Registered Nurse: Kay Osinski, MS, RN, CCRN

Education Information and Advice

What is right with Nursing education in America today?

Nursing education prepares graduates to work in multi-tasked environments where they learn to manage the care for complex patients; make critical clinical judgments; synthesize concepts from research to practice; perform technical skills competently; communicate therapeutically with patients, family and other healthcare providers; and uphold legal, moral and ethical standards of practice.

What factors should prospective students consider when choosing a Nursing program?

Students should visit a variety of nursing programs to determine which school best fits their needs. Issues to consider when choosing a nursing program include location; size; cost (including financial packages available); type of degree offered and length of time required to complete the degree; faculty-to-student ratio; mission/philosophy and the overall curriculum.

What advantages are there in attending workshops in addition to a standard college education?

Because healthcare and technology are continuously changing, it is important for nurses to regularly update their knowledge through attendance at workshops and seminars, reading nursing and research journals, or continuing with formal education to advance their degree.

Nursing Trends

What are some trends that you see in the field of Nursing that might help prospective students plan for the future?

Because the field of nursing continues to increase in complexity both in the hospital and community settings, nurses must be equipped with excellent communication and leadership skills, critical thinking abilities, and the ability to prioritize and delegate effectively.

What do you consider to be the three greatest challenges facing nursing professionals in the field today?

The greatest challenges facing nursing professionals today is the ability to keep abreast of technological changes as well as advances in research and evidence-based practice.

How has the popularity of the Internet affected your profession and specialty?

The Internet provides access to on-line college courses and continuing education for students and nurses. Nursing faculty use the Internet in the classroom, and nurses may refer patients to the internet for patient education.