Institute:Office of National Coordinator (ONC) Workforce Training Curriculum
Component:The Culture of Health Care
Unit:Health Professionals The People in Health Care
Lecture:Nursing Professionals
Non-clinical IT/Informatics Roles for Clinicians
Effects of Changing Care Models on Clinicians
Slide content:Nurses Education Diploma Associates degree Bachelor of science Bridge programs for RN to BSN Clinical training Part of the education process Additional training programs 4
Slide notes:This lecture describes the education, training, certification, licensure, and roles of nurses. There are several ways to become a registered nurse, or RN. Diploma programs were more common in the past and were usually two- to three-year programs that focused mostly on clinical skills. An associates degree in nursing is a two-year program with a similar clinical focus. The BSN, or bachelor of science degree in nursing, is the preferred degree program. It includes general study requirements (math, science, social sciences, and humanities) along with preclinical and clinical course work. Nurses with a diploma or an associates degree may be able to attain a BSN using a bridge program that allows them to apply credit for courses already taken. Advance nurse practitioner opportunities require a BSN along with additional study in the area of specialization. Also, most nursing administration positions require a BSN and may require a graduate-level degree such as a masters degree in nursing. Clinical training is a part of all three types of training programs. It includes coursework to gain an understanding of clinical principles and clinical work in hospitals and other health care provider settings under direct supervision. New graduate entry-level nurses must work under the supervision of a licensed, experienced nurse until they obtain their state nursing license, which is achieved by passing an exam. Also, nurses may elect to specialize in their area of clinical practice, which is achieved through additional training programs provided by hospitals and other organizations. 4