Organizations For Emergency Room Nurses

Emergency nursing cares for individuals of all ages in critical condition of their illness or injury without preliminary diagnosis. It encompasses all ages and medical specialties. Preventive care education and injury prevention is becoming a larger role for emergency nurses.

According to Kristine M. Alpi, the Associate Library Director Samuel J. Wood Library and C. V. Starr Biomedical Information Center, emergency nursing is one of the fastest growing specialties in the nursing profession. In 2000, there was a whooping 95,000 registered nurses employed in the United States alone. With this large number of emergency room nurses there is a need for an organization that will gather and look after these medical professionals.

In the United States, the primary organization for emergency nurses is the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA). In 1970, Anita Door launched the Emergency Room Nurses Organization in Buffalo, New York. Another organization was formed by Judith Kelleher, the Emergency Department Nurses Association in California. These two groups merged in December 1, 1970 to become the emergency Department Nurses Association. It was renamed ENA in 1983.

In 1972, the Royal College of Nursing in the United Kingdom established an accident and emergency nursing group, which became the Accident and Emergency Nursing Association in 1990. The first international emergency nursing congress was held in 1985 in London.

In Hong Kong, emergency nurses can join the Hong Kong Society of Emergency Medicine as members. There are some countries that do not have an organization specifically for emergency nurses but allow E.R. nurses to become members of other organization focused on emergency work.

The following are several international organizations of emergency nurses:

• Belgium: Association Francophone des Infirmier(e)s d'Urgence

• Canada: national Emergency Nurses Affiliation , Inc. (NENA)

• Denmark: Danish Association of Accident and Emergency Nursing

• Italy: Nurses of Emergency (NOE)

• Malta: Malta Emergency Nurses Association

• Mexico: Mexican Association of Emergency Nurses

• Netherlands: Dutch Association of Accident & Emergency Nurses

• New Zealand: College of Emergency Nurses New Zealand

• Spain: Sociedad Espanola de Enfermeria de Urgencias

• Sweden: Swedish Association of Trauma Nurses

Emergency nursing organizations are very important in advancing the rights of the emergency health workers. ENA has been actively campaigning in educating the public about the violence emergency health workers are experiencing while they are in duty. ENA even has a statement regarding partner and family violence which leads to several cases of emergency patients victim of this kind of violence.

E.R. nurses joining these organizations will definitely benefit from them. These organizations would readily provide publication where there will be updates about medical technologies and procedures that will further educate our nurses. These organization also provide courses, training and education programs, even certification programs for the improvement of the organizational members.

Professional organizations, like the emergency nursing organization, provide a venue for nurses to learn and associate with their peers, mentors and nursing leaders. An emergency nursing organization membership can lead to increased awareness of nursing issues and support for collective actions among nurses. Learning, developing and improving is a life time process. Emergency nursing organizations offer nurses to improve and see their nursing career and future.

Organizations are formed to protect, defend, and advance a certain group's advocacy or welfare. For emergency nurses, it is fortunate for them to have an organization that is not only geared towards improving their performance in the medical profession but build and safeguard their medical community as well.

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(ArticlesBase SC #2010992)

Nursing Specialties Expand as Health Care is Reformed

By: The American Institute of Health Care Professionals, Inc.

By: The American Institute of Health Care Professionals, Inc. June 2010. With the recent passage of health care reform, professional nurses are fast seeking transformation of their own practices. Health care reform will provide the platform for new models of care delivery as well as new nursing roles, such as highly trained case managers, legal consultants and health care promotion and disease prevention specialists.

Health Care reform will demand a more central focus on patient care through the continuum of care. Nurses will play the most pivotal roles in case managing patients not just through one episode of care, but through long-term issues of care and rehabilitation. There will be more emphasis on disease management which will also focus heavily on high quality patient education and program development for health promotion and wellness strategies. The American Academy of Case Management, a professional division of the American Institute of Health Care Professionals, Inc., provides nurses a real opportunity to study and acquire advance knowledge and skills in this practice specialty. The organization offers a case management fellowship upon completion of its rigorous program.

Another major area of practice specialty that will see growth and demand for nurses is that of legal consulting. Nurses are now acquiring advanced knowledge and skills in health care law, malpractice law and defensive practice strategies. The American College of Legal Nurse Consulting, another professional division of the American Institute of Health Care Professionals, Inc., provides a full, distance education program for registered nurses seeking entry in this practice specialty. Nurses complete an entire, extensive education and training program and are prepared to practice as consultants related to health care malpractice issues, risk management, life care planning and defensive practice. These nurses market themselves to attorneys, risk management and insurance companies, health care organizations, and other related agencies. Most legal nurse consultants develop their own practices. Others obtain positions with law firms, insurance companies, and health care organizations.

Understanding the face of changing health care delivery, the AIHCP, Inc. also offers various other programs that are open to nurses seeking education and certification in a practice specialty. These include; Grief Counseling, Meditation Instruction, Stress Management, Crisis Intervention Consulting, Spiritual Counseling, Child and Adolescent Grief and Holistic/Integrative health care and nursing practice. Other programs include Pastoral Thanatology, Clinical Hypnotherapy and Health Life Coaching.

All of the programs provide a full curriculum of continuing education courses that are provided in online classroom, and provide for one-to-one mentoring by highly qualified faculty. Nurses entering these programs have a two-year time period in which to complete all of the courses in a defined curriculum. Once all of the education standards are successfully met, the nurse then applies for and receives professional certification by the AIHCP, Inc. Each specialty certification is overseen by professional advisory board members who are highly qualified with ample experiences in the practice specialty. Most all of the advisory board members are also certified in their practice specialty. There are also full programs of “re-certification” for certified professionals. Re-Certification is achieved over time by the certified member meeting additional, ongoing continuing education in the specialty practice, as well as achieving a set standard of actual practice in their certified specialty.

Health care reform promises to bring major changes, challenges and transformations to the delivery of care in this country. Professional nurses will be at the forefront of these transformations by having prepared themselves for advance roles in various specialty practices. These advanced roles will allow nurses to maintain a significant and crucial position on the health care team, as care delivery is focused on higher quality, better patient outcomes and cost effectiveness. The AIHCP, Inc., remains dedicated to researching knowledge and skill needs for health care professionals, and developing high quality programs of continuing education and certification, to meet the markets needs, both professionally and from a patient-centered care perspective.

The American Institute of Health Care Professionals, Inc. 2400 Niles-Cortland Rd. SE Suite

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Communicating with a Person with Alzheimer's Disease

Communicating with a Person with Alzheimer's Disease

Trying to communicate with a person who has Alzheimer's disease can be a challenge. Both understanding and being understood may be difficult.

• Choose simple words and short sentences and use a gentle, calm tone of voice.
• Avoid talking to the person with Alzheimer's like a baby or talking about the person as if he or she weren't there.
• Minimize distractions and noise—such as the television or radio—to help the person focus on what you are saying.
• Make eye contact and call the person by name, making sure you have his or her attention before speaking.
• Allow enough time for a response. Be careful not to interrupt.
• If the person with Alzheimer's is struggling to find a word or communicate a thought, gently try to provide the word he or she is looking for.
• Try to frame questions and instructions in a positive way.
• Be open to the person's concerns, even if he or she is hard to understand.

Source : www.medicinenet.com

How does Nursing Care Plan Used by Nurses ?

A nursing care plan provides an idea about the nursing care to be provided to a patient. It is the actions that are performed by the nurses to resolve the problem that are seen in the assessment. It guides the nurses on what sort of care is to be provided to the patient and to check whether those actions are carried out properly or not. Nursing care plans give nurses tracking of patients’ progress and helps to provide appropriate treatment. Because nurses work with multiple patients in a day and cannot always memorize the condition of each patient, the care plan helps nurses to quickly understand the patient's history, diagnosis, and treatment plan.

Care plans are thorough documents that include an initial condition of the patient, medical progress and diagnosis, recovery, treatment plans, and the patient’s response to treatment (whether it is deteriorating or getting better). Because multiple nurses will work with the same patient, the care plan needs to be easily understandable and thorough so that the other nurse can continue the work without any delay or difficulties. The patient’s condition can change in a matter of time and care plans must be assessed so as to provide the latest information about the patient.

A care plan offers a holistic approach to patient care and continuously changes until the patient’s stay in the medical facility.
The nursing care plan may consists various sorts of data that support the diagnosis, certain goals to be achieved and the deadlines at which the certain work is to be completed. Nurses need to be very efficient with their care plans.

Nursing care plans deal with actions which are necessary to solve or minimize the existing problem. It should be such that all the needs of the patient should be well assessed.

A nursing plan can be formulated on a tabular form where the daily data are stored in a table which contains the information like assessment, diagnosis, inference, planning, intervention, rationale, evaluation. An effective care plan includes important patient information and offers specific, measurable goals for treatment.

Due to the nursing shortage, the number of nurses is low due to which, many tools exist to help nurses efficiently prepare care plans. Nursing care plans resources include care plan software, websites, and books which help nurses prepare the care plan easily. By the use of these tools the error is minimized and time is saved.

If you want to learn more about nursing education, David has also written helpful articles about LPN Training and
LPN to RN Program
on his website.
Author: David Alen

Ways To Plan For Nursing Care Costs

Have you thought about buying long term care insurance? Many Americans are concerned about the rising costs of nursing care. They know it can cost thousands of dollars a month, and that this expense can quickly wipe out a lifetime of savings. They also know that the chances are increasing that they will need nursing care at some point in their lives.

This care could be from a nursing home, assisted living facility, or even come to them at their home. We may get ths care from a variety of different sources. It could be from a professional nurse, health care aid, or even a member of the family. Either way, there will be costs involved. Even if a family member provides the care, they may lose income from another job they cannot attend to.

Long term care insurance policies are still not that popular. The main objection that most people have is the idea of paying premiums for years for a product they may never need to use. Is this objection valid? Think about your car insurance policy. We pay for car insurance for years. We hope we will never need to use it. Somehow, this seems normal. Maybe it is because we are actually driving our cars and risking an accident every day. Somehow, the need for an auto policy seems more urgent than the need for a nursing care policy. In addition, people do not like to think about a time when they will need nursing care. It seems like an unpleasant topic, and it also seems like something that will happen in a far distant future.

The whole subject is also fairly complicated and policies are not standardized. A consumer can choose from a variety of coverage amounts and ways they plan to get their nursing care. Choices are good, but it can make the decision about which policy to buy very confusing and stressful.

There are, however, a couple of alternative ways to plan for nursing care. I think this option can be very popular with people because it provides other benefits. This helps people avoid the feeling that they are just paying premiums for a product that does not need like it will get used.

You can find annuities with long term care riders. If the annuity owner never needs to use this policy feature, the beneficiaries can still collect. This means that the whole contribution towards the annuity account will not be lost. Besides, the annuity will also provide financial benefits for a person who is trying to plan for a comfortable retirement.

A similar rider can be found on some life insurance policies. The rider will kick in so the insured person can use a percentage of the face value to help pay for nursing care. If the insured person never needs care, the beneficiaries can still collect the face value of the policy. This may be a flexible choice. The insured person may need to use some of the death benefit, but there could also be cash left over to leave to the beneficiaries.

There are different ways to plan for nursing care needs you may have in the future. Long term care insurance is one answer. There are other answers too.

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We work hard to help consumers buy the best insurance. Take advantage of free insurance quotes and lots of friendly consumer tips. If you are trying to compare nursing home policies, find out how much long term insurance costs.

Read more at http://www.articlealley.com/article_1885804_19.html?ktrack=kcplink

Author: marilyn katz

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)

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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.
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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