How to Become a Home Health Nurse

How to Become a Home Health Nurse

After learning the facts about how to become a home health nurse you will be better prepared to make a decision as to whether this career is right for you. A home health nurse works in the home with various patients, providing a wide array of treatments and support. The patients might be elderly, disabled, suffering from terminal illnesses, recovering from bad accidents, new mothers or any number of various other situations and categories. You need to be emotionally supportive, flexible and highly competent to enter this specialized area of nursing.

The first step to becoming a home health nurse is getting the education. Home health care nurses typically go through accredited nursing schools to get their degrees. Some home health care nurses are LVNs, or Licensed Vocational Nurses, but the things these nurses can do and the salaries they earn are somewhat limited. If you want more responsibility and higher wages, it is best to get a Bachelor of Science in Nursing to become a registered nurse. There are also specialized professional certificates such as Geriatric Care and Life Care Planning that better equip nurses for the challenges of this job.

In addition to schooling, all nurses must have supervised clinical experience before they can become registered to work in their field. A nurse who wants to go into home health care will want to get as much experience in this type of nursing as possible before making it a specialization. Continuing education is also crucial in this career. Staying abreast with the latest developments enhances patient care in any setting, but when nurses are working out of people’s homes it is particularly important that they have as much of the latest knowledge as possible.

The good news is that home health nurses are highly in demand and earning decent salaries. The current nursing shortage of approximately 10 percent makes it clear just how badly we need more nurses in this country. The average salary for home health nurses is around $50,000, and there is plenty of room for advancement, especially with more specialized training, certifications and plenty of experience in the field.

--
About the Author

Find the perfect Nursing School or Nursing College today and start your path to a rewarding career. Visit http://nursingschoolsu.com

Treatment for Rheumatic Heart Disease

Rheumatic Heart Disease Treatment

Specific treatment for rheumatic heart disease will be determined by your child's physician based on :

• Your child's overall health and medical history.
• Extent of the disease.
• Your child's tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies.
• Expectations for the course of the disease.
• Your opinion or preference.

The best treatment for rheumatic heart disease is prevention. Antibiotics can usually treat strep throat (a Streptococcus bacterial infection) and stop acute rheumatic fever from developing. Antibiotic therapy has sharply reduced the incidence and mortality rate of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.

Children who have previously contracted rheumatic fever are often given continuous (daily or monthly) antibiotic treatments to prevent future attacks of rheumatic fever and lower the risk of heart damage.

If inflammation of the heart has developed, children may be placed on bed rest. Medications are given to reduce the inflammation, as well as antibiotics to treat the Streptococcus infection. Other medications may be necessary to handle congestive heart failure.

If heart valve damage occurs, surgical repair or replacement of the valve may be considered.

Source : http://www.chw.org

Radiology

Radiology is the branch of medicine that uses radioactive substances, electromagnetic radiation, and sound waves to create images of the body, its organs, and structures for the purpose of diagnosis and Female Doctor viewing X-raytreatment. Images can also show how effectively the body and its internal organs and structures are functioning.

Radiology was discovered a little over 100 years ago and has evolved into a high-tech science with state-of-the-art equipment to aid in imaging every aspect of the body.

While there has been concern over the potential harmful side effects associated with the use of radiation, it is believed that the small risks are greatly outweighed by the information gained about patients' conditions and radiology's contribution to medical science.

Radiology offers both diagnostic and therapeutic services. The specialty areas of radiology include the following :

• Diagnostic Radiology - An area of radiology that uses external radiation to produce images of the body, its organs, and other internal structures for medical diagnostic purposes.


• Nuclear Medicine - A specialized area of diagnostic radiology that uses very small amounts of radioactive materials to create an image of the body, its organ functions, and structure, for diagnostic and treatment purposes.


• Therapeutic Radiology (Radiation Oncology) - A specialized area of radiology that uses applications of radiant energy to study, treat, and manage cancer and other diseases.


• Interventional Radiology - A specialized area of radiology that uses various imaging techniques to guide the insertion of small instruments and tools through the body to identify and treat a medical disorder without requiring conventional surgery.

Source : http://www.chw.org

CARE (Constipation and Reflux Evaluation) Program

Up to 25 percent of children who are referred to the Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Center at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin have a disorder of defection management and 25 percent of infants are referred for reflux. Treatment and management of reflux and constipation in children are provided in the Constipation and Reflux Evaluation Program by the team of pediatric nurse practitioners in collaboration with our gastroenterologists. A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has a master's degree in nursing and has specialized training in pediatric GI disorders and in general child development. Pediatric nurse practitioners can order tests and prescribe medication.

During the first clinic visit, the pediatric nurse practitioner will obtain a health history, perform a physical exam and formulate an individualized treatment plan with the family. Our approach consists of a combination of education, behavior management and medication interventions that are tailored to meet the unique needs of each child. Some tests and lab work may be completed during the visit; others may need to be scheduled for a different day. Dietitians and psychologists also support the program by providing additional intervention on diet and when behavioral issues interfere with management.

Diagnosis/Conditions treated :

• Abdominal pain with constipation.
• Can't potty train.
• Constipation.
• Encopresis (pooping in pants).
• Reflux – infants under 18 months who do not have feeding issues.
• Difficult, painful or infrequent stooling.

Source : http://www.chw.org/display/PPF/DocID/28105/Nav/1/router.asp

The Down Syndrome Clinic

The Down Syndrome Clinic provides care for patients of all ages with Down syndrome. We specialize in providing care and support for families, and are committed to improving our patients' health and well-being.

We understand that a patient's well-being includes many complex issues and requires a comprehensive, multidisciplinary health care approach. We are connected to a network of local and national resources.

Services for families
Staff at the clinic can provide or help coordinate the following services:

• Family-centered care. Clinics are scheduled monthly, usually the first or second Thursday of the month. Visits are customized to meet the needs and concerns of families. Advanced scheduling is required.
• Second opinions. Patients often have complex issues and families may require a second opinion. We are happy to provide a second opinion and help you prioritize concerns and sort through problems.
• Information and referrals. It is common for people with Down Syndrome to receive care from multiple specialists. The Down Syndrome Clinic staff can provide families with specialist referrals as well updated information on health and wellness topics.
• Training and education. We provide training and education for parents on a variety of health issues.

Services for health care providers
Down Syndrome Clinic staff also can provide support to primary care physicians in making health care decisions affecting children or adult family members with Down syndrome:

• Information and referrals.
• Patient consultation services.
• Education and training for providers.

Source : http://www.chw.org

Vitamin and Mineral Supplements for Pregnancy

There is no universal agreement about the use of vitamin and mineral supplements during pregnancy . Ideally, the diet should supply all the nutriens needed so supplements are not necessary. Some physiciams prescribe a multivitamin and mineral supplement as a precaution against deficiencies. The Subcommitee on Dietary Intake and Nutrient Supplements During Pregnancy of the Food and Nutrition Board (Institute of Medicine, 1990) considers supplements During pregnancy an intervention to be used oly when specifically indicated. They point out that supplementation can create imbalances.

Because increasing one nutrient often hanges the requirement for other nutrients. There also may be unidentified essential nutrients. There also may be unidentified essential nutrients that supplementation could affect adversely.

Iron and folacin the most frequently recommended supplement, because they are difficult to obtain by diet alone. The subcommittee for an Implementation Guide (Institute of Medicine, 1992) recommends a low-dose supplement of 30 mg /d of elemental iron for the woman who is not anemic. For the anemic woman, a supplement of 60 to 120 mg/d is recommended. Iron tablets taken between meals are absorbed more completely than those taken with food. Because large doses of iron appear to depress plasma zinc in preganant women, zinc supplementation may be needed when a supplement of more than 30 mg/d of elemental iron is taken. If zinc is given, the Subcomitee recommends the addition of a 2-mg copper supplement

to offset zinc’s depressive effect on copper absorption (Institute of Medicine, 1992).

Folic acid is recommended for 4 weeks prior to conception and during the first 3 months of pregnancy (Institute of Medicine, 1992). Suplementation prior to in early pregnancy has been found to protect against neural tube defects in women who had a previously affected pregnancy (MRC Vitamin Study Research Highlight). If there is any evidence of an inadequate dietary intake, folic acid may be given throughout the pregnancy.

Certain conditions or habits of the pregnant woman may increase requirements fo certain nutrients. For example, women who are carryng more than one fetus or who smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, or use illicit drugs may require additional supplementation. Special attention also needs to be given to the adequacy of calcium and vitamin D intake for pregnant women younger than 25 years, because their bon mineral density is still increasing (Institute of medicine 1990). Calcium Supplements might be advised for women who drink little or no milk, and Vitamin B12 might be needed by the vegan who eats no animal protein (Williams, 1993). If any vitamin or mineral supplements are used, it is important for the woman to understand that these are in addition to, not stead of, her recommended dietary intake
(taken From Assesment and Management in the Antepartum Period Book)

Related Post

Health

• Hypnosis -How it helps you with Glowing Skin
• The 5 Food Secrets For Beautiful Skin Every Woman Must Know!
• Kissing is Good For You!
• First Time Intercourse
• Gonorrhea Treatment
• Immunizations During Pregnancy
• Breast Feeding
• Treatment Menstrual Pain (Dysmenorrhea)
• The Benefits of Tomato
• The Benefits of Spinach

Gonorrhea Treatment

Gonorrhea Treatment

by: Mary Chris

A Positive test for a sexually transmitted disease is not fun. The information can hit you hard and everyone reacts in a different way. The worse the disease the worst feeling you must have. There is nothing nice about getting a positive test result for sexually transmitted disease. If you are looking to avoid this sort of thing, maybe you should consider treatment immediately. In regards to Gonorrhea Treatment, there is good news. The disease is easy to treat and is not going to be some crazy experiment in regards to helping you. The most important thing you can do is to make sure that you see a doctor when symptoms appear and get yourself some medicine fast. This is going to be your friend in regards to treating and getting cured of this disease that is ultimately preventable.

Gonorrhea Treatment is not crazy. It is easy to get access to medicine, just simply go to a doctor and get this taken care of. You are going to get an antibiotic medicine to help this. It can either be a pill or an injection and most of the times a single dose is going to cure you. However, some antibiotic treatments do last several days and are not too crazy to apply. Some medicines are not easily given to pregnant women, so you should be careful and make sure you tell your doctor.

Do not wait to get treated. If you wait to get treated and are looking for Gonorrhea Treatment, then you are going to make things very complicated. You are going to have problems with reproduction, and even have some potentially life threatening problems. You really need to be aware of how bad things can get if you do not get access to proper medical attention. This is not complicated, and it is your goal to get yourself a proper physician to help you. You need to get tested for this immediately if you have doubts, and get yourself a good Gonorrhea Treatment.

If you are getting tested and seeking Gonorrhea Treatment, then also make sure you get tested for other sexually transmitted diseases. You do not want to be one of those people that end up with being a statistic. Statistics are important, but you don't need to be on the bad side, you would probably do a lot better on the positive end of the spectrum. Seriously, have a good day in the sun by getting yourself treated and cured of anything potentially harmful. If you detect your illness early, it can be a memory and a lesson learned. Use your head and protect yourself in regards to sex. Do not go around having sex with many partners and lack discretion, because that is a really sad scenario. You have been warned and you can get Gonorrhea Treatment easily. So do not just wish it away, get yourself treated early and detect any other diseases while you're at it. The best advice you can get in regards to sexually transmitted diseases is protection. Use protection, use discretion and live happy.

I have made a Gonorrhea Treatment Blog in order to assist victims of STD Gonorrhea.

www.e-healtharticles.com

http://purba-java.blogspot.com/2010/04/gonorrhea-treatment.html

Immunizations During Pregnancy

As a rule, immunizations are best avoided during oregnancy. Several factorsenter into the decision about imunizing a pregnant woman against an infectious discase, including the possibility of disease exposure, the effect on woman and fetus if the disease is contracted, susceptibility to the disease, and risk to the fetus from the immunization. Immunoglobins, toxoids, and killed or inactivated be given during pregnancy unless the risk of exposure and illness clearly outweighs the risks of the vaccine itself.

The live virus MMR vaccine (measle, mumps, and rubella) is contraindicated during pregancy. There is a well-established risk from these disease. About 10% of reproductive age women are suspectible to rubella, either because they were never vaccinated or their immunity has waned. The centers for disease Control have monitored fetal effects of rubella vaccination since 1971. In over 300 susceptible women who were immunized within 3 months of conception and whose pregnancies went to term , there were no fetal abnormalities (Cunning-ham et al.1993). pregnancy should be avoided for 3 months after rubella vaccination , even though there is no documentation of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS:Scott et al. 1993).
Pregnant women with chronic cardiac, pulmonary, or metabolic diseases should be evaluated carefully for immunization against influenza and pneumonia.

The nurse advises the pregnant women to minimize expsure to infectious diseases when travelling. Any febrile illness or rash should be reported to the physicians without delay.
Clients are educated about updating immuzations after delivery to reduce future risk. After receiving live organism vaccinations, clients are advised to avoid conception for recommended time.
Taken from : assesment and management in the antepartum period book

http://purba-java.blogspot.com/2010/05/immunizations-during-pregnancy.html

Nurses An Important Part of the Healthcare Community

A nurse is a health care professional who is engaged in the practice of nursing. Nurses are men and women who are responsible (along with other health care professionals) for the treatment, safety and recovery of acutely or chronically ill or injured people, health maintenance of the healthy, and treatment of life-threatening emergencies in a wide range of health care settings. Nurses may also be involved in medical and nursing research and perform a wide range of non-clinical functions necessary to the delivery of health care.

Nurses develop a plan of care, sometimes working collaboratively with physicians, therapists, the patient, the patient's family and other team members. In the U.S. (and increasingly the United Kingdom), advanced practice nurses, such as clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners, diagnose health problems and prescribe medications and other therapies. Nurses may help coordinate the patient care performed by other members of a health care team such as therapists, medical practitioners, dietitians, etc. Nurses provide care both interdependently, for example, with physicians, and independently as nursing professionals.

According to the US Department of Labor's revised Occupational Outlook Handbook (2000), "Registered nurses (R.N.s) work to promote health, prevent disease, and help patients cope with illness. They are advocates and health educators for patients, families, and communities. When providing direct patient care, they observe, assess, and record symptoms, responses, and progress; assist physicians during treatments and examinations; administer medications; and assist in convalescence and rehabilitation. R.N.s also develop and manage nursing care plans; instruct patients and their families in proper care; and help individuals and groups take steps to improve or maintain their health."

The nursing career structure varies considerably throughout the world. Typically there are several distinct levels of nursing practitioner, distinguished by increasing education, responsibility and skills. The major distinction is between task-based nursing and professional nursing.

In various parts of the world, the educational background for nurses varies widely. In some parts of Eastern Europe, nurses are high school graduates with twelve to eighteen months of training. In contrast, Chile requires any Registered Nurse to have at least a bachelor's degree.

At the top of the educational ladder is the doctoral-prepared nurse. Nurses may gain the PhD or another doctoral degree such as Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSc) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), specializing in research, clinical nursing, etc. These nurses practice nursing, teach nursing and carry out nursing research. As the science and art of nursing has advanced, so has the demand for doctoral-prepared nurses.

Registered Nurses generally receive their basic preparation through one of three basic avenues:

Graduation from an Associate of Science in Nursing degree-granting nursing program (two to three years of college level study with a strong emphasis on clinical knowledge and skills) earning the degree of ASN/AAS or ADN in Nursing.

Graduation with a three-year (Diploma in Nursing) certificate from a hospital-based school of nursing (non-degree). Few of these programs remain in the U.S. and the proportion of nurses practicing with a diploma is rapidly decreasing.

Graduation from a university with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (a four - five year program conferring the BSN/BN degree with enhanced emphasis on leadership and research as well as clinically-focused courses).

There are also special programs for "LPN to RN", for people who hold undergraduate degrees in other disciplines, and for paramedics or military medics. Graduates of all programs, once licensed, are eligible for employment as entry-level staff nurses.

A typical course of study at any level typically includes such topics as:

Anatomy and physiology
Microbiology
Pharmacology and medication administration
Psychology
Nursing ethics
Nursing theory
Nursing practice
Legal issues in nursing practice

All pathways into practice require that the candidate undergo clinical training in nursing. Care is delivered by the student nurses under academic supervision in the hospital and in other practice settings. Clinical courses typically include:

Maternal-child nursing
Pediatric nursing
Adult medical-surgical nursing
Geriatric nursing
Psychiatric nursing

While in clinical training, student nurses are identified by a special uniform to distinguish them from licensed professionals.

In many nursing programs in the United States, a computerized exam is given before, during and upon completion to evaluate the student and nursing program outcomes. This exam upon completion of the nursing program is done to measure a student's readiness for the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN state board licensure exam. The exam identifies strengths and weaknesses and provides the need for remediation prior to taking the state board exam. This is not a requirement of all nursing programs in the United States, but has increased its usage in the past three to four years.

It is common for RNs to seek additional education to earn a Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Science to prepare for leadership or advanced practice roles within nursing. Management and teaching positions increasingly require candidates to hold an advanced degree in nursing. Many hospitals offer tuition reimbursement or assistance to nurses who want to continue their education beyond their basic preparation.

Many nurses pursue voluntary specialty certification through professional organizations and certifying bodies in order to demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills in their area of expertise.

All U.S. states and territories require RNs to graduate from an accredited nursing program which allows the candidate to sit for the NCLEX-RN, a standardized examination administered through the National Council of State Nursing Boards. Successful completion of the NCLEX-RN is required for state licensure as an RN.

Nurses from other countries are required to be proficient in English and have their educational credentials evaluated by an association known as the Council of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools prior to being permitted to take the U.S. licensing exam.

Government regulates the profession of nursing to protect the public. In the U.S., the individual states have authority over nursing practice. The scope of practice is defined by legislative and regulatory laws which are administered by State Nursing Boards.

Many states have adopted the Model Nursing Practice Act and Model Nursing Administrative Rules created by the National Council of State Nursing Boards (NCSNB). In addition, many State Nursing Boards model their licensure requirements on the Uniform Core Licensure Requirements which set forth competency development and competency assessment principles.

Nurses may be licensed in more than one state, either by examination or endorsement of a license issued by another state. In addition, the states which have adopted the Nurse Licensure Compact allow nurses licensed in one of the states to practice in all of them through mutual recognition of licensure.
Retrieved from "http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/nurses-an-important-part-of-the-healthcare-community-86488.html"

(ArticlesBase SC #86488)

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/nurses-an-important-part-of-the-healthcare-community-86488.html#ixzz0pfhsRqIn
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

By: Josh Stone

Nursing Career - Alternative Career Options For Registered Nurses

By: Brent McNutt

So you're getting bored with your nursing job and thinking of alternative careers that may be more exciting, possibly expanding your horizons and allowing you to take you and your landau scrubs free shipping onto some new heights of adventures and experiences? Who says you have to be stuck in the hospital you work for, for the rest of your life? There are other options you can pursue without wasting your nursing diploma and career investment. If you dream of traveling the world, why not become a flight nurse? If you want a more thrilling and suspenseful work environment, why not become a forensic nurse? If you wish a more laid-back and glamorous job, why not a writer? And if you crave for more independence, control and power why not consider becoming an entrepreneur or consultant? These are just some of the options laid out for you in the exciting world of nursing career possibilities.

Flight Nurse

A flight nurse assists in the emergency and non-emergency air transfer of injured or ill patients, including inter-facility transport and "scene calls" for medical emergencies and trauma. The role of the flight nurse is to provide patient care, and to be a trainer, educator, administrator, and researcher. This type of work is very challenging and involves working with diverse types of medical professional and patients. It is also physically demanding with a high level of acuity. To qualify, one must be a registered nurse with certification in Advance Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and, typically, Pediatric Advanced Life Support Certification (PALS). Potential employers include private and public transport companies, trauma centers, and the military.

Forensic Nurse

A forensic nurse works together with law enforcement officials and is involved in the investigation and treatment of victims of child and spousal abuse, sexual assault, trauma, unexplained accidental death, as well as the investigation of the perpetrators of relevant criminal activities. This is a fairly new and challenging job that requires investigative and counseling skills. Possible employers include correctional institutions, acute healthcare facilities, county prosecutor, insurance companies, and psychiatric facilities.

Medical Writer

A medical writer (or editor) writes, edits, and proofreads technical materials used for medical research, training and education, communication, sales and marketing, and others. Possible positions for this field include medical writer, medical proofreader, medical copy editor, medical researcher, medical editor, editorial assistant, and managing editor. For those nurses who have secretly dreamt of writing, this is a great opportunity to work flexible hours and combine medical knowledge and experience with writing skills. You can let your hair down and do away with your landau scrubs free shipping! Possible employers for this field include pharmaceutical companies, medical publications, general interest publications, freelance (self-employment), and not-for-profit organizations.

Entrepreneur or Consultant

For those who are willing to take the risk, becoming an entrepreneur-that is, starting your own business-can be very rewarding. Being your own boss requires independence of mind and a lot of creativity. Nurses turned entrepreneurs or consultants can work in almost any aspect of the healthcare industry, and even starting their own private practice.

About the Author

Brent McNutt enjoys talking about landau scrubs free shipping and urbane scrubs free shipping as well as networking with healthcare professionals online.

(ArticlesBase SC #803733)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Nursing Career - Alternative Career Options For Registered Nurses

How To Succeed In The World Of Nursing

By: Brent McNutt

Nursing is getting more and more competitive as more and more students annually are choosing nursing as a career option. This is partly due to the job security and attractive compensation packages that a nursing career can provide. Graduating from nursing school and passing the board exam to become a licensed nurse almost guarantees a job well into the future even with an erratic economic climate. Below are some tips on how to succeed in the world of nursing.

Boosting Your Application

To get into nursing school, you need to have a high school diploma and a relatively good academic standing in science subjects such as biology, chemistry, and physics. You must also be able to speak and write good and clear English. It will also help if you have some understanding of, or propensity for, psychology as well as computer and technology. If you want to get an edge before applying in a nursing school, you can volunteer at a local hospital to get free hands-on experience. This will be a great way for you to learn more about the nursing career and also help boost your application for entering the nursing school of your choice. Take note that you are also required to take a pre-admission test in addition to SATs and others before you can be admitted to a nursing school.

Developing Winning Characteristics

The characteristics that will help you excel in a nursing career and be a cut above the rest in your landau scrubs free shipping include having good people skills and problem-solving skills, being compassionate, flexible, and patient, and having the ability to stay calm in a crisis. Having a good sense of humor and being level headed and even-tempered are also valuable characteristics to help you survive the stressful environment. Having organizational and leadership skills are imperative if you want to advance your career and specialize or be promoted to a managerial position.

Widening Your Options

Nursing offers a wide array of options that some registered nurses are not even aware of, thus a lot compete for the same positions when they can explore more exciting roles and jobs. Today, more than ever, nurses have more options and flexibility on what kind of work to get into, where to apply (in different states or abroad), what schedule to take and how frequent they want to work. All over the world, nurses are in high demand and the kinds of work offered for registered nurses are diverse, cutting across different fields not just in healthcare (i.e. private corporations, schools, pharmacies, military, publishing, and so on). About 50% of nurses in landau scrubs free shipping work in hospitals but the rest work in different fields such as in community health clinics, long-term-care centers (nursing homes, rehabilitation, hospice), home care (as private duty nurses or visiting nurses), schools (as nursing professors), insurance and managed care companies, corporate health centers (as consultants, occupational safety, or educators), freestanding outpatient and surgery centers, pharmaceuticals, biotech, medical technology, university clinics, military, research centers, Peace Corps, nonprofit organizations, and international service organizations among countless other fields.

About the Author

Brent McNutt enjoys talking about landau scrubs free shipping and urbane scrubs free shipping as well as networking with healthcare professionals online.

(ArticlesBase SC #803743)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - How To Succeed In The World Of Nursing

Choosing A Career In Health Care - Why Nursing Is A Wise Career Choice

By: Brent McNutt

Different people choose a nursing career for different reasons. Some choose to become a nurse because they have a caring and compassionate nature, others feel that nursing is a very lucrative profession and pays rather handsomely, others consider the fact that nurses are in high demand, while most have their own personal stories that have led them to choose nursing as a profession. Nursing also affords a lot of opportunities such as health benefits, travel opportunities, landau scrubs free shipping, and diverse career options.

High demand

Statistics show that the need for nurses will increase in years to come and that the demand for nurses has become greater than ever before. In the US and the UK, there is a significant shortage of nurses. Some of the reasons for this high demand include the fact that the US is an aging population and the advances in health care have allowed people to live longer. Because of this, there are more elderly people who need nurse assistance and care. The number of sick people is also increasing and the need for skilled nurses is growing proportionally. Besides the hospital, nurses are also needed in retirement communities and homes. In addition, the existing nursing workforce is aging and a lot of these nurses are expected to retire in 10 to 15 years. More nurses are needed to replenish the workforce. A lot of people take up a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing because it almost guarantees a job right out of college.

Economic immunity

A lot of people also consider a career in nursing because of the job security it promises. No matter what type of economic climate, a certified nurse can be assured of a career well into the future because health care is a necessity. Even in times of crisis when people are more stringent with their money, health care is one area where people are less likely to scrimp on, especially if they have health insurance landau scrubs free shipping anyway.

Lucrative income

The average entry-level salary for registered nurses is around $44,600. Compared to the entry-level salaries of other fields such as Accounting ($43,269), Marketing ($33,873), Economics ($24,667), and Teaching ($31,704); Compensation for nurses is very competitive indeed. As registered nurses gain adequate experience throughout the years, their salary also increases. In addition to that, nurses also receive extra pay for overtime work and graveyard shifts, significantly augmenting their base salaries. Later on in their career, after having gained experience, nurses can pursue further studies, go into advanced clinical practice, or get promoted to nursing management or administrative work and earn even more. As an example, nurse administrators receive an average of $45,071, while nurse practitioners average about $71,000 per year. Specializing is even more lucrative such as nurse anesthetists, which earn an average of $113,000. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the highest 10% of registered nurses earned more than $74,760 per year. For many people, this is a very attractive proposition and can guarantee a bright financial future and a promising career.

About the Author

Brent McNutt enjoys talking about landau scrubs free shipping and urbane scrubs free shipping as well as networking with healthcare professionals online.

(ArticlesBase SC #803715)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Choosing A Career In Health Care - Why Nursing Is A Wise Career Choice

How to Care for a Catheter

HOW TO CARE FOR A CATHETER

To care for an indwelling catheter, cleanse the urethral area (where the catheter exits the body) and the catheter itself with soap and water every day. Also thoroughly cleanse the area after all bowel movements to prevent infection.

If you have a suprapubic catheter, the opening in your belly and the tube must be cleansed daily with soap and water, then covered with dry gauze.

Drinking plenty of fluids can help prevent infections. Discuss this issue with your health care provider.

Wash your hands before and after handling the drainage device. Do not allow the outlet valve to touch anything. If the outlet becomes obviously dirty, clean it with soap and water.

Some people have occasional leakage of urine around the catheter. This may be caused by a catheter that is too small, improper balloon size, constipation, urinary tract infections, or bladder spasms.

If bladder spasms occur or there is no urine in the drainage bag, the catheter may be blocked by blood or thick sediment. Or, there may be a kink in the catheter or drainage tubing. Sometimes spasms are caused by the catheter irritating the bladder. Such spasms can be controlled with medication, although most patients eventually adjust to the irritation and the spasms go away. If you have been shown how to irrigate (or flush) the catheter, doing so may help reduce spasms. If you have not been instructed on irrigation, and urine is not flowing into your collection device, contact your health care provider immediately.

www.nlm.nih.gov

Debridement

Debridement is the process to remove dead skin and tissue. Your doctor or nurse will need to do this to be able to see your foot ulcer. There are many ways to do this.

One way is to use a scalpel and special scissors.

• The skin surrounding the wound is cleaned and disinfected.
• The wound is probed with a metal instrument to determine how deep it is and to see if there is any foreign material or object in the ulcer.
• The doctor cuts away the dead tissue, then washes out any unattached tissue.
• Your sore may seem bigger and deeper after the doctor or nurse debrides it. The ulcer should be red or pink in color and look like fresh meat.

Other ways to remove dead or infected tissue are to :

• Put your foot in a whirlpool bath.
• Use a syringe and catheter (tube).
• Apply wet to dry dressings to the area.
• Put special chemicals, called enzymes, on your ulcer. These dissolve dead tissue from the wound.

Diabetes - taking care of your feet

Diabetes can damage the nerves and blood vessels in your feet. This damage can cause numbness and reduce feeling in your feet. As a result, your feet may not heal well if they are injured. If you get a blister, you may not notice, and it may get worse.

Check your feet every day. Inspect the top, sides, soles, heels, and between the toes. Look for:

• Dry and cracked skin
• Blisters or sores
• Bruises or cuts
• Redness, warmth, or tenderness
• Firm or hard spots

If you cannot see well, ask someone else to check your feet.

Call your doctor right way about any foot problems. Do not try to treat them yourself first. Even small sores or blisters can become big problems if infection develops or they do not heal.

Wash your feet every day with lukewarm water and mild soap. Strong soaps may damage the skin.

• Check the temperature of the water with your hands or elbow first.
• Gently dry your feet, especially between the toes.
• Use lotion, petroleum jelly, lanolin, or oil on dry skin. Do NOT put lotion between your toes.

Ask your health care provider to show you how to trim your toenails.

• Soak your feet in lukewarm water to soften the nail before trimming.
• Cut the nail straight across, because curved nails are more likely to become ingrown.
• Your foot doctor (podiatrist) can trim your nails if you are unable to.

Most people with diabetes should have corns or calluses treated by a foot doctor. If your doctor has given you permission to treat corns or calluses on your own:

• Gently use a pumice stone to remove corns and calluses after a shower or bath, when your skin is soft.
• Do NOT use medicated pads or try to shave or cut them away at home.

If you smoke, stop. Smoking decreases blood flow to your feet. Talk with your doctor or nurse if you need help quitting.

Do not use a heating pad or hot water bottle on your feet. Do not walk barefoot, especially on hot pavement or hot sandy beaches. Remove your shoes and socks during visits to your health care provider so that they can check your feet.

Source : http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientinstructions/000081.htm

Picture Your Heart's Health With EKGs

by: Damian Sofsian

Each time your heart beats, the contractions and relaxations of the heart muscle emit electrical current. An electrocardiogram (EKG) is a medical recording of the electric impulses from the heart. Electrodes that send impulses to the EKG machine are attached to the patient�s skin at various points on the body. Those recorded currents are displayed on a computer monitor and can be printed out on special graph paper. Your heart�s electrical currents are recorded on the graph paper as an EKG. Qualified medical staff interpret the graphed results to determine any irregularities.

Most EKGs are performed in a critical care facility, telemetry or any place that a particular patient needs to be monitored. EKGs can help your doctor determine the status of your heart health. By graphing the electrical impulses of the heart, doctors and other trained medical staff are able to see the presence of any abnormalities. The EKG recording often reveals the scars of past heart attacks and other heart damage. Although the test cannot predict future heart attacks or other heart problems, a combination of family history and additional examinations may give your doctor a good idea of what to expect.

Individuals experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness or heart palpitations will likely be referred for an EKG by their doctor. An EKG is a rapid and safe way to determine if a heart attack is occurring. Those reporting these types of symptoms will likely be referred to the nearest Emergency Room for further evaluation. If your doctor does not think your symptoms indicate a life-threatening situation, you may be asked to make an appointment with an EKG specialist for further observation.

An EKG is a very simple and painless procedure. The patients are instructed to lie face up on an examination table while electrodes are strategically placed at various points on their body. The electrodes are attached to cables and the cables are attached to the EKG machine. The electrodes send electronic impulses to the machine and results in a printed graph, which is a picture of your heart function. The procedure usually takes 15 to 20 minutes but may require a longer visit if the technician needs additional testing data. A stress test is a normal EKG procedure that requires the patient perform moderate exercise while recording heart rhythms.

EKG Reading provides detailed information on EKG, EKG Reading, EKG Interpretation, EKG Machine and more. EKG Reading is affiliated with ECG Cross Reference.

To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

http://askep-asuhankeperawatan.blogspot.com/2010/04/picture-your-hearts-health-with-ekgs.html

WHO : Experts begin their assessment of the response to the H1N1 influenza pandemic

Dr Margaret Chan
Director-General of the World Health Organization

Excellencies, distinguished members of the Review Committee, representatives of member states, colleagues in the UN system, representatives of nongovernmental organizations, members of the media, ladies and gentlemen,

I am pleased to welcome you to the start of this review process. I am also pleased to see such a broad range of interests and expertise represented in this room.

This has been the first influenza pandemic in four decades. This has been the first major test of the functioning of the revised International Health Regulations, which entered into force in 2007.

The International Health Regulations have a provision that calls for a review of their functioning no later than five years after their entry into force. In 2008, the World Health Assembly decided that this first review should be undertaken by the Sixty-third World Health Assembly in May 2010.

As you know, this provision and this decision were in place prior to the onset of the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic.

During the January 2010 session of the Executive Board, I proposed that the scheduled IHR review could also be used to assess the international response to the influenza pandemic. The Executive Board agreed to this proposal.

I believe there is merit in assessing the performance of an international instrument, like the IHR, when put to an extreme test by a widespread and closely scrutinized infectious disease event.

As I have said before, this has been the most closely watched and carefully scrutinized pandemic in history. This gives us a vast body of scientific, clinical, and epidemiological data to assess.

Moreover, the pandemic’s spread was rapidly global. To date, laboratory confirmed cases of H1N1 pandemic influenza have been officially reported from 213 countries and overseas territories or communities. This gives us a vast and varied experience to assess.

The outbreak of SARS, the first severe new disease of the 21st century, occurred in 2003 while drafting of the revised Regulations was under way. Experiences during that outbreak led to many refinements in the Regulations, including the introduction of a system of checks and balances to ensure that no one, myself included, has unfettered power.

I see potential advantages in assessing the performance of the Regulations with a particular focus on the influenza pandemic and how it was managed, especially at the international level by WHO. When the performance of the IHR is assessed under the challenging conditions of an influenza pandemic, specific strengths and weaknesses are likely to come to light.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In planning and organizing this review, WHO aimed to facilitate a process that is independent, credible, and transparent. We want a frank and critical assessment. WHO is not defining or restricting the scope of specific issues that may arise. If our member states have questions or concerns, we want to hear these questions and concerns raised.

We are seeking lessons, about how the IHR has functioned, about how WHO and the international community responded to the pandemic, that can aid the management of future public health emergencies of international concern. And I can assure you: there will be more.

We want to know what worked well. We want to know what went wrong and, ideally, why. We want to know what can be done better and, ideally, how.

In a spirit of inclusiveness, this meeting has been opened to a range of organizations and agencies interested in improving our collective management of public health emergencies. We want to hear your views as well.

To support the credibility and independent nature of the review process, the Secretariat has been diligent in inviting a membership in this committee that is geographically balanced, that includes the views and experiences of developing and developed countries, and that represents a broad range of scientific expertise and practical experience in multiple disciplines.

The Secretariat has also been especially vigilant in seeking out possible conflicts of interest among committee members.

As I said, we want a frank, critical, transparent, credible and independent review of our performance, as well as that of the International Health Regulations. The Secretariat will do everything it can to facilitate such a process.

Thank you.

Source : http://www.who.int

http://askep-asuhankeperawatan.blogspot.com

Help! I Have to Write a Nursing Care Plan and I Have No Idea How!

By: Jonathan Ginsburg

Regardless of the particular college or university, all nursing students will need to write several nursing care plans during their time in school. Put simply, a nursing care plan is just that: a plan of action, tailored to a specific individual, that addresses specific needs. Such needs are usually medical in nature, such as how the patient can manage her diabetes on a fixed income, but they can also encompass other aspects of the patient's life, such as mental health and spirituality.

Different institutions have different formats for such plans, but they generally include the following sections: The problem to be addressed; the goals for the patient; a step-by-step approach to solving the problem and achieving the goals; and a space that allows for notes to be made as the patient progresses through the steps of the plan. Some plans also include a case history of the patient as it relates to the particular problem.

It's critical for students to learn how to write such plans in college, because they will have to create them when they become nurses in the so-called real world. Yet they can be incredibly intimidating. Often the student is simply presented with a fictional case history and a template and told to go from there. How can the student adequately create a step-by-step plan to assist this patient?

That is where academic writing companies can come in handy. Students can greatly benefit from a model paper which demonstrates what a typical nursing care plan should look like, custom-written to suit their school's needs. Using this model, they can create their own plans, both for that given assignment and also into the future.

If you are a nursing student, don't blow off this particular assignment. It's too important. Get help if you need it, but be sure you learn how to write a solid nursing care plan. You will appreciate it in the future.

About the Author

Jon Ginsburg is a partner with PowerPapers.com, an innovative academic writing company which specializes in providing custom-written, original model papers of all kinds. PowerPapers firmly believes that a quality model paper can be a key learning tool for almost any student. Check them out at http://www.powerpapers.com.

(ArticlesBase SC #1134823)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Help! I Have to Write a Nursing Care Plan and I Have No Idea How!