Physiology and Anatomy questions are on the following tests: 

PSB, HESI, TEAS, CWS,  NNAAP, NBCOPA, NP

1. An example of human homeostasis is _______________.

1. Metabolism
2. Adrenalin
3. Hormones
4. Fluid Balance

2. Human homeostasis is the ability of the body to regulate its _______________ in response to fluctuations in the environment outside the body.

1. Inner environment
2. Outer environment
3. Temperature
4. Metabolism

3. The amount of energy / calories that your body requires to maintain itself is known as _______________.

1. Temperature
2. Fluid balance
3. Botulism
4. Metabolism

4. An example of a person whose metabolism has lowered is _______________.

1. A woman who is in her teens and quite athletic
2. A man who is past 30 and whose body is losing muscle.
3. A man who is past 30 and works out daily.
4. A man who is past 30 and eats a low-fat diet.

5. An example of something that increases a person’s metabolism is _______________.

1. Aerobic exercise
2. Mental exercise
3. Eating a fatty diet
4. Reading

6. Fluid balance is important, because the human body loses water every day through urination, perspiration, feces, and _______________.

1. Breathing
2. Resting
3. Meditating
4. Outbursts of temper

7. Fluid balance might be negatively impacted when the _______________ fail.

1. Kidneys
2. Ears
3. Nose
4. Legs

8. Fluid balance is important, because _______________ comprises about 60-70% of a person’s weight.

1. Calcium
2. Water
3. Iron
4. Bone

9.  As a person moves from adolescence to later adulthood, his metabolism _______________.

1. Begins to get higher
2. Begins to get lower.
3. Stabilizes
4. Fluctuates wildly

10.  “Met” refers to _______________.

1. Mitosis
2. The person’s heart rate
3. The person’s blood pressure
4. The person’s metabolic rate.

20) Fluid balance is important, because the human body loses water every day through urination, perspiration, feces, and _______________.

1. Breathing
2. Resting
3. Meditating
4. Outbursts of temper

Answer Key

1. D
The human body manages a multitude of highly complex interactions to maintain balance within a normal range.  The kidneys are responsible for regulating blood water levels, re-absorption of substances into the blood, maintenance of salt and ion levels in the blood, regulation of blood pH, and excretion of urea and other wastes.[i]

2. A
3. D
4. B
Exercise and low fat diets will increase metabolism.  Choice B, a man who is past 30 and whose body is losing muscle is the only choice. 

5. A
Exercise will increase metabolism, so A. aerobic exercise.

6. A 
Breathing also depletes fluid.

7. A
Kidneys are responsible for regulating fluid balance.

7. B

8. B
Water comprises about 60-70% of a person’s weight

9. B
Metabolism slows with aging.

10. D
“Met” refers to the person’s metabolic rate.

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In this computer age, it stands to reason that more tests would utilize computer technology. And that’s exactly what’s happening.  There are two main categories of computerized tests. The first is the CBE or computer-based exam.  The CBE is much like a standard pencil / paper exam, in that the same questions are presented to everyone in a specific order.  Plus, just as you can skip from one question to another, and then come back to earlier ones, many computer based exams let you do the same thing.

The second major category of computer exams is the computer adaptive test (or CAT).  This refers to an exam with questions which change according to the talents and answers of the person taking the test.  On the CAT format, the test-taker can’t skip around like they can on the CBE.  The test-taker is giving a question that is neither too easy or too dificult.  Those who answer the question correctly get a harder one; those who get it wrong get an easier question. As a result, it’s common for every person in the testing group to receive a different test.

Strategies for Computer Exams

Several tips will help you with a computer exam, whether it’s the CAT or CBE format.  First, make effective use of scratch paper.  Use it to take notes, top copy down diagrams, or other materials that you think will help you answer the questions.  And of course, you’ll almost always need scratch paper to help you work advanced math problems.

Second, practice prior to taking the test.  Nearly every major computer exam today has published practice materials that will help you. If you’re not able to buy one, then check one out from your school or public library.  If possible, find a copy that has a CD-Rom, which will allow for practice on the computer—thus better simulating the computer-test-taking process.

Third, watch your time.  Both of the major categories of computer tests have timed portions. Often, an on-screen timer helps you keep track of how much longer you have. Pace yourself so you don’t run out of time. And remember: Don’t get stuck wasting all of your time on one question!

Finally, before you start taking the test, make sure you know the test’s rules. Some will let you skip around; others won’t. Some will give breaks at specific times, while others ask you to log out first. The better acquainted you are with the test’s rules, the more efficient you will be on the real thing.

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Multiple choice tests are simply a fact of life when it comes to test formats. Nursing Certification and Nursing Entrance Tests are basically all multiple choice and if it is your plan to go to one of the more well known colleges or universities it is imperative that you learn how to score well on multiple choice exams. Even during your postgraduate education you will frequently encounter multiple choice exams and from a purely practical standpoint if you want to drive legally you need to pass a multiple choice driver’s training test.

One rule to keep in mind during a multiple choice test: Effective time management leads to a successful testing experience.

There are two varieties of multiple choice tests. One type is made up of several multiple choice questions and in order to finish within the time constraints questions must be answered very rapidly. Usually exams of this nature do not penalize you for choosing incorrect answers since the purpose of the test is to gauge your ability to think under time pressure.   Most Nursing Entrance Tests like the HESI, PSB, NET or DET are this variety.

The other variety of multiple choice tests usually involves type of point deduction for incorrect answers. There are may be fewer questions on the exam and more time will be allowed to solve each question. The difficulty frequently varies from question to question so good time management is necessary to ensure an excessive amount of time is not spent on one question leaving little time left over to answer the other questions.

Time Management

Exams with several questions and a short time to answer them in are best handled by going through the exam once and answering all the simple questions first and marking the hard questions that you skip. Then when you go through on the second pass you can spend more time trying to answer the harder questions. It is silly to miss easy points because you spent too much time on one hard question.

Read questions carefully before you choose your answer. Test makers usually include “attractive disaster” answer choices to distract you from the correct answer.

“Attractive disaster” answer choices are close to the right answer, making them attractive, but lack some vital piece of information that keeps them from being correct. For example, on a vocabulary quiz the “attractive disaster” answer choice may be very similar to the correct answer but one word in the definition may wake it wrong.

The second type of exam requires a similar method of time management to the first exam because again it is a good idea to answer the easy questions first and make note of the hard questions so you can come back to them later. For the second type of exam you should also skip questions that require a long amount of time since you will likely have time to come back to them.

If you have time left over it should be used to review your answer choices. Don’t be afraid to change an answer if you think you have not answered a question correctly.

More Practical Tips

Don’t skip the directions. Silly mistakes are often the result of not thoroughly reading the directions for an exam. One word in the directions can change what you will be looking for in the answer choices. While time is of the essence accuracy is even more important.

Don’t skip questions unless there is a penalty for incorrect answers. If you have absolutely no idea where to start with the question it is probably a good idea to skip it but if you can at least eliminate one or two wrong answers you really increase your odds of choosing the right answer and it is worth guessing.

Make notes. If it is allowed, obtain some scratch paper to use during the test. Sometimes things make more sense when you can draw diagrams. It is also good to right down things like formulas or definitions you may need at the beginning of the test while they are fresh in your mind. During the test you can refer back to these notes.

Process of elimination. Sometimes the best method of attack is to get rid of answer choices that you definitely know are wrong. You may very well whittle your choices down to the correct answer.

Trust your first choice – it’s usually right. You should only change an answer if you have a solid basis for believing the answer you chose was wrong.

Pacing. If the test is timed you should determine on average how much time you have per question. Then follow the easy questions first, hard questions after method. Ideally you should be able to finish the easy questions in less than the average time leaving you extra time to handle the hard questions.

Don’t assume. Read the question carefully and use the information given to answer the question. If the question states something that is not fact in real life remember it is fact for that question.

By extension, don’t ignore facts. The correct answer choice for a multiple choice question will include any relevant facts from the question. Eliminate answer choices that skew those facts.

Don’t assume it’s a trick question. Quite frequently the answer that first stands out to you is the correct answer. If you have properly prepared for the exam all the right answers are in your head so they should stick out more among the wrong answer choices.

Don’t try and find patterns. The majority of multiple choice tests today are computer generated greatly decreasing the likelihood of patterns. The familiar rule of when in doubt choose “C” is not necessarily true. It is a good idea to start in the middle on math test when the answers are arranged in either ascending or descending order. This will usually allow you to eliminate three answer choices on your first pass if you plug the answer choice into the question.

If you are well-prepared for a multiple choice test you don’t need to be worried. Following the tips that have been outlined in this article can help you do just that.

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High test scores can mean the difference between getting into the Nursing School you want. How do you really prepare for a test? For starters, thorough preparation begins long before you take the actual test. Nursing Entrance Tests like the NET, HESI, PSB or DET can be tricky if you are not prepared.  Nursing Certification Tests are even harder.  It also means more than simply reviewing material. Some simple suggestions may make preparing for tests much easier. Mental preparedness can be just as important as actually spending time learning the material for a test. The following tips can help you to get your mind ready so that you can do well on your next exam.

Prepare Mentally

Stay motivated. You’re learning this information and if you think of it as more than just information to help you pass a test but as knowledge that will be useful in your future you will likely retain it for a long time.  See our post on Mental Preparation.

Sharpen your memory. This is something that can help you for more than just test preparation. Brief mini-quizzes in the days leading up to the test can really help you have the information you need well in mind and increases your chance of scoring well on your exam.

Don’t cram. It is simply not a good preparation technique. Instead spread your studying out over a period of time to allow you to process the information. Several short study sessions will serve you much more effectively that one night of burning the midnight oil before a test.

Practical Steps to Prepare

Review the material. Having everything that you need to review in one place will keep you from wasting time trying to find missing notes or books. Missing material can also create anxiety, so being organized is an important part of test preparation.

Review the course syllabus. The course syllabus highlights the main topics that were covered during a particular section of the course or over the entire course in the case of a final. Also any quizzes or tests that you’ve already completed may give you a good idea of how the teacher normally structures exams.

Find out the format. While certain teachers may favorite a particular style of test it’s always a good idea to ask beforehand so there are no surprises. The method of studying for a test differs depending on the format. Also, if questions are going to be weighted differently it is a good idea to know where to focus your attention when you study.

Schedule your time. A visual of the amount of time you want to spend studying can help put things into perspective for you. Time management is essential for more than just test preparation and forming the habit of making a schedule now can have definite long term benefits.

Plan to relax. It may sound like a given but if you micro-manage your time to much you will only burn yourself out. So along with planning specific study periods you also need to plan time to relax. Take a walk, watch some TV, bake some cookies, but do something to break up your study periods because you simply stop retaining information if you study for too long without a break.  See our Post on Test Anxiety.

Find a distraction-free location to study, in advance if possible. This means not in front of the television and ideally away from the radio and the telephone. Many people choose to study in the library in order to avoid distractions.

Use a study aid. For most subjects there are several study guides and sheets available that can help you. You may not even have to purchase it if you check to see what is available at the local library first. These study guides will often provide suggestions on studying for the subject and may even provide you with sample tests.

Form a study group. Study groups can become a distraction if the members don’t take studying seriously. Members should encourage one another to stay focused. Everyone can benefit from the strength in numbers if each person focuses on a particular topic and then shares that information with the rest of the group.

Determine and rank topics that need to be covered. Something is going to be emphasized on this test and it should be emphasized accordingly in your studying. No point focusing on something that won’t likely appear on the test.

Start studying ASAP. Don’t spend so much time preparing to study that you don’t actually get in some quality studying time.

Successful test preparation is a multi-faceted process. It involves mental preparedness as well as practical preparation. A well-thought out and more importantly well-executed schedule can ease some of the worry that frequently comes with test preparation. Through thorough preparation you can achieve the score you want on your next test.

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When schools and companies want to determine how well a person will be able to adapt to new circumstances they frequently use aptitude tests. Aptitude tests gauge a person’s ability to apply knowledge they already have to handle situations they may have previously never encountered. An aptitude test may identify a certain skill set that a person has and usually the results are used to encourage someone to pursue a particular educational or career path.   Aptitude tests are often Entrance Tests such as the PSB, HESI, DET, or NET.  These tests assess if you are able to handle academic course load and challenges of the Nursing Program.

After all, the Nursing Colleges want their students to pass or even excel and so do you, so these types of tests are doing your a favor. 
Test Preparation Techniques

Since you usually can’t actually study material for an aptitude test it is important to make sure you are mentally prepared. Preparation for an aptitude test is much more general than say a content-based exam, where you know the specific information that will be on the test. It usually involves preparing more for the question types on the test, whether they are multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, essay, etc. The following suggestions will help you to prepare mentally and practically for an aptitude test:

Get a study guide. For most standardized aptitude tests there are study guides available either in bookstores or on the Internet. If there are specific subjects that are always covered on the aptitude test this will be outlined in the guide. It will usually also include information about the time you have to take each portion of the test as well as how the exam is scored. The guide may even provide sample questions so you can get an idea of the format of questions on the test.

Get practice tests. As was mentioned many study guides include Practice Test to allow you familiarize yourself with the question formats. Timing yourself during a practice test is an excellent way for you to get a feel for how you will handle the real test. It can also point you to areas where you need to brush up on some facts or formulas you may have learned a long time ago. Take advantage of what you learn from taking the practice test by following up with some extra study in the areas where you are weak.

Make a study schedule. Studying for the aptitude test for a short period everyday is an effective way to prepare. Make a list of your weaknesses and prioritize your time so that more of your study session is spent in these areas. A few minutes should be set aside every session to review everything you have covered. Write your schedule out and post it somewhere where you will have to look at it to encourage you to stick to it. Tracking your progress can be a real confidence booster as you see your test performance improve.

While aptitude tests are important a great deal of the anxiety many people feel over them will disappear with good preparation. More on Test Anxiety.  Identifying the type of information and the question formats on the aptitude test are a good start. Creating a good study schedule and sticking to it will allow you strengthen your weak areas. Through diligent effort in following the practical techniques outlined in this article you can do well on your next aptitude test.

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Test anxiety is a common phenomenon among students, especially since it can often determine whether you have to retake a class or not.  Not all test anxiety is bad though.  In fact, a healthy amount of test anxiety can actually encourage you to study harder and at least shows that you care about doing well on the exam. Especially a Nursing Entrance Test like the DET, NET, HESI or PSB.  Overconfidence, on the other hand, can lead to silly mistakes.  Test anxiety can become a negative factor when in creates so much anxiety and stress that you can’t concentrate on preparing for the test.  Stress can cause you not to recollect information that you have studied which usually leads to panic and even more anxiety.

Even though anxiety is a major stressor during exams, several emotions can affect your preparedness for an exam.  Anger or depression, even if they are caused by factors that have nothing to do with the test, may make you forgetful.   For this reason, good test preparation not only means preparing the material it also means being mentally and emotionally prepared for an exam.  Standardized tests are a special case where mental preparation is vitally important since you do not know the exact content of the test.   Let’s take a look at a few strategies to reduce your anxiety before your next exam:

1. Boost your confidence. It sounds clichéd but you really do need to believe that you can do well on the test in order to do well on it.  Don’t be a self-fulfilling prophecy.  If you assume doom you will usually be right.  One big confidence booster is being prepared for a test.  Don’t procrastinate because cramming is not the key to success on an exam.  Most things are much more manageable if you space your time appropriately to handle them.  A week of preparing material for an exam will allow your brain the time it needs to process the information.  You may need to enlist some help.  Studying in a group or getting help from a professional tutor are both excellent options if you really want to succeed.  Sometimes just knowing that you’re in it with someone else or receiving help from someone who has “been there, done that” may be just what you need to give you the confidence to approach the test with a healthy amount of anxiety.
2. Get comfortable. While you may not have control over all the specifics of the room where you will be testing there are things that you can do to make sure that you are comfortable in your testing situation.  If it allowed take the opportunity to get familiar with the room where you will be taking the test before exam time.  Take note of the temperature.  Being too cold or too warm during a test can be very distracting, so dress accordingly.  Give the room a good once over and you probably won’t be nearly as distracted as you would be in an unfamiliar setting on test day.  A brief chat with the proctor of the test may also do much to increase your comfort level.  Speaking from experience proctors are hardly ever as intimidating as they appear to be.
3. Get happy.  It’s not the end of the world; it’s a test.  School has enough drama without having a heart attack about every test.  Once you pass the Nursing Entrance Test, you will have many more tests!  Doing something to improve your mood before you take a test can make a big difference.  You want to go into the test with a positive frame of mind so set aside a little time before the test to indulge in something you enjoy.
4. Postpone, perhaps. While postponing a test is not always a realistic option sometimes it may be a good choice.  Standardized tests for college are offered several times a year and if you feel you’re just not prepared it may be a good idea to take the test at a later date.
5. Lose the attitude. As was mentioned earlier anxiety is not the only emotion that can get you in trouble on test day.  When you’re angry it is a lot harder to concentrate on the task at hand.  So the fight with your parents the other day or the fact that your favorite sports team lost, or any other negativity needs to be pushed to the side so you can focus on doing well on your exam.
6. Don’t let your imagination run away. Don’t let imaginary worries start popping up to distract you.  Like did you lock the front door or what if you break the lead on 5 pencils in a row or what if your desk breaks in the middle of the test.  Now if you haven’t looked over any information at all for the test you should be worried but of course you want to do well so you haven’t allowed that to happen. The point is deal with the real and you won’t even have time to worry about imaginary problems.
7. What if I have test terror? So when you have a test it goes beyond just regular anxiety.  You have panic attacks and you may even black out or become extremely ill before a test.  The help you need may best be found with a certified psychologist.  Since this is a legitimate handicap they may be able to offer you suggestions for therapy or may be able to fill out the paperwork to allow you to take the test in a special setting.  If part of your anxiety is taking the test in a large group you may be able to inquire about receiving the test in a format that you can take at home or taking the test in in individual setting with a proctor present.

What if these options aren’t available?  Go back to tip number three and recognize that having a positive attitude is very important.  Can you visualize yourself doing well on the test, answering questions with confidence, remembering key dates and events that you have studies in your preparation for the test?  Think about the last time you did an exceptionally good job on a test and recognize that you can repeat that.  Continue to dwell on positive thoughts throughout the test and before you know it you will have completed the test and had much more success than you would if you had allowed negativity to overwhelm you.  Remember; don’t allow negative test anxiety to get the best of you.

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Nadeen was a young woman intent on becoming a nurse. It’s something that she’d been planning since her freshman year in high school.  Unfortunately, she made the mistake of not starting looking for a good nursing program until the second semester of her senior year. She finally got accepted into a nursing program, only to find out that not only was the program non-accredited, but it was considered a joke within the medical community.  This kind of scenario, which happens to more people than you may know, is why you must carefully plot your path to a nursing career. And it starts by carefully evaluating the nursing program that you’re considering.

There are over 3,000 educational nursing programs in the United States, and hundreds more in Canada and Mexico.  This adds to the difficulty in choosing a good program. Nursing schools vary in the curriculum they use, how they integrate clinical experience into classroom learning, and in their affiliations with medical centers and hospitals. There is also a dramatic difference in costs. So how do you choose the right program for you? Here are the important considerations:

1) First, select an educational level.  You’ll need at least an Associate’s Degree, so if you’re in a hurry, that’s the path to select. However, keep in mind that more medical centers today prefer to hire those with a Bachelor’s Degree.  This is the way to go for more job security.

2) Select an accredited school. Although accreditation is voluntary, and although some good schools are unaccredited, generally, the person doing the hiring prefers seeing an accredited degree. The accrediting agency that you should seek out is the NLNAC — the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.

3) Search at the library or online for guides which rank nursing schools. One that has become well respected in the past decade is the US News and World Report guide, published annually.

4) When you look at rankings such as the US News one, make sure you find out which persons were responsible for the judging. For instance, with US News, nursing school educators were surveyed. This form of peer assessment is a trusted form of ranking, since we can assume that they know the nursing profession well.

5) After you have a list of a few nursing programs that will meet your minimum expectations, begin to narrow down the list. Do this by studying the schools’ websites or perhaps making phone calls to their admissions offices to ask key questions. Also, consider qualities that might not be important to others, but which are important to you. This might include available financial aid, class size or geographic location.

6) Finally, if possible, visit the two or three schools on your list which remain. This will give you an intimate knowledge of what the schools are like that no other method can accomplish.

After following this strategy, you should be better equipped to find a nursing program that will prepare you well for your chosen career, and which will m

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If you’ve decided that you want to be involved in nursing, but don’t want the impersonal hospital setting, then a good alternative is that of the home health aide.  These compassionate individuals provide all of the care that someone with disabilities needs, in order to live a normal life at home.  How, though, do you get on the home health aide career path? Here’s a brief look.

The great thing about nursing is it offers a huge range of employment options, many of them outside the hospital.  Becoming a home health aide starts with getting the proper training. You must first receive training and pass a required competency test. This will qualify you to work for a hospice agency or certified home health agency.  It will also then qualify your employer to receive Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement.

When we say “education,” we’re not talking about a college degree. In fact, in most states, the home health aide is not even required to have received their high school diploma, or to write a nursing entrance test. Usually, they’re offered on-the-job training by registered nurses, experienced aides, or licensed practical nurses.  During this training, the aide is taught how to cook for clients, how to do basic housekeeping that is required by those with disabilities, how to keep the house safe and sanitary, and how to respond to emergencies. They’re also taught how to perform in a courteous and professional manner during their time in the client’s house. In many states, you’ll be given a competency evaluation to make sure that you can perform your required tasks.

Before you can work for an agency that receives Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement, you’ll need to become licensed. To do this, you must complete a training program of at least 75 hours as well as an evaluation and / or state nursing certification program. In all cases, this training will include information regarding hygiene, safely transferring the patient, reading and interpreting the patient’s vital signs, basic nutrition, and infection control.

There’s a difference between a home health aide and home care aide. While they do many of the same tasks, the home care aide does not have to be certified.

In addition to the training mentioned above, there are certain intangibles that you will be expected to possess.  A home health aide must love helping people, must be compassionate and patient, must be responsible, and must be both cheerful and emotionally stable.  You also need to possess tact, discretion and honesty.  Finally, you must yourself be in a healthy condition (In some cases, a pre-employment physical is required).

Because of the nature of the job, in many cases, you’ll be expected to have a valid driver’s license, and you’ll be expected to undergo a criminal background check and drug test.

The Home health aide is a good field to pursue, Not only is it rewarding, but with an aging population, it is also one of North America’s true career growth fields.  The field is expected to continue growing for at least the next decade. So if you want job security, a decent living wage and a job where you truly feel needed, then you might want to be a hone health aid.

There are several professions that are closely related to Home Health Aides, you may want to look at, including, Nurse First Assistant, Medical Assistant, and Nurse Aide.  These require a little more formal education, but are in demand occupations you may want to consider.  See our post on Career as a Home Health Aide. More on Home Care from Wikipedia.

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Elsewhere on this blog, we’ve discussed what a licensed practical nurse is and what she does. Now let’s talk about why you might want to be an LPN, and how to do so.

First, pursuing a career as a practical nurse is smart because it offers you job security. The U.S. Department of Labor says that by 2020, the nation will need 1.7 million more LPN jobs than they have right now.  This is truly a growing career field, thanks largely to the aging population.

In fact, not only in the United States, but around the world, there is a global nursing shortage.

How, then, do you get on this growing career path?  One choice is to attend an LPN certification program at a local technical school or vocational center.  Sometimes, these programs offer just certification, while the better ones offer both an Associate’s Degree as well as certification. Before you commit to an educational program, though, ask yourself whether you think you have the characteristics that define a successful nurse.  This means that you would need to be compassionate, responsible, and have a genuine love for helping people. You’ll also need a strong stomach and stable emotions.  You need to know precisely the type of work that you might be called upon to do.  It could be as routine as dispensing medicine and as intimate as helping a patient bathe or change clothes.

If you think you have these qualities, you should next find a good LPN program near you. Most people will be better served by an accredited program rather than a non-accredited program. This means that any school that you’re considering, you should call (or research them online) and find out if they’re accredited by NLNAC — the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.  Some states demand that hospitals and medical centers hire only those with a degree and / or certification accredited by NLNAC.

Once you’ve selected your school, the next several months or even years of your life will be centered around getting your education there, and doing as well as possible. At the end of your nursing education, you’ll need to take and pass the NCLEX-PN examination administered by your state.

NCLEX-PN is a computer-administered exam, and is computer adaptive. This simply means that the computer asks later questions based on earlier answers you gave. The questions become harder for the person who keeps getting them right, until you’ve demonstrated true mastery of the subjects. If you keep getting questions wrong, you’ll be asked more and more questions, until you either get them right or you show the computer that you don’t know the subject adequately.

Once you pass the NCLEX-PN, your job hunt begins in earnest.  You’ll want to make connections in the medical field who can keep you abreast of openings. Also, find out where the online medical and nursing job boards are, and frequent those often. Soon you’ll have that practical-nursing career that you’ve been wanting.

In addition to LPN, you may want to consider, Nurse First Assistant, Medical Assistant or Nurse Aide.  These are all in demand everywhere.

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Your nursing in career will start with your nursing education. That means that first, you’ll need to find a program that fits with your personal needs, schedule, and your future expectations.  We can divide nursing programs into two categories:  accredited ones and non-accredited ones.

An accredited nursing school is one which has been reviewed by NLNAC — the “National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.  They’re the organization that sets the curriculum minimum standards for nursing schools, and makes sure that their member schools meet those standards.  Many states require that, before you receive a license to be a nurse, that you have your degree from an accredited program. However, this is not true of all states.  To find out for sure, you’ll need to check with the licensing board in your state before you settle on any nursing school.

So what do you do if there is no accredited nursing program near you?  In this case, it might be acceptable to attend an unaccredited nursing program. This is especially true if your state does not require an accredited degree.  Or, if they do, if a neighboring state does not require one. There are far more non-accredited nursing programs, and getting accepted into one will be easier than getting into an accredited one.  In addition to this, the non-accredited programs are usually more affordable than the accredited ones.

Keep in mind, though, that even if you decide that a non-accredited degree will work for your state and your job right now, there is also the future to consider. What happens if you decide that you need to move to a different part of the country?  By settling for the non-accredited degree, you might be destroying any chance you have of becoming employed in nursing in another state.

Also, there are many instances in which you can pursue a promotion–if your academic credentials meet a certain standard.  In most cases, getting into a post-graduate program will require that you have an accredited degree.  Keep all of this in mind as you determine whether or  not the non-accredited degree will help you out, both in the short run and the long run.

Even if you’re in a state that does not legally require an accredited degree, in reality, having an accredited degree might give you the edge when you’re searching for a job. It seems likely that if the final hiring decision comes down to you and one other person, and you’re both equally qualified, that the person doing the hiring will select the person with the accredited degree. So, even though the accredited program is more expensive, over time, you might make considerably more by selecting this program over the non-accredited one.

Should everyone choose the accredited degree over the non-accredited?  Not if she lives in a place where it’s not legally required and she expects that her career will never take her out of that area, and if she’s happy only being promoted to a certain level. However, a person who thinks she might move or might want significant opportunity for promotion should in most cases select the accredited nursing program over the non-accredited one.

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