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Imagine heading to the emergency room, urgent care facility or even just a routine clinic visit and being unable to see a nurse. It sounds odd, but it may become a reality. There is, and has been for many years, a global nursing shortage.

From first-year teachers to experienced principals, every educator is concerned with curriculum quality and its ability to transform student learning. But as educational leaders rise through the ranks, they also take on new responsibilities regarding academic achievement and the effective development and implementation of curriculum.

One of the education trends in 2023 is a focus on experiential learning. Although it may sound like a new-age concept, it’s not new to education. Experiential learning just means that students can learn concepts by applying them to real-life, hands-on activities.

Education has always been used as a political tool, but recently it seems the laws and policies surrounding K-12 education — particularly in public schools — have changed more than ever. Many school districts have developed new policies to improve some of the archaic structures in place. However, as authors Melissa Junge and Sheara Krvaric from the American Enterprise Institute note, “even good policies fail if they are poorly implemented, and it is hard to evaluate a policy’s merit if it is not implemented well…time and again we see policies fail because of a lack of attention to the day-to-day issues that affect education leaders’ ability to turn words on a page into reality inside schools.”

As leaders of their schools, school administrators have many responsibilities to fulfill. Their duties include providing support for not only the students but also the faculty. Professional development is one of the administrator’s lesser-known responsibilities, but it is a critical element of success for faculty. Providing faculty with the time and space for meaningful professional development is necessary for strong stability and continual improvement.

In recent years, the importance of understanding social determinants of health (SDoH) and how they impact an individual’s care has grown. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), social determinants of health are “the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. They are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life. These forces and systems include economic policies and systems, development agendas, social norms, social policies and political systems.”

Nurses are known for the patient-centered care they provide. In the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses put their own safety at risk, providing critical care under extraordinary stress. Public health nurses were also on the frontlines, working to prevent and control the disease, train workers for testing sites, conduct contact tracing, help marginalized communities access vaccines and more.

When developing any curriculum, the ultimate goal for educators is to create a structure that teaches children a particular set of knowledge they can apply situationally to solve problems. Regardless of the area of study, however, problem-solving skills are the common denominator to constructively deal with any challenge in life, including outside of academics.

Using technology in the special education classroom has many benefits. It can transform how students interact with teachers and classmates. Educational technology (EdTech) tools can aid students with learning or physical disabilities. Modern technology is the future of education, adapting to student needs to personalize the learning experience.

Educators have many obligations to their students. Beyond the course content and subject-level achievement, teachers offer their students guidance on social and emotional levels that serve them for the rest of their lives. Moreover, these abilities should help students not only in the classroom but in the world outside of it, which presents educators with a significant opportunity.

No matter the topic, educators and curriculum directors with a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction are uniquely situated to oversee the implementation of project-based learning (PBL) in the classroom. PBL produces involved and autonomous learners.

Professional educators might no longer be students in name, but they are certainly students by trade, constantly learning new skills and techniques and gaining other knowledge. For many teachers, obtaining a master’s degree or furthering their professional development through advanced education or training is a requirement of the profession.

Online learning offers many benefits despite the various challenges that arose during its growth in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Educators have become increasingly literate and creative with online learning, adapting long-time classroom strategies and curricula for the digital space, and even implementing some new ideas as well.

Chandra Holet had a good reason for taking 26 years to pursue an advanced degree. “I am a single mom,” she said. “I waited for my son, Tucker, to get through school. He is now a senior at Ole Miss, so I thought it was time to go back and do something for me.”

Patient care involves a lot of moving parts, especially in critical situations. Nurses must think on their feet, make quick decisions and be confident those decisions are correct. Even in lower-stress provider-patient interactions, such as a routine checkup, certain steps are crucial to optimize patient care.

After gaining five years of experience as an elementary school teacher, Nicole Collins is ready to follow her heart. “I love being in the classroom, and I have a passion for working with students with learning disabilities,” she said. “To do that, I know I need a master’s degree. I wanted to get it done quickly.”

According to The Hechinger Report, children are capable of understanding STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) concepts at a very young age. However, skills in these disciplines “must be developed intentionally” early in life to nurture students’ curiosity and develop their critical thinking skills.

Long before Dr. Darein Spann enrolled in graduate studies at Mississippi College (MC), all signs pointed toward him becoming a Choctaw. “I grew up not far from Mississippi College, in Clinton,” he said. “Before I was born, my grandmother, Lillie Spann, worked at MC. She always used to tell me she wanted me to go to Mississippi College.”

Since most K-12 learning now takes place in both face-to-face and digital settings, some students do part of their homework and schoolwork online. To keep up with the digital literacy of their students, educators must consider both group dynamics and individual needs for overall student success.

As the world keeps changing at an increasingly rapid pace, so does the face of education. The modern era has ushered in a host of new challenges for educators and learners. With those challenges, today’s educators are developing new approaches to serving students.

Not so long ago, smartphones and other gadgets were the silent enemies of schoolteachers: Students would often use them during class to watch films, play games, send messages, or even look up answers on tests. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, many schools were already limiting phone usage to lower the distraction level.

Not so long ago, smartphones and other gadgets were the silent enemies of schoolteachers: Students would often use them during class to watch films, play games, send messages, or even look up answers on tests. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, many schools were already limiting phone usage to lower the distraction level.

The United States Census Bureau projected that the U.S. would become a majority-minority nation for the first time in 2043. The 2020 Census confirms that assertion, finding that the U.S. population was more racially and ethnically diverse than ten years prior. The survey found that the “most prevalent racial or ethnic group for the United States was the White alone non-Hispanic population at 57.8%. This decreased from 63.7% in 2010.” Their predictions also show that the total number of the Hispanics, Black Americans, Asians, American Indians and Alaska Natives and others will grow to comprise over 50% of the population by 2060.

Elementary school educators view a Master of Education in Elementary Education as a way to further their teaching careers. As much as this is true, an M.Ed. in elementary education can enhance career prospects well beyond the classroom, enabling graduates to pursue leadership roles in a school setting or launch a freelance business creating professional resources for publishers.

The Center for Public Education states, “Reading is the Open Sesame for acquiring knowledge: learn to read, and you can read to learn just about anything.” Children begin the process of learning to read long before entering school as they acquire vocabulary and background knowledge. But when they enter school, it is not long before they can and must use reading skills and strategies to learn all about the world around them in every subject and content area.

It is important for young learners to establish a solid foundation in math and science. In addition to the inherent pleasure students can find exploring these subjects and the self-confidence built by mastery, this essential academic preparation opens doors to financial literacy, critical thinking and healthy decision-making. Moreover, these skills correlate to the health of the nation’s economy, as it relies on a workforce proficient in math and science. With the long-standing reality that U.S. students lag far behind other countries in math and science, it is essential that schools address this disparity in early learning.

In an increasingly data-driven and competitive society, the public demands results from the educational system. Therefore, for students to receive the best possible education, then instructional strategies, curriculum and classroom management systems must have proven track records, demonstrating sustained success

Anna Grace Malpass is still a relative newcomer to the teaching profession, but she is wasting no time preparing to move her career ahead at full speed. “I worked at a preschool when I was in nursing school, which was where I started,” she said. “I was working with three-year-old kids when I realized that education was what I wanted to do with my life, so I switched to that from nursing.”

Each nurse, regardless of education level or role, is a leader. Nurses rely on decision-making and critical-thinking skills to improve patient health, whether as a caregiver at a patient’s bedside or as a manager in the boardroom. The nation’s healthcare landscape is changing, and nurses are at the forefront of this change. They are being asked to strengthen their leadership skills so that they can deliver optimal patient-centered care and take on a growing number of roles — administrators, policy advisers, researchers and teachers.

Throughout the years, nursing has evolved — both in the way nurses provide patient care and the way they are educated. Over the past few decades though, evidence-based practice has emerged as the gold standard of care and greatly influenced Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) coursework.

Going back to school to earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is an excellent return on your investment of time and money. But it can seem intimidating, especially if you have been out of school for a while. Earning a BSN via an online RN to BSN program is a great choice for busy adults because it offers ultimate flexibility and convenience. There are a number of tips to help make your online college experience a success.

No one can stop a disaster. Because calamities are unpredictable and inevitable, those who possess applicable training and education on disaster readiness are highly valued by society. Courses in Mississippi College’s online Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program can help nurses develop skills in care coordination and readiness to work in a variety of settings, including emergencies. These qualities, along with vast medical knowledge, make nurses an essential resource for disaster assistance.

When people are sick, injured or need emergency care, they rely on nurses to provide safe, quality care. Patients can become overwhelmed with medical terminology and procedures, and they may find navigating the healthcare system confusing and frustrating. Nurses who have completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program have the skills to treat stressed patients and guide them through the challenges in healthcare.

The year 2020 presented a number of challenging issues for teachers, administrators and students, including the transition to remote and hybrid learning, the inequities in education exposed by the pandemic and tumultuous political and societal shifts. However, these disruptions also provided important opportunities for educators to learn and grow both professionally and personally.

Many words can describe 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, but one word really rises to the top: digital. With people working from home, “Zoom School” and an unprecedented e-commerce boom, it’s no wonder people are becoming savvier about an online existence. While some experts argue an entire year of “living online” has been detrimental, there is also a wide range of benefits to operating in a digital environment. For example, an area that has seen rapid growth over the past few years is online nursing education programs — particularly for registered nurses (RNs) working towards their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.

We have seen the pictures of three people — of three different heights – trying to watch a baseball game over a fence, each standing on an identical box. In the first picture, titled Equality, only the tallest person has a perfect view of the game. The person in the middle can see most of the game, but the shortest gets only glimpses through the cracks in the fence.

When you are already working as a registered nurse, it can be difficult to consider adding anything else to your plate, especially a return to higher education. While an associate degree or diploma program may have helped you quickly enter the field of nursing, you will likely need to advance your degree to maximize your earning and career potential.

Mississippi College offers an online Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program, accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The convenience of this online degree can be ideal for working RNs looking to advance their education, careers and nursing practice.

In shifting to remote and online learning, schools may find it difficult to foster the same sense of community in face-to-face classrooms. Research shows that strong relationships between school community members form the bedrock of student success. A strong sense of community is even more crucial when transitioning to remote and online learning environments, as students and instructors can easily feel isolated.

In shifting to remote and online learning, schools may find it difficult to foster the same sense of community in face-to-face classrooms. Research shows that strong relationships between school community members form the bedrock of student success.

There’s a good reason why research receives so much emphasis in the healthcare field. Whether you’re immersed in clinical trials for the COVID-19 vaccine or investigating your own personal genetic history, it’s important to keep the processes involved in mind. Gathering data and using it to inform and facilitate action is critical.

The nursing profession is the nation’s largest healthcare profession, with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) reporting more than 3.8 million registered nurses. Many in nursing see it as a calling. In fact, the profession maintains an 18-year streak of ranking at the top of Gallup’s annual list of honest and ethical professions.

Leadership skills enable educators to guide their learning communities at a school or district level. Effective educational leaders rally the community and create an environment that fosters execution of a clear vision.

Cultural awareness is fundamental to providing an equitable learning environment for all students. A classroom that values equality is not the same as one that values equity. While these terms are often used interchangeably, they represent two approaches to teaching with very different goals and outcomes.

When Dava Thomas completes the online Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Mississippi College (MC) in 2020, she will finish what she started 27 years ago.

Tara Bradley thought her teaching career was going to end almost as soon as it began. “Right before I started my internship in college, my first husband was killed in a car wreck,” she said. “He was a teacher. I decided once I finished school that I was not going to teach. But before I finished, I got a call from a school in the county where I grew up, and they hired me.”

More than 55 million students were affected when the COVID-19 pandemic forced at least 124,000 public and private schools in the U.S. to close their campuses, according to a report by Education Week. The closures also affected millions of teachers. With little time to prepare, teachers scrambled to set up, plan and provide online lessons for students they had been teaching face to face.

The challenge for special education teachers is to make appropriate accommodations and modifications based on each student’s needs and abilities. Now that teachers are instructing their students remotely because of the COVID-19 pandemic, additional interventions must be considered.

In a 2010 report on the future of nursing, the Institute of Medicine — now known as the National Academy of Medicine — set forth specific goals for the nursing field. A primary goal was to grow the number of nurses with baccalaureate degrees. An additional focus was on promoting leadership opportunities for nurses, ensuring they are active participants for change within healthcare. For nurses to truly have a seat at the leadership table, however, they must have knowledge and experience in areas not usually considered their domain. Specifically, nurses are being asked to broaden their education surrounding healthcare finance.

Societal and cultural bias informs world history and may be as old as time itself. It is present in enterprise, government and healthcare. Acting in the patients’ interests is standard for healthcare professionals, but certain patient populations are still victims of this bias. Whether it’s conscious or not, bias can lead to negative patient outcomes.

The Master of Education in Educational Leadership online from Mississippi College can prepare graduates to have an impact on “the bigger picture” in educational environments as principals, school administrators and other school district leadership roles. These positions often come with significant pay increases for educators, while giving them a platform to bring about positive change to their schools and districts.

The field of education is challenging. Trends are constantly changing, student populations are more diverse, and there is a growing focus on developing the skills to adapt curriculum and provide clear and precise instruction. If you want to grow as an educator and give your students the best chance for academic success, consider a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. This degree will give you the knowledge and tools to improve your effectiveness as a teacher and increase student achievement.

Anyone who has been to a doctor’s office has undergone a fairly standard experience. Weight and height measures, blood pressure checks, eye and ear scans — these are all typical, regardless of why you went to the doctor in the first place. In nursing, this process is much more complex. During a nurse’s education, a great deal of emphasis is placed on the comprehensive health assessment, often referred to as “head-to-toe” assessment.

Former Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said, “There are no good schools without good principals. It just doesn’t happen. And where you have great principals, good teachers come, and they stay, they work hard, and they grow.”

Many teachers who want to move up on the pay scale while developing their skills in curriculum and instruction pursue a master’s degree from a distinguished university, like the programs offered by Mississippi College. Completing MC’s Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction online degree program will help you grow as an educator, open up potential leadership opportunities, and make you more effective as you help students achieve their educational goals.

In the broadest terms, patient-centered care is care that’s organized around the patient. It is a model in which providers partner with patients and families...

Diabetes occurs when the body can no longer process glucose (blood sugar) normally. In a healthy body, the hormone insulin regulates glucose levels. With Type 1 diabetes, there is little to no insulin production in the body. In Type 2 diabetes, the body still makes insulin, but insulin resistance keeps it from processing glucose properly. A diabetes diagnosis of either type requires careful management of glucose levels.

People often see the new year as a time for change. The calendar is a clean slate, making it easier for some to think about tackling the things they’ve been putting off. Let the new year motivate you to take the next step in your nursing career. If you hold an Associate Degree in Nursing or you are a diploma-prepared nurse and you have an RN license, resolve to complete your Bachelor of Science in Nursing with the Mississippi College online RN to BSN program.

If you’re considering a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and you’re already a registered nurse with an associate degree or nursing diploma, online studies may be your best bet. Not only are online programs well-suited for working nurses, but studies can be accelerated or slowed as life may demand.

If you are an experienced teacher, you may be looking for advancement opportunities in curriculum development or instructional design and implementation. Entering the Curriculum and Instruction track of the Education Specialist in Educational Leadership program at Mississippi College could be a great first step.

The road to positions in educational leadership may be long and challenging, but earning an Education Specialist in Educational Leadership degree from Mississippi College will yield rewarding opportunities in curriculum and instruction at the building and district levels.

The education field is increasingly complex. Information in all disciplines multiplies daily, and the expectations for student success grow as business needs expand. Even the most experienced teachers seek support and resources as their classrooms become more diverse. Strong leaders are in high demand.

Even the most capable and creative teachers depend on well-written curriculum. Although a teacher’s abilities and personality will affect how materials are delivered, the development of a consistent instruction plan is critical for accurate assessment, appropriate financial support and, most importantly, student success.

Established RNs and recent grads alike may have concerns about their earning potential. Often, nurses shy away from discussing their salary. However, nurses who settle for a salary they do not agree with may regret it, especially if they discover a co-worker with the same qualifications is paid more. Though it may be uncomfortable, nurses should know that most healthcare employers are open to salary negotiations.

Once again, a shift is occurring in healthcare as value-based care begins to replace the fee-for-service model. This move allows nurses to take a proactive role in working toward more positive results.

Wrongdoing happens in all occupations; however, unethical behavior in nursing can jeopardize the well-being of patients or even result in fatalities. That is why it is imperative for nurses to stay vigilant and report improper behavior. It is not easy to be a whistleblower, but nurses have a responsibility to protect patients.

A well-balanced diet serves as the foundation for optimal health. But the vast amount of information regarding the essentials of a healthy diet makes it easy to get confused, and some of the information is incomplete or inaccurate.

For years local churches and community groups have rallied to provide supplies and backpacks for schools, especially those in areas where poverty is the norm and students live in non-English speaking households. These acts of generosity are welcome and fill a financial gap many families cannot bridge themselves. But there is much more churches and communities can do to support their local schools.

If you’re ready to fast track your career in educational administration but don’t have the time to attend classes at Mississippi College in person, a new option might be just the right fit. The Education Specialist in Educational Leadership program — once available only on campus — now offers busy educators the option to earn the degree completely online.

Whether in local schools and district offices or state legislatures, the policy and practice of education is changing. Teachers are innovating in the classroom and reinventing old concepts of learning. Students are seeking more interaction with technology and new ways to engage with course content.

One of the most alarming concerns arising from the increased use of screen technology by children is the condition of their physical health and fitness. Because of the availability and allure of video games and smartphone communication, children are spending less time than ever running, jumping and playing outside. Unfortunately, today’s younger generations are of the most sedentary and unhealthy in American history.

In inclusive classrooms, where students of all abilities and learning styles aim for the same goals, providing a variety of options leads to increased student achievement. Project-based learning (PBL) offers classrooms freedom to design projects, learning pathways and assessment criteria to match individual needs and interests.

We are a data-driven society these days. We’ve become used to companies collecting data about our purchases, whether we make them online or in a store. We know that websites and social media platforms are likely to save data about our browsing and clicking habits.

The debate about “how much homework is the right amount of homework” has been raging on and off for over a century. Even in the earliest years of public education, experts could not agree, stating either support of or objection to homework based on how it was valued for academic progress or character building, or how it was affected by issues outside of the teacher’s control.

The Mississippi College Teacher Education and Leadership Department was granted full accreditation of all educator licensure programs at both the initial and advanced levels in April 2021 from the CAEP Accreditation Council.

When elementary, middle and high schools, as well as colleges and universities, are guided by a Christian philosophy of education, there is more to daily assignments than Bible study and more to the environment than dress codes and disciplinary policies. The Christian philosophy of education encompasses all areas of the educational life of students, including core subject curriculum, character building and practical living, both now and in the future.

According to David R. Hamilton, Ph.D., an author and kindness advocate, there are many beneficial side effects of kindness. Being kind makes us happier, promotes heart health, slows aging and improves relationships. In addition, kindness appears to be contagious and encourages others to be kind. What educators have found, in addition to those benefits, is that kindness can be taught and it can improve children’s academic achievement and social/emotional well-being.

After Mitchell Shears completed the Education Specialist (Ed. S.) degree in Educational Leadership program at Mississippi College, he hoped to keep going for a doctoral degree.

Taking a conventional approach to higher education never suited Grace Simmons. Simmons stayed true to herself as she jumped straight into the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership program at Mississippi College after completing eight courses in the Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in Educational Leadership degree program.

In the 2016 “Disrupting Inequity” edition of Educational Leadership, teacher, consultant and author Rick Wormeli wrote, “Vitriol and violence connected to race are running high. K-12 classrooms are where we must start to build an equitable, nonracist society.” Despite the hope of equality for all created during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, the destructive nature of racism still disrupts and poisons our classrooms.

As early as the 1970s, educators have been promoting career education in high school as an alternative to the traditional college prep track. According to Indiana State Representative Robert Behning, “For too long, we’ve been focused on four-year colleges, and that’s not necessarily the right course for every student.”

Nursing is physically demanding. Repetitive movements and long hours lifting patients can cut your nursing career short with an injury. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing occupations are at a higher risk for injury than most professions. Avoid becoming a statistic by making time for exercise.

The 1953 edition of Educational Leadership was devoted to the theme “The Challenge of Individual Difference.” One article, “Adjusting the Program to the Child” by Carleton W. Washburne, the then-Director of the Division of Graduate Studies and the Teacher Education Program at Brooklyn College, asks the question, “How can the teacher best meet — and most wisely use — the wide range of differences in abilities, interests and development represented by the children under his guidance?”

Throughout much of the past decade, workforce projections and nursing associations have indicated a nurse shortage that is expected to continue beyond 2020, but now there is information on a possible surplus. In fact, the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) predicts an excess supply of nurses numbering 340,000 in the U.S. by 2025.

Rebecca Hurst learned her lesson about predicting the future. Although Hurst had no plans for a career shift into administration, she earned a Master of Education in Elementary Education from Mississippi College to earn a higher salary.

Tammy Burris can’t argue with her son, John Austin, when he jokes about how much she loves learning. “He says, ‘Mom, you’ve been in school my whole life,'” she said. “He is in college now. He says, ‘I’ve never seen anybody who loves to be in the classroom as much as you do.'”

Twentieth-century humanistic psychologist Carl Rogers believed that children have two basic needs: positive regard from others and a feeling of self-worth. Their response to how others view them will affect their confidence and positive feelings about themselves, which will, in turn, affect their success in life.

The history of formal education in the United States goes back at least to the colonies. Founded in 1635, for instance, Boston Latin School is older than the republic, in addition to being the oldest existing school in the country and the first public school.

Literacy is a skill that begins in infancy and has lifelong ramifications. Studies correlate literacy to financial and personal well-being, not to mention social skills and academic achievement. Yet, a typical classroom may spend as little as 10 percent of the day on reading and writing. Even in classrooms with 90 minutes blocked out for reading time, the actual reading accomplished in that time might be as little as 10 to 15 minutes. A more balanced classroom might spend as much as half the day reading in one capacity or another.

What does it take for a nurse to be a leader in a team of healthcare providers? Is it knowledge, experience, temperament or power given by a job title? In the realms of business, sports and public service, the qualities of leadership have been measured, dissected, discussed and experimented upon for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Still, “leadership” is difficult to define, quantify and impart to others — largely because it is subjective, often short-term (during natural disasters such as hurricanes, for instance), and carries a power of persuasion over others that some resist.

Since the early 1990s, states began developing educational learning standards for grades 3-12. The standards described either a skill or understanding in which every student in each grade should be proficient.

Nursing brings a wide range of rewards, particularly the fulfillment that comes from helping those in need. A nurse can be a vital person on a patient’s road to recovery and healing, and it can be especially powerful for a nurse to see his or her patient go from being seriously ill to walking out the hospital doors healthy enough for discharge.

In 1975, Congress enacted the Education for all Handicapped Children Act. The U. S. Department of Education states that the purpose of this law was to support states and localities in “protecting the rights of, meeting the individual needs of, and improving results for infants, toddlers, children, and youths with disabilities and their families.”

Most people who enter the teaching profession have a profound desire to make a difference in the lives of children. They are prepared to spend time and energy, as well as their own money, to plan for and deliver engaging lessons to their students. Many teachers, however, are not quite as ready for students with diverse learning abilities and styles, including students with identified special needs.

Does the United States have enough nurses for the foreseeable future? Too few? Too many? The healthcare industry is one of the largest employers in the United States, employing roughly one in eight Americans. With an aging population of Baby Boomers, an increase in the diagnostic capabilities for certain chronic diseases, and improvements in medical technology in general, it’s no wonder that nursing is one of the fastest-growing professions in the healthcare industry.

If you’ve been away from nursing for a while, but are looking to resume your career, it’s certainly not too late. We’re in the midst of a decade of growth for nursing — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has forecasted a 15 percent increase in nursing jobs between 2016 and 2026 — and future trends hint at more of the same.

Why did you enter the healthcare profession? As a nurse, you probably hear this question often, so it’s likely you have a scripted answer you’ve perfected over time. How likely is your script to contain words like communication and collaboration?

Between the ages of seven and 11, “Children are busily learning to be competent and productive or feel inferior and unable to do anything well,” according to developmental psychologist and Harvard professor Erik Erikson. During those years, while children attend elementary school, teachers play significant roles as advocate, educator and encourager. As impressionable children watch and learn from them, educators accept the responsibility of helping raise successful adults.

Your much-anticipated day off finally arrives, but instead of enjoying it, you spend the entire time thinking about work. When you return to work, you’re just as stressed as you were before your day off. Nurses spend so much time taking care of everyone else that they often forget to take care of themselves. Nursing can be stressful, and even more so if you are taking classes to earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN). It is a good idea to learn some relaxation strategies that really work.

There is no question that it’s easier to teach if you are an organized person. Dealing with the home lives, personalities, assignments, and health requirements as well as the strengths and weaknesses of each student is next to impossible if teachers do not have carefully planned systems in place.

When you become a special education teacher, you enter a field that is complex and time-consuming, but very rewarding. It is important to note that teachers of students with special needs may experience elevated levels of stress not always felt by people in other teaching positions or professions.

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 2. When queried about the role of doctors and nurses in the lives of faithful Christians, Billy Graham posited, “God works through people to get His work done in the world, including doctors and nurses.” So often, when the families of a patient put their faith in God and pray together on behalf of their loved ones, God answers their prayers through the hands and hearts of the nurses and physicians attending to that patient.

Teaching students with special needs has always involved clear understanding of each student’s needs, complex planning, and realizing that instruction must be tailored to meet the individual needs of children as they progress. But how are the basic requirements for special education teachers measured? What are the skills, knowledge and dispositions that should be evident in the practices of teachers in order to maintain a high level of instruction? What do new teachers need to know and do?

Nurse leaders play an instrumental role in guiding nursing units toward common goals. As the healthcare industry evolves and requires changes to the delivery of patient care, it becomes even more vital to have experienced nursing leadership in place. Nurses in an online RN to BSN degree program take leadership coursework to identify and develop their own skills. Though most leaders share certain characteristics, nurses in a Christian leadership position are called on to exhibit qualities that go beyond the norm.

In the healthcare field, ethics lay the groundwork for navigating difficult, emotionally charged or unforeseen situations. Because nurses face trying situations frequently, it is helpful for them to understand the role of ethics in their profession. Coursework in online RN to BSN programs provides additional insight into ethical standards for nurses.

The decision to move from teaching in the general education classroom to teaching students with special needs involves not only additional coursework but also a significant change in approach to the concepts and beliefs about disabilities and education. While working with exceptional children, Christian teachers find themselves in a unique position of having a meaningful career and taking up an important ministry.

If you are an experienced classroom teacher, you may be thinking about what other professional opportunities are available for those with your background and skills. Earning a Master of Education in Elementary Education may be the first step on a path that leads to other interesting and challenging positions.

With the rising popularity of online learning, many adult learners returning to school are searching for a degree program that more closely fits their specific needs or lifestyle. For some, that means enrolling in an online RN to BSN program that aligns with their faith and religious beliefs. Students who take this path find that a faith-based curriculum is beneficial in more ways than one.

After experiencing the joy and challenges of teaching in the general education classroom, some teachers find themselves drawn to serving students with special needs. Students with cognitive and behavioral disabilities need highly trained and committed educators to both teach and advocate for them. These students can benefit not only from extra help at school but also from teachers who show Jesus’s compassion. In addition, students who function at grade level have the promise of becoming champions for the disabled and disenfranchised as teachers model inclusion and acceptance for exceptional children.

As the world shrinks, technology grows and the need for more sophisticated scientific innovations emerges, it is becoming increasingly important that students are prepared for careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM. Even at the elementary level, schools are embracing STEM-based curricula and offering opportunities for their students to get a head start on successful and rewarding careers.

Several variables may influence one’s decision to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, but the opportunity for an increased salary is often near the top of the list. Due to potential nursing shortages, BSN-prepared nurses may find that their additional education and expertise qualifies them for higher salaries for the foreseeable future.

Many educators have a passion for the classroom and no desire to move into administration, but some feel a strong pull into positions of leadership. The most dedicated teachers, however, have one thing in common: the desire to sharpen their teaching skills, become more familiar with current teaching methodologies and research, improve their understanding of the learners in their classrooms, and be a catalyst for change.

Many teachers assume that the only next step in their educational careers is to leave the classroom and assume a role in administration. Although some teachers find satisfaction and success in the role of principal, director, coordinator or superintendent, there are several other opportunities for leadership and advancement that teachers can achieve while still spending every day in the classroom.

Teachers want to help students succeed. For that to happen, teachers need to stay up to date with the skills and knowledge of their profession — whether that is the latest information on brain-based learning or the fast-paced world of technology.v

While some healthcare organizations may use the terms nurse manager and nurse leader interchangeably, the responsibilities of the two positions can actually be quite different. Although nurses in these roles may not focus on the exact same tasks, much of their efforts accomplish similar goals such as the overall improvement of patient care. Nurses graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree may find either of these careers are intriguing employment options.

Choosing an online RN to BSN program that fits your specific needs and goals can be an important factor in completing your degree successfully. In addition, selecting a program that has been recognized for its academic standards and has earned accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) can reassure students of the program’s educational quality and its ability to prepare nurses for the workforce.

What do students need to know? What are the best ways to help them learn? There is more to effective teaching than knowing the subject matter. Teachers also need to acquire the skills and knowledge of how to teach it.

How children learn best is determined by a multitude of factors, including learning style, personality, cultural background, schema, and background information. Teachers have a responsibility to reach all learners, adapting the curricula to create innovative delivery techniques, meaningful examples and appropriate assessments. In particular, teachers must adapt curricula to meet the needs of students with different learning styles and diverse cultural backgrounds.

Veteran kindergarten teacher Chris Crowell, who has been incorporating technology into his classroom teaching since the era of the floppy disc, said, “There’s never been a better time to be a teacher or a curious kid.”

As many children know, snuggling up for bedtime stories makes going to sleep so much better. But reading aloud to children is much more than a bonding experience. Reading Rockets, a national literacy initiative, describes reading aloud to children as “the single most important activity for reading success.”

Nursing provides several avenues of specialization. Community health nursing, also called public health nursing, is one of those avenues. According to the American Public Health Association (APHA), public health nursing is “the practice of promoting and protecting the health of populations using knowledge from nursing, social, and public health sciences.”

What do pencil grips, scooters and talking calculators have in common? They are all assistive devices that allow students with disabilities to participate more fully in school. Assistive technology, such as pencil grips for students with fine motor difficulty, can be low-tech. At the high-tech end? Speech-generating devices allow students who are non-verbal to develop language skills and communicate.

The opportunity for upward mobility is as important in nursing as it is for any other career field. If you would like to transition into a management or leadership role, then earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree can help pave the way and make you a more enticing candidate to potential employers.

Though hospitals are the largest employer of nurses, they are not an ideal fit for everyone. There is a variety of organizations — some healthcare related and some not — that requires skilled nurses, so you have several non-hospital employment options to consider. Since some of these positions require applicants to have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), earning this degree can significantly increase your odds of obtaining employment outside of the hospital.

It goes without saying that the motivation to teach often comes from a desire to improve student outcomes. And as methodology courses may teach, employing research- or evidence-based instructional strategies can have a greater impact on students’ success. However, as teachers sometimes find, it is not always easy to put instructional theory and research into practice across the academic subjects of an elementary classroom. Of course, putting theory into practice can be even more challenging when you consider the diverse learners who make up any classroom, including students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as those who learn in different ways.

Over the past 20 years, the cost of education has gone up by over 170 percent, making it harder for students to justify spending money on it. However, data continues to support the value of a bachelor’s degree. In fact, not going to college can cost you about $500,000 over the duration of your career. Fortunately, college is not as expensive or time consuming as it may seem. If you are already an RN, then you can enroll in an affordable Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program at a private college for less than $300 per credit hour.

Online learning can be a wonderful way for adult students to continue their educations, expand desirable skillsets and garner more employer interest and career opportunities. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), enrollments for students aged 25 and older at degree-granting colleges and universities are expected to grow 13 percent from 2013 to 2024, surpassing enrollment for students aged 25 and under. Many of these adult learners consider online degree programs. And working RNs nationwide are taking advantage of online RN to BSN programs.

Nursing today is very different than it was in 1860 when Florence Nightingale opened her training school for nurses at St Thomas’ Hospital in London. Nightingale established nursing and midwifery as a profession by introducing the concepts of sanitation, ventilation, nutrition and comfort. Nurses in the 21st century have to integrate technology and evidence-based research to make critical decisions about providing care to patients with complicated illnesses. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) prepares nurses for the complexity of modern healthcare.

What do teachers need to know? Among five core propositions outlined by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) in “What Teachers Should Know and Be Able to Do” is “Teachers know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students.” While middle and high school teachers may specialize in a specific discipline, such as English Language Arts or Biology, teaching in an elementary school classroom setting typically requires in-depth knowledge of multiple subjects, such as reading, mathematics, science, language arts and social studies. And, while a bachelor’s degree may be sufficient to get a teaching career off the ground, there are reasons to consider investing in an advanced degree, such as the Master of Education in Elementary Education program at Mississippi College (MC).

Since the inception of the digital age, healthcare organizations have focused on using technology to improve patient care. For over 30 years, nursing informatics has been recognized as a specialty. Nurses can enter the field by completing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program at a college or university with an accredited nursing school. If you are a working nurse, you may want to enroll in an online RN to BSN program like the one available at Mississippi College (MC).

No matter the classroom size, grade level or neighborhood, students in the same classroom will be reading at all different levels. They will also learn best in different environments and using different learning styles. It is up to teachers to not only identify but also adjust teaching styles, methods, materials and time to accommodate all learners.

You may be working as a registered nurse (RN) and thinking about pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Perhaps you are wondering if it will be hard to complete a degree program while you are employed or if it might be too expensive. An online RN to BSN program is tailored to nurses with an associate degree (ADN) who want to earn a BSN and move ahead in their careers.

Are you looking to move up the nursing ranks but find yourself stuck because you have gaps in experience or education? Thanks to accelerated coursework, schools like Mississippi College (MC) now offer Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) online programs that students can complete in as little as one year. The program helps working nurses advance their careers to the next level.

As a registered nurse (RN), you have a work schedule that can be quite demanding — with long shifts and sometimes unpredictable changes every week. For this reason, it can be difficult to work on furthering your education. You either must make sacrifices at work by going part time, or sacrifices in your personal life. Both choices are not ideal, especially when you consider the psychological, physical and financial toll such changes can have on you. Fortunately, online RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) programs exist, specifically designed with working nurses in mind.

Quality matters when it comes to education, and the most recognized stamp of quality in the United States is accreditation. Accreditation is a way to verify that a school is offering education that complies with the standards of the day, while also demonstrating a continued effort toward quality improvements. Once an institute has been accredited by an agency recognized by the Department of Education, its individual programs can also go on to be accredited.

When experienced teachers are ready to take a step into leadership, they look for a Master of Education in Educational Leadership degree like the one offered by Mississippi College. This program is designed to prepare its students to be education administrators, superintendents or site coordinators.

When experienced teachers want to move into a position of leadership, one of the first steps they can take is earn a master’s degree in educational leadership. This advanced degree will prepare aspiring administrators with the necessary skills and knowledge to become a school principal or assistant principal or a department director or coordinator at the district level. For those future leaders interested in pursuing one of these positions while enriching their faith, Mississippi College offers a Master of Education in Educational Leadership using a faith-based curriculum in a Christian environment.

According to Dr. K. Lynn Boyer, director of the National Clearinghouse for Professions in Special Education at the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), “The demand for special educators is expected to grow at about a 35 percent rate over the next 10 years.” In light of such a statistic, earning an advanced degree in special education might be a wise plan for experienced teachers seeking professional development and career-change possibilities.

Teaching math at the elementary and junior high school levels presents a unique set of challenges to even the most experienced teachers. Gone are the days of simply learning how to calculate quickly and accurately or find the answer with measurements and a formula. Students are more and more often being asked to determine and record the answers as well as explain in detail how they arrived at each one. Although students have long been asked for explanations and examples in reading, social sciences and science classes, those questions have not been included in math classes until very recently.

Mississippi will rely heavily on registered nurses (RNs) to satisfy its healthcare needs within the next decade. An expected shortage of primary care physicians and a continued need for skilled providers to fill expanding roles in a variety of environments will put nurses at the forefront of healthcare in Mississippi.

As a working nurse, you have a demanding job. You may also be taking care of a family or have other commitments. Going back to school to earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree adds another layer to your already complex life. It is unrealistic to think that balancing all of these different aspects of your life will be easy. Going back to school, especially when you have other obligations, requires time, focus and energy. But there are things you can do to make your life more manageable while earning a career-changing nursing degree. The following tips can help nurses find balance in their lives.

Teachers and other education professionals who want to increase their skills in their current job, earn a promotion or seek another position should consider one of the Master of Education (M.Ed.) online programs at Mississippi College’s School of Education. These M.Ed. programs are some of the most flexible, high-quality paths to a master’s degree available.

People seeking a Master of Education (M.Ed.) may need to consider the cost of their degree. Getting a master’s degree can be expensive; however, the online degree programs from the School of Education at Mississippi College offer a private school education at public university prices.

Mississippi College’s School of Education offers three options for an online Master of Education (M.Ed.): M.Ed. in Elementary Education M.Ed. in Special Education M.Ed. in

When DeSean Dyson graduated with a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Mississippi College, he knew he was far from finished with his higher education.

Kelly Locastro had no intention of attending Mississippi College when she visited campus. “I grew up a couple of hours south,” Locastro said. “I was determined to go to a big state school. My brother ended up going to Mississippi College, which made me not want to go there even more.”