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Sunday, May 31, 2009
Health Headlines - June 1
Scientists Turn Skin Cells Into Stem CellsScientists who found a safe way to transform skin cells into stem cells say their achievement is an important step forward in making grow-in-a-dish transplant tissue available to patients.The researchers used four introduced genes to reprogram skin cells to become indistinguishable from stem cells, Agence France Presse reported. The results, published online in the journal Cell Stem Cell, are so promising that the scientists hope to begin clinical trials by the middle of 2010."This is the first safe method of generating patient-specific stem cells," study author Robert Lanza, chief scientific officer at Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine International, told AFP. "This technology will soon allow us to expand the range of possible stem cell therapies for the entire human body."He added that this method "allows us to generate the raw material to solve the problem of rejection (by the immune system) so this is really going to accelerate the field of regenerative medicine."-----Malaria Showing Signs of Drug ResistanceThere's evidence that malaria in some parts of Cambodia is becoming resistant to front-line artemesinin drugs, a situation that needs to be contained because full-blown resistance would pose a serious worldwide health crisis, scientists warn.Until now, these drugs cleared all the malaria parasites from a patient's blood within two or three days. But two teams of scientists conducting research in western Cambodia have found this process can now take four or five days, BBC News reported.It's not clear why this resistance appears to be developing in this region of Cambodia, but the use of anti-malaria drugs isn't properly controlled and the local public health system is weak. Currently, malaria kills about a million people a year. About half the world's population faces exposure to malaria, BBC News reported.-----Deadly New Virus Identified in AfricaA deadly new hemorrhagic virus has been identified in Africa after it infected five people, killing four of them. The so-called "Lujo" virus causes bleeding like the Ebola virus.The outbreak of the new virus began last September when a women in Zambia became ill with a fever-like illness that quickly became much more serious. She was taken to a hospital in South Africa, where she died, the Associated Press reported.A paramedic who treated the woman and three health-care workers also became infected and three of them died. It's believed the virus spreads from person to person through contact with infected body fluids, investigators said."This (virus) is really, really aggressive," Dr. Ian Lipkin, a Columbia University epidemiologist involved in the discovery of the new virus, told the AP. He and his colleagues reported on the virus in a paper published online in the journal PLoS Pathogens.-----Genes Main Cause of Premature Ejaculation: StudyGenes, not nerves, are the main cause of premature ejaculation, according to a Finnish study that included more than 3,000 men.The men, all pairs of male twins and their younger or older brothers, were interviewed about the first time they had sex. Many of them said they experienced erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation, United Press International reported.The researchers concluded that premature ejaculation appears to be strongly associated with genetic factors, but not with external factors such as nervousness or intoxication. However, external factors can cause erectile dysfunction.The study was published in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy.Health Headlines - June 1
Travel Nurse Jobs
Find Healthcare Travel Nurse Jobs, Healthcare Travel Nurse Careers with HealthcareCrossing.com in California, New York, Illinois, Florida, Brooklyn, Chicago, Minneapolis, Houston
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Where can I find a video online about forensic nursing, or sexual assualt nursing, or something like that?
It's for a class and I can't find anything by searching.
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What type of travel nurses make the most money?
Does a travel nurse with some type of Masters degree make more than just one with an RN? I know there are websites out there saying CRNA's make over 0 hr. traveling. I'm not sure about entering the CRNA program, only because it's so rigorous. How about Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, or Mental Health. Any ideas how much they would make traveling? Also, any website links would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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Solutions for the Current Nursing Shortage
The nursing shortage in the United States is estimated between 340,000 to over a million nurses. Many of the nurses that are leaving the field are management and faculty nurses needed by nursing schools for training the new crop of nursing graduates. Many of these upper level administrative nurses are nearing retirement age, just at the time that demand for nursing care is increasing as the Baby Boomer generation reaches retirement age. The number of nurses in hospitals, public nursing, teaching and geriatric centers are all falling behind the demand, with little improvement seen in the immediate future. Some of the solutions for resolving the nursing shortage which have been suggested by various study groups and interested partners are as follows:Developing public/private partnershipsIn many instances, the plans for public/private partnerships involve public funding to increase faculty and attendance at nursing education facilities. Due to an aging population, the same time the demand for nurses is increasing; nursing educators are aging as well and subsequently leaving the workforce. A three fold program has been implemented to increase the number of classes, increase the number of faculty in the nursing field and increase the number of students who have been unable to enter the field previously because of lack of resources and limited enrollment quotas. Public funding will cover part of the gap between supply and demand in the nursing field.Using technology as a training toolAlthough a major part of nursing education is clinical experience, much of the classroom education can be handled through today's advanced technology. Internet education, distance learning, and accelerated learning programs based around adult work schedules are all ways in which technology can be used as a training tool for nursing educators. As the care of the patient becomes more related to technological advances, routine nursing practices can be drilled by using that same technology. Technology advancements can also be used in testing and certification settings for nursing educators.Creating healthy work environmentsHealthy work environments are important in every field, but more so in the hospital or clinic setting where patients are incapacitated with a variety of ailments, many of which are contagious. The strains of viruses and bacteria are often mutating faster than medical researchers can create designer drugs. In addition to physical ailments, the stress of caring for injured, ill or dying patients will take a heavy emotional toll on nurses. Creating better ways of keeping nurses healthy both mentally and physically helps to keep the nursing force strong and capable.Changing roles for advanced practice nursesThe nursing shortage can also be alleviated by utilizing practical nurses. Already in the system, these nurses' skills could be further enhanced by improving their education level through adult education, continuing education and seminars. Still better utilization could be made of existing nurses and staff who are interested in advancing their careers in nursing. Also, as more duties are being picked up by staff with intermediate levels of training, registered nurses are able to perform more of the teaching, administrative and more highly skilled nursing tasks.Partnerships with nursing schoolsPartnerships with nursing schools can take many different forms, each of which could be valuable in reducing the growing shortage of nurses. Assistance in replacing nursing school faculty is of key importance so that nursing classes can continue to be staffed adequately. Provision of grants, loans and scholarships in order to attend educational classes in nursing will allow students who would otherwise not be able to afford nursing school to attend. Adult education classes at nursing schools allow for an increased level of graduates in nursing. Using student nurses effectively could increase nursing caregivers on the job. By covering educational costs in return for a service commitment by graduate nurses is another way to increase the number of nursing staff in the field.Financing alternativesMany jurisdictions are recognizing the need to make additional public and private funding available to nursing students. Student loans, grants, low interest government loan scholarships, and employer paid training are just a few of the ways many individuals can afford a nursing school education. If the programs are accelerated so that the students are able to complete the course and enter the work force more rapidly, the education will cost less and the payoff will be larger for the student. This scenario could lead to a larger work force of capable, certified nurses.It is becoming more and more apparent that there is a large and growing nursing shortage in the United States. It is imperative that actions are taken in order to avoid a complete breakdown in the health care system.Check them on Ebay: [phpbay]nurse, 10, 2228, parts case[/phpbay]
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what is the starting salary of a registered nurse?
well, my mom is a registered nurse and when she first started out they was paying her a good /hour.But the salary potential is .81 hourly and annual it is 55,77,00
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Saturday, May 30, 2009
Health Headlines - May 31
Scientists Turn Skin Cells Into Stem Cells Scientists who found a safe way to transform skin cells into stem cells say their achievement is an important step forward in making grow-in-a-dish transplant tissue available to patients. The researchers used four introduced genes to reprogram skin cells to become indistinguishable from stem cells, Agence France Presse reported. The results, published online in the journal Cell Stem Cell, are so promising that the scientists hope to begin clinical trials by the middle of 2010. "This is the first safe method of generating patient-specific stem cells," study author Robert Lanza, chief scientific officer at Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine International, told AFP. "This technology will soon allow us to expand the range of possible stem cell therapies for the entire human body." He added that this method "allows us to generate the raw material to solve the problem of rejection (by the immune system) so this is really going to accelerate the field of regenerative medicine." ----- Malaria Showing Signs of Drug Resistance There's evidence that malaria in some parts of Cambodia is becoming resistant to front-line artemesinin drugs, a situation that needs to be contained because full-blown resistance would pose a serious worldwide health crisis, scientists warn. Until now, these drugs cleared all the malaria parasites from a patient's blood within two or three days. But two teams of scientists conducting research in western Cambodia have found this process can now take four or five days, BBC News reported. It's not clear why this resistance appears to be developing in this region of Cambodia, but the use of anti-malaria drugs isn't properly controlled and the local public health system is weak. Currently, malaria kills about a million people a year. About half the world's population faces exposure to malaria, BBC News reported. ----- Deadly New Virus Identified in Africa A deadly new hemorrhagic virus has been identified in Africa after it infected five people, killing four of them. The so-called "Lujo" virus causes bleeding like the Ebola virus. The outbreak of the new virus began last September when a women in Zambia became ill with a fever-like illness that quickly became much more serious. She was taken to a hospital in South Africa, where she died, the Associated Press reported. A paramedic who treated the woman and three health-care workers also became infected and three of them died. It's believed the virus spreads from person to person through contact with infected body fluids, investigators said. "This (virus) is really, really aggressive," Dr. Ian Lipkin, a Columbia University epidemiologist involved in the discovery of the new virus, told the AP. He and his colleagues reported on the virus in a paper published online in the journal PLoS Pathogens. ----- Genes Main Cause of Premature Ejaculation: Study Genes, not nerves, are the main cause of premature ejaculation, according to a Finnish study that included more than 3,000 men. The men, all pairs of male twins and their younger or older brothers, were interviewed about the first time they had sex. Many of them said they experienced erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation, United Press International reported. The researchers concluded that premature ejaculation appears to be strongly associated with genetic factors, but not with external factors such as nervousness or intoxication. However, external factors can cause erectile dysfunction. The study was published in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy.Health Headlines - May 31
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Where should I start if I've decided to pursue the nursing career?
I go to a university that doesn't offer a nursing program. I'm a freshmen and am currently trying to finish my breadth requirements. After finishing them, I was wondering which specific courses I should start taking...or if I should plan on transfering to a college that offers a nursing program (after/before sophmore year).. Thanks!
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What kind of medical exam is done before entering a nursing program?
I've been looking into nursing programs in my area, and they all say something about going through a medical exam before being accepted in to the program. What kind of exam is it? It also says that they make sure you are free of any communicable diseases, which makes sense, but seems vague. What exactly do they test for?
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Does any one know about any good nursing jobs in Ohio?
I am an state tested nursing assistant looking for work through agency, nursing homes, or privately.
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Online Education For A Nursing Degree
You can earn your registered nursing degree online and you can get there faster and with ease. There are a lot of alternatives so when you search for a masters in nursing online degree, you will learn that finding the right one can be overwhelming. Some institutions with masters in nursing online degrees also offer programs for those who want to pursue a career in nursing administration. Even programs in nursing education are offered.The online degrees are popular because the number of people who would like to return to college, but who do not have the time. So colleges have decided to take advantage of the internet and offer classes as well as degree programs.To earn an advanced nursing degree has many advantages, and earning it online can have often more. All educational choices have pros and cons, but the advantages of an online nursing masters degree allow you to continue your education, and your life, with fewer interruptions than may occur through a traditional learning setting. Most think that the advantages of earning a degree in nursing online are many and can help you reach your career goals and enter a rapidly growing industry.To continue your education gives you more opportunities so if you are considering the method of moving from one level of degree to the next, online education allows you to do just that. You have to understand what is required for a nursing education. As all education, a nursing education also requires time, effort, enthusiasm and self-motivation. As a successful graduate from an MSN-MBA program you will enjoy many benefits of that education and advantages that emphasize just that.For highly motivated students there is an option that is growing in popularity, the accelerated bachelor nursing degree. The student should understand that getting an accelerated nursing degree is not for everyone, it requires extremely long hours and dedication to achieve.The industry is changing and by offering career choices in the form of more educational opportunities and options you can choose the steps you want to take at the time. There is no doubt that nursing is an excellent career choice. You can find programs that are for those who are looking into nursing to see if it is the right career choice for them. If you decide to take a master degree, that will equip you with the education and credentials to qualify for a larger number of career opportunities in the health care industry.Why should a student consider earning an online nursing degree? Except from individual values and criteria, the whole industry has a continuing increase in demand and cannot keep up with the demand. And as said before, the online degrees can be earned in less time, at less of a cost and get your career started faster.Check them on Ebay: [phpbay]nurse, 10, 2228, parts case[/phpbay]
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I am nurse living in USA,but uncertified in USA. Can I get job until I certified as RN-nurse??
I recently moved to USA as permanent resident, I have nursing diploma from my home country. In USA to be a nurse passing RN-exam important. Until I take that exam i want to work as uncetified nurse. How can I do that ???
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can i get a complete degree in nursing online?
Even though I have no certifications in any nursing only experience from in home caregiving, is it possible to get a complete masters or just an Rn degree online? with no prior certifications
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Friday, May 29, 2009
How to Report Nursing Home Negligence in North Carolina
Finding out that your loved one has been abused or neglected while in a nursing home is a devastated feeling. Knowing that a patient is being abused or neglected in a nursing home is something that no employee should have to witness. However, nursing home negligence and abuse is happening more and more often; but there is something you can do about the situation. You can report it.There are state agencies in the state of North Carolina such as the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Service and several social service agencies in each county office. A nursing home complaint can be filed by anyone who witnesses, suspects, or has a true knowledge of nursing home abuse or neglect in the state of North Carolina. The complaint can be filed in regards staffing, treatment, care, safety, neglect, harm (unintentional), or abuse.However, the complaint should only be filed after all attempts of resolving the problem with the facility have been extinguished. The first thing to do is to talk to the facility and see if there is something that can be done to stop the abuse or neglect. If they fail to respond to the problem, then filing a report or a complaint with the state would be the next step.Once a report or a complaint is filed with the state agency, you may then want to consider hiring a lawyer to help you with your complaint or report. If harm such as pain, suffering, injury, or death resulted to your loved one as a result of the abuse or neglect, you may have a reasonable lawsuit against the nursing home. A lawyer will be able to help you determine the extent of your case and will be able to answer any questions and concerns you have about the report or the complaint that you filed.Most complaints can be done in person or in writing. However, the state of North Carolina recommends that you make it in writing and keep a copy of the complaint or the report for your records. When writing your complaint, make sure that it contains the following information: your full name, address, phone number, and relationship to the resident(s) in question. The name and address of the nursing home facility should be included as should the names or descriptions of the involved staff. The date and time of the incident, the details of the event(s), and the records that may need to be examined should also be included in nursing home complaints. Included all information that you have regarding the abuse or negligence.The state of North Carolina will begin the investigation on your report within one to two weeks after it is filed. You may also want to take pictures of your loved one to show the abuse or neglect. Sometimes, it may be hard to prove, but with a few pictures, you have a better chance of proving that the abuse or neglect really did occur.Check them on Ebay: [phpbay]nurse, 10, 2228, parts case[/phpbay]
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Health Headlines - May 30
Scientists Turn Skin Cells Into Stem CellsScientists who found a safe way to transform skin cells into stem cells say their achievement is an important step forward in making grow-in-a-dish transplant tissue available to patients.The researchers used four introduced genes to reprogram skin cells to become indistinguishable from stem cells, Agence France Presse reported. The results, published online in the journal Cell Stem Cell, are so promising that the scientists hope to begin clinical trials by the middle of 2010."This is the first safe method of generating patient-specific stem cells," study author Robert Lanza, chief scientific officer at Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine International, told AFP. "This technology will soon allow us to expand the range of possible stem cell therapies for the entire human body."He added that this method "allows us to generate the raw material to solve the problem of rejection (by the immune system) so this is really going to accelerate the field of regenerative medicine."-----Malaria Showing Signs of Drug ResistanceThere's evidence that malaria in some parts of Cambodia is becoming resistant to front-line artemesinin drugs, a situation that needs to be contained because full-blown resistance would pose a serious worldwide health crisis, scientists warn.Until now, these drugs cleared all the malaria parasites from a patient's blood within two or three days. But two teams of scientists conducting research in western Cambodia have found this process can now take four or five days, BBC News reported.It's not clear why this resistance appears to be developing in this region of Cambodia, but the use of anti-malaria drugs isn't properly controlled and the local public health system is weak. Currently, malaria kills about a million people a year. About half the world's population faces exposure to malaria, BBC News reported.-----Deadly New Virus Identified in AfricaA deadly new hemorrhagic virus has been identified in Africa after it infected five people, killing four of them. The so-called "Lujo" virus causes bleeding like the Ebola virus.The outbreak of the new virus began last September when a women in Zambia became ill with a fever-like illness that quickly became much more serious. She was taken to a hospital in South Africa, where she died, the Associated Press reported.A paramedic who treated the woman and three health-care workers also became infected and three of them died. It's believed the virus spreads from person to person through contact with infected body fluids, investigators said."This (virus) is really, really aggressive," Dr. Ian Lipkin, a Columbia University epidemiologist involved in the discovery of the new virus, told the AP. He and his colleagues reported on the virus in a paper published online in the journal PLoS Pathogens.-----Genes Main Cause of Premature Ejaculation: StudyGenes, not nerves, are the main cause of premature ejaculation, according to a Finnish study that included more than 3,000 men.The men, all pairs of male twins and their younger or older brothers, were interviewed about the first time they had sex. Many of them said they experienced erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation, United Press International reported.The researchers concluded that premature ejaculation appears to be strongly associated with genetic factors, but not with external factors such as nervousness or intoxication. However, external factors can cause erectile dysfunction.The study was published in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy.Health Headlines - May 30
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Is it possible to be a registered nurse and specialize in neurology?
I also want to know which is better, a registered nurse or a nurse practitioner?
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Experience Travel Nursing
Adventure. Flexibility. Exciting destinations. Financial rewards. New opportunities. Friendships. These are just a few of the reasons why a travel career is such an appealing option to so many of healthcare professionals. Whether you're drawn to the fragrant island breezes of Hawaii, the palm-lined boulevards of California or Florida, the quaint colonial villages of New England, the beautiful Arizona desert or the snowy slopes of Colorado, travel nursing can put you right in the heart of ...
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Travel Nursing Alaska
Alaska travel nursing jobs are mainly searched by nurses who reside in Alaska, or who share a desire to live in this great state of the United States. The state enjoys a distinct weather and climate conditions and it is better for nurses to understand the situation before accepting any assignment as a nurse in Alaska. As with any other state, there is a constant need for good healthcare and there are many open positions for nursing.Being a travel nurse in Alaska, a nursing aid has a lot to offer. They can get a very good opportunity to gain better experience alongwith rejoicing traveling venture. In Alaska, getting registered nurses jobs can be really easy. There are numerous different short-term assignments in different locations that can help you to gain a lot. There are numerous benefits in accepting a travel nurse position in Alaska, you can avail the facility to work independently, job flexibility, opportunity to travel, and great benefits.Features of Travel Nursing Jobs in AlaskaAs a travel nurse, you can find many different types of nursing jobs in Alaska. Due to the increasing shortage in nursing staff across the country, nursing jobs are available plentiful across the state. In fact, you can accept positions by picking up the best out of the available positions in different locations in Alaska. In order to avoid the increasing shortage, nurses can find many kinds of incentives as well, such as cash signing bonuses and better benefits for nurses.While choosing the most fulfilling and desirable vacancy in Alaska, you can consider types of positions and location. As an experienced nurse, you can opt to work with a hospital, clinic, camp, or nursing home. Your nursing degree can give you the advantages of working as a full-time registered nurse, nurse practitioner, nursing assistant, camp nurse, travel nurse, home health aide, or licensed practical nurse. Choosing the short-term assignments in Alaska can be a golden opportunity too.Check them on Ebay: [phpbay]nurse, 10, 2228, parts case[/phpbay]Related BlogsRelated Blogs on Travel Nursing AlaskaMusic Videos
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Travel Nursing Alaska
Alaska travel nursing jobs are mainly searched by nurses who reside in Alaska, or who share a desire to live in this great state of the United States. The state enjoys a distinct weather and climate conditions and it is better for nurses to understand the situation before accepting any assignment as a nurse in Alaska. As with any other state, there is a constant need for good healthcare and there are many open positions for nursing.Being a travel nurse in Alaska, a nursing aid has a lot to offer. They can get a very good opportunity to gain better experience alongwith rejoicing traveling venture. In Alaska, getting registered nurses jobs can be really easy. There are numerous different short-term assignments in different locations that can help you to gain a lot. There are numerous benefits in accepting a travel nurse position in Alaska, you can avail the facility to work independently, job flexibility, opportunity to travel, and great benefits.Features of Travel Nursing Jobs in AlaskaAs a travel nurse, you can find many different types of nursing jobs in Alaska. Due to the increasing shortage in nursing staff across the country, nursing jobs are available plentiful across the state. In fact, you can accept positions by picking up the best out of the available positions in different locations in Alaska. In order to avoid the increasing shortage, nurses can find many kinds of incentives as well, such as cash signing bonuses and better benefits for nurses.While choosing the most fulfilling and desirable vacancy in Alaska, you can consider types of positions and location. As an experienced nurse, you can opt to work with a hospital, clinic, camp, or nursing home. Your nursing degree can give you the advantages of working as a full-time registered nurse, nurse practitioner, nursing assistant, camp nurse, travel nurse, home health aide, or licensed practical nurse. Choosing the short-term assignments in Alaska can be a golden opportunity too.Check them on Ebay: [phpbay]nurse, 10, 2228, parts case[/phpbay]
View this post on my blog: http://travelnursesuccess.com/travel-nursing-alaska
Travel Nursing Alaska
Alaska travel nursing jobs are mainly searched by nurses who reside in Alaska, or who share a desire to live in this great state of the United States. The state enjoys a distinct weather and climate conditions and it is better for nurses to understand the situation before accepting any assignment as a nurse in Alaska. As with any other state, there is a constant need for good healthcare and there are many open positions for nursing.Being a travel nurse in Alaska, a nursing aid has a lot to offer. They can get a very good opportunity to gain better experience alongwith rejoicing traveling venture. In Alaska, getting registered nurses jobs can be really easy. There are numerous different short-term assignments in different locations that can help you to gain a lot. There are numerous benefits in accepting a travel nurse position in Alaska, you can avail the facility to work independently, job flexibility, opportunity to travel, and great benefits.Features of Travel Nursing Jobs in AlaskaAs a travel nurse, you can find many different types of nursing jobs in Alaska. Due to the increasing shortage in nursing staff across the country, nursing jobs are available plentiful across the state. In fact, you can accept positions by picking up the best out of the available positions in different locations in Alaska. In order to avoid the increasing shortage, nurses can find many kinds of incentives as well, such as cash signing bonuses and better benefits for nurses.While choosing the most fulfilling and desirable vacancy in Alaska, you can consider types of positions and location. As an experienced nurse, you can opt to work with a hospital, clinic, camp, or nursing home. Your nursing degree can give you the advantages of working as a full-time registered nurse, nurse practitioner, nursing assistant, camp nurse, travel nurse, home health aide, or licensed practical nurse. Choosing the short-term assignments in Alaska can be a golden opportunity too.Check them on Ebay: [phpbay]nurse, 10, 2228, parts case[/phpbay]
View this post on my blog: http://travelnursesuccess.com/travel-nursing-alaska
To Better Inform You-The Office of the National Nurse Initiative
The NNNO Board of Directors has recently heard from many nurses and interested stake holders who are just learning about the Office of the National Nurse Initiative. We encourage everyone to read the article, Nurses and The Public Say It's Time for Change that was published in Medscape Nurses last July. There is also a Frequently Asked Question link on our Home Page. Here is a brief explanation of the Office of the National Nurse Initiative:The National Nursing Network Organization (NNNO) recognizes the current window of opportunity to strengthen the delivery of prevention education and highlight the nurse's role in our healthcare system. We are excited to hear leaders of the Public Health and Prevention subgroups for healthcare reform share this vision. The NNNO proposal for an Office of the National Nurse brings nurses to the forefront as the deliverers of the message of prevention to every American. In a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation September 2007 newsletter, Susan B. Hassmiller, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, Senior Program Officer, states, " Nurses have a pivotal role to play in promoting preventive care since they spend more time with patients than any other health care professional. By educating and counseling patients about the importance of simple preventive measures, nurses can have a significant impact on improving health and extending lives. The health care system needs to empower and encourage nurses for them to be effectively engaged in this role." ?The ONN initiative is focused on strengthening the work of existing groups such as the Office of the Surgeon General, the American Public Health Association, Medical Reserve Corps and community agencies through a more robust and modernized nursing leadership presence. Nurses are well positioned to provide this much needed change as they are 2.9 million strong, the most trusted of all health professionals, span all cultures, and are accomplished health educators. The tenets of the National Nurse proposal are as follows: ?1. The Office, led by the National Nurse, is a federal position within an established health care agency. We are recommending that the Chief Nurse Officer of the USPHS head the Office of the National Nurse, as this is a position that currently exists and is funded, but needs to be modernized with job responsibilities shifted to primarily focus on the national and local delivery of wellness, health promotion, and illness prevention education to all Americans. 2. Enhanced community systems utilizing nurses and other healthcare providers as volunteer educators. Volunteers mobilized under the guidance of the USPHS through existing systems such as the Medical Reserve Corps would focus on delivering health promotion information in their communities. Education activities would focus on strengthening current successful practices with the goal of improving health outcomes by teaching and promoting healthier living. These efforts would also seek to reduce health disparities, which is consistent with the Surgeon General's priorities and Healthy People 2020 goals. The original legislation to establish the National Nurse that was introduced by Rep. Lois Capps (CA-23) in the 109th Congress amassed the bi-partisan support of 42 co-sponsors. The complete list of endorsers with a link to HR 4903, the National Nurse Act of 2006, can be found at http://nationalnurse.blogspot.com. Revised future legislation will ask that Congress elevate the CNO position to full time and bestow the title National Nurse to provide the necessary visibility, prominence and legitimate power to focus the country's attention on prevention. Supporters are committed to having an Office of the National Nurse to meet the following goals:• Establish national leadership for prevention by elevating and strengthening the Chief Nurse Officer of the USPHS to make this existing position more visible to the nursing profession and the public.• Enhance the collaborative relationship with the U.S. Surgeon General's office.• Promote nurse involvement in the Medical Reserve Corps to improve the public health and safety of the community.• Strengthen the use of evidence-based successful prevention strategies at the community level.• Become a prominent recognized national symbol of professional nursing to enhance recruitment and support policies that strengthen nursing education and practice.? As the National Nursing Network Organization board members continue to connect with different nursing organizations and stakeholders, they receive positive feedback from those who are just now learning about this grassroots nursing effort to promote prevention in healthcare. Many state and national organizations have already endorsed this proposal and it has been written about in numerous publications and presented at several state and national conferences/conventions.Visit http://nationalnurse.org/endorsements.shtml for endorsing organizations. Resolutions urging Congress to enact legislation for an Office of the National Nurse have unanimously passed in the New York State Assembly and the Massachusetts, Oregon, and Vermont State Legislatures.To learn more and to receive newsletter updates about this exciting grassroots nursing movement, please email teri@nationalnurse.infoTo Better Inform You-The Office of the National Nurse Initiative
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What to Ask Travel Nursing Companies?
A travel nurse can be contracted through a travel nursing agency and travels to different locations in the United States to share her medical experience generally on short-term assignments. The job is considered great for nurses who enjoy variety in their daily work experience and loves to travel to different geographical locations. However, there are some major concerns involved with working short term assignments. On the other hand, you'll be able to reap many benefits of working as a travel nurse including flexibility in job, independence in working, many traveling opportunity, and good salary packages and other benefits. In this article, we'll discuss the issues which need to be cleared with traveling agencies before joining any assignment.First and foremost thing to ask to traveling agency is effective transformation of the oral agreement into the written contract. It is very commonly seen that promises are not converted into practicality and nurse complaints of suffering, cheating, and inconvenience. Keeping a written record of negotiations will help in sorting out future claims.Secondly, a nurse interested in any traveling assignment must ask some relevant questions regarding the recruiter or the hospital concern to avoid any kind of cheating.As the working of every traveling agency varies from another agency so you as an interested job taker needs to see and ask questions related to their work pattern. It is also evident that every accepted assignment will be stationed in a different town, involve protocols and procedures unique to each individual hospital. Therefore, you need to adjust as quickly as possible in the new atmosphere. Try to view every job as a completely separate negotiated contract.It is better to ask for the legal help in case you need, ask your travel agency about their legal back-up and solutions they usually see to deal with those unforeseen situations.You should better enquire about the facilities provided to you, shifts, hours, overtime or call that is expected of you is of the utmost importance.By getting the answers of the right questions, you'll be able to enjoy and gets better profits like never before.Check them on Ebay: [phpbay]nurse, 10, 2228, parts case[/phpbay]
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Overview of Nursing School Programs
If you are interested in obtaining a degree in nursing, you could not have picked a better time. Nurses are in great demand today, and with people living longer, that demand is likely to increase in the coming years. Nursing school programs can be characterized by the type of degree they offer, and although there are actually 5 degree types that one can obtain as a nurse, the more popular degrees are the Associate's and the bachelor's. However, if you are interested in newer professions such as forensic nursing, there are also certificate programs. Maybe you are considering legal consultation or teaching and you may even decide to get your master's degree. The other defining characteristic is whether you are in an online or distance learning program, or taking courses at a traditional college or university.The Associate's degree programs focus predominately on teaching students what is needed to prepare them to enter the workforce with the skills of a professional nurse. Their education typically has four major components, which consist of evaluation of care, health teaching, wellness and prevention, and the administration of treatments and medications. The evaluation component includes observation, nursing diagnosis, assessment, and intervention. The main focus of the Associate's degree is for their student to achieve employment either while in school or directly after graduation.Although it is not a requirement, most nursing programs for a bachelor's degree operate from the assumption that most of their students are registered nurses and/or they have already obtained their Associate's degree in nursing. The focus of these programs is to prepare students for a higher position, such as a supervisory role, or to enter into a master's degree program. These programs usually revolve around the cultural, political, economic and social issues that can affect patients and the health care industry in general. There is also a focus on understanding the allocation and management of resources, which includes but is not limited to, people, money, and time. The most common variations of the Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing or a student's route to this degree include going from an RN to a bachelor's degree. Other variations include the accelerated bachelor's program, LPN to a bachelor's, the traditional 4-year bachelor's, the online RN – bachelor's degree, and the second-degree bachelor's program.The master's degree program revolves around the type of career you want, as you can get a master's degree that focuses on a more specific nursing path such as, Nursing, Nurse Education, Midwifery, Administration, and Health Care Systems Management. If your focus revolves around Nursing, Nursing Education, Midwifery, or any other similar specialty, your training should focus more on the actual health and expanding upon the knowledge received in your previous educational programs. If you have decided on receiving a masters degree with a focus on Leadership in Healthcare Systems, Nursing Administration, Health Care Systems Management, or any other similar specialty, your program should focus on management, leadership, finance, managed care strategies, workforce management, and other courses designed to prepare students for obtaining leadership positions in their chosen health care organization.It is important to note that in the field of nursing many programs often offer certificates as well degree programs. The certificate programs are more specialized than degree programs and there are certificates that can be obtained before you receive a bachelor's degree or after you gain your master's degree. Some of the certificate programs that are pre-master's degree include case management and geriatric care management. A few certificates for those with a master's degree include legal nurse consulting and life care planning.Most online schools and traditional colleges and universities also offer more specialized programs like the Nurse Practitioner program and Clinical Nursing Specialist programs. As other nursing careers and specialties gain popularity, you should begin seeing more degree and/or certificate programs available in the field of Nursing.Unlike online programs, colleges and universities can boast a combination of classroom training, lab work, and on the job experience as a part of their programs. Although this has been the greatest advantage of traditional schooling, some online programs are starting to catch up, especially the distance learning programs. One of the greatest selling points of distance learning offered by traditional colleges and/or universities is the ability to graduate or "walk" with their traditional program peers. Yet, the main draw of complete online programs is the ability to gain a degree on your own time that works with your schedule while allowing you to work a full time job.Take your time and financial situation into account before settling in on a program. Regardless of the certificate or degree program that you choose, be sure that you pick a program that is good for you. There are many options available in the field of nursing and this information can help you find the correct path to the degree that you are seeking.Check them on Ebay: [phpbay]nurse, 10, 2228, parts case[/phpbay]
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Finding the Best Online Nursing Degree Program
Finding the best online nursing degree program depends on a few different factors, including your goals, what you want in an online school, and the best programs available for your career goals. In other words, finding the best online nursing degree program is not as simple as finding the "top" program. What may be the top program for one person may not be for another. However, some time spent researching various programs can help you with finding the best online nursing degree program for your needs.Online ResearchHow do you know which school is best? One way to begin is to take advantage of professional nursing organizations. Two that provide accreditation for schools are The National League of Nursing Accreditation Commission and The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Additionally, a search of "professional nursing organizations" will provide you with many to review and consider joining. Through your contacts with these organizations, you can learn more about which schools are considered the best, and communicate with people who have completed online nursing programs.Another area to consider is school rankings compiled by other organizations. The U.S. News and World Report provides a wide range of school information on its website. It offers general information as well as school ranking, and includes a section on online nursing programs. Keep in mind, however, that ranking systems are not the only indication of what makes a good school and which one will provide the best experience for you.Understanding Online LearningFinding the best online nursing degree program also entails an understanding of how online learning works, and which types are best for you. Some schools offer "real time" options, which means you need to be online at specific times to view lectures or participate in other "live" communications (such as chat rooms). Other programs allow you to attend class on your own schedule, which means you can log on any time of day. Many programs offer a combination of delivery methods. Which one is right for you depends on your need for interaction, learning style, and schedule.Check them on Ebay: [phpbay]nurse, 10, 2228, parts case[/phpbay]
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Thursday, May 28, 2009
Health Headlines - May 29
Illinois Senate Passes Medical Marijuana Bill A bill to allow Illinois residents to use medical marijuana if they have serious diseases such as AIDS, cancer and multiple sclerosis was passed by the Illinois Senate in a 30-28 vote, the Associated Press reported. The Illinois House will now consider the bill. Earlier this year, a House committee passed a medical marijuana measure. If the bill is eventually signed into law, Illinois would become the 14th state to have such measures in place, Bruce Mirken, spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project, told the AP. Opponents say that legalizing medical marijuana would make it difficult for police to enforce other marijuana laws and would be a move toward general legalization of the drug. ----- Wisconsin County Eliminates Black Infant Mortality Gap: CDC The elimination of a large disparity in black and white infant deaths in a Wisconsin county suggests that this type of achievement is possible across the United States, a new U.S. report concludes. Between 2002 and 2007, the death rate among black infants in Dane County decreased by 67 percent, resulting in the elimination of the 3:1 black-white infant mortality gap that existed for all of the 1990s in the county, according to the study, published Thursday in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The researchers noted that a disparity in black and white infant death rates exists in most, if not all, of the United States. The large reduction in black infant deaths in Dane County was due to a sharp decline in the number of premature births and fetal deaths that occur during the sixth and seventh month of pregnancy, the study said. ----- Insured Americans Pay to Cover Uninsured: Report Americans with health insurance pay a substantial "hidden health tax" that covers health care for those without insurance, according to a report released Thursday by the advocacy group Families USA. Each year, the average family with health insurance pays out an extra $1,000 a year and the average person with private coverage forks out an extra $370 in premiums to pay for health care for the uninsured, the Associated Press reported. In 2008, uninsured people received $116 billion in health care from doctors, hospitals and other providers, Families USA said. About 37 percent of that amount was paid for by uninsured patients, and another 26 percent was paid for by government programs and charities. The remainder, about $43 billion, was covered by private insurance premiums paid by individuals and businesses. "As more people join the ranks of the uninsured, the hidden health tax is growing," said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, the AP reported. "That tax hits America's businesses and insured families hard in the pocketbook, and they therefore have a clear financial stake in expanding health care coverage." The findings support the group's push to extend coverage to all 50 million uninsured Americans. ----- Group Seeks Broader Coverage of Substance Abuse Treatments In 2005, $468 billion was spent to deal with smoking and drug and alcohol abuse in the United States -- an amount that represents more than 10 percent of combined federal, state and local spending for all purposes, says a study released Thursday by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. Most of that spending was for direct health care costs for conditions caused by smoking and drug and alcohol abuse, or for law enforcement. Just over 2 percent of the $468 billion was spent on prevention, treatment and addiction research, The New York Times reported. The lack of spending on prevention is a "stunning misallocation of resources," said Joseph A. Califano Jr., chairman of the Columbia University-based center. "It's a commentary on the stigma attached to addictions and the failure of governments to make investments in the short run that would pay enormous dividends to taxpayers over time." The group said efforts focused on prevention of addictions and substance abuse reduce related medical and criminal costs, as well as expensive social problems such as homelessness, domestic violence and child abuse, The Times reported. Califano and colleagues called for federal legislation to require health insurers to provide broader coverage of substance abuse treatment. ----- Poorer Hospitalized More Often for Preventable Conditions: Report In 2006, hospital admissions for asthma and diabetes were 87 percent and 77 percent higher, respectively, for the poorest Americans than for wealthier people, according to a federal government report. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality said that, compared to people from wealthier communities, those from the poorest areas had higher hospitalization rates for other potentially preventable conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (69 percent), congestive heart failure (51 percent), skin infections (49 percent), and dehydration (38 percent). Patients from the poorest communities were also more likely to be hospitalized for severe blood infections, stroke and depression, said the AHRQ's latest News and Numbers. The report also said hospitalized patients from the poorest areas were 80 percent more likely to receive hemodialysis for kidney failure, and were more likely to undergo procedures often done on an outpatient basis, such as eye and ear procedures (81 percent more likely).Health Headlines - May 29
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Nursing Home Negligence Stories
Throughout America, the number of nursing home negligence stories continues to rise at an alarming rate. Unfortunately for those involved, the outcome can sometimes be fatal. There have been numerous accounts of patients suffering at the hands of a negligent staff that are underpaid and overworked. Thousands of seniors suffer injury and death each year from preventable causes like infected bedsores, dehydration, malnutrition, and deficient care.An 84-year-old Kentucky farmer had spent his last days confined to a bed and living in intense pain. It was found out that a bowel impaction that had been neglected for several days was the cause of his fatal heart attack. The morning of his death, the patient had been screaming for a doctor who never showed up. The family of the deceased found out about the cause of his death from an employee who had worked at the facility. From there, the family decided to seek legal action and consulted a nursing home negligence attorney. At the ensuing trial, the jury returned a $20 million verdict against the nursing home for a death caused by negligence of the nursing home facility.A bedridden elderly woman in a Florida facility had developed pressure sores on her leg, which were caused from being malnourished and dehydrated. Sores had developed due to her not being moved enough by the staff while she was in bed. The wounds had become severely infected and amputation of the leg had become a sad reality. Her son sued the nursing home with the help of a nursing home negligence attorney and a settlement was reached. The decision was made to move her to another facility where the care would be better.At the facility, the elderly woman had broken her right ankle. The son suspected that the broken ankle could have been the result of improper handling, when they moved his mother into the home. The broken ankle never healed, and with time, a sore developed and became infected. There was a second decision to amputate her remaining leg. The son also decided to pursue legal action against the home and consulted with a nursing home negligence attorney. The nursing home is contesting the complaint and is denying any culpability.Many elderly residents spend the end of their lives in assisted living facilities. These facilities are highly regulated, but the government doesn't have the resources to monitor homes for negligence. It is often up to the friends and family to report signs of negligence to a nursing home negligence attorney. They have the experience to handle a full range of nursing home negligence cases. If you are concerned about how a loved one is being treated there, contact a nursing home negligence attorney as soon as possible.Check them on Ebay: [phpbay]nurse, 10, 2228, parts case[/phpbay]
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Most Educational Nursing School Moments
Nursing school can seem like an endless labyrinth when you're inside of it. Yet within months of graduating it may look like the tiniest of roads as it disappears in the rear view mirror. You are soon living in a surreal time period when you're no longer a student nurse but not yet a registered nurse because you haven't taken the NCLEX exam (I was a very medically knowledgeable hostess at Chili's during this time).
This holding pattern gave me the chance to take my first real deep breath in four years and reflect on what I really learned during nursing school before jumping back into the pool again as an RN.
Here are the moments that stood out the most.
This holding pattern gave me the chance to take my first real deep breath in four years and reflect on what I really learned during nursing school before jumping back into the pool again as an RN.
Here are the moments that stood out the most.
Poker Face: During my very first clinical, sophomore year in a local nursing home, my clinical instructor reprimanded me for not having a proper "poker face" that nurses are apparently required to have. I guess I got the hang of it because years later, when I took an acting class my acting instructor told me that I had too much of a poker face and needed to learn to show emotion.
STDs, Birth Control and Me: Part of my senior year community health clinical had me assigned to an urban halfway house. For reasons that I still can't remember, for my senior year project I chose to give a presentation to the shelter women about sexually transmitted diseases and birth control.At that point in my life, I will admit that I didn't have any first hand experience to report which made it all the more bizarre of a project decision. I'm pretty sure my face was a red hot radish throughout the entire lecture and I'm really not sure how much these women could possibly have learned from me. Although it was excellent practice for the myriad of often intimate patient teaching experiences I would later face as an RN.
Ayuda Mi Dios: Watching the birth of a baby was the greatest moment of my nursing school experience. And watching the medical student catch the baby and hand it to me, was the most terrifying. The students in my class unofficially competed with one another about who got to see a birth first and then who got to see the most births. This was my only one and I was the last student in the class to witness a child birth.The semester had almost ended and I was losing hope that it would happen. In fact, during the previous clinical day I had stayed several hours past "quitting time" in hopes that my patient would deliver (she did – about a half hour after I left). The delivery I did see was fast. So fast that I wasn't the only one surprised.The poor mom progressed so fast that medication was no longer an option and she had to deliver naturally. It was a loud, messy miracle, but a miracle nevertheless. There's a part of me that will always associate the words "ayuda me dios" with childbirth – "Help me God."
Nobody ever said miracles were painless, kind of like getting a nursing degree. Remember to pay attention to the little moments in your nursing school journey. Don't wait until it's in the rear view mirror before you start paying attention. You might miss something.
Most Educational Nursing School Moments
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Take Your Nursing Skills to the Next Level With Travel Nursing
Travel nursing is a job in which a nurse travels to the locations they are required at. They are located there temporarily to cover up a shortage of nurses or in case of emergencies. It began in the 1980’s when a staff shortage and fluctuations were felt in the medical organisations. Nurse travel was a common phenomenon in the United States which faced a shortage of nurses.A nurse with a minimum of one year clinical experience in one’s speciality and a license by the state of employment is eligible to become a nurse traveller. Though the eligibility requires a nurse to have an experience of one year but a nurse traveller must have a vast knowledge and experience in their specialised field because of the limited time available to them to understand the assigned task and the organisation.Generally in medical travel nursing is based on a short term contract. This may range from 4-13 weeks and can go up to a contract of 1-2 years. A permanent job can be offered by the medical organisation at the end of the contract.Since the nature of work is such a nurse traveller is paid more than a permanent nurse excluding the housing expense which are covered by the organisation itself. Salary may differ from area to area depending upon the location, the need of the organisation. Being a travel nurse gives one immense amount of exposure and the ability to handle different situationsAnother added benefit of being on medical nurse travel is that one gets to explore new locations while one can work at the same time. One can choose the place of work they like and enjoy the place as well. Some nurses also state that this job was like a “working vacation for them”.Indulging in a noble profession and at the same time fulfilling you own desires of having a good paying job and exploring new places is only offered by the medical nurse travel industry.Check them on Ebay: [phpbay]nurse, 10, 2228, parts case[/phpbay]
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What is involved in forensic nursing?
What does this involve, particularly the mental health branch?
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Dipyridamole, Aspirin Drug Aid Hemodialysis Treatment
A new study, led by a University of Iowa researcher, shows for the first time that the anti-clotting drug dipyridamole combined with aspirin delays the initial failure of arteriovenous vascular access grafts used in hemodialysis for patients with end-stage kidney disease.
A functioning vascular access allows blood to be removed for cleansing. Grafts typically fail due to blood vessel narrowing (stenosis) at the graft site, leading to clotting, which in turn blocks blood flow. A blocked graft cannot be used and is a major cause of worsening health for patients on dialysis.
The study was part of the Dialysis Access Consortium and funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health. The study found that drug therapy with extended-release dipyridamole plus aspirin was safe and decreased by 5 percent the rate of arteriovenous vascular access grafts that had a first failure within one year.
"Access failure is the Achilles' heel of hemodialysis," said Brad Dixon, M.D., the study's principal investigator and associate professor of internal medicine at the UI Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine. "Although the benefit was modest, the investigation is the first study to date to show that a drug can reduce narrowing within arteriovenous grafts. Depending on cost-analysis, it might be worthwhile to use this treatment approach preventively."
More than 300,000 Americans with end-stage kidney disease receive hemodialysis several times a week. Each year, approximately one in three patients has a vascular access problem that requires hospitalization. Costs associated with vascular access maintenance are estimated to exceed $1 billion annually in the United States.
The preferred access method is the fistula, which is a direct connection between artery and vein, because it has the fewest complications. The second preferred method is the arteriovenous graft, which is a surgically inserted piece of tubing connecting an artery and a vein. The least preferred type is the catheter.
"A fistula does not work for some patients. A graft is the next best option, but they frequently clot. We wanted to try to find a drug-based, rather than a procedure-based, approach to prevent that from occurring," said Dixon, who also is a staff physician and researcher with the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
In 1995, a small, single-site study showed that dipyridamole, used with or without aspirin, prevents clotting in new grafts. The current multicenter study included 649 patients at 13 centers involving more than 45 community-based and university dialysis units nationwide. In addition to the UI, nearby participating sites included the Iowa City VA Medical Center, the Renal Care Group in Peoria, Ill., and Covenant Hospital in Waterloo.
Approximately 71 percent of participants were black, the average age was 58 and just over 60 percent were female. The study included individuals at higher risk for vascular access failure since lower-risk patients tend to receive a fistula. Participants already could be on aspirin, but the study was limited to patients with a lower risk of bleeding.
Nearly half of the 649 participants received a capsule containing 200 milligrams of extended-release dipyridamole plus 25 milligrams of aspirin, and half received placebo twice a day for up to four-and-half years. After one year, 72 percent of the active treatment group and 77 percent of the placebo group had suffered at least one thrombosis or access intervention, and in contrast to earlier studies of anti-clotting drugs, no excess risk of bleeding was seen.
"The overall high rate of failure in both groups is daunting. Procedures needed to correct these graft failures contribute to the high costs of dialysis treatment for grafts," Dixon said. "This study represents an important step towards understanding and treating the problem. The next step is to examine new treatments and combination therapy for hemodialysis vascular stenosis."
The cost of treating a patient for one year with this therapy would be between $500 and $2,200. Additional study is needed to determine whether treatment costs outweigh benefits for most patients.
The study included support from Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, which also provided the study drugs and matched placebo at no cost. The company was not involved in the study design, data analysis or manuscript preparation. Among the study co-authors (none at the UI), one received consulting fees, one received a grant and one received lecture fees from the pharmaceutical company.
A functioning vascular access allows blood to be removed for cleansing. Grafts typically fail due to blood vessel narrowing (stenosis) at the graft site, leading to clotting, which in turn blocks blood flow. A blocked graft cannot be used and is a major cause of worsening health for patients on dialysis.
The study was part of the Dialysis Access Consortium and funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health. The study found that drug therapy with extended-release dipyridamole plus aspirin was safe and decreased by 5 percent the rate of arteriovenous vascular access grafts that had a first failure within one year.
"Access failure is the Achilles' heel of hemodialysis," said Brad Dixon, M.D., the study's principal investigator and associate professor of internal medicine at the UI Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine. "Although the benefit was modest, the investigation is the first study to date to show that a drug can reduce narrowing within arteriovenous grafts. Depending on cost-analysis, it might be worthwhile to use this treatment approach preventively."
More than 300,000 Americans with end-stage kidney disease receive hemodialysis several times a week. Each year, approximately one in three patients has a vascular access problem that requires hospitalization. Costs associated with vascular access maintenance are estimated to exceed $1 billion annually in the United States.
The preferred access method is the fistula, which is a direct connection between artery and vein, because it has the fewest complications. The second preferred method is the arteriovenous graft, which is a surgically inserted piece of tubing connecting an artery and a vein. The least preferred type is the catheter.
"A fistula does not work for some patients. A graft is the next best option, but they frequently clot. We wanted to try to find a drug-based, rather than a procedure-based, approach to prevent that from occurring," said Dixon, who also is a staff physician and researcher with the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
In 1995, a small, single-site study showed that dipyridamole, used with or without aspirin, prevents clotting in new grafts. The current multicenter study included 649 patients at 13 centers involving more than 45 community-based and university dialysis units nationwide. In addition to the UI, nearby participating sites included the Iowa City VA Medical Center, the Renal Care Group in Peoria, Ill., and Covenant Hospital in Waterloo.
Approximately 71 percent of participants were black, the average age was 58 and just over 60 percent were female. The study included individuals at higher risk for vascular access failure since lower-risk patients tend to receive a fistula. Participants already could be on aspirin, but the study was limited to patients with a lower risk of bleeding.
Nearly half of the 649 participants received a capsule containing 200 milligrams of extended-release dipyridamole plus 25 milligrams of aspirin, and half received placebo twice a day for up to four-and-half years. After one year, 72 percent of the active treatment group and 77 percent of the placebo group had suffered at least one thrombosis or access intervention, and in contrast to earlier studies of anti-clotting drugs, no excess risk of bleeding was seen.
"The overall high rate of failure in both groups is daunting. Procedures needed to correct these graft failures contribute to the high costs of dialysis treatment for grafts," Dixon said. "This study represents an important step towards understanding and treating the problem. The next step is to examine new treatments and combination therapy for hemodialysis vascular stenosis."
The cost of treating a patient for one year with this therapy would be between $500 and $2,200. Additional study is needed to determine whether treatment costs outweigh benefits for most patients.
The study included support from Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, which also provided the study drugs and matched placebo at no cost. The company was not involved in the study design, data analysis or manuscript preparation. Among the study co-authors (none at the UI), one received consulting fees, one received a grant and one received lecture fees from the pharmaceutical company.
Source:?
University Of Iowa
Dipyridamole, Aspirin Drug Aid Hemodialysis Treatment
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Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Health Headlines - May 28
Poorer Hospitalized More Often for Preventable Conditions: Report In 2006, hospital admissions for asthma and diabetes were 87 percent and 77 percent higher, respectively, for the poorest Americans than for wealthier people, according to a federal government report released Wednesday. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality said that, compared to people from wealthier communities, those from the poorest areas had higher hospitalization rates for other potentially preventable conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (69 percent), congestive heart failure (51 percent), skin infections (49 percent), and dehydration (38 percent). Patients from the poorest communities were also more likely to be hospitalized for severe blood infections, stroke and depression, said the AHRQ's latest News and Numbers. The report also said hospitalized patients from the poorest areas were 80 percent more likely to receive hemodialysis for kidney failure, and were more likely to undergo procedures often done on an outpatient basis, such as eye and ear procedures (81 percent more likely). ----- FDA Issues TV Drug Ad Guidelines Drug and medical device ads on TV shouldn't overstate drugs' benefits while downplaying their risks, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said in a new draft guidance. In issuing the guidelines, the FDA noted that the omission or minimization of risk information was the most common violation cited in enforcement or warning letters, the Wall Street Journal reported. The proposed advertising guidelines offer several suggestions on how drug and medical device makers can avoid breaking FDA rules. For example, the agency said that a product that requires monthly blood tests to check for liver damage should clearly state that fact, instead of telling patients and health-care professionals there is a need for "certain monitoring." The FDA also advised companies against the use of distracting music and images and music that may affect consumers' ability to learn about potential side effects. The draft guidelines were posted Tuesday on the FDA Web site. The agency is accepting comments for 90 days before issuing final guidelines, the Journal reported. ----- Test for Early Alzheimer's Moving Forward: Report If all goes according to plan, the first test to detect Alzheimer's disease in its early stages could be available within 12 to 18 months, according to U.S. researchers. They said early diagnosis could help slow progression of the disease. The test, which detects abnormal function of a protein involved in memory storage, has been tested on hundreds of patients and proved highly accurate, but the scientists want to use it on thousands more people before the test is marketed, the Associated Press reported. "This may be a way of monitoring how effective a treatment is for Alzheimer's disease," said Dr Daniel Alkon, scientific director of the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute. The West Virginia University-based institute on Wednesday was to announce a contract with Inverness Medical Innovations Inc. of Massachusetts, under which Inverness would bankroll development of the new diagnostic test for at least three years, the AP reported. ----- Minnesota Boy to Undergo Chemotherapy A 13-year-old Minnesota boy with cancer who fled with his mother to avoid chemotherapy will undergo the treatment Thursday. Daniel Hauser, who has Hodgkin's Lymphoma, was scheduled to be examined Wednesday by a pediatric oncologist at Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. His parents have agreed to allow him to receive a round of chemotherapy on Thursday, the Associated Press reported. Colleen and Anthony Hauser had opposed chemotherapy for Daniel because the family prefers natural healing practices advocated by a religious group that says it follows American Indian beliefs. Colleen and Daniel returned home Monday after spending six days on the run in violation of a court order. A judge allowed the parents to keep custody of Daniel in exchange for agreeing to the hospital treatment for their son, even though an attorney for family services in Brown County opposed the move, the AP reported.Health Headlines - May 28
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Certified nursing assistant and nursing tech? What's the Difference?
What's the difference between the 2, and perhaps the best choice, in terms of job prospects, pay, quality of life (if the work is easier than the other occupation), etc.?? I'm currently a certified nursing assistant & wonder if it's worth it to add on a nursing tech certificate. I prefer to work in a hospital. Are nursing techs more likely to get hired at a hosptial than CNA's? I'd work while taking nursing classes.
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PPR Travel Nurse Zgoda Niagra Falls3
Insight to the world of travel nursing with PPR Healthcare Staffing
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How do i get into nursing college, what grades do i need.?
I am 31 have alot of experiance in allsorts of things, i have been working for a nursing agency for about 3 months and loving it. I am desperate to train as a nurse, what grades do i need and how do i go about it please. I have NVQ's and well many more other things.
I did well i suppose at school but with 2or 3 c's i dont think that is enough, i had a bad time at school so never really cared about doing the work or revising. Now i am older i love to learn and wish i did more but if i knew then what i know now, hey we all think that dont we.
I did well i suppose at school but with 2or 3 c's i dont think that is enough, i had a bad time at school so never really cared about doing the work or revising. Now i am older i love to learn and wish i did more but if i knew then what i know now, hey we all think that dont we.
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Nearly 1 Million Californians Seek Medical Care in Mexico Annually
Driven by rising health care costs at home, nearly 1 million Californians cross the border each year to seek medical care in Mexico, according a new study by UCLA researchers published in the journal Medical Care.
An estimated 952,000 California adults seek medical, dental or prescription services in Mexico annually, and of these, 488,000 were Mexican immigrants, according to the research paper, "Heading South: Why Mexican Immigrants in California Seek Health Services in Mexico."
The paper is the first large-scale population-based research ever published on U.S. residents who travel to Mexico for health services. It is based on an analysis of 2001 data from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), the nation's largest state health survey.
"What the research shows is that many Californians, especially Mexican immigrants, go to Mexico for health services," said lead author Steven P. Wallace, associate director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, which conducts CHIS. "We already know that immigrants use less health care overall than people born in the U.S. Heading south of the border further reduces the demand on U.S. facilities."
Cost and lack of insurance were primary reasons both Mexican and non-Mexican U.S. residents sought health services across the border.
Both "long-stay" Mexican immigrants (those in the U.S. for more than 15 years) and "short-stay" immigrants (less than 15 years) have high rates of uninsured: 51.5 percent of short-stay immigrants and 29 percent of long-stay immigrants do not have medical insurance.
"This points to the importance of expanding work-based insurance in health care reform, since virtually all Mexican immigrants are in working families," said co-author Xochitl Casteñada, director of the Health Initiative of the Americas at the University of California, Berkeley.
Both short-stay and long-stay immigrants have even higher rates of uninsured for dental care: 77.6 percent and 51.6 percent, respectively.
Not surprisingly, dental care was the most common service obtained by immigrants.
Among non-Latino whites, prescription drugs were the most common medical service obtained in Mexico.
Long-stay immigrants used Mexican health services the most, with 15 percent reporting crossing the border during a year's time for health services. Half of these long-stay immigrants lived far—more than 120 miles—from the border.
Long-stay immigrants are more likely to be documented than short-stay immigrants, Wallace noted, which makes it easier for them to travel back and forth to Mexico.
Short-stay immigrants—those most likely to be undocumented—were also the least likely to need medical care in all areas, with one exception: mental health.
"Undocumented immigrants tend to be younger, stronger and consequently healthier," Wallace said. "But they are also the most stressed out, as many are struggling economically, culturally and linguistically."
Short-stay immigrants who sought treatment in Mexico were more often women and were more likely to tell their doctor they were feeling "sad or down."
Other findings:
* Immigrants who travel to Mexico for health services are not necessarily the poorest. One explanation: The cost of travel may offset any financial savings, creating a disincentive for the very poor to travel.
* Although cost was the primary factor in seeking health services, cultural and linguistic barriers and immigration factors were also important motivators.
How often immigrants cross the border to Mexico for health services is particularly relevant to efforts to create and expand binational health insurance plans, Wallace said.
Since 2000, several private insurance companies and at least one employer group have developed such plans, which cover an estimated 150,000 California workers who use Mexican medical facilities near the border.
These plans may be both more cost-effective for employers and more culturally relevant for participants, Wallace said.
"To the extent that binational plans encourage more people to access preventative and other health care, they should be encouraged," he said.
Source: University of California, Los Angeles
Nearly 1 Million Californians Seek Medical Care in Mexico Annually
An estimated 952,000 California adults seek medical, dental or prescription services in Mexico annually, and of these, 488,000 were Mexican immigrants, according to the research paper, "Heading South: Why Mexican Immigrants in California Seek Health Services in Mexico."
The paper is the first large-scale population-based research ever published on U.S. residents who travel to Mexico for health services. It is based on an analysis of 2001 data from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), the nation's largest state health survey.
"What the research shows is that many Californians, especially Mexican immigrants, go to Mexico for health services," said lead author Steven P. Wallace, associate director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, which conducts CHIS. "We already know that immigrants use less health care overall than people born in the U.S. Heading south of the border further reduces the demand on U.S. facilities."
Cost and lack of insurance were primary reasons both Mexican and non-Mexican U.S. residents sought health services across the border.
Both "long-stay" Mexican immigrants (those in the U.S. for more than 15 years) and "short-stay" immigrants (less than 15 years) have high rates of uninsured: 51.5 percent of short-stay immigrants and 29 percent of long-stay immigrants do not have medical insurance.
"This points to the importance of expanding work-based insurance in health care reform, since virtually all Mexican immigrants are in working families," said co-author Xochitl Casteñada, director of the Health Initiative of the Americas at the University of California, Berkeley.
Both short-stay and long-stay immigrants have even higher rates of uninsured for dental care: 77.6 percent and 51.6 percent, respectively.
Not surprisingly, dental care was the most common service obtained by immigrants.
Among non-Latino whites, prescription drugs were the most common medical service obtained in Mexico.
Long-stay immigrants used Mexican health services the most, with 15 percent reporting crossing the border during a year's time for health services. Half of these long-stay immigrants lived far—more than 120 miles—from the border.
Long-stay immigrants are more likely to be documented than short-stay immigrants, Wallace noted, which makes it easier for them to travel back and forth to Mexico.
Short-stay immigrants—those most likely to be undocumented—were also the least likely to need medical care in all areas, with one exception: mental health.
"Undocumented immigrants tend to be younger, stronger and consequently healthier," Wallace said. "But they are also the most stressed out, as many are struggling economically, culturally and linguistically."
Short-stay immigrants who sought treatment in Mexico were more often women and were more likely to tell their doctor they were feeling "sad or down."
Other findings:
* Immigrants who travel to Mexico for health services are not necessarily the poorest. One explanation: The cost of travel may offset any financial savings, creating a disincentive for the very poor to travel.
* Although cost was the primary factor in seeking health services, cultural and linguistic barriers and immigration factors were also important motivators.
How often immigrants cross the border to Mexico for health services is particularly relevant to efforts to create and expand binational health insurance plans, Wallace said.
Since 2000, several private insurance companies and at least one employer group have developed such plans, which cover an estimated 150,000 California workers who use Mexican medical facilities near the border.
These plans may be both more cost-effective for employers and more culturally relevant for participants, Wallace said.
"To the extent that binational plans encourage more people to access preventative and other health care, they should be encouraged," he said.
Source: University of California, Los Angeles
Nearly 1 Million Californians Seek Medical Care in Mexico Annually
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HESI Exam Study Tips
How to Prepare for the HESI Nurse ExamNursing students will have to pass the HESI test in order to graduate from nursing school. Passing this nurse exam can depend on valuable HESI exam study tips. Nursing students should incorporate as many HESI test tips in their studying as possible. A variety of
?HESI exam study tips will reduce the risk of weakness in an area of the HESI nurse exam and improve the overall score.HESI Exam Study Tip # 1:Make time to study. This is the most important HESI test tip. Nursing students need to ensure that they spend the proper amount of time studying for the HESI nurse exam. It is recommended that upwards of 60 hours are spent studying for the HESI exam. The HESI test doesn't just require a regurgitation of facts, but tests how to apply nursing knowledge. Students will need to spend extra hours implementing other HESI exam study tips, to fully understand the material.HESI Exam Study Tip #2:Use HESI study guides. There are many books written with the purpose of helping nursing students pass the HESI exam. They provide invaluable insight into what will be on the nurse exam and provide many HESI test tips. The company HESI also publishes books with HESI test tips, which include discs with practice exams. Books on HESI test tips can be found at bookstores or on-line, at Amazon.com.HESI Exam Study Tip #3:Use flashcards. Repetition is one of the most effective forms of learning. By making or purchasing flashcards, nursing students will optimize their chances of learning content that will appear on the HESI nurse exam. Flashcardsecrets.com sell flash card sets specifically designed for the HESI exam.HESI Exam Study Tip #4:Take on-line practice tests. The more often a student takes HESI practice tests, the more comfortable they will be with the on-line testing medium. This HESI test tip also will help students with understanding and thus correctly answering the questions on the nurse exam. Free on-line HESI practice tests are available on Testprepreview.com.HESI Exam Study Tips
?HESI exam study tips will reduce the risk of weakness in an area of the HESI nurse exam and improve the overall score.HESI Exam Study Tip # 1:Make time to study. This is the most important HESI test tip. Nursing students need to ensure that they spend the proper amount of time studying for the HESI nurse exam. It is recommended that upwards of 60 hours are spent studying for the HESI exam. The HESI test doesn't just require a regurgitation of facts, but tests how to apply nursing knowledge. Students will need to spend extra hours implementing other HESI exam study tips, to fully understand the material.HESI Exam Study Tip #2:Use HESI study guides. There are many books written with the purpose of helping nursing students pass the HESI exam. They provide invaluable insight into what will be on the nurse exam and provide many HESI test tips. The company HESI also publishes books with HESI test tips, which include discs with practice exams. Books on HESI test tips can be found at bookstores or on-line, at Amazon.com.HESI Exam Study Tip #3:Use flashcards. Repetition is one of the most effective forms of learning. By making or purchasing flashcards, nursing students will optimize their chances of learning content that will appear on the HESI nurse exam. Flashcardsecrets.com sell flash card sets specifically designed for the HESI exam.HESI Exam Study Tip #4:Take on-line practice tests. The more often a student takes HESI practice tests, the more comfortable they will be with the on-line testing medium. This HESI test tip also will help students with understanding and thus correctly answering the questions on the nurse exam. Free on-line HESI practice tests are available on Testprepreview.com.HESI Exam Study Tips
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How much does a travel nurse earn compared to an RN that takes a permanent position?
I am finishing up my bachelors degree and have been considering going on to be an RN. I have heard that being a travel nurse pays a great deal more in addition to covering housing costs. I am not even sure how much a nurse typically makes, but I would appreciate to hear about salaries and how the two compare. Thanks so much!
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The Duties of a Nursing Home Negligence Attorney
A nursing home negligence attorney has a very important job to do. He or she works to help provide fair and just compensation for individuals that have been wronged through neglect or elder abuse.These people - or their families - bring lawsuits against these facilities that treat them inappropriately, and when this takes place it can either go to court or it can settle out of court. Even if the facility does not feel it is really guilty of elder abuse or neglect, it will sometimes settle out of court to avoid a long and costly battle.The elder abuse lawyer that is hired by the wronged party often works for free, and only gets paid if he or she wins the case. The lawyer for the other party, however, may or may not have his or her fee schedule that way. If he or she does not, the facility could end up paying a great deal of money for defense.In that case, or if the elder care facility is aware that it or one of its employees was in the wrong, an out of court settlement might actually save money over what would have to be paid if the case went through the court system and a judge determined what the compensation should be.That determination of monetary compensation would also partially depend on the nursing home abuse lawyer and how qualified he or she was. The skills and experience that a nursing home negligence attorney actually has can affect a case quite strongly, which is why it is important to search for the right attorney for a specific case of neglect or elder abuse.All licensed attorneys are competent, and they all have their skills and abilities. Some, however, are more capable in specific areas, which is why it is important to find the one that will be the best fit for a particular case.A nursing home abuse lawyer is able to provide an individual and his or her elderly relative with safety and security, monetary compensation, and the chance to help others as well. People who abuse or neglect elderly people should not be allowed to continue to do that.However, they will not be stopped unless others speak up and find ways to stop them. The hiring of a nursing home negligence attorney is an important way to stop nursing home neglect and elder abuse from continuing and from happening to other people.Check them on Ebay: [phpbay]nurse, 10, 2228, parts case[/phpbay]
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What is a good Neonatal Nursing college?
What college is number 1 for neonatal nurse? What one has good courses for neonatal?
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When should I start applying for nursing jobs?
I graduate in June '09. Is now a good time, and what are some good pointers for job interviews, the whole process? Any tips?
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Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Health Headlines - May 27
13-Year-Old Cancer Patient, Mother Return Home to Minnesota Thirteen-year-old Daniel Hauser and his mother Colleen returned home to Minnesota Monday a week after they fled to California in an attempt to avoid chemotherapy for Daniel, who has Hodgkin's lymphoma. Daniel and his parents have refused chemotherapy because they believe it's toxic and want to use alternative treatments. An attorney said Colleen Hauser will now abide by court-ordered medical treatment for Daniel, the Associated Press reported. The boy and his mother arrived back in Minnesota about 3 a.m. Monday and Daniel was examined by a doctor after his return. Daniel, who is in the protective custody of Brown County, was allowed to spend the night at home with a deputy on duty. Daniel had one round of chemotherapy in February, but then said he didn't want to continue the treatment. A judge ruled that Daniel was medically neglected by his parents and ordered an updated chest X-ray for Daniel and a re-evaluation by an oncologist. Daniel and his mother fled after the X-ray showed a tumor in Daniel's chest had grown. Children with Hodgkin's lymphoma have a 90 percent cure rate if they're treated with chemotherapy and radiation. Doctors said Daniel was likely to die without those treatments, the AP reported. ----- Court Rules 'Light' Cigarettes Duped Smokers By labeling some cigarettes as "light," the tobacco industry deceived smokers into believing these brands were less harmful than others, a U.S. Federal Appeals Court ruled Friday. The court confirmed an August 2006 ruling by a lower court that found tobacco makers lied for years about the dangers of such cigarettes. The ruling also upholds an earlier decision ordering tobacco companies to remove statements such as "light" or "natural" from product packaging, the Agence France Presse reported. The case pitted the U.S. government against big tobacco manufacturers including Philip Morris and Reynolds, who, the AFP reported, will likely appeal the decision before the U.S. Supreme Court. ----- BPA From Bottles Shows Up in Urine: Study People who drink from plastic bottles that contain bisphenol A (BPA) have elevated levels of the chemical in their urine, says a Harvard School of Public Health study that confirms what health experts have long suspected, the Boston Globe reported. The chemical is used in hundreds of products, including baby bottles. The Harvard team found a 69 percent increase in BPA levels in the urine of people who drank for one week from clear plastic polycarbonate bottles. The study, published online in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, is the first to definitively show that BPA from plastic bottles leaches into people's bodies, according to the team. "If you heat those bottles, as is the case with baby bottles, we would expect the levels to be considerably higher. This would be of concern since infants may be particularly susceptible to BPA's endocrine-disrupting potential," said senior author Karin B. Michels, an associate professor at the School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School, the Globe reported. An American Chemical Council official said the Harvard study doesn't show that products with BPA pose a health risk.Health Headlines - May 27
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Remember Nurses Who Have Served
On this Memorial Day, I began thinking about nurses who have served our country and the sacrifices they’ve made. Nurses have been administering to troops throughout the history of the United States, but the story of the nurses in the Philippines during World War II grabbed my attention.Ninety-nine were stationed on this Pacific outpost, and most became prisoners of war after U.S. and Filipino forces surrendered the islands to the Japanese in 1942.There are many stories about their imprisonment from 1942 to 1945, but two things are for sure: None of the nurses who were caught in the crossfire of the world’s largest conflict ever expected their lives to take such a turn, and they all acted heroically.Most of the nurses who signed on for duty in the Pacific theater were just “in search of a little adventure,” as one journalist put it. They expected to pass their time with the Army and Navy doling out aspirin and caring for the few who contracted tropical diseases. All that changed on Dec. 7, 1941, when the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor set in motion a series of events that would forever change the lives of these nurses.The invasion of the Philippines began 10 hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor and dozens of nurses were captured and eventually sent to Los Banos POW camp in Manila where they tended to the sick and injured under extremely primitive conditions.One nurse, Ruth Straub, wrote in her journal that the first hospital on Bataan was a "jungle land and everyone lives under trees. Rows of beds snuggled under the trees with narrow winding paths between them and the night sky overhead.”Nurse Elizabeth M. Norman, who eventually became an associate professor in nursing at New York University, was stationed on Corregidor, an island in Manila Bay that was important to the Philippines’ defense. General Douglas MacArthur used Corregidor as Allied headquarters until March 1942. Two months later, U.S. and Filipino forces surrendered to the Japanese."The nurses stood mute and edgy,” Norman said of the surrender scene in her book, "We Band of Angels: The Untold Story of American Nurses Trapped on Bataan."“Up and down the line walked the Japanese, looking them over. It was difficult, at first, to read the enemy's face, to separate reputation from reality, reality from fear... The sight of women in uniform was so alien to the Japanese that they seemed puzzled, indeed almost confused, by the nurses' presence."The nurses spent nearly three years in the POW camps and conditions deteriorated over time, especially during their last year of captivity."Some people started eating weeds, flowers and roots,” Norman wrote. “A few of the nurses grew a little talinum (a succulent) and okra, then fried their meager harvest in cold cream that came in Red Cross kits."According to another nurse’s account, the POWs were "reduced to eating anything they could find -- dogs, frogs, even rats."Many of the nurses fell ill themselves, but they continued to work, caring for the soldiers and hundreds of others who also were held prisoner."When your world is crumbling around you,” Norman wrote, “you need this kind of structure.”Another nurse who told her story was Rita Palmer of the Boston area, who died in 2002. According to her obituary, she was “among the few World War II female veterans to receive the Purple Heart.”Palmer joined the U.S. Army Nurses Corps in 1941 and served in a field hospital in Bataan and Corregidor until the surrender, in which she was wounded and taken prisoner. After the war, she told her story to the local newspaper.The first two years “went fairly pleasant,” she related, but things changed in 1944. The nurses had only rice to eat and that was rationed. Some contracted beriberi (a nervous system disease caused by lack of thiamine). They turned to eating cats, and a flock of pigeons that had nested in the eaves “gradually disappeared.”Palmer was “in the hospital with dysentery when the Americans arrived in tanks. She went to the window to watch American soldiers pour into the camp. One gave her the first chocolate bar she had eaten in two years.”Amazingly, all the nurses who were imprisoned in Manila lived to be liberated by American forces in early February 1945. They were decorated for bravery at the White House that summer.
Remember Nurses Who Have Served
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Take Action and Support the Office of the National Nurse Initiative
The NNNO Board of Directors has heard from dozens of nurses and nursing students who have asked for materials that they can use to educate others about the ONN initiative. Thanks to graduating nursing students Christopher Deal, Lisseth Ortega, and Coral Sohn for designing the pictured tri-fold pamphlet about the Office of the National Nurse initiative. Click on each side to enlarge and read it. Please email teri@nationalnurse.info and we will email this to you in a word document that you can reproduce and distribute to others. Take Action and Support the Office of the National Nurse Initiative
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Take Action and Support the Office of the National Nurse Initiative
The NNNO Board of Directors has heard from dozens of nurses and nursing students who have asked for materials that they can use to educate others about the ONN initiative. Thanks to graduating nursing students Christopher Deal, Lisseth Ortega, and Coral Sohn for designing the pictured tri-fold pamphlet about the Office of the National Nurse initiative. Click on each side to enlarge and read it. Please email teri@nationalnurse.info and we will email this to you in a word document that you can reproduce and distribute to others. Take Action and Support the Office of the National Nurse Initiative
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Travel Nursing - A Great Way Of Life
What is travel nursing and why should you consider it? Travel nursing is almost like temp work. Managers looking for more nurses to hire are experiencing shortages, especially in certain areas. As a result, they've been forced to look for nurses from outside locations. A travel nurse temporarily moves to another area to take advantage of a great working opportunity. Smaller towns often experience a shortage of nurses and have to hire outside help.Travel nurses take on short-term assignments, getting work through agencies that have been set up to deal with the travel nursing demand. The benefits of travel nursing are many. The agency will find and supply you with housing, and cover travel expenses. They help travel nurses with licensing, benefits, and payroll. Because these positions are on a temporary basis, and the travel nurses have to come from out of town, you have the opportunity to make a very good income. Travel nurses get paid above market wages and have a bit of an adventure at the same time.The length of time traveling nurses work depends on the situation. The amount of time you work varies with the agency and the healthcare institution that employs you. An assignment can last anywhere from 8 weeks to 26 weeks. Often you are given the opportunity to extend an assignment and stay for a longer period of time, but this isn't always plausible.Travel nurse jobs are typically 8-13 weeks in length with most contracts. Traveling nurses get to see different parts of the country and earn a good amount of money while doing so. And because travel nurse jobs are cropping up all over the place, there is no shortage of opportunity.Travel nursing jobs afford nurses the opportunity to travel for a short amount of time, save a good amount of money, and come back home to follow their dreams. The extra money may be perfect for the down payment on a house, or to collect interest in a savings account. Whatever the situation, travel nursing jobs are everywhere, so it's easy to take advantage of the opportunity if you want to.Nursing shortages keep getting worse, especially in rural areas of the country. Vacancies can't always be filled and nurses are in high demand. There has been no better time to be a nurse - it's a rewarding and fulfilling job that helps others, but it also pays well. Travel nursing is growing, and will continue to grow into the future.Travel nursing does more than just offer adventure, a change of pace, and higher pay. It's also a chance to hone and expand your skill base, and learn more about nursing and the healthcare industry in general. As you're exposed to a wide variety of healthcare situations, you learn more about the field and continue to improve your skills and working knowledge of nursing practices.The practical side of travel nursing shouldn't be overlooked. Plus, you can add some great experience to your resume and become even more appealing on future job applications. Your experience as a travel nurse has the potential to set you apart from other candidates looking for a nursing job.Check them on Ebay: [phpbay]nurse, 10, 2228, parts case[/phpbay]
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