Nursing Now May 5, 2013

W ith many accredited nursingschools that graduate more than2,000 students each year, Cincin-nati offers lots of choices for any-

one looking to pursue a nursing career.But how do you know which nursing school

is right for you, and what features do you lookfor when you search for a program?

Leaders from several of the region’s topschools say there are important features to

look for in all nursing programs – such as ac-creditation, passing rate for licensure examsand access to clinical settings – and then it’s amatter of finding the right choice for yourgoals and lifestyle.

“One of the major initiatives nationally ismatching students with the right program,”says Nathan Long, president of the Christ Hos-pital College of Nursing and Health Sciences.“Each student has to pick the program that’sright for them and their life pace.”

As health care reform continues, nursing isalso changing, however, and there is pressure

in the profession to attain at least a Bachelor ofScience degree. Many see nurses taking on agreater role in preventive care to avoid unnec-essary and costly hospitalizations, and withcontinuing advances in medicine the complex-ity of care demands greater education. Thismeans nurses should look to attain higher-leveldegrees in order to meet the needs of the fu-ture workforce, say nursing experts.

In fact, the Institute of Medicine issued areport in 2010 that recommended that at least

Nursing instructor Beth Hamon, RN, MSN, left, with students Christa Albu of Green Township, center, and Jenn Sisky of Monfort Heights in a teaching lab in the HealthProfessions Building at Cincinnati State’s Clifton campus. Choosing a nursing school is a matter of finding the right match for your goals and lifestyle, experts say. PROVIDED

By Val PrevishEnquirer contributor

See CHOOSING, Page S2

NURSING NOW■MAY 5, 2013

mNurse as patient, familyhand-holder » Page 4

mTop health care callings fortomorrow’s nurses » Page 9INSIDE:

How to choose the nursingschool that is right for you

S2 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 /// THE ENQUIRER

Nursing Now is published annually byEnquirer Media’s Specialty Publications

Department.

Send questions or comments to:Jo Kovach

Specialty Publications EditorEnquirer Media312 Elm Street

Cincinnati, Ohio 45202Phone: [email protected]

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NURSING NOW

80 percent of nurses achieve a bache-lor’s degree (BSN) by 2020, citingbetter patient outcomes and lowermortality rates for nurses whoachieve this greater level of educa-tion. Only about 50 percent of nursesattain that degree today, the reportindicates.

“As a profession, we’re movingtoward the BSN degree,” said DeniseRohr, associate dean/director Cincin-nati State Bethesda School of Nurs-ing. “We would like to see all our stu-dents go on to get their BSN. We con-

sider ourselves to be a pathway,” shesays of the school’s two-year asso-ciate degree program and one-yearpractical nursing certificate pro-gram.

Rohr says Cincinnati State is agood place for students to start if theyare not ready for a larger four-yearuniversity or college setting. Theycan continue their education at a uni-versity or college after they graduatefrom Cincinnati State.

“Somebody who might not feelconfident to enter a university envi-ronment would be right for our cam-pus,” she says. “People who want asmaller environment or who want toenter the workforce quickly becausethey have families also choose us.”

Long says students with similarneeds frequently choose Christ Hos-pital’s program, which offers an asso-ciate degree in nursing. Where hisprogram differs, he says, is that it is acampus solely focused on nursingeducation and offers students achance to get into the hands-on clin-ical portion of coursework quicklythrough the affiliated hospital.

“We differ in that students go di-rect to clinical in their first year ofcoursework,” he says, adding that thisis a full year before many other pro-grams begin allowing students intohospital settings. “Our graduates feelthey’ve gotten a full education fromthe moment they walk in the door.”

For students who want to gostraight into a four-year BSN pro-

Continued from Page S1

Choosing a school

IS THIS THE BEST SCHOOL FORME?Nursing educators at the region’s top colleges and universities recommend askingthese questions before you enroll at a nursing school:» Is the school accredited? This is critical for earning credits that will transfer ifyou continue your education elsewhere. Look for accreditation from these agencies– the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, The National League for NursingAccreditation Commission, and The Southern Association of Schools and Colleges.»What is the passing rate for students on the licensing exam? All nursingschool graduates must pass a licensing exam in order to work in their field. A highpassing rate for this test is an indication of thorough preparation, say nursing educa-tion experts.» How quickly are students rotated into clinical studies? This is the portion ofa nurse’s education where he or she works hands-on in a hospital or health caresetting. If a school does not have adequate access to clinical settings, it could takelonger to earn a degree.

Emergency room staff nurse Michael Peach of Villa Hills, Ky., reviews doctor orders ina nurse station at Bethesda North Hospital. Peach, 29, graduated from NorthernKentucky University’s 16-month accelerated BSN program in December 2012, andchose nursing as a second career. PHOTO BYMARTYWHITACRE FOR THE ENQUIRER

See CHOOSING, Page S5

Delivering Qualityand Innovative Patient Care

...and bringing the joy of healthier kids to the world

Our pediatric nurses at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Centerembody the tenets of quality and innovative patient care. Whether they arecaring for patients at the bedside or leading improvement efforts in theirclinical areas of practice, our nurses are strong advocates for exemplarypractice, compassionate patient interactions and quality outcomes.

Our Magnet® hospital takes great pride in its nursing team. They are alwaysstriving to develop best practices, go above and beyond the call of duty andcontinually grow in knowledge and expertise. To our nurses, for all that youdo, and all that you are:

THANK YOU!If you are a nurse interested in working with the best of the best in pediatriccare, we invite you to explore a future with us.

[email protected] or 1-877-636-0219

EOECE-0000555071

THE ENQUIRER /// SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 S3

BECKFIELD COLLEGE859-371-9393beckfield.edu

BROWNEMACKIE COLLEGECincinnati branch:513-771-2424Fort Mitchell branch:859-341-5627brownemackie.edu

BUTLER TECH513-868-6300butlertech.org

CHRIST COLLEGE OF NURSING &HEALTH SCIENCES513-585-2401thechristcollege.edu

CINCINNATI STATE TECHNICAL &COMMUNITY COLLEGE513-569-1500cincinnatistate.edu

COLLEGE OFMOUNT ST. JOSEPH513-244-4200msj.edu

FORTIS COLLEGE513-771-2795www.fortis.edu/cincinnati-ohio.php

GATEWAY COMMUNITY &TECHNICAL COLLEGE859-441-4500gateway.kctcs.edu

GOOD SAMARITAN COLLEGE OFNURSING AND HEALTH SCIENCE513-862-2743gscollege.edu

INDIANAWESLEYANUNIVERSITY513-881-3600indwes.edu/Cincinnati

MIAMI UNIVERSITY HAMILTON513-785-3000www.ham.muohio.edu

NORTHERN KENTUCKYUNIVERSITY859-572-5100nku.edu

THOMASMORE COLLEGE859-241-5800thomasmore.edu

TRIHEALTH513-569-4500trihealth.com

UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI513-558-3600nursing.uc.edu

UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATIRAYMONDWALTERS COLLEGE513-745-5600www.rwc.uc.edu

UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIXCINCINNATI CAMPUS513-772-9600phoenix.edu

XAVIER UNIVERSITY513-745-3814xavier.edu

AREA NURSINGSCHOOLS

Advanced practice nurses (APNs)are among the most highly educated,skilled and sought-after in the nurs-ing industry. It also is among the mostpopular career paths for nursingstudents.

The American Public Health Asso-ciation estimates that the number ofAPNs could double nationally by2025. Typically, APNs hold master’sor doctorate degrees and have educa-tion or clinical knowledge in a varietyof specialties.

Nurse practitioners are able totake health histories, diagnose andtreat many acute and chronic healthproblems, order tests and interprettest results, and prescribe medica-tions.

At Cincinnati Children’s HospitalMedical Center, there are more than240 nationally certified APNs in morethan 30 specialty areas who are val-ued as expert leaders dedicated tomeeting the physical, emotional anddevelopment needs of infants, chil-dren and adolescents.

APN has become one of themost popular areas of nursing

Most studies show that advancedpractice nurses are among the mosthighly paid in the nursing industry.According to PayScale.com, APNswith up to four years of experienceearn between $65,000 and $80,000annually. Those who have been in thefield for up to 10 years can earnaround $90,000 per year.

Not surprisingly, it’s become one ofthe most popular areas of nursing.While the myriad of day-to-day re-sponsibilities and job pressures cancome as a surprise to those new to theprofession, pediatric nurse practi-tioners prefer to focus on the job’smany rewards.

Nancy Roberto, clinical director ofthe advanced practice nurses at Cin-cinnati Children’s, recently spoke

with nursing students at the Univer-sity of Cincinnati.

“My advice to those who are al-ready nursing students considering acareer as a nurse practitioner is to geta few years of RN experience in arole that is related to the area youwould like to work in as a nurse prac-titioner,” said Roberto, who’s beenwith Children’s for 25 years. “Criticalcare background is always valuablefor those who want to pursue roles in

an in-patient hospital setting. Experi-ence is valuable in making the transi-tion from an RN to a nurse practitio-ner in any area.” Roberto also recom-mended that aspiring nurse practi-tioners work as a patient careassistant (PCA) at a nursing home orhospital while in school. New gradswho enter nursing with practicalexperience earn respect and are bet-ter prepared to handle the rigors ofthe job, she said.

“It’s a profession,” says MichelleWidecan, a pediatric nurse practitio-ner in the ER at Children’s, where sherecently celebrated her 20th anniver-sary. “They need to look beyond thesalary. You need to like working withpeople, and understand the depth ofthe responsibility.”

Nurses say working withfamilies is best part of job

During nearly a half-century ofcombined experience at CincinnatiChildren’s, Roberto andWidecan have

experienced all of therigors and stress work-ing as a pediatric nursepractitioner has to of-fer. Working withyoung children can be arewarding experience,but also a heartbreak-ing one at times.

Through both tri-umph and tragedy, pediatric nursepractitioners say working with thefamilies is the best part of their job.

“What keeps you going is when achild survives against incredibleodds,” said Roberto. “There are timeswhen patients die for reasons out ofyour control. The reward is helpingthe families through that experience.Sometimes in the emergency roomyou have to move on to the next emer-gency. Because they (the patients)need your care.”

Jena Bargon was hired as directorof the Neonatal Intensive Care atGood Samaritan Hospital six monthsago, after spending more than 30years as a NICU nurse in Michigan.Good Sam has 14 neonatal nurse prac-titioners under Bargon, 12 of whomwere formerly nurses in the hospital’sNICU before returning after obtain-ing further education.

“It shows loyalty,” Bargon says.“The more years, and bedside nursingexperience, the better. It helps if theyare a staff nurse first to build astrong foundation to deal with high-risk deliveries and to plan care.”m

Michelle Widecan, pediatric nurse practitioner, shown in the Emergency Departmentat Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. “You need to like working withpeople, and understand the depth of the responsibility,”Widecan says. PHOTO BYMARTY

WHITACRE FOR THE ENQUIRER

By Jeff WallnerEnquirer contributor

Jena Bargon

“Critical care background is always valuablefor those who want to pursue roles in an in-patient hospital setting.”

NANCY ROBERTO, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

APNs are valued as leaders innewborn, child, adolescent care


Now in its 21st year, the FlorenceNightingale Awards recognize excellencein nursing. The Board of Advisors of theUniversity of Cincinnati College of Nursinghosts the Florence Nightingale Awards forExcellence in Nursing annually. The goal ofthe awards is to recognize professionalnurses for their contributions to directpatient care. Board of Advisors Night-ingale award winners receive $1,000, aswell as a commemorative award. Dean’saward winners receive $400.

THIS YEAR’S WINNERSINCLUDE:» John Bendele, VAMedical Center» Jennifer Lemmink, University of Cincin-

nati Medical Center» Jamie Cooper Meyers, The Christ Hospi-

tal» Stacie Nance, St. Elizabeth Healthcare» Rommel Padillo, Mercy Health Fairfield» Jane Swaim, St. Elizabeth Healthcare» Sr. Carole Temming, Immaculate Heart of

Mary Parish

WINNERS OF THE DEAN’SAWARD INCLUDE:» Peggy Brooks, Oncology Hematology

Care» Lynn Brown, Northern Kentucky Univer-

sity»Michelle Daniels, Elm Street Health

Center» Christina Joy Davenport, Drake Center»Maria Koegel, VA Medical Center» Sr. Kay Kramer, St. Elizabeth Healthcare» Jonathan Ramos, VAMedical Center» AnneWainio, VAMedical Center» Jessica Wiles, University of Cincinnati

Medical Center» Sheree Young, AtriumMedical Center

2013NIGHTINGALEAWARDRECIPIENTS

It was a night like any other fornurse Stephanie Smith. She was tend-ing to some paperwork when a pa-tient’s wife ran into the hall and toldher something was wrong with herhusband.

When she went to check on himshe found a man who had been diag-nosed with cancer crying uncontrol-lably. After ensuring he was not hav-ing a health crisis, she consoled andprayed with him until he got his emo-tions under control, then asked himwhat was wrong. He said he’d seenan angel in the corner of the roomand it looked like her.

“I took that as a sign from Godthat I was meant to be there,” saidSmith, who is an RN, BSN in theurology unit at St. Elizabeth Health-care in Edgewood, Ky. “I think aboutthat night when I’m feeling stressedand it brings me comfort.”

For Smith and thousands of areanurses, the role of engaging patientsand their families may be the mostrewarding and the least understood.

Everyone has an idea what nursesdo from watching medical dramas ontelevision or receiving medical carethemselves.

But along with administering med-

ications, charting patients’ care,communicating with physicians,completing treatments and all theother clinical activities they under-take during their working shifts,nurses are interacting with patientsand their families – people who, inmany cases, have just received dev-astating news or are facing uncom-fortable procedures or long recov-eries.

“Early in my nursing educationone of my professors quoted Theo-dore Roosevelt, who said ‘Nobody

cares how much you know until theyknow how much you care,’ ’’ saidAlicia Lay, RN, BSN, CURN, also inSt. Elizabeth’s urology unit. “I haveadopted this as my philosophy.”

The nursing curriculum at areacolleges and universities addressesthe beyond-clinical aspect of nursingthrough specific classes, and by in-terweaving empathy, caring andcompassion in all coursework andclinicals.

RegisterednurseStephanieSmithreviews achart outsidea patient’sroom at St.ElizabethHealthcare inEdgewood,Ky. PHOTO BY

TONYA BORGATTI

FOR THE

ENQUIRER

By Dave EtienneEnquirer contributor

See COMPASSION, Page S5

Compassion an essentialquality in a nurse’s role

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According to Dr. Lisa Torok, chair-person of the nursing department atThomas More College, “We offer acourse in interpersonal communica-tions where we stress therapeuticcommunications – dealing one-on-oneand with families about grief, intenseemotions and death,” said Torok.

“Plus, we stress throughout ourprogram that the patient is not justthe person in the bed but the wholefamily, and often they are in stress-

ful situations that demand our ut-most caring and understanding,”Torok said.

St. E’s Smith and Lay echo thissentiment. “The patient is most im-portant but the family often plays avital role in the whole care processand it is important to include thefamily in care provision whenever itis possible,” said Lay.

Lay summed it up this way: “Itwill be some of the most rewardingand most exhausting days of yourlife.” m

Compassion is a key nursing traitContinued from Page S4

gram, there are several local collegesand universities that offer accreditedprograms. Students who are attractedto these schools are often recent highschool graduates looking for a fullcollege experience, or students seek-ing continuing education to furthertheir training. “We attract a studentwho wants to be a part of a large,major university,” says Greer Glazer,dean of the College of Nursing at theUniversity of Cincinnati. “People whoare interested in innovation and look-ing toward the future are the peoplewe seek.”

As one of the oldest baccalaureatenursing programs in the country,UC’s tradition of nursing education iswell-established, says Glazer. Theuniversity is known for its research

and leadership in health innovationand is on the forefront of trainingnurses to be a part of the health carereforms that are taking place today.

“Our vision is to lead health caretransformation through technology,”says Glazer. “We are infusing technol-ogy into our curriculum to help stu-dents integrate it into their studies.”

Denise Robinson, dean of the Col-lege of Health Professions at North-ern Kentucky University, says therole of nurses is evolving and theyare being incorporated into moremanagement and interdisciplinarywork every day. Education is a keycomponent in preparing them forthese new challenges.

“It’s really a lifelong process,”says Robinson. “Having a good foun-dation in general education can onlyhelp.”m

Choosing the right nursing schoolContinued from Page S2

COMPASSIONATE NURSESTO HELP YOU

www.e-mercy.com

Every day the nurses of Mercy Health

provide compassionate, advanced

care to every patient they serve —

whether it's in our hospitals, physician

offices, senior living communities,

medical centers, social service

agencies or administration. We are

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been serving the Cincinnati community

for over 160 years. Please join us in

thanking all of the nurses that help

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Back Row: DeAulo Walton — St. Theresa,

Marie Leist-Smith — Fairfield Hospital.

Middle Row: Darla Tarvin — Clermont

Hospital, Nancy Benner — Rookwood

Medical Center, Janis Conrad —

The Jewish Hospital, Courtney Seitz —

Mercy Health Physicians, Adam Harrison

— Mt. Airy Hospital.

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Tammy Adams — St. Raphael, Chelsea

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The University of Cincinnati College of Nursing created the Florence Nightingale Awards in 1982 to honor the extraordinary dedication and achievements of localnurses working in direct patient care. Each year the Board of Advisors invites Greater Cincinnati physicians, patients, family and friends of patients, and otherhealth-care workers to nominate nurses who exemplify the spirit of caring embodied by Florence Nightingale, the “Founder of Modern Nursing.” From hundredsof nominations, Seven Board of Advisors Award winners and ten Dean’s Award recipients were chosen as 2013 honorees. The winners were recognized at a recep-tion April 25th at the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati. Board of Advisor Award winners receive $1,000 and a Florence Nightingale bust. Dean’s Award recipients received$400 and a commemorative plaque. Money for awards is provided through sponsorships. Funds generated beyond expenses for this event will be used to supportscholarships for students of the UC College of Nursing. Congratulations and thank you to our local nightingales.

NIGHTINGALE AWARD RECIPIENTS

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S T O T H E 2 0 1 3 R E C I P I E N T S

Thank you to theCincinnati Enquirerand all sponsorsof the FlorenceNightingale Awardsfor Nursing and to allthe nominees for theirexcellence in nursing.

John BendeleVA Medical Center

Rommel PadilloMercy Health Fairfield

Jamie Cooper MeyersThe Christ Hospital

Sr. Carole TemmingImmaculate Heart of Mary Parish

Jennifer LemminkUniversity of Cincinnati Medical Center

Jane SwaimSt. Elizabeth Healthcare

Stacie NanceSt. Elizabeth Healthcare


The “Founder of Modern Nursing,” Florence Nightingale was born on May 12, 1820, in Florence, Italy. In 1825, her parents purchased a home in Embley Park near Romsey, England.Despite her parents’ objections, Florence pursued her desire to be a nurse. She traveled to study European hospitals and worked as a nurse in France and Germany. When the Crimean Warbegan in 1851, FlorenceNightingale organized a group of nurses and took them to the battlefront in Russia. There she found that nearly half the sick andwounded soldiers were dying becauseof primitive sanitation methods and lack of nursing care. As a result of the nursing methods and strict sanitation she set up, the death rate greatly decreased. To describe the reduction indeaths, she drew ornate statistical diagrams known as coxcombs which indicated her prowess as a nurse researcher. Upon her return to England, she started the Nightingale School of Nursingat St. Thomas Hospital, London. The opening of the school marked the beginning of professional education in nursing. During a number of other wars, including the American Civil War,she was consulted on questions concerning the organization and operation of battlefront hospitals. Florence Nightingale died at her home in South Street, London, on August 13, 1910.She was buried on August 20, 1910, at St. Margaret’s Church, East Wellow, England. The tombstone reads: F.N. Born 12 May 1820 • Died 13 August 1910

F l o r e n c e N i g h t i n g a l e

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S T O T H E 2 0 1 3 R E C I P I E N T S

DEAN’S AWARD RECIPIENTS

Peggy BrooksOncology Hematology Care

Sr. Kay KramerSt. Elizabeth Healthcare

Michelle DanielsElm Street Health Center

Anne WainioVA Medical Center

Lynn BrownNorthern Kentucky University

Jonathan RamosVA Medical Center

Christina Joy DavenportDrake Center

Jessica WilesUniversity of Cincinnati

Medical Center

Maria KoegelVA Medical Center

Sheree YoungAtrium Medical Center


Late last year, students at theUniversity of Cincinnati College ofNursing started working with somenew high-tech partners. Two tele-health robots, affectionately nick-named “Flo-Bot” and “Junior Flo-Bot” after Florence Nightingale,enable patients to receive remotecare from nurses and physicians.

“We think it’s vitally importantfor the workforce of tomorrow tosee and understand exactly howtelehealth works during theirschooling,” says Debi Sampsel, chiefofficer of Innovation and Entrepre-neurship at UC College of Nursing.“We see it as a great opportunity toexpand the breadth and depth of ourstudents’ understanding of technol-ogy in the clinical setting, the com-munity and the home.”

UC launched telehealth servicedelivery in October 2012, creating aprogram that focuses on education,research and practice using a pairof remote-controlled telehealthrobots.

“The real advantage of telehealthis that you can expand the reach ofnurses and other health care provid-ers,” Sampsel explains. “We also seeit as a great opportunity for ouradvanced practice nurses to look for

new ways to partner with otherhealth care providers, put it intounderserved areas and be able toexpand the reach of much-neededhealth care providers.”

“Flo-Bot” is a 5-foot-4-inch-tallmetal body on wheels, with a two-way monitor for a “head.” In addi-tion to providing two-way communi-cation, various appendages can beconnected to the robot, allowing acaregiver to listen to a patient’sheartbeat, take their blood pressure,get a close-up look at skin condi-tions, and performmany other rou-tine diagnostic tasks.

“Junior Flo-Bot” is a smallerrobot without diagnostic appen-dages, but that doesn’t limit its use-fulness. Using the robot, a careprovider anywhere in the world cantalk to patients, examine X-rays,look at a patient’s monitor or IVdrip, examine incisions, or drive therobot to a nurse’s station to requestassistance from someone on-site.“There’s so much I can visualize butnot have to be physically present,”Sampsel says.

Although neither robot is self-aware or able to move independent-ly, they can function in any facilitywith a broadband wireless networkof sufficient speed. The caregiveroperating the robot uses a laptop-based control station. Laser sensors

in each robot’s body supplement thetwo-way video to help the operatormove the robot safely.

The distance between the care-giver and the robot isn’t a factor aslong as both have Internet access.“We can use our control stationfrommost anywhere,” Sampselsays. “We could be in McDonald’s,Starbucks or on the side of the road.I’ve had the good fortune to use theFlo-Bot-type of remote-presencerobot in other states and even inother countries. That’s why they’rebeing used so effectively in inten-sive care units and emergency areas– you can quickly get on the laptopand be there in person in a splitsecond.”

The college is also working onresearch to determine the effective-ness of robot-assisted care, evaluat-ing the reactions of patients, stu-dents and providers while trackingpatient outcomes.

“Our long-term plan is to deploymore nurses out into disadvantagedhealth care areas and also intoplaces where there might be a lackof health care providers,” Sampseladds. “For example, right now we’relooking at how we can deploy ourtelehealth into a homeless shelterand out into rural areas. It definitelyhas value for how we’re going to dohealth care in the future.”m

In a simulationcenter at the UCCollege of Nursing,Chief Officer ofInnovation andEntrepreneurshipDebi Sampseldemonstrates howa telehealth robot,far right, is used tomonitor a patientremotely. Sampselsaid thetechnology willcontinue to expandthe reach of nursesand physicians intorural areas andcommunitieswhere there areshortages of healthcare practitioners.The distancebetween thecaregiver and therobot isn’t a factoras long as bothhave Internetaccess.PHOTO BYMARTY

WHITCARE FOR THE

ENQUIRER

By Tom N. TumbuschEnquirer contributor

Telehealth robotsextend the reach ofhealth care providers

Rising costs, demand for care-givers in homes and underservedareas, and the growing availability ofhigh-speed Internet access are amongthe factors responsible for the growthof “telehealth.” This rapidly expand-ing field is creating new opportunitiesfor health care that previous genera-tions could only imagine, and chang-ing thewaymany providers thinkabout serving their patients.

Broadly defined, telehealth is anymethod of delivering health-relatedservices using telecommunications orelectronic data. A caregiver talking toa patient by phone is themost basicform of telehealth. Sending digitalX-rays to doctors in other locations isanother way to reduce the need forcaregivers to be physically present.

More sophisticated telehealth tech-nologies enable nurses, physicians andother caregivers to diagnose patients,provide treatment, prescribemedica-tion, and even perform surgery fromhalf a world away.While thismaysound like a vision of the future, all ofthese things are possible todaywithexisting technology. Telehealth is alsolikely to be a growing field in the nextfive years thanks to support from bothgovernment and health care organiza-tions. TheHealth Resources and Ser-vices Administration (HRSA), anagency of theU.S. Department ofHealth andHuman Services, is work-ing actively to increase and improvethe use of telehealth technologies,including videoconferencing, theInternet, store-and-forward imaging,streamingmedia and communications(both land-line andwireless). In thenear future, telehealth supporterspredictmore preventive care andmaintenance in the home. Devicesthatmonitor weight or blood pressure,for example, could automatically alertnurses to contact patients whose read-ings fall outside a normal range.

TomN. Tumbusch

What is telehealth?


Changes to government reg-ulation, emerging technologies,and new approaches to collab-orative health care are all factorslikely to create increased demandfor nurses in the next five years.

“With the Affordable Care Act,we’re going to have more accessto care for a lot of folks,” says Dr.Susan Schmidt, director and pro-fessor/epidemiologist at XavierUniversity School of Nursing.“Nurse practitioners as well asphysicians are going to be in de-mand.”

Promising trends include:» Retail Health Care Delivery –

Care outside hospitals in majorretail chains, such as The LittleClinic, Kroger and Walmartstores. “We need to staff themwith well-trained experts who canprovide high-quality services,”Schmidt says.

» Informatics and Telehealth –Health care services, administra-tion and education delivered withthe help of communication anddata technology.

» Aging in Place – A top priori-ty for baby boomers, these ser-vices help the elderly remain intheir homes and communitiesrather than moving to a healthcare facility or nursing home.

Supporters anticipate a grow-ing need for nurses and nurse

practitioners to provide in-homecare. Telehealth technologies mayalso play a key role by allowingoff-site nurses to monitor patientdata such as weight and bloodpressure.

» Forensic Nursing – Nurseswho specialize in treating victimsand perpetrators of crime, whileassisting the legal system withthe collection of forensic evi-dence.

» Interprofessional Collabora-tion – An emerging movementencouraging collaborative team-work between nurses and otherhealth care providers to reducecosts and improve care.

“We need our specialists be-cause no one person can know itall, but we still need to be able totie them all together,” Schmidtexplains. “Clinical nurse leaderscan ‘cross the silos.’ ”

Schmidt sees the greatest op-portunities for nurses with ad-vanced degrees and cross-dis-ciplinary training. “The longerpeople live, the more they haveexposure to chronic illnesses. Wewant nurses to be prepared athigher levels – baccalaureate andhigher degrees – so they canthink critically and give the bestpossible care to each person.”

Compiled by Tom N. Tumbusch,contributing writer

Top health care callingsfor tomorrow’s nurses

As the U.S. health care systemcontinues to evolve, industry de-mand for more highly educatednurses is growing. Data from theAmerican Association of Colleges ofNursing shows current and prospec-tive nurses are responding to risingeducation requirements: enrollmentin all types of programs at nursingschools across the country increasedfrom 2010 to 2011.

Some nursing schools offer gradu-ate certificates that allow nurses toexpand their expertise and meetcritical areas of need in the nursingprofession.

Offered to nurses with a Masterof Science in Nursing (MSN) degree,graduate certificates are designed toenhance nurses’ professional compe-tencies and prepare them to applyfor national certification in special-ized disciplines.

“As the patient population be-comes more diverse, and the deliv-ery of care more complex, nurseswith advanced knowledge and skillscan influence the quality of care thatpatients receive,” says Carole El-dridge, director of graduate pro-grams for Chamberlain College ofNursing. “With expertise in in-de-mand disciplines, nurses can alsoexpand their current scope of prac-tice and increase their professionalmarketability.”

Graduate certificate programs

help meet the Institute of Medicine’srecommendations for nurses toachieve higher levels of educationand for nursing schools to find newways to prepare nurses to bettermeet evolving patient needs. Theycan also help nurses respond toareas of need in the health careworkforce.

One such area is nursing educa-tion. Without enough educators, theindustry cannot prepare enoughincoming nurses to respond to thegrowing national shortage.

Health care informatics is anoth-er fast-growing field.

A 2012 report by Jobs for the Fu-ture and Burning Glass Technologiesmeasured online job postings from2007 to 2011 and found that healthcare informatics positions grew by36 percent, while total online jobpostings for that same period grewby only 6 percent.

The modern health care setting isdependent upon nurses with thespecialized knowledge to overseeimplementation of innovative in-formation technology, such as elec-tronic health records.

Nurses with a graduate certificatein nursing informatics can be pre-pared for a variety of related roles,including clinical informatics ana-lyst, informatics nurse specialist orchief nursing information officer.

ARAContent

Graduate certificates helpnurses to advance careers

Our nurses help make St. Elizabeth a healthcare provider like no other.

Edgewood | Grant | Covington

If you’ve ever been a patient at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, you know how unbelievably caring

and compassionate our nurses are. And we’d like to thank each and every member of our

amazing nursing team for their unmistakable healing touch.

Here’s to the teamthat puts the ‘care’in healthcare.

We wouldn’t be the hospital we are without you.

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FULLYONLINERN-TO-BSN PROGRAM.Classes begin inMayand August.

We salute nurses everywherefor the care and attentiongiven every day.

WEKNOW EDUCATION

AdvanceYour Career

YOUKNOW NURSING

Pursue success in nursing at any level:RN-to-BSN, MAGELIN (master’s graduateentry level into nursing), MSN, and DNP.

NEW!

5701Delhi Road

Cincinnati, Ohio 45233

(513) 244-4607

[email protected]

LearnMorewww.msj.edu/rn-bsnwww.msj.edu/graduatewww.msj.edu/apply

The College of Mount St. Joseph is committed to providing an educational and employment environment free from discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, or other minority or protectedstatus. Visit www.msj.edu/non-discrimination for the full policy and contact information.

We are proud of our manydistinguished faculty who areeducating tomorrow’s health

care professionals.

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Documents

Nursing Now May 5, 2013