The Importance of a Respiratory Therapist in Prolonging a Person’s Life

Patients who have critical illnesses needs a respiratory therapist. These type of medical specialists are responsible for managing a patient’s life support. They are very important during a trauma case, major surgeries and cases under intensive care. They are responsible in establishing airway and respiratory management during severe and life threatening ailments.

Respiration is vital to every human being
Part of human biological process is breathing. This where a person gets a very vital element for survival. Oxygen is needed by our bodies to keep or brain and circulatory system working. A patient having trouble with breathing needs a specialist to assist the proper intake of oxygen. A respiratory therapist is a vital specialist in helping a patient manage their respiratory health.

A Major surgical operation will not be successful without a RT in the team
Major surgery involving the use of anesthesia is risky. A respiratory therapist is primarily responsible for monitoring the vital signs of the person. They keep track of the breathing rate, heart beat rate, and many other vital signs. They also manage a person’s breathing during unconscious surgical operations.

Key team member in the ICU and CCU
Patients who are under Intensive care usually have unstable vital signs. Respiratory therapist are responsible for helping a patient acquire a stable and ideal vital sign. RT’s usually make use of breathing machines and apparatus to keep a patient vitals regulated and stable.  A Respiratory therapist is a specialist in cardiology and pulmonology. They have the skills and knowledge in managing a patient with cardio and pulmonary related diseases.

They help patients manage respiratory illness
A very popular type of respiratory illness is Asthma. Patient who have respiratory diseases needs a specialist to help them manage their illnesses. RT’s are the most qualified specialist to provide a professional medical treatment program to respiratory related illnesses.

Four Compelling Reasons to Pursue a Career as a Paramedic

Accidents do happen to people. And when it does expect someone will be calling the paramedic team. The paramedic team are the first medical professionals that will administer first aid to a person in an accident. Quite often, the life of a person depends on the successful first aid treatment given by the paramedic team.

A career as a paramedic can be very exciting and satisfying. Paramedics usually enjoy their job and are eager to help other people receive first aid. If you are undecided unto which career you want to pursue, it’s advisable that you consider a profession in a Paramedic team. Here are five convincing reasons to choose a paramedic career.

Part of an Active Profession
The nature of work of paramedic is very active. They usually are on stand by to receive emergency calls that needs their deployment. Paramedics also plays an active role in the society. They provide a person seeking medical attention the needed first aid treatment. A person who wants to get a lively and energetic line of work will find career as a paramedic very fulfilling.

Government service
Most of the Paramedics are employed by government. A person who wants to work for the government may choose a job as a paramedic. Government employees usually enjoys an advantageous compensation and benefits program.

Ability to help people who are at risk
The feeling of helping people who are under critical medical state can be satisfying. A paramedic may find every emergency situation challenging yet fulfilling. Paramedics usually get a strong feeling of satisfaction when they were able to save a person life.

A Social and interactive career
The paramedic team has a strong interpersonal relationship with the public.  They play an important role in providing medical security to the other people. A paramedic team is a very important entity in the society.

How to Cope with Difficult RN Classes

Finishing a nursing degree is not easy. In fact, entering a nursing school and passing the admission test is already a big challenge to students. If you luckily pass the admission test and are allowed to enroll in a nursing school, the next thing you want to do is pass every subject in the course. Nursing subjects are different from other subjects in college. The topics and lessons in nursing subjects are focused on medical science, which are most of the time difficult and complicated.

A freshman nursing student might find it hard to adjust in such complex topics and lessons. But with determination and some effective study habits you can pass the subject and get a degree in nursing. Here is a simple guide to help you adjust to RN classes.

Listen to your professor and ask questions if you don’t understand the lessons.
RN classes are often handled by teaching professionals who have expert knowledge in the field of nursing. They can provide you with important facts and principle that is useful to a nursing career. You want to listen carefully to your professor during your RN classes. Keep your focus to the nursing lessons the professor is teaching. Don’t hesitate to ask questions if some ideas and topics are unclear to you. It’s advisable that you take steps in clarifying any misunderstood lessons to help you have a clear understanding about the topic. Full understanding of the lessons in a nursing subject is key to achieving a passing grade on the exam.

Take tutorial classes
Tutorial classes can help you cope with difficult nursing subjects. You can join tutorial RN classes to help you earn a greater understanding about specific topics and lessons. Enrolling in a tutorial center can increase your chance of passing the course and acquiring good grades.

Facts About LPN to RN Bridge Programs

In the United States, being a licensed practical nurse or LPN has a lot of advantages.  One practical advantage is that LPN’s consume a shorter period of time in acquiring formal education. They are able to save time and money in earning a degree that qualifies them for a nursing career. However, the chances for a promotion is relatively small compared to RN’s. Medical institutions usually prioritize RN’s for a lot of vacancies in higher positions. This is one of the major reason why many LPN’s take LPN to RN Bridge programs to qualify them for better employment opportunities.

Who is qualified to take LPN to RN bridge programs?
A person who finish an associate degree in nursing is qualified to take this type of educational enhancement program. LPN’s who are currently employed in the workforce is also eligible to take this kind of bridge programs. A student who got enough nursing credits may also avail of this bridging program.

What the best way to take a LPN to RN bridge program for employed LPN’s?
The basic process of a LPN to RN Bridge program is to earn further nursing units to qualify them for a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Normally, a LPN enrolls these in subjects in a nursing school and attend regular classes. Attending regular nursing classes can be challenging to LPN’s who are currently working. The best and ideal way to earn the required nursing units is thru enrolling in online distance learning programs. This method of formal education allows a LPN to earn nursing credits without physically attending scheduled classes conducted in the school campus.

How long does it take to finish a LPN to RN bridge program?
This type of bridge program usually takes about One year to One and a half year. This primarily depends on the school you are choosing. It’s best to choose an online school that can allow you to finish a LPN to RN bridge program in the shortest possible time.

When to Take a Short Term Course in Nursing

A nursing career can be very interesting and fulfilling. The field of medicine is a branch in science that is very important to human existence. This field is also developing periodically and many new skill and knowledge are being discovered and applied. The demand for highly skilled professionals in this type industry is very high. Numerous medical and health institutions all over the world are seeking qualified employees to join their team.

One of the in-demand professionals in the field of medicine are nurses. They are the ones whom doctors rely on for taking care of patients. A student can take up two type of nursing courses in college. One is the full term four year course. And the other one is the short term Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) course. Both courses can provide a student with the skill and formal education needed to practice a nursing career.  However, some people choose to earn a short term ASN course. If you’re undecided whether to take a full term or short term nursing course, this guide will help you determine if a short term course is ideal for you.

For Working Students
Taking a short term nursing course is ideal to students who are currently in a workforce. People who are working in an institution that is closely related to the medical field choose taking an ASN course to enhance their skill and qualifications. An ASN course offers students lesser time for earning a college degree in nursing.

Has a Family and is Busy Taking Care of Children
Young parents or single parents will still have an opportunity to earn a nursing degree without sacrificing quality time for their family. A student can earn a degree for his or her career without spending too much time for it. An ASN courses have lesser subjects which provide more time for parents to be with their children. If you can’t leave your small children behind for a long period of time then it would best to choose an ASN course.

Students Who Want to Cut Down on Cost
Earning a full term nursing degree is more expensive than a short term ASN degree. The subjects to be taken in a short term nursing course are fewer compared to a full term course.

Hospice care Updates: News, Trends and latest facts

Hospice Care has been a very popular option for families with members who are at the end of their life. In the U.S. and U.K., the hospice care industry has been growing progressively in the last ten years. This provided employment opportunity to healthcare professionals and chance to get a less expensive professional patient care to very sick dying people.

Here is a quick update about the latest news, developments and new facts from this field in healthcare.

UK recent study about Hospice care

A recently conducted study by the National Institute for Health Research showed that the fatality rates in hospice care incurred a steady increase from 17,400 in 1993 to 26,000 in 2012.  The Study also showed that 3.4% of all death in England came from hospice death. In relation, the figure doubled in 2012 showing 6% from hospice death. This was the first study to use the whole population of 223 adult inpatient hospice facilities in England. The study showed and figuratively defined hospice deaths changed from the year 1993 to 2012. The study also showed that majority of hospice death were cancer related cases. The study also found that a lot of people who died under hospice care are from prosperous areas than poverty-stricken areas in the UK.

Advance Hospice improves patient care but increases Medicare costs based on study

A new study in the New England journal of medicine investigates the impact of Medicare’s increase in hospice benefits in hospice facilities from 2004 to 2009. The research conducted concluded an improvement in the quality of hospice care administered and found an increased to Medicare costs of $6,761 in every patient. The research also validated that Hospice cases increased from 27.6 percent patients in 2004 to 39.8 percent in 2009. The study also showed a significant increase in the average length of time in a hospice or senior care from 72.1 days in 2004 to 92.6 days in 2009.

Top Three Characteristics of High Quality Nursing Schools

Choosing the ideal school to earn your nursing degree is very important. The type of nursing school plays an important role in developing professional skills and knowledge needed to practice a nursing career. These Nursing Schools are the foundation of a person’s nursing ability to provide healthcare service to patients. On top of that, a lot of medical institutions opt to employ nurses that came from respected and prestigious nursing schools.

You should be able to distinguish well which school to consider. Among the many nursing school offering nursing degree choose a school that have these qualities. This will be your quick guide in choosing the best nursing school in your area.

Highly qualified faculty members

The school’s Teachers and instructors are the front liners towards molding you to an efficient and well knowledgeable nurse. Some nursing schools have more qualified sets of faculty members compared to other. Choose a school that have high-credential faculty members on their list. A good indicator is membership in the National League for Nursing.

Accreditation

You may want to belong to an educational institution that have earn the proper accreditation in the field of nursing.  Accreditation Bodies like The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC).

Nursing Board Exam Passing Rate

An effective nursing education program may be measured on the number of nursing board passers a school have produced. It’s preferable that you choose a nursing school that has a high rate of board passers in five consecutive years. Schools that have high percentage of passing rate often maintain high quality of education. You want to have this kind of quality nursing education to mold you to a highly qualified nursing professional.

What To Expect In An RN Course

RNs are required to have at the least an associate degree, but a bachelor degree in nursing (BSN) are also available, and preferred by the vast majority of hospitals, and can help an RN’s possibilities to generate better pay. Weigh your school options based on your current academic needs and schedule.

An Associate of Science degree in Nursing (ASN) contains programs in anatomy, nursing, nutrition, chemistry, and biology among others. You’ll also be required to take general liberal arts classes. Getting an ASN is the most popular choice for RNs and paves the way to entry-level staff nurse roles which will provide you with hands-on experience in the nursing industry. This is the quickest direction to becoming an RN as most associate degree programs last about two to three years.

An ambitious RN can get a bachelors of science in nursing (BSN) in four years at a college or university. If you’re already an RN, you can join an RN to BSN program which is designed particularly for RNs who have an associates level or nursing degree. This direction usually requires about two to three years. An even faster BSN choice is for applicants who already hold a bachelors degree in another area. An accelerated BSN program allows learners to apply general education credits from their first degree to the BSN. This path requires between one to one-and-a-half years.

Here’s a typical example of what schools offer in their nursing programs:

  • Bioethics
  • Fundamentals of microbiology
  • Nursing research
  • Nursing care of the older adult
  • Public health nursing

After finishing your degree, you’ll need to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). In order to sit for the examination, you’ll need to apply for a nursing license from your state board of nursing. Since each state has different qualifications specifications, check with your state board to make sure you’ve met the specifications to be able to take the examination.

How to prepare yourself for a Nursing career

Choosing a career requires careful thinking and right decision making. You want to have a career that will enhance your ability, skills and knowledge. A good career path should be interesting, enjoyable, and inspiring. You want to be in a career that makes you happy and enables to you have worthwhile experiences while working.

Among the many available careers, you have chosen to be in the field of healthcare as a nurse. This type of career is lucrative and highly respected. Proper knowledge and high quality of skills are required from healthcare professionals. On top of that, a nursing graduate should undergo the mandatory board exam that regulate and maintain the standards for this particular profession.

Although pursuing this type of career can sometimes be strenuous, it’s better to be ready and prepare for the long career journey ahead.

Choose which type of nursing career you want

Basically there are two nursing career you can take. One as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and the other as a Registered Nurse (RN).  There is actually a noticeable difference between the two closely related careers. RN’s have more subjects and spend more time in school earning their professional nursing degree.  While LPN’s earn a degree in practical nursing. RN’s have better opportunity in terms of high compensation and career growth.

Learn, Study and pass your course

The best preparation for a nursing career is by making a good reputation in your academic performance.  These lessons you got while earning your degree in nursing are vital in your chosen career. It’s preferable to have basic to advance knowledge on the fundamentals of nursing which are very useful in your line of work.

Make sure you pass the licensure exam

Implement strategies that will increase your chances of passing the nursing board exam in your location. You can enroll in tutorial classes or spend a time doing self-review before you take the exam. Through the help of dedication and the right preparation a career in nursing will be within your reach.

Top Two Jobs Nursing Graduates Can Get

Graduation means the end of painstaking formal education and the start of your professional career. Among the many courses offered in the school you choose is a degree in nursing. Now, you’ve probably been wondering what kind of jobs you will get with the Nursing education you got in college.

As a nursing graduate you would want to have a job that is closely related to healthcare. This industry has always been stable and continuously progressing. The demand for healthcare related jobs is also rising.  A career in the field of healthcare requires proper education and professional skills which a lot people don’t have. Fortunately, you got the right education and training that can qualify in this type of industry.

The healthcare industry has a wide scoop of careers that nursing graduates like yourselves can have. If you decided to practice your profession in the field of healthcare here are some of the top jobs you can have:

  1. Hospital Nurses- One of the primary workforce in hospitals are the nurses. They are the ones who assists doctors and physician in doing medical treatments to patients. Nurses are also in-charge of the patient’s recuperation when the doctors is not around. Almost every Hospitals in the world are in need of qualified nursing professionals who can provide medical skills to their institution. A hospital is the best place to build a career if you want to have a top-notch job with your nursing degree.
  2. Part of an Emergency Medical Team (EMT) – Members of an EMT are required to have healthcare related education and training. As a nursing graduate you are qualified to be a Paramedic. If you are an outgoing type of person, this type of career would be very much favorable and enjoyable to your part.