University of Central Arkansas (Department of Nursing)
HISTORY
Nursing is as old as medicine, although modern nursing began with Florence Nightingale in the middle 1800s. Nursing has always been directed toward serving the health needs of people. However, as with medicine, nursing practice has been influenced by the particular characteristics of society throughout its history and has changed based upon the health needs and expectations of society.
Currently, nursing is assuming an ever expanding role in the health care of society. Advanced practice nurses function independently in a variety of settings. They are usually prepared at the master's level and include nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialists, and certified nurse anesthetists.
Advances in science and health care and the increased seriousness of patients' conditions requires a different caliber of nurses than in the past. At the same time, as more health care is being provided out of the hospitals, nurses are assuming a major role in the provision of health care in the home, where they must make critical, independent decisions.
DEGREES IN NURSING
There are a variety of educational programs by which one can become a registered nurse, and a variety of career opportunities open to nurses as they gain experience and continue their education. Nursing expertise is the result of theoretical knowledge, gained through study, and clinical experience, gained through practice. The expertise required to interpret a patient's condition and make complex decisions requires a sound knowledge base as well as clinical practice.
Traditional ways to become licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) are through the following avenues:
Baccalaureate degree programs offer a four year undergraduate degree (BSN).
They are usually in a college or university
Hospital diploma programs award diplomas. This is not a college degree. The programs are located in hospitals.
Associate degree programs award an associate college degree (ADN). They are usually located in a community college.
The baccalaureate nurse (BSN-RN) possesses the nursing skills necessary to make clinical judgments in structured settings (i.e. hospitals) and unstructured settings (i.e. industry, community, homes) and in situations with unpredictable outcomes. They are the only nurses fully qualified for community health nursing. Graduates are employed in a variety of settings: home care, community health agencies, hospitals, nursing homes, extended care facilities, the military and other government health services, industry, mental health/psychiatric facilities, and others. BSN graduates have the educational background for the advanced study of nursing in graduate degree programs.
Nurses with less than a BSN, i.e. ADN or Diploma, are limited in their opportunities and advancement, and the settings where they practice.
Advanced degrees available for the Registered Nurse with a baccalaureate degree (BSN) include:
Master's Degree (MSN)
Doctorate Degree (PhD or DNS)
School name: University of Central Arkansas (Department of Nursing)
Address: 201 S. Donaghey Avenue
Zip & city: AR 72035 Conway
Phone: 501-450-3119
Web: http://www.uca.edu/divisions/academic/chas/Nursing.html
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