Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Abundance of Nurse and Nurse Assistant Jobs Available

There is an abundant supply of nursing jobs that are available to qualified nursing and nurse assistant applicants. With the demand for nurses at an all time high there has never been a better time to consider a move into a nursing career. Nurses are now able to choose jobs and they are being given high salaries, incentives, moving expenses and other bonuses. This demand for skilled nurses is set to continue to increase as more and more baby boomers enter retirement.

For those not able or interested in attending a 2- or 4-year nursing school, the option of becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant will open up many similar jobs. In fact, there is free CNA training available that can launch your career in the health care field.

Today nursing jobs are trying many tactics to attract more applicants. Some of these tactics include a variety of scheduling options including flex time, 4-6 hour shifts, and week end options and on call positions. There is no longer any need to look at nursing as a 40 hour per week job. Now a new nurse can ask for a schedule which suits her needs best. Nurses with experience are almost guaranteed any type of schedule that they want.

Some of the nurses today are able to take nursing jobs and share the hours between tow or more people effectively. Hospitals have nursing pools and part time job opportunities that require only a few hours a month of actual commitment. Overtime opportunities mean more money for nurses and they are taking advantage of these big buck offerings.
Some full time nurses are routinely making 80-100 thousand dollars a year and this opportunity can be yours if you make the move to nursing.

There are nursing jobs available in every state and you can work full time as a regular employee or choose to work as a contract nurse or a travel nurse. With these nursing positions you are not an employee of any one hospital and you are free to work the hours that you want at a number of different hospitals. As a travel nurse you will bring home a good salary and benefits but you will also have free housing while on assignment. With travel nursing jobs you also have your travel expenses paid for or reimbursed.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Certified Nursing Assistants Are Critical To Health Care Organizations

Written by Melanie Ullman
Certified Nursing Assistant, or "CNA" is a vital part of an effective health care organization. On a daily basis they provide care to the elderly, chronically ill, and individuals who may require special care in nursing homes or long term care facilities. It has been shown that in the next twenty years there will be a need for an additional 700,000 CNAs in the United States. It is important then that CNA Training (Certified Nursing Assistant) programs provide an individual with all of the tools they will need to thrive in their career as a CNA.

There are different titles for a Nursing Assistant who has been certified by the state in which they live. In addition to the different titles, the requirements to become a CNA also differ. Some states require more educational training and other states require more clinical training prior to being qualified to take the examination.

The length of time it takes to complete CNA Training (Certified Nursing Assistant) varies depending on who is teaching the courses, where the clinical training is taking place, and the state requirements for certification. Contacting the State Department that certifies Nursing Assistants will help one to find out what the requirements are for certification.

When a person makes the decision to begin a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) Training Program they will find that there are many opportunities available in their local area to take the necessary classes and get the clinical training that is needed. There are two phases in the CNA Training that must be completed before one can take the examination.

The first phase of the CNA Training (Certified Nursing Assistant) is conducted in a classroom setting. An individual must take certain classes which include medical terminology, First Aid, Fundamentals of Nursing, and other medical education courses. These prepare a person for working in the clinical environment safely and effectively.

The second phase of CNA Training (Certified Nursing Assistant) is clinical experience. An individual must work a specific number of hours in a clinical setting before they can take the examination for certification. The number of hours varies from state to state and can range from 40 hours to over 75 hours.

After completing both the educational and clinical requirements to qualify for the examination an individual then requests testing through the Department of Nursing Aide Programs in their State. The test will consist of two parts. The first part of the examination is based on the educational components that have been learned and the second part is designed to prove that an individual has the necessary skills to perform the job.

When a CNA moves to a different state they must request reciprocity and meet the requirements of that state before they can begin working in a facility. The requirements for reciprocity vary from state to state but in most states there are some educational requirements that must be met before a reciprocity request is granted. A person wishing to request reciprocity should contact the State Department of Nursing Aide Training Programs to get the details and requirements for the specific state they are moving to.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs Are Rewarding and in Demand

Written by Melanie Ullman
Many people automatically think of a position in a nursing home when they think about Certified Nursing Assistant jobs as it is very likely that is where the biggest demands of the industry lay; however that is not the only place where you can enjoy your career as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).

Obviously nursing is not just about giving a shot or dispensing medication it is about being able to listen to the patients and since that is the basis of paid or free CNA training they are important to the effective treatment of patients when aiding the other healthcare professionals. Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs are very important in places such as nursing homes as often time’s they are the ones that spend the most time with the patients so they will likely be the first ones to notice that something is just off with one of their patients. Perhaps a subtle change in a patient’s attitude is a sign of a serious condition or perhaps a change in their regular medication routine is not producing the desire results. This type of training is one thing that makes Certified Nursing Assistant jobs so much in demand.

Often times there are openings for Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in the area of home visitation. The CNA’s are not allowed to hand out the medication or the jobs that would normally be performed by a nurse, but they can use their training to help those with physical disabilities and may have difficulties performing daily tasks. They may be responsible for helping the person bathe or any other number of chores, something that is of immense help to the person that is receiving the care, perhaps it keeps them from having to be hospitalized or depend upon moving in with relatives.

Many times there are Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs that are available at schools or daycare locations where they can assist children with a number of health related issues before they become a more serious problem. For instance, they may spot a particular infection such as ringworm, or perhaps lice, and get it handled before it gets out of control.

There may also be Certified Nursing Assistant jobs available in rehabilitation groups or some type of similar program. The licensed professionals will, of course, do all of the actually therapy work but the Certified Nursing Assistant will often have much more time to spend with the patients, helping to develop relationships, help tend to their needs, relay important information to the therapists and really become a very important part of the patient’s recovery process.

If you have ever even considered working in the medical field, especially in the specialized area of nursing, there is an abundance of Certified Nursing Assistant jobs available and this could be just what you have been looking for; some will work as a CNA while studying to get their degree in nursing, while others end up enjoying the work so much that they decide to stay right where they are.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Nursing Prerequisites for New Immigrants to Israel

By Brenne Meirowitz, B.A., M.S., M.A.
The demand for licensed nurses continues to grow in Israel, so if you are planning to make Aliyah and work as a nurse, this article briefly covers Israeli nursing prerequisites for licensing. The Agaf HaSiud - the nursing division of the Misrad HaBriut (Ministry of Health), issues all Israeli registered nurse licenses, so when possible, you should have your foreign transcripts reviewed by the Misrad HaBriut, before making Aliyah. In most cases, an educational waiver will be granted if your foreign transcripts contain coursework that covers at least 80% of Israeli mandated theoretical and clinical studies coursework. If you are lacking any of the courses, you may take the necessary nursing prerequisite courses in Israel. However, in either case, a mandatory, 98 hour (7 credit) preparatory internship must be satisfactorily completed before a nursing candidate is eligible to take the exam.

The core curriculum for those interested in becoming a registered nurse in Israel requires all graduates to complete 156 academic credits. All courses completed by nursing applicants must conform to minimum standards set by the Israeli Ministry of Health. The core nursing program consists of the following four domains of study:

  • Nursing sciences: 25 academic credits
  • Social, Behavioral and Life sciences: 48 academic credits
  • Clinical studies: 74 total academic credits broken down into 55 theoretical units of study and 19 academic credits of clinical experience.
  • Advanced practicum: 9 academic credits

In addition to completing all academic nursing prerequisites for licensure, students must complete a mentor directed study program in an Israeli hospital. The three mandatory areas of study cover Israeli laws and regulations, an overview of the Israeli health system, and training for states of emergency and trauma. A booklet provided by Misrad Habriut covers these areas and is a good study guide.

For most immigrants, the thought of learning a new language can be somewhat daunting and even discouraging, especially for those who work in a specialized field, such as health care, which requires fluency in technical terms in addition to the basic conversational and written language. In an effort to ease the process and promote immigration, the nursing exam in Israel is offered English, Arabic, Spanish, French, and Russian in addition to Modern Hebrew.

However, each applicant must pass a Hebrew proficiency test before taking the exam in his or her alternative language of choice. New Olim (immigrants) are encouraged to take advantage of free Hebrew language classes (Ulpan) offered throughout Israel, as well as obtain industry specific language guides, available by contacting the Israeli Ministry of Education (Misrad Hachinuch). The nursing exam in Hebrew is given twice a year, usually in April and October, while the exam in English is given only once a year - sometime in the fall. If planned well, applicants should complete all nursing prerequisites in time to meet testing schedules.

For more information about alternative language testing, including the medical field, applicants should visit the National Institute for Testing and Evaluation (NITE) website. NITE is an Israeli academic organization supervised by a board of directors consisting of representatives from all Israeli academically recognized universities. The website includes Hebrew and English proficiency practice exams.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs

By Melanie Ullman
Do you enjoy working with people and are compassionate about wanting to improve someone’s quality of life? Are you looking for a career in health care but do not have the time to go to school full time to become a registered nurse but want to see if the medical field is for you? If so then taking looking for certified nursing assistant (CNA) jobs would be the first step before enrolling in CNA training to become certified.

A certified nursing assistant was also known as an orderly, nurses aide, patient care technician or home health worker and works under the supervision of a nurse to give help to patients with their daily tasks. A certified nurse assistant works very closely with the patients on a daily basis helping them bathe, with grooming, feeding them and assisting the nurse with any medical equipment and checking vital signs like blood pressure, temperature and heart rates.

Certified nursing assistants provide vital information on their patient’s daily emotional and physical well being and give patients some social and emotional support as well. Many registered nurses got their start as certified nursing assistants and are better because of that early experience. The nice thing about certified nursing assistant (CAN) jobs are that you do not need a bachelor’s or even an associate’s degree to get one. The requirements are that you have at least a GED and have passed a six to twelve week certified nursing assistant certificate program from your local community college, online educational institution or medical facility.

Some of the subjects you can expect to study will be biology, physiology, anatomy, nutrition, infection control and some basic nursing skills. There will be plenty of opportunity for hands on learning in clinical activities. Each state has different qualifications you need to meet so check with the state medical board for the specific qualifications you will need to become a certified nursing assistant. Home health workers can be certified through the National Association for Home Care.

As the American population continues to age the market for certified nursing assistant (CAN) jobs will continue to increase. Certified nursing assistants work in the home health field in private homes, in nursing homes, mental hospitals, assisted living facilities and regular hospitals. You can expect to start at around $20,000 and can reach almost $40,000 depending on your years of experience and the facility that you work for.

If you are not sure what educational institution to use for your certification you can check out the classified ads and many times assisted living centers or nursing homes will offer the opportunity to earn while you learn to be a certified nursing assistant. This is usually offered to those who do not have any prior medical experience. You will be required to work for some stated period of time after gaining your certification and that the institution may offer to pay for your state exam as well. You will need to pass both the practical and knowledge portions of the CNA skills test to receive your certificate.