Top 10 Nursing Careers on the Rise

These days, opportunities in nursing have increased and become much more varied.

Along with this is the continued demand for more qualified nurses as the health care field is becoming more complex with specialized fields expanding and the large population of retiring nurses leaving the workplace.

Nurses are now able to find careers that can be more rewarding and specialized outside of the hospital setup.

For anyone who has a desire to help to others, has a keen interest in high quality medicine, or who is into the exploration of new places and people, here are the top 10 nursing careers rise.

Travel Nursing

Currently, there are many towns and cities in the country and the world that are in desperate need of qualified nurses. In response to the growing nursing shortage, the travel nurse industry has quickly become a lucrative career for qualified nurses.

Travel nursing is an exciting career where nurses travel to work temporary short-term positions in different locations and in various capacities. The role offers higher pay than typical stationary positions, professional growth and development, and personal adventure.

Depending on the circumstances, compensation can range from $24 to $42 per hour. Nurses with an RN nursing degree will have the easiest time qualifying for travel nursing positions across the United States as the degree requires a national board exam. LPN's will need to check licensing requirements for each state and apply for temporary licenses when needed.

Military Nursing

Here you will be working with the military forces both at home and overseas. When you work in the Armed Services, opportunities for further education, travel, and career enhancement will be available to you. Your pay can be up to $45,000 annually, and you may be able to receive a loan to repay your nursing school fees.

Forensic Nursing

Forensic Nurses work with law enforcement to collect evidence at crime and accident scenes. They are trained to identify injuries and/or death and their causes, preserve and document the chain of custody, and refer victims for appropriate follow-up care.

As a Forensic Nurse, you can pursue a wide array of exciting nursing career opportunities, including positions in medical examiners' offices, law enforcement agencies, social service agencies, and specialized hospital units. Salaries start around $35 per hour and can go up to $100 per hour.

This career is gaining popularity as online forensic nursing certification programs become more accessible for busy nurses who do not have time for traditional classroom training.

Legal Nurse Consultant

Certified legal nurse consultants typically work with private attorneys and corporate lawyers. LNCs not wanting to work in the court system find work outside the courtroom in hospitals and clinics, insurance companies, and government agencies. Many are hired to help provide quality assurance at pharmaceutical firms and chemical companies.

Jobs in the profession are on the rise as more and more companies introduce medications and devices that are federally approved, reviewed, or contested in the courtroom or by government agencies.

Like Forensic Nursing, a Legal Nurse Consultant certification can be gained through online nursing degree programs making it a very attractive opportunity for working nurses.

Surgical Nursing

Surgical nurses give assistance to doctors when there are serious surgical procedures to be done such as organ transplants and neurosurgery. You will also be getting patients prepared for surgery and giving assistance during surgery.

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is beneficial to move forward in this profession, and RN-to-BSN programs are offered at many colleges and universities.

Salaries in this profession can exceed $80,000 per year.

Certified RN Anesthetist (CRNA)

A Nurse Anesthetist, or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is trained to provide the same anesthesia services as an anesthesiologist (MD). This role is exceptionally rewarding for many nurses as you are responsible for the patient's well-being before, during and after the treatment that required anesthesia.

CRNAs are one of the highest paid nursing positions with a reported average annual salary of approximately $165,000.

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is beneficial to explore this profession.

Nurse Practitioner

Becoming a Nurse Practitioner is a great career path. Quality nursing care is in serious demand, and the pay is exceptional. A Nurse practitioners serves as primary and specialty care providers, providing a blend of nursing and health care services to patients and families.

The most common specialty areas for nurse practitioners are family practice, adult practice, women's health, pediatrics, acute care, and geriatrics. There are also a variety of other specialties that nurse practitioners can choose, including neonatology and mental health.

Nurse Practitioners have completed advanced educational degrees beyond a Bachelor Degree. Typically, a Nurse Practitioner will complete either a Master's Degree or a Doctorate Degree. This advanced and specialized training allows the Nurse Practitioner to administer many different types of health care services to patients.

Clinical Nurse Specialist

CNSs are uniquely prepared to assume the role of case manager-one who organizes and coordinates services and resources, and who works to control costs. This makes CNSs central players in the growth of managed care, and they serve to manage the complexities and interdependencies of different parts of health care practice.

Clinical Nurse Specialists are clinical experts in the diagnosis and treatment of illness. They are advanced practice nurses with training and experience to take on the role of case manager in their area of specialty.

This profession is a great next step for RNs to further explore a specific area of interest and become an leader in the treatment and advanced care for it.

Clinical nurse specialist earn an average salary of close to $80,000 annually.

Staff Nurse

A Staff Nurse has a very important role in the health care industry. He or she must be able to make decisions based on scientific knowledge, health care procedures and standardized care plants. As a Staff Nurse becomes more advanced, they move on to client cases that are more complex in nature.

The median expected salary for a typical Staff Nurse in the United States is $62,089 and the role requires an RN certification at minimum.

Flight Nurse

A flight nurse is involved in both emergency and non-emergency transportation of patients. Inter facility transport and "scene calls" are also a part of this career. Salaries for this intense career are generally over $60,000 a year.

My Nursing Degree Online provides articles and resources for nurses looking for continuing education online. Find more information about earning your nursing degree online at MyNursingDegree.com

By Kristin Royce

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2588733

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Registered Nursing Jobs - Traditional and Non-Traditional Settings

By the year 2020, it is predicted that the United States will need 800,000 nurses in their health care industry. Registered nursing jobs involve those who work in traditional hospital settings, as well as non-traditional locations such as in home, laboratory, or school. This wide array of options and specializations for those interested to pursue a career in nursing has made the field of nursing really a promising path.

Clinical Nurse

As the term entails, clinical nurses are those that are registered who work in definite clinic settings. However, dubbed also as nurse practitioners, clinical nurses may also work in different types of clinic with various specializations. Thus, clinical nurse, though works in clinic, can be very flexible.

Clinical Nurse Subcategory

Given the huge amount of clinical nurse working in hospitals and clinics, most of nurse practitioners can be classified into different subcategories:

Clinical nurse specialist - These are the nurses who attained and completed qualifications for specific specialization. They can specialize to various fields in health care for instance midwifery, or psychiatric and/or mental health, or geriatrics, as well as pediatrics, and other health disciplines. Because of the specific fields of their specialty, they obtain titles such as mental nurse, or maternity nurse, and even theater nurse.

Staff nurse - These are the nurses who are responsible for general administrative duties in hospitals and clinics. They have no specific specialization.

Clinical nurse assigned to specific hospital sections - aside from the clinical nurse specialist and the staff nurse, a clinical nurse may also be appointed and concentrate to specific hospital sections or departments such as the surgical section, emergency room, or accidents section

Because of these diverse opportunities for nurse jobs in many of hospitals along with clinics in the United States, jobs for clinical nurse are highly in demand today.

Hierarchy of Clinical Nurses

Aside from different types of clinical nurses, there are also levels and ladder in this type of medical and health job. There are clinical nurses in general but there are also clinical support nurses, and clinical nurse specialists who specialize in specific field or area. Clinical nurses can also climb up the ladder through being a nurse advisor, clinical lead nurse, or a clinical nurse manager. Consequently, there are still other types of jobs in the nursing field.

Responsibilities of Clinical Nurse

A clinical nurse has many responsibilities depending on their specialization and area of expertise. Sometimes, the size of organization contributes to the variation of responsibilities. Accordingly, a bigger organization provides more responsibilities and duties to clinical nurse because it has more hospital sections and areas to work for, than a smaller organization. Responsibilities of a clinical nurse involve clinical practice, that is, providing optimal care to patients. However, under the practice providing care to patients, the responsibilities of a clinical nurse still constitutes many things and may divert from the general clinical practice, such as conducting research, handling consultation and management duties, and many others.

Home Health Registered Nurses

Aside from the traditional clinical setting where most nurses work, home health care has proven to be a lucrative sector for the nursing profession. Registered nurses, who chose to deliver health care services at home where most patients get and feel better because of homey ambiance and setting, provide various services like geriatric nursing, community health nursing, and visiting nurse jobs. Other nursing home health care jobs are:

Newborn Visiting Nurses - They are the nurses who phone new mothers and offer their service at home. They monitor the newborn child's conditions, gives assessment, as well as medications to the mother and her child.

Visiting Chronic Care Nurses - They offer service at home for those who need specific hours of care at specific days per week. They are the nurses who attend patients after surgery, change feeding tubes, and assess medical needs from time to time.

Early intervention nurse - They offer service to families who have young children needing medical intervention.

Occupational Health Registered Nurses

As a growing field, occupational health registered nurses have also different responsibilities. They are tasked to do initial assessments and physical examinations, assess the medical needs of the patient, and offer medical information to specific company or institution.

Public Health Registered Nurses

Unlike other nurses who are only involved in nursing and taking care of patients, public health registered nurses are engaged in policy-making affecting societies. They provide patient care in clinical settings but at the same time, they participate in community health nursing. More often, they give advices, information, and assistance to families in different communities regarding their health, nutrition, and family planning.

They can also work in conjunction with the Department of Health where they can propose policies and insights on how to control infectious disease and implement policy measures in hospitals and clinics.

School Nurses

School nurses are nurses who work on schools, universities, and colleges, where they provide students their medical needs. They may be assigned permanently in just one school, but others can be assigned from one school to another. Most of schools today have built exclusive clinics for students to have the most important health care they need. School nurses are responsible for assessing the medical needs of students, giving emergency care, advising the students about nutrition, preventive care, and first aid procedures.

Hospice Registered Nurses

Just like the clinical nurse who can work at night shift, day shift, or overtime, hospices also offer 24-hour, day and night service to patients at the setting of their own home. Hoping and believing the patients improves at home settings, a registered hospice nurse can also build personal rapport with the patients which might help them get better. Usually work under the direction of a doctor, a hospice nurse can also work independent in handling patients.

Because of many options and opportunities in the field of nursing, it has become a very profitable job nowadays. Demand for new nurses is still high and increasing in the United States, resulting to more and more students shifting into nursing courses. Another good thing is that, underneath the general broad field of nursing, students can choose specific field or area they are most concerned with depending on their skills, knowledge, and capability.

For More Information See: How to start a nursing agency visit startanursinghome.com

By John F Smith

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2457600

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How to Become a Nurse in Canada

Most people ask the question "how to become a nurse" when they start planning their career path in high school.

You may not be aware that there are three different types of nursing in Canada and each one has different education requirement ranging from college diploma to university degree. So when you try to explore how to become a nurse you must know the type of nurse you want to be.

1. First decide what kind of nurse you want to be.

registered nursing. A registered nurse can practice with clients of all age groups and with all types of health challenges of varying degrees of complexities. A registered nurse can practice in a variety of settings including the community, mental health settings and residential settings. Of the three types of nursing in Canada the registered nurse has the broadest scope of practice.
registered psychiatric nursing. A registered psychiatric nurse has a narrower scope of practice than a registered nurse and is restricted to practicing psychiatric nursing. That is they provide mental health nursing care to a wide variety of clients and in a wide variety of settings. Psychiatric nursing is not a recognized type of nursing in all of Canada. It is only recognized in the western provinces (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia)
licensed practical nursing. The licensed practical nurse has the narrowest scope of practice of the three types of nursing. In some provinces a licensed practical nurse must work under the supervision of a registered nurse and in other provinces the scope of practice is restricted to working as an assistant to the registered nurse, and is some other provinces the licensed practical nurse is fully autonomous and does not require supervision although the scope of practice is narrower that for either of the registered nursing professions.

While the scope of practice and types of clients will vary for each of these types of nursing they are all legally defined as part of the nursing profession. Which one of these descriptions appeals to you? Your choice may depend on your preference for future career paths as well as your preference for autonomous practice. More career options are provided by the registered nurse or registered psychiatric nurse designation.

2. Make sure you have the correct high school prerequisites.

Registered Nurse Education

A university degree is required to practice as a registered nurse in Canada in all provinces. You will need to meet the university entrance requirements as well as the specific requirement for the nursing program.

Registered nurse education programs in Canada require basic preparation in:

math usually at the Grade 11 level
sciences - both a chemistry and a biological science will be required. Usually the chemistry course is a preparatory course such as a grade 11 level and the biological science must be at a higher level such as a grade 12 level
English - admission to a nursing program will require completion of English at a grade 12 level.


Registered psychiatric nursing

Both degree and diploma nurse education programs are available in Canada if you want to enroll in a psychiatric nursing program. There are three psychiatric nursing programs in Canada that lead to a baccalaureate degree. All other psychiatric nursing programs lead to a college diploma. Even though there is no requirement for a university degree you can expect the entrance requirements to be the same as for a registered nurse education program.

Licensed Practical Nurse Education

Licensed practical nurse education programs may not have the same entrance criteria as registered nursing since they are not university degree programs.

Education programs range from one year in length in British Columbia to two years in Alberta and Ontario. Because of the national variation in the role of the LPN and the length of the education required there may be significant variations in entrance requirements, however, you can expect entrance requirements to reflect a mastery of basic math and English. Some programs will also require biology as a prerequisite.

3. Select your University or College nursing program

All nurse education programs in Canada take place in post secondary education institutions. There are no hospital based programs in existence so you must attend at a university or college. Some colleges have partnered with universities making it easier to take the courses for the first first two years of a nursing program at a college and then complete the nursing degree at a university. Many nursing programs have wait lists so be sure to submit your application as early as you can.

4. Complete the Canadian nursing entrance test.

All types of nursing are regulated in Canada and once you graduate from your nursing education program you will be required to pass a national exam before you can obtain your nursing license. All nurses in Canada write the same national exam so once you have your license in one province it is easy to move between provinces without having to retake the exam.

So here is the summary of how to become a nurse in Canada:

decide on what type of nurse you want to be
complete the necessary high school credits
find a nursing education program in a college or university.
complete the Canadian national nursing entrance test to obtain your nursing license.

So now that you know how to become a nurse in Canada isn't it time you got started? There is an acute nursing shortage in the country and you will never be without work!

Beverly Hansen OMalley is a nurse with over 35 years of experience in nursing education. She has written nursing curriculum for both registered nursing and licensed practical nursing programs and currently works with internationally educated nurses who want to become a nurse in Canada. You are invited to visit http://www.registered-nurse-canada.com where Bev explores the uniqueness of the nursing profession in Canada including comparison of the nursing entrance tests for the US and Canada, comparison of registered nurse salaries across the country and what it means to have a nursing license.

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Heart Attack Symptoms and Warning Signs

A blockage in the heart's arteries may reduce or completely cut off the blood supply to a portion of the heart. This can cause a blood clot to form and totally stop blood flow in a coronary artery, resulting in a heart attack (also called an acute myocardial infarction or MI).

Irreversible injury to the heart muscle usually occurs if medical help is not received promptly. Unfortunately, it is common for people to dismiss heart attack symptoms.

What are the warning signs of a heart attack ?

The American Heart Association and other medical experts say the body likely will send one or more of these warning signals of a heart attack:

• Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest lasting more than a few minutes.
• Pain spreading to the shoulders, neck or arms. The pain may be mild to intense. It may feel like pressure, tightness, burning, or heavy weight. It may be located in the chest, upper abdomen, neck, jaw, or inside the arms or shoulders.
• Chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath.
• Anxiety, nervousness and/or cold, sweaty skin.
• Paleness or pallor.
• Increased or irregular heart rate.
• Feeling of impending doom.

Not all of these signs occur in every attack. Sometimes they go away and return. If some occur, get help fast. IF YOU NOTICE ONE OR MORE OF THESE SIGNS IN YOURSELF OR OTHERS, DON'T WAIT. CALL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (9-1-1) RIGHT AWAY! In the event of cardiopulmonary arrest (no breathing or pulse), call 9-1-1 and begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately.

How does the doctor know if I've had a heart attack?

The actual diagnosis of a heart attack must be made by a doctor who has studied the results of several tests. The doctor may:

• Review the patient's complete medical history.
• Give a physical examination.
• Use an electrocardiogram (or EKG) to discover any abnormalities caused by damage to the heart.
• Use a blood test to detect abnormal levels of certain enzymes in the bloodstream.

Source : http://www.healthcentral.com/heart-disease/patient-guide-44510-6.html?ic=4004

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Clinical Symptoms - Coughing Up Blood, Vomiting Blood and Epistaxis

We must ensure that the bleeding from the nasopharynx, by way of distinguishing characteristics as follows:

Coughing up blood

1. Blood coughed with a burning sensation in the throat
2. Frothy blood mixed with air
3. Pink fresh blood
4. Anemia is sometimes occur
5. Benzidine test negative

Vomiting blood

1. Blood spewed by the nausea
2. Blood mixed with leftovers
3. Black blood due to gastric acid mixed
4. Acidic Blood
5. Anemia occurs as cheerfully
6. Benzidine positive test

Epistaxis

1. Blood dripped from his nose
2. Coughing quietly sometimes out
3. Fresh red blood
4. Blood is alkaline
5. Anemia is rare

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Boils Symptoms and Treatment

A boil is a localized infection deep in the skin. A boil generally starts as a reddened, tender area. Over time, the area becomes firm, hard, and tender. Eventually, the center of the boil softens and becomes filled with infection-fighting white blood cells from the bloodstream to eradicate the infection. This collection of white blood cells, bacteria, and proteins is known as pus. Finally, the pus "forms a head," which can be surgically opened or spontaneously drain out through the surface of the skin. Pus enclosed within tissue is referred to as an abscess. A boil is also referred to as a skin abscess.


There are several different types of boils. Among these are:


* Furuncle or carbuncle: This is an abscess in the skin caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. A furuncle can have one or more openings onto the skin and may be associated with a fever or chills. The term carbuncle is sometimes reserved for an abscess that involves a group of hair follicles. The condition of having chronic, recurring boils is referred to as furunculosis or carbunculosis.



* Cystic acne: This is a type of abscess that is formed when oil ducts become clogged and infected. Cystic acne affects deeper skin tissue than the more superficial inflammation from common acne. Cystic acne is most common on the face and typically occurs in the teenage years.



* Hidradenitis suppurativa: This is a condition in which there are multiple abscesses that form under the armpits and often in the groin area. These areas are a result of local inflammation of the sweat glands. This form of skin infection is difficult to treat with antibiotics alone and typically requires a surgical procedure to remove the involved sweat glands in order to stop the skin inflammation.



* Pilonidal cyst: This is a unique kind of abscess that occurs in the crease of the buttocks. Pilonidal cysts often begin as tiny areas of infection in the base of the area of skin from which hair grows (the hair follicle). With irritation from direct pressure, over time the inflamed area enlarges to become a firm, painful, and tender nodule that makes it difficult to sit without discomfort. These frequently form after long trips that involve prolonged sitting.


What causes boils to form?

There are many causes of boils. Some boils can be caused by an ingrown hair. Others can form as the result of a splinter or other foreign material that has become lodged in the skin. Others boils, such as those of acne, are caused by plugged sweat glands that become infected.


The skin is an essential part of our immune defense against materials and microbes that are foreign to our body. Any break in the skin, such as a cut or scrape, can develop into an abscess should it become infected with bacteria.


Who is most likely to develop a boil?


Anyone can develop a boil. However, people with certain illnesses or medications that impair the body's immune system (the natural defense system against foreign materials or microbes) are more likely to develop boils. Among the illnesses that can be associated with impaired immune systems are diabetes and kidney failure. Diseases, such as hypogammaglobulinemia, that are associated with deficiencies in the normal immune system can increase the tendency to develop boils.


Many medications can suppress the normal immune system and increase the risk of developing boils. These medications include cortisone medications (prednisone and prednisolone) and medications used for cancer chemotherapy.

What is the treatment for a boil?


Home treatment is an option for most simple boils. Ideally, treatment should begin as soon as a boil is noticed since early treatment may prevent later complications.


The primary treatment for most boils is heat application, usually with hot soaks or hot packs. Heat application increases the circulation to the area and allows the body to better fight off the infection by bringing antibodies and white blood cells to the site of infection.


As long as the boil is small and firm, opening the area and draining the boil is not helpful, even if the area is painful. However, once the boil becomes soft or "forms a head" (that is, a small pustule is noted in the boil), it can be ready to drain. Once drained, pain relief can be dramatic. Most small boils, such as those that form around hairs, drain on their own with hot soaks. On occasion, and especially with larger boils, medical treatment is required. In this situation, the boil will need to be drained or "lanced" by a health-care practitioner. Frequently, these larger boils contain several pockets of pus that must be opened and drained.


Antibiotics are often used to eliminate any accompanying bacterial infection, especially if there is an infection of the surrounding skin. However, antibiotics are not needed in every situation. In fact, antibiotics have difficulty penetrating the outer wall of an abscess well and often will not cure an abscess without additional surgical drainage.

When should I seek medical attention?


Any boil or abscess in a patient with diabetes or a patient with an underlying illness that can be associated with a weakened immune system (such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.) should be evaluated by a health-care practitioner. Additionally, many medicines, especially prednisone, that suppress the immune system (the natural infection-fighting system of the body) can complicate what would be an otherwise simple boil. Patients who are on such medications should consult their health-care practitioner if they develop boils. (If you are not sure about your medications' effects on the immune system, your pharmacist may be able to explain to you which medicines to be concerned about.)


Any boil that is associated with a fever should receive medical attention. Increasing reddening of the nearby skin and or/formation of red streaks on the skin, the failure of a boil to "form a head," and the development of multiple boils are other symptoms that warrant a visit to a health-care practitioner.


A "pilonidal cyst," a boil that occurs between the buttocks, is a special case. These almost always require medical treatment, including drainage and packing (putting gauze in the opened abscess to assure it continues to drain). Finally, any painful boil that is not rapidly improving should be seen by a health-care practitioner.


What can be done to prevent boils (abscesses)?


There are some measures that you can take to prevent boils from forming. Good hygiene and the regular use of antibacterial soaps can help to prevent bacteria from building up on the skin. This can reduce the chance for the hair follicles to become infected and prevent the formation of boils. In some situations, your health-care practitioner may recommend special cleansers such as pHisoderm to even further reduce the bacteria on the skin. When the hair follicles on the back of the arms or around the thighs are continually inflamed, regular use of an abrasive brush (loofah brush) in the shower can be used to help break up oil plugs and buildup around hair follicles.


Pilonidal cysts can be prevented by avoiding continuous direct pressure or irritation of the buttock area when a local hair follicle becomes inflamed. At that point, regular soap and hot water cleaning and drying can be helpful.


For acne and hidradenitis suppurativa (see above), antibiotics may be required on a long-term basis to prevent recurrent abscess formation. As mentioned above, surgical resection of sweat glands in the involved skin may be necessary. Other medications, such as isotretinoin (Accutane), can be used for cystic acne and have been helpful in some patients with hidradenitis suppurativa. Recurrences are common in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa.


Finally, surgery may occasionally be needed, especially for pilonidal cysts that recur but also for hidradenitis suppurativa. For pilonidal cysts, surgically removing the outer shell of the cyst is important to clear the boil. The procedure is typically performed in the operating room. For hidradenitis suppurativa, extensive involvement can require surgical repair by a plastic surgeon.

Boils At A Glance


* A boil, or skin abscess, is a collection of pus that forms inside the body.

* Antibiotics alone can be inadequate in treating abscesses.

* The primary treatments for boils include hot packs and draining ("lancing") the abscess but only when it is soft and ready to drain.

* If you have a fever or long-term illness, such as cancer or diabetes, or are taking medications that suppress the immune system, you should contact your health-care practitioner if you develop a boil (abscess).

* There are a number of methods that can be used to reduce the likelihood of developing some forms of boils, but boils are not completely preventable.

REFERENCE:


Fauci, Anthony S., et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. United States: McGraw-Hill Professional, 2008.

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