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Considering a Career in Nursing? Don't Wait Any Longer! In 2007, more than 30,000 qualified applicants were turned away from nursing schools across the country! Whether you're considering a career in nursing or planning to pursue advanced nursing studies, only one resource offers a complete listing of nursing school programs with availability. To search for nursing programs without waiting lists, visit http://discovernursing.com/nursing-programs-without-waiting-lists. New Technology Offers Hope for Efficient, Improved Patient Care Studies have shown that the national staffing shortage places greater workload demands on nursing professionals, leading to stress and fatigue, which can not only compromise patient safety, but cause burnout and contribute to rising turnover rates. In fact, "50 percent of nurses have considered leaving patient care for reasons other than retirement, and more than half of these cite the desire to have a job that is less physically demanding as the primary reason," according to a study by the Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals. Innovative technology is emerging that promises to alleviate many of the challenges that nurses endure in practice, allowing them to focus more on direct patient care. Less time spent on tedious, repetitive tasks cultivates a more rewarding work environment and may improve nurse retention, according to a report by the California HealthCare Foundation. The report also shows that Internet technology and mobile computing both enable access to real-time information that is critical to nurses. New electronic documentation systems have been implemented in many hospitals to reduce the time needed for recording each patient's examination. Automated systems have also been designed to streamline documentation, ensuring that all information is collected simultaneously and accurately. Barbara Kaplan, RN, MSN, instructor at Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing and simulation training coordinator, observes a student nurse participating in a simulation training scenario in the laboratory. In the multi-faceted simulation lab, nursing students are trained with advanced technology on what they may experience in a real health care setting. "Increased technology is providing an avenue where quality and safety measures in health care can be further advanced," said Barbara Kaplan, RN, MSN, instructor at Emory Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing and simulation training coordinator. Kaplan believes that simulation scenarios in training and in practice offer valuable rewards, noting that, "The benefit of training nurses as well as health care teams using human patient simulators is that it allows for the standardization of patient scenarios and the opportunity to care for patients in an environment where errors can be made without consequences." While technology cannot substitute for or replace the nursing professional, it allows nurses more time to interact with patients and provide necessary, quality care and emotional support. To learn more about technology in health care, visit http://www.chcf.org/ or http://www.nursing.emory.edu/. Nursing Research Essential for Quality Care Ground-breaking advances in the delivery of quality health care are being driven, in part, by nursing research. Often working behind the scenes, nurse researchers are influential in the development and implementation of clinical research studies. Through analysis, researchers promote the use of their findings into real-life situations within the practice setting. Working as scientists, nurse researchers collect data and information to glean insight into human health and health care. As professionals, all registered nurses are required to read, analyze and apply nursing research to improve the outcomes of patient care. As nurses pursue higher levels of education, nursing research and theory become more important to the vocation. Advanced nursing research usually requires post-graduate education. Masters and doctoral prepared nurses devote a significant amount of time to research development and analysis to provide knowledge to future nurses in the classroom setting. Strong observation and analytical skills are a prerequisite for this role. "Research is the best way to improve patient care," said Patricia Grady, director at the National Institute of Nursing Research at the National Institutes of Health. "As a nurse scientist, your research provides an evidence base for others to build upon and links you to the legacy of a healthier future. Research is a critical investment in the future." New research into patient safety will remain an important issue for all of health care; however, nurse researchers also engage in other areas of research that could potentially offer insight into the direct causes of the nursing shortage. Collecting data to optimize nurses' efficiencies by monitoring nurses daily in action could potentially reduce nurse turnover. Well-equipped in research methodology, nurse researchers continuously enhance the delivery of health care, while also identifying ways to preserve the delicate practice of nursing. To learn more about nurse researchers, visit http://www.discovernursing.com/. Patricia A. Grady, PhD, RN, FAAN Director, National Institute of Nursing Research National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, Md. Q. Why did you decide to pursue nursing as a career? A: From early on, I was interested in a career working with people and helping to improve their health. Nursing provides a variety of opportunities to make a difference in people's lives. Q: Why did you decide to become a nurse scientist? A: As a nurse in a clinical setting, I saw how devastating strokes were for both patients and their families. I was inspired to pursue a doctoral degree in physiology to learn more about strokes, how to treat them and, more importantly, how to prevent them. Q: What advice would you offer to individuals interested in this specialty? A: The first piece of advice I would like to offer is to get started early in research. One excellent way to begin is to participate in a study within your own environment, such as with a quality improvement project. I have found that most nurses become excited about research once they see how the results can improve patient outcomes. Let your background and experience direct you to the questions and challenges in your practice that research can help answer. A mentor involved in research can be particularly helpful to guide you through the early steps. Q: How has nursing impacted your life? A: Nursing has given me the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally. I have been fortunate enough to conduct critical research in fields that are interesting to me and important to society. As the director of the National Institute of Nursing Research, I am proud to guide our Institute in supporting research that creates and expands the scientific basis of clinical practice and improves the health of people across the lifespan. Q: What do you enjoy most about the nursing profession? A: At NIH, I enjoy the opportunity to meet and work with many of the most talented individuals in the country committed to improving health and preventing disease, and I am asked to offer a perspective on these vital issues. I also enjoy speaking with health professionals and students in all disciplines to promote clinical research and demonstrate its value.

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