Many facilities offer nurse training to their employees to provide skilled patient care for clients. Many companies also offer nursing continuing education to those who want to learn additional skills, or keep their current skills sharp. Nursing education for your staff reflects well on the business as a whole; the valuable skills employees have on their resumes will attract patients and clients.

To learn more about the news and trends in nurse training programs, find valuable resources with the latest information. These types of resources can be found in print and online, such as:

1. Trade publications and journals for the nursing industry.

2. Online blogs updated with the latest news and education information.

3. Forums to discuss news about online nursing programs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Explore trade publications that discuss education in nursing topics

All industries can benefit from the information provided by trade publications tailored to their business, and nursing is no different. There are many magazines, whitepapers and research articles that cover just about every issue in nurse training topics. The best part about trade publications is that most are available free to those working in the nursing industry.

I recommend: The Journal of Nursing Education provides information on advances in training for nurses. And if you want to learn more about continuing education, check out the Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing.

Search online forums to find out about the best nurse education and training

Online forums are a great source of information on nurse education and training courses. Here you can interact with experts, professionals in the nursing field, and many people who are interested in nursing courses. Many forums will also provide a thread that talks about the best and worst nursing programs.

I recommend: The Ultimate Nurse forum provides many nursing discussions you can participate in, including recruiting, staffing and training issues. NursingSchool.com is another great forum where many topics on nursing and nursing programs are discussed between professionals, experts and those looking for more information.

Read about nursing training programs information in blogs

If you want to keep up with news and trends in nursing education and training, subscribing to a blog is a great way to get the quickest updates on new information. This can be anything from a new program to changes in the requirements necessary to earn degrees in nursing.

I recommend: The blog at Nurses Forum provides daily updates on the latest nursing education and training news and trends. The Nursing School has another blog that can provide news and information on training.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you want to find out about nursing courses from a specific school, contact it by telephone or email. Most schools are are happy to send you information about their programs and courses upon request.

While many medical assistants get basic on-the-job nurse education training, give your employees reasons to why they should pursue higher levels in nursing school.

Advancing to upper levels of nurse education and training promotes confidence. Medical assistants coming into the field of medicine with basic certification in assisting have a leg up on those who have no training at all.

However, nursing education and training at higher levels helps not only the one attending nursing school, but the doctors and patients also. Suggest the following to your employees:

1. Advise medical employees to get an Associate’s Degree in nursing school.
2. Offer growth opportunities to employees for management or leadership in the medical field by encouraging a Bachelor’s Degree. A Bachelor in Science of Nursing (BSN) provides a level of nurse training that goes beyond the Registered Nurse (RN) and provides a medical office with higher efficiency.
3. Suggest the Master’s Degree for those who want to take an additional 2 years to be qualified to teach education in nursing on any level.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find online nursing courses

Online nursing courses are becoming more popular every day. Flexibility offered with these courses is invaluable.

I recommend: Get a free information kit about nursing classes online. Watch video testimonials about one of the largest online nursing degree programs in the country.

Educate your employees on nurse education and training salary advancement

Earning a degree earns a nurse a higher salary.

I recommend: Find job opportunities posted and see monthly updates on nursing salaries. Find school locations by state, start nursing classes and get on with advancement.

Stay at the forefront of what's happening in nursing education and training

Staying tuned in to advancements in the nursing field, not only allows your staff to grow professionally in their field, but boosts the talent and know-how in your office.

I recommend: Request an information pack on Master’s and Bachelor’s degree work. Sign up for a free newsletter and receive daily email updates on nursing education and training.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Nursing continuing education courses often get paid for by hospitals. Continuing education credits are not required in all states. Nursing classes on wound care, for example, can earn a specialty designation for a nurse.

Nursing professionals are in high demand, and education in nursing can be a worthwhile investment for those who are looking for a reliable career, with a plenty of options for specializing in a number of areas. There are different degrees you can earn in nursing and nursing programs, so knowing your options is the first step when choosing the right nursing training for you. In addition, there are nursing continuing education courses that nurses must take throughout their career to keep their skills sharp.

Pricing and costs of nursing education and training will vary depending on the type of degree and license you want. Prices will also depend on the type or course, i.e., online nursing courses compared or a traditional classroom setting. To save costs, consider the following:

1. Choose online nursing programs that allow flexible scheduling.

2. Search for nursing continuing education courses to improve on your skills.

3. Look for programs that allow you to specialize in specific areas of nursing such as pediatrics, geriatrics or trauma.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose cost-saving online nursing programs

Nursing school can be expensive and take away time from your primary job. If you want to participate in nursing school programs while still maintaining a full time job, choose online courses. These are the least expensive courses available, as well as the most convenient for those with hectic schedules. Nurse training courses online can start as low as $99.

I recommend: HealthSoft offers many general courses for nursing students, as well as more specific courses to learn additional skills. ELearners.com is another resource for online nursing courses. It lets you compare courses offered by a number of accredited universities to find the fit.

Get nursing continuing education courses to your improve skills

For those who want to improve their skills and take advantage of additional learning opportunities, there are many continuing education courses online and at old fashioned brick-and-mortar schools. Courses range from teaching a new skill for a type of care (such as diabetics or critical care patients) to general refresher courses. Continuing education is very affordable, with many courses priced from $10 to $50 based on the number contact hours.

I recommend: Dynamic Nursing Education offers courses designed for those who want to get re-certified in specific programs. You can also find many nursing continuing education courses. Wild Iris Medical Education also offers a long list of courses.

Enroll in nurse education and training and get a nursing degree

There are many different types of nursing programs available. If you want to make a career in nursing, you should study to be a Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), or get your Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (BSN). These programs cost the same amount as a four-year degree, typically $24,000 for a public institution and close to $80,000 at a private college. You can also choose accelerated nursing programs that will cut the cost in half.

I recommend: If you want to find a specific program in your area, you can browse through the listings at NursingSchool.com. Listings are organized by state and city with links to additional information. If you choose the accelerated associate's degree program, you can approximate the costs by checking out information from Glendale Community College.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Nursing education and training are only as good as the school. Before offering your staff courses from a nursing school, make sure the school has the proper accreditation.

Nursing education is a specialty where people can learn and work with people on a daily basis. Nurses are in high demand in a variety of medical specialties, and those wanting to work in health care will find a number of options for nursing education and training. Depending on what type of certification a person wants, nursing training can take anywhere from 18 months to four years or more. Types of nursing range from a nursing assistant to holding a master's degree in nursing.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

On-the-job training

Most jobs in any industry provide a certain amount of on-the-job training. In nursing, on-the-job training can take place very quickly by integrating classroom knowledge into the workplace. This type of training works best by providing a nursing student an entry-level position while the student is also attending classes for the next level.

I recommend: The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services outlines the type of training expected for a CNA, or certified nursing assistant. This include classroom hours and a minimum of 100 on-the-job training hours.

Registered nurse (RN)

A registered nurse is a trained nurse that provides a significant amount of support for doctors in hospitals and clinics. RNs can have a specialty. RN training is offered through associate's degree courses or a bachelor's degree to earn an RN license.

I recommend: The Bureau of Labor Statistics offers information on the job of registered nurse, including training requirements, expected salary and projections of demand in this field.

Continuing education credits (CEUs)

Continuing education credits, or CEUs, are available to nursing professionals in order to progress from an entry-level job to a specialty. Continuing education classes offer all types of nursing specialties, including diabetes care, drug dependency and other areas of medicine. Some states require nurses to earn a number of CEUs per year.

I recommend: Net CE offers a variety of continuing education classes for nurses and other health care professionals. The Web site also lists requirements for CEUs by state.

Licensed practical nurse (LPN), licensed vocational nurse (LVN)

A licensed practical nurse has a similar job as an RN, but there are subtle differences that affect salaries and job responsibilities. In most cases, LPNs are under the supervision of an RN. LPNs are also not able to administer specific drugs or give IVs to patients.

I recommend: All state licensing boards, such as the Oregon State Board of Nursing, offer information on the requirements a person needs to meet in order to qualify for RN or LPN licensing in a specific state. Rasmussen College offers information on the differences between the roles of an LPN and an RN.

Certified nursing assistant (CNA), nurse aide

A certified nursing assistant is an entry-level nursing job that requires relatively little training. This job allows CNAs to work closely with patients by assisting in basic patient care, which can include transportation and food service.

I recommend: Health Careers Futures outlines the career of the CNA, including expected salary, demand for the position and training needed.

Travel nursing

Travel nursing is a type of nursing that allows a licensed nurse to work for a number of different facilities throughout the United States. Nurses can choose the location and type of facility where they want to work. Travel nursing provides short-term positions for facilities that are in need of skilled nurses.

I recommend: Travel Nursing offers nurses interested in this type of work answers to commonly asked questions about choosing a travel nursing company to work for.