Frequently Asked Questions
- What is nursing today?
- Nurses are an essential part of the health-care team, providing care to both patients and families. Nurses are patient advocates, care coordinators, educators and resources to other health-care providers.
- Nursing affords an opportunity to touch another person's life in a positive and meaningful way that few other professions experience. Nurses care for the human spirit.
- Nurses are "knowledge workers" who use their arts and science knowledge to inform the assessment, analysis, planning, interventions and evaluation of patients and their families. According to the National Student Nurse's Association: "Nursing is both an art and a science. It blends a scientific mind, technological know-how, a compassionate heart and healing hands."
- Hospital nursing is only one area where B.S.N.-prepared nurses practice. Other sites include home care, hospice, public health, military service, school, corporate, occupational health, pharmaceutical and insurance settings. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing is one of the fastest-growing occupations.
- Nursing exemplifies Loyola's commitment to care, concern, service, passion for quality, ethics and values, and respect for the whole person.
- Nurses work all across the health-care continuum, from promoting wellness and disease prevention, to caring for those with terminal diseases.
- Why get a Bachelor of Science (B.S.N.) degree?
The B.S.N. offers the broad-based liberal arts and science background as well as conceptual understanding of health, illness and the role of nurses. The B.S.N. also includes leadership, management and community health nursing concepts, theory and experiences. The B.S.N. offers more career and practice options. A B.S.N. is required for entry into a master's or doctoral program in nursing.
- What is the difference between an Associate Degree in Nursing and a B.S.N.?
The Associate Degree (A.D.) is an entry point for many into nursing, especially nontraditional students. The focus in A.D. nursing programs is the technological aspects of nursing. The A.D. program is two years in length and does not include community health nursing. While many A.D. nurses work in hospitals or clinics, these graduates have fewer practice options. For nurses with an A.D. who want to advance their nursing career, the Niehoff School of Nursing offers an RN/BSN completion program.
- What is meant by Advanced Practice Nursing (A.P.N.)?
Nurses with advanced education (a master's or doctoral degree) become nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, researchers, faculty and managers.
- What is the difference between nurse practitioners and physician assistants?
Nurse practitioners practice autonomously in their area of expertise/certification and within the parameters of their state Nurse Practice Act. Physician assistants work under the supervision of physicians and generally have less autonomy than nurse practitioners.
- What are the Niehoff School of Nursing's clinical locations?
Students are offered clinical experience at the following locations: Foster G. McGraw Hospital of Loyola University Medical Center, Evanston Hospital, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Hines VA Hospital, St. Joesph's Hospital, Children's Memorial Hospital, Rush North Shore Hospital, MacNeal Hospital, Loyola University Nursing Center, Chicago Department of Health clinics, selected long-term care clinics, school settings, psychiatric settings, senior citizen centers and the Loyola University Mulcahy Outpatient Center.
