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3 Ways to Assess the True Worth of your Degree

July 12, 2011 / Staff

The job market has always been competitive in one way or another. No matter what the job, you as a potential employee need to somehow stand out from the rest of the applicants.

These days, employers are turning their sights towards potential candidates who possess more than just a standard college education. Those on the job hunt who possess advanced degrees often look more appealing than other candidates.

Check the Accreditation of the School

If you are going to pursue advanced education, check to make sure the school offers accredited programs. It would be a terrible feeling to get to the end of a course in higher education and find out you have an unaccredited masters.

Employers will generally tend to only acknowledge advanced education degrees from accredited schools. You want to be fully recognized for all of your hard work in your advanced degree. Researching each school thoroughly will help to avoid heartache in the future.

Know the Outcome of Your Chosen Degree

While many people choose to undertake an advanced degree to benefit their current career, there are many others who choose to pursue the degree to start a new career.

If you are one of the latter, it’s a smart idea to fully research the types of jobs and potential careers that will be available to you upon completion of your course. A course may sound appealing, but it’s no good if you can’t get the kind of job you want out of it.

Ask Those in the Know

There’s no better way to find out the true worth of a degree than directly asking someone who has the same one.

Also, if you know of anyone currently working in the field you want to get into, have a talk with them and ask them what kind of advanced degree they have. There may be a better option out there that you have not yet researched.

It might also be a good idea to ring around to various companies that you could see yourself working for, and asking the human resources department exactly what type of advanced degree they would be looking for in a potential applicant.

Ringing around to businesses is also a great way to network and make some employment contacts for the future. It never hurts to get started early!

Any degree is a lot of hard work for anyone. Make sure you will be fully recognized for all of the work you have put in, and employers will then start to recognize you!

What kind of advanced degree are you thinking about pursuing? How do you know it is accredited?

Your Education

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Career Spotlight: Pediatric Travel Nurse

July 11, 2011 / Michelle Burton

There are more than 75.2 million children in the U.S. today and this figure is expected to increase to 81.7 million over the next decade. Unfortunately, there are a number of top health problems affecting children across the U.S. today that could have an impact on these figures. Childhood obesity, smoking, drugs, psychological stress, depression, eating disorders, suicide, autism, childhood cancer, and food contamination are just a few. Fortunately, because treatment options are quite different for children than they are for adults, there is an entire field devoted to caring for children’s health needs.

Pediatrics is the branch of medicine concerned with the care and development of children and with the prevention and treatment of children’s diseases. The doctors and nurses that work in this field are qualified to work with both adults and children, but they specialize in the prevention and treatment of children’s diseases. While all doctors and nurses are qualified to work with both children and adults, most facilities separate the two.

Working with sick or injured infants and children calls for a somewhat different set of personal attributes that are common among pediatricians and pediatric nurses. Pediatricians and pediatric nurses must be patient, they must be passionate about working with children, and they must have the ability to communicate with children at all age levels. Because pediatric nurses meet with or talk to dozens of parents on a daily basis, they must also be skilled at communicating with parents about their child’s condition, health, and treatment in a clam and effective manner.

In addition to special personal attributes, pediatric nurses must have a specific educational background and training. Most pediatric nurses complete a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) followed by a master of science in nursing (MSN) with a focus in pediatric care. This means, aspiring pediatric nurses must complete anywhere from 5-6 years of study, which includes supervised clinical experience in pediatrics. Pediatric travel nurses must also obtain the RN (registered nurse) or the LPN (licensed practical nurse) designation. Each state has its own licensing requirements, so you must contact your state nursing board for details. To locate your state nursing board click here for listings or visit the Nursing Center at www.nursingcenter.com.

The path from nursing student to pediatric nurse is a long and arduous one, so many nursing students never make it to graduation. Others may take several additional years to complete the program. As a result, nursing schools have a tough time keeping up with the demand for skilled pediatric nurses. To help with staffing needs, hospitals, clinics, private practices, and other health care facilities routinely call upon pediatric travel nurses to fill the void. So, if you are one of the lucky few that make it to graduation, you can look forward to an unlimited number of travel nurse opportunities.

Pediatric travel nurses must have the same qualifications and skills as home-based nurses, only pediatric travel nurses travel across the U.S. to fill in at facilities that are short staffed. Pediatric travel nurse assignments usually last a minimum of 13 weeks, but it is not uncommon for an assignment to last up to 26 weeks or more.

Pediatric travel nurses are in high demand all over the U.S., but the demand is highest in the nations 30 largest metropolitan areas. These include: Phoenix, AZ., Los Angeles, CA., Riverside, CA., Sacramento, CA., San Diego, CA., San Francisco, CA., Denver, CO., Washington, DC., Miami, FL., Orlando, FL., Tampa, FL., Atlanta, GA., Chicago, IL., Boston, MA., Detroit, MI., Minneapolis, MN., Kansas City, MO., St. Louis, MO., Las Vegas, NV., New York, NY., Cincinnati, OH., Cleveland, OH., Columbus, OH., Portland, OR., Philadelphia, PA., Pittsburgh, PA., Dallas, TX., Houston, TX., and Seattle, WA. Travel nurse agencies dispatch pediatric travel nurses to these large metropolitan areas and other areas by way of auto or plane, depending on where the travel nurse is located.

Once the pediatric travel nurse has been offered an assignment, the travel nurse agency pays for transportation to and from the assignment, housing, meals, health insurance, and savings. Pediatric travel nurses also receive a number of bonuses such as signing bonuses, completion bonuses, and referral bonuses. In addition, pediatric travel nurses can expect to earn around 15 percent more than home-based pediatric nurses depending on experience, facility, and agency. The average median salary for pediatric nurses is $59,571. It is important to note that pediatric nurses tend to learn less overall than most other nurses.

To become a pediatric travel nurse, you should begin by enrolling in an accredited nursing program. Nursing programs are readily available at 2-year and 4-year colleges, universities, technical schools, and career schools. Once you have located a program of interest, all you have to do is check to make sure the program is accredited by a recognized agency such as the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Check with the U.S. Department of Education for an official list of agencies at www.ed.gov.

Once you have completed your program(s) and supervised clinical experience, you may sign up with one of more than 300 travel nurse agencies across the U.S. A simple Google search will provide listings for travel nurse agencies in your area. In the meantime, just a few top travel nurse agencies include:

For more information about pediatric travel nursing, or to keep up with the latest news and trends in travel nursing visit Travelnursing.com.

Your Career, Your Compensation, Your Education, Your Workplace

Best Colleges for B Students

June 29, 2011 / Michelle Burton

One of the biggest myths about college is you have to have straight A’s to get into a good one. True, straight A’s can be come in handy when competing for the most competitive academic scholarships, but many college admission boards understand that some of the best students don’t always perform to their full potential in high school. In fact, they feel that less than perfect grades don’t represent who you are as a person or how well you will do in college. This means, if you’re a B student, don’t worry. All you have to do is create a list of colleges you might be interested in—many are probably on our list of best colleges for b students, and create an excellent application package to get your foot in the door. If you follow the advice below, you will be well on your way to being accepted into one of America’s best colleges for B students.

Getting In: Moving Past the Application Form

Once you have filled in all of the basic information on your application form, its time to begin adding test scores, essays, awards, and other credentials to your application packet. While it is important to include copies of your ACT and SAT scores as well as your high school transcripts, it is even more important to highlight your accomplishments and write an excellent essay. Many of the colleges on our list welcome (and encourage) resumes, which is a great place to organize and convey your biggest accomplishments. On your resume you should include:

-Your full name
-Current address
-Telephone number
-Email address
-All awards and honors you have earned
-All forms of community service
-All part or full-time jobs
-References
-Sports and extracurricular involvement, whether inside or outside of school
-Volunteer service

When it comes to writing essays, the most heartfelt and honest essays usually score big points over essays that “whine” and “place blame.” So here are some common dos and don’t’s to keep in mind when writing your essay and/or attending an entrance interview. You should explain any circumstances that could have affected your academic performance and/or test scores. Admissions staff members do understand that frequent moves, learning disabilities, part-time jobs, test anxiety or health issues, and extenuating personal or family circumstances can distract from learning. It’s best not to complain or whine, or blame teachers, parents, and others for your performance. Avoid being too emotional and try not adopt a “poor me” attitude. Admissions boards are much more receptive to those who take responsibility than those that seem to have one too many excuses.

Once you have all of your application materials in order, proofread the materials at least three times. Grammatical errors and careless mistakes won’t help matters at all. Once you feel that your application packet is in order, make a copy for your records and mail the original. That’s it!

Before we move onto the list of best schools for B students, keep in mind that that the colleges on our list are not looking for slackers. The entry requirements a bit more open-minded than some institutions, but they are not as relaxed as you think they are. These colleges still hold students to the highest standards from the time your application is submitted to graduation day.

Best Colleges for B Students

The following list represents just a small number of some of the best colleges for B students. Visit Petersons.com for a full directory of college and university websites.

Adelphi University, Garden City, NY
Ana Maria College, Paxton, MA
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Augusta State University, Augusta, GA
Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH
Bradley University, Peoria, IL
University of California-Riverside, Riverside, CA
Champlain College, Burlington, VT
University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
Cornell College, Mount Vernon IA
DePaul University, Chicago, IL
Elmira College, Elmira, NY
Fisk University, Nashville, TN
Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO
Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, AZ
Hampton University, Hampton, VA
High Point University, High Point NC
University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT
University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI
University of Houston, Houston, TX
Howard University, Washington, DC
University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN
University of Louisiana, Lafayette, LA
University of Maine, Orono, ME
University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA
College of Notre Dame, Baltimore MD
Ohio University, Athens, OH
University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
University of Portland, Portland OR
University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN
University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA
Washington State University, Pullman WA
West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Your Education

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National Guard launches ‘Adventures’ app

June 28, 2011 / admin

You just received a call, there’s massive flooding in your region and a state of emergency has been declared. The destruction of the flood is spreading and people are scrambling to safety. The President has made the decision to send units to the scene. Your commanding officer has just informed you that you will lead your unit to the front line to help make critical decisions needed to bring structure to a chaotic situation. Are you ready to serve your country when needed?

This is one example of a relief mission that can be found in the newly created application from the Army National Guard. The brand new application has an interactive game environment that was designed to highlight the many decision making and leadership tasks that lie within the service. The program, titled Adventures, integrates with Facebook Connect and puts the user in a personal decision based mission like the one in the story above. Men who play action style war video games will have their mental sharpness tested as they make important decisions which will directly impact the mission.

Adventures is based on the popular Choose Your Own Adventure style of books and will allow users to make real-time decisions that control the outcome of various missions. This interactive experience exposes users to the many different jobs and roles available. It also showcases the pride developed as a Soldier in the National Guard.

Your Career

10 Questions to Ask Yourself When Succession Planning

June 28, 2011 / admin

When building and maintaining a business, not many owners have the time (or feel like they have the time) to think about what will happen to their business once they have retired or sold it.

However, business succession planning is crucial to where your business is headed. Putting a proper succession plan in place ahead of time will not only help of your company’s health now, but down the line too.

But before making a succession plan, let’s start with the first step. You need to reflect on your ultimate goals, personally and professionally.

Here is a list of 10 important questions to ask yourself before and during the succession planning process:

1. What would make you leave the business?

With the retirement age rising, many people are choosing careers that they enjoy and can see themselves doing for a long time. So what would make you leave your business?

Retirement, family, travel, new business opportunities? List out some of the main reasons you can see yourself leaving the company. Perhaps, you were interested in making a quick buck by building up the business over a few years then selling it, like so many of today’s e-based businesses are doing. Even at that, you want to go out with a “Bang” and ensure you get the right buyers. For this, you need a good succession plan in order.

2. Is this business your life’s goal or accomplishment?

Starting your own business demands constant hard work and effort. Think back to when you first decided to take this giant leap. Did you expect to see your company where it is now? Are you proud of where you are today? How much is this business a part of you?
These are again some deep and important questions to ask yourself as your response to them will help you determine which potential successor could really share your vision and fill your dedicated shoes.

3. What is your business worth?

Your company has a dollar value, but is this enough for you? If your company has intrinsic value than you may need a higher price tag to make the sale worth it for you. It’s key to start by speaking to finance advisors who have experience in your industry to help you determine a price that would be suitable to you and the buyer.

4. Who can handle your business?

Assuming you want your business to prosper after you have handed it off, who has the skills and knowledge that you have to run it like you do? Is there anyone internally who could fill your shoes?

Then again, you have to be prepared for the fact that a successor may not run the show your way. But this doesn’t mean they don’t have something else to offer. One of the prime keys to success in business is the ability to adapt, evolve and handle change.
Don’t just look for another you, think about important qualities you want in a successor. Vision, imagination, loyalty, dedication… Look at the big picture.

5. Will you have regrets?

It’s hard to know what our future selves will be like, but when it comes to questions of regret, you need to think really hard and examine all the possibilities. The last thing you want to do is regret a decision as important as leaving the business. Again, assess your professional and personal goals and ensure they are being met when you make this big decision in your career.

6. How long will you stay involved with the company after the sale? Will you stay involved?

Maybe you can’t completely detach from your business and that is more than okay. But planning your involvement post-sale is an important factor that needs to be discussed throughout the proceedings and carried out accordingly to prevent any issues in the future.

7. What kind of training will you offer?

There are many ways to train your successor, but the way to get the best results from the person is to train them over a longer period of time rather than throw them into it last minute. This is a major aspect of succession planning. Being prepared.

Keeping documentation of processes and anything involving how your company works will help your successor understand how you operate the business. But reading about policies and procedures is only one part of it. Perhaps consider them training in many positions at different levels at the company so they really understand the inner workings of the business.

8. Will you be comfortable with radical changes?

As mentioned, your successor may attempt to make some significant reformations to your business model. Can you stomach this, even if it differs from your original view of the business? If not, your hunt for the right successor will have to continue.

9. Will you want to retain minority ownership as an investment?

If so how much control will you attempt to exert? Remember that it can be hard to control yourself if you have run this business for years.

10. Will you start another business like this or are you looking for another path?
After the sale of your business, you might feel at a loss after such an important and consuming part of your life is gone. However, a new business or career may give you stronger direction and purpose.

Ask yourself these important questions. They will not only help you in planning your succession, but with your career aspirations overall.

Your Business, Your Career