An interesting thing to note about medical surgical nursing is that it is the oldest nursing specialty in existence. According to discovernursing.com, “These nurses are valued members of a surgical team, assisting surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other medical professionals throughout surgery. As a Surgical Nurse, you’ll care for patients before, during and after the procedure. Your experience will provide you with a broad range of skills, since you’ll often work with patients with acute (critical) conditions and chronic illnesses”. As a medical surgical nurse you will be able to fill practically any job role within the nursing profession.

Nature Of The Work/Duties

Medical surgical nurses are expected to be able to perform a variety of different tasks in a medical setting:

• Education forms a major part of your job role as a medical surgical nurse as you will need to teach patients, families, peers, and other health professionals about various issues.

• In addition you will be responsible for supporting patients in their efforts to identify what is in their best interests and helping them reach a conclusion about the best medical path to choose.

• You will need to care for patients from all age groups, patients with multiple medical, surgical, and/or psychiatric diagnoses, and patients with diagnoses across all medical specialties.

• One of your primary goals will be to provide comfort and attention to people who, at that moment, need someone to take an interest in their lives as they deal with a serious medical affliction.

• You will need to heal patients both physically and emotionally through intuitive experiences that rely on observation and touch; there are more domains involved in physical therapy than simply overt medicine.

• Another extremely important role that you will play as a medical surgical nurse lies in helping patients to return to their highest level of functioning as soon as possible.

• In addition you will be directly responsible for providing dignity and respect in end-of-life decision-making and care.

Employment

As a medical surgical nurse you can seek employment in number of different areas, including:

• Hospitals
• Clinics
• Outpatient surgery centers
• MD offices
• Long-term care facilities
• Other practice sites

Because of the broad skill set that you will have, you should have little difficulty seeking employment in most parts of the country.

Medical Surgical Nurse Requirements

The following basic requirements are involved in becoming a medical surgical nurse:

• To begin with, you need to meet the educational requirements that are necessary for this line of work.

• If possible you should take elective courses in medical-surgical nursing during school as this will provide you will valuable experience and information.

• The next step involves passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) which will allow you to start working as a Registered Nurse, or registered nurse. The more experience you get, the better equipped you will be for this line of work.

• It is very important that you get experience working in critical or intensive care, and working with surgical patients before applying to take your certification exam.

• Then you must pass the Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN®) exam through the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses’ (AMSN) Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board (MSNCB) to become a Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN®).

Personality Traits

There are a number of personality skills that will be particularly helpful in this line of work:

• You will need to have excellent assessment skills
• You will need to have excellent technical skills
• You will need to have excellent organizational skills
• You will need to have excellent prioritization skills
• You will need to be willing to work with people from different age groups, so an open mind is required
• As a medical surgical nurse you must be able to celebrate that there is always something new to learn

Educational Requirements

The educational requirements for this line of work are fairly intensive. In order to enter a training program you will need to have a high school diploma or an acceptable equivalent thereof. You will then need to earn a Nursing Diploma, an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) before you can complete the process of becoming a professional medical surgical nurse. It will be extremely helpful if you take elective courses in medical surgical nursing during school if the option is available to you. The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) is an essential part of becoming a medical surgical nurse and you may find it necessary to engage in additional education in order to pass this exam easily. There are a number of education aides available online and from book stores that will help you prepare for this test. The same applies when it comes time to pass the Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN®) exam through the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses’ (AMSN) Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board (MSNCB) to become certified in this nursing specialty. There are a number of educational resources available to help you prepare for this to the best of your ability.

Licensure

To become a medical surgical nurse you need to earn your RN license. Once you have completed your RN training program you will apply for licensure with your state board of nursing. When you receive confirmation from the board you can use that confirmation to set a date with Pearson VUE to take the NCLEX-RN examination that will earn you your license. Passing the online multiple choice exam will mean that you are eligible to be licensed, and your state board of nursing will send you your license in a few weeks.

How To Become A Medical Surgical Nurse

Training, Advancement And Other Qualifications

As a surgical nurse there will be a number of roles that you can fulfill in a medical setting including the following:

• A scrub nurse
• A circulating nurse
• An RN first assistant

Because of the vast array of skills that you will learn, y6ou will find it easy to enter practically any other specialty within nursing if that is your desire. The training that you will receive as a medical surgical nurse will prepare you to display the following skills in your job:

• You must be knowledgeable in all aspects of adult health, a very wide array of knowledge indeed.
• You must understand the importance of measuring and improving the quality of care delivered.
• As a medical surgical nurse you will be taught to consider patient safety to be the top priority.

Source An Accredited Education Program

It is extremely important that you attend an accredited training program when doing your undergraduate as well as your postgraduate nursing training. Your state board of nursing is a good place to start when looking for accredited programs as they should be able to provide you with a comprehensive list. The schools you are interested should also openly display information about their accreditations status, if not, this information should be available on request. You could also consider speaking to current nurses about where they completed their training as their program must have been accredited.

Earn Your Associate’s Degree

Earning your associate’s degree in nursing is one route that you can take to becoming a medical surgical nurse, although you may have better luck seeking employment with a more advanced qualification. Many technical and vocational schools as well as some universities will offer training for an associate’s degree. Apply for at least three schools, select the best one, compete the course requirements, and graduate.

Obtain Your Licensure

The license that you need to be a medical surgical nurse is your RN license, but once you have that you will also need to receive your Registered Nurse – Board Certified (RN-BC) certification. To be eligible for certification you must have a valid registered nurse license, two years experience as a nurse, 2,000 clinical hours in medical-surgical nursing in the past three years, and 30 hours of continuing education in medical-surgical nursing in the past three years. You can apply for certification either online or by mail. When you apply you will need to send in proof of certification and your hours of experience. Once you have applied for the certification exam you will receive an authorization to test that you must take to approved testing facilities. You will have 90 days to take the exam from the time your application is approved. Medical surgical nurse practitioners can renew their certification after five years with proof of 1,000 clinical hours in medical-surgical nursing and participation in professional development.

Online/Distance Education Programs

Although there are a number of online programs available, it is important that you remember to check the accreditation status of a program before enrolling. In addition you must ensure that in some way you complete the compulsory clinical training involved in any nursing program. If you find a good online school, the burden of studying will be significantly reduced for you.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this line of work is looking better and better, especially as the changing nature of health care has caused the need for medical surgical nurses in clinics, home health care agencies, HMOs, ambulatory care units, long-term care homes, surgical centers, and universities. As they are no longer restricted to hospital settings, they have more career opportunities open to them. In general the nursing profession is growing at a faster rate than other professions, which means that the future is bright for nurses starting their career.

Earnings

Different states offer different salaries to their medical surgical nurses:

• South Carolina = $73,000 a year
• Louisiana = $66,000 a year
• North Carolina = $80,000 a year
• Mississippi = $97,000 a year
• Oklahoma = $74,000 a year
• New York = $97,000 a year
• Virginia = $83,000 a year
• Hawaii = $60,000 a year
• Pennsylvania = $70,000 a year
• Nebraska = $67,000 a year
• South Dakota = $65,000 a year
• Puerto Rico = $76,000 a year
• District of Columbia = $94,000 a year
• Ohio = $77,000 a year
• West Virginia = $81,000 a year
• Wisconsin = $70,000 a year
• New Mexico = $74,000 a year
• Missouri = $81,000 a year
• New Hampshire = $82,000 a year
• Arizona = $73,000 a year
• Massachusetts = $94,000 a year
• Montana = $84,000 a year
• Minnesota = $75,000 a year
• Texas = $77,000 a year
• Maine = $76,000 a year
• New Jersey = $87,000 a year
• Wyoming = $81,000 a year
• Nevada = $78,000 a year
• Washington = $78,000 a year
• Oregon = $77,000 a year
• Idaho = $72,000 a year
• Rhode Island = $84,000 a year
• Alabama = $84,000 a year
• Utah = $75,000 a year
• Tennessee = $77,000 a year
• Kansas = $74,000 a year
• North Dakota = $78,000 a year
• Florida = $79,000 a year
• Connecticut = $88,000 a year
• Maryland = $83,000 a year
• California = $91,000 a year
• Iowa = $75,000 a year
• Delaware = $77,000 a year
• Colorado = $72,000 a year
• Michigan = $78,000 a year
• Virgin Islands = $93,000 a year
• Vermont = $80,000 a year
• Indiana = $83,000 a year
• Arkansas = $81,000 a year
• Georgia = $89,000 a year
• Illinois = $86,000 a year
• Alaska = $70,000 a year
• Kentucky = $73,000 a year

Medical surgical nursing is a stable and well paying occupation within the medical profession. There are many schools in existence that will train you adequately for this line of work. By beginning a career in medical surgical nursing you will open many doors for yourself in the medical arena because of the large number of skills you will acquire through your training and during your job.

The post About Being A Medical Surgical Nurse appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

What Is Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy (sometimes called physiotherapy, or abbreviated to PT) is a healthcare profession which is carried out by physical therapists and their physical therapist assistants. They help people who have certain medical problems, disabilities, or conditions which limit their mobility and therefore struggle to function regularly in the physical activities that they encounter on a daily basis. In order to reach a diagnosis, PTs will look at their patients’ medical history and the details of their physical examination (such as a regular check-up), and they will then establish and implement a management plan in order to improve the patients’ quality of life.

There are a number of PT specialty areas, these include:

• Cardiovascular & pulmonary
• Clinical electrophysiology
• Geriatric
• Integumentary
• Neurological
• Orthopedic
• Pediatric
• Sports
• Women’s health

What You Need To Know About Clinical Electrophysiology Physical Therapy

Clinical Electrophysiology Physical Therapy is ideal for those of you who are interested in the uses of electrotherapy and other therapeutic technologies in aiding patients. The use of electromyography (EMG) is also promoted in this field.

Electromyography is a diagnostic procedure which is used as an evaluation and treatment tool in detecting the electrical potential generated by muscle cells when they are activated electrically or neurologically. The results are then analyzed by a clinical electrophysiology PT and can indicate muscle weakness. It can also help in differentiating between muscle weakness which is the result of a nerve attached to a muscle, or the result of a neurological disorder.

Within this profession, you will also be involved in:

• Electrophysiology: the study of the electrical properties of biological cells and tissues.

• Wound management: how to effectively treat and manage wounds.

• Electrotherapy or physical agents: Electrotherapy is the use of electrical energy as a medical treatment, or the use of electric currents in order to speed up the process of wound healing. Physical agents are sources of energy that may cause injury or disease, such as noise, altitude, vibration, radiation, extremes in temperature and pressure, and exercise.

The use of electrotherapy may have been somewhat controversial in the past, however these days it has been widely researched and is used in, although not limited to, the example below:

• Pain management
• Improving the range of joint mobility
• Tissue repair
• Increase of blood circulation
• Relaxation of muscle spasms

What Steps To Take In Order To Specialize In Clinical Electrophysiology

This is not something you can simply dive into; in order to be a professional within this specialization you will first have to complete a postgraduate Doctor of Physical Therapy or a Masters of Physical Therapy degree; the latter is less common.

1. Complete Your Undergraduate Degree

The details of this will vary depending on which school or university you will be attending for your postgraduate degree, but you will have had to have passed some form of undergraduate degree. There are a handful of schools which will allow you to enroll in the postgraduate program without an undergraduate degree, provided that you have completed at least three years of prerequisite studies. A completed Bachelor of Science, Applied Science, or Exercise Science is usually enough to fulfill the requirements for your postgraduate degree. A science-based undergraduate degree which will take four years to complete.

Not all schools will have the same prerequisite studies, so it is important to do the necessary research in order to ensure that you complete the required subjects in your bachelor degree. It is best to contact the administrative department directly so that there is no room for error.

The most common prerequisite subjects are:

• Anatomy and Physiology: 99% of programs require you to complete at least one course in either of these fields, however many will also accept a combined course.
• Biology: over 80% of the programs will require this.
• Chemistry: 99% of programs will require this.
• Physics: Again, this will be required for 99% of the programs.
• Social and Behavioral Science: 95% will require one or more courses.
• Statistics: Over 95% of programs will require this.
• Math: Only 26% of the programs require math.

2. Complete Your Postgraduate Degree

The majority of postgraduate professional doctoral degree programs will take three years to complete and include eight to nine semesters, but there are also a few universities which offer a shorter program of two and a half years which will consist of only seven semesters. You also have the option of completing this degree part-time; this could take four to five years and will typically include 12 semesters.

It is most likely that you will complete 30 to 45 weeks of clinical education along with your regular coursework. This will, of course, vary depending on which university you choose.

Your coursework will most likely be comprised of the following curriculum:

• Evidence for physical therapy based practice
• Physiology
• Musculoskeletal anatomy
• Gait analysis
• Clinical biomechanics
• Exercise Physiology
• Neuroscience/neuropathology/neuro-anatomy
• Pharmacology
• Cardio-pulmonary pathology and management
• Electro-physiology
• Clinical imaging
• Patient management

After successfully passing your final National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE), you will then have your title of Doctor of Physical Therapy (DTP) and can then become a licensed physical therapist. Having this degree means that you have been highly trained and educated to assess, diagnose, prevent, and manage a wide variety of impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities related to movement, function, and health.

3. Complete A Physical Therapy Residency Program

You must be a registered physical therapist in your state in order to embark on a physical residency program. This program will typically be completed in one year, however the requirements are that it must be completed within a minimum of 1,500 hours; within a minimum of nine months, and a maximum of three years. You will then be eligible to sit the specialist certification exam. After passing this exam, you will finally be recognized as a physical therapy specialist; in this case, a clinical electrophysiology physical therapist.

This will be valid for ten years, after which you will be required to sit another competency exam in order to ensure that your skills have been kept up to date during your ten years of practice.

The American Board Of Physical Therapy Specialties

Contact information:
Specialist Certification Program
APTA
1111 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, VA
22314
Tel: 1-800-999-2782, ext. 8520
Website: www.abpts.org
E-mail: spec-cert@apta.org

The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) is the governing body for certification (and recertification) of clinical PT specialists. This board is comprised of the following nine individuals:

• Five board-certified physical therapists, each from different specialty areas
• One physical therapist member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Board of Directors
• One physical therapist who represents the APTA Council of Section Presidents
• One individual with expertise in test development, evaluation, and education
• One non-physical therapist who represents the public

In order to apply for any residency program at ABPTS, you must hold the following minimum eligibility requirements:

1. Licensure: You must hold a current license that allows you to practice physical therapy in the United States.

2. Fee schedule: You must pay the non-refundable application review and examination fees, after which you will be provided with a copy of of the Description of Specialty Practice (DSP) and the appropriate Self-Assessment Tool for Physical Therapists.

An APTA member will be charged a total of $1,300 ($500 for the application review fee, and $800 for the examination fee), whereas a non-APTA member will be charged $2,370 ($845 for the application review fee, and $1,525 for the examination fee).

In order to apply for a clinical electrophysiology residency program at ABPTS, you must hold the minimum eligibility requirements listed above, as well as the following:

1. Direct Patient Care/ Electrophysiologic Testing

•  Submission of evidence of 2,000 hours of direct patient care in clinical electrophysiology PT within the last ten years.

•  25% of this must have occurred within the last three years.

•  A minimum of 500electroneuromygraphy examinations must have been completed during those hours; include evidence of this.

•  The remaining patient hours may include observation of examinations and supervised examinations.

•  Direct patient care must include activities in each of the elements of patient/client management applicable to the specialty area and included in the Description of Specialty

• Practice: Clinical Electrophysiologic Physical Therapy (DSP). These five elements are examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, and intervention.

2. Clinical Education

• Submission of evidence of clinical education experience in electrophysiologic testing, preferably under the direct supervision of a clinical electrophysiologist who meets the requirements for specialist certification.

3. Patient Reports and Testing Logs

• Submission of actual patient records which have been completed within the past three years.

• These cases must indicate abnormal findings and include one report of a patient with a proximal level compromise representing a radiculopathic process, one report of a patient demonstrating a peripheral nerve entrapment, and one report of a patient demonstrating a polyneuropathic process.

• Copies of testing logs performed for these cases for a three month period must also be submitted.

Salary Expectation

The decision to become a specialist in clinical electrophysical physical therapy will open many doors for you. Your job opportunities will be greater than if you were simply to remain a physical therapist, and if that is not enough to motivate you to get through all the years of studying and training, the difference in salaries might.

Salaries will vary of course, but here are some examples of average salaries of electrophysical physical therapists as opposed to physical therapists who chose not to specialize (as of July 26, 2012):

• Virginia: $164,000 per year (PT $94,000 per year)
• California: $178,000 (PT $101,000 per year)
• New York: $190,000 (PT $109,000 per year)
• Chicago: $173, 00 (PT $98,000 per year)

The average salary throughout the entire United States of America is $162,000 per year. The PT equivalent is $92,000 per year. So as you can see, there is a noticeable difference, however this should definitely not be your main motivation for choosing this career path.

Other Universities To Consider

Below is some information on some of the best physical therapy universities which you can study at. Before applying for any universities always make sure that it is correctly accredited and make sure that you fully understand the requirements.

Alabama State University offers a Clinical Doctorate degree in physical therapy.
Address:
Physical Therapy Program Alabama State University
915 South Jackson Street
Montgomery, AL 36101-0271
Phone: (334) 229-4707
Fax: (334) 229-4945
Web Address: http://www.alasu.edu/academics/colleges–departments/health-sciences/physical-therapy/index.aspx
Program E-mail: asupt@myasu.alasu.edu

AT Still University of Health Sciences offers an entry level Doctorate degree program.
Address:
Physical Therapy Program
Arizona School for Health Sciences
AT Still University of Health Sciences
5850 East Still Circle
Mesa, AZ 85206
Phone: (480)219-6000
Fax: (480)219-6100
Web Address: http://www.atsu.edu/programs/physical_therapy.htm
Program E-mail:sbrown@atsu.edu

California State University offers a Master’s degree in physical therapy
Address:
Department of Physical Therapy
College of Health and Human Services
California State University, Long Beach
1250 Bellflower Boulevard
Long Beach, CA 90840
Phone: (562)985-4072
Fax: (562)985-4069
Web Address: www.csulb.edu/web/colleges/chhs/ada/pt/
Program E-mail: kcerny@csulb.edu

Arkansas State University offers a Master’s degree in physical therapy
Address:
Physical Therapy Program
College of Nursing and Health Professions
Arkansas State University
PO Box 910
State University, AR 72467-0910
Phone: (870)972-3591
Fax: (870)972-3652
Web Address: http://pt.astate.edu/
Program E-mail: jfarris@astate.edu

The post What Is Needed For A Clinical Electrophysiology Physical Therapy Career appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

From this we can gather that a physician assistant has more freedom and a higher degree of training than a medical assistant and are therefore allowed to perform more advanced procedures.

Overview

Medical Assistant

There are a number of differences to note in the medical assistant vs physician assistant debate. The following overall figures have been noted for medical assistants:

• The median pay is about $28,860 per year and $13.87 per hour
• The entry-level education required is a high school diploma or equivalent
• You do not need any work experience in a related occupation
• You will receive moderate-term on-the-job training
• There were 527,600 jobs for medical assistants in the year 2010
• The job outlook for 2010 to 2020 is 31% which is much faster than average
• The expected employment change from 2010 to 2020 is 162,900

Physician Assistant

• The median pay is about $86,410 per year and $41.54 per hour
• The entry-level education required is a master’s degree
• You do not need any work experience in a related occupation
• You will receive no on-the-job training
• There were 83,600 jobs for physician assistants in the year 2010
• The job outlook for 2010 to 2020 is 30% which is much faster than average
• The expected employment change from 2010 to 2020 is 24,700

Because of their higher level of education, physician assistants tend to earn more. However, although the industry is growing at a similar rate, there are fewer jobs for physician assistants.

Job Duties

Medical Assistant

Medical assistants have a number of duties to perform on a daily basis. Firstly they are responsible for taking patient histories and measuring their vital signs. IN addition to his they help the physician with patient examinations, give patient injections as directed by the physician, schedule patient appointments, and prepare blood for laboratory tests. All of these activities are closely monitored by the physician in charge. There are several different kinds of medical assistants:

• Administrative medical assistants
• Clinical medical assistants
• Ophthalmic medical assistants and optometric assistants
• Podiatric medical assistants

Physician Assistant

The list of duties that a physician assistant must perform is much longer. Although they work under the supervision of a physician or surgeon, their tasks are far more complex. They do not simply take, but also review patients’ medical histories and they themselves do physical exams to check patients’ health rather than simply assisting the physician. As opposed to medical assistants, physician assistants can order and interpret diagnostic tests and they can make preliminary diagnoses concerning a patient’s injury or illness for later verification by the doctor. Physician assistants are physically allowed to provide treatment to patients, something that is well outside the scope of practice of a medical assistant. Physician assistants often play a meaningful role in counseling patients and their families and are allowed to prescribe medicine, when needed. They can also record a patient’s progress and complete insurance paperwork. In line with their advanced level of education and higher salary, physician assistants perform more and more complex tasks than medical assistants.

Work Environment

Medical Assistant

Most medical assistants work in physicians’ offices, which means that they tend t work regular office hours in a pleasant environment. However in some cases medical assistants will work evenings and weekends in order to cover a heavy workload.

Physician Assistant

Physician’s assistants on the other hand work in a variety of different settings:

• Offices of physicians = 54%
• Hospitals; state, local, and private = 24%
• Outpatient care centers = 9%
• Government = 4%
• Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private = 3%

They work in operating rooms from time to time and are on their feet constantly. In general, physician assistants have a more intense work environment to cope with than medical assistants.

How To Become A Medical Assistant/Physician Assistant

Medical Assistant

To be a medical assistant you should consider taking the following courses in high school:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Anatomy

Medical assistants typically have a high school diploma or equivalent. Most states have no formal education requirements for medical assistants, but there are formal training options available. By getting formal training you will be more marketable when you look for a job. Training can usually be completed at community colleges, vocational schools, technical schools, or universities and takes about 1 year to finish. Some states may require that you complete a program as a compulsory requirement before you can become a medical assistant. Often training is offered on-the-job for this line of work. In this way the physician or another medical assistant in the office can teach you:

• Medical terminology
• The names of the instruments
• How to do daily tasks
• How to interact with patients

Although you don’t have to become certified as a medical assistant you will find that many employers will prefer it if you do. You can receive a number of different certifications, including the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) certification from the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) certification from the American Medical Technologists, the National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) certification from the National Center for Competency Testing, and the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) certification from the National Health career Association. For this line of work you will need:

• Analytical skills
• A detail oriented nature
• Interpersonal skills
• Technical skills

Physician Assistant

The requirements to enter a physician assistant program will depend on the specific program you are applying for, but many programs require you to have:

• A bachelor’s degree
• Some healthcare-related work experience

Programs of this kind take about 2 years to complete and there are 165 accredited programs across the country. It is interesting to note that most of these programs offer master’s degrees, which implies that you will need to have achieved a bachelor’s degree before applying. You will receive classroom and laboratory instruction in:

• Pathology
• Human anatomy
• Physiology
• Clinical medicine
• Physical diagnosis
• Medical ethics
• Supervised clinical training in family medicine
• Supervised clinical training in internal medicine
• Supervised clinical training in emergency medicine
• Supervised clinical training in pediatrics

According to http://www.bls.gov, the following is true for physician assistants: ‘All states and the District of Columbia require physician assistants to be licensed. To become licensed, they must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). After they pass the exam, they may use the credential “Physician Assistant-Certified.” Physician assistants must take continuing education to keep their license. Every 6 years, they must pass a re-certification exam or complete an alternative program combining learning experience and a take-home exam’.

Salary

Medical Assistant

The salary expectations for medical assistants are as follows:

• Average salary: $28,860 (in May 2010)
• Lowest 10 percent: less than $20,810
• Top 10 percent: more than $40,190

Physician Assistant

• Average salary: $86,410 (in May 2010)
• Lowest 10 percent: less than $57,450,
• Top 10 percent: more than $117,720

The area you work in as a physician assistant also affects your salary:

• Hospitals; state, local, and private = $89,500
• Outpatient care centers = 88,160
• Offices of physicians = 85,340
• Government = 85,170
• Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private = 80,810

Even at the lower end of the scale, physician assistants earn more than medical assistants, but they have to spend more years studying to get where they are.

Job Outlook

Medical Assistant

There will be a 31% increase n the number of medical assistants employed by 2020, due in large part to the baby boom generation reaching old age and requiring more medical attention. Medical facilities in general are growing, as is the primary care sector where most medical assistants are employed. There is also an increase in the number of tasks that a medical assistant is required to do, making them more useful and employable.

Physician Assistant

The 30% increase we can expect to see here is attributable to the fact that the population is growing and therefore requires more medical professionals to see to its needs. In addition, physician assistants are cheaper than actual physicians but can perform many of the same tasks, making them more sought after.

Although the two jobs may seem similar, on closer examination it soon becomes apparent that there are a number of differences in the medical assistant vs physician assistant and that the two roles are not interchangeable. Although a physician assistant may be able to perform the same tasks as a medical assistant, a medical assistant cannot take the role of a physician assistant for any reason.

The post Medical Assistant vs Physician Assistant appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

A pediatric nurse practitioner is a nurse who specifically works with children and adolescents in a number of different health care settings, providing them with care specific to their age group. It is well known that infants, children, and adolescents have different nutritional and medical needs to adults and geriatrics, which is why the need for experts in this area exists.

Nature Of The Work/Duties

The duties of a pediatric nurse practitioner are as follows:

• Pediatric nurse practitioners work alongside pediatricians and other health care professionals to provide adequate care to pediatrics (defined as any individual younger than the age of 18).

• The pediatric nurse practitioner may serve as the child’s primary caregiver in charge of all diagnoses and treatment plans.

• In addition to dealing with ill children, nurses with this qualification also assist the families of patients who are chronically ill or severely injured.

• In cases where a child has lost the physical ability to stand or walk, pediatric nurse practitioners will administer thorough assessments of that child and engage in rehabilitation should it be deemed necessary.

• A pediatric nurse practitioner is also active in providing preventative care information to the parents of the children under her care, as well as providing tips on how parents can care for their ill child in the home environment.

Employment

Although a large number of pediatric nurse practitioners work specifically in hospitals or in doctor’s offices, it is possible to have your own practice if you have this qualification. This is one of the primary reasons why this is such a popular career path with many nurses. Naturally the educational requirements that you will have to meet before you will be able to run your own practice are vast, but it will result in having a higher degree of professional prestige and earning more respect from others in the healthcare field.
Employment as a pediatric nurse practitioner suits those nurses who have a special interest in the well being of youngsters and who are willing to engage in the training needed to become certified. As tragedies can happen in a pediatric ward, a strong emotional character will also stand you in good stead.

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Requirements

The following are the requirements that you must meet if you want to be a pediatric nurse practitioner:

• To begin with you will need to attend a nursing program that results in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

• Once you have your bachelor’s degree you will need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN)

• After you have experience as an RN, you will need to go back to school to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

• Take any courses that are offered by your program convener in child health and psychology in order to prepare for work in pediatrics

• Once you have met the educational requirements you will need to earn board certification in pediatrics through the Society of Pediatric Nurses, which will result in you officially becoming a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP)

Personality Traits

There are a number of general nursing skills that will stand you in good stead as a pediatric nurse practitioner, but there is one very important skill that is not required in most other nursing specialties. This is the ability to understand the individual psychology of each child and communicate with children at their level. Although this skill can be taught, it will help you considerably if you have a natural ability in this regard. In addition to this specific skill you will also need the personality traits of empathy and understanding, especially as children often need greater reassurance and levels of support than adults do when they are in a hospital or other health care facility. Attention to detail is also extremely important as children will not be able to explain situations or symptoms to you as easily as an adult would, making it your responsibility to infer details through other means.

Educational Requirements

The educational requirements for this line of work are fairly stringent as you are required to earn a master’s degree. However, this is a cumulative process as an undergraduate degree must be obtained first. Here you have two options:

• You can earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing
• You can earn an associate’s degree in nursing and then complete an associate’s degree to bachelor’s degree bridge program

Your undergraduate training, regardless of the specific route you choose to take, will prepare you for a career as a general nurse. Quality programs include comprehensive classroom training, as well as clinical training regimes. The core topics that you will cover in most programs will be related to community nursing, health assessment, nursing ethics, anatomy and physiology, and complex health problems.

To enter into the master’s degree program that will allow you to become a pediatric nurse practitioner, you must have:

• An RN license
• Experience as an RN (about 1 year)

If you are enrolled in the master’s program full-time, you should be able to complete it in about 2 years. The general and specific courses that you will need to complete during your master’s program include nursing theories, research methods in nursing, advanced practice nursing, pharmacology and pathophysiology, health promotion, disease prevention, health maintenance and pediatric theory. At the end of the course you will be required to submit a thesis.

If you are a student who has a bachelor’s degree in a topic not related to nursing, you may be able to complete an accelerated nursing program to become a registered nurse.

Licensure

The only license that you need, strictly speaking, is an RN license, which is earned by completing an accredited RN training program. After completing the program you will need to apply for licensure with your State Board of Nursing. Once your eligibility to become licensed is confirmed you will take the NCLEX-RN examination through Pearson VUE, the examining body. This exam is computer based. Passing the exam earns you your RN license, which will need to be renewed periodically according to the rules in your particular state.

How To Become A Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Training, Advancement And Other Qualifications

The question that occurs to many nurses is why it is necessary to become a pediatric nurse practitioner if you are already a pediatric nurse. The reason for this is related to career advancement and career opportunities. With your advanced degree and certification, you’ll have more responsibility, and higher earning ability, than pediatric nurses.
Once you have earned your qualification as a pediatric nurse practitioner it is very important that you then continue to boost your knowledge by engaging in continuing education related to the field of pediatric nursing. This will not only allow you to improve your efficiency on the job, but it will also make your resume more attractive to any potential employers that you apply with over the course of your career.

Source An Accredited Education Program

It is very important that you source an accredited training program when studying to be a pediatric nurse practitioner. Your state board of nursing can confirm the accreditation status of the school that you choose. http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/pediatric-nursing-rankings lists the 18 best schools offering a master’s degree in pediatric nursing:

• University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA
• Yale University in New Haven, CT
• University of Washington in Seattle, WA
• University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, PA
• Duke University in Durham, NC
• Rush University in Chicago, IL
• University of Colorado-Denver in Denver, CO
• University of California-San Francisco in San Francisco, CA
• Columbia University in New York, NY
• University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC
• Emory University in Atlanta, GA
• Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD
• University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA
• University of Michigan-Ann Arbor in Ann Arbor, MI
• University of Illinois-Chicago in Chicago, IL
• University of Maryland-Baltimore in Baltimore, MD
• Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN
• Ohio State University in Columbus, OH

Earn Your Associate’s Degree

The most basic degree that you can earn is your associate’s degree, which will allow you to become an RN. However, in order to become a pediatric nurse practitioner you will have to complete both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in addition to your associate’s degree.
To earn your associate’s degree apply to at least three different nursing schools offering the qualification in your area. This will greatly improve your chances of being accepted. To choose the best school for you, create a list of all the personal and practical requirements that the school must meet. Enroll in the most appropriate school and complete the course requirements. This will earn you your associate’s degree.

Obtain Your Licensure

In addition to the RN license that you must hold in order to become a pediatric nurse practitioner, you are also required to become certified. The easiest way to do this is through the American Nurses Credential Center which offers a PNP-BC (pediatric nurse practitioner-board certified) credential. In order to earn this credential you will need to take a computer based multiple choice test. Preparation for the test can be completed by buying study guides and textbooks or by using the many online resources that are available. Once you have become certified, you must renew that certification once every five years in order to continue practicing as a pediatric nurse practitioner in your particular state.

Online/Distance Education Programs

There are a number of advantages to studying online:

• The hours are more flexible and you can work according to your own schedule
• It is often cheaper to study online than in a traditional classroom situation

However, as you will always be required to complete a certain amount of clinical training in a nursing degree program, you cannot hope to earn your qualification entirely online. Online and distance education schools are often affiliated with health care facilities where you will be able to complete your clinical training. Others require you to make your own arrangements for achieving the required number of clinical hours. Without hands-on training you will be unable to become a pediatric nurse practitioner.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for pediatric nurse practitioners is fairly good as this is a subset of the health care industry which is always on the increase in terms of the number of jobs that become available. In addition to having a specialized qualification, you will also be able to work in facilities that require non-specialized RNs due to your undergraduate training. However, this is a fairly popular line of work, which means that there may, in some cases, be steep competition for finding employment in pediatric nursing.

Earnings

The overall salary that you can expect to earn as a pediatric nurse practitioner is about $61,676 – $94,383 a year, but if you also consider the potential for an annual bonus of between $0.00 and $7,465 a year, as well as the potential for profit sharing of between $507 and $19,727, your overall earning potential comes to about $63,996 – $102,228 a year. The industry you choose to work in will also affect your pay as a pediatric nurse practitioner. Popular industries are Healthcare where you can expect to earn about $58,819 – $94,359 a year, Pediatric Offices where you can expect to earn about $59,254 – $94,223 a year, Hospitals where you can expect to earn about $59,905 – $96,324, Medical Offices where you can expect to earn about $57,726 – $93,395 a year, and Medical Services where you can expect to earn about $58,571 – $95,578 a year. Some cities pay more than others. The top paying cities are:

• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Washington, District of Columbia
• Boston, Massachusetts
• Nashville, Tennessee
• St. Louis, Missouri
• New York, New York
• Indianapolis, Indiana
• Orlando, Florida
• Columbus, Ohio

The post Being A Pediatric Nurse Practitioner appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

How The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Serves Pharmacy Technicians

Pharmacy technicians are trained professionals who aim to assist pharmacists in the dispensing of medication. The pharmacist is legally responsible for all of the actions of the pharmacy technician. In order to ensure that the pharmacist receives the best level of assistance possible, the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board exists to ensure that a high standard is maintained within the profession. This is for the sake of the patients receiving the medication above all else. The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board offers a number of services to pharmacy technicians which they can use in their daily lives:

• MyPTCB
• Apply to take the PTCE
• Recertify
• Reinstate
• CPhT Connection
• Career Info

State Associates

In order to ensure that as many pharmacy technicians as possible are made aware of the certification process and that as many pharmacy assistants as possible are given the opportunity to become certified, the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board has teamed up with a number of pharmacy assistant associations, including the following:

• Alabama Pharmacy Association
• Alabama Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Alaska Pharmacists Association
• Arizona Pharmacy Foundation
• California Pharmacists Association
• California Society of Health-system Pharmacists
• Colorado Pharmacists Society
• Connecticut Pharmacists Association
• Connecticut Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Delaware Pharmacists Society
• Delaware Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Florida Pharmacy Association
• Florida Society of Health-system Pharmacists
• Georgia Pharmacy Association
• Georgia Society of Health-system Pharmacists
• Hawaii Pharmacists Association
• Idaho State Pharmacy Association
• Idaho Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists
• Illinois Pharmacy Association
• Indiana Pharmacists Alliance
• Iowa Pharmacy Association
• Kansas Council of Health-System Pharmacists
• Kansas Pharmacists Foundation
• Kentucky Pharmacists Association
• Kentucky Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Louisiana Pharmacists Association
• Louisiana Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Maryland Pharmacists Association
• Maryland Society of Health System Pharmacists
• Massachusetts Pharmacists Association
• Massachusetts Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Michigan Pharmacists Association
• Minnesota Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Mississippi Pharmacists Association
• Mississippi Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Missouri Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Montana Pharmacy Association
• Nebraska Pharmacists Association
• Nevada Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• New Hampshire Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• New Jersey Pharmacists Association
• New Jersey Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• New Mexico Pharmacists Association
• New Mexico Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• New York State Council of Health-System Pharmacists
• North Carolina Association of Pharmacists
• North Dakota Pharmacists Association
• Ohio Pharmacists Association
• Ohio Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Oklahoma Pharmacists Association
• Oklahoma Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Oregon Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association
• Pennsylvania Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• South Carolina Pharmacy Association
• South Carolina Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Tennessee Pharmacists Association
• Texas Pharmacy Association
• Texas Society of Health-system Pharmacists
• Utah Pharmacists Association
• Virginia Pharmacists Association
• Virginia Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Washington State Pharmacy Association
• West Virginia Pharmacists Association
• West Virginia Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin
• Wyoming Pharmacists Association
• Wyoming Society of Health-System Pharmacists

Certification

About The Exam

The certification exam comes in three parts:

• Assisting the Pharmacist in Serving Patients, which makes up 66% of the exam
• Maintaining Medication and Inventory Control System, which makes up 22% of the exam
• Participating in the Administration and Management of Pharmacy Practice, which makes up 12% of the exam

In total the exam will be 2 hours long. The first 5 minutes of the exam comprises of a tutorial that you must complete before writing the exam. Following the tutorial you will need to answer 90 multiple choice questions in 110 minutes. It is important to note that 10 of those questions will not count towards your final score. This is because they are new questions being piloted for their suitability in future tests. However these questions are randomly distributed throughout the test, so you will not know which of the questions will count towards your final score and which will not. You will not be penalized for guessing, so it is important that you attempt all questions to the best of your ability. The final five minutes of the test consists of an exit survey that you are also required to complete.

The tutorial that you complete before completing the exam is there to give you an idea of what the test will look and feel like. However, if you would like to prepare more thoroughly for the exam, there are a number of practice tests that you can buy from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. These tests will allow you to not only test your knowledge, but also to become comfortable with the online testing system used by Pearson VUE, the body that administers that pharmacy technician certification exam.

Apply

If you want to become certified, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must have a high school diploma or equivalent educational diploma
• You must receive a passing score on the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE)
• You must provide full disclosure of all criminal and State Board of Pharmacy registration or licensure actions
• You must comply with all applicable PTCB Certification policies
• There must not be any record of criminal conduct involving you
• There must not be any evidence of State Board of Pharmacy registration or licensure action against you
• There must be no evidence that you have violated a PTCB Certification policy, including but not limited to the Code of Conduct

In order to apply for certification you must pay a fee of $129. You can only apply online, unless you have special needs or disabilities that make this difficult for you, in which case you will be allowed to apply for a hardcopy of the application form. During the application process you will have to indicate that you have met all of the eligibility requirements. Action will be taken against you if you lie on the form about your eligibility for certification.

Schedule

When it comes time to schedule your examination, you will be given a 90 day period in which you are allowed to do this. If you apply online, your 90 period to schedule your exam begins immediately. You will then own exam appointment directly with PTCB’s test administrator Pearson VUE, either online or by phone at (866) 902-0593. There are a number of exam venues available across the country for you to choose from. Once you have scheduled your exam you will receive an email notification to confirm your appointment within 24 hours. If you want to cancel or reschedule your appointment, there is no additional fee charged, but you must contact Pearson VUE at least 24 hours before the start of the exam to give them fair warning of your cancellation. If you do not, you will be marked as absent from the exam. If you miss an appointment due to your own fault, you will forfeit the exam fee and you will have to pay the fee again in order to set anther date.

On Test Day

On the day of the test you should arrive at least 30 minutes before your appointment. If you arrive 30 or more minutes late for your appointment, you will be deemed to have missed your exam. Things to bring to the venue include:

• An approved form of identification that matches the name on your Authorization to Test (ATT) letter
• Your ATT letter

Your personal belongings, except for comfort aides, are stored in a locker before entering the room. You may not bring your own calculator unless special permission has been granted.

During the exam you must behave in accordance with the Code of Conduct outlined by the PTCB. You will then have the option of completing the tutorial after which your exam will begin. You should answer all questions as there is no penalty for guessing. You will also have the opportunity to write notes about questions that bother you and submit concerns about the test directly to the PTCB, although these will not be addressed during your test.

Becoming certified as a pharmacy technician through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board is easier than you think. Once you have completed your training the test itself will not be very difficult to complete. In addition there are a number of aides available online as well as from other sources that exist specifically to prepare you for your exam.

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In order to understand the foster care and social work systems, one needs to understand everything about foster care, how it should be instituted, and the role that social workers play in foster care. There is no breaking social work and foster care up; there is no way that foster care could work without social work and all the social workers that put so much into their work.

What Is Foster Care?

Foster care is a service which provides a means of creating a safe temporary placement for children who can, for various reasons, not remain safely in their parental home. Children who are in foster-care are placed in the custody of the Department of Social Services by court order. This means that social work and foster care are inexorably intertwined and it is incumbent on the social worker to ensure that the child is placed into foster care with the right family.
Foster care is intended to create a plan of permanency for the child that will last throughout his or her youth and until they can be released from the custody of the social work agency and state oversight. If possible, attempts will be made to return the child to the familial home, but should this not be possible another permanent planned living arrangement will be made.

The priorities of social work and foster care are as follows:

1. Reunify the child with his or her parents
2. The child should be adopted, preferably by a relative, but if that is not possible then by a non-relative
3. The child should be placed under guardianship with a relative or non-relative
4. Foster-care placement with a relative who is willing to offer a long-term, secure commitment to the child
5. Other planned foster care as a permanent living arrangement

Plans for permanent placements are made only after a comprehensive family assessment has been done and the parents have been provided with any help that may enhance their capacity to care for the child or children. If necessary, the family and or foster children are also provided with services that address the physical, mental and educational well-being of the children.

Who Is Eligible For Social Work And Foster Care Services?

Social work and foster care services are provided by 46 County Department of Social Services (DSS) offices across the United States, and intensive clinical and foster care services are provided by regional services. There are also other public and private providers who provide services to families in need of social work and foster care, once such needs have been identified via a comprehensive family assessment and individualized case plan.

The DSS provides foster care services to:

• Children aged 0-18 years of age who the court has determined cannot remain in their home for their own safety, and who are in the custody of the Department

• Parents whose children have been removed from their home for the children’s safety

• Chafee Independent Living services also provides social work and foster care services, via DSS, to youth between the ages of 13-21; they are taught skills that increase their chances of successfully transitioning out of the foster care system

• After Care Services are also available to youth who emancipate from foster care once they reach the age of 18

What Social Work And Foster Care Services Are Offered?

The Department of Social Services offers various services, which include joint assessment and development of individual case plans by parents, children and Department staff. Parents are offered help and advice to help them change the circumstances which made the home unsafe for children, and which, once successfully followed, could result in the return of the children and social work and foster care services being ceased.

Children are offered various services aimed at helping them to work through and diffuse and heal the detrimental effects of abuse and neglect. This includes services that relate to the child’s physical, mental and educational well-being.

Youth who emancipate from DSS care at the age of 18 can apply to their local DSS county office to request Aftercare Services. An Aftercare assessment interview is conducted with the youth in order to determine what services are needed.

The Interstate Compact On The Placement Of Children (ICPC)

The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, or ICPC, as it is also known, is statutory law in all 52 member jurisdictions and a binding contract between member jurisdictions. The ICPC was established to ensure uniform legal and administrative procedures govern the interstate placement of children. This means that children who are receiving social work and foster care services receive an appropriate level of care in the new placements when they are moved from state to state in their adoptive or foster care placements.
The Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (AAICPC) was established in 1974. It is made up of members from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The ICPC gives the AAICPC the authority to “promulgate rules and regulations to carry out more effectively the terms and provisions of this compact.”

Social Workers And Foster Care Services

Individuals busy studying for their master’s in social work, or an MSW degree generally choose to specialize in one of a wide range of specialties, one of which is foster care. For those who elect to follow a social work and foster care path, there is a very rewarding albeit challenging career waiting for them. Foster care is crucial to many families in the United States, and a good social worker can literally be the difference between life and death for many youngsters.

There were about approximately 408,400 children in foster care as of September 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The average age of these youths was around 9 years. If you are a social work student and are interested in specializing in foster care, you may benefit from perusing Foster care statistics, which is a document prepared by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The Administration for Children and Families also provides various reports on additional foster care statistics, as does AdoptUsKids, who provides information about foster care by state. All of these resources are very helpful to social workers who are interested in specializing in foster care.

Problems That Face Foster Care Children

Most children who are placed in foster care have good experiences, but this is not necessarily so for all who are recipients of social work and foster care services. Many children who are fostered experience teenage pregnancy, depression and even incarceration because they get into trouble with the law. In addition to problems that they may face whilst under the care of DSS and in a foster home, once they are emancipated at the age of 18 they often experience a sense of abandonment.

Social workers who intend working in foster-care should be aware of the following issues facing foster children in order to understand the work:
Lack of Educational Opportunities: According to the Heritage Foundation, children in foster care are more likely to be incarcerated, live in poverty, rely on state services, and run afoul of the law. The Foundation suggests that foster care children need to be given more educational opportunities that prepare them for college as well as additional financial support such as scholarships to enable them to study further and improve their chances in life.

Developmental Issues: According to research by the American Academy of Pediatrics, more children in foster suffer from serious developmental, physical, or mental problems than those in regular families. This could make the work of a social worker more difficult dealing with these cases.

Depression: It is not uncommon for foster children to suffer from debilitating depression, as they feel the loss of not having their biological parents in their lives, no matter the circumstances at home. This can lead to various mental and emotional difficulties.

“Aging Out” of the System: According to the National Association of Social Workers, a documentary by social worker Matt Anderson reveals many problems experienced by youth who “age out” of the system, or who are eligible to leave the foster care system when they turn 18. Most of these youth are destined to become pregnant, get into trouble with authorities or face depression due to a lack of family support, and many end up homeless.

Foster Care Helpline

Any youth that are in need of social work and foster care services can contact the Foster Care Helpline on 1-888-722-2580. The Helpline was established to answer calls from children and youth in foster care 24/7.

Social work and foster care is a wonderful career for those who love children and wish to help improve the lives, their day-to-day circumstances, and offer them a future that has the potential of allowing them to break the cycle of poverty, inadequate education and look forward to a bright future.

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Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses are specialists who have completed advanced training and have knowledge and expertise in the management and prevention of various conditions involving the skin, bladder and bowel. In excess of 6,500 nurses have validated their specialized knowledge in wound, ostomy, continence and foot care nursing by voluntarily becoming certified over the past 30 years.

The American Nurses’ Association affirmed in 2010 that WOC nursing meets their very high standard for a nursing specialty, and the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB) adheres to very high and strict standards of quality, thereby ensuring that the public is protected from unsafe and incompetent providers.

What Does A Wound, Ostomy And Continence Nurse Do?

Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing, previously referred to as Enterostomal Therapy, incorporates principles and practices that promote, maintain and restore health for patients who have wounds caused by ulcers, injuries, or disease, and who suffer with continence problems throughout their lives.
WOC nurses specialize in the care of individuals with disorders of the genitourinary and integumentary systems and the gastrointestinal tract, and their job is to provide postoperative care and support for patients who need alternative methods of eliminating bodily waste. They also treat patients with fecal and urinary incontinence.

Main Duties Of A Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nurse

These duties include:

• Assisting patients who have urinary and fecal incontinence
• Dressing wounds
• Educating patients and their families on how to manage the artificial waste elimination devices
• Supporting patients who have colostomy bags or use other methods of artificial waste elimination

WOC nurses provide acute and long-term support to more than one million individuals who undergo ostomy surgeries in the U.S. every year. They also play a huge part in managing urinary incontinence amongst the approximately 13 million Americans who have this condition. WOC nurses are particularly skilled at managing complex cases of fecal and urinary incontinence in frail elderly patients, which is what makes them so valued.

Nurses who have specialized training in wound care are of particular value to the long-term, home-care and acute settings due to their ability to treat surgical incisions, tubes and fistulas, pressure ulcers, and draining and traumatic wounds.

Where Does A Wound, Ostomy And Continence Nurse Work?

Wound ostomy continence Nursing takes place wherever there is a need for support for patients with incontinence and artificial waste elimination devices; generally in hospitals, but also in various other healthcare facilities.

Wound, ostomy, continence nursing has always been a critical component in acute care settings. The demand for WOC nurses is becoming greater as health care shifts from acute care in a hospital setting to care in the outpatient setting, and as long-term care and home health care grow due to the aging of the baby-boomer population. There has never been a better time to get into this kind of specialty, and there are many programs aimed at helping you to achieve this goal.

Wound, Ostomy, And Continence Nursing Education

Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nursing specialty is a continuing nursing education activity, and various programs are available that are approved by the American Nurses’ Association and accredited by the Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses Society (WOCN).

The components of WOC nursing practice include:

• Direct care and consultation
• Patient and family education and counselling
• Staff development
• Research and management activities

Admission Requirements

Admittance to a Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing program, an individual is evaluated on all portions of the application, as admission is competitive. In order to be considered for the certificate program an individual must:

• Be in possession of a master’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited school as a prerequisite or co-requisite
• Be in possession of an unencumbered RN license for the state where you intend to do your practical
• Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in undergraduate and graduate studies
• Submit three acceptable academic and professional recommendations
• Submit a copy of your Curriculum Vitae or resume
• Be available for an interview if requested
• There are additional requirements for international students

Nursing Education Program

The Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing education program is a postgraduate study program, and it prepares graduates to provide specialty care for patients who have acute and chronic wounds, standard and continent diversions, and urinary and fecal incontinence.
The educational methods for these programs generally include approximately 40% clinical and 60% didactic training, and include major areas of instruction such as:

• Anatomy and physiology of GI, GU, and integumentary systems

• Nursing management of patients with adapted patterns of elimination such as alternative procedures, ostomies, and incontinence

• Nursing management of patients who are at risk for breakdown of their skin, as well as those who have acute and chronic wounds such as neuropathic ulcers, venous ulcers, pressure ulcers, and arterial ulcers

• Pathophysiology and medical or surgical treatment for selected disorders within the integumentary, GI, and GU systems

• Rehabilitation concepts that include principles of sexual counselling, teaching and counselling theory, as well as growth and development issues

• Role implementation issues that include principles of leadership, change theory, research guidelines, and reimbursement issues are also included

• Students will also complete 160 clinical hours in GNUR 6383 at a reputable medical institution.

Upon completion of the program, the graduate will be eligible to sit for the Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing certification from the Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification Board.

Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification

The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB) began certifying nurses as far back as 1978 as a way of recognizing and differentiating the value of expert nurses from those at an entry level. Becoming Board Certified is a voluntary process that requires consistent and periodic evaluation of a nurse’s current professional skills and knowledge.

WOCNCB certified nurses are fundamental members of the health care team, who:

• Accurately assess patients and provide critical documentation
• Develop strategies to prevent complications
• Implement cost-effective, evidence-based plans of care
• Guide the selection and use of cost-effective DME goods and pharmaceutical formulas and methods of preparation
• Provide comprehensive education to patients as well as medical, nursing and auxiliary staff
• Train, coach and advocate for patients and their families

A survey conducted by the American Board of Nursing Specialties reported that nurse managers expressed a preference for hiring certified nurses due to their documented experience and proven knowledge base and in a given specialty. This survey also indicated that certification is perceived as influencing growth, specialized knowledge, accomplishment, accountability, and a level of recognition among peers, consumers and employers.

Advanced Practice Certification

WOCNCB offers Advanced Practice certification exams in wound, ostomy and continence nursing. This certification validates that you have passed a national exam that accurately reflects the skill and knowledge as required by the specialty. Certification can be gained in one, two or all three of the wound, ostomy or continence specialties.
In order to be eligible to take the WOC Certification Exams, you must complete the following:

• Hold current Registered Nurse licensure
• Be in possession of a bachelor’s degree

Fulfill either of the following educational and clinical practice requirements:

Traditional Pathway
You must have completed a WOCN Society accredited WOC Nursing Education Program within the last five years.

Experiential Pathway
You must have completed the experiential pathway, which means that you have completed the required 50 contact hours or equivalent in college course work, post-bachelor’s degree, per specialty, within the last 5 years. This pathway also requires that you have completed a minimum of 1,500 clinical hours within the past 5 years, with 375 of those hours being completed within the past year.

Types Of WOCNCB Certifications

There are various types of Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing, and the Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification Board offers the following certifications:

• Certified Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nurse (CWOCN)
• Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN)
• Certified Ostomy Care Nurse (COCN)
• Certified Continence Care Nurse (CCCN)
• Certified Wound Ostomy Nurse (CWON)
• Certified Foot Care Nurse (CFCN)
• Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse – Advanced Practice (CWOCN-AP)
• Certified Wound Care Nurse-Advanced Practice (CWCN-AP)
• Certified Ostomy Care Nurse-Advanced Practice (COCN-AP)
• Certified Continence Care Nurse-Advanced Practice (CCCN-AP)
• Certified Wound Ostomy Nurse-Advanced Practice (CWON-AP)

Each of the above certification programs is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

The Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Certification Board provides a national certifying examination designed for entry level into the field for graduates of accredited educational programs. Although Board Certification is not compulsory, it is highly valued as a means of credentialing practitioners of wound ostomy continence nursing. Certification is valid for five years, after which re-certification may be obtained, either by re-examination or via the Professional Growth Program (PGP), which is based on a point system deduced from activities such as continuing education, publication, research, program or project development, involvement in professional organizations, teaching, and academic education.

It must be noted, however, that although certification is not required for wound ostomy continence nursing, employers do give preference to those who have received certification; it is proof-positive of their qualifications and skills as a wound ostomy continence nurse. Employers also see certification as serving to validate your commitment to leadership, excellence, evidenced-based and safe care in foot care and wound, ostomy, continence nursing. Certification ensures that a Registered Nurse is knowledgeable and more than qualified to provide specialized care.

Nursing Education Programs

Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing programs are offered by the following institutions amongst others:

Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA Wound Ostomy and Continence Nursing Education Center

• Onsite – A 10-week program; 6 weeks of on-site campus instruction and 4 weeks of clinical preceptorship
• Split-option – A 6-week program with didactic on-campus, plus Precepted clinical instruction in your own geographic area
• Distance learning – Self-study modules completed at your own pace, plus 40 hours of precepted hours for each clinical focus

Wicks Educational Associates – Harrisburg Area WOC Nursing Education Program

• A split-option – Consists of 4 Weeks of didactic instruction (onsite) plus 160 hours of clinical instruction in your geographical area or in the region where the class is held
• A Home Study Program – Consisting of Four Home Study Modules plus 160 hours of clinical instruction in your geographical area

La Salle University School of Nursing

• Split Option – Consisting of weekly classes held onsite at Philadelphia campus with off site clinical preceptorships near to where you live
• Online Distance Learning – Consists of web-based distance learning classes plus three clinical immersion days in Philadelphia per course and off-site clinical preceptorships following the two required courses

School of Nursing University of Virginia Graduate Program in WOC Nursing

• On-site and individually selected sites – 3 Graduate Level courses that may be taken as electives for master’s in nursing programs or taken as a post-Master’s certificate. MSN student pursuing a CNS or ACNP may choose to focus on WOC as their area of specialization. The program can be completed within 12 months.

WebWOC Nursing Education Program

• Online Distance Learning – Online didactic coursework for a Full Scope of practice; delivered over one semester (14 – 15 weeks) including weekly live online classes. Single and Dual Scopes may be completed in a shorter time-frame

There are also other institutions of learning that offer ostomy programs or wound care programs, and wound treatment programs separately, either on-site or via distance learning.
Remember that licensing requirements vary from state to state, so it is incumbent upon you to find out whether the certification is acknowledged in the state in which you intend to practice. Contact your State Board of Nursing to ascertain what their requirements are for Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification.

The post Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Explained appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

Licensed Practical Nurses work in a variety of settings, including home health care services, community care facilities for the elderly, hospitals, nursing care facilities, employment services, public and private educational services, offices of physicians, Federal, State, and local government agencies, and outpatient care centers. Whilst most LPNs work full-time, there are many following a successful LPN career working part-time.

In 2008 there were approximately 726,000 nurses enjoying a successful LPN career within the United States. The employment outlook for LPNs is very good, and is expected to grow substantially in the current decade, up to 2018. This projected growth is due to the general growth of health care services and the long-term care needs of an increasingly elderly population. Because many of the sophisticated procedures that were once performed in hospitals are now being performed in physicians’ offices and in outpatient care centers such as emergency medical centers and ambulatory surgical centers, the employment of LPNs in hospitals has begun to decline. This is due to the many advances in medical technology.

Although there will be stiff competition for LPN jobs in hospitals, the growth in most health care industries outside the traditional hospital setting such as nursing care facilities and home health care services is projected to grow faster than average, and this will create plenty of opportunities for you to follow a successful LPN career.

What Character Traits Are Required To Become An LPN?

Licensed Practical Nurses need to have the right nursing skills in order to have a successful LPN career, but academic skills are not all that is required. It is very important that an LPN have the right personality and character traits for the job too.

In order to become an LPN you must:

• Be gentle, caring and understanding of patients and their situation
• Be able to think on your feet in an emergency
• Be intelligent, responsive and proactive
• Be and active person as you will be on your feet most of the day
• You will need to have stamina as you may have to lift patients, work for many hours at a time, and help patients with their mobility and wheel them around if necessary

In order to have a successful LPN career you will also need to be dedicated, not mind working long hours, over weekends and public holidays, be able to follow orders, and be interested in continuing learning in order to improve your knowledge and advance to higher levels.

How Does One Become A Licensed Practical Nurse?

In order to have a successful LPN career, you will have to follow a career path that begins with becoming a nurse in one of the quickest ways possible; this can be achieved by attending classes at one of the nursing schools that offer LPN classes and training programs, either after hours whilst still continuing your current job or full-time. Many schools offer these programs as distance learning courses too.

An LPN can perform nursing duties without having achieved a bachelor’s degree in nursing, and it only takes one year to complete the training, which can be done via a technical school, vocational center, or community college. Once you have your LPN qualification you can study further and obtain your bachelor’s degree, which you will require later on in order to pursue a successful LPN career.

In Order to become an LPN you will need to complete the following steps:

1. Complete a Training Program

You will need to have graduated high school or have your GED in order to be eligible for training as an LPN. It takes approximately one year to complete a training program to become a Licensed Practical Nurse. These courses focus on various nursing principles, psychology, and adult and child health and among other things. You will also be exposed to laboratory work and clinical practice during your training.

2. Get your LPN License

Once you have completed your nurse training and passed your exams you will be qualified as a Practical Nurse, but in order to get your licensure you will need to sit for and pass the National Council Licensure Examination-Practical Nursing (NCLEX). The NCLEX is supervised by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
The exam covers areas such as physiological integrity, pharmacological therapies, health promotion and maintenance, and safe effective care environment. Some of the skills on which you will be tested are patient care, nursing concepts, math skills, first aid, and comprehension and reading skills.

The NCLEX exam is a multiple-choice exam, and it uses an interactive system called Computerized Adaptive Testing to gauge your competence. You will be required to answer a minimum of 85 questions, after which the computer will attempt to assess your level of competence. If you are clearly above the passing standard you will pass; if not you will continue to answer questions until a final assessment can be made, up to a maximum of 205 questions.

Should you fail to pass the NCLEX, a diagnostic profile will be mailed to you by your state board of nursing. This profile will outline both the areas of knowledge in which your performance was satisfactory and the areas in which it was not. After taking steps to improve your knowledge in the areas where it was lacking and after a period of 91 days, as required by the National Council’s policy, you may retake the test. Once you have passed the NCLEX you will be able to use the designation LPN. Obtaining licensure is a very important step in ensuring that you have a successful LPN career.

What Is The Role Of The LPN In The Patient Care Team?

The Licensed Practical Nurses program was inspired after the end of WWII, when there was a glut of patients and good nurses were needed quickly. With the new healthcare legislation, America is once again in a similar situation, with a projected 32 million more people entering our health care system by 2014. On top of that, 79 million Baby Boomers will need more care as they grow older. This is going to create an unprecedented nursing shortage and the need for Licensed Practical Nurses will be paramount.
There have been many attempts to eliminate LPN positions in hospital settings over the past few decades. This is inconceivable, as nurses have to do far more with less and patient loads are so demanding that in some cases patient care is suffering. The role of the LPN in the patient care team is one that is vital, as their training may lack the core courses that degrees provide, but the physiology, anatomy, chemistry and other nursing courses are of the same and sometimes better caliber than the Associate Degree RN programs. LPN students also generally have as much or even greater clinical opportunities than RN students.

The level of care that an LPN can offer makes them an integral member of the patient care team, and the many specialty programs and fast-track programs that are available to LPNs mean that they can improve their knowledge and skills, and can look forward to a successful LPN career.

How To Ensure A Successful LPN Career

Studying to become an LPN, taking courses in order to improve your knowledge and skills and choosing specialities are all good, but we all determine our own destiny regarding our nursing career.

There are many other tricks-of-the-trade that will ensure a successful LPN career:

• Know your scope of practice

The scope of practice for LPNs differs somewhat from state to state, and even from facility to facility. Your professional responsibility is to be aware of the legal scope of nursing in the state in which you are practicing. If you are not sure of what it is, you can contact the State Board of Nursing for your state. You may also be able to access the information by visiting their website. Remember, even though you may know how to do something that does not mean that it is legal for you to do in that state or that it is in line with facility policy. An example of this is administering injections; some states and facilities allow LPNs to administer injections but others do not.

•  Be an advocate for practical/vocational nursing

There is a variety of professional LPN organizations, and it is imperative to a successful LPN career that you find out what they are and join one or more, on both a local and national level. These organizations are important because they can serve as platforms from which to advocate for the rights of LPNs, for better working conditions for nurses, for more funding for nursing scholarships, increased patient safety initiatives, and nurse recruitment and retention initiatives. Run for political office, lobby your legislative representatives, and discuss issues surrounding health care that are important to you and to the nursing profession.

• Be Careful

This may sound very trite, but it is not. Everyone makes mistakes, nurses included, but the difference is that making a mistake could cost you a successful LPN career. There are various steps that can be taken in order to prevent errors, including errors in administering medication.

An example of this is to remember the pharmacology course you took when studying to become a licensed practical nurse; it is essential that you follow the “six rights” of medication documentation and administration, even if you have administered the exact same medication to the same patient many times. This is crucial because the physician’s orders may have changed, and unless you check the Medication Administration Record (MAR) each time prior to administering medication it is easy to miss those changes.

It is important not to take shortcuts, even when short-staffed and under pressure, as shortcuts can lead to dire consequences. Always think before you act and maintain high ethical standards when you practice. Remember that as a nurse you are the face of the nursing profession and of the facility for which you work to your patients and their families, so if you are not sure of something rather ask someone who is in a position to help you.

• Be a leader

Many individuals believe that only those in a management position can be leaders, but his is far from the truth. Some managers are not, and some leaders are not managers. A leader is someone who has the innate ability to set priorities, organize their work, and communicate and work easily with others.
Leadership skills and abilities can be learned, and anyone who has some initiative can be a leader in his or her workplace and profession. Putting yourself forward to serve on facility committees, being visible in a positive way and always presenting yourself professionally are all signs of leadership that will be taken note of by your seniors and will work well for you in your quest for a successful LPN career.

• Set goals for yourself

It is imperative that you set goals for yourself, no matter what your future aspirations are. You should set goals even if you do not intend continuing your nursing education. It is important to set professional development goals such as reading nursing journals, joining professional LPN or nursing organizations, or anything else that interests you and will assure you of a successful LPN career.

The best way to ensure a successful LPN career is to choose specialties and study further, of course. Even if you need to be flexible in setting your goals for further studies, it is important that you do set goals and set a time frame for completion of your studies.

The post What Does It Take To Become A Successful LPN? appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

Many nurses say that they became travel nurses because they wanted to see more of the country and possibly even of overseas countries. According to them, travel nursing also encourages personal and professional growth as they are faced with different problems than what they normally face in a clinical or hospital situation.

What Exactly Is Travel Nursing?

Travel nursing is basically very similar to the old-fashioned “temp work” that has been done by administrative employees for many years. With the nursing shortage hitting all parts of the country and various segments of the nursing profession, managers of healthcare facilities are challenged to find personnel. This is very prevalent in the rural areas, and in areas which are rather out of the way, as they cannot attract sufficient full-time nurses and very often cannot afford to pay full-time nursing staff.

This has led to the advent of travel nursing, which essentially means that a nurse takes on an assignment for a specified amount of time, very often far from her home town. These assignments are generally awarded by agencies that specialize in travel nursing. The agency generally supplies the travel nurse with travel and housing and expenses, helps with required licensing, and provides benefits and payroll services.

Travel nurse assignments can last anything from 8 to 26 weeks, but can be renewed and lengthened should the need occur and the agency and client come to an agreement on this. Most assignments last between 8-13 weeks. Sometimes an agreement is made with the agency that allows the position to be converted to a full-time position should all parties agree on this.

Reasons To Consider Becoming A Travel Nurse

There are various reasons why one should consider doing travel nursing, and according to those that have done it and the experts, here are some of them:

Expand Your Skills And Knowledge Base

Travel nursing makes better nurses because no matter where the assignment, as a travel nurse, you would be constantly exposed to different ways of viewing nursing practice and will inevitably acquire new knowledge and skills that will add to what you have previously learned as well as adding to your curriculum vitae.

Travel nurses have access to a variety of assignments, from those in tiny rural clinics and hospitals where there are but a few beds and where a nurse is expected to be Jill-of-all-trades, to the most modern large hospitals and urban teaching centers where you will be able to specialize in the area of nursing that most interests you.

Each of these experiences will serve to challenge you and help you to grow as a nurse, as you could be learning the latest technique in negative-pressure wound therapy at one hospital one moment and teaching it to staff nurses unfamiliar with the technique at another hospital on the next assignment. This is the type of experience and growth that you may not have the opportunity to experience should you remain in one healthcare facility for many years.

Take Control Of Your Own Career

If you feel that you are getting nowhere in the position that you currently occupy, and are stagnating with no challenges, no hope of moving up in the ranks and too many hospital politics, then it may be time for a change. Travel nursing could offer you the opportunity for a change of scenery, the chance to experience some challenges and take control of your own career by deciding what assignments you want to take.

One of the greatest factors that travel nurses enjoy is the flexibility of the job, as they can change to a different practice setting, e.g. from a hospital-nurse setting to a skilled-nursing facility, a managed-care organization, or even an ambulatory care center. You can choose to work in a slow-paced facility with more patient-contact; a larger more modern, facility where you will have access to sophisticated, high-tech monitoring equipment; home-care, where you basically deal with a single patient one-on-one; or somewhere where you will be exposed to advanced, cutting-edge procedures. This way you can tailor your assignments according to what your personal preferences and professional goals are.

Financial Benefits

In most cases, those who do travel nursing find that the pay scales are comparable to and often better than most staff nursing positions. There are also many opportunities to earn bonuses for recruiting other travel-nurses, assignment completion, working during the Christmas Holidays, etc, depending on which agency you are signed with. This easily translates into earnings of between 10% and 15% more than a staff nurse.

There are also various attractive benefits linked to travel nursing, such as medical and dental insurance coverage, and once again, depending on the agency;

• Free housing
• Travel reimbursement or a travel allowance
• 401 (k) and matching contributions
• Free or low-cost continuing-education courses
• Licensure reimbursement
• Various types of insurance such as disability, life, and professional liability

Broaden Your Children’s Horizons

If you have been worrying about the fact that you have children and what will become of them, you can stop worrying, as most travel nursing recruiters are more than willing to accommodate just about any situation. Finding suitable accommodation for travel nurses with children is no problem for them, and this means that you could take your children, and even your spouse, with you on assignments, or at least some of them. This exposes your offspring to different parts of the country, different communities and different lifestyles, which is invaluable in forming a holistic world-view.

If you prefer to not move your children around, then it is possible to request assignments with an easy commute during the school-term and take on other longer, distance assignments during the school holidays, which solves the problem of giving the children something exciting and different to do and experience during holidays and still allows you to work and be with them at the same time. This is a definite win-win situation!

Travel nursing is a wonderful way to take you out of your comfort-zone and teach you what you can do. After a few days of orientation on each assignment you will be ready to draw on the confidence that your previous learning and experience has given you and find yourself fitting in just perfectly whilst learning many new things at the same time.

Who Can Become A Travel Nurse?

Although there are some positions available for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN/LVN) to do travel nursing, the positions more often than not call for a Registered Nurse (RN), so this could be an incentive for you as an LPN/LVN to study further and get your licensure as an RN.
There are various full-time and online programs available for LPNs to study to become RNs, including some fast-track programs that only take a few months to complete.

Travel With A Friend

Many travel nurses prefer to travel with a friend so that they do not feel so lonely on their assignments, and it is a wonderful way to travel and see the country with someone who can share your experiences. Depending on the skill set that you and your friend possess, and the needs of the hospital, this can often be arranged. There are even lots of husband and wife teams that travel together.

What About Licensing?

As per law, you are required to be licensed in each state in which you work, but his is not a problem if you decide to do travel nursing, as the agency will help you with this process. The process is not that difficult or onerous for those who already have licensure in the state in which they live. Your agency representative will be able to give you all the necessary information regarding licensure in the state in which you would like to practice, and will assist you with whatever you need to do to acquire said licensure.

How To Find A Travel Nursing Agency

Before just jumping into travel nursing, it is important that you find a suitable agency, and there are some important factors that you should keep in mind when doing your research. Remember the reasons that you decided to do travel nursing, and make sure that the agency with which you sign up can provide and meet all those reasons. One of the easiest ways to find a good travel agency is to go to the travel nursing website, where you will find a list of agencies. Click on one of the banners to go directly to that agency’s website, where you can find out more and get all your questions answered.

Make a list of your expectations, what you want from travel nursing, and what your priorities are, and then find the agency that can offer most, if not all, of them. Your list should include some of the following:

• Excellent pay rates – money is not everything, but you should be paid according to your experience.

• Free Insurance – one of the benefits should be that you get free medical, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage for yourself, and also for dependents, should you have any.

• 401K with employer contribution – some agencies will pay 100% of your 401k, but some may only pay 50%; you will need to decide what priority this takes.

• Completion Bonus – competition between the agencies is fierce, and many of them offer a completion bonus for each assignment; this can make for some nice savings.

• Direct Pay – is it important to you that your salary be deposited in your bank account via an electronic transfer, or don’t you mind getting a check which you then need to either deposit or cash yourself?

• Travel Reimbursement – some companies will reimburse fully, whilst others offer a travel allowance, which would you prefer? Also check whether they only pay for your travel to and from the assignment or will also pay for any travel you have to do during the assignment, especially if it is a ling assignment.

• Continuing Education – this is important to any nurse, and it is important for you to check whether the travel nursing agency will pay for CPR, ACLS, and PALS if required for an assignment, and whether they offer any financial assistance for other further study, including CEUs.

Travel nursing offers two main benefits that are not available to nurses who practice as full-time nurses in one facility; being able to manage your own career how you see fit, and flexibility as to when and where you work.

Travel nursing will allow you to enjoy a flexibility and freedom that is not generally associated with a staff position; it allows you to take off between assignments to visit family or friends or go on holiday, with no limits on how long you can take off. You can also leave time between assignments to explore the area in which you have just been working more fully, or so that you can visit and take in the sights on the way to your next assignment.

Travel nursing with definitely test your mettle and draw on every bit of knowledge and experience that you have, but it will also offer the chance for growth, both professionally and personally. Becoming a Travel nurse will allow you to challenge your perceptions about yourself, your capabilities and abilities, and open yourself to new experiences along the way. Travel nursing will also allow you to make many memories that you would never have had the chance to make had you stayed in one place.

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The International Federation of Social Workers has been granted Special Consultative Status by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. It also works with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

A Short History Of IFSW

The International Federation of Social Workers can trace its beginning back to the early part of the last century when, at the First International Conference on Social Work held in Paris in 1928, an agreement was reached to form an International Association of Social Workers. The Second International Conference on Social Work held in Frankfurt in 1932 saw the provisional statutes of the International Permanent Secretariat of Social Workers (IPSSW) agreed upon by the eight founding members: Germany, France, Sweden, Great Britain, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Switzerland and the United States. IPSSW was originally based in Berlin.

An agreement to form a new body was reached at the Fifth International Conference on Social Work held in Paris in 1950, provided that 7 national bodies became members; this was achieved in 1956 when the International Federation of Social Workers was formed in Munich. A new Secretariat, which shared offices with the National Association of Social Workers, was formed in New York.

Further highlights were:

• 1958 – IFSW and its partners published the journal International Social Work
• 1959 – IFSW was granted consultative status with the United Nations’ Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
• 1960 – IFSW’s policy role was expanded after a Special Session at the 10th World Conference in Rome
• 1970 – South Africa’s membership was revoked due to its participation in the Apartheid regime
• 1985 – IFSW was declared a “Peace Messenger” by the United Nations
• 1990s – Membership was expanded to include more than 80 member associations
• 2000 – IFSW developed a training manual, Social Work and the Rights of the Child
• 2001 – The global Definition of Social Work was adopted in 2001, in co-operation with the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW)
• 2004 – The Statement of Ethics in Social Work, the Global Standards for the Education and Training of the Social Work Profession, and the Statement of Principles were published
• 2005 – IFSW consultative status was extended to UN Habitat
• 2010 – IFSW launched the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development at a joint conference with the International Council on Social Welfare and the International Association of Schools of Social Work

IFSW Organisational Structure

An international Executive Committee is democratically elected at a General Meeting of members every two years. The committee is made up of a President, Treasurer and Regional President and Member-at-Large for each of the six regions, being Africa, Asia – Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean and North America. The permanent Secretariat, which was established in 1956, is currently based in Switzerland.

International Federation Of Social Workers Partners

Apart from the special consultative status that IFSW has with United Nations Economic and Social Council and its accreditation to the International Labor Organization, UNICEF, the Council of Europe and the European Union, it also has many other partners:

• Amnesty International
• CONGO (The Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the UN)
• The Commonwealth Organisation for Social Work (COSW)
• The Council of Europe
• ENSACT
• European Union
• IASSW (International Association of Schools of Social Work)
• ICSW (International Council on Social Welfare)
• Public services international
• UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, NGO Section
• UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund)
• United Nations
• World Health Organisation

Statement Of Ethical Principles

Ethical awareness is fundamental to the practice of social work, and the commitment to act ethically an essential aspect of the quality of services offered. The IASSW and the International Federation of Social Workers promote ethical debate and reflection in the member organisations, in the schools of social work, among the providers of social work in member countries, and among social work students. Some of the ethical problems and challenges that face social workers are endemic to specific countries, and others are common. The joint IASSW and IFSW statement seeks to encourage social workers across the globe to reflect on the dilemmas and challenges with which they are faced in order to make ethically informed decisions as to how to act in each particular case

Some of the problem areas include:

• Social workers function as both controllers and helpers
• Social workers are often conflicted between societal demands for efficiency and utility and their duty to protect the interests of the people with whom they work
• Resources in society are often very limited
• The loyalty of social workers is often in the middle of conflicting interests

The Statement of Ethical Principles uses the definition of social work adopted separately by IASSW and the International Federation of Social Workers and agreed upon in 2001. This definition stresses principles of human rights and social justice. The document makes reference to the various declarations and conventions on human rights that are relevant to social work, a statement of general ethical principles under the two broad headings of human rights and dignity and social justice, and some basic guidance on ethical conduct in social work.

The Statement of Ethical Principles covers the recognition of rights that are accepted by the global community and documents that are particularly relevant to social work practice:

• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
• The International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights
• The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination
• The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
• The Convention on the Rights of the Child
• Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention (ILO convention 169)

The Statement also covers:

Human Rights and Human Dignity
Social work is based on respect for the dignity and constitutional worth of all people, and the rights that follow from this. It is the duty of social workers to uphold and defend every individual’s physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual integrity and well-being. This means that social workers must:

• Respect the right to self-determination
• Promote the right to participation
• Treat each person as a whole
• Identify and develop strengths

Social Justice

Social workers have a responsibility to promote social justice in relation to the people with whom they work as well as in relation to society generally, which means:

• Challenging negative discrimination
• Recognising diversity
• Distributing resources equitably
• Challenging unjust policies and practices
• Working in solidarity

Professional Conduct

The national organisations who are members of IASSW and the International Federation of Social Workers have a responsibility to develop and regularly update their own ethical guidelines so that they reflect those contained in the IFSW/ IASSW statement. National organizations must inform schools of social work and social workers about these codes or guidelines.

It is incumbent upon social workers to act in accordance with the ethical code or guidelines current in their country, as they generally detail guidance in ethical practice specific to the national context. The Statement does, however give general guidelines covering what social workers should and should not do, which can be used as a template from which to work locally.

IFSW Membership

Full Membership

The International Federation of Social Workers offers full membership to professional organizations that represent social workers at a country-wide level. This type of membership gives the organization influence over international social work policies and directions.

Members in this category of IFSW receive:

Advocacy for the promotion of social justice or social work on the members’ behalf, in their own country and/or region, internationally and/or within the United Nations

• An active culture of sharing and learning across regions, nations, and the world
• A news service that is relevant to social work
• Access to international advertising of social work jobs
• Links with other IFSW members to improve regional networks and practice based networks
• Participation in both regional and global conferences
• Resources and a dedicated International Social Work Journal
• Support for members’ campaigns for social work and social justice outcomes

Friends Of IFSW

Anyone that wishes to show their support for the International Federation of Social Workers may join as a Friend of IFSW.

Friends of IFSW receive:

• Access to learning, sharing, and cooperative networks
• Advance access to all publications at a reduced cost
• Discounted registration fees for conferences
• Exclusive access to international social work jobs
• The IFSW Friend Pin and a certificate of your ‘Friends Status’ membership
• The opportunity to participate in and/or create social work or social justice campaigns

Contact Details

Address International Federation of Social Workers
PO Box 6875
Schwarztorstrasse 22
CH-3001
Berne
Switzerland
Telephone (41) 22 548 36 25
Fax (41) 22 5181037
General enquiries global@ifsw.org

Technical support online@ifsw.org

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