost the same in all states, the difference comes in the particulars like age at which you get the license, the education requirement according to the applicant’s age, and the background check among others.

CNA Online

With the improvement in technology and the deteriorating economy, many opt for online classes and CNA is no different, especially with the simplicity of its training program.

At the end of your online program, you can apply to your state’s CNA Regulating Board to take a licensing examination. If the applicant passes the CNA licensing exam, they are required to undergo a background check which the applicant has to schedule a test date with the exam administrator.

After passing the background check and paying the required fees which are done by giving your credit or debit card, you will be processed and sent to you.

As an applicant, you need to be aware and fully understand the requirements of getting a CNA specifically in your state, and the Licensing board involved in this. You need to keep in mind the expiration date, which is when you are expected to renew yours to avoid having to go through the process of getting a new.

SOURCES:

www.cnalicense.org

www.azbn.gov

nevadanursingboard.org

One of the most popular accrediting bodies that reviews and accredits as many as 2000 education programs bestriding over 20 health-related disciplines is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Besides being one of the largest accrediting body in the field of health sciences, the body has been recognized by CHEA — Council for Higher Education Accreditation as well. The body is also a member of ASPA — Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors.

Contents:

• But What Is CAAHEP Accreditation?
• Why Is the CAAHEP Accreditation Important?
• How a Program Becomes CAAHEP-Accredited
• The Programs That CAAHEP Currently Accredits

But What Is CAAHEP Accreditation?

In general, accreditation is the process of assessing the quality of programs, services, and institutions, against minimum quality standards. Any accreditation exercise is set to gauge and ensure the minimum quality standards are complied with.

Commission on the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs conducts specialized accreditation exercises by examining particular programs in an education institution, reviewing the programs to ascertain that they indeed comply with the common standards of the profession.

The various CAAHEP standards against which each of the educational programs is measured are developed by a team of professionals engaged in each discipline, they are approved by each of the professions, and the standards are poised to ensure that each person undertaking any of the CAAHEP programs acquires special knowledge and skills that will enable them function competently and effectively within the respective profession. Thus, it can be confidently determined that the set CAAHEP standards are focused on quality outcomes by making sure the health educational programs are prepping up competent healthcare professionals. This implies that any CAAHEP-accredited programs give the requisite educational background necessary for any practitioner to commence a career in each of the many allied health professions.

Why Is the CAAHEP Accreditation Important?

Accreditation, in whatever discipline, is very important. First of all, it proves that a service, institution, or a program complies with a set standard. The compliance is determined by measuring the service, program, or institution against a certain set standard of excellence unique to each discipline. There are two important types of accreditation pertaining to post-secondary education and training. These are programmatic or specialized accreditation, and institutional accreditation.

Institutional accreditation shores up prospective students’ confidence that the institution they want to join offers a competent program that meets set standards across certain areas, for example, facilities, resources, faculty, and administration.

Programmatic or specialized accreditation is deemed to be more important than institutional accreditation because it considers the specific programs in any institution. The individual programs have to meet higher standards and, to receive the programmatic accreditation, the programs have to show that students will receive the requisite knowledge and skills to competently engage in the profession for which they are studying upon completing the program.

The importance of CAAHEP accreditation in the health field cannot be gainsaid. Just like a license to practice informs people that a particular healthcare provider is qualified to deliver health care services, getting a degree from a CAAHEP accredited school or a CAAHEP accredited program assures the public and employers that the graduate has the necessary skills and knowledge to deliver in the particular health field they pursued.

It is noteworthy, however, that it is only institutions and programs that get reviewed and accredited. Individual students only get registered, certified, or licensed. CAAHEP accreditation has nothing to do with the registration, licensure, or certification of particular healthcare students. But then, in most health care fields, a degree from a CAAHEP-accredited program is a prerequisite to getting certified or licensed. Therefore, it is imperative that any student knows the accreditation status of the institution as well as the program they are interested in, and also the licensure or certification requirements of the profession they are pursuing.

For example, if you are looking to pursue a career as a medical sonographer, it will help to look for CAAHEP-accredited ultrasound schools.

How a Program Becomes CAAHEP-Accredited

Though there are differences among the various professions in CAAHEP, every accredited program has to go through a thorough process which shares some traits:

• Self-Study — The education program has done its own analysis detailing how it scores against the set standards.
• On-Site Evaluation — CAAHEP dispatches a retinue of professionals to visit the institution to ascertain that the self-study is an accurate reflection of the particular program and answer any questions that may arise.
• A Committee Review and Recommendation — the committee of accreditation for the particular discipline will then set to review the on-site evaluation report and accordingly develop a recommendation. In case there are areas that the program falls short of the accepted standards, the deficiencies will be noted, and the committee will seek additional information just to assure that every program substantially meets the CAAHEP minimum standards of competence to offer the program.
• The CAAHEP Board of Directors — After the CAAHEP Board of Directors apprising itself of the recommendations presented to it by each program’s CoA, it will then ascertain that due process was met and that the standards are applied uniformly and equitably.
• The Length of Accreditation Awards — save for the initial accreditation, that is for five years, the award of CAAHEP accreditation has no time limits. When the committee of accreditation recommends that a particular program receives accreditation, they should also recommend when the comprehensive evaluation will be conducted next. Though each committee comes up with its own intervals, the maximum interval between comprehensive evaluation and reviews is usually ten years. The committee may also require a progress report, or plan a special, focused site visit if any particular program has any serious problems that require being addressed. If the program fails to comply with accreditation standards, and the attempts to remedy the deficiency yield nothing, then the CoA will cause the involuntary withdrawal of accreditation of the program. The decision of the CoA is usually final and cannot be appealed to the CAAHEP board of directors. If a program is not at a particular time in substantial compliance with the set accreditation standards but is expected to meet the standards within a prescribed period, then it may be awarded a probationary accreditation.

The Programs That CAAHEP Currently Accredits

As of 2016, these are the programs that CAAHEP accredits:

• Cardiovascular Technologist
• Anesthesiologist Assistant
• Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
• Exercise Physiologist
• Emergency Medical Services Personnel
• Cytotechnologist
• Exercise Science Professional
• Medical Assistant
• Kinesiotherapist
• Neurodiagnostic Technologist
• Medical Illustrator
• Orthotist and Prosthetist
• Personal Fitness Trainer
• Perfusionist
• Recreational Therapist
• Polysomnographic Technologist
• Surgical Assistant
• Specialist in Blood Banking technology
• Surgical technologist 

The body is seeking to accredit more programs in the future.