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2009-12-17T16:26:00.000-08:00

Whether as a vocational nurse, certified nurse assistant, medical assistant, registered nurse, anesthesia technician, dental assistant, if you are interested in a health career you need to have one very special characteristic: a genuine desire to help people

Registered nurse (RN) 2- or 4-year college degree; state licensing examination

Licensed practical nurse -1 year accredited nursing program and licensing examination; is supervised by an RN or physician

Nurse aide A variety of training programs by skilled nursing facilities, technical schools, and hospitals; also known as certified nurse assistant, patient care technician, personal care assistant, home health aide

Nurse practitioner---An RN with a master’s degree and additional clinical training and examination certification permitting prescription privileges and independent or collaborative medical practice.

The Nursing Shortage: A Crisis in America Healthcare-1

A serious shortage of nurses is expected in the future as demographic pressures influence both supply and demand. The future demand for nurses is expected to increase dramatically as the baby boomers reach their 60s and beyond

This is an important piece about the looming shortage of nursing in California, and the United States in general. This eye-opening video has been presented to audiences from Sacramento to Washington, DC.

The Nursing Shortage part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5,
212 the Extra Degree

Vocational nurse training-Vocational nurse job

How to Become a Nurse & Information on Nursing Program

2009-12-16T18:05:00.000-08:00

A career in the medical field is a good choice nowadays. Due to increased demand for healthcare professionals, a career in nursing is especially popular. Nursing educational programs vary a great deal, and sometimes it is difficult to choose which program better fits one’s ambition, age, or financial situation. Basically, there are three different nursing programs available: a licensed vocational nurse (LVN), an associate degree in nursing, and a bachelor degree in nursing.

The simplest route to becoming a nurse is to enroll in a vocational nurse program.

In Texas and California, the basic nursing career is called a licensed vocational nurse (LVN), but in other states it is called a licensed practical nurse (LPN) . Most vocational nursing programs can be finished in one year which is a great choice for people interested in a fast track to a nursing career. LVN programs have different entrance requirements. Some programs require prerequisites courses such as math, English, and medical terminology; others require only a high school diploma and a passing grade in the LVN pre – entrance exam.

After completing the LVN program, graduates receive a certificate or diploma in vocational (practical) nursing. Finally, they are required to take the National Council Licensure Exam. Passing this exam ensures that a LVN is ready to enter the nursing field at an entry level.

Licensed vocational nurses can also advance their careers by applying their LVN certificate toward the Registered Nurse bridge program. It is important to keep in mind that most vocational schools do not offer college credits. Therefore, if a graduate of a vocational school wants to become a Registered Nurse, he or she will need to take additional college courses in English, psychology and anatomy. So, when looking for a vocational nurse program, it is important to choose only those schools where students have transferable credits.

The next path into nursing is to obtain an Associates Degree in Nursing.

This program has to be approved by the state's Board of Nursing and usually takes 2 years to complete. There is such a demand to attend this program at community colleges that in some cases there is a two to three year waiting list before one can enter the program.

Requirements for entrance includes chemistry, psychology, anatomy, microbiology, college level English and math courses. There are many private schools for those who do not want to lose time. However, the cost of such nursing programs could be about five times higher than in the community colleges. In order to earn an RN license, one must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX).

Although an Associate Degree allows a student to become a Registered Nurse, the Bachelor of Science Nursing program has the best advancement opportunities in the job market.

For example, a graduate with a BSN degree can get more prestigious positions such as nursing administration, management, or even work at an insurance company. BSN programs are usually taken at four year colleges or universities.

The prerequisites are the same as for a nursing associate program plus a few additional classes, such as sociology, speech and statistics. Students who already have their Associate degree in nursing can get their Bachelor of Science degree through a bridge program.

A good schooling alternative is through online programs. There are no waiting lists, and online courses are not complicated. It is very convenient to do homework from a home computer whenever one has time. The flexibility of studying online doesn’t interfere with a student’s current job and gives him or her the opportunity to work, make money, and at the same time earn a Bachelor degree.

There are online accelerated programs offering Registered Nurse to a Master of Science in Nursing degree bridge programs without having first obtained a Bachelor of Science degree.

Some students complete the RN to MSN program in as little as two years!

A Masters degree in Nursing gives one unlimited opportunities in the medical field including starting a private practice as Nurse Practitioner.

All in all, the health care market has experienced a nursing shortage, and one cannot go wrong by entering the respected medical professional regardless of which path to nursing is chosen.
--------------------------
Author: Marina Smiley

Licensed Vocational Nurse Jobs
What is a Licensed Vocational Nurse?
Is the Vocational Nursing Profession a growing career?
What do Vocational Nurses do?

Beebe Medical Center -Beebe’s nursing education program

2009-11-09T10:15:00.001-08:00

Beebe Medical Center invites those interested in pursuing a nursing education to attend the fall open house at the school campus, on Market Street in Lewes behind Beebe Medical Center.

Visitors will get a chance to talk to faculty members and students, tour the facility and learn about the educational opportunities the school has to offer.

Ginny Rickards, MEd, RN, director of admissions, will conduct information sessions each hour to discuss educational opportunities. Beebe’s nursing education program is known for offering comprehensive nursing education, providing classes in basic nursing concepts, advanced technology and critical care nursing. The program also provides for optimal, hands-on clinical experience that is more accessible due to the proximity of Beebe Medical Center.

Graduates are well prepared for licensure and entry-level nursing practice once they have completed the program. Students also can earn a bachelor’s degree in one additional year through an articulation agreement with Wilmington University.

Beebe School of Nursing, based at Beebe Medical Center, is the only hospital-based nursing program in Delaware. It is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.

A nursing diploma is awarded at the completion of the curriculum, qualifying Beebe graduates to be eligible for National Council of State Boards of Nursing examination (NCLEX), leading to licensure. Beebe graduates have one of the highest NCLEX pass rates in the state.

Prerequisite college courses and a certified nursing assistant course are required prior to starting the Beebe School of Nursing program.

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“We are very proud of our program,” said Connie Bushey, RN, BSN, MEd, school director. “Our graduates have a tremendous success rate both on the NCLEX and in the clinical environment, reflecting our commitment to maintaining high quality in all aspects of their education.”

2009-11-09T10:15:00.000-08:00

Beebe Medical Center invites those interested in pursuing a nursing education to attend the fall open house from 3 to 5 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 12, at the school campus, on Market Street in Lewes behind Beebe Medical Center.

Veterinary Students: median income for a board-certified veterinarian was $145,000

2009-11-05T09:14:00.000-08:00

More and more veterinary graduates are participating in internships and other advanced education programs, according to data compiled by the AVMA.

AVMA surveys of veterinary graduates from veterinary schools and colleges in the United States found the proportion of graduates accepting positions in advanced training has increased 9 percent in the past year, from 39.9 percent in 2008 to 43.5 percent in 2009

By contrast, in 1991, only 17.8 percent of veterinary graduates were signing up for internships, residencies, and advanced degree programs.

These latest numbers reflect a trend in which increasing numbers of graduates are seeing value in supplementing their veterinary education with additional knowledge, skills, and experience.

Dr. D. Paul Lunn, president of the American Association of Veterinary Clinicians, sees the development as a good thing. "It reflects the continuing maturation of the profession," Dr. Lunn said, "and the realization that more education, more advancement, and more complex training can not only be hugely satisfying for all our graduates, but is also very positive for the veterinary profession and animal health in North America."

According to the most recent AVMA survey, nearly three-quarters of respondents entering advanced education indicated they had accepted an internship in private practice. A quarter had accepted academic internships. A small number of graduates had either accepted a residency or were pursuing a doctorate or other advanced degree.

Most internships are in companion animal medicine, followed by, in order of participation, equine, exotic or zoological animal, food animal, and mixed animal medicine, with the remainder involving other specialties, the 2009 survey found.

Dr. Roger B. Fingland is director of the Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program—a computer program that is the primary vehicle for placing veterinarians in internships and residencies in the United States. Dr. Fingland, who heads up the Kansas State University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, says VIRMP data also indicate the trend toward advanced training among recent veterinary graduates.

For instance, in 1989, 456 applications were submitted for 186 internship openings listed in the VIRMP, according to Dr. Fingland. By 2009, that had risen to 1,104 applicants for 850 program slots. On the residency side, 378 veterinarians applied for 156 openings in 1989. Twenty years later, 810 applications were received for 247 residency openings.

Most internship programs in the VIRMP system are in private practice, Dr. Fingland noted.

The VIRMP has been around since the early '80s, according to Dr. Fingland, and has gone through multiple upgrades. "Through the years, the computer program has been refined, and now we have great confidence that the program we use provides the best possible match between candidates and programs," he said.

While there are no hard data identifying what's driving recent veterinary graduates into advanced education programs, the conventional wisdom is these new veterinarians are motivated by one or more of the following factors: feelings of inadequacy, a desire to boost clinical proficiency, and increased earning potential.

Students have so much to learn within the span of a four-year veterinary degree program, according to Dr. Marguerite Pappaioanou, executive director of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, that some may feel a sense of inadequacy about entering the workforce.

"By and large, as students are coming to the end of their veterinary school curriculum, many feel unprepared to be, essentially, on their own and feel the need for additional training," Dr. Pappaioanou said.

Before Dr. Jeanne E. Ficociello graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2006, she had planned on returning home to Massachusetts for a life as a general practitioner. Many of her classmates were going into internships after graduation, however, and Dr. Ficociello figured a yearlong internship was a good investment in her career.

"After veterinary school, I felt like I had a good grounding, but as a general practitioner, I wouldn't have been totally prepared," she said. "I felt there was so much more to learn, and I was just starting my career, so I wanted my first year to be really good, really formative, to form good habits, and be in a place with a culture of mentoring."

Dr. Ficociello ended up interning at a Veterinary Clinics of America specialty practice in West Los Angeles, which piqued her interest in internal medicine. Dr. Ficociello is in the second year of a small animal medicine residency at Colorado State University, and she now plans on becoming board-certified in internal medicine.

Uncertainty about the ability to cope with the demands of practice is nothing new. Dr. Daryl D. Buss, dean of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, said such was the case when he was a veterinary student. Today, a general awareness exists within the profession that a DVM/VMD degree is an entry-level degree, he said, so internships and residencies are increasingly popular ways of supplementing the skills, knowledge, and competencies learned in veterinary school.

This is a phenomenon Dr. Buss has witnessed at Wisconsin, where over the past five years, surveys of new veterinary graduates have found the percentage accepting positions in advanced education has varied from a third of the class to as high as half the graduates. "That's significant by any way you would choose to measure it," he commented.

Dr. Buss doesn't believe feelings of inadequacy alone can account for the shift toward advanced training. He thinks many veterinary graduates sign up for internships and residencies as a means of equipping them to practice at a higher rate of proficiency. "They want that extra information that's above and beyond what the DVM alone is able to provide," Dr. Buss said.

Internships are typically the first step on the road to specialization, which translates into higher earning potential. According to the 2009 AVMA Report on Veterinary Compensation, the median income for a board-certified veterinarian in companion animal exclusive practice was $145,000 in 2007—the most recent data available—whereas a nonspecialized veterinarian in the same practice earned $91,000.

Higher income is an important consideration for veterinarians, especially when the mean educational debt load among veterinary graduates with debt in 2009 was $129,976, an 8.5 percent increase from 2008, according to the AVMA. The Association also found that a third of 2009 graduates indicated their intention to earn board certification from an AVMA-recognized specialty.

Is the rise in advanced education enrollment a signal to academia that major changes are needed in the veterinary curricula? Dr. Lunn, who, in addition to being AAVC president is head of the Department of Clinical Sciences at the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Colorado State University, wonders whether internships will one day be a requirement.

"Are our students sending us a message, and are the practitioners who employ them, that an additional year of formally mentored education could, in time, be viewed as a requirement before young veterinarians would feel comfortable, and we would feel comfortable giving them full license to practice?" asked Dr. Lunn, who readily admits he doesn't have the answer.

The North American Veterinary Medical Education Consortium, which was created to reshape veterinary education in the United States, may shed some light in this area. Relatedly, the AVMA and AAVMC have convened the Task Force on Veterinary Internships. The group is charged with reviewing the overall quality of veterinary internships, which, unlike residencies that are typically associated with academic institutions, are not subject to oversight.

Dr. Ficociello says she got everything she wanted from her internship—clinical and managerial training, mentorship, and a decent quality of life, despite the typical 70- to 80-hour workweek. But she knows veterinarians who suffered through "awful" internships and were essentially free labor.

"They're worked like dogs, and they become bitter," Dr. Ficociello said. "I've seen it ruin people in terms of they don't want to be vets anymore."

Dr. Fingland, who was asked to serve on the AVMA-AAVMC task force, explained that the VIRMP serves a listing and matching function; it does not evaluate programs. Programs that have violated VIRMP rules, such as by misrepresenting themselves, have, however, been sanctioned, which involves a three-year banishment from the program. Applicants who didn't honor their agreement to a particular program were likewise expelled, according to Dr. Fingland.

Dr. Ficociello recommends that soon-to-be graduates thoroughly research a prospective internship before committing themselves. "An internship is a really great idea, but it's not worthwhile unless it's a good fit," she said. "Not all internships are created equal."(source)

The busy teen plans to pursue a career in medicine

2009-11-04T07:09:00.000-08:00

Cox, a three-sport athlete and an active member of his church youth group, credits his mother, Beverly, with setting him on his career path.

"She wanted me to consider the medical field," he said.

A school nurse, his mother arranged for him to shadow pharmacist Steve Wiley at Wiley's Pharmacy in Centerville. This summer, he worked there as a pharmacy technician.

Previously, he worked at Rita's Italian Ice on Columbia Avenue and at Dutch Wonderland.

The busy teen, whose favorite subjects in school are math and science, plans to pursue a career in medicine, perhaps becoming a pharmacist.

"I would like being able to help people," he said. "It would be neat to answer their questions."

Cox, with a 4.0 grade-point average, ranks eighth in his class of 582 students. He is treasurer of the National Honor Society and a member of the National Spanish Honor Society.

Last year, he took Advanced Placement statistics. This year, he is enrolled in AP environmental science, a new offering at Hempfield, and AP calculus.

All his other courses are honors courses, with the exception of English, which he decided would be too much on top of his busy sports schedule.(source)

Careers for Gerontology Students

2009-11-03T07:54:00.000-08:00

Many people assume working with older adults means having medical experience.

While there is an increasing need for health care professionals skilled in aging issues, the growing number of adults 50 and older also is fueling demand for people to work with, or on behalf of, older adults in many other settings and roles.

From planning or teaching wellness classes to consulting with companies about how to hire or keep older workers, the span of jobs within the aging field is becoming longer and more exciting.

Susan Collins is an assistant professor of gerontology and coordinates the gerontology program at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley.

She notes that newer opportunities in the aging field realize today’s older adults are diverse individuals experiencing changes and health issues that, with good support, planning and management, don’t have to reduce quality of life.

“Careers for gerontology students today and in the future will not only include the health care fields but will include occupations that provide the kind of support that address the realities of aging, without the prejudice that the only dimension to age is poor health,” she said.

Gerontology
Geriatrics involves the comprehensive health of older adults. This field includes physicians, nurses, pharmacists, optometrists, dentists, occupational therapists and other medical professionals specially trained to treat older adults.

Gerontology is the study of the aging process, including physical, mental and social changes in older people as they age and also changes in society resulting from the aging population, according to the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education.

Students in the master’s-level gerontology program at UNC learn about the “whole” aging person — mental and physical health, normal age changes, social roles and relationships, later life development, retirement opportunities and more — and systems that support them, including social policy, programs and aging services.

“The great thing about the field of gerontology is that individuals from just about any experiential background can qualify because aging is relevant to every dimension of life,” Collins said.

Successful graduate-level students have entered the program with undergraduate degrees in areas including human services, art therapy, anthropology, English, business, sociology, political science and nursing, she said.

The program attracts many older students who are interested in changing careers or who are working more with older adults and want to enhance their knowledge about aging. More and more younger students are attracted by the career opportunities in the aging field as well, Collins said.

Careers

Within the program, students can focus on a particular career path, often building on existing experience.

Students with a graduate-level social work degree who pursue gerontology can specialize in working with older adults through county social or human service departments.

Additional licenses or certifications may qualify gerontology graduates to work as physical or occupational therapists or nursing home directors.

Gerontology graduates tend to have an edge over other applicants for administration jobs in long-term living facilities, Collins said.

“We often hear from our graduates that having personnel with a deep and holistic knowledge of aging on staff can tremendously enhance the quality of life for older residents,” she said.

Business experience paired with knowledge of aging is valuable in settings such as insurance companies, hospitals, counseling centers, investment firms and retailers.

Other, non-medical professionals may develop wellness, prevention, social, recreation and other programs. They may work in senior centers and other organizations or travel businesses that focus on older adult recreation, leisure or health — some gyms are even hiring individuals with knowledge of aging to coordinate programs specifically for older adults, Collins said.

Some job opportunities are less directly involved with older adults but work on their behalf or educate others about aging. These professionals may research the aging process or diseases or analyze housing options, retirement opportunities, the heath care system and other age-related issues.

Careers are emerging for marketing consultants and individuals to work as liaisons between older customers and banks, credit unions, insurance companies and other businesses.

Geriatric care managers are a growing field of professionals who access older adults’ care needs and manage resources and services to help clients be as independent as possible. Care managers usually are trained nurses or social workers and may be in private practice or employed by nonprofit organizations.

The National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers establishes standards of care and certification programs for these professionals.

“I see this kind of organization as an important wave of the future with lots of support and resources for those who want to enter the field,” Collins said.

This article includes information from the Careers in Aging Project and from the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry.(source)

Little more than a year out of high school, she is about to launch her career as medical professional.

2009-10-20T08:28:00.000-07:00

Sonia Flores of Tulare, little more than a year out of high school, is about to launch her career as medical professional.

“I’ll be done in about a week,” said Flores, 19, a Tulare Western High School graduate, referring to a 14-month, $26,000 dental-assistant program at San Joaquin Valley College, a 1,000-student private junior college in west Visalia which not only provided Flores with dental-assistant certification — but a freshly minted, two-year Associate in Science degree.

“This was the right choice for me,” said Flores, who paid for the program with $10,000 worth in financial aid provided by the college and two loans totaling $16,000. Despite such cost factors, SJVC enrollment is up 25 percent over last year, school officials say.

Gaining an associate’s degree would be less expensive at a junior college, but could take two years or longer. Certification for dental assistant might extend that time even further.

But the time saved means more full-time pay now, Flores said. When she completes her current internship in a Kingsburg-based dental office, she can immediately gain employment at any area dental office starting at $12 an hour and above.

That’s only a first step, Flores said. After a few years’ experience, she plans on training to be a dental hygienist, where pay rates of $20 to $25 an hour are not uncommon.

Fast and furious

In a changing work force, vocational education is also changing — with high-octane, private institutions growing just as fast, or faster, than more traditional vocational education offered by public school systems and state-financed community colleges.
“Industry needs specific skills,” said Joseph Holt, marketing and admissions director for SJVC, which has 10 campuses statewide, including Visalia. “These skills tend to change, and we adjust to those changes.”

SJVC does that by working with an advisory committee composed of industrial professionals, whose input is directly applied to instruction at SJVC. Most programs cost around $12,000 for certificates, to $24,000 and up for two-year degrees.

“Speed [of industrial change] is a big factor,” said Don Wright, director of Visalia’s SJVC campus. “We have to stay on top of that and provide industry the type of talent it needs.”
Milan expanding

Vocational education is growing at other levels locally.

Visalia’s campus of the nationwide Milan Institute, more famous for its cosmetology school but making inroads into other areas, is about to open yet another new location — this one inside a 16,000-square-foot office and classroom complex on Mooney Boulevard in south Visalia near Mooney Grove Park.

“That’s a new location for our health and business school,” said Patrick Taylor, Milan director. Enrollment at this portion of Milan’s school stands at around 200, Taylor said — up from 150 a year ago.

The same upward trend is evident at Milan’s cosmetology school, which last year opened a new location on the 3300 block of South Fairway Street in Visalia. Enrollment there stands at 175 and was 127 a year ago.

Cost ranges from $8,000 to $16,000 per course, depending on category, Taylor said, and some financial aid is available.

Milan started in 1987 under the name Golden State College, Taylor said, but business demands changed, as did the image of the school.

“That’s the reason for diversifying courses outside of the cosmetology area,” said Taylor, whose institute now offers such certificate programs as massage therapy, medical assisting and office administration.

Across-the-board growth

And if anyone thinks the expansion of these costly private schools is cutting into public-sector education, think again. Overall commercial and industrial vocational programs at the 13,000-student College of the Sequoias in Visalia have grown a whopping 65 percent in enrollment over the last four years, said Larry Dutto, commercial technical education director at COS.

“Of the students now enrolled, 8,000 are in the vocational area,” Dutto said. “There is a significant need for qualified job candidates in a variety of industrial technical areas.”

All of this growth in vocational education is not necessarily a product of public-school inadequacy, Dutto and other experts say. It’s just that the bureaucracy of public school is not nearly as nimble in changing philosophies as public and private junior colleges and professional academies.

“No longer can [public] schools stress academics, academics, academics, like the No Child Left Act behind act emphasized,” Dutto said. In the Bush administration’s No Child Left Behind program, students and teachers were held to a certain standard on basic reading, writing and English speaking — but trade skills were never part of the equation.

“Speed [of industrial change] is a big factor,” said Don Wright, director of Visalia’s SJVC campus. “We have to stay on top of that and provide industry the type of talent it needs.”

Milan expanding

Vocational education is growing at other levels locally.

Visalia’s campus of the nationwide Milan Institute, more famous for its cosmetology school but making inroads into other areas, is about to open yet another new location — this one inside a 16,000-square-foot office and classroom complex on Mooney Boulevard in south Visalia near Mooney Grove Park.

“That’s a new location for our health and business school,” said Patrick Taylor, Milan director. Enrollment at this portion of Milan’s school stands at around 200, Taylor said — up from 150 a year ago.

The same upward trend is evident at Milan’s cosmetology school, which last year opened a new location on the 3300 block of South Fairway Street in Visalia. Enrollment there stands at 175 and was 127 a year ago.

Cost ranges from $8,000 to $16,000 per course, depending on category, Taylor said, and some financial aid is available.

Milan started in 1987 under the name Golden State College, Taylor said, but business demands changed, as did the image of the school.

“That’s the reason for diversifying courses outside of the cosmetology area,” said Taylor, whose institute now offers such certificate programs as massage therapy, medical assisting and office administration.

Across-the-board growth

And if anyone thinks the expansion of these costly private schools is cutting into public-sector education, think again. Overall commercial and industrial vocational programs at the 13,000-student College of the Sequoias in Visalia have grown a whopping 65 percent in enrollment over the last four years, said Larry Dutto, commercial technical education director at COS.

“Of the students now enrolled, 8,000 are in the vocational area,” Dutto said. “There is a significant need for qualified job candidates in a variety of industrial technical areas.”

All of this growth in vocational education is not necessarily a product of public-school inadequacy, Dutto and other experts say. It’s just that the bureaucracy of public school is not nearly as nimble in changing philosophies as public and private junior colleges and professional academies.

“No longer can [public] schools stress academics, academics, academics, like the No Child Left Act behind act emphasized,” Dutto said. In the Bush administration’s No Child Left Behind program, students and teachers were held to a certain standard on basic reading, writing and English speaking — but trade skills were never part of the equation.(source)

Jobs in the medical profession are plentiful and increasing as baby boomers age

2009-10-19T09:24:00.000-07:00

Allied health careers are not for everyone, Pearl River Community College instructors and students told some 300 area high school students Sept. 30.

Schooling is intense, competitive and occasionally messy. But the rewards are financial - with annual salaries between $40,000 and $60,000 - as well as emotional, they said.
Students from 12 area high schools made the field trip to PRCC's Forrest County Center to tour its 10 allied health programs, which range from respiratory care to occupational therapy to dental hygiene.

Most programs are two years and have a clinical component, with students taking their knowledge into area medical facilities such as Hattiesburg Clinic and Forrest General Hospital.
"You go into an emergency room, and you see nasty stuff, but you're not thinking about that," said second-year respiratory care student Rachel Allen, 31. "You're thinking about saving somebody's life."

Allen and several peers displayed respiratory care techniques to participating high school students.
Volunteer Haley Camp, 16, inserted a laryngoscope into the mouth of a lab mannequin to enable mechanical ventilation.
"It was fun. It was different," said Camp, who wants to become an anesthesiologist, surgeon or emergency room doctor. She was one of about 60 Petal High students participating.
Forrest County Center Dean Cecil Burt said the field trip - a yearly staple for at least 15 years - is intended for students already taking allied health courses at their schools.

"Those people in those allied health programs aspire to go on to careers in various health professions, and we show them the training opportunities that are available in these fields," he said.

Though the college has an open admissions policy, allied health students must apply to programs. They are judged in most cases based on personal interviews, ACT scores and grade point averages. In the case of certain programs, they must take prerequisite courses at PRCC before applying.

About 300 students are enrolled in the school's allied health programs. Because of caps set by accrediting bodies, Burt said that about two-thirds of applying students are turned away, many of them fully qualified to be admitted.

Once in, they are on a promising career path, said Patti Crowson, chair of the physical therapy department. Jobs in the medical profession are plentiful and increasing as baby boomers age, she said.
"Don't just get a degree; get a career," she urged students.
It's a challenge that some students said they are embracing.
Senior Kolyn Dossett, 17, of Poplarville High School said she is considering PRCC in order to become a pediatric dental hygiene..
"Two years to make good money to do something you love, it's definitely worth it," she said.(source)

Nursing programs are attracting many of the new students

2009-10-12T07:45:00.000-07:00

As they wait for signs that the economy is improving, many Americans are taking the opportunity to return to school. For some, a college degree will provide better job security, while others want to expand their career options by studying a new field altogether.

Nursing programs are attracting many of the new students, who see their desire to care for others meshing nicely with the security of working in the only industry that has continued to hire throughout the recession.

A few weeks ago, US News & World Report published its 2009 list of America’s Best Careers. Over 40 percent of the 31 fields listed were in healthcare, including registered nurses. US News based its findings on "the jobs with the best outlook in this recessionary economy (and beyond), the highest rates of job satisfaction, the least difficult training necessary, the most prestige, and the highest pay."

The demand for nurses is increasing for many reasons, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Health Professionals. Among them is a rapidly aging population: The overwhelming number of graying baby-boomers will require a much higher volume of healthcare services provided by more medical professionals than ever before. During the next 25 years, the over-age-65 population will increase at five times the rate of those under 65.

California’s Acute Shortage
California lags behind much of the country in the number of nurses per capita, according to a recent report from the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency. The state has 647 registered nurses for every 100,000 people – far fewer than the national average of 825 per 100,000, according to the CLWDA.

Not that progress hasn’t been made. Nearly 10,000 RNs graduated from California schools in 2008, a 55-percent increase from 2005. The state now has 131 RN programs, 23 more than existed four years ago. And nursing program enrollments are up 69 percent in that same period, with more than 23,500 students currently taking classes.

Two Years of Training Opens Many Doors
Over half of all RNs have at least a four-year degree, but an associate’s degree is all it takes to launch this career. Terese Plesser is the nursing program director at Brown Mackie College in Kansas City. "A two-year associate’s degree prepares graduates for entry-level positions at hospitals, clinics and other medical facilities," she says. "From there, a consideration is obtaining a bachelor of science in nursing degree, which widens career possibilities to management and education positions."

Nursing offers varied choices in terms of work settings and areas of concentration. Hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, hospices, physician’s offices, and home healthcare providers all employ nurses.

Sherry Payne is a Brown Mackie faculty member who teaches obstetrics and pediatrics at the Kansas City campus. Upon earning her bachelor’s degree, she entered nursing with a focus on labor and delivery. Finding great satisfaction in her work, she stayed within the field of obstetric care. Payne now brings her rich career experience to the classroom, teaching others who wish to enter the nursing field. "I have great appreciation for my leap from a clinical setting to teaching. I see it as a way to expand on my personal vision of the world of maternity in a greater way," she says.

Personal vision seems to be a common thread running through nursing students today. "Many students show up after an encounter with nursing that has a lifelong impact," Payne notes. "A positive experience with the healthcare system plants a seed. They see nursing as a lifetime mission, not just a job. It’s a passion, a true vocation."

Other examples of the diverse experiences a nursing degree can deliver are seen in the career of Pat Frost, a Brown Mackie faculty member who began her career in the US Air Force as a nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit and spent time doing postpartum care. Back in civilian life, she worked with an ophthalmologist, then for several schools as a special-needs nurse and instructor of anatomy and physiology.

From there she returned to a clinical setting as an IV-therapy nurse before coming back to education at Brown Mackie College. "I’m working now on a master’s degree in nursing education," Frost says. "It is satisfying to see students come out of the classroom not only knowing facts and figures, but also learning about improving their lives."

These three professionals agree that nursing affords them opportunities to affect others in a positive way. "Nursing calls on many skills in a given day," says Plesser. "We are technologists dealing with medical equipment that changes frequently, diplomats dealing with sometimes difficult people, and educators telling patients about disease processes.

"The nice thing about nursing," she adds, "is if you get tired of one thing, you can try something else in another area."

For Payne, interaction is a vital component. Nurses interact with doctors, patients, families of patients, and each other. "Nurses are supportive of each other. We know when to delegate and when to collaborate. We sometimes work holidays and celebrate together. We become family."(source)

Midway is poised to add two new health science classes, anatomy and physiology and medical microbiology/pathophysiology

2009-10-10T06:52:00.000-07:00

Some of them want to be doctors several years down the road, and others are itching to get behind the wheel of an ambulance next year — either way, an increasing number of students are getting their start in health care at Midway High School.

The health science technology program at Midway isn’t the longest-running career and technology program at the school and it’s not the biggest, but it is the fastest-growing. It’s no wonder, considering that last year in Texas the demand for full-time registered nurses alone exceeded the supply by 22,000, according to the Texas Nursing Workforce Shortage Coalition.

Debbie Woods, Midway High health science technology instructor, taught one health science class in 2004-05. Today, the program has two teachers, six classes and about 200 students.
“Most of these are very serious, very goal-oriented students,” Woods said.

The program also is pulling a wide range of students of different academic ambitions and abilities. “I was really surprised the number of top 10 percenters I have in my classrooms,” Woods said, referring to students who are in the top 10 percent of their class, based on grades.

Heather Metzgar, Midway coordinator of career and technical education, said of the 1,960 Midway High students, about 85 percent take a career and technology class at some point. The career and technology program offers more than 40 classes that count as electives. The state made more room for these electives in students’ schedules this summer by eliminating the half-credit requirements of health and computer skills and reducing the physical education requirement.

As the state and the nation focus on producing a skilled workforce, schools like Midway continue to expand their career and technology course offerings to help with that goal. Midway is poised to add two new health science classes, anatomy and physiology and medical microbiology/pathophysiology, to the roster for next year, which each will count as a science credit.

The Midway school board is expected to approve those courses at its next board meeting. Additional courses awaiting approval by the board include audio/video production, fashion marketing, sports and entertainment marketing, food science, counseling and mental health, equine science, veterinary medical applications and principles, and elements of floral design.

Olivia Rascoe, a Midway High senior, is about to begin clinical rotations at Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center and Providence Health Center through her health science technology 2 class.

“I always was interested in working in a hospital later on, so when I found out about these classes, I thought it’d really help. I really just don’t know what I want to be, so that’s what I’m going to find out this year in clinical rotation,” said Rascoe, who plans to major in biology at Texas A&M University.

Rascoe’s classmate, senior Brittany Cockerham, is doing clinical rotations this year, but she also will graduate with her certified nursing assistant license after taking a dual-credit course between Midway and McLennan Community College. She said she may put that license to work while she goes to school to become a registered nurse.

Last year, 11 students got their certified nursing assistant license this way, and six students had jobs lined up when they graduated high school, Woods said. This year, Midway High added a dual-credit course with MCC by which students get their emergency medical technician certification. That certification also can help students get placed right away as they work their way through more training or college.

“It’s really helping to prepare them for that world of work,” Metzgar said about the courses.

Metzgar said not all parents and students are aware of all the options that career classes can offer the students, which ultimately could help them fit everything they want and need into their schedule. For instance, Metzgar said, any two-credit career class can be substituted for a PE class. Also, Midway ISD offers some basic graduation requirements, such as speech, in the summer so that students can get them out of the way.

This year, Midway has organized its career and technology offerings into career academies, and school officials are re-energizing efforts to help students find electives that interest them.

This October, students through 11th grade will retake the career survey that is given to all students in eighth grade to help them find electives that fit their interests and talents. This way, the students can begin courses in health care, agriculture, business and other areas that much sooner.(source)

These students are learning about the same topics medical school students study

2009-10-03T08:48:00.000-07:00

Christina Oyelola, 14, wants to be a pediatric surgeon someday.

And why wouldn’t she? For the past five years or so, she’s had a chance to experience all sorts of neat medical activities.

“I liked looking at the cow’s heart the best,” said Christina, a freshman at Jefferson Junior High, adding that she doesn’t get squeamish.

Christina is a regular at Caleb, The Science Club, a 15-year-old medical program for students in fifth grade through high school.

Don’t let their ages fool you, though. These students are learning about the same topics medical school students study. This year’s syllabus includes CPR training, a lesson in radiology and dissection of an animal’s heart, said Ellis Ingram, club founder and an associate professor of pathology and anatomical sciences at the University of Missouri School of Medicine.

“This is no small endeavor,” Ingram said. “We’re really presenting the students with a serious academic challenge.”

Caleb is held one Saturday a month. Students are paired with medical school students who serve as mentors. Afterward, students eat lunch with their mentors in university dining halls.

Ingram funds the program mostly through volunteers and out of pocket. MU’s enrollment department helps out with meal tickets, hoping the program will encourage students to someday become Tigers.

The program got a financial boost in 2004 when then-President George W. Bush honored Ingram with a Presidential Award of Excellence for his mentoring efforts. The award came with a $10,000 grant, which has helped sustain Caleb.

The activities are open to anyone, but the club especially strives to encourage black students to become familiar with science.

“Especially for minority students, when they see a medical student who looks like them, they make a connection,” Ingram said.

That’s also a goal for the Student National Medical Association, which hosted the discussion and hands-on CPR exercise Saturday in Acuff Auditorium in the medical school.

“We endeavor to encourage diversity in medicine,” said Julie Watkins-Torry, a second-year medical student.

Wanting to be a doctor isn’t a prerequisite to join the club, nor are all club members aspiring to work in the field of medicine.

“They come because they’re challenged,” Ingram said. “We have lofty expectations, and they rise to the challenge. They’re serious about academics. … We’re creating an appetite for learning, an appetite to become leaders, and because of that we’re creating a new culture of aggressive learners.”(source)

Online free job training for a career in health care

2009-10-01T07:45:00.000-07:00

Free job training for a career in health care is now available online to adults and high school students throughout Tehama County.

The first class, the Medical Careers Exploratory Course, starts Oct. 1. It covers the basics of health care and prepares students for more advanced courses.

Topics include medical terminology, infection control, anatomy, safety precautions, CPR, emergency care, job-seeking skills and more.

Students who successfully complete this course can continue their online career training in the spring with the Multi- Skilled Nursing Assistant course, or sign up for courses at a local community college.

The course is being offered by Sacramento County Office of Education Regional Occupation. Program through a grant from the California Department of Education.

"Career training courses have been around for a long time, but often they aren't very accessible to young people in rural areas," said John Fleischman, assistant superintendent.

"By making these courses available online, we're opening up new career training opportunities for those who can't find local programs."(source)

Students paid the school thousands of dollars to complete a Ultrasound program that cannot get them hired.

2009-09-29T12:42:00.000-07:00

Three former students of Modern Technology School claim the institution misrepresented the accreditation of its Ultrasound program and lied about job opportunities for graduates, according to a class action complaint.

The plaintiffs filed the complaint Aug. 13 with the Orange County Superior Court. The school and its parent company, M.T. XRay, Inc., have not yet responded to the complaint.

The plaintiffs say they each paid the school thousands of dollars to complete a program that cannot get them hired. According to the complaint, the students were told the program was accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.

Modern Technology School is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology, said Sue Shannon, campus director.

"We're investigating the claims and we've been in business since 1981 and have never had anything like this happen before," Shannon said. "We have also put out probably hundreds of successful graduates, and the claims we feel at this time are unsubstantiated allegations."

Students who graduate from an accredited program are allowed to take a licensing exam after graduation. But the complaint says the program is not accredited and the students were left with debt instead of a job in the field. Medical sonographers earn about $35 per hour, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

CAAHEP lists only eight schools in California with accredited diagnostic medical sonographer programs. Orange Coast College and Cypress College are the only schools with accredited programs in Orange County.

A description of the Ultrasound program on the school's Web site states "students completing the program will be able to sit for the national registry examinations in General Ultrasound and/or Vascular Technology given by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers."

Twelve former students at Newbridge College in Santa Ana filed a similar class action lawsuit against the school in July 2008. The students said they found out they were ineligible for medical jobs after paying thousands in tuition. Attorney Scott Schutzman, who represents the students, says he now receives frequent calls from other students in the same situation.(source)

Career ladders are important to the professional development of nurses

2009-09-29T12:36:00.000-07:00

Fresenius Medical Care North America will expand a program that provides nurses with a career ladder, which encourages professional development and education in nephrology.

After approximately three months of operation, the first regional pilot was completed in June, and Fresenius said it plans to roll out the program nationwide by the end of next year. All Fresenius staff nurses will be enrolled in the program, where they will focus their studies on various nephrology-related topics, with course complexity ranging from beginner to advanced practitioner. The company helps pay tuition and education costs as an employee benefit.

"Fresenius Medical Care developed this program to enhance our nurses’ ability to develop themselves in areas leading to higher quality care, as well as better patient and staff satisfaction,” said Athena Palearas, vice president of education at Fresenius Medical Care. "Career ladders are important to the professional development of nurses, giving them choices about how and where to improve their skills, and a vision for their self-development."

This program outlines four practice tiers among registered nurses. Staff members can advance up the clinical ladder by developing new skills through education and outreach. For example, after developing advanced knowledge in areas such as diabetes and anemia, a nurse might make presentations to a nursing program or fellow staff. It normally takes a nurse about two years to advance from one level to the next through the program.(source)

The nursing books cover the two years for the program and students must buy them all at the beginning of the program

2009-09-03T23:36:00.000-07:00

Clemson University student Jessica Mosley paid about $600 for her first semester of graduate school accounting books, about double what she said she paid per semester as an undergraduate.
Mary Jane Satterfield of Travelers Rest is an animal agriculture major at Clemson. Her book tally for this semester is $200 to $300, she said. In many of her classes, professors provide notes and classes are more “hands on,” she said, lessening her book costs.

Both were recently at the Barnes & Noble bookstore at Clemson’s student center shopping for textbooks or required reading for classes.

As students have returned to school, they are dealing not only with higher tuition, school fees, room and board, but also with the cost of textbooks. And as more people out of work or seeking a career change upgrade their education, they are learning about that other part of educational costs.

Several groups are advocating legislation and action to reduce book costs.

One of them, the Student Public Research Interest Group, which operates the Make Textbooks Affordable Web site, supported a new federal law that requires textbook publishers “to disclose key price information to professors, so that they can consider the cost on behalf of students,” said Nicole Allen, textbooks advocate with the group. “Our research shows that publishers are not upfront with that information.”

The price disclosure part of the legislation takes effect July 1, 2010, she said.

“This legislation doesn’t solve the problem, but it helps create the right economic conditions for more affordable alternatives to take hold,” Allen said in an e-mail response to questions.

A spokesman for textbook publishers said the cost of the printed book “is just the tip of the iceberg” when it comes to what publishers are doing to help students and faculty and the costs of that.

Today, publishers not only provide books, but also provide the technology that accompanies them, said Bruce Hildebrand, a spokesman for the Association of American Publishers. Computer disks, online tutoring programs, e-books, rented books, custom-made textbooks with specific chapters and more now are part of what was once the conventional textbook.

That doesn’t include the publishers’ cost for creation of the basic textbook, the intellectual “inputs,” he said, including authors, editing, design, printing and more. Publishers pay for the technology behind the online programs, the disks accompanying books and more, he said. That lowers colleges’ costs because more students can take a single class using online resources, he said.

Another factor is resellers, he said. Publishers sell the book once, but resellers such as bookstores and used-book Web sites can sell the same book over and over, collecting ever-more profits on it, Hildebrand said.

Textbooks aren’t any cheaper at community colleges.

Tri-County Technical College’s manager of auxiliary services, Kevin Steele, who oversees the college’s bookstore, said book costs depend on the course.

While full-time students enrolled in arts and science classes pay about $350 to $550 per semester for books, nursing students must pay $1,100 to $1,400, he said. But the nursing books cover the two years for the program and students must buy them all at the beginning of the program, he said.

Steele believes the price problem is with the publishers of the books.

“The bottom line on why textbooks are so high? It’s the publishers; they control the costs,” Steele said.

He said Tri-County faculty members try to work with publishers to get the best book for the best price. Sometimes they will order only sections of books to reduce costs, he said.

Tri-County Technical College student CijiWright, 25, is studying nursing. She’s a certified nurse assistant at an Anderson nursing home, but wanted to get a better-paying job.

Before she takes nursing classes, she has to complete some basic courses this semester. Still, her textbook bill this semester is $562, she said. Her computer science book was $170 and a math book was $140, she said.

Seneca resident James Finger, 26, is enrolled in industrial maintenance courses at Tri-County and paid about $600 this semester for books. He was back at the bookstore Tuesday looking for a supplemental math book that could help him with the answers to the online math course he is taking. The math book for the online course, he said, was $153.

Wright and Finger said grants covered the cost of their books.

For some, though, the price can be daunting.

“I knew it would be expensive for graduate school, but I didn’t realize it would be that expensive,” said Clemson student Jessica Mosley.

While her mother is paying for her education, but “it’s a shock to her when she budgeted about $400,” Mosley said.

Students say they are resourceful when it comes to buying books.

Some, like Clemson’s Mary Jane Satterfield, swap required books with friends who have taken the same courses. Others buy used books. At Tri-County, a bulletin board next to the bookstore is covered with notes from students selling used books. Web sites like Amazon.com offer complete sections for textbooks, new and used.

Rented books also have become popular as a cost-saving measure. Publishers have been at the forefront of that effort, Hildebrand said. And publishers offer specific supplemental material on their Web sites if students just need part of a book package, he said.

Often, after students attend class, they find out they may not need a book and return it to the bookstore, several said.

A survey by the National Association of College stores found that students’ biggest complaint was not the price, but use, Hildebrand said.

“Students are distressed when a faculty member has them buy one, two, three books and only use one chapter,” he said.

More and more faculty, however, are custom-designing books, picking exactly what chapters they want, he said. At the University of Arkansas, a required course for all students combines elements of nine different books, Hildebrand said. Students can buy the book in paper form, as an audio book, an e-book and more, all designed by the publisher specifically for the school, he said.

Steele said he often advises students and their parents to get the ISBN number of the book for the course and see if they can find it cheaper online. And some faculty will tell students when class starts that they don’t need a specific book, that they should return it and rely on class notes and online resources.

Hildebrand encourages students to go to publishers’ Web sites, too. Often, he said, their prices for suppplemental materials are lower than resellers’ prices.

The Tri-County bookstore has the largest buyback program among two-year colleges in the Southeast, according to a company that maintains its software, Steele said.

He said he’s heard the complaint about prices.

“I’ll tell students, ‘You are right. They are too expensive,’” Steele said. “But we can’t control the publishers.”

Nicole Allen of the Student Public Interest Research Group said the group’s goal is to get professors to look at the other choices they may have when it comes time to order books.

“The focus of the campaign right now is a grassroots effort to raise awareness of affordable alternatives among professors,” Allen said. “Specifically, we are promoting ‘open textbooks,’ which are free online, affordable in print, and more flexible because of less restrictive copyright permissions.”

The tide may be shifting.

As technology advances and publishers continue to provide more materials online, the adoption of “virtual classes” and more Internet-based classes may push the printed textbook and its resale to a secondary status.

Hildebrand said many schools have adopted computer-based developmental college classes, including one called mymathlab.com. Tri-County Tech, Piedmont Technical College, Greenville Technical College and Anderson University are among local schools using the technology, he said.
Publishers have been developing artificial intelligence programs to allow students to sign in to a class, and the software will adapt to the students’ skill level as they work through the program. Chemistry classes, which required colleges to staff a lab and were expensive, now can be taken online, Hildebrand said. “When somebody holds up a textbook, that is the tip of the iceberg,” he said.(source)

Training for careers in the health professions

2009-09-03T22:56:00.000-07:00

High school graduates and other adults looking to improve their career outlook can take advantage of training programs in order to start a career. High-demand jobs in many trade areas and various medical fields require training. The Sussex Tech Adult Division has developed quality programs to prepare students for successful careers. The Sussex Tech Adult Division offers a free payment plan for most programs

Training for careers in the health professions continues to provide students with the skills to enter this high-demand area. Nursing assistant graduates become employed at competitive salaries with benefits in many cases. There are limited tuition-assisted enrollments in this program. Other training programs include medical assisting, pharmacy technician, a new rehabilitation therapy aide program and medical office (billing and coding, clerical).

Most courses combine classwork and workplace experience. Sussex Tech has received approval of many courses by two national organizations. National certification exams are administered through the National Healthcareer Association or the National Center for Competency Testing.

Individuals interested in training to help begin a career should contact the Sussex Tech Adult Division at 302-856-9035 and ask to speak with a program coordinator.

The tuition assistance is provided through program approval by the Delaware Workforce Investment Board. Sussex Tech Adult Division programs are equal opportunity programs.(source)

the most “recession proof” job today and for many tomorrows is Health Care

2009-08-21T14:30:00.000-07:00

According to all the media, all the polls the most “recession proof” job today and for many tomorrows is Health Care. There’s been a sever shortage of nurses for almost 20 years. The recession has directed many people into the health care industry bringing relief but we all know that the “baby boomers” are beginning to reach retirement age.

The rate of persons age 60 or older is figured to double within the next 20 years. Combine that with the average nursing vacancy rate (those retiring or moving on) between 10-20% it’s the one field that has plenty of openings, longevity is not an issue.

It is common knowledge that one of the highest paying professions is brain and heart surgeons with surgeons in general close behind, followed by the many, many kinds of physicians. If you bore easy you can go into ER or become a paramedic.

People that enter the health care field must be a caring loving type of person, you need to care about your fellow man. If you think of it as just a job, it’s probably not for you. Education is paramount but the degrees work all the way down to volunteers.

The knowledge you acquire stays with you your entire life. “It’s a wonderful, rewarding profession with a gratification you don’t find in jobs not working closely with people.” Isla Stapleton, a retired nurse’s aide said.

Nursing has made giant strides in respectability in recent years. A registered nurse or RN represents the largest health care position with 2.5 million. They are the doctors’ right arm; they treat, educate patients and supply emotional support to families. Salaries range from $50k to $66k. The licensed practicing nurse LPN position can be achieved after about a year of vocational training. Salaries range from $30k to $40k. They care for patients under the guidance of the doctors or RN’s.

The nurses aide of the past has taken on many labels. At the top is the certified nursing assistant CNA, the nurses aide, patient care technicians, home health aides, caregivers and more. Salaries range from $13 per hour to $20. All these professions have different venues: the doctor’s office, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and in home care.

The nursing shortage generates heavier workloads, longer hours, creates stress and job dissatisfaction. Inadequate staffing causes overcrowding in hospitals, clinics and nursing homes alike which produces poorer overall patient care.(source)

dental hygienists and dental assistants

2009-08-12T17:26:00.000-07:00

A general dentist is licensed to diagnose dental issues and oral conditions, develop treatment plans and provide certain treatments. When necessary, general and family dentists may refer you to a more specialized dental practitioner.

Dentists provide treatment with help from dental hygienists and dental assistants. A dental hygienist performs professional dental cleanings. The hygienist’s designation may be RDH (Registered Dental Hygienist), or RDHEF (Registered Dental Hygienist with Extended Functions).

A dental assistant may assist a dentist during a procedure, set up anesthesia, expose and develop radiographs or perform other general tasks. In accordance with U.S. law, dental hygienists and dental assistants must work under the supervision of a dentist.

Home health care nurses

2009-06-29T21:45:00.000-07:00

Home health care nurses (visiting nurses) must have the skills to provide care in a unique setting such as someone's home. They care for patients who are recovering from an accident or illness. Home health care nurses also care for children with disabilities and for women who have experienced recent childbirth. Home health care nurses monitor pulse, blood pressure and temperature, administer simple diagnostic procedures, such as drawing blood and other samples for the laboratory, and instruct home patients on how to use portable testing equipment
Visiting nurses may be independent nurses who work on a contract basis or they may work for a community organization and a private health care provider

Home healthy nurses are often assigned to patients after the patient are discharged from a hospital. For instance, when open heart patient is well enough to leave the hospital, the visiting nurse provide follow-up health care on a regular basis (vital signs, dressings, and medications).
If anything is not within normal limits, then the home healthy nurse reports this to the doctor.

Nurses who specialize in a specific nursing field such as home health care nursing must first become registered nurses. Many home health care are required to have at least one year of clinical experience before entering home health care.

Home health care nurses must be able to work independently. They keep records and charts and document the services they provide

There are more than 7 million individuals in the United States in need of home health care nurse because of acute illness, long term health problems, permanent disability or terminal illness

Community health nurses-public health nurses

2009-06-16T21:52:00.000-07:00

Community health nurses (public health nurses), provide community-based health care.

Nurses in this field often work for a state funded or federally funded agency, or a private health provides company. They may work in community health centers in large and small cities

Community health nurses

-give immunizations at a community center

-instruct a class for expectant mothers

-visit new parents and help them learn how to care for their new baby

-talk with senior citizens and give presentation to schools regarding health, safety, exercise, and nutrition

-organize, promote, and deliver care to community groups in remote settings

-as a public health nursing professionals, they are called on to provide access to health care to people who may not normally be able to afford medical services such as immigrants or homeless shelter residents

-community health nurses usually work with all ages and with different group of people

-provide public health services and educational programs to correctional facilities, elderly care facilities, and maternal and well-baby clinics.

Community health nurses have a median income of $52,000. The lowest paid 10% earn less than $37,000 annually, while the top paid 10% of registered nurses earned more than $60,000 annually.

Clinical Nurse Specialist in Community Health Nursing -
The Master of Science in Nursing degree with a specialty in Public Community Health

Psychiatric nurses, Advanced practice psychiatric nurses

2009-05-21T20:45:00.000-07:00

Psychiatric nurses care for pediatric, teen, adult , and elderly patients who may have a broad spectrum of mentally and emotionally related medical needs.

Basic psychiatric nurses are registered nurses who work primarily with patients needing mental health or psychiatric care.

Advanced practice psychiatric nurses are also RNs but they have earned certification as certified nurse specialists (CNSs) or have taken graduate courses to become clinical specialists/nurse practitioners (CNS/NPs), or psychiatric nurse practitioners ( PNPs)

Psychiatric nurses may sub-specialize in areas such as child-adolescent mental health nursing , geropsychiatric nursing, forensics, or substance abuse.

Psychiatric nurses perform a wide range of direct –care nursing duties for the mentally ill and emotionally disturbed. Some psychiatric nurses may work as community health nurses. They may also work for insurance or managed –care companies, or in health care institutions or government facilities.

Basic psychiatric nurses earn starting salaries that range from $35,000 to $40,000 annually.

Advanced practice psychiatric nurses earn salaries that range from $60,000 to more than $80,000 a year.

Nurse anesthetists-CRNAs

2009-05-19T21:53:00.000-07:00

Nurse anesthetists – certified registered nurse anesthetists ( CRNAs).

CRNAs are registered nurses (RNs) with advanced training in anesthesiology.

All applicants to nurse anesthetist programs must be a RNs with a bachelor’s degree and have at least one year’s acute care nursing experience. Admission is competitive and programs last 24 to 36 months.
Approximately 45% of CRNAs are men, compared to only 8% of the entire profession.

Nurse anesthetists work in
-hospitals
-outpatient surgery centers
-government agencies

CRNAs are among the highest paid nursing specialists. Their salaries ranging from $109,000 to $129,000

Nurse-midwives

2009-05-18T22:26:00.001-07:00

Nurse-midwives are registered nurses with advanced training who assist in family planning, pregnancy, and childbirth.

Midwife means “with woman” . They help women deliver their babies and teach new mothers how to care for their infants.

Nurse-midwives salary: $52,000 to $62,000 to $100,000

Nurse-midwives work

- in hospitals
-with physicians in private practice
- in freestanding birth centers
-well-woman care centers
-in women’s clinics
-family planning clinics
-privately funded agencies
-some nurse-midwives operate their own clinics and birthing center
-some nurse-midwives work independently and specialize in home birth deliveries
-with a doctorate, a nurse-midwife can do research or teaching.

Nurse-midwives

- examine pregnant women
-monitor the growth and development of fetuses
-assist during labor
-provide follow-up care
-well-woman care
-educate patients
-counsel patients about breast –feeding , sexually transmitted diseases, and asic parenting skills
-maintain patient records
-provide physical and emotional support to pregnant women and their families.

Direct-Entry Midwives

Direct-entry midwives are not required to be nurses in order to practice as midwives. They are trained through a combination of formal education , apprenticeship, and self-education

Certified Professional Midwives (CPM) are certified by the North American Registry of Midwives.

Lay Midwives usually train by apprenticing with established midwives. Lay Midwives are not certified or licensed.

Casa Loma College Restorative Nurse Assistant program

2009-03-03T09:58:00.000-08:00

Casa Loma College

The Restorative Nursing Assistant Seminar provides the participant with the knowledge and skills to perform restorative nursing care on patients, and assisting patients to reach their maximum mobility potential. Participants will learn range of motion, strengthening exercise, ambulating and transferring techniques, activities for daily living, restorative feeding programs, and documentation.

ANAHEIM Campus
2641 W La Palma Ave.
Anaheim, CA. 92801-2666
Phone: (714) 484-6995

Hawthorne Campus
12540 S. Crenshaw Blvd.
Hawthorne, CA. 90250-3327
Phone: (310) 220-3111

Van Nuys Campus
6850 Van Nuys Blvd.
Van Nuys, CA. 91405-4634
Phone: (818) 785-2726

Program Overview and Restorative Nurse Assistant Course Description

Casa Loma College schedules the Nursing Assistant Seminar every three months. These classes are thirty-six (36) hours, 9 weeks, scheduled one evening per week. The student/teacher ratio in the classroom is 24:1 and in lab, 15:1.

The Restorative Nursing Assistant Seminar will cover the following topics.

Philosophy and principles of rehabilitation
Medical terminology
Assessment and Care Planning
Exercise programs and range of motion
Transferring patients
Types of restraints
Activities of daily living
Title 22 and Title 42 of regulations
Physical Comfort and Pain Management
Feeding and swallowing disorders
Admission and discharge

CNA salary-Certified nursing assistant salaries by location
Where to find a free CNA training?
What is a Nursing Assistant and Certified Nursing Assistant?
What nurse assistants do
Certified nursing assistants in a hospital environment