How to Choose the Right RN College near Lake Crystal Minnesota
Finding the right nursing college near Lake Crystal MN may feel like a challenging project, especially if you have no idea what to look for in a good degree program. As you may presently know, in order to practice as a registered nurse, you need to obtain the appropriate education and training to become licensed. So it is essential that you study and assess the qualifications of each college you are thinking about before enrolling in your ultimate choice. Unfortunately, too many potential students base their selection entirely on the cost of tuition and the proximity of the school. Deciding on the least costly school or the one that is nearest to your home is probably not the most reliable way to choose a nursing program. There are various crucial additional things to look into before you decide where to enroll in classes. But before we examine that checklist, let’s first cover the nursing degree options that are offered together with what the functions of nurses are in our medical system.
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Nursing Degrees
There is more than one degree option available to become a nurse. And in order to become a Registered Nurse (RN), a student must enroll in an accredited school and program. A nursing student can acquire a qualifying degree in as little as 2 years, or continue on to attain a graduate degree for a total of 6 years. Following are some short descriptions of the nursing degrees that are offered to aspiring students in the Lake Crystal MN area.
- Associates Degree. The Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) is typically a 2 year program made available by community colleges. It preps graduates for an entry level job in nursing in medical facilities including hospitals, clinics or nursing homes. Many employ the ADN as an entry into nursing and later earn a more advanced degree.
- Bachelor’s Degree. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) provides more in depth training than the ADN. It is commonly a four year program offered at colleges and universities. Licensed RNs may be able to complete an accelerated program based on their previous training or degree and professional experience (RN to BSN). Those applying to the program may wish to advance to a clinical or administrative position, or be more competitive in the employment market.
- Master’s Degree. The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is usually a two year program after receiving the BSN. The MSN program offers specialization training, for example to become a nurse practitioner or focus on administration, management or teaching.
After a graduating student has received one of the above degrees, he or she must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) to become licensed. Additional requirements for licensing vary from state to state, so make sure to get in touch with the Minnesota board of nursing for any state requirements.
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Why Enter the Nursing Profession?
Nurses are an indispensable component of a Lake Crystal MN medical team, and for many patients, their primary care providers. A career in nursing can lead to many opportunities, such as research, health care education and specialty areas of practice. Nurses enter the profession for various reasons, the most significant are its personal and practical advantages. Nurses provide personal, one-on-one care to patients. Many patients in a hospital or home care environment have more contact with nurses than with doctors. Nurses often choose the profession due to a passion to administer to the needs of patients, including in instances of short-term treatment of illness and long-term care of chronic conditions. This human side of the healthcare profession, as opposed to the analytical or research related facets, is appealing to many who choose to pursue a career in nursing. Nurses have extensive applicable skills and can choose from a variety of work environments, including home care facilities, doctor’s offices, health clinics, community centers and hospitals. Also, nurses can advance into a variety of specializations, including addictions, critical care, neonatology and genetics. While most nurses provide direct patient care, others elect to be educators, policy advisers or pharmaceutical representatives.
Registered Nurse Job Duties
Registered nurses are the most significant occupation in the healthcare delivery system. RNs practice in numerous different medical settings, namely Lake Crystal MN hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, nursing homes and even schools. Their general job is to aid doctors in the treatment of their patients. Having said that, the particular duties of a registered nurse will depend on their job or area of expertise as well as where they work. A portion of the duties of an RN may include:
- Providing medications
- Overseeing patients
- Performing physical examinations
- Coordinating care
- Supervising LPNs, LVNs and nurse aides
- Informing patients and their families
- Keeping health records and charts
Nurses with a more advanced degree may have more complex job duties and responsibilities. Nurse practitioners (NP), as an example, must hold a Master’s Degree and normally work more independently than their RN counterparts. They can deliver primary or specialty care services, prescribe medications, and diagnose and treat common illnesses or injuries.
Nursing Online Classes
Attending nursing schools online is becoming a more popular way to receive training and acquire a nursing degree. Many schools will require attending on campus for part of the training, and virtually all programs require a specified number of clinical rotation hours carried out in a local healthcare center. But since the remainder of the training can be accessed online, this alternative may be a more accommodating approach to finding the free time to attend classes for some Lake Crystal MN students. Pertaining to tuition, many online degree programs are cheaper than other on campus alternatives. Even additional expenses such as for commuting and study materials can be lessened, helping to make education more easily affordable. And numerous online programs are accredited by organizations such as the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) for BSN and MSN degrees. So if your work and household responsibilities have left you with limited time to work toward your academic goals, maybe an online nursing school will make it more convenient to fit a degree into your active schedule.
Questions to Ask Nursing Degree Programs
Once you have decided on which nursing degree to enroll in, along with whether to attend your classes on campus near Lake Crystal MN or online, you can utilize the following pointers to begin narrowing down your options. As you no doubt realize, there are a large number of nursing schools and colleges within Minnesota and the United States. So it is essential to decrease the number of schools to select from in order that you will have a workable list. As we already mentioned, the site of the school and the expense of tuition are most likely going to be the initial two points that you will look at. But as we also emphasized, they should not be your sole qualifiers. So prior to making your ultimate choice, use the following questions to see how your pick compares to the field.
- Accreditation. It’s a good idea to make sure that the degree or certificate program along with the school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. In addition to helping confirm that you get a quality education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available in Lake Crystal MN for non-accredited schools.
- Licensing Preparation. Licensing prerequisites for registered nurses are different from state to state. In all states, a passing score is needed on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) as well as graduation from an accredited school. Many states require a specified number of clinical hours be completed, as well as the passing of additional tests. It’s essential that the school you are enrolled in not only provides a top-notch education, but also readies you to comply with the minimum licensing requirements for Minnesota or the state where you will be practicing.
- Reputation. Check internet rating services to see what the assessments are for all of the schools you are looking into. Ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. In addition, contact the Minnesota school licensing authority to find out if there are any complaints or compliance issues. Finally, you can speak with some Lake Crystal MN healthcare organizations you’re interested in working for after graduation and ask what their judgments are of the schools as well.
- Graduation and Job Placement Rates. Find out from the RN programs you are considering what their graduation rates are as well as how long on average it takes students to complete their programs. A low graduation rate may be an indication that students were displeased with the program and dropped out. It’s also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. A high rate will not only substantiate that the school has a good reputation within the Lake Crystal MN healthcare community, but that it also has the network of contacts to help students attain employment.
- Internship Programs. The best way to obtain experience as a registered nurse is to work in a clinical environment. Almost all nursing degree programs require a specific number of clinical hours be completed. Various states have minimum clinical hour requirements for licensing too. Ask if the schools have a working relationship with Lake Crystal MN hospitals, clinics or labs and help with the positioning of students in internships.
Universities With Good Nursing Programs Lake Crystal MN
Best RN Courses Near Me Lake Crystal Minnesota
Enrolling in the ideal nursing program is probably the most important phase to starting a new career in the healthcare industry. There are many factors that you must consider when picking a nursing college. These factors will be prioritized differently depending on your current career objectives, lifestyle, and financial situation. As we have emphasized in this content, it is important that you choose a nursing school and a degree program that are each accredited and have excellent reputations within the medical community. You originally came to this website due to your interest in Best RN Courses Near Me and wanting more information on the topic Accredited Nursing Schools.. However, by utilizing our checklist of qualifying questions, you will be able to develop a short list of schools to select from so that you can make your final selection. And with the appropriate degree and training, combined with your dedication and ambition to succeed, you can become a practicing nurse in Lake Crystal MN.
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Lake Crystal, Minnesota
Lake Crystal is a city in Blue Earth County, Minnesota, United States. Established in May 1869.[5] The population was 2,549 at the 2010 census.[6] It is part of the Mankato–North Mankato Metropolitan Statistical Area.
In 1853, two families from small towns near Ithaca, New York left their homes and traveled west. One was 32-year-old William Riley Robinson. In June 1854 Robinson and his companion Lucius O. Hunt, traveled from Wisconsin to visit Blue Earth County. Robinson and Hunt arrived and came upon the three nearby lakes; Loon, Crystal, and Lily Lakes and marveled at their beauty. Robinson and Hunt returned for their families and headed back to settle in the Lake Crystal area. The families were also joined by two other men and their families, Calvin Webb and Samuel Thorne. Mr. Robinson and his family settled in a log cabin on the south shore of Crystal Lake, a few feet south of where the Robinson House is today. While Mr. Hunt and his family settled in a log cabin on the south shore of Lily Lake, now where the Holy Family Catholic Church is. Each men took plots of land one mile long and half a mile wide (the dividing line being modern day Main Street), the deeds of which properties were signed by President James Buchanan. Mr. Webb settled in the Judson Township, while Mr. Thorne took a claim on Crystal Lake. The local natives were great beggars who kept tabs on the newcomers. The Sioux even continued to hold their tribal dances in the Grove on Crystal Lake, which is now Robinson Park. One day, Mrs. Robinson was trying to put her baby to sleep, however a native chief ‘Standing Buffalo’ (Tatanka-Najin) and his friends were making several loud yelps. After the natives made a frightening yelp, Mrs. Robinson then grabbed a whip and almost struck ‘Standing Buffalo’. The whip missed, 'Standing Buffalo' gave her a wicked look, and calmly walked away. If Mrs. Robinson had hit him, the settlement would most likely have been massacred. In August 1862, Mr. Robinson was awakened early one morning by a knock at his door. It was an old Native American friend of his, and several other natives, in war paint. The natives told Mr. Robinson and his family to leave the settlement, as the people there and of the surrounding territory were to be massacred. The natives also warned to not tell anyone, especially Mr. Hunt, as Robinson's Native friend wanted to scalp him personally. Days passed, and Mr. Robinson noticed there was an absence of natives in the area. Robinson snuck into a nearby camp and learned that everything his native friend had said was true. Robinson began to warn the settlement, who all escaped to the fort at Mankato. The natives discovered the settlement empty, and in a rage, burned the settlement. Eventually the Native uprising was subdued and the settlers returned and rebuilt their homes. Mr. Hunt would build a brick house in 1869 that would be torn down in the mid-1900's, which is now where the Holy Family Catholic Church is today. Robinson built his brick house in 1870, which is still standing as a historical building on East Robinson Street.[9]
Originally, in June 1857, a town named Crystal Lake City was planned out on the southwest shore of Crystal Lake, however, it failed to become reality. In October 1868, The Valley Railroad, Later the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis, & Omaha Railroad, was competed in the area. The railroad, after looking for potential locations, choose Lake Crystal as a location for a new station. And so Lake Crystal began along the railroad, and was surveyed platted by Mr. Robinson and Mr. Hunt in 1869.[10] The railroads' engineer, General Judson W. Bishop of Saint Paul, named the town after nearby Crystal Lake.[11] A post office began operation in Lake Crystal in 1869, and has been in operation since.[12] By December 1, 1869, the town possessed a grain elevator, hotel, school house, grocery and drug store, hardware store, two general stores, harness shop, cooper shop, and a doctor's office.[9] Lake Crystal was incorporated as a city on February 24, 1870.[10] Lake Crystal's first newspaper was “The People’s Journal.” It was started in March 1870.[13] The period between 1870 and 1895 is generally referred to as the “Wheat Era” when most local farmers put nearly all their crop land into wheat. The economics of Lake Crystal was adversely affected by the grasshopper invasion of 1873, when millions of grasshoppers devoured all the crops. The plague lasted for many years, until June 1877, when all the grasshoppers fled. It took years to recover, and wasn’t until 1882 that good quantity’s of wheat could be marketed at the local grain elevator. In 1879, the Elmore railroad line was completed, with Lake Crystal as a junction point between this new line and the old main line. This rail line connected Lake Crystal to Garden City, Vernon Center, Amboy, Winnebago, Blue Earth, and Elmore. No less than 23 trains passed through the town each day. In 1882, land was purchased from the railway for $100 and a new, two story brick schoolhouse was built.[14] This school building would be added on to in 1895 and 1905, and would be demolished in 1972.[9] In April 1885 a 16-man volunteer fire department was founded to combat the several outbreaks of fire in the area. On September 20, 1887 a fire broke out at 3:00 AM in the towns business block. A man was seen poring gasoline throughout one of the buildings, the lighting it on fire. Within a few hours the fire was under control, and was finally extinguished with the help of Mankato's Fire Department. This fire damaged and destroyed around seven buildings.[15] Also in 1887 the All Angels Episcopal Church was built on the corner of Main and Howard Street, and would be torn down in 1964. The Methodists built their church on the corner of Humphrey and Crystal Streets, named the United Methodist Church in 1890. In 1893 the Lake Crystal Boat Club built a boat pavilion at modern day Robinson Park. The Boat Club also launched a steamship called the “New Era”, which is believed to have sunk near the south shore of Crystal Lake.[16] The Norwegian Lutherans built their church on the corner of Anna and Shepherd Streets in 1893, it would later be renamed Zion Lutheran Church.[17] In 1894, the Graif Brothers Flour Mill was built, which marketed flour to locations such as Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Glasgow, Scotland. By 1895 the population of Lake Crystal had reached over 1,100.[9] The Catholics built their first church on the west end of Humphrey Street in 1896.[18] In November 1898, space was made for a new electric light plant between the Graif Flour Mill main building and engine room. Power-line poles also arrived and were installed along 16 streets. At which Lake Crystal received electricity for the first time in December 1898. The Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church was constructed in 1899 on the corner of Prince and Crystal Street.
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