Best Medical Careers Top Medical Jobs

Best Healthcare Jobs

2010-12-17T16:26:00.000-08:00

Whether as a vocational nurse, certified nurse assistant, medical assistant, registered nurse, anesthesia technician, dental hygienist, if you are interested in a health career you need to have one very special characteristic: a genuine desire to help people.

Registered nurse (RN) 2- or 4-year college degree; state licensing examination.

Licensed practical nurse -1 year accredited nursing program and licensing examination; is supervised by an RN or physician.

Nurse aide : a variety of training programs by skilled nursing facilities, technical schools, and hospitals; also known as certified nurse assistant, patient care technician, personal care assistant, home health aide.

Nurse practitioner---An RN with a master’s degree and additional clinical training and examination certification permitting prescription privileges and independent or collaborative medical practice.

The Nursing Shortage: A Crisis in America Healthcare

A serious shortage of nurses is expected in the future as demographic pressures influence both supply and demand. The future demand for nurses is expected to increase dramatically as the baby boomers reach their 60s and beyond

How to Become a Nurse

Nursing educational programs vary a great deal, and sometimes it is difficult to choose which program better fits one’s ambition, age, or financial situation. Basically, there are three different nursing programs available: a licensed vocational nurse (LVN), an associate degree in nursing, and a bachelor degree in nursing.

Read How to Become a Nurse

Where To Find a Free CNA Training?

The Workforce and Continuing Education Department have a grant which will pay for the CNA course, uniforms, help with transportation costs and even daycare to QUALIFIED applicants. (must be low income, out of school, and 17-21 years old)

Read Where To Find a Free CNA Training?

Can You Become a Nurse If You Have Been Convicted of a Felony?

If you have ever been convicted of a felony or certain misdemeanors, you may be ineligible to receive a nursing license. Best thing to do is book an appointment with a lawyer that specializes in professional competency or agency (government agency) law for some advice regarding the conviction and its impact on your ability to get a license.

Read Can You Become a Nurse If You Have Been Convicted of a Felony?

Vocational nurse training-Vocational nurse job

Medical Assistants, Medical Equipment Preparers and Repairers

2010-12-04T18:05:00.000-08:00

Medical Assistants

Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of physician. Clinical duties may include
taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, and drawing blood.
Average Wage $10.28

Podiatric Medical Assistants, Ophthalmic Medical Assistants, Cardiology Medical Assistants, Urology Medical Assistants, Pediatric Medical Assistant

Medical Equipment Preparers

Prepare, sterilize, install, or clean laboratory or healthcare equipment. Average Wage $10.77

Medical Equipment Repairers

Test, adjust, or repair biomedical or electromedical equipment. Average Wage $16.0

Respiratory Therapists, Registered Nurses, Personal and Home Care Aides

2010-12-03T11:35:00.000-08:00

Respiratory Therapists

Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment. Average Wage $19.48

Registered Nurses

Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. Include advance practice nurses who have specialized formal, post-basic education and who function in highly autonomous and specialized roles. Average $23.10

Personal and Home Care Aides

Assist elderly or disabled adults with daily living activities at the person's home or in a daytime non-residential facility. Duties performed may include keeping house (making beds, doing laundry, washing dishes) and preparing meals. Average Wage $11.68

Licensed Vocational Nurse Jobs
What is a Licensed Vocational Nurse?
Is the Vocational Nursing Profession a growing career

Dental Hygienists and Dental Assistants

2010-12-02T17:26:00.000-08:00

A general dentist is licensed to diagnose dental issues and oral conditions, develop treatment plans and provide certain treatments. When necessary, general and family dentists may refer you to a more specialized dental practitioner.

Dentists provide treatment with help from dental hygienists and dental assistants. A dental hygienist performs professional dental cleanings. The hygienist’s designation may be RDH (Registered Dental Hygienist), or RDHEF (Registered Dental Hygienist with Extended Functions).

A dental assistant may assist a dentist during a procedure, set up anesthesia, expose and develop radiographs or perform other general tasks. In accordance with U.S. law, dental hygienists and dental assistants must work under the supervision of a dentist.

Veterinary Technologists, Technicians, Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

2010-12-01T06:04:00.000-08:00

Veterinarians

Diagnose and treat diseases and dysfunctions of animals. May engage in a particular function, such as research and development, consultation, technical writing, sale or production of commercial products, or rendering of technical services. Average Wage $37.60

Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

Feed, water, and examine pets and other nonfarm animals for signs of illness, disease, or injury in laboratories and animal hospitals and clinics. Clean and disinfect cages and work areas, and sterilize laboratory and surgical equipment. Average Wage $8.89

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

Perform medical tests in a laboratory environment for use in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases in
animals. Prepare vaccines and serums for prevention of diseases. Prepare tissue samples, take blood samples, and execute laboratory tests, such as urinalysis and blood counts. Average Wage $12.46

Licensed Vocational Nurse Jobs
What is a Licensed Vocational Nurse?

Pharmacy Technicians, Pharmacy Aides, Pharmacists

2010-11-30T23:59:00.000-08:00

Pharmacists

Dispense drugs prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners and provide information to patients
about medications and their use. Average Wage $30.73

Pharmacy Aides

Record drugs delivered to the pharmacy, store incoming merchandise, and inform the supervisor of
stock needs. Average Wage $8.71

Pharmacy Technicians

Prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. Average Wage $9.05

Does it take long to become a pharmacy technician?

Medical Records Technicians, Medical Secretaries, Medical Transcriptionists

2010-11-29T23:57:00.000-08:00

Medical Records and Health Information Technicians

Compile, process, and maintain medical records of hospital and clinic patients in a manner consistent with
medical, administrative, ethical, legal, and regulatory requirements of the heath care system. Process,
maintain, compile, and report patient information for health requirements and standards. Average $10.88

Medical Secretaries

Perform secretarial duties utilizing specific knowledge of medical terminology and hospital, clinic, or laboratory procedures. Duties include scheduling appointments, billing patients, and compiling and recording medicalcharts, reports, and correspondence. Average $11.93

Medical Transcriptionists

Use transcribing machines to listen to recordings by physicians and other healthcare professionals dictating
a variety of medical reports. Transcribe dictated reports and translate medical jargon and abbreviations into their expanded forms. Average Wage $12.10

Dental Hygienist Jobs

CNA Quality Training of Fort Wayne

2010-02-12T12:03:00.000-08:00

With their new training program for students who want to become certified nurse aides, Lucille Matthews and Deontrai Matthews will carry on a family tradition.

The Matthewses are grandmother and grandson, and they played key roles in the CNA training program created by the late Vicki Jenkins - her daughter and his mother.

“On her deathbed she asked us if we would open up another school and keep it going,” Deontrai Matthews remembers.

From 2002 until 2008, Jenkins ran Quality Care Training. Jenkins drew on her experience and that of her mother, who served as the lead trainer in the school. Both women had been CNAs, then became licensed practical nurses. Jenkins died of cancer in 2009.

They ran small classes then, and the Matthewses intend to run small classes in their new school, Quality Training of Fort Wayne. The program includes the state-mandated 30 hours of classroom instruction and 75 hours of practical experience.

Students at Quality Care will work their 75 hours of practical experience at Kingston Care Center, 1010 W. Washington Center Road. Jenkins and Lucille Matthews had both been employed at Kingston before they started training CNAs.

Instruction at Quality Training adheres closely to the state's prescribed curriculum, which concentrates on teaching students how to provide considerate, safe and hygienic personal care to people who need assistance, such as residents in nursing homes.

Becoming a CNA also is a quick and relatively inexpensive route to an entry-level position in health care. According to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual earnings of nursing aides, orderlies and attendants in the Fort Wayne area is more than $23,000.

Lucille Matthews said becoming a CNA is a great way to begin a career in medicine. In her experience, she said, “the best nurses are the ones who've been CNAs before.” According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, licensed practical and vocational nurses average $36,490 in income, and registered nurses average $51,770.

Both Matthewses say the small classes they run helped produce exceptionally high success rates in Jenkins' school - about 97 percent or 98 percent of students passed their CNA exams, Deontrai Matthews said. It's a legacy the Matthewses are working to continue. (source)

One-third of registered nurses will not be working in their current job a year from now

2010-02-12T06:22:00.000-08:00

Nearly one-third of registered nurses (RNs) surveyed last month say they will not be working in their current job a year from now and close to half say they plan to alter their career path in the next one to three years in a way that would either take them out of the nursing field entirely or reduce their contribution to direct patient care by working fewer hours or choosing a less demanding role.

Driving part of the decision to potentially change career paths or jobs is the fact that nearly half of those surveyed say their job is affecting their health.

The survey reflects how RNs may have altered their career plans due to the recession, how they might respond to an economic recovery, and highlights whether they believe healthcare reform will address the nurse shortage.
The survey notes that 29 percent of nurses plan to take steps in the next one to three years that would reduce their role or take them out of nursing altogether. An additional 15 percent say they will also make a change in their career path, like becoming a travel nurse or nurse practitioner.

However, while the survey highlights dissatisfaction with their current job, most nurses are satisfied with their careers overall, yet 59 percent would select nursing as a career if they had it to do it all over, and only 64 percent would recommend nursing as a career to young people. (source)

Medical careers: Podiatry

2010-02-12T05:12:00.000-08:00

School pupils in West Yorkshire are being encouraged to consider a range of medical careers, including podiatry.

A scheme launched by Aimhigher Calderdale, with support from NHS Calderdale, is enabling youngsters in the area to experience differing healthcare roles.

Called Tomorrow's Health Professionals Today, the initiative is an attempt to broaden the horizons of students so that they do not see medical careers as limited to being nurses or doctors.

According to Sue Bates from Aimhigher - which targets a school-age population of around 38,000 - pupils can have a "very narrow view" of health-related jobs.

She added: "It will encourage young people to think about what kind of careers they could have and understand what they need to do to get there."

As part of the scheme, year ten students will attend a theatre event called Career into Healthcare showing how all the professions help with a medical emergency(source)

Ogden High School Medical Day

2010-02-11T23:18:00.000-08:00

One thing Allison Pate learned Tuesday during the Ogden High School Medical Day is that being a doctor isn't easy.

"I've learned you have to have a lot of concentration to do this," the junior said, looking at the thread she had just stitched through a pig's foot.

Fifty students from OHS visited McKay-Dee Hospital to learn more about careers in the medical field.

The students sutured a wound in a pig's foot, put casts on each others' arms and learned how to take blood pressure.

The workshop, which was sponsored by the Family Practice Residency Program at the Porter Clinic, is a spinoff of a similar program that was done with premedical students at Weber State University last summer.

Anne Hutchinson, M.D., who organized the event, said they planned a program for the high school students after she was approached by OHS teacher Suzie Davis, who had heard about the WSU workshop.

Hutchinson hopes the event will encourage the students to go into medical careers.

"I think it's (important) just to stimulate their interest," she said. "It, hopefully, will inspire them a little bit."

Davis said all the students who attended are interested in careers in the medical field, and there was even a waiting list after students heard about the program.

She said opportunities like this help the students stay focused on what they want to achieve and gets them excited about their goals.

"Sometimes, the kids, when they are doing just high school, they are into their grades and into high school drama and stuff, but when they see stuff like this, it sparks something within them," she said.

Pate said she wants to go into physical therapy after she graduates from high school.

"It's the only thing I'm really interested in," she said. "I don't like business or anything like that."

Driane Younger, another junior, said she wanted to come to the workshop to see the different kinds of things she would do in the medical field.

She wants to be a pediatric doctor.

"It's gives me a chance to see what I could do and what choices I could make," she said.

"I kind of already know what I want to be, but it's still good to see if I'd like something else." Davis said the event is perfect for students because they are doing hands-on activities in an area in which they have an interest.

"The kids are paying attention," she said.

"You don't see kids outside (in the halls) doing shenanigans. They want to be inside listening."

Pate said the experience taught her something she otherwise would not have learned in high school.

"They are giving us an opportunity now instead of having to try this stuff when we're older," she said.(source)

Annual admissions to pre-licensure nursing programs fell

2010-02-11T18:40:00.000-08:00

Annual admissions to pre-licensure nursing programs fell in 2008 for the first time in at least six years, according to a report from the National League of Nursing.

Since 2003, nursing program admissions consistently moved upward, achieving an overall increase of more than 36% during that period, the report found. But in 2008, new admissions fell by almost 2% across all pre-licensure program types, the report found. Also, overall enrollments in pre-licensure nursing programs were flat in 2008 for the first time in six years.

High levels of unmet demand for admissions persist, according to the report. Nearly one-quarter of U.S. nursing programs of all types reported receiving more qualified applications than could be accepted in 2008. Shortages of faculty, clinical placements and classroom space all worked to impede the expansion of admissions. (source)

Students in eighth through 12th grade from Jefferson and Lewis counties will learn of various health care professions

2010-02-11T10:51:00.000-08:00

Middle and high school students in the north country are being encouraged by the Northern New York Rural Health Care Alliance, Inc. to enroll early in the agency's annual Medical Academy for Science and Health, or MASH, camp.

Sandy L. Hazen, the alliance's program manager, said the program has been reorganized based on input from previous camp participants. It was originally designed to be a one-time camp, but Mrs. Hazen said the Alliance found students came back wanting more.

"This was just intended for students to come for one year, and get an overview of what it's like to work in a hospital profession," she said.

Students in eighth through 12th grade from Jefferson and Lewis counties will learn of various health care professions from June 29 to July 1 at Lewis County General Hospital, Lowville; July 14 to 16 at Carthage Area Hospital, Carthage; July 20 to 22 at Samaritan Medical Center, Watertown; Aug. 3 to 5 at River Hospital, Alexandria Bay; and Aug. 10 to 12 at Jefferson Community College, Watertown.

Since previous MASH camp participants want to return this summer for the second or third time, this year's camp will encompass a curriculum base and be divided on the following three levels:

■ Level 1 — First-year students will explore careers in the healthcare field, and receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification.

■ Level 2 — Second-year students will learn how to provide basic first aid and survival skills, and apply sciences to health problems, including disease identification and investigation.

■ Level 3 — Third-year students will learn basic assessment skills, and explore illness through case studies, mini-lectures and diagnostic procedures. They'll also identify important high school courses to prepare for health careers.

The third level will be held at Jefferson Community College.

"They're getting a lot of knowledge with this, and it doesn't cost anything," Mrs. Hazen said.

Last year there were 38 MASH camp participants. Mrs. Hazen said she'd like to see double the number this summer.

Students are considered based on much criteria, which Mrs. Hazen said she would be happy to review with interested participants. For more information, call Mrs. Hazen at 755-2500, or e-mail her at sandy@nnyrhca.org.(source)

High-Tech Institute in Kansas City: Dentist Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Massage Therapy and Surgical Technologist.

2009-11-21T12:42:00.000-08:00

High-Tech Institute in Kansas City will begin offering six new degree programs, with a class start set for January 11, 2010 for all programs. The school is located at 9001 State Line Road in Kansas City.

High-Tech Institute Kansas City will offer six new Associate of Applied Science degree programs in Criminal Justice, Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Massage Therapy and Surgical Technologist.

"We are excited to now introduce associate degree programs in addition to our diploma offerings," said Marilyn Knight, president of High-Tech Institute Kansas City. "These degree offerings broaden the opportunities for our students to gain additional educational experience, making them qualified for a wider range of career opportunities."

Among the new Associate of Applied Science degree programs:

Dental Assistant - Students learn the fundamentals of dental x-ray, education in dental science, chair-side training, dental equipment set up, lab procedures, dental health and basic dental office administrative duties. Upon graduation students are qualified to work as a dental assistant, chair-side assistant or a dental receptionist.

Medical Assistant - The Medical Assistant is a multi-skilled health professional who plays an important role as a member of the health care team in a variety of medical settings. This program introduces students to anatomy and physiology of the body systems, medical terminology, and required clinical and administrative skills. Upon graduation, students will be prepared to as an entry-level Clinical Medical Assistant, Administrative Medical Assistant, Medical receptionist, Medical Bookkeeper, and Laboratory Assistant.

Medical Billing & Coding - Students will receive training in all areas of insurance billing and medical coding, medical records, as well as study the human anatomy, physiology and common diseases and an introduction to medical terminology and pharmacology. Upon graduation, students will be qualified to work as a medical insurance biller, a medical records coder or health information technician.

Massage Therapy -- Students will study anatomy, physiology and pathology in relation to soft tissue injury and treatment and train in various methods of massage. Upon graduation, students will be qualified to work in a variety of settings as a massage therapist - from private practice to nursing homes, resorts to pain management clinics.

Surgical Technologist - Students will study the anatomy and physiology of the body, receive an introduction to the operating room as well as training in skills of a Surgical Technologist, laboratory procedures and CPR certification. An externship at a medical facility will be part of the education process and students will be qualified to work in hospital operating rooms, delivery rooms, surgical centers and clinics upon graduation.

Prospective students should call 866-296-2110

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A nursing assistant wanted to take her career to the next level

2009-11-15T23:11:00.000-08:00

GOING to university is the first chance most young adults have to get away from the confines of their parents and family – but not for Lauren and Lisa MacKenzie.

Not only did they start university life together, their mum joined them too.

Lauren, 22, even went one step further and chose the same course as her mother Angela, and the two ended up in the same mental health nursing class at Edinburgh Napier University.

Single-mother Angela, 45, yesterday graduated alongside Lauren and Lisa, 21, who studied adult general nursing at Napier.

Angela said: "I felt sorry for Lauren because university years are meant to be the best years and she had her mother in her class."

The two travelled into university together from their home in Bonnyrigg, which they also share with Angela's son, Robbie, 17. They went their separate ways when they arrived though, and most classmates were not aware that they were related.

Angela said: "We didn't make a big thing about it. A few people knew we were mother and daughter, but not many.

"A couple of months down the line, Lauren was asked by a tutor who her inspiration was, and she said her mum.

"The tutor told her that was nice and she was sure her mum would love to hear that, to which Lauren replied that her mum was actually just sitting over there."

Living together and studying together for four years did not come without its stresses, especially as Angela had to continue with her job as nursing assistant at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary to keep the family afloat. She said: "It was more difficult for me as I'm on my own with two girls and a son. I had to work every weekend, which meant when I was on placement, I was working seven days a week for 12 weeks at a time."

Angela began her career in the medical profession 15 years ago when she got a job at the ERI as a nursing assistant. She decided she wanted to take her career to the next level by embarking on the BN degree in mental health nursing.

The experience of studying together hasn't put them off each other, as their latest move proves – both Angela and Lauren have now secured jobs at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Morningside.(source)

After the Job Interview

2009-11-13T19:24:00.000-08:00

Send a Note

A follow-up or Thank-You, while optional, is a very good idea. Use it to ask additional questions, supply more information, underline an important point or just to remind the person who interviewed you that you are still interested.

-Keep the letter short. Address it to your interviewer, Send it right away.

Make Inquiries

If you haven’t heard from a company after the set time , phone or write to ask if the gob’s been filled.

-If you don’t get the job, you might want to check back periodically to find out about any new openings and to express your continued interest in employment

If You are Rejected

If you receive a letter of rejection, don’t be discouraged.

-Review your job search plan , looking for ways to improve your presentation .

-Plan your next move. Keep looking.

OR, you may receive a positive response!

Beebe Medical Center -Beebe’s nursing education program

2009-11-09T10:15:00.001-08:00

Beebe Medical Center invites those interested in pursuing a nursing education to attend the fall open house at the school campus, on Market Street in Lewes behind Beebe Medical Center.

Visitors will get a chance to talk to faculty members and students, tour the facility and learn about the educational opportunities the school has to offer.

Ginny Rickards, MEd, RN, director of admissions, will conduct information sessions each hour to discuss educational opportunities. Beebe’s nursing education program is known for offering comprehensive nursing education, providing classes in basic nursing concepts, advanced technology and critical care nursing. The program also provides for optimal, hands-on clinical experience that is more accessible due to the proximity of Beebe Medical Center.

Graduates are well prepared for licensure and entry-level nursing practice once they have completed the program. Students also can earn a bachelor’s degree in one additional year through an articulation agreement with Wilmington University.

Beebe School of Nursing, based at Beebe Medical Center, is the only hospital-based nursing program in Delaware. It is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.

A nursing diploma is awarded at the completion of the curriculum, qualifying Beebe graduates to be eligible for National Council of State Boards of Nursing examination (NCLEX), leading to licensure. Beebe graduates have one of the highest NCLEX pass rates in the state.

Prerequisite college courses and a certified nursing assistant course are required prior to starting the Beebe School of Nursing program.

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“We are very proud of our program,” said Connie Bushey, RN, BSN, MEd, school director. “Our graduates have a tremendous success rate both on the NCLEX and in the clinical environment, reflecting our commitment to maintaining high quality in all aspects of their education.”

2009-11-09T10:15:00.000-08:00

Beebe Medical Center invites those interested in pursuing a nursing education to attend the fall open house from 3 to 5 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 12, at the school campus, on Market Street in Lewes behind Beebe Medical Center.

The busy teen plans to pursue a career in medicine

2009-11-04T07:09:00.000-08:00

Cox, a three-sport athlete and an active member of his church youth group, credits his mother, Beverly, with setting him on his career path.

"She wanted me to consider the medical field," he said.

A school nurse, his mother arranged for him to shadow pharmacist Steve Wiley at Wiley's Pharmacy in Centerville. This summer, he worked there as a pharmacy technician.

Previously, he worked at Rita's Italian Ice on Columbia Avenue and at Dutch Wonderland.

The busy teen, whose favorite subjects in school are math and science, plans to pursue a career in medicine, perhaps becoming a pharmacist.

"I would like being able to help people," he said. "It would be neat to answer their questions."

Cox, with a 4.0 grade-point average, ranks eighth in his class of 582 students. He is treasurer of the National Honor Society and a member of the National Spanish Honor Society.

Last year, he took Advanced Placement statistics. This year, he is enrolled in AP environmental science, a new offering at Hempfield, and AP calculus.

All his other courses are honors courses, with the exception of English, which he decided would be too much on top of his busy sports schedule.(source)

Careers for Gerontology Students

2009-11-03T07:54:00.000-08:00

Many people assume working with older adults means having medical experience.

While there is an increasing need for health care professionals skilled in aging issues, the growing number of adults 50 and older also is fueling demand for people to work with, or on behalf of, older adults in many other settings and roles.

From planning or teaching wellness classes to consulting with companies about how to hire or keep older workers, the span of jobs within the aging field is becoming longer and more exciting.

Susan Collins is an assistant professor of gerontology and coordinates the gerontology program at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley.

She notes that newer opportunities in the aging field realize today’s older adults are diverse individuals experiencing changes and health issues that, with good support, planning and management, don’t have to reduce quality of life.

“Careers for gerontology students today and in the future will not only include the health care fields but will include occupations that provide the kind of support that address the realities of aging, without the prejudice that the only dimension to age is poor health,” she said.

Gerontology
Geriatrics involves the comprehensive health of older adults. This field includes physicians, nurses, pharmacists, optometrists, dentists, occupational therapists and other medical professionals specially trained to treat older adults.

Gerontology is the study of the aging process, including physical, mental and social changes in older people as they age and also changes in society resulting from the aging population, according to the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education.

Students in the master’s-level gerontology program at UNC learn about the “whole” aging person — mental and physical health, normal age changes, social roles and relationships, later life development, retirement opportunities and more — and systems that support them, including social policy, programs and aging services.

“The great thing about the field of gerontology is that individuals from just about any experiential background can qualify because aging is relevant to every dimension of life,” Collins said.

Successful graduate-level students have entered the program with undergraduate degrees in areas including human services, art therapy, anthropology, English, business, sociology, political science and nursing, she said.

The program attracts many older students who are interested in changing careers or who are working more with older adults and want to enhance their knowledge about aging. More and more younger students are attracted by the career opportunities in the aging field as well, Collins said.

Careers

Within the program, students can focus on a particular career path, often building on existing experience.

Students with a graduate-level social work degree who pursue gerontology can specialize in working with older adults through county social or human service departments.

Additional licenses or certifications may qualify gerontology graduates to work as physical or occupational therapists or nursing home directors.

Gerontology graduates tend to have an edge over other applicants for administration jobs in long-term living facilities, Collins said.

“We often hear from our graduates that having personnel with a deep and holistic knowledge of aging on staff can tremendously enhance the quality of life for older residents,” she said.

Business experience paired with knowledge of aging is valuable in settings such as insurance companies, hospitals, counseling centers, investment firms and retailers.

Other, non-medical professionals may develop wellness, prevention, social, recreation and other programs. They may work in senior centers and other organizations or travel businesses that focus on older adult recreation, leisure or health — some gyms are even hiring individuals with knowledge of aging to coordinate programs specifically for older adults, Collins said.

Some job opportunities are less directly involved with older adults but work on their behalf or educate others about aging. These professionals may research the aging process or diseases or analyze housing options, retirement opportunities, the heath care system and other age-related issues.

Careers are emerging for marketing consultants and individuals to work as liaisons between older customers and banks, credit unions, insurance companies and other businesses.

Geriatric care managers are a growing field of professionals who access older adults’ care needs and manage resources and services to help clients be as independent as possible. Care managers usually are trained nurses or social workers and may be in private practice or employed by nonprofit organizations.

The National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers establishes standards of care and certification programs for these professionals.

“I see this kind of organization as an important wave of the future with lots of support and resources for those who want to enter the field,” Collins said.

This article includes information from the Careers in Aging Project and from the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry.(source)

Little more than a year out of high school, she is about to launch her career as medical professional.

2009-10-20T08:28:00.000-07:00

Sonia Flores of Tulare, little more than a year out of high school, is about to launch her career as medical professional.

“I’ll be done in about a week,” said Flores, 19, a Tulare Western High School graduate, referring to a 14-month, $26,000 dental-assistant program at San Joaquin Valley College, a 1,000-student private junior college in west Visalia which not only provided Flores with dental-assistant certification — but a freshly minted, two-year Associate in Science degree.

“This was the right choice for me,” said Flores, who paid for the program with $10,000 worth in financial aid provided by the college and two loans totaling $16,000. Despite such cost factors, SJVC enrollment is up 25 percent over last year, school officials say.

Gaining an associate’s degree would be less expensive at a junior college, but could take two years or longer. Certification for dental assistant might extend that time even further.

But the time saved means more full-time pay now, Flores said. When she completes her current internship in a Kingsburg-based dental office, she can immediately gain employment at any area dental office starting at $12 an hour and above.

That’s only a first step, Flores said. After a few years’ experience, she plans on training to be a dental hygienist, where pay rates of $20 to $25 an hour are not uncommon.

Fast and furious

In a changing work force, vocational education is also changing — with high-octane, private institutions growing just as fast, or faster, than more traditional vocational education offered by public school systems and state-financed community colleges.
“Industry needs specific skills,” said Joseph Holt, marketing and admissions director for SJVC, which has 10 campuses statewide, including Visalia. “These skills tend to change, and we adjust to those changes.”

SJVC does that by working with an advisory committee composed of industrial professionals, whose input is directly applied to instruction at SJVC. Most programs cost around $12,000 for certificates, to $24,000 and up for two-year degrees.

“Speed [of industrial change] is a big factor,” said Don Wright, director of Visalia’s SJVC campus. “We have to stay on top of that and provide industry the type of talent it needs.”
Milan expanding

Vocational education is growing at other levels locally.

Visalia’s campus of the nationwide Milan Institute, more famous for its cosmetology school but making inroads into other areas, is about to open yet another new location — this one inside a 16,000-square-foot office and classroom complex on Mooney Boulevard in south Visalia near Mooney Grove Park.

“That’s a new location for our health and business school,” said Patrick Taylor, Milan director. Enrollment at this portion of Milan’s school stands at around 200, Taylor said — up from 150 a year ago.

The same upward trend is evident at Milan’s cosmetology school, which last year opened a new location on the 3300 block of South Fairway Street in Visalia. Enrollment there stands at 175 and was 127 a year ago.

Cost ranges from $8,000 to $16,000 per course, depending on category, Taylor said, and some financial aid is available.

Milan started in 1987 under the name Golden State College, Taylor said, but business demands changed, as did the image of the school.

“That’s the reason for diversifying courses outside of the cosmetology area,” said Taylor, whose institute now offers such certificate programs as massage therapy, medical assisting and office administration.

Across-the-board growth

And if anyone thinks the expansion of these costly private schools is cutting into public-sector education, think again. Overall commercial and industrial vocational programs at the 13,000-student College of the Sequoias in Visalia have grown a whopping 65 percent in enrollment over the last four years, said Larry Dutto, commercial technical education director at COS.

“Of the students now enrolled, 8,000 are in the vocational area,” Dutto said. “There is a significant need for qualified job candidates in a variety of industrial technical areas.”

All of this growth in vocational education is not necessarily a product of public-school inadequacy, Dutto and other experts say. It’s just that the bureaucracy of public school is not nearly as nimble in changing philosophies as public and private junior colleges and professional academies.

“No longer can [public] schools stress academics, academics, academics, like the No Child Left Act behind act emphasized,” Dutto said. In the Bush administration’s No Child Left Behind program, students and teachers were held to a certain standard on basic reading, writing and English speaking — but trade skills were never part of the equation.

“Speed [of industrial change] is a big factor,” said Don Wright, director of Visalia’s SJVC campus. “We have to stay on top of that and provide industry the type of talent it needs.”

Milan expanding

Vocational education is growing at other levels locally.

Visalia’s campus of the nationwide Milan Institute, more famous for its cosmetology school but making inroads into other areas, is about to open yet another new location — this one inside a 16,000-square-foot office and classroom complex on Mooney Boulevard in south Visalia near Mooney Grove Park.

“That’s a new location for our health and business school,” said Patrick Taylor, Milan director. Enrollment at this portion of Milan’s school stands at around 200, Taylor said — up from 150 a year ago.

The same upward trend is evident at Milan’s cosmetology school, which last year opened a new location on the 3300 block of South Fairway Street in Visalia. Enrollment there stands at 175 and was 127 a year ago.

Cost ranges from $8,000 to $16,000 per course, depending on category, Taylor said, and some financial aid is available.

Milan started in 1987 under the name Golden State College, Taylor said, but business demands changed, as did the image of the school.

“That’s the reason for diversifying courses outside of the cosmetology area,” said Taylor, whose institute now offers such certificate programs as massage therapy, medical assisting and office administration.

Across-the-board growth

And if anyone thinks the expansion of these costly private schools is cutting into public-sector education, think again. Overall commercial and industrial vocational programs at the 13,000-student College of the Sequoias in Visalia have grown a whopping 65 percent in enrollment over the last four years, said Larry Dutto, commercial technical education director at COS.

“Of the students now enrolled, 8,000 are in the vocational area,” Dutto said. “There is a significant need for qualified job candidates in a variety of industrial technical areas.”

All of this growth in vocational education is not necessarily a product of public-school inadequacy, Dutto and other experts say. It’s just that the bureaucracy of public school is not nearly as nimble in changing philosophies as public and private junior colleges and professional academies.

“No longer can [public] schools stress academics, academics, academics, like the No Child Left Act behind act emphasized,” Dutto said. In the Bush administration’s No Child Left Behind program, students and teachers were held to a certain standard on basic reading, writing and English speaking — but trade skills were never part of the equation.(source)

Jobs in the medical profession are plentiful and increasing as baby boomers age

2009-10-19T09:24:00.000-07:00

Allied health careers are not for everyone, Pearl River Community College instructors and students told some 300 area high school students Sept. 30.

Schooling is intense, competitive and occasionally messy. But the rewards are financial - with annual salaries between $40,000 and $60,000 - as well as emotional, they said.
Students from 12 area high schools made the field trip to PRCC's Forrest County Center to tour its 10 allied health programs, which range from respiratory care to occupational therapy to dental hygiene.

Most programs are two years and have a clinical component, with students taking their knowledge into area medical facilities such as Hattiesburg Clinic and Forrest General Hospital.
"You go into an emergency room, and you see nasty stuff, but you're not thinking about that," said second-year respiratory care student Rachel Allen, 31. "You're thinking about saving somebody's life."

Allen and several peers displayed respiratory care techniques to participating high school students.
Volunteer Haley Camp, 16, inserted a laryngoscope into the mouth of a lab mannequin to enable mechanical ventilation.
"It was fun. It was different," said Camp, who wants to become an anesthesiologist, surgeon or emergency room doctor. She was one of about 60 Petal High students participating.
Forrest County Center Dean Cecil Burt said the field trip - a yearly staple for at least 15 years - is intended for students already taking allied health courses at their schools.

"Those people in those allied health programs aspire to go on to careers in various health professions, and we show them the training opportunities that are available in these fields," he said.

Though the college has an open admissions policy, allied health students must apply to programs. They are judged in most cases based on personal interviews, ACT scores and grade point averages. In the case of certain programs, they must take prerequisite courses at PRCC before applying.

About 300 students are enrolled in the school's allied health programs. Because of caps set by accrediting bodies, Burt said that about two-thirds of applying students are turned away, many of them fully qualified to be admitted.

Once in, they are on a promising career path, said Patti Crowson, chair of the physical therapy department. Jobs in the medical profession are plentiful and increasing as baby boomers age, she said.
"Don't just get a degree; get a career," she urged students.
It's a challenge that some students said they are embracing.
Senior Kolyn Dossett, 17, of Poplarville High School said she is considering PRCC in order to become a pediatric dental hygiene..
"Two years to make good money to do something you love, it's definitely worth it," she said.(source)

Nursing programs are attracting many of the new students

2009-10-12T07:45:00.000-07:00

As they wait for signs that the economy is improving, many Americans are taking the opportunity to return to school. For some, a college degree will provide better job security, while others want to expand their career options by studying a new field altogether.

Nursing programs are attracting many of the new students, who see their desire to care for others meshing nicely with the security of working in the only industry that has continued to hire throughout the recession.

A few weeks ago, US News & World Report published its 2009 list of America’s Best Careers. Over 40 percent of the 31 fields listed were in healthcare, including registered nurses. US News based its findings on "the jobs with the best outlook in this recessionary economy (and beyond), the highest rates of job satisfaction, the least difficult training necessary, the most prestige, and the highest pay."

The demand for nurses is increasing for many reasons, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Health Professionals. Among them is a rapidly aging population: The overwhelming number of graying baby-boomers will require a much higher volume of healthcare services provided by more medical professionals than ever before. During the next 25 years, the over-age-65 population will increase at five times the rate of those under 65.

California’s Acute Shortage
California lags behind much of the country in the number of nurses per capita, according to a recent report from the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency. The state has 647 registered nurses for every 100,000 people – far fewer than the national average of 825 per 100,000, according to the CLWDA.

Not that progress hasn’t been made. Nearly 10,000 RNs graduated from California schools in 2008, a 55-percent increase from 2005. The state now has 131 RN programs, 23 more than existed four years ago. And nursing program enrollments are up 69 percent in that same period, with more than 23,500 students currently taking classes.

Two Years of Training Opens Many Doors
Over half of all RNs have at least a four-year degree, but an associate’s degree is all it takes to launch this career. Terese Plesser is the nursing program director at Brown Mackie College in Kansas City. "A two-year associate’s degree prepares graduates for entry-level positions at hospitals, clinics and other medical facilities," she says. "From there, a consideration is obtaining a bachelor of science in nursing degree, which widens career possibilities to management and education positions."

Nursing offers varied choices in terms of work settings and areas of concentration. Hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, hospices, physician’s offices, and home healthcare providers all employ nurses.

Sherry Payne is a Brown Mackie faculty member who teaches obstetrics and pediatrics at the Kansas City campus. Upon earning her bachelor’s degree, she entered nursing with a focus on labor and delivery. Finding great satisfaction in her work, she stayed within the field of obstetric care. Payne now brings her rich career experience to the classroom, teaching others who wish to enter the nursing field. "I have great appreciation for my leap from a clinical setting to teaching. I see it as a way to expand on my personal vision of the world of maternity in a greater way," she says.

Personal vision seems to be a common thread running through nursing students today. "Many students show up after an encounter with nursing that has a lifelong impact," Payne notes. "A positive experience with the healthcare system plants a seed. They see nursing as a lifetime mission, not just a job. It’s a passion, a true vocation."

Other examples of the diverse experiences a nursing degree can deliver are seen in the career of Pat Frost, a Brown Mackie faculty member who began her career in the US Air Force as a nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit and spent time doing postpartum care. Back in civilian life, she worked with an ophthalmologist, then for several schools as a special-needs nurse and instructor of anatomy and physiology.

From there she returned to a clinical setting as an IV-therapy nurse before coming back to education at Brown Mackie College. "I’m working now on a master’s degree in nursing education," Frost says. "It is satisfying to see students come out of the classroom not only knowing facts and figures, but also learning about improving their lives."

These three professionals agree that nursing affords them opportunities to affect others in a positive way. "Nursing calls on many skills in a given day," says Plesser. "We are technologists dealing with medical equipment that changes frequently, diplomats dealing with sometimes difficult people, and educators telling patients about disease processes.

"The nice thing about nursing," she adds, "is if you get tired of one thing, you can try something else in another area."

For Payne, interaction is a vital component. Nurses interact with doctors, patients, families of patients, and each other. "Nurses are supportive of each other. We know when to delegate and when to collaborate. We sometimes work holidays and celebrate together. We become family."(source)

Midway is poised to add two new health science classes, anatomy and physiology and medical microbiology/pathophysiology

2009-10-10T06:52:00.000-07:00

Some of them want to be doctors several years down the road, and others are itching to get behind the wheel of an ambulance next year — either way, an increasing number of students are getting their start in health care at Midway High School.

The health science technology program at Midway isn’t the longest-running career and technology program at the school and it’s not the biggest, but it is the fastest-growing. It’s no wonder, considering that last year in Texas the demand for full-time registered nurses alone exceeded the supply by 22,000, according to the Texas Nursing Workforce Shortage Coalition.

Debbie Woods, Midway High health science technology instructor, taught one health science class in 2004-05. Today, the program has two teachers, six classes and about 200 students.
“Most of these are very serious, very goal-oriented students,” Woods said.

The program also is pulling a wide range of students of different academic ambitions and abilities. “I was really surprised the number of top 10 percenters I have in my classrooms,” Woods said, referring to students who are in the top 10 percent of their class, based on grades.

Heather Metzgar, Midway coordinator of career and technical education, said of the 1,960 Midway High students, about 85 percent take a career and technology class at some point. The career and technology program offers more than 40 classes that count as electives. The state made more room for these electives in students’ schedules this summer by eliminating the half-credit requirements of health and computer skills and reducing the physical education requirement.

As the state and the nation focus on producing a skilled workforce, schools like Midway continue to expand their career and technology course offerings to help with that goal. Midway is poised to add two new health science classes, anatomy and physiology and medical microbiology/pathophysiology, to the roster for next year, which each will count as a science credit.

The Midway school board is expected to approve those courses at its next board meeting. Additional courses awaiting approval by the board include audio/video production, fashion marketing, sports and entertainment marketing, food science, counseling and mental health, equine science, veterinary medical applications and principles, and elements of floral design.

Olivia Rascoe, a Midway High senior, is about to begin clinical rotations at Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center and Providence Health Center through her health science technology 2 class.

“I always was interested in working in a hospital later on, so when I found out about these classes, I thought it’d really help. I really just don’t know what I want to be, so that’s what I’m going to find out this year in clinical rotation,” said Rascoe, who plans to major in biology at Texas A&M University.

Rascoe’s classmate, senior Brittany Cockerham, is doing clinical rotations this year, but she also will graduate with her certified nursing assistant license after taking a dual-credit course between Midway and McLennan Community College. She said she may put that license to work while she goes to school to become a registered nurse.

Last year, 11 students got their certified nursing assistant license this way, and six students had jobs lined up when they graduated high school, Woods said. This year, Midway High added a dual-credit course with MCC by which students get their emergency medical technician certification. That certification also can help students get placed right away as they work their way through more training or college.

“It’s really helping to prepare them for that world of work,” Metzgar said about the courses.

Metzgar said not all parents and students are aware of all the options that career classes can offer the students, which ultimately could help them fit everything they want and need into their schedule. For instance, Metzgar said, any two-credit career class can be substituted for a PE class. Also, Midway ISD offers some basic graduation requirements, such as speech, in the summer so that students can get them out of the way.

This year, Midway has organized its career and technology offerings into career academies, and school officials are re-energizing efforts to help students find electives that interest them.

This October, students through 11th grade will retake the career survey that is given to all students in eighth grade to help them find electives that fit their interests and talents. This way, the students can begin courses in health care, agriculture, business and other areas that much sooner.(source)

Online free job training for a career in health care

2009-10-01T07:45:00.000-07:00

Free job training for a career in health care is now available online to adults and high school students throughout Tehama County.

The first class, the Medical Careers Exploratory Course, starts Oct. 1. It covers the basics of health care and prepares students for more advanced courses.

Topics include medical terminology, infection control, anatomy, safety precautions, CPR, emergency care, job-seeking skills and more.

Students who successfully complete this course can continue their online career training in the spring with the Multi- Skilled Nursing Assistant course, or sign up for courses at a local community college.

The course is being offered by Sacramento County Office of Education Regional Occupation. Program through a grant from the California Department of Education.

"Career training courses have been around for a long time, but often they aren't very accessible to young people in rural areas," said John Fleischman, assistant superintendent.

"By making these courses available online, we're opening up new career training opportunities for those who can't find local programs."(source)