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Four Distinct Generations

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 18:56:27 -0700

CNA to LVN - Carving Out a Career Path

cnasalary — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:45:00 -0800

Do entry-level positions matter to you? Do you want to be on top? Do you think you have the right qualities to move up to the next level in your career? Are you aiming for a higher salary? Are you hungry for more knowledge, new challenges, and new experiences? Or are you the type of person who is willing to excel in a gradual manner (slowly, but surely)? If you said 'yes' to any of the above questions, that's great! Success in your career of choice always begins by dreaming big!

Embarking upon a career path is not an easy task, especially in the medical field. However, those working in the medical industry find it to be a very rewarding job. It's a well-known fact that nurses are in demand at hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, and other medical facilities. Thus, a good way to start pursuing a career in the medical field is to become a CNA.

What can you gain by becoming a CNA first, then pursuing the LVN or LPN career?

If you become a CNA first, your clinical exposure will be varied, diverse, and intense. You will gain a first-hand grasp of nursing care and you will thoroughly understand the nature of the work. Therefore, it is always good to have gained experience before attempting to advance and move up in healthcare industry. Being a CNA can be a stepping stone in your career to more advanced nursing care duties and further career growth. You can advance from being a CNA to become a LVN or LPN, then from a LVN/LPN to a RN. The scope and depth of CNAs' duties are limited, but by gaining work experience and clinical skills, you can become a better health worker. It is a good idea to continue your education to pave the way for bigger career opportunities, income, and responsibilities.

Want to become a LVN or LPN as your next career move? Why not?

A Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) or a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) works under physicians and registered nurses. They act as a support for the ill, injured, and disabled patients or residents. Their work focuses more on giving injections, applying dressings, and observing residents for any adverse reactions to prescribed medications or treatments. They are involved in providing basic bedside care to the residents, taking vitals (temperature, blood pressure, polls, and respiration), and also supervise the nursing assistants.

How to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

To become a LVN, you must complete a state-approved LVN training program and pass the licensing exam called the N-CLEX PN. The course will typically take a year to complete. Education and training take place in classroom settings as well as in hospital or medical facilities for clinical practice. The compensation ranges from $16 - $25 per hour and approximately 24,000 - 48,000 US dollars (USD) per year, which will gradually increase based on your experience. The LVN career is growing and the demand for LVNs is increasing, as the supply of nurses comes up short. In a market where supply does not meet demand, the LVN salary is made even more competitive to attract more qualified nurses, thus increasing the supply.

LVNs usually work at hospitals, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, doctor's offices, or surgical centers, and provide many of basic services also performed by Registered Nurses (RNs). If you want to pursue this career, don't forget to contact the schools or colleges regarding the requirements of the course. Qualifications for the course vary from state to state. Many CNAs, who pursued a career as a LVN, are happy with their title, pay, and positions.

Lastly check out nursing assistant salary , they have a lot of good links for agencies that are offering CNA training, and will often help you start earning that cna salary .

You Know You're an LPN When...

Rachael Travis | Scrubs Magazine — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:30:00 -0800

How do you know you’re an LPN (or an LVN if you’re practicing in California or Texas)?

See if you recognize yourself in the following tongue-in-cheek list, compiled by a 30-something Mississippi-based LPN.

1. You feel like Malcolm in the Middle—stuck between the RNs and CNAs.

2. You’re so used to eating cold food that you don’t bother microwaving anything other than coffee.

3. You put scissors, tape, TAO, Band-Aids and a black pen in your pocket everywhere you go.

4. You can identify pills found on the floor whether they’re brand-name or generic.

5. You are used to getting cussed out at 7 a.m. daily, thanks to the RP phone calls letting them know Mom’s Colace has been changed from capsule to tablet.

6. You go through more shoes than Paris Hilton to ward off foot pain.

7. You label all the meds you have at home with the “open” date and circle the expiration.

8. Your lunches sometimes consist of Mountain Dew and Snickers—the wrapper allows you to eat and chart without dirty fingers.

9. You get more puke and poo on yourself than a new mom.

10. You date and initial your kids’ Band-Aids.

Sound familiar? What would you add?

More on ScrubsMag.com:

• In MD/RN: Top 10 Questions I'd Love to Ask Some Docs

• In Relationships: First Date Checklist for Nurses

• In Humor: Caption Contest

Related Reads:
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Become a Licenced Practical Nurse (LPN)

Nursinglink — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:37:00 -0800

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) work under the direct supervision of RNs and physicians but are capable of performing most patient care tasks. These tasks include taking patients' vital signs, temperature, blood pressure, and patient bathing. The only RN-specific tasks that LPNs are not able to do are to administer IVs, push pharmaceuticals, and hang the first unit of blood.

h4. Connect with other LPNs

Join the Licensed Practical Nurse discussion group on NursingLink here!

h4. Get Started With These Links

LPN Career Profiles

About the LPN/LVN Career Path Path:

• LPNs are called Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) in Texas and California. For additional information from actual nurses in this field, please see the Licenced Practical/Vocational Nursing discussion thread.

• Read an interview with a current LPN in Career Profile: Licensed Practical Nurse.

• Check out the article The Supply, Demand, and Use of Licensed Practical Nurses.

Nursing Education

Find a School on Nuringlink:

• Which Nursing School is Right for You?

• Online & Distance Learning

Pay for School:

• Search Nursinglink for Thousands of Nursing Scholarships

• Part-time Students Can Get Financial Aid

• Types of Aid for College

Resources for LPN/LVN Job Seekers

Discovering Job Opportunities:

• Search Nursinglink for Jobs Across the Nation

• How Networking Can Work For You
•
Winning Through Associations
• How to Use the Internet in Your Job Search

Choosing a Hospital/Clinic:

• Nursinglink's Hottest Health Employers
• Moving Beyond Hospital Walls
•
What Nurses Should Ask Prospective Employers
•
How To Evaluate a Nurse Job Offer

Career Essentials

Resume Tips:

• Frequently Asked Questions About Nurse Résumés
• Seven Strategies for Sending Out Your Résumé

• Six Tips for Writing Effective Cover Letters

Interview Tips:

• Making Your First Impression Count
• Five Tips for Handling Salary Questions

Advancing Your LPN License

Hollis Forster, RNC-NP — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:29:00 -0800

Having a career as a Licensed Practical Nurse is a great start to immerse you in the nursing field relatively quickly, however, it can be limiting in the types of positions that are available to you. You may have found yourself with this license because you have never been able to take time enough away from your family or your job to get a more advanced degree. You may be feeling now is a better time, maybe the children are older or you are not as dependent on full time work, to get the degree that you really always wanted. A BSN would offer more job growth and movement potential. It would prepare you for work that you have perhaps only dreamed of in the past.

There are many possibilities, currently, for advancing your education, even if you still have to work and care for your family while getting your degree. The LPN is a great license to start with when thinking of moving toward a more advanced degree. You already have courses in nursing practice completed, and you have real life experience in the field where you want to practice. You are a superb candidate for an A.D.N. or a B.S.N. degree.

Many schools now offer online opportunities for this educational path. There are variations between schools about how it is actually done, but you can find:

• Schools completely online for coursework with some clinical preceptor hours in local hospitals or physician practices.

• Schools that offer both campus based and online approaches which some people may find advantageous.

• Schools that allow you to “test out” of coursework because of your previous education and life experience.

• Schools that will allow “advanced placement” by giving you credits toward your degree for your licensure. (You must have a license in the state where this particular school is located).

I found one organization that gives coursework entirely through online study modules. After completion of the modules, you take a standardized test at a local testing site. The results of the tests can be submitted to a University or other nursing educational facility within their “network” (and of your choosing) to count toward your final degree.

These options for advancing your education from the LPN level to a degree that can lead to a professional registered nurse position will open many doors for aspiring RN’s. Having the ability to complete most course work at home means that you no longer have to sacrifice so much family time to further your career and offer more to your community. Perhaps more programs like this will help alleviate the severe nursing shortage that, according to recent studies, will only become worse in the coming years as the population ages and so many experienced RNs reach retirement age.

I found these possibilities by exploring the internet. Try it, you may find a program that is a perfect fit for your lifestyle and
ambitions.

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What Can LPN Practitioners Expect As a Salary?

cnasalary — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:46:00 -0800

The salaries of LPN professional vary from one state to the other. The significant increase in the demand for health care professionals has resulted in a lot of competition in the market and there is a greater variance in the salaries of the LPN professional, mostly depending on the experience and educational background.

A LPN (licensed practical nurse) or LVN (licensed vocation nurse) work under the direct supervision of doctors and/or RNs in states like California and Texas. They are allowed to perform simple routine tasks for the patients such as providing routine care, assuring the administration of the prescribed dosages of medications and look after the condition of the patients.

The remuneration package for LPNs depends upon many criterions, which mainly include work experience, location of work and type of industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' survey in 2006, the average remuneration of an LPN is estimated to be $36,550 annually. The maximum salary would be around $43,640 annually while the minimum goes down to $26,380 annually. As expected, the average annual salary figure for LPNs has gone up to $44,212 in the recent survey conducted by the US National Average Salary in the year 2009.

Practical experience is definitely a big factor in estimating a LPNs' salary. A newly trained LPN may earn around $26,027 annually as compared to $47,211 annual income of a qualified LPN with 15 years+ experience. The location of work also plays and important role in the determination of wages for LPN. Certain states like Connecticut have higher average income of up to $50,950 annually while other states like North Dakota have lower average income of $29,085 annually for LPN professionals. Also one should consider the cost of living in a certain area to estimate the net annual income.

Finally the type of industry is another prime factor in the determination of wages for LPNs. The different type of industries offers different types of remuneration. For example annual average salary of LPN working in hospitals is up to $35,000 while it is around $42,110 annually for those working in employment service industry.

If you are on a lookout for a rewarding and satisfying career than the profession of LPN is a very good option. More details about the salary and other important information is easily available on many useful websites as well as newspaper. You can also check with the employers directly to obtain firsthand knowledge.

You can avail further information on cna salary and nursing assistant salary here.

ACLS Classes

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:42:41 -0700

Heart Disease: Myths vs. Facts

GOOD — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 10:40:00 -0800

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States—it kills more than 25 percent of all people. It's an astoundingly high number, especially for a disease that can be managed by simple factors like diet and exercise. Many people think that heart disease is a man's disease, but it actually affects women more than men. That's just one of the many myths about heart disease that must be dispelled in order to promote prevention.

A collaboration between GOOD and
Vance Wellenstein, in partnership with GE.

See the Full Infographic >>

This article was originally published on GOOD

About GOOD Magazine:

GOOD is the integrated media platform for people who want to live well and do good. We are a company and community for the people, businesses, and NGOs moving the world forward. GOOD's mission is to provide content, experiences, and utilities to serve this community.

The More You Walk, the Lower Your Diabetes Risk: Study

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What is Dystonia?

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:56:00 -0800

Dystonia is a neurological disorder characterized by over-activity of a specific group of muscles and/or muscle. It is the over-activity of these specific muscles that causes involuntary movements and tremors, sustained muscle contractions, and abnormal postures.

How is Dystonia Misdiagnosed?

Dystonia is misdiagnosed 90% of the time by clinicians. The involuntary movements and spasms caused by dystonia sometimes are attributed to stress, stiff neck, dry eyes, tics, or psychogenic disorders. A significant clue to dystonia lies in the fact that dystonia often increases during activity, stress and anxiety; but diminishes during relaxation and sleep. The disorder is touched upon in medical school but not really emphasized.

How Often Does Dystonia Occur?

It is estimated that 550,000 people have some form of dystonia in North America alone. However, this value does not take into account that dystonia can coincide with other medical conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Essential Tremor, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, or Wilson’s disease, among others. The actual number of people identified with dystonia may be over a MILLION, but current funding has not adequately included research that determines the actual epidemiology of dystonia.

Who Can “Get” Dystonia?

Anyone can develop signs and symptoms of the disorder. No one is immune to this disorder.

Symptoms of Dystonia

Dystonia doesn’t just come along overnight. It develops gradually. On rare occasions, dystonia may come on suddenly, but such reactions are more likely related to the taking of antipsychotic drugs by the patient. Early symptoms may include some of the following:

* blinking
* sensitivity to light
* eye irritation
* subtle facial or jaw spasms
* difficulty chewing
* changes in pitch of speech
* mild jerky head movements
* stiff neck or neck discomfort
* cramping of hands during writing
* cramping of legs

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According to NINDS, the initial symptoms may be very mild and only noticeable after prolonged exertion, stress or fatigue. More debilitating symptoms may follow, becoming more widespread and painful. Progressive symptoms may include:

* heavy blinking to the extent of functional blindness
* twitching
* twisting, turning, and pulling of the head known as torticollis
* speech and swallowing difficulties
* pain in the hand referred to as writer’s cramp
* difficulty walking
* spasticity

Causes of Dystonia

The onset of dystonia can be brought on in two different ways. Primary dystonia is believed to come from the abnormal function deep within the brain in a region called the basal ganglia. The basal ganglia control movement. When something goes wrong in the basal ganglia, dystonia may arise. Genetic research, according to NINDS, has revealed a possible gene mutation that causes some forms of dystonia. The secondary forms of dystonia can arise because of a number of different issues including:

* birth injury
* trauma
* toxins
* stroke
* other disorders like Wilson’s disease
* medications

While some forms of dystonia are known to be genetic, the role of environmental factors contributing or causing the disorder is being investigated. Some people who inherit a specific gene may develop a severe form of dystonia while others may demonstrate a very mild form of the condition. However, the specific nature of how the environment affects dystonia is unknown. NINDS says that dystonia can occur at any age depending on the form of the disorder. Some forms show up in early childhood, others in adolescence and middle and late age.

Gene Information : Dystonia Clinic website at: http://www.massgeneral.org/neurology/movement_disorders/dystonia/index.html

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Forms of Dystonia

The sustained muscle contractions of people with dystonia can cause twisting, repetitive movements and even unusual postures. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), muscles in the arms, legs, neck or the entire body can be affected. Classifying dystonia is related to the part of the body affected. NINDS lists five different classifications. They are:

* generalized dystonia; affecting most or all of the body
* focal dystonia; affecting a specific part of the body
* multifocal dystonia; affecting two or more unrelated body parts
* segmental dystonia; affecting two or more adjacent parts of the body
* hemidystonia; affecting the arm and leg on the same side of the body

Some of the more common focal dystonias have their own names. They include:

* Cervical dystonia, also called spasmodic torticollis, or torticollis, is the most common of the focal dystonias. In torticollis, the muscles in the neck that control the position of the head are affected, causing the head to twist and turn to one side, or backwards and forward.
* Blepharospasm, the second most common focal dystonia, is the involuntary, forcible closure of the eyelids. The first symptoms may be uncontrollable blinking. Only one eye may be affected initially, but eventually both eyes are usually involved. The spasms may leave the eyelids completely closed causing functional blindness even though the eyes and vision are normal.
* Cranial dystonia is a term used to describe dystonia that affects the muscles of the head, face and neck.
* Oromandibular dystonia affects the muscles of the jaw, lips and tongue.
* Writer’s cramp is a dystonia that affects the muscles of the hand and sometimes the forearm, and only occurs during handwriting. Similar focal dystonias have also been called typist’s cramp, pianist’s cramp, and musician’s cramp.

Useful Downloads

Demystifying Dystonia: Your complete guide to information about dystonia, diagnosis, current treatments, resource listings with contact info including telephone numbers and addresses, and much more. (Download: PDF)

Dystonia, New England Journal of Medicine: The following file may sound a bit complicated from a medical standpoint, but it clearly describes the most recent views about dystonia in today’s current medical literature.

[page]

New Info Cause- New Theory about Dystonia (2007)

Early symptoms may include loss of precision muscle coordination (sometimes first manifested in declining penmanship, frequent small injuries to the hands, dropped items and a noticeable increase in dropped or chipped dishes), cramping pain with sustained use and trembling. Significant muscle pain and cramping may result from very minor exertions like holding a book and turning pages. It may become difficult to find a comfortable position for arms and legs with even the minor exertions associated with holding arms crossed causing significant pain similar to restless leg syndrome. Affected persons may notice trembling in the diaphragm while breathing, the need to place hands in pockets, under legs while sitting or under pillows while sleeping to keep them still and to reduce pain. Trembling in the jaw may be felt and heard while lying down and the constant movement to avoid pain may result in TMJ-like symptoms and the grinding and wearing down of teeth. The voice may crack frequently or become harsh triggering frequent throat clearing and swallowing can become difficult and accompanied by painful cramping.

Electrical sensors (EMG) inserted into affected muscle groups, while painful, can provide a definitive diagnosis by showing pulsating nerve signals being transmitted to the muscles even when they are at rest. The brain appears to signal portions of fibers within the affected muscle groups at a firing speed of about 10 Hz causing them to pulsate, tremble and contort. When called upon to perform an intentional activity, the muscles fatigue very quickly and some portions of the muscle groups do not respond (causing weakness) while other portions over-respond or become rigid (causing micro-tears under load). The symptoms worsen significantly with use, especially in the case of focal dystonia, and a “mirror effect” is often observed in other body parts: use of the right hand may cause pain and cramping in that hand as well as in the other hand and legs that were not being used. Stress, anxiety, lack of sleep, sustained use and cold temperatures can worsen symptoms.

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