Smoking Cessation – Getting Benefits when Calling it Quits

electronic cigarettes to quit smokingWe have all heard, at one time or another, the health risks that are associated with smoking.  From cancer, emphysema, cardiovascular disease, to just a general malaise, there are many reasons why one shouldn’t even take up the habit of smoking.  Some people may think that if they are already addicted, what is the point then of trying to quit.  But, did you know that you can stop, if not reverse, some of the damage you may have done, even if you have been a smoker for 20 years?

Many long-term smokers may think to themselves, why even bother quitting, I’ve already done the damage, but this is definitely not true!  At any point, no matter how many years you’ve smoked, no matter if you’ve already been diagnosed with a health problem associated with smoking, choosing to quit is always a better option, and this article will share with you some of the reasons why.

First of all, while there may be some cases where you cannot reverse any damage, you can absolutely stop from doing even more damage to yourself!  There are some immediate benefits that take place after one quits smoking.  For one, within mere hours, the carbon dioxide in your blood begins to decline. Carbon monoxide actually reduces your blood’s ability to carry oxygen around the body.  This change therefore increases the overall circulation of your body.  Also, your blood pressure and heart rate return to normal, as smoking drives both of those higher.  Within months of quitting, you can actually see major changes in the capability of your lungs, and you can also expect to cough or wheeze much less than while you were a smoker.

Of course, there are many long term benefits as well.  Those who quit by around the age of 30 typically can expect to decrease the health risks related to smoking by about 90%.  Studies show that even longer term smokers and those that do not quit until later in life can still increase their chances of a longer life.  Even those patients that have already been diagnosed with cancer should consider quitting smoking, as smoking can inhibit any treatment options that you might need.

There are a variety of ways out there that can help you stop smoking.  One rather new invention is the electronic cigarette.  This method allows the user to still inhale nicotine throughout the day, as needed, but without all of the harmful chemicals that are found in cigarettes.  Be careful though, as some of these electronic cigarettes still contain some of the chemicals, but if being used as a cessation aid, then it’s better to be ingesting less of those agents than more!

At any age, at any risk level, the decision to quit smoking is always the best one!


Take Free CEUs to keep your licensure

Take Free CEUs to keep your licensureAfter working all your muscles off to become an RN, the road to success continues to be wider.  The right thing to do is to keep abreast with the field you are working in that seems to change rapidly. Almost every week, new treatment is discovered, new drugs come out in the market, and new devices are used in your workplace. To keep your knowledge current, Continuing Education Units (CEU) should be obtained.

Some states require nurses to take CEUs on specific content like HIV and Domestic Violence to keep their licensure. There are also free nursing CEUs that are needed for continuing education hours and those that are needed to maintain your license. These free hours are available from a variety of sources.

But the number of hours required will depend on the state you are registered. If you are still unsure of the requirements you state asks for, you may check the nurses-neighborhood website to find your state board. Just as the hours vary, the requirements also differ from state to state.

Some states may ask you to take college classes as part of keeping the licensure. In Texas, the Board of Nurse Examiners may convert one academic credit hour to 15 contact hours. Those who took nursing classes in higher degree are qualified. Taking biology and math are no longer pre-requisites.

The Texas Board of Nurses also changed some requirements. Nurses should now take only CEUs that are focused on your area of practice. So, start checking on your state board of nursing if your state has changed some requirements.

AS you take free CEUs, here are some online sites that will aid you:

MediLexicon│  This is the largest online database for pharmaceutical, biotech, agrochemical, and medical abbreviations. It has over 57,000 terms listed in the site. And the best thing is it comes free of charge. You will also find the directory of pharmacy facilities, pharmaceutical companies, healthcare job agencies, government health departments, and scientific conferences database.

Epocrates│ This should come handy if you have an iPhone or any handheld device with a Palm OS. You can install it in your device and immediately have a drug reference. This serves as a mini PDR where you can also profile a list of drugs. You may freely download the regular version and it will automatically update once you’re connected to the internet.

Once you decide to take CEUs, make sure that the courses are approved by the state you are practicing your profession.


PESI HealthCare provides educational programs and seminars

PESI HealthCare provides educational programs and seminarsIf you’re looking for continuing education seminar, the number one in the business is PESI HealthCare. Its roots started in 1979 when it began as a legal publishing company. Later on, Professional Education Systems ventured into seminars and conferences with its first healthcare program in 1985. The PESI HealthCare division was formally established in 1997, which is committed to educating healthcare professionals.

The HealthCare division’s core business is the one-day seminar with recognized experts, speakers, and authors both nationally and internationally. The seminars are available even to local markets for the convenience of most customers. Every year, PESI educates 75,000 attendees and sponsors more than 700 events.

All seminars are known to be of high quality, relevant, and effective. Topics formulated are based on the highest interest of the customers. The reason it continues to be a strong seminar-providing company.

Aside from interesting topics, PESI also takes pride in the selection process of their faculty. Apart from the credentials the speakers have, they also possess a passion to educate and the skills to effectively do it in an entertaining way. Speakers chosen are able to engage their audiences effectively with knowledge on up-to-date developments in their fields. Indeed, attendee evaluations reflect how successful they are in sourcing great speakers. Program after program, the company keeps the standards by maintaining high-quality speakers. Here are three of the programs health care professionals may attend to:

Continuing Medical Education│ The Continuing Medical Education (CME) program helps connect delicately-researched needs with educational solutions to improve patient care. With each topic, the very goal of the program is to enhance the competence, performance, and knowledge of the nurses. Since topics are based on what is current and relevant, nurses are assured that what is learned is necessary in today’s health care market. All programs comply with all accreditation guidelines and policies. Marketing and development resources are also staffed in-house, providing a more unique ability of giving high-quality CME at a competitive price.

On-Site Education│ This program will help the organization save time and money by learning in the workplace. On-site programs are handled by expert faculty with presentation manuals, registration materials, and certificates of completion. This also works for the staff’s advantage since they are training in a familiar environment.

Webinars│ With this program, two technologies are combined—internet and telephone. This integrated learning experience can be accessed even if you’re in the workplace or at home. The web-based seminar will also let the attendees view the speaker on screen, hear them through the telephone, and interact by phoning or e-mailing your questions.

National Conferences│ This is a chance for nurse professional to gain education and have some fun. These conferences are held in different locations so attendees will be able to interact with different colleagues, create a network, and exchange clinical experiences.

 


Empower yourself with Nursing Education

Empower yourself with Nursing EducationSome of the accomplished RNs with years of experience in helping patients have probably wondered why fellow nurses, managers, employers, and nursing associations keep on harping on going back to school. They may have even asked themselves these: What’s the point of going back to school? What degree shall I pursue at this point of my career?

These are normal and valid questions. Indeed, obtaining a degree even after becoming an RN with valuable experience can make a lot of difference on a personal and professional level. This doesn’t mean throwing out your experience or what. In fact, your RN experience and knowledge will work for your advantage. This will serve as a strong foundation as you pursue an academic degree. The degree you will soon obtain will enhance your critical thinking skills which will help you get a more rewarding career, more positive patient outcomes, more career choices, job security, and higher pay.

The purpose of this nursing education is being able to connect the dots between the knowledge you have and the greater awareness of nursing practice. Thus, it will help you become a better nurse. It will also give you the chance to become not just a task master but a knowledge worker. A bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree will both increase your credibility and confidence to expedite change, commence protocols, encourage and lead your co-workers.

Being able to understand health care on a deeper level will aid you in deconstructing what you know and will give you a clear vision of how all the parts come together. Since nurses of today are given more responsibility in managing important decisions such as patient communication, care planning, and fiscal and informatics duties, a strong basis for critical thinking is demanded by most employers.

This is where you become more confident since you can apply formal education on your years of nursing experience. You will be geared up with the ability to think holistically that will make the job more rewarding and easier.

Either you choose a BSN or an MSN degree, you will be certain that as you complete the program, you will have keys to the doors of job security. You will also be in control of your destiny with more choices, better pay, and flexible hours. This personal choice do not mean being selfish, rather, it demonstrates how much you care for your patients, co-workers, and managers. Admitting yourself in a nursing education is also made easier nowadays since online degrees are offered by most institutions like the American Sentinel University. So, now is the time to think which degree you should pursue.

 


Associate Degree in Nursing: Faster way to be a registered nurse

Associate Degree in Nursing: Faster way to be a registered nurseThere are many roads into the profession of registered nursing. You may take Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), diploma nursing programs, direct entry nursing graduate programs, and Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN).

The most common way to reaching this profession is through the associate-degree entry level. In the US, about 60% of newly registered nurses are ADN graduates. And about a thousand programs exist all over the country.

Students in this program are prepared for a safe, beginning level of competent nursing practice. Graduates of this course have successfully completed an accredited two-year program that qualifies them to write the National Council Licensure Exam for RN. The two-year program is consists of 4 to 6 semesters with 70-80 semester hours. Most new students are admitted every fall, whole others admit a class of students every fall and spring.

The Curriculum concentrates on nursing theories and a broad range of clinical experiences to provide the necessary knowledge and skills for patient-centred care in different health care settings. The curriculum can either be non-integrated, where each subject matter is approached separately, or fully-integrated, connecting the subject matters throughout the program. A graduate of this program may have job opportunities in nursing homes, community agencies, clinics, and acute care and sub-acute facilities.

ADNs started in 1952 as a result of the project research of a nurse educator named Mildred Montage. In her thesis, Montag presented this 2-year associate degree program by trimming the time which was originally needed to educate nursing students in the post-WW II era. With those extensive orientation programs equipped with hiring facilities, Montag hoped it would make up for the knowledge gaps caused by the loss of third year formal instruction.

Today, many admit themselves in this program because of significant advantages such as the relative low cost, and less time investment as it only require two years of completion. Since the program was established, nursing instruction was transferred from the hospital setting to community colleges. This makes it have better accessibility and better outreach to isolated communities in rural areas, minority populations, males, and the disadvantaged.

This is also advantageous to states that are having nursing shortage as the program can quickly produce nurses. ADN graduates are usually vested in their community. They are equipped with a respectable and marketable career to meet the health care needs of their local community.

 


Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner: Responsibilities and Benefits

Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner : Responsibilities and BenefitsOnce a registered nurse (RN) has completed some form of advanced nursing and training, he or she is then called an advanced nurse. There are two types that fall into the category: the certified nurse specialist and the advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP).

Certified nurse specialists can be a nurse practitioner, a certified nurse midwife, or a certified registered nurse anaesthetist. But with the advanced knowledge and training these nurses get, the potential risk of liability is much higher. An advanced nurse is more prone to legal issues.This is because these nurses are held with higher standards of care than RN or practical nurses.

With higher degree of education and training, these nurses are required to meet further certification requirements for licensing. The additional requirements were put up since they have a wider scope to handle than RNs and LPNs.

Advanced nurses are not held to different duties, they are given more duties and standards aside from those which are held by an RN. Failure to keep up with these duties can mean the same consequences with an action taken by the Board of Nursing.

ARNPs in Florida are governed by a set of rules. They can only conduct diagnosis, treatment, and operation if a Florida-licensed medical doctor, an osteopathic physician, or a dentist is present for supervision. Pursuant to Florida Statues, the Board of Nursing has also established rules to regulate the protocol requirements between a physician or a dentist and an ARNP. The protocol should be written in black and white and must be signed by both parties to show a mutual agreement.

The following should be indicated in the protocol:

-Description of duties of the ARNP and the physician or dentist.

- Areas managed by the ARNP which includes the conditions for which treatments, therapies, and operations may be initiated, as well as the kinds of treatments that are allowed to be initiated basing on the patient’s condition and ARNP’s judgment.

-Drug therapies that may be prescribed, initiated, monitored, altered, or ordered by the ARNP.

-Provision for the annual review by both parties.

 

In general, an ANRP or a nurse practitioner is expected to independently examines and treats patients in autonomous collaboration with other health care professionals. Their job greatly relies on their advanced training and education, experience, and judgment to successfully plan and accomplish goals.

With all these expectations and responsibilities, an ANRP also expects a median salary of about $90,753. This may vary depending on your location in the United States. You may check salary.com to verify if you’re getting the right amount of pay.

Related Resources:
www.nursesalary101.net

 


Continuing Education for all nurses

Continuing Education for all nursesNurses who work part time or full time are all aware of problems regarding job security. Throughout their career, they may have several employers. Changes in employment may be due to companies cutting out their cost, technology replacing workers, etc. So, it is important to find a way to stay gainfully employed.

 

What better way to stay gainfully employed is through continuing education. Apart from the experience nurses need, it is important to pursue further education that suits your field of expertise. You can acquire new knowledge in three ways:

On Campus│ On campus universities remain to be a traditional way of acquiring different degree programs. In this school environment, there is direct interaction with classmates and instructors.

 

Online│ If working students can’t make it on campus during the week, there are universities which offer online classes. This will allow students to have the luxury to study in their preferred time. Students must pay attention to internet-based syllabus. Assignments are also posted in their websites.

 

Free Courses│ Money shouldn’t be an issue since there are free courses which will expand your personal knowledge. You may search for online resources for several affordable and free continuing education. Free open college also have level classes that can be pursued online.

 

Travel nurses can also avail of online continuing education courses. In fact, Medical Solutions provides immediate access for travel nurses through RN.com. The website is a venue for healthcare professionals to conveniently earn credits. This is hassle-free since there will be no books needed. You will not also miss work, or will not have to spend time away from your family. Wherever you are, you can log in to their free credit courses.

Once you have been registered on the website, you will be given an Education Planner to help you keep your courses, earned hours, and certificates organized. Skills test for OR, NICU, ICU, PICU, L&D, Medical-Surgical, Pediatrics, Telemetry, Psychiatric and Arrhythmia Interpretation are also available. You can also choose from 100 courses on various specialty areas. You will also learn special skills such as professional topics, critical thinking, risk management, and more.

Related Resources:
www.lvn-rnschoolsincalifornia.com

 


Points to remember when attending a medical conference this 2012

Points to remember when attending a medical conference this 2012Every nurse should have or already have attended a medical conference. A conference will be a time to improve his/her medical education and training as well as have fun with other colleagues. But remember, when you attend a conference, you’re not just there for attendance, you’re there to participate. Just like how organizers have prepared prior to the conference, you must also be preparing for the conference. Here’s how:

Read the program. Make sure you know what you’re going to and you have already made yourself familiar with all activities happening for the week. Take note of the sessions, roundtables, special interest groups, cocktail hours, and other exciting activities.

Make a list on sessions. As you go through the sessions, list out you want to attend and might want to attend so you can mark them on your planner or mobile phone. And you’re sure you’re not going to miss it.

Keep a contact list. You know you have committed to seeing people, it’s important to keep their contact information in the handiest way.

Take down notes. You can either use your pen and a handy notebook or your smartphone to stay organized. There might be some points you will find important so it’s important to have it written on your notebook besides your brain.

Create a Network. Always bring business cards and don’t forget to swap it with coworkers. There will be interesting people you will become friends with who will help you in your future plans, so make sure your coworkers have your cards.

Now, you’re ready to get up and attend a medical conference. Here are the conferences for this year which you will find interesting.

2nd Annual Orphan Drug Congress 2012 This will be on June 7-8 at Barcelona. The conference will discuss topics on successful development plan for Orphan Drug, Developing patient registries, regulatory challenges surrounding orphan drug development, and the commercial aspects of orphan drug development.

ICAO 2012, 3rd International Congress on Abdominal Obesity│ Happening on July 9-12, 2012 at Quebec is a highly anticipated event of medical professionals with expertise on Abdominal Obesity. The conference will use a multidisciplinary approach where a new medical program has been developed.

International Conference and Exhibition on Orthopedics│ This will be held at Chicago on August 13-15. Researchers, clinicians, neurosurgeons, physical therapists, clinical psychologists, and orthopaedic doctors are invited in this event to discuss the  newest technological improvements for people with orthopedic problems.

A complete list of medical conferences for 2012 is found at the website of All Conferences.


Oncology Nurses Joins Journey Forward

Oncology Nurses Joins Journey Forward The Oncology Nursing Society was established to provide registered nurses and other health care professionals with high-quality educational programs, research opportunities, cancer care resources, and peer support networks. The professional organization is committed to bring excellence in oncology nursing. Most importantly, ONS heads in leading the transformation of cancer care through education, legislative, and public awareness to improve cancer patient care.

In realizing the society’s goal to improve patient care of persons with cancer, ONS joined in a collaborative effort with Journey Forward to promote cancer survivorship by relaying Survivorship Care Plans.

Journey Forward consists of different organizations—WellPoint, Genentech, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS), and UCLA Cancer Survivorship Center.

Michele Galioto, ONS Director of Education, said their partnership will be helpful in providing education to patients. Nurses, in fact, are key providers of education through diagnosis and treatment. Being joined with Journey Forward is surely a perfect fit as they can work together in communicating the importance of survivorship care plans.

Also, ONS have key systems such as symptom management resources, evidence-based guidelines, and a good collection of quality indicator into survivorship plans which help in improving patient outcomes. Indeed, the partnership is expected to bring valuable tools to nurses and improve their number of membership which will also improve care education to patients.

The Director of the Survivorship Center at UCLA, Patricia Ganz, is very happy with the new addition. She acknowledges that Oncology nurses are truly the forefront of Survivorship Care Plans preparation.

In general, the Journey Forward team offers a free, high-quality software tool to help survivors and their team in formulating a specialized Survivorship care Plan basing on ASCO’s treatment summary and surveillance guidelines. These plans are designed to improve the coordination of patient care to cancer survivors throughout their lives. The plan will also help survivors and their family to understand the whole process of cancer treatment and other follow-up needs. A care plan will also guide survivors in advocating for themselves, participating in decision-making on future care, and monitoring their health.

The addition of the ONS team means a membership of 35,000 oncology nurses from 61 countries with 230 chapters from the United States. The huge number of membership is a great help in disseminating information in their respective oncology settings.


Attend Any Symposia Medicus Conference this 2012

Attend Any Symposia Medicus Conference this 2012For more than 30 years now, Symposia Medicus has been successful in providing high quality health care education to nurses, physicians, and other health care professionals all over the world. This non-profit corporation constantly plans for continuing education executed in different symposiums and conferences. All of which are aimed towards improving patient care by educating professionals in a relaxing and enjoyable environment and enhancing their skills.

Here is a list of the upcoming symposiums health care staff and chief officers will be expecting for the rest of year.

Challenges in Obstetrics & Gynecology │ This will be conducted in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 11-13, 2012. This is designed for nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, physician assistants, physicians, and other health professionals who face constant challenges on treatment options, clinical diagnoses, and health technologies. It will focus on practical applications based on evidences and current issues. During this event, attendees will be able to share ideas with colleagues all over the country.

14th Annual Summer Conference on Pediatrics│ This summer event will happen on July 11-14, 2012 at Snow King Resort and Grand View Lodge, Jackson Hole, Wyoming. This educational activity will leave ample time for enjoying family and friends, exploring the area, and relaxing. Topics will focus in these areas: Infectious Disease, Headache, Adolescent Mental Health, Food Allergies, and Pediatric Sports Injuries.

13th Annual Summer Conference on Women’s Health│ The event will run from August 1-4,2012 in Paradise Island, Bahamas. Current information on women’s health will be the primary focus of this 3-day event. Topics will include Skin Cancer, Pap Smears, Female Sexual Dysfunction, Breast Cancer, Contraception, Hormone Therapy, and Pain Management. In addition to serious topics of the lectures, there will be sessions which participants will be arranged in groups to explore the Paradise Island and enjoy the area. This will be helpful for health care professionals who deal with women suffering from disease and emotional issues such as depression.

13th Annual Conference on Integrative Medicine in Women’s HealthThis will be held in Sedona, Arizona on September 12-15. The program is specifically designed to present new health care practises to be used as alternative treatment to female patients. It includes discussion and introduction to integrative medicine to women’s health. Aside from lectures, there will be enough time allocated for participants’ feedback and interaction.

These are just few of the many conferences planned for this year. If you are interested with any of these events, you may call Symposia Medicus or visit their website for further details on how and where to acquire reservations.


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