Health
To combat nursing shortage, universities create accelerated 12-month training programs: 'A win-win'
PORTLAND, Maine – America needs nurses — and some schools are implementing accelerated programs to train them.
To shorten the process, these programs cut training time from up to four years down to one.
“I really do think this is a win-win for students and local hospitals and facilities,” said Elizabeth Mann, assistant clinical professor at the University of New England, in an interview with Fox News. She’s based in Maine.
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Prospective students must have a previous bachelor’s degree and need to complete eight prerequisite courses.
This is dramatically shorter than the typical two- to four-year nursing program.
A student participates in training to become a nurse at the University of New England. (Kailey Schuyler)
“I think the ability to get a second degree in something like a bachelor’s in nursing is very appealing to many people,” UNE Nursing School’s interim director Donna Hyde told Fox News.
“They don’t have to have a health care background. We will get them there.”
NURSING SHORTAGE HITTING RURAL AMERICA HARDEST
The new fast-track nursing program at the University of New England is slated to begin in May.
The goal is to help students get into the workforce sooner, but they’ll have to put in some serious training as well, experts say.
The states most in need of nurses are Washington, Oregon, California, Michigan and Georgia, according to the National Center of Health Workforce Analysis. (Kailey Schuyler)
“There’s nothing cut back. They do the same amount of clinical hours, so we allow time for that,” said Hyde.
“Their schedule may have to be a little more flexible to include consideration of weekends.”
There’s a projected shortage of over 78,000 registered nurses next year, according to the National Center of Health Workforce Analysis.
NURSING PROGRAMS STRUGGLE TO KEEP UP AMID A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE OF NURSES
The states most in need of nurses are Washington, Oregon, California, Michigan and Georgia.
“As different states are looking at their own options to increase their nursing workforce, this is one of those options,” Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, the Oregon-based president of the American Nurses Association, told Fox News.
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The shortened 12-month program not only appeals to students, but will also benefit local health care facilities, Mann said.
Hyde noted that she speaks to many of the nurse administrators at local health care partners, and “they obviously see the need for more nurses sooner rather than later.”
Nursing students train in a simulation lab to prepare for the workforce. The shortened 12-month program appeals to students and also benefits local health care facilities, experts say. (Kailey Schuyler)
Some have expressed doubt that students can be ready in just a year, Mann pointed out.
”They may interpret it as [offering] a lesser quality [of training] or that we are pushing students through, and I do want to emphasize that is truly not the case,” she said.
Up to 40 students are expected to start the program in May at the University of New England.
To combat the nursing shortage, some schools are implementing accelerated programs to train new nurses. (iStock)
Once students complete the program, they will have to pass a national exam — just like a traditional four-year student — to officially become a nurse.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.
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NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Missing out on adequate sleep could be taking years off your life.
New research from the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), published in the journal Sleep Advances, found that poor sleep may shorten life expectancy more than other lifestyle factors like diet, exercise and loneliness.
The researchers analyzed nationwide CDC survey data, identifying trends associated with average life expectancy by county, according to a press release.
NEW HEALTH WARNING ISSUED OVER POPULAR SLEEP AID MILLIONS TAKE NIGHTLY
The study found that lack of adequate sleep led to higher mortality risk in every U.S. state and was the top behavioral driver compared to other factors, only behind smoking.
Senior study author Andrew McHill, Ph.D., associate professor and director of the Sleep, Chronobiology, and Health Laboratory in the OHSU School of Nursing, noted in a statement that he did not expect sleep to be “so strongly correlated” to life expectancy.
Poor sleep is directly correlated with shorter life expectancy, the study reveals. (iStock)
“We’ve always thought sleep is important, but this research really drives that point home: People really should strive to get seven to nine hours of sleep, if at all possible,” he said.
“This research shows that we need to prioritize sleep at least as much as we do [in] what we eat or how we exercise.”
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In a previous interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Daniel Amen, psychiatrist and owner of Amen Clinics in California, emphasized how important sleep is for brain function and longevity.
Researchers suggest people should prioritize sleep just as much as diet and exercise. (iStock)
“Sleep is so important,” he said. “When you sleep, your brain cleans and washes itself. And if you don’t sleep seven to nine hours at night, your brain looks older than you are — there’s less blood flow, and it increases inflammation in the brain.”
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“Your brain doesn’t have enough time to get rid of the toxins that build up during the day.”
Lack of adequate sleep can lead to poor decisions and foster toxic cycles, the doctor warned.
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“If your brain has less activity in the front part, not only are you tired, but you’re also hungrier, and you’re more likely to not make the best decisions,” he said.
“Which, of course, will stress you out, and then you won’t sleep well the next night.”
A doctor suggests being “purposeful” about going to bed and waking up each day. (iStock)
One small change to promote longevity and brain health is to try getting to bed 15 minutes earlier, Amen suggested.
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“Really be purposeful about not being distracted by Netflix or your phone,” he said.
“And when you get up in the morning, say to yourself, ‘Today is going to be a great day.’ The more positive you are, the better your brain.”
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The Best Time To Take ‘Nature’s Ozempic’ Berberine for Weight Loss and Blood Sugar Control, According to an MD
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