Nursing Certificate Program Available for High School Students

An innovative education program that allows for high school students to start certified nurse assistance (CNA) training while still in school is being promoted in Hillsboro, North Carolina. Ben Kleine, reporting for the Hillsboro Star-Journal, detailed how local high school students can integrate the CNA certificate coursework into their high school class schedule. This program may be very useful for individuals who want to get an early start to their nursing career.

To read more about this program, click here.

Expanding Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice Is Not Limited to Just the United States

Over the weekend, Cory Hurley, reporting for The Western Star, detailed the continued progress of the Canadian Nurses Association campaign to raise awareness about how nurse practitioners can improve access to quality health care and reduce wait times. With long wait times being one of the most significant issues of the Canadian healthcare system, nurse practitioners can serve an integral role in meeting the needs of Canadian citizens throughout the 21st century.

Click here to read the full article.

Click here to read other blogposts relating to scope of practice.

California Court Upholds Rules For Nurses Administering Anesthetics

Yesterday, Bob Egelko, writing for the San Francisco Chronicle, reported that last Thursday the First District Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled in favor of nurses anesthetists being able to administer anesthesia without a doctor's supervision. This ruling has been heralded by nursing and patient advocacy organizations as a success for rural health where a physician's presence is often difficult to come by. Even though Federal law denies Medicare reimbursements to hospitals that allow nurses to give anesthesia without direct supervision, California is one of 16 states to opt out of this requirement after consulting with their state medical board. This court ruling aligns with recommendations made in the IOM's Initiative on the Future of Nursing committee's report: "The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health" by allowing nurse anesthetists to serve patients without physician oversight, California has improved rural access to numerous health services that require anesthesia, in addition to providing safe, cost-effective care by trained professionals.

Click here to read the article.

Nursing Claims Costs Rise Again After Falling

Yesterday, claimsjournals.com reported that the average total paid per claim in the nursing profession averaged over $200,000 in 2010. This is number is comparable to the all-time high experienced in 2008 and significantly higher than the average paid per claim in 2009, which was around $150,000. The article also detailed a study conducted by the CNA, which examined claim costs from 2006 to 2010 and addressed which nursing professions are more likely to see higher claims.

Click here to read the full article.

Nursing homes: A Caring Staff Makes All The Difference

Earlier today, Robin Erb and Kristi Tanner, of the Detroit Free Press, published the final article of their three piece series focusing on the quality of care in nursing homes. The article gave a personalized view of how caring, compassionate staff can positively effect the quality of life experienced by nursing homes' residents.

Click here to read the article.

Click here to read the first article in the series.

Click here to read the second article in the series.

Publish Post

National Council of State Boards of Nursing Extends Electronic Licensure Exam to Canada

Last week, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) announced that the NCLEX-RN® Examination, a RN licensure exam used in foreign countries for the purpose of domestic licensure in the United States, was chosen by ten provincial nurse regulatory bodies in Canada. The adoption of this electronic exam in Canada has the potential to drastically change the nursing workforce in both Canada and the United States, as nurses would technically be licensed to work as a RN in either country. In response, the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) has expressed disappoint with the choice made by the provincial regulatory bodies as they fear that many qualified Canadian nurses may be lured by the promise of higher paying positions in the United States. Additionally, the CNA fears that licensure content specific to Canada may be excluded from the exam and thus, lower the quality of care in Canadian healthcare facilities.

Click here to read the NCSBN's press release.

Click here to read the CNA's response.