The shortage of registered nurses (RNs) in the U.S. could reach as high as 500,000 by 2025 according to a report released by Dr. Peter Buerhaus and colleagues in March 2008. The report, titled The Future of the Nursing Workforce in the United States: Data, Trends and Implications, found that the demand for RNs is expected to grow by 2% to 3% each year.
In a statement released in March 2008, The Council on Physician and Nurse Supply, an independent group of health care leaders based at the University of Pennsylvania, has determined that 30,000 additional nurses should be graduated annually to meet the nation's healthcare needs, an expansion of 30% over the current number of annual nurse graduates.
According to the latest projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published in the November 2007 Monthly Labor Review, more than one million new and replacement nurses will be needed by 2016. Government analysts project that more than 587,000 new nursing positions will be created through 2016 (a 23.5% increase), making nursing the nation’s top profession in terms of projected job growth. www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2007/11/art5full.pdf
According to a report released by the American Hospital Association in July 2007, U.S. hospitals need approximately 116,000 RNs to fill vacant positions nationwide. This translates into a national RN vacancy rate of 8.1%. The report, titled The 2007 State of America's Hospitals - Taking the Pulse, also found that 44% of hospital CEOs had more difficulty recruiting RNs in 2006 than in 2005.
Based on finding from the Nursing Management Aging Workforce Survey released in July 2006 by the Bernard Hodes Group, 55% of surveyed nurses reported their intention to retire between 2011 and 2020. The majority of those surveyed were nurse managers.
In April 2006, officials with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released projections that the nation's nursing shortage would grow to more than one million nurses by the year 2020. In the report titled What is Behind HRSA's Projected Supply, Demand, and Shortage of Registered Nurses?, analysts show that all 50 states will experience a shortage of nurses to varying degrees by the year 2015.
According to a report published in November 2004 as a Web exclusive of Health Affairs, Dr. Peter Buerhaus and colleagues found that "despite the increase in employment of nearly 185,000 hospital RNs since 2001, there is no empirical evidence that the nursing shortage has ended. To the contrary, national surveys of RNs and physicians conducted in 2004 found that a clear majority of RNs (82%) and doctors (81%) perceived shortages where they worked."
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Nursing: Choosing A Specialty
By: Cynthia Andrews
The nursing profession is a wide open field with many career paths. In today's increasingly specialized world, it is becoming more common for nurses to specialize within their field. The decision to specialize in the nursing field is not one to take lightly. There are advantages and disadvantages, but for an increasing number of nurses it is becoming necessary.
Because of the relatively new practice of choosing a specialty field, each field has different requirements for specialization. There are also some that have no requirements at all. Certainly, a nurse who has worked for thirty years in the obstetrics department should consider that their specialty, but that is not the case when compared to a nurse choosing their specialty field after graduating from nursing school.
Not all nursing fields have formal specialization programs. Some, such as pediatrics, have a national certification program. Even in fields that do not have a national certification process, many hospitals have guidelines for working in a specialized field. Many hospitals recommend that a recent nursing school graduate should work for at least one year on a general medicine floor before moving into any specialty. Nursing schools provide students with intensive training, and the year spent working in the hospital setting should provide invaluable experience in helping the young nurse refine skills and gain confidence.
Once you feel competent in general nursing, you may want to consider choosing a specialty field. Specializing often makes it easier to find a job in your chosen field, and it is possible to draw a higher salary by having skills that are in demand. Once you work in a specialized field, it may become difficult to gain employment outside this field, because employers may be concerned that your skills in some areas may not be up to date. For this reason, it is important to think carefully about what type of specialty you may want to work in before you commit.
Know what is required
Be sure to consider all sides of a specialty before deciding if it is the one for you. While many nurses think they want to work with babies, in reality, the NICU, while full of babies, is a stressful place to work, especially for a young nurse, who may have young children at home, or be thinking of starting a family.
Other nurses may want to work with the elderly, and while this can certainly be rewarding, it often requires a great deal of physical strength to help elderly patients with day-to-day tasks, so it is important to take that into consideration before making a decision.
Work in Different Areas
The best way to learn what is required in each nursing specialty is to work in different areas. Even if you do not work in the area that you are considering specializing in, you can still gain insight into the differences between the available nursing fields. Many hospitals hire “float” nurses that rotate through a variety of positions, filling in on different floors as needed. This is an excellent way to gain a variety of experience.
Network
Before choosing a specialty, take the time to talk with people who work in the specialty that you are considering. The more people you talk to, the better understanding you can gain for the type of work that is required and how rewarding the career path is. Talk with people who are happy in their job as well as those who are not. Remember that what makes one person happy is not the same for another person. While you may relish working independently, someone else may feel isolated. The more nurses you talk with, the better understanding you can gain for the different nursing specialties.
What does the future look like?
Before committing the time and money to specialized training, you should consider the job outlook for your particular career. If the specialty requires intensive classes that you must take on your off duty hours and pay for on your own, and the outlook is stagnate, it may not be the best choice for you. If you can specialize in a career by taking in-service classes while continuing education, which you would be required to take anyway, or the job growth is the specialty is growing, it is probably a good field to choose.
Don't sweat it
Regardless of the choice that you make, it is reversible. Once you have your nursing degree, you are highly employable, regardless of the field of nursing in which you have experience. If you choose one area of nursing, and find that it is not a good fit, it is easy enough to move into another branch of nursing. You can make the switch easier by keeping your skills up to date and working an occasional shift on a floor outside your specialty.
The nursing profession is a wide open field with many career paths. In today's increasingly specialized world, it is becoming more common for nurses to specialize within their field. The decision to specialize in the nursing field is not one to take lightly. There are advantages and disadvantages, but for an increasing number of nurses it is becoming necessary.
Because of the relatively new practice of choosing a specialty field, each field has different requirements for specialization. There are also some that have no requirements at all. Certainly, a nurse who has worked for thirty years in the obstetrics department should consider that their specialty, but that is not the case when compared to a nurse choosing their specialty field after graduating from nursing school.
Not all nursing fields have formal specialization programs. Some, such as pediatrics, have a national certification program. Even in fields that do not have a national certification process, many hospitals have guidelines for working in a specialized field. Many hospitals recommend that a recent nursing school graduate should work for at least one year on a general medicine floor before moving into any specialty. Nursing schools provide students with intensive training, and the year spent working in the hospital setting should provide invaluable experience in helping the young nurse refine skills and gain confidence.
Once you feel competent in general nursing, you may want to consider choosing a specialty field. Specializing often makes it easier to find a job in your chosen field, and it is possible to draw a higher salary by having skills that are in demand. Once you work in a specialized field, it may become difficult to gain employment outside this field, because employers may be concerned that your skills in some areas may not be up to date. For this reason, it is important to think carefully about what type of specialty you may want to work in before you commit.
Know what is required
Be sure to consider all sides of a specialty before deciding if it is the one for you. While many nurses think they want to work with babies, in reality, the NICU, while full of babies, is a stressful place to work, especially for a young nurse, who may have young children at home, or be thinking of starting a family.
Other nurses may want to work with the elderly, and while this can certainly be rewarding, it often requires a great deal of physical strength to help elderly patients with day-to-day tasks, so it is important to take that into consideration before making a decision.
Work in Different Areas
The best way to learn what is required in each nursing specialty is to work in different areas. Even if you do not work in the area that you are considering specializing in, you can still gain insight into the differences between the available nursing fields. Many hospitals hire “float” nurses that rotate through a variety of positions, filling in on different floors as needed. This is an excellent way to gain a variety of experience.
Network
Before choosing a specialty, take the time to talk with people who work in the specialty that you are considering. The more people you talk to, the better understanding you can gain for the type of work that is required and how rewarding the career path is. Talk with people who are happy in their job as well as those who are not. Remember that what makes one person happy is not the same for another person. While you may relish working independently, someone else may feel isolated. The more nurses you talk with, the better understanding you can gain for the different nursing specialties.
What does the future look like?
Before committing the time and money to specialized training, you should consider the job outlook for your particular career. If the specialty requires intensive classes that you must take on your off duty hours and pay for on your own, and the outlook is stagnate, it may not be the best choice for you. If you can specialize in a career by taking in-service classes while continuing education, which you would be required to take anyway, or the job growth is the specialty is growing, it is probably a good field to choose.
Don't sweat it
Regardless of the choice that you make, it is reversible. Once you have your nursing degree, you are highly employable, regardless of the field of nursing in which you have experience. If you choose one area of nursing, and find that it is not a good fit, it is easy enough to move into another branch of nursing. You can make the switch easier by keeping your skills up to date and working an occasional shift on a floor outside your specialty.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Becoming a Nurse Educator is a Wonderful Career Choice
Registered nurses are teachers already! RNs teach patients and their families how to manage their illness or injury, including post-treatment home care needs, diet and exercise programs, and self-administration of medication and physical therapy. RNs mentor and precept new graduates and new hire staff as well as develop and implement ongoing continuing education activities within clinical settings. RNs combine their clinical expertise and passion for teaching others in thousands of ways every time they work. Nurse Educators make use of that same clinical expertise and passion for teaching to guide and shape the future of the nursing profession- one student at a time!
Do you want to be doing direct patient care when you're 63 and still waiting to be old enough to retire? I say leave bedside nursing to the younger nurses, give your sore back a rest, and turn your talents towards building the next generation of nurses instead!
Some RNs choose to advance their nursing career by moving into administrative or management positions, but the responsibilities and stress of management isn't for everyone. For those RNs who would enjoy keeping in touch with direct patient care and in shaping the future of nursing the best career path to think about is becoming a nurse educator!
Given the growing shortage of nurse educators, the career outlook is strong for nurses interested in teaching careers. Nursing schools nationwide are struggling to find new faculty to accommodate the rising interest in nursing among new students.
Teaching Nursing Offers Outstanding Career Flexibility
Most nurse educators work in colleges and universities that offer associate and baccalaureate programs in nursing, and some work as instructors for LPN courses while educators involved in clinical education also work at collaborating health care facilities.
A Master's degree in nursing is typically required to become a faculty member at a university but RNs with a Bachelors degree in nursing and clinical experience are the minimum basic requirements for clinical instructors.Nurse educators can work as full time faculty with all the benefits including tenure and retirement, or may choose to work as part time faculty while still continuing clinical employment and direct patient care. Nurse educators play a vital role in preparing and shaping future generations of nurses!
Earn a Master's in Nursing Education While You Work
You can earn an accredited Master's Degree in Nursing with a specialization in education or in health education online while maintaining your current job by investing just a few hours of study time per week through several schools.
Don't have a BSN Degree?
There's a fully accredited RN to MS in Nursing bridge program that allows busy nurses to take the fast track to earning their Masters in Nursing. Students earn both degrees in a fraction of the time at 1/2 the cost of traditional programs and don't have to give up their job to do it.
Make a difference today that will impact the entire profession for years to come. Become a Nurse Educator!
Do you want to be doing direct patient care when you're 63 and still waiting to be old enough to retire? I say leave bedside nursing to the younger nurses, give your sore back a rest, and turn your talents towards building the next generation of nurses instead!
Some RNs choose to advance their nursing career by moving into administrative or management positions, but the responsibilities and stress of management isn't for everyone. For those RNs who would enjoy keeping in touch with direct patient care and in shaping the future of nursing the best career path to think about is becoming a nurse educator!
Given the growing shortage of nurse educators, the career outlook is strong for nurses interested in teaching careers. Nursing schools nationwide are struggling to find new faculty to accommodate the rising interest in nursing among new students.
Teaching Nursing Offers Outstanding Career Flexibility
Most nurse educators work in colleges and universities that offer associate and baccalaureate programs in nursing, and some work as instructors for LPN courses while educators involved in clinical education also work at collaborating health care facilities.
A Master's degree in nursing is typically required to become a faculty member at a university but RNs with a Bachelors degree in nursing and clinical experience are the minimum basic requirements for clinical instructors.Nurse educators can work as full time faculty with all the benefits including tenure and retirement, or may choose to work as part time faculty while still continuing clinical employment and direct patient care. Nurse educators play a vital role in preparing and shaping future generations of nurses!
Earn a Master's in Nursing Education While You Work
You can earn an accredited Master's Degree in Nursing with a specialization in education or in health education online while maintaining your current job by investing just a few hours of study time per week through several schools.
Don't have a BSN Degree?
There's a fully accredited RN to MS in Nursing bridge program that allows busy nurses to take the fast track to earning their Masters in Nursing. Students earn both degrees in a fraction of the time at 1/2 the cost of traditional programs and don't have to give up their job to do it.
Make a difference today that will impact the entire profession for years to come. Become a Nurse Educator!
Monday, February 23, 2009
National Nurses Week (NNW) 2009 Celebrates Nurses' Building A Healthy America
Article Copied From MedicalNewsToday.com
The American Nurses Association (ANA) has announced the theme of National Nurses Week 2009, "Nurses: Building a Healthy America." National Nurses Week is celebrated annually from May 6, also known as National Nurses Day, through May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.
"This year's theme reflects the commitment nurses make every day in building a healthy America for the public we serve," said ANA President Rebecca M. Patton, MSN, RN, CNOR. "ANA has long advocated for meaningful health system reform and in 2008 re-released ANA's Health System Reform Agenda, (http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/HealthcareandPolicyIssues/HSR.aspx) an ANA blueprint for reform that focuses on the basic "core" of essential health care services, which is essential in building a healthy America for everyone."
During National Nurses Week, ANA reaffirms its commitment to improve the quality of health care and the working conditions of nurses. The growing shortage of RNs poses a real threat to the nation's health care system and the public's health, and ANA is dedicated to fighting for a workplace environment that will encourage current nurses to continue in their careers, and inspire young men and women to consider nursing as a profession.
Annually, National Nurses Week focuses on highlighting the diverse ways in which registered nurses are working to improve health care. From bedside nursing in hospitals and long-term care facilities to the halls of research institutions, state legislatures, and Congress, the depth and breadth of the nursing profession is meeting the expanding health care needs of American society.
For more information on National Nurses Week, please visit here.
The ANA is the only full-service professional organization representing the interests of the nation's 2.9 million registered nurses through its 51 constituent member nurses associations, its 23 organizational affiliates, and its workforce advocacy affiliate, the Center for American Nurses. The ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the rights of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Congress and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.
The American Nurses Association (ANA) has announced the theme of National Nurses Week 2009, "Nurses: Building a Healthy America." National Nurses Week is celebrated annually from May 6, also known as National Nurses Day, through May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.
"This year's theme reflects the commitment nurses make every day in building a healthy America for the public we serve," said ANA President Rebecca M. Patton, MSN, RN, CNOR. "ANA has long advocated for meaningful health system reform and in 2008 re-released ANA's Health System Reform Agenda, (http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/HealthcareandPolicyIssues/HSR.aspx) an ANA blueprint for reform that focuses on the basic "core" of essential health care services, which is essential in building a healthy America for everyone."
During National Nurses Week, ANA reaffirms its commitment to improve the quality of health care and the working conditions of nurses. The growing shortage of RNs poses a real threat to the nation's health care system and the public's health, and ANA is dedicated to fighting for a workplace environment that will encourage current nurses to continue in their careers, and inspire young men and women to consider nursing as a profession.
Annually, National Nurses Week focuses on highlighting the diverse ways in which registered nurses are working to improve health care. From bedside nursing in hospitals and long-term care facilities to the halls of research institutions, state legislatures, and Congress, the depth and breadth of the nursing profession is meeting the expanding health care needs of American society.
For more information on National Nurses Week, please visit here.
The ANA is the only full-service professional organization representing the interests of the nation's 2.9 million registered nurses through its 51 constituent member nurses associations, its 23 organizational affiliates, and its workforce advocacy affiliate, the Center for American Nurses. The ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the rights of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Congress and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Paying Homage to our Mentor
Florence Nightingale was a revolutionary and well ahead of her time. We know of her numerous and purely astounding accomplishments with nursing through advocacy, reform, and the transformation of nursing into a legitimate profession. But do we truly grasp the depth of her accomplishments?
Born into an affluent family, Florence Nightingale ignored the societal norms of the time, which separated social class and disparaged nursing, and got down in the trenches to treat the poor and impoverished. In the process she addressed equality for the indigent and for women.
Claiming to have heard the voice of God on several occasions, Florence Nightingale’s calling must have been a powerful one. Father Henri J. M. Nouwen in his book, “Bread for the Journey” wrote a daily meditation entitled, “Downward Mobility.” He wrote the following:
“The society in which we live suggests in countless ways that the way to go is up. Making it to the top, entering the limelight, breaking the record – that’s what draws attention, gets us on the front page of the newspaper, and offers us the rewards of money and fame.
The way of Jesus is radically different. It is the way not of upward mobility but of downward mobility. It is going to the bottom, staying behind the sets, and choosing the last place! Why is the way of Jesus worth choosing? Because it is the way to the Kingdom, the way Jesus took, and the way that brings everlasting life.”
This certainly describes the path in life Florence Nightingale chose and the conviction to her divine calling. Florence Nightingale rejected her life of privilege and had the courage to oppose her parents’ wishes, despite their attempts to steer her away from nursing, to do what she believed she was called to do. Florence Nightingale looked for her downward mobility to transform nursing and address the injustices of society. It was action that she took or as the saying goes, “She walked the walk.”
Her true accomplishments: Not as much transforming nursing into a legitimate profession, as much as making it a vocation; not as much treating the ill for their physical needs, but the healing of their whole being; not as much her advocacy and reform for the time, but setting a precedence for all time; and maybe most of all, treating people as equal and as children of God. All because she answered her calling and of her “Downward Mobility.”
There are only a few people in the history of mankind that truly denied their very selves to embark on a journey that was ominous, perilous and denigrated to accomplish so much for the destitute, never to be repaid by worldly riches… or paid at all. Thank God nursing got one of them.
Born into an affluent family, Florence Nightingale ignored the societal norms of the time, which separated social class and disparaged nursing, and got down in the trenches to treat the poor and impoverished. In the process she addressed equality for the indigent and for women.
Claiming to have heard the voice of God on several occasions, Florence Nightingale’s calling must have been a powerful one. Father Henri J. M. Nouwen in his book, “Bread for the Journey” wrote a daily meditation entitled, “Downward Mobility.” He wrote the following:
“The society in which we live suggests in countless ways that the way to go is up. Making it to the top, entering the limelight, breaking the record – that’s what draws attention, gets us on the front page of the newspaper, and offers us the rewards of money and fame.
The way of Jesus is radically different. It is the way not of upward mobility but of downward mobility. It is going to the bottom, staying behind the sets, and choosing the last place! Why is the way of Jesus worth choosing? Because it is the way to the Kingdom, the way Jesus took, and the way that brings everlasting life.”
This certainly describes the path in life Florence Nightingale chose and the conviction to her divine calling. Florence Nightingale rejected her life of privilege and had the courage to oppose her parents’ wishes, despite their attempts to steer her away from nursing, to do what she believed she was called to do. Florence Nightingale looked for her downward mobility to transform nursing and address the injustices of society. It was action that she took or as the saying goes, “She walked the walk.”
Her true accomplishments: Not as much transforming nursing into a legitimate profession, as much as making it a vocation; not as much treating the ill for their physical needs, but the healing of their whole being; not as much her advocacy and reform for the time, but setting a precedence for all time; and maybe most of all, treating people as equal and as children of God. All because she answered her calling and of her “Downward Mobility.”
There are only a few people in the history of mankind that truly denied their very selves to embark on a journey that was ominous, perilous and denigrated to accomplish so much for the destitute, never to be repaid by worldly riches… or paid at all. Thank God nursing got one of them.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
What Does Stimulus Package Mean for Nurses
The following information was gathered from Nurselink.com. The full article can be found at:
http://www.nursinglink.com/news/articles/7548-what-does-the-stimulus-package-mean-for-nurses?page=4
Wheres does all the money go? The following is portions of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dealing directly with nurses. Go here to read the full bill.
• $600,000,000, of which $300,000,000 shall not be available until October 1, 2009, shall be for the training of nurses and primary care physicians and dentists.
• $1,000,000,000 shall be available for renovation and repair of health centers…the timeframe for the award of grants pursuant to section 1103(b) of this Act shall not be later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act instead of the timeframe specified in such section.
• $420,000,000 for an additional amount for ‘Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund’ to prepare for and respond to an influenza pandemic, including the development and purchase of vaccine, antivirals, necessary medical supplies, diagnostics, and other surveillance tools.
• Not less than $954,000,000 shall be used as an additional amount to carry out the immunization program
• Not less than $545,000,000 shall be used as an additional amount to carry out chronic disease, health promotion, and genomics programs, as jointly determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (‘Secretary’) and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (‘Director’).
• Not less than $335,000,000 shall be used as an additional amount to carry out domestic HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, sexually-transmitted diseases, and tuberculosis prevention programs.
• Not less than $60,000,000 shall be used as an additional amount to carry out environmental health programs.
• Not less than $50,000,000 shall be used as an additional amount to carry out injury prevention and control programs.
• Not less than $30,000,000 shall be used as an additional amount for public health workforce development activities
• In General- The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall invest in the infrastructure necessary to allow for and promote the electronic exchange and use of health information for each individual in the United States consistent with the goals outlined in the Strategic Plan developed by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.
• $950,000,000 for non-recurring maintenance, including energy projects at VA Hospitals
http://www.nursinglink.com/news/articles/7548-what-does-the-stimulus-package-mean-for-nurses?page=4
Wheres does all the money go? The following is portions of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dealing directly with nurses. Go here to read the full bill.
• $600,000,000, of which $300,000,000 shall not be available until October 1, 2009, shall be for the training of nurses and primary care physicians and dentists.
• $1,000,000,000 shall be available for renovation and repair of health centers…the timeframe for the award of grants pursuant to section 1103(b) of this Act shall not be later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act instead of the timeframe specified in such section.
• $420,000,000 for an additional amount for ‘Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund’ to prepare for and respond to an influenza pandemic, including the development and purchase of vaccine, antivirals, necessary medical supplies, diagnostics, and other surveillance tools.
• Not less than $954,000,000 shall be used as an additional amount to carry out the immunization program
• Not less than $545,000,000 shall be used as an additional amount to carry out chronic disease, health promotion, and genomics programs, as jointly determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (‘Secretary’) and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (‘Director’).
• Not less than $335,000,000 shall be used as an additional amount to carry out domestic HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, sexually-transmitted diseases, and tuberculosis prevention programs.
• Not less than $60,000,000 shall be used as an additional amount to carry out environmental health programs.
• Not less than $50,000,000 shall be used as an additional amount to carry out injury prevention and control programs.
• Not less than $30,000,000 shall be used as an additional amount for public health workforce development activities
• In General- The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall invest in the infrastructure necessary to allow for and promote the electronic exchange and use of health information for each individual in the United States consistent with the goals outlined in the Strategic Plan developed by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.
• $950,000,000 for non-recurring maintenance, including energy projects at VA Hospitals
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Skin Care Nursing Home Medical Products
Isn’t it good health the number one priority in our homes? It is, isn’t it? Promoting good health does not only mean, keeping your home as germ-free as possible, but it also takes keeping skin care nursing home medical products in your medicine cabinet. The many skin care nursing home medical products target both adults and little kids alike.
Dry skin that eventually leads to irritation and rashes are among the main concerns of every manufacturer of skin care nursing home medical products. But, how do they really work? Babies and elderly are the ones who are prone to dry skin, making them the perfect target for these products. But, in order for you to appreciate how effective skin care nursing home medical products, it is better if you understand first the reasons of manufacturing such products in the first place.
We know that dry skin is an irritation caused by a lack of moisture in our skin and it is very common, which means anybody can have dry skin at any period of time. And because babies need the best care possible at all times, we’ll first deal with them.
Skin irritation or rashes in infants and toddlers are not very surprising to know as they can develop every now and then. Due to the sensitivity of baby’s skin, if it made contact with irritating urine and feces for a little more than a few minutes, then expect extreme redness from your baby’s behind. What happen really is that when bacteria found in stool mix with chemicals found in urine, ammonia is formed, which is a known an irritant to your baby’s skin. Also, you should know that using moist towelettes in wiping your babies behind can worsen more than it can help.
Now, for dry skin in adults particularly the elderly people, they tend to develop dry skin most often in the winter months, when cold air in the outdoors and dry and heated air inside the house can cause a decrease a decrease in humidity. These instances can result to skin’s moisture loss, which in many cases may cause it to get dry, crack and peel, becomes irritated and worse, get infected.
In response to these problems, skin care nursing home medical products are introduced to the public. The good thing about most of these products is that they contain mineral oil and water, which are essential to keep the moisture level of your skin normal. One of the skin care nursing home medical products known in the market is Formula II. Its special combination of three waxes, such as beeswax, cerasin, and paraffin, are what makes this product line stand out from the others. What it does is lock in the moisture of your skin or your baby’s skin to prevent it from drying all the time.
There, you are know familiar the efficiency of skin care nursing home medical products, so make sure that you have one in your medicine cabinet just in case you are going to, I’m sure you will, need
Dry skin that eventually leads to irritation and rashes are among the main concerns of every manufacturer of skin care nursing home medical products. But, how do they really work? Babies and elderly are the ones who are prone to dry skin, making them the perfect target for these products. But, in order for you to appreciate how effective skin care nursing home medical products, it is better if you understand first the reasons of manufacturing such products in the first place.
We know that dry skin is an irritation caused by a lack of moisture in our skin and it is very common, which means anybody can have dry skin at any period of time. And because babies need the best care possible at all times, we’ll first deal with them.
Skin irritation or rashes in infants and toddlers are not very surprising to know as they can develop every now and then. Due to the sensitivity of baby’s skin, if it made contact with irritating urine and feces for a little more than a few minutes, then expect extreme redness from your baby’s behind. What happen really is that when bacteria found in stool mix with chemicals found in urine, ammonia is formed, which is a known an irritant to your baby’s skin. Also, you should know that using moist towelettes in wiping your babies behind can worsen more than it can help.
Now, for dry skin in adults particularly the elderly people, they tend to develop dry skin most often in the winter months, when cold air in the outdoors and dry and heated air inside the house can cause a decrease a decrease in humidity. These instances can result to skin’s moisture loss, which in many cases may cause it to get dry, crack and peel, becomes irritated and worse, get infected.
In response to these problems, skin care nursing home medical products are introduced to the public. The good thing about most of these products is that they contain mineral oil and water, which are essential to keep the moisture level of your skin normal. One of the skin care nursing home medical products known in the market is Formula II. Its special combination of three waxes, such as beeswax, cerasin, and paraffin, are what makes this product line stand out from the others. What it does is lock in the moisture of your skin or your baby’s skin to prevent it from drying all the time.
There, you are know familiar the efficiency of skin care nursing home medical products, so make sure that you have one in your medicine cabinet just in case you are going to, I’m sure you will, need
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Nurses Shielded From Volatile Job Market
In a recent article for Nurse.com written by Catherine Spader, RN, nurses are still the bulls in an otherwise bear market.
Read complete article: http://include.nurse.com/article/20090209/NATIONAL02/102090107/
While some nurses and those in the healthcare field may disagree, the overwhelming majority would agree that nursing is still a fairly recession proof job. And there are those that would say that despite what changes occur in the market, whether the job market drops even further before recovering, the nursing profession will not only continue to look for nurses, but will even be in a more desperate situation in a few years.
Thankfully organizations like The Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation provides grants and scholarships for those who would like to continue their education to become a nurse. More information on the PHEF can be found at:
www.futuresinnursing.org.
Read complete article: http://include.nurse.com/article/20090209/NATIONAL02/102090107/
While some nurses and those in the healthcare field may disagree, the overwhelming majority would agree that nursing is still a fairly recession proof job. And there are those that would say that despite what changes occur in the market, whether the job market drops even further before recovering, the nursing profession will not only continue to look for nurses, but will even be in a more desperate situation in a few years.
Thankfully organizations like The Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation provides grants and scholarships for those who would like to continue their education to become a nurse. More information on the PHEF can be found at:
www.futuresinnursing.org.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Requirements to work as a Travel Nurse
By Hina Kamadia
Typically, to work as a travel nurse, you need at least one year of work experience as a nurse in an acute care hospital setting. However, the more experience you have in a variety of areas, the more options you have in choosing the hospital and the city you may want to live in.
For example, if you like pediatrics, and you would like to do an assignment in Jacksonville, FL, it is possible that there may not be a position open in Jacksonville for Pediatrics. However, if you have some experience in pediatrics intensive care unit or neo-natal intensive care unit or even nursery, there is a higher chance that you will be able to find a job in those areas. If you have worked in only one area, you can still surely find a job, but it may not be the area you prefer. However, the more experience you have and the more familiar you are with other units, the easier is it to get the job most suitable for you because you will have more job opportunities to choose from.
In addition, often times, hospitals require travel nurses to float to other units when in need. Although they will provide the orientation to those units, it makes it easier for you to adjust when you have experience in more than one area. The more accommodating you are and the more comfortable you are in various areas, the more in demand you are by the hospital as well. Often times, after the first assignment, the hospital may even offer you another 13 week assignment, if you choose to stay.
Apart from the basic requirements to be a travel nurse, it is also important that you have the ability to adjust in a different environment and enjoy change. It is important that you are flexible, friendly and enjoy making new friends and trying new things. If you do not like constant change from city to city, you can also do local traveling where you stay in the same city but go to different hospitals for assignments.
In addition to having a positive attitude and the openness to change, there are few other things you will need to make sure your travel experience is all you want it to be.
1. Apply for the state license as soon you know where you want to go. That should be your first priority.
2. Pack lightly- take only what you need.
3. Be organized with all your documents: license, certifications, health records, and vaccinations, contracts with agencies, travel expenses and receipts you may need for travel reimbursements.
4. Have all the driving directions: to the apartment, to the hospital, etc.
5. Knowing what you want, where you want to go and how to negotiate with your recruiter and your hospital.
6. You will need a way for someone to take care of your stuff back home.
7. If you are planning on doing a few assignments, it might be a good idea to have mail forwarding service. This way you can have a permanent address and they will forward your mail wherever you go and you will not have to change your address every time you move.
Typically, to work as a travel nurse, you need at least one year of work experience as a nurse in an acute care hospital setting. However, the more experience you have in a variety of areas, the more options you have in choosing the hospital and the city you may want to live in.
For example, if you like pediatrics, and you would like to do an assignment in Jacksonville, FL, it is possible that there may not be a position open in Jacksonville for Pediatrics. However, if you have some experience in pediatrics intensive care unit or neo-natal intensive care unit or even nursery, there is a higher chance that you will be able to find a job in those areas. If you have worked in only one area, you can still surely find a job, but it may not be the area you prefer. However, the more experience you have and the more familiar you are with other units, the easier is it to get the job most suitable for you because you will have more job opportunities to choose from.
In addition, often times, hospitals require travel nurses to float to other units when in need. Although they will provide the orientation to those units, it makes it easier for you to adjust when you have experience in more than one area. The more accommodating you are and the more comfortable you are in various areas, the more in demand you are by the hospital as well. Often times, after the first assignment, the hospital may even offer you another 13 week assignment, if you choose to stay.
Apart from the basic requirements to be a travel nurse, it is also important that you have the ability to adjust in a different environment and enjoy change. It is important that you are flexible, friendly and enjoy making new friends and trying new things. If you do not like constant change from city to city, you can also do local traveling where you stay in the same city but go to different hospitals for assignments.
In addition to having a positive attitude and the openness to change, there are few other things you will need to make sure your travel experience is all you want it to be.
1. Apply for the state license as soon you know where you want to go. That should be your first priority.
2. Pack lightly- take only what you need.
3. Be organized with all your documents: license, certifications, health records, and vaccinations, contracts with agencies, travel expenses and receipts you may need for travel reimbursements.
4. Have all the driving directions: to the apartment, to the hospital, etc.
5. Knowing what you want, where you want to go and how to negotiate with your recruiter and your hospital.
6. You will need a way for someone to take care of your stuff back home.
7. If you are planning on doing a few assignments, it might be a good idea to have mail forwarding service. This way you can have a permanent address and they will forward your mail wherever you go and you will not have to change your address every time you move.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Nurses: Take Time for Health and Fitness
As a nurse, you are continually concerned with the welfare of others. The demands on your time for work (your patients), family, education can stretch you in so many directions that it is very easy to neglect the one person that you need to take care of first in order to take care of others – you.
Health and fitness are central to the medical field. As a nurse who treats people on the mend, you emphasize the patient’s need to follow doctor’s orders: Take their medicine, eat right, and get an adequate amount of sleep and exercise. You explain the importance of a good diet and to avoid toxic food and beverages, getting ample sleep and work in a daily exercise regimen. But do we practice what we preach? It seems impossible. What can we do now that will at least get us headed in the right direction?
A proper diet is the first place to start and it does not take any time out of our day to be sure that we are eating healthy. The best motivator may be to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) in order to measure your body fat relative to your height and weight. http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/ Once you have assessed where you are and where you need to be, the next step would be to create a suitable diet. Build the proper diet using the food pyramid. MyPyramid.gov will create the diet that is right for you. http://www.mypyramid.gov/index.html
Next – sleep! This may be more challenging than coming up with the right diet, but sleep deprivation certainly hinders your mental health and is just as important to correct as your nutritional regime. What bad habits keep you from getting to bed when you should? Having something to eat or drink that you can forgo, knowing it will keep you up? Staying up to watch just a little more TV? Engaging in frivolous internet activity? You can start here by simply…going to bed.
Finally, the real challenge – exercise! How do we take time to work out? A much tougher question to answer by mere suggestion. Here is where we really need to find time in our day and then, what exactly do we do? There is truly only one way to implement exercise into your day and that is by dedicating the time needed. If it takes away family time, include family in your workout routine; everyone can go for a walk, go swimming, bike riding and lift weights. You may even find this to be quality family time and open up lines of communication to discuss family issues. The time in front of the TV can be the time we use for exercise. We can argue this time is used to “take our mind off things.” This will still be accomplished during your workout and will achieve the healthier objective of rejuvenating your brain. If you can not pull yourself away from the TV, then how about some calisthenics while watching?
Finalize your health and fitness regimen and keep to your established routine. You do not have to do everything at once but it is imperative to get started. As you get started, implement reminders that there is change in your life. Move your alarm clock to where you need to get “out of bed” to shut it off. This will get you out of bed in the morning (as opposed to giving your workout, to your snooze alarm) as well as being a “reminder.” Write a short shopping list of the nutritional foods you need to buy for your new diet – right now, right a couple of things down! Put that list in your car where you will see it as a reminder that you need to stop at the market on the way home.
In conclusion, living a healthier lifestyle will increase your energy level, sharpen your mental acuity and allow you to do exponentially more.
In conclusion, living a healthier lifestyle will increase your energy level, sharpen your mental acuity and allow you to do exponentially more.
Health and fitness are central to the medical field. As a nurse who treats people on the mend, you emphasize the patient’s need to follow doctor’s orders: Take their medicine, eat right, and get an adequate amount of sleep and exercise. You explain the importance of a good diet and to avoid toxic food and beverages, getting ample sleep and work in a daily exercise regimen. But do we practice what we preach? It seems impossible. What can we do now that will at least get us headed in the right direction?
A proper diet is the first place to start and it does not take any time out of our day to be sure that we are eating healthy. The best motivator may be to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) in order to measure your body fat relative to your height and weight. http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/ Once you have assessed where you are and where you need to be, the next step would be to create a suitable diet. Build the proper diet using the food pyramid. MyPyramid.gov will create the diet that is right for you. http://www.mypyramid.gov/index.html
Next – sleep! This may be more challenging than coming up with the right diet, but sleep deprivation certainly hinders your mental health and is just as important to correct as your nutritional regime. What bad habits keep you from getting to bed when you should? Having something to eat or drink that you can forgo, knowing it will keep you up? Staying up to watch just a little more TV? Engaging in frivolous internet activity? You can start here by simply…going to bed.
Finally, the real challenge – exercise! How do we take time to work out? A much tougher question to answer by mere suggestion. Here is where we really need to find time in our day and then, what exactly do we do? There is truly only one way to implement exercise into your day and that is by dedicating the time needed. If it takes away family time, include family in your workout routine; everyone can go for a walk, go swimming, bike riding and lift weights. You may even find this to be quality family time and open up lines of communication to discuss family issues. The time in front of the TV can be the time we use for exercise. We can argue this time is used to “take our mind off things.” This will still be accomplished during your workout and will achieve the healthier objective of rejuvenating your brain. If you can not pull yourself away from the TV, then how about some calisthenics while watching?
Finalize your health and fitness regimen and keep to your established routine. You do not have to do everything at once but it is imperative to get started. As you get started, implement reminders that there is change in your life. Move your alarm clock to where you need to get “out of bed” to shut it off. This will get you out of bed in the morning (as opposed to giving your workout, to your snooze alarm) as well as being a “reminder.” Write a short shopping list of the nutritional foods you need to buy for your new diet – right now, right a couple of things down! Put that list in your car where you will see it as a reminder that you need to stop at the market on the way home.
In conclusion, living a healthier lifestyle will increase your energy level, sharpen your mental acuity and allow you to do exponentially more.
In conclusion, living a healthier lifestyle will increase your energy level, sharpen your mental acuity and allow you to do exponentially more.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Mandatory Overtime Ban in PA for Nurses starts July 1, 2009
Read the following article pertaining to the ban on mandatory overtime for nurses and health care personnel below:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/125531.php
I really do feel it's time that our government to step up and assist hospitals with their shortage, especially in the face of this new law. With no fear of retribution by the powers that be, those nurses who have finished their shift can reject overtime with no fear of retribution. And this could sound the alarm even louder that we need to address the nursing shortage NOW.
The problem is more complicated than providing students with a means to become a nurse. The main problem is that schools of nursing are pushing away students as their programs are understaffed and unable to teach the amount of students signing on to become nurses. Given that nurses make more than nurse educators, it's not going to be anytime soon that we see nurses exchanging their scrubs for text books. So the wheels grind ever slower toward the goal of a more healthy nursing industry.
I believe that the government must work in conjunction with hospitals to come up with a compensation package which makes up the loss in pay for any nurse who chooses to become a nurse educator. But it can't stop there. They also need to provide some sort of loan forgiveness program for those nurses so they do not merely make the same amount of money but realize a reduction in their personal debt to income ratio due to their student loans so they can get their Masters or PHD.
Currently now the only organization in Pennsylvania that provides a grant or scholarship for current nurses to become nurse educators is the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation. More information on this organization can be found at http://www.higheredfoundation.org/.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/125531.php
I really do feel it's time that our government to step up and assist hospitals with their shortage, especially in the face of this new law. With no fear of retribution by the powers that be, those nurses who have finished their shift can reject overtime with no fear of retribution. And this could sound the alarm even louder that we need to address the nursing shortage NOW.
The problem is more complicated than providing students with a means to become a nurse. The main problem is that schools of nursing are pushing away students as their programs are understaffed and unable to teach the amount of students signing on to become nurses. Given that nurses make more than nurse educators, it's not going to be anytime soon that we see nurses exchanging their scrubs for text books. So the wheels grind ever slower toward the goal of a more healthy nursing industry.
I believe that the government must work in conjunction with hospitals to come up with a compensation package which makes up the loss in pay for any nurse who chooses to become a nurse educator. But it can't stop there. They also need to provide some sort of loan forgiveness program for those nurses so they do not merely make the same amount of money but realize a reduction in their personal debt to income ratio due to their student loans so they can get their Masters or PHD.
Currently now the only organization in Pennsylvania that provides a grant or scholarship for current nurses to become nurse educators is the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation. More information on this organization can be found at http://www.higheredfoundation.org/.
Friday, February 6, 2009
PHEF Reaches Out to Inner City High Schools about Nursing
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation, a foundation to help improve the nursing crisis in Pennsylvania, has embarked on a school tour in Philadelphia to provide information on attaining scholarships and grants to become a nurse.
In conjunction with Independence Blue Cross and Radio One, this school tour is conducted by performing assemblies at various schools and educating students on all the nursing profession has to offer and how they can go about getting money to go to college to become a nurse. So far, PHEF has conducted 9 school tours since September and have another 6 tours scheduled through May.
Radio One radio personality Sixx King, along with Teisha Sor (Radio One marketing) and Chris Napoli (representing PHEF), are providing High School Juniors and Seniors the road map to nursing. "I think it's very important, especially in today's economic climate, to show high school students that there is a path to success", Napoli states. "And the participation and feedback we are getting from the students really does lift the spirit".
If you are a high school in the Philadelphia region and would like the PHEF/Radio One school tour for nursing, contact Chris Napoli @ chris@napolimediainc.com.
In conjunction with Independence Blue Cross and Radio One, this school tour is conducted by performing assemblies at various schools and educating students on all the nursing profession has to offer and how they can go about getting money to go to college to become a nurse. So far, PHEF has conducted 9 school tours since September and have another 6 tours scheduled through May.
Radio One radio personality Sixx King, along with Teisha Sor (Radio One marketing) and Chris Napoli (representing PHEF), are providing High School Juniors and Seniors the road map to nursing. "I think it's very important, especially in today's economic climate, to show high school students that there is a path to success", Napoli states. "And the participation and feedback we are getting from the students really does lift the spirit".
If you are a high school in the Philadelphia region and would like the PHEF/Radio One school tour for nursing, contact Chris Napoli @ chris@napolimediainc.com.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
8 Steps to Becoming LPN in Pennsylvania
Step1
Enroll in an accredited LPN training program and graduate. If you complete your training in the state of Pennsylvania, you will save money on your licensing application fee. You also save time since you do not have to submit an officially sealed transcript from the educational institution from which you graduated.
Step2
Contact the State Board of Nursing, Examination Division by calling 717-772-1746. Request the paperwork to apply for licensure as a Pennsylvania practical nurse.
Step3
Pay the LPN licensing application fee by sending it to the State Board of Nursing, Examination Division at Post Office Box 8411 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17105. If you have graduated from an accredited LPN program within the state of Pennsylvania, the fee is $35. If your education took place out of state but within the United States, the fee is $100.
Step4
Log on to the Internet and visit the NCLEX exam website. It governs the national licensure of practical nurses. Request a schedule for the next opportunity to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam. If you do not have a computer with Internet access, you may call the National Council of State Boards of Nursing by dialing 866-496-2539. The fee for this exam is $200, payable by credit card or certified funds.
Step5
Submit to a background check. Pennsylvania law prohibits you from becoming a licensed practical nurse if you have been convicted of a drug related felony within the last 10 years.
Step6
Wait to receive your permission to participate in the LPN testing. You will receive a form entitled Authorization to Test (ATT) from the agency that actually administers the assessment and is dependent on your passing the background check and being deemed eligible—by virtue of your schooling—to participate in the NCLEX-PN testing.
Step7
Take the exam, pass it and receive your official LPN certificate in the mail within about 30 days. The certificate will contain your registration number that you must put in a safe place; this number is required every time you renew you Pennsylvania LPN registration. If you believe that your notification is slow in coming, you can also check the website of the Pennsylvania State Department to see if a license has been issued in your name (see Resources).
Step8
Repeat the exam--if you failed the first time around--but remember that you must wait 91 days before you can once again be tested. Do not panic; you can retake the exam as often as you need until you pass.
Enroll in an accredited LPN training program and graduate. If you complete your training in the state of Pennsylvania, you will save money on your licensing application fee. You also save time since you do not have to submit an officially sealed transcript from the educational institution from which you graduated.
Step2
Contact the State Board of Nursing, Examination Division by calling 717-772-1746. Request the paperwork to apply for licensure as a Pennsylvania practical nurse.
Step3
Pay the LPN licensing application fee by sending it to the State Board of Nursing, Examination Division at Post Office Box 8411 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17105. If you have graduated from an accredited LPN program within the state of Pennsylvania, the fee is $35. If your education took place out of state but within the United States, the fee is $100.
Step4
Log on to the Internet and visit the NCLEX exam website. It governs the national licensure of practical nurses. Request a schedule for the next opportunity to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam. If you do not have a computer with Internet access, you may call the National Council of State Boards of Nursing by dialing 866-496-2539. The fee for this exam is $200, payable by credit card or certified funds.
Step5
Submit to a background check. Pennsylvania law prohibits you from becoming a licensed practical nurse if you have been convicted of a drug related felony within the last 10 years.
Step6
Wait to receive your permission to participate in the LPN testing. You will receive a form entitled Authorization to Test (ATT) from the agency that actually administers the assessment and is dependent on your passing the background check and being deemed eligible—by virtue of your schooling—to participate in the NCLEX-PN testing.
Step7
Take the exam, pass it and receive your official LPN certificate in the mail within about 30 days. The certificate will contain your registration number that you must put in a safe place; this number is required every time you renew you Pennsylvania LPN registration. If you believe that your notification is slow in coming, you can also check the website of the Pennsylvania State Department to see if a license has been issued in your name (see Resources).
Step8
Repeat the exam--if you failed the first time around--but remember that you must wait 91 days before you can once again be tested. Do not panic; you can retake the exam as often as you need until you pass.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Independence Blue Cross Nurse Scholars Program
Purpose
Independence Blue Cross (IBC) and the Foundation recognize that the shortage of nurses is not limited to direct patient care professionals. The need to increase the number of graduate students who will be qualified to become nurse educators, in order to train the next generation of nurses, is also an important piece of the puzzle in reversing the nursing shortage.
Overview
The IBC Nurse Scholars Program provides financial assistance to graduate nursing students who are pursuing an education that will qualify them to become a nurse educator. The program will underwrite scholarship funding for schools to qualified students attending an accredited graduate nursing program in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties
The Nurse Scholars Program will give nursing students the opportunity to receive grants and scholarships toward their graduate degree directly from the qualified nursing schools they attend. For complete eligibility requirements, contact your school’s nursing department. If you have additional questions, call the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation at 800-377-4502.
Independence Blue Cross (IBC) and the Foundation recognize that the shortage of nurses is not limited to direct patient care professionals. The need to increase the number of graduate students who will be qualified to become nurse educators, in order to train the next generation of nurses, is also an important piece of the puzzle in reversing the nursing shortage.
Overview
The IBC Nurse Scholars Program provides financial assistance to graduate nursing students who are pursuing an education that will qualify them to become a nurse educator. The program will underwrite scholarship funding for schools to qualified students attending an accredited graduate nursing program in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties
The Nurse Scholars Program will give nursing students the opportunity to receive grants and scholarships toward their graduate degree directly from the qualified nursing schools they attend. For complete eligibility requirements, contact your school’s nursing department. If you have additional questions, call the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation at 800-377-4502.
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