Different Types Of Social Worker Jobs

Child Social Worker Jobs

If you want social worker employment in the child industry you will come up against quite a lot of competition as this is a favorite among social workers looking for jobs. Social worker positions in the childcare sector require that you come into contact with:

• Children that have been abused
• Children who are in need of foster care
• Parents who want to adopt a child

You need to be prepared to work with these children and adults in a way that is sympathetic, empathetic and compassionate. If you don’t think that you will be able to do that then a social worker job in this area may not be the best choice for you. Dealing with abused children can be very difficult and you need to know well ahead of time whether you can deal with the emotional stress that it will put on you or not.

Family Social Worker Jobs

Social workers can also work with the family unit as a whole if they so choose. This is also a fairly popular form of social worker employment. The things that you may be required to do in a position like this include:

• Counsel family relationships in cases where there are difficulties between different members of the family that are having far-reaching effects.

• Provide information about government and private programs that the family will be able to utilise in order to become more stable.

• Assist families through a grieving process in the case of a loved one having passed away.

All of these tasks are of equal importance and you will need to have the emotional capacity necessary to handle these types of situations fairly easily as well as professionally. You will need to have the skills necessary to relate to all of the members of the family in order to help the family reach its goals.

Case Worker Social Worker Jobs

A case worker is a social worker job that is very general and that comes with a wide range of skills and responsibilities. However all case workers need to be able to:

• Assess the needs of the client and those living with the client.

• Arrange for and coordinate a battery of services to benefit the client (including psychological evaluations and monitoring, home visits, and other forms of assistance).

When you are a case worker you will be able to come into contact with a wide variety of people and you will have the opportunity to work with all of them. You will also not need to choose a specific area in which to specialise in order to get social worker positions as you will be skilled in all areas of social worker employment. This is great for someone who has the personality skills necessary to relate to anyone.

Medical Social Worker Jobs

Social workers can also work in a medical setting. There are a number of things that you may be required to do if you work in the medical field, but the most common tasks that you will need to perform are the following:

• Help individuals and family members cope with illness and injuries that are life-changing events.

• Arrange the care that is needed when a patient leaves the hospital.

Working as a medical social worker is a great way for you to be guaranteed of a stable job. While many other industries suffer under economic pressures the medical industry is one that will always stay strong. Getting social worker employment in this setting will guarantee you of job security and make your life substantially more stable and secure than it would otherwise be. As a result many students are choosing to enter the field of social work with the aim of getting a social worker job in the medical field.

Substance Abuse Social Worker Jobs

There are many places where social workers are needed. One of the places where you can stand a chance of finding social worker positions is in the area of substance abuse. In this job, you will be required to get involved in the following area:

• Group therapy
• Community outreach
• Inpatient monitoring
• Teaching of daily living skills to help patients cope.

If you think that you have what it takes to work in a social worker employment setting where substance abuse is the main issue then you will be glad to hear that there is quite a demand for people wanting to work in this area. The personality you will need is one that is non-judgemental and empathetic and compassionate at the same time. It is essential that you have the right attitude towards this type of job before starting it.

Mental Health Social Worker Jobs

It should not be surprising to you to hear that there are a lot of jobs and positions in the field of mental health. A social worker employer in this area will, among other things, have to:

• Counsel and treat people with substance abuse problems.
• Counsel and treat people with weight disorders.
• Counsel and treat people with depression.

Working with mental health patients can be a very challenging and difficult social worker job to undertake. But this does mean that you will be eligible for a higher social worker salary and that your skills will be more highly coveted making it easier for you to apply for and get the best social worker positions that are out there. Like with all of the different types of jobs, however, you need to examine yourself closely and make sure that you have what it takes to engage in this particular form of social worker employment.

School Social Worker Jobs

School social workers work in schools. They have a variety of tasks to fulfil while working there, including:

• Providing needed information
• Assist parents and students in meeting all the graduation requirements
• Address student behavior problems

Social worker positions in schools are quite popular and many people try to get a social worker job in this setting. This means that there may be a lot of competition. However, if you do not relate well to children then you will struggle to handle this job. There is a special way of speaking and behaving that you will need to be able to do in order to have an impact on the children that you deal with and this does not come naturally to everybody. Consequently you need to think very carefully about taking on a social worker job in a school environment before making your final decision. This comes with a huge degree of responsibility on your shoulders.

Gerontological Social Worker Jobs

Gerontology means working with elderly people. Something that many people don’t realize is that the elderly suffer abuse at the hands of others just as often as children do. Because this one of the more underserved areas of social worker employment you should be able to get a social worker job in gerontology quite easily. In this area of social work you will:

• Provide counselling for the children of aging adults.
• Assist their patients in facing the challenges of aging.
• Explain Medicare benefits and procedures.
• Coordinate and schedule transportation of the infirmed.

A respect and love for elderly people is an essential aspect of this type of social worker job. If you do not have the right attitude then this is a job that you should, for your own sake as well as for the sake of your clients, avoid. If you have the right attitude you should get involved as soon as possible.

The Best Paying Social Worker Jobs

Medical Social Worker

In this job, you can expect to earn anything from about $45,000 to about $52,000. This is quite an impressive salary indeed. This is one of the higher paying social worker positions because there is a lot of demand in this area. As mentioned previously the medical industry is one that is expanding constantly, so it is necessary for more and more people to become employed here. In order to attract more social workers the salaries are made higher so that the job will appear more attractive and will encourage more people to join the profession. If you were hoping for social worker employment in this industry you are in luck in terms of salary. Just remember that there is quite a lot of competition for these social worker positions so make sure that you have a back up area in mind where you can work instead.

Mental Health And Substance Abuse Social Worker

Mental health and substance abuse social worker jobs are not really among the most popular for social workers, but they are among the highest paying. If you have the right approach towards life for dealing with mental health and substance abuse cases then this is the area of social worker employment that you should get involved in. People working in these social worker positions can expect to earn around about $37,000 to $62,000 a year. This is not a bad salary at all and it is one that is worth considering. However you need to remember that this is one of the more intense areas to work in so you have to be certain that you have the necessary attitude and skills for dealing with this area of social work. When it comes to fields like social work it is never a good idea to choose a job based to the salary. You need to make sure that you choose social work as a career, because you want to help people.

Child, Family And School Social Worker

These are the most popular social worker jobs. Fortunately these are also the jobs that pay among the highest salaries, making them very good options to consider indeed. In these areas of social work you can expect to earn anything from $39,000 to about $54,000. These are very good rates indeed. You need to make sure that you have a love for children if you want to work in any of these fields, and family social work also requires that you are able to relate to all members of a family. If you are unable to communicate effectively with everyone involved, then you may run into trouble and feel as though you are having very little effect on the people who you are working with. Although this is one of the more popular, as well as one of the better paying areas of social work, you still need to be careful about committing yourself to a line of work in this area of social worker employment as it may not be the best possible choice for you.

Now that you have read this comprehensive account of the different jobs and social worker positions that are available you will be in a better position to make a decision whether or not this is the kind of job that suits you. As you can see there are several different areas in which you can specialize when it comes to social worker employment so you are literally spoiled for choice. However if none of these options appeal to you then you may want to consider an alternative form of employment as this type of job is probably not the best for you.

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Duties Of A Physical Therapy Assistant

There are a number of duties that a physical therapy assistant is allowed to perform during the course of their working day. However it must be noted that physical therapy assistants are not permitted to do things unsupervised and that there are only a limited number of things that they are allowed to do to the patients during treatment. Here is a list of basic PTA job duties:

• Administer treatment to patients
• Oversee exercises
• Oversee therapeutic procedures (such as electrical stimulation, ultrasound and mechanical traction)
• Perform therapeutic massage
• Apply heat and cold to reduce inflammation, swelling and pain
• Train patients in proper gait and balance
• Make note of patients’ responses to treatment
• Document the care they provide and the patient’s response to treatment in the patient’s medical record
• Inform physical therapists of progress or side effects
• Show patients how to use crutches
• Prepare therapy-related equipment for therapy sessions
• Administrative (answering phones, handling insurance paperwork and ordering supplies)

Education Needed For Physical Therapy Assistant Jobs

There are a number of educational requirements that you will have to fulfill if you want to be eligible to apply for PTA jobs. Like in all fields of work there are a number of things that you simply have to have if you want to be allowed to work in that profession. Below is a discussion about the educational requirements needed in order to be hired as a physical therapy assistant. Consider these requirements carefully and decide whether you are willing to go through with them in order to get the physical therapy assistant jobs you are interested in.

The first thing you will have to do is to earn an associate’s degree in physical therapy assistance. This can be done at a variety of different physical therapy assistant schools and through many different physical therapy assistant programs. You need to remember that the school or program that you choose to study through must be accredited appropriately and you must be able to answer all of the possible questions that come up in the final exam based on what you learned in your physical therapist assistant program. If these requirements are not met you will not be eligible for physical therapy assistant jobs when you graduate from that school.

These programs take about two years to complete and include a variety of subjects such as algebra, biology, anatomy and physiology, body mechanics, medical terminology, psychology and physical therapy techniques and English. Because they only take two years to complete many students choose this option as it allows them to get out in the world and work in physical therapy assistant jobs as soon as possible. It can also be used as a stepping stone qualification to get jobs that are more advanced. People n physical therapy assistant jobs can eventually move up to being physical therapists.

If you want to be eligible for the many PTA jobs out there you will need to be certified in CPR and gain clinical experience at treatment centers. If you are not then you will find it very difficult to get any of the physical therapy assistant jobs available. Of course clinical training is a prerequisite if you want to pass your course in the first place, so that should not be a problem. Remember that the more clinical experience you have the higher your chances of getting physical therapy assistant jobs will be. Take all opportunities to practice that present themselves to you.

If you want to get jobs in the physical therapy assistant arena then you need to pass either the National Physical Therapy Exam or a state licensing exam. This varies from state to state so contact the relevant bodies to find out what your requirements are. Once you are licensed you will be able to begin applying for PTA jobs. A physical therapy assistant license is essential for employment in these areas, so you must make sure that you are properly licensed for the particular state in which you want to work as a physical therapy assistant.

Working Environment Of A Physical Therapy Assistant

Physical therapy assistants have fairly standard working environments and can most often be found in places like hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and treatment centers, therapy practices, other care facilities, in private doctors’ offices and for home health care agencies. All of these locations share a number of similarities, but in general it can be said the physical therapy assistants work in well lighted and well ventilated conditions and they have a safe working environment. The working environment is similar to any you would expect in the medical profession in general.

Usually physical therapy assistants work 40-hour weeks, but some outpatient treatment centers may require evening and weekend work as well. Generally speaking though work takes place during the week in daylight hours. These are the normal kinds of hours that you would expect in the medical industry, and, as health professions go, physical therapy assistants have a good deal in terms of their working hours. When considering physical therapy assistant jobs you may want to keep the hours that you are willing to work in mind so that you can be sure of getting a job that is not inconvenient for you.

An important thing to note about the work environment of physical therapy assistants is that it requires you to be physically fit. This is because you will need to moving patients as well as kneeling, bending and standing for long periods of time. All physical therapy assistant jobs require strength in these areas, so if you are not someone who has the strength and stamina necessary to do this amount of physical work then you may want to reconsider becoming a physical therapy assistant at all. This is something that is very important for all physical therapy assistant jobs.

Employment Outlook For PTA Jobs

It must be noted that physical therapy assistants belong to that group of jobs that are growing very quickly. The medical sector stays strong even in times of general economic difficulty and it worth noting that PTA jobs have the best possible outcomes in terms of job security. You are more or less entirely guaranteed to be employed at all times of you are a physical therapy assistant. There are a number of physical therapy assistant jobs out there and if you can become involved with one you will be in a position to have a stable and steady job for the rest of your life.

In the future the best places for physical therapy assistance to work will be in facilities that care for the elderly, such as acute hospitals, skilled nursing and orthopaedic settings. This is because the population is aging due the advanced age of ten baby boom generation. This means that there are more and more elderly people around who may require eh assistance of a physical therapy assistant at some point in their lives. This is good news for physical therapy assistants. This is a good area to get involved in now if you want to be guaranteed of job security in the years that are to come.

Tips For Looking For Physical Therapy Assistant Jobs

There are a number of jobs out there, and now you have to find the right one. Here are some tips:

• Know the locality – know what is going on in the area where you would like to apply for PTA jobs so that you have a higher chance of finding the right job.
• Know the specific requirements for jobs advertised in your area – this will help you make sure that you meet all of the necessary requirements easily enough.
• Start looking for work online – the internet is a great resource for anyone who is willing to take the time to use to help them find what they are looking for. There are plenty of job opportunities advertised online.
• Make a catchy resume – your resume is your first impression so you want it to be a good one. Look at what other people have written in the past and see what kind of resumes are in fashion at the moment.
• Have the right address – many physical therapy assistant jobs will only hire you if you live in the area where the job is being advertised, so if you are serious about the job, move if necessary.

The post Finding The Right Physical Therapy Assistant Jobs appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

Over the years, nursing has expanded just as the medical fraternity has, in that the varying types of nurses these days just about equal that of the varying types of doctors around in their specializing fields. These days there are nurses for every medical field, just about, and students can choose to specialize at a very early stage in the career as it may come as a more lucrative option (albeit with its own unique challenges), as the more rare the field (and specialized the qualification) the higher the earnings will be.

Examples of the variety in the Nursing field are: Clinical Nurse Specialists (nurses who work more with nursing staff than patients), Nurse Practitioner (often specializes in certain areas such as Gerontology and Paediatrics), Neonatal Nurse (they care for ill or premature infants), Psychiatric Nurse and the Orthopaedic Nurse (they mostly work with Arthritic sufferers and diabetics). Of course you then have your more familiar Registered Nurses, LPN’s and CNA’s which you may find in hospitals or general health care facilities.

For Nursing Aids though, their expertise remains within a set parameter and do not expand beyond it, with their primary concern being that of the patient and everything pertaining to their specific needs from a purely primary care giving perspective, providing comfort and assistance.

The Duties Of A Certified Nursing Assistant

To distinguish Certified Nursing Assistant’s from all other Registered Nurses, specialized or otherwise, here is a summarized list of duties they’re typically tasked with performing.

• Monitoring patients and recording any changes.

• Ensuring that all changes or developments are reported to their supervising nurse.

• Infection control – maintaining good personal hygiene as well as maintaining patient hygiene, including bathing residents and ensuring that things like hair and nail care as well as brushing the patients teeth are seen to.

• Monitoring and emptying catheter bags.

• Assisting patients with toilet visits – those who cannot do so on their own accord.

• Intermittent checking of vital signs including blood pressure, heart rate, temperature and respiration – as well as specific care with regard to patients who need constant monitoring (usually post operations).

• Recording food and fluid intake as well as feeding the residents and ensuring that water is always available.

• Maintaining a clean and sanitized working environment (falling under infection control as well).

• Ensuring that beds are clean and dry.

• Assisting patients by transporting or escorting them to the appropriate department for treatment or testing.

• Administering some prescribed medication (under a supervisors guidance) and nutritional supplements.

• Assisting incapacitated patients by turning them to prevent bedsores as well as providing necessary massages or therapy to patients who’ve temporarily lost movement – it ensures that there’s a necessary blood flow to certain extremities to aid in the healing process.

So for prospective, certified nursing assistant jobs can be sought at any facility requiring basic nursing under the appropriate and applicable supervision (usually by an RN or LPN). The CNA training program typically takes from six to twelve weeks to complete and includes subjects like Anatomy, First Aid, Sanitation and Primary patient care. Newly Certified Nurse Assistants can expect competency tests and/or “updates” every few years to maintain a certain standard of service and to even improve on it.

Typical shifts last around seven and a half hours with either an hour long break or a divided thirty minute and two fifteen minute breaks. They get paid by the hour and an entry level CNA can expect a starting wage of about ten dollars an hour (depending on their location and employment facility).

Qualified certified Nursing Aids are very much in demand, and according to the National Bureau of Statistics, that demand will only increase in the next few years. Needless to say though, there’s plenty of availability of certified nursing assistant jobs within the nursing sector as a whole.

Regions Of Employment

Since the role of a certified Nurse Aid is not a specialized one, CNA’s are thus employable at just about every facility which requires nursing care. In any classifieds or online searches you’ll find plenty of companies in need of qualified CNA’s. Usually though, the governing factor motivating people to become Nurse Assistants are personal reasons (though that is changing). Some people are spurned on by the need to take care of a loved one and looking to provide special care, whereas others are looking to climb the ladder of the nursing field with views to greater things. Of course there will always be a limit to what the CNA may be paid, which is another reason to pursue higher education. Location may be another mitigating factor in the search for employment; if a change of state is on the cards then qualified CNA’s should note any change to the nursing regulations (some states do differ from others in this regard – and in extreme cases, Certified Nurse Assistants may be required to complete additional classes or undergo an additional state sanctioned final exam to earn certification in that respective state. Of course governing and hiring bodies are aware of this apparent discrepancy and may be willing to make allowances in particular cases. All these aspects are usually sorted prior to taking the CNA program as students invariably have an inkling as to where they will eventually end up.

Some institutions have a clause in their contract so that those studying under their custodianship or through their official bursary have to then work for the company for a pre-agreed upon period. The downside of this is that you will not have any choices as to your employment and will be tied to a certain company for a set few years, fulfilling a certain bargain. The upside though is that it offers stable job security and that the issue of any job search will be of no concern to you. This means that you’re guaranteed work and by association are guaranteed some invaluable experience.

Requirements For Certified Nursing Assistants

If you’re reading this then you must surely know by now what it takes to be a Certified Nursing Assistant and that the CNA job is not just any service but is essential to the wellbeing of patients. Although all you need to qualify in order to study to be a CNA is a High School diploma or GED equivalency, and that it doesn’t realistically require anyone with prior experience in the health care field, the prerequisites of this job is way more. When you consider what it really takes to conduct yourself in this demanding job, selflessly with compassion and often subservience, it’s obvious that it takes one who possesses something special. Thus, any employer will no doubt have to assess their prospective employee thoroughly to assure themselves that they are the right person for the role.

The Need For Certified Nurses

As mentioned above, the demand for nurses is quite high, but don’t let this statistic fool you into thinking it’s a relatively easy route to acquire money and job security, you have to have what it takes to survive the arena. Seeking and finding employment should not be a problem, but sometimes it’s locating the right fit that is most taxing. CNA’s are typically empathetic and tolerant people (they have to be) but you still need to find an area of employment that suits you, whether that be the rigors of a city hospital or the quieter, though no less demanding, confines of a nursing home/long term care facility or clinic.

Since the government has finally woken to the need of the health care sector and subsequently has vowed to throw more support behind it. There’s been something of a knock on effect in that if the general health of society improves, more people will live longer, but then that leads to an increase in the elderly populace in need of special health care – meaning the greater need for Nurses (Caring for the elderly is the primary area in which CNA’s are required), a problem that’s already on our hands.

Slim respite is that nursing training programs are filling up with a decent amount of competition for placement, which has also increased the popularity of the online programs. The bottom line is that there are thousands of Nursing Assistant job opportunities available within the medical fraternity and healthcare sector.

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Becoming a CNA means completing a course, either at a college or community college, and then working under a doctor or registered nurse to see to the basic needs of every patient. As a CNA, you will have a lot of duties, some of which may include practical work while others may include administrative work. You need to be prepared though, for just about anything. Whether you attend a community college or a technical school to compete your qualification, there are some skills that you will learn at college and some skills that will need to be based on your common sense.

A really good CNA is able to look at the environment in which they work and determine, intuitively, what needs to be done. This is not easy, especially in a hospital where there is a lot of running around and seeming chaos, but it a good CNA is one that keeps their head in the game and gets the work done.

The Working Environment

A CNA may have to work at any time of the day or night depending on the shifts required, but many of them do not work more than a standard 40 hour week. Depending on the environment, a CNA may be called upon to work with just one patient for a few days, such as in a hospital, or with a patient for a few years, such as in a nursing home. They will need to assist patients with walking and dressing, often having to physically exert themselves in instances where the patient cannot.

As a CNA, you may need to care for those who cannot care for themselves, and this means bathing patients, helping them eat, escorting them to the bathroom and helping them get dressed. In some cases, where the patient cannot move at all, the CNA will have to collect the patient’s bedpan and even give them sponge baths. You may have to empty catheter bags, collect specimens and samples and even clean wounds. Basically, any job that qualifies as caring for the patient needs to be done by the CNA and sometimes this is a little grisly, such as when infected wounds need to be bandaged and re-bandaged.

The working environment obviously differs depending on where you choose to work, and some of the workplaces can include: hospitals and short term care centers, long term care centers, prisons and schools and even community centers.

Why Choose To Become A CNA?

A CNA is a specialised worker who has a nursing qualification from a community college. This means that there is not much need for years of study in this field, but for many who cannot afford to go to college, it is a great stepping stone to becoming a Licensed Practicing Nurse or a Registered Nurse. Depending on the state you live in, you may have to complete your qualification and then still do clinical hours to become a CNA, but this depends also on the place you work. The federal government has regulated these hours to an extent.

As a CNA, your scope of practice and responsibilities will not be as much as a registered nurse for example, and the hourly rate of pay will reflect this. This is why so many CNAs choose to work and study at the same time. However, being a CNA comes with its own rewards, not the least of which includes making a big difference to people’s lives. You will find as a CNA that not only will you meet many people, but you will also see many people develop and grow, and this is a reward in itself.

What Is A Scope Of Practice?

The term scope of practice is used to refer to the tasks that a CNA needs to complete on a daily basis in order to do their job. If you know your scope of practice, then you know what to aspire to, which is why so many institutions insist on goal setting sessions for their staff. However, just because you know your scope of practice does not mean you know how to complete the tasks assigned to you. This is why it is vital for a CNA to determine what they should be doing and why.

Knowing your scope of practice will protect both the CNA and their patient, and in some cases, the employer too. If there are any errors on the part of the CNA, the patient is protected based on the scope of work given to the CNA and vice versa. If a CNA does something that is not in their scope of work, the hospital is within their rights to dismiss them or at least issue them with a warning.

The scope of practice for a CNA includes tasks such as:

• Basic daily patient care – this includes doing all of the things for your patient that they cannot do themselves. These tasks are classified as ADLs or activities of daily living and are called this because they need to be done daily. This includes activities such as bathing, eating and dressing, but also smaller things such as grooming. You may be surprised to see how many patients who are bound to their beds want to do small things to feel normal, such as putting on makeup or attending to their hair.

• Movement – a CNA will need to assist with bed transfers, mobility and even ambulation depending on the patients they have been assigned to. This does involve special training which those CNAs will receive in their education.

• Exercises – a CNA may have to, as part of their daily routine, assist patients in exercising, especially when they are bound to their beds. This can include giving Range of Motion exercises that assist them in keeping their blood flowing and their muscles in use, as well as providing massages with the same objectives. They will also learn about skin care for the bedridden as well as the basic anatomy and nutrition requirements.

The scope of work does depend on where the CNA is employed. In a hospital where there are emergency situations constantly, there is a need for CNAs who can cope with the stress and the pressure. In an old age home however, there won’t be any dramatic situations and so the CNA will need to help those in the home with their basic daily activities.

To become proficient as a CNA, you will have to go through training within your workplace, and this training is also something that the falls into the scope of practice. For some CNAs working in specialised facilities, there is a need to complete training so that they can do their jobs better. Some of this training may include:

• Mental health – dealing with those patients who have mental deficiencies or mental health problems is not the same as dealing with someone who is bed ridden. In this case, the CNA will have to have endless patience to be able to determine what the patient needs and how they can give it to them. In some cases, the patients will be unable to communicate well or at all, and if this is the case, some intuition may be needed.

• Specialist facilities – a CNA may sometimes work in a hospital or institution where the patients have special needs, such as Parkinson’s Disease or other mobility limiting afflictions. In this case, they need to do all of the daily activities mentioned above, while also assisting the patient with any other activities.

• Child care – dealing with children is not the same as dealing with adults. In many cases, the children are scared and feeling alone. This means that there is a need to emotionally bond with them, and make them feel more comfortable in the hospital or treatment facility. This is often difficult because of the patience required and the need to communicate on the child’s level.

• Prison facilities – even in a prison infirmary there is a need for a CNA. This specialist is often allocated the same tasks they would be in a hospital, but they are dealing with criminals, some of whom may be violent or have mental difficulties.

What Does It All Mean?

All things considered, the amount of duties that a CNA has to perform may seem very confusing. To deconstruct this is quite simple though. All of the CNA’s duties will be allocated by the facility they work in. Some of these activities may need to completed daily, while others will be long term duties that need to be carried out once a week or even once a month. The duties based on time limit include:

• Daily – on a daily basis, you will be expected to provide patient care based on needs. Some of the needs include eating, bathing and dressing, while with other patients, you may need to clean wounds and apply ointments on a daily basis, especially in the cases of burns or infections. Some of these duties may also be administrative, such as updating patient charts on a daily basis and checking for any deviations from the norm, which may include spikes in temperature, bed sores or any other afflictions the patients may be suffering from.

• Weekly – some of the weekly activities for a CNA include updating charts and giving out immunizations. They can also include clinic work and any other assignments from a registered nurse.

• Monthly – generally, a CNA will not have many monthly tasks to perform, but they may be asked to assist in stock take, or to help with reordering files and other administrative tasks, all of which are done on a monthly basis.

Some of the duties included here make the work of a CNA sound unappealing, but it is important to remember that with the day-to-day scope of work of a CNA, there is also a long term goal, or a bigger picture. For those CNAs who are willing to do this job, there is a lot of reward in the personal interactions and in seeing people grow and heal. There are also a lot of opportunities for development, and it is easier to become an LPN or RN once you have worked as a CNA.

Part of the scope of work of a CNA will include teaching others, so when you have a few years of experience on the job, expect to take other less experienced staff under your wing.

One thing that cannot be argued is that there is a real need for more CNAs, especially those who can competently do the job. Unfortunately though there is a lot of demand, there is not enough supply. Many who study to become CNAs quickly change careers when they see that the benefits are not as quick in coming as they may have thought. But this is a vital career and for some, a real calling. In many cases, a CNA will stay in their job for many years, based on the rewarding feeling of helping others.

Many CNAs are older and more experienced people who have attended a community college while engaged in another career path. This is because though the work is not easy and the payment is not the best, this is a more rewarding job than they may already hold. In these cases, the transition to becoming a CNA is quite easy, and the rewards may be more than just monetary.

For those who want to enter this field, it is important to note that your first job may not be an easy one. To complete your clinical hours you may be called upon to work in those hospitals that do not have enough resources, but this is all part of the joy of helping others.

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EMTs, or Emergency Medical Technicians are those who respond to emergencies such as drowning, strokes, car accidents, falls, heart attacks, violent assaults, natural disasters and other situations requiring emergency medical attention. EMTS are accredited with saving many lives as they are normally the first respondents when there is an emergency and it is their training and quick actions which are so crucial at this time.

EMTs and Paramedics are typically dispatched to a scene by a 911 operator and very often work with fire department personnel and police on the scene. EMT personnel determine the condition of the patient, the nature of the emergency, and ascertain whether they have any pre-existing medical conditions. Appropriate emergency care is rendered, according to strict rules and guidelines, and where necessary the patient is transported to a medical facility.

Characteristics For An EMT Career

Because being an emergency medical technician is a job in which one is constantly faced with life and death situations and irregular and long hours, it takes a special kind of person to become one. There are very specific skills and abilities which one requires, apart from the training which one undergoes:

Abilities:

Deductive Reasoning – The ability to reason from cause to effect. An EMT must be able to apply general rules to particular problems and arrive at logical solutions which make sense.

Inductive Reasoning – The ability to reason from detailed facts to general principles. An EMT must be able to combine separate bits of information or particular answers to problems in order to format general codes of conduct or determinations. This includes being able to deduce and logically explain why seemingly unrelated events occur together.

Oral Comprehension – The ability to understand ideas and information delivered via spoken words and sentences.

Oral Expression – The ability to convey ideas and information through speech in a way that is easily understood by others.

Problem Sensitivity – An EMT needs to be able to recognize when there is a problem or when a problem is likely to occur. This does not include solving the problem, just the recognition that there is one.

Skills:

Active Listening – This ability to listen to what others are saying and ask questions where appropriate is a crucial skill for an EMT.

Coordination – An EMT needs to be able to quickly adjust their own actions in relation to another’s actions.

Critical Thinking – An EMT must be able to apply logical thinking and analysis in order to identify the strengths and weaknesses inherent in different approaches.

Equipment Selection – AN EMT needs to be able to quickly determine which equipment is needed in a particular situation.

Speaking – Effectively being able to convey information to others by means of speech.
Apart from all of the above, those who perform EMT jobs will have to perform very physical tasks such as bending, kneeling, and heavy lifting. This means that an EMT needs to be physically strong and fit in order to perform their duties to the best of their ability. Emergency Medical Technician jobs require strength, dexterity, agility and good physical coordination. They must also be able to carry heavy loads and need to have color vision and excellent eyesight although they may wear corrective lenses.

EMT Career – Education and training

The specific responsibilities that come with an EMT job depend on the level of qualification and training. Training for an EMT career starts with acquiring a high-school diploma and then following a progressive program of study. EMT job training is offered through Colleges, Community Colleges, Universities, Technical Schools, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Academies and Hospitals.

It is important that you do your training at an accredited institution in order to get certified. Programs can last between six months and four years, depending on the level of qualification. Graduates of Community College training programs receive associates degrees, and those who graduate from a four-year program receive a Bachelor Degree in Emergency Medical Technology. There are three basic levels:

1. EMT Jobs – EMT Basic

• The EMT-Basic level course covers emergency skills such as patient assessment and managing trauma, respiratory, and cardiac emergencies.
• Basic – EMT jobs training often includes practical training in a hospital emergency department or an ambulance, as part of their clinical training; clinical requirements vary by state.
• Instruction and practical training in handling airway obstruction, cardiac arrest, emergency childbirth, and in dealing with bleeding and fractures also forms part of the EMT-Basic level course.
• Trainees are also taught how to handle emergency equipment such as splints, suction devices, oxygen delivery systems, backboards, and stretchers.
• EMT Basic training requires 120 hours of classroom work and 180 hours of field work.
• Graduates must take a written exam administered by the NREMT or the State Licensing Agency.

2. EMT Jobs – EMT Intermediate

• EMT Intermediate training requires between 30 and 350 hours of field training. This is based on the scope of practice in the state in which the EMT-I wants to get certified.
• EMT-I students learn more advanced life-saving techniques such as administering intravenous fluids, clearing the airway with the use of sophisticated equipment, and how to use a defibrillator.
• The skills taught on EMT-I programs vary greatly from state to state.

3. Paramedic Training

• Paramedic training is the most advanced training that emergency professionals can do.
• Paramedic training is offered at community colleges and technical schools, and is either 12 months or 24 months duration and could result in an associate’s degree.
• Training is very advanced and includes formal instruction in physiology and anatomy and advanced medical skills.
• Paramedic training requires 1,000 or more hours of field training.

Emergency Medical Technician Job Responsibilities

EMT jobs are very important to all of us because these are the people who may hold our lives in their hands one day if we ever find ourselves in an emergency situation. EMT personnel are usually the first to arrive on the scene of an accident or another type of emergency such as a fire or drowning. The basic EMT duties are as follows:

1. Basic Life Support

• Life support – EMTs are trained in Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation.
• Heart Attacks – EMTs are also trained to offer support to someone who has suffered from a heart attack.
• Bleeding – control and staunching of excessive bleeding to prevent further damage or death.
• Shock – most people who suffer a trauma will go into shock, and EMTs are trained to deal with this phenomenon.
• Poisoning – time is of the essence when someone has been poisoned and EMTs are trained to deal with cases of poisoning.
• Bandaging wounds – intravenous insertion and administering emergency medication is also within the scope of EMTs.

2. Non-Life-Threatening Care

• Sports injuries – many of these types of injuries are non life-threatening but nevertheless require immediate emergency attention.
• Splints – broken bones need to be taken care of until the patient reaches a hospital, and the EMT will do this by applying a splint.
• Equipment – such as backboards, stretchers and neck braces are all part of the EMT arsenal.
• Cuts and Abrasions – and burns also form part of emergency treatment which an EMT will perform.
• Birthing – one of the EMT jobs that are always a pleasure is delivering a newborn. EMTs are skilled in delivery and newborn care.

3. Non-Medical

• Communication – Verbal and written communication skills are vital for those doing EMT jobs. They need to be able to communicate effectively with a patient who is in trauma, and relay information to other emergency personnel.
• Protocol – it is important that an EMT stick to the communication and dispatch protocol at all times.
• Driving – all EMTs are trained in emergency and defensive driving techniques.
• Legal Aspects – an important aspect to every EMT job is the knowledge of legal aspect of emergency treatment and knowing whether to provide or withhold treatment.
• Ambulance – once a patient has been delivered to the hospital, the EMT needs to ensure that the ambulance is prepared for the next call. They need to ensure that it is cleaned up if necessary and that supplies are replenished.

EMT Jobs – Scope Of Practice

According to the National Scope of Practice for EMTs there are four levels of EMS licensure:

• Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Advanced EMT (AEMT), and Paramedic.
• Each level represents a unique set of skills, knowledge-base and role.
• Basic EMTs handle the basic non-life threatening tasks but may not administer medications.
• The National EMS Education Standards and the National EMS Scope of Practice Model ensure that there is a strong interdependent system which assures the competency of emergency medical personnel in the United States.

EMT Jobs – Work Environment

Emergency Medical personnel work in teams and the nature of their work takes them to all kinds of scenes, indoors and outdoors. They usually work in teams of two, with one driving the ambulance and the other keeping the patient stable in the back. They have a lot to deal with in the discharge of their duties and it takes a special type of person to enter into an EMT career.

Things to note when deciding to study to be an EMT:

• EMT jobs are tough on emergency medical personnel, and the trauma they constantly deal with places a great deal of stress on them.
• Working in all kinds of weather conditions and working long and irregular hours are added stressors.
• Exposure to constant sirens can affect the hearing and even lead to hearing-loss.
• EMT jobs also expose emergency personnel to contactable diseases such as Hepatitis-B and AIDS.
• Dealing with violent drug-users is also dangerous and stressful.
• Medical emergencies happen 24/7, which means that EMT jobs are not 9-5 jobs; EMTs and paramedics often work odd hours and long shifts.
• Emergency Medical personnel who work on private ambulances usually work between 45-50 hours per week; those working in fire-departments average approximately 50 hours per week and those in hospital service work 45 to 60 hours per week.

Emergency Medical Technician Job Prospects

Job prospects in an EMT career are good because people are living longer these days due to medical advances and innovative technology. This also means, however, that there are more people who need emergency medical treatment. EMT services are largely moving away from volunteer services to paid EMT jobs, and job growth is projected to grow at a minimum of 12% per annum.

EMT jobs also open up due to older EMTs retiring or leaving to follow careers in other fields or in EMT education. More private ambulance services will also offer opportunities for Emergency Medical Technician jobs, as will local fire-departments and police departments. There may still be a need for volunteer EMT personnel in the rural areas as they do not have enough emergencies to support paying for full-time EMTs.

As a large segment of the older population, the one-time “baby-boomers” get older, there will be more need for emergency services, and hence the demand for Emergency Medical Technicians and paramedics will grow accordingly. There will also be more EMT jobs created due the fact that the time that EMTs spend with patients is increasing due to the emergency departments in many hospitals experiencing overcrowding; this means that the transfer of the patient form the ambulance to the hospital takes longer, and the EMT must remain with the patient during this time. Some hospitals cannot help at all and divert ambulances to other hospitals who can handle the emergency sooner. All of this means that ambulances may have to drive farther to deliver their patient into the hands of hospital personnel, which means that the amount of time they have to spend with a patient whilst in transit is dramatically increased.

Another reason why there is set to be an increase in EMT jobs is the fact that many hospitals are now specializing in treating specific illnesses or injuries. This means that more patients need to be transferred to the hospital which is best suited to their treatment, and not just the nearest hospital. As patients need to be monitored whilst en route, the demand for transfers between hospitals is set to grow and with that the need for more EMTs and paramedics.

The post More Detail On EMT Jobs And The Requirements appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

Due to people living longer there is more need for ongoing medical care. This means that more medical personnel are required but there are not enough physicians to go around and even with all the colleges there will never be sufficient graduates to fill the need. A medical assistant job fills the need for an assistant who can take over some of the more mundane and basic tasks and free the physician to do the real medical work.

What Is A Medical Assistant?

A medical assistant is a healthcare professional who makes sure that the needs of the patient are met. Certified medical assistant jobs came about when Physicians realized that they would never be able to get through all their patients and give them the personal attention that they deserve if they had to do everything themselves. A medical assistant does many of the tasks that a doctor used to undertake, such as taking the patient’s medical history, monitoring patients vital signs, taking blood samples, and various administrative tasks regarding the patients.

Those in medical assistant jobs are trained in both clinical and administrative procedures and can work in any healthcare facility. They undergo pharmacology, medical law, health sciences, patient care, laboratory procedures, and various other training which enables them to perform a host of diverse duties.

Who Does Medical Assistant Jobs?

The personal characteristics of medical assistants are very important as a medical assistant job not only requires good training, but also certain characteristics such as good teamwork and flexibility amongst others.

People who are looking to do a medical assistant job should:

• Be able to listen actively.
• Speak distinctly so that patients understand what is being told to them.
• Be perceptive to the actions of patients.
• Possess excellent writing skills and reading comprehension.
• Be capable of critical thinking and logical reasoning.
• Be empathetic towards patients.
• Be flexible and able to jump form one role to another without any problems.
• Have good administrative skills and a good telephone manner.
• Respect the confidential nature of medical information.
• Have a certain amount of manual dexterity and visual acuity.

Medical assistant jobs are well-suited to those who have an interest in the medical field. Those who have experience as a License Practical Nurse, Registered Nurse, or Medical Technologist and those who have medical administrative experience find certified medical assistant jobs enjoyable.

Education & Training For Medical Assistant Jobs

Whilst formal training in any field is preferable, it is not required for a medical assistant job. Medical assistant training can either be done on the job or via a course at a college or online. A certificate or diploma course is usually about 12 months long and an associate degree course will take you two years.

Those who do on-the-job training for a medical assistant job only need a high school diploma or equivalent, although it is recommended that their school subjects include bookkeeping, computers, mathematics, health, office skills and biology.

Individuals who got to college to do a course which will enable them to get certified medical assistant jobs will cover recordkeeping, accounting, keyboarding, insurance processing, transcription, physiology, medical terminology, and anatomy. They will also learn pharmaceutical principles, first aid, clinical and diagnostic procedures, and the administration of medications, pharmaceutical principles and laboratory techniques. On the administrative side they will study medical law and ethics, patient relations and office practices.

How Does One Become A Certified Medical Assistant?

The American Medical Technologists Board is an agency which regulates and awards certification to medical assistants. They also regulate the standards that are required for certification.

In order to become a certified medical assistant one must:

• Be a recent graduate of either a one-year medical assistant certificate or diploma program, or a two-year medical assistant associate’s degree at an institution which is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools.

• Have a minimum of 5 years experience in a medical assistant job.

• Complete an exam which is administered by the American Medical Technologists Board.

• Those who have passed a generalist medical assistant certification exam from another medical assisting certification body which is approved by the AMT, have been working in a medical assistant job for 3 out of the past 5 years and have met all other AMT requirements need not complete his examination to be certified.

What Types Of Jobs Can Medical Assistants Perform?

Medical Assistants can perform a diverse range of duties and their jobs differ slightly depending on where they work. Although the administrative duties of medical assistants is pretty much the same no matter what type of healthcare facility they work in, the clinical side of things can be quite different.

Once qualified one can choose to apply for a medical assistant job at any of the following businesses:

• Clinics
• Emergency Service Organisations
• Home Health Agencies
• Hospitals
• Insurance Providers
• Medical Offices
• Medical Supply Businesses
• Nursing Homes
• Outpatient Surgical Centers
• Pharmaceutical Companies
• Rehab Clinics
• Specialty Offices (e.g. Podiatry, Chiropractic, Ophthalmology)
• Urgent Care Centers

The above are just some of the various healthcare institutions which require the services of medical assistants. Most schools have an understanding with various employers and will be able to recommend you to some once you have qualified. Some graduates choose to work more on the administrative side of medical assistant jobs and others prefer to specialize in a certain field such cosmetic surgery, ophthalmology or anaesthetics.

Spread Of Certified Medical Assistant Jobs In The US According To The U.S. Department Of Labor

As you can see, there are medical assistant jobs in many fields and a wide variety of institutions, and it is up to you to decide where you would prefer to work.

Medical Assistant Job Description

Certified medical assistant jobs attract people who love helping others and have an interest in one or other medical field. Because the program is a relatively short one and is a very affordable program, it attracts both men and women. A medical assistant job entails working closely with doctors and patients and sometimes a team of healthcare professionals.

The medical assistant duties will depend largely on the type of and size of office in which they work. In a larger institution where there is a team of healthcare workers the work could be more specialized, either on the administrative side or on the clinical side. In a smaller business, such as a physiotherapist’s office or a dentist’s office there would probably be quite a mix of administrative and clinical duties.

A medical assistant job for an optometrist would probably also include the sales side of the business, as in helping patients choose the best frames, selling sunglasses and contact lenses as well as other eye-care paraphernalia such as contact lens cleaners, spectacles cases etc.

Certified medical assistant jobs can be very rewarding and consist of various administrative and clinical tasks:

Administrative Duties

• Managing the front desk and reception area and managing the telephones.
• Scheduling appointments for patients.
• Keeping the waiting area and examination rooms neat and clean.
• Disposal of contaminated supplies.
• Controlling inventory in conjunction with the doctor.
• Taking down medical histories from patients.
• Updating and filing of patient medical records.
• Medical billing and claims and insurance requirements.
• Keeping track of the business accounts and some basic bookkeeping.
• Phone in repeat prescriptions on instruction of the physician.

Clinical Duties

• Taking patient’s vital signs.
• Assisting in the general assessment of a patient’s medical condition.
• Taking care of operative and medical equipment.
• Preparing medical rooms and equipment for use.
• Explaining treatment procedures to the patients and assuring them that all will go well with their procedures.
• Preparing, positioning and draping patients for examinations.
• Assisting the physician in whatever procedures they deem suitable.
• Taking a patient’s blood pressure, performing an electrocardiogram on a patient, removing sutures and various other medical procedures.
• Laboratory work.
• You may also be required by the doctor to prepare and administer medications.
• You will be required to sterilize and wrap medical instruments.
• Drawing blood, and taking throat and wound swabs for cultures.

All of these tasks mean that one needs to be proficient on a computer, although each business will teach you their own system. You will be taught most of the skills required for a medical assistant job on whichever training program you decide to take.

Medical Assistant Job Prospects

Certified medical assistant jobs are plentiful and according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistant jobs are set to grow exponentially in the forthcoming years. Due to people living longer and the surge of physicians opening practices, the need for medical assistants will grow by approximately 34% in the next five or so years.

In 2008 there were approximately 483,600 medical assistant jobs, and the projection is that this will grow to 647,500 by the year 2018. The figure may be even higher than that by that stage as more and more medical discoveries and technological advances are made every year.

Medical assistant jobs are available in a variety of institutions such as hospitals, physician’s offices, clinics, nursing homes, emergency care centers, outpatient departments and home health agencies. There are also positions available in training facilities for medical assistants with many years of experience.

Medical Assistant Salary

Salaries for certified medical assistant jobs differ greatly depending on the geographic location and the type of business. According to the BLS report, salaries for medical assistant jobs in the same field in various states can range between $27,370 and $32,760.

The industry in which a medical assistant works also influences the salary of the medical assistant job significantly. This is so because of the different tasks that are embodied in the various disciplines, and annual salaries can range from $34,080 to $39,220.

Although some feel that the medical assistant salary rate could be higher, there are other factors which should be taken into consideration such as job security, medical aid, pension, bonuses and overtime pay. With so many people living to a riper old age and the use of preventative medicine being more popular there should be no problem with job security.

Certification – Is It Necessary?

Getting certified is not a requirement for medical assistant jobs, either by law or employers, although some employers may require you to be certified. There are two forms of certification, Certified Medical Assistant, which is awarded by the American Association of Medical Assistants and Registered Medical Assistant which is awarded by the American Registry of Medical Assistants.

CMA Certification

• Can be done directly after graduation.
• Certification is done via an exam.
• In order to take the CMA exam you must attend a medical assistant program which is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).

RMA Certification

• No further examination is required for registration.
• Registration can only be done once you have been working as a medical assistant for 5 years.

Both RMA and CMA are nationally recognized certifications, and although registration and certification is not required, there are definite advantages of getting certified as a medical assistant. Certification will definitely increase your employability as it gives credence to your qualification. Going to the trouble of getting certified when it is not legally required shows dedication and commitment, which are both qualities that are called for in medical assistant jobs. Employers will definitely choose a medical assistant who is certified over one who is not, as the medical assistant certification is a guarantee that the person graduated from an accredited school which means they received top class training.

The post Everything You Need To Know About Medical Assistant Jobs appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

The Importance Of Pharmacy Technicians

In recent years, due to immense shortages in aspects like education, training and expertise, technicians have been required to extend their reach and influence. These shortages are not limited to developing countries alone. Indeed, even in developed countries, technicians go the extra mile in providing good quality medical care and ensuring that the right procedures are followed in the dispensing of medication. According to the “Pharmacy Technician Overview,” as prepared as part of the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center: “Pharmacy technician jobs hold about 285,000 positions in the United States.”

Job Opportunities For Technicians In The Professional Sector

There are a range of possibilities in terms of pharmacy technician jobs. Placements depend largely on a technician’s level of experience, their formal education and their interpersonal skills.

Technicians In The Retail Field

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook 2010 – 11 as directed by the United Sates Bureau of Labor Statistics: “About 75 percent of pharmacy technician jobs were in a retail setting.”
In the retail field, these technicians play roles as community helpers, working alongside qualified pharmacists in the dispensary and performing tasks which include:

• Filling prescriptions and dispensing the appropriate medication to patrons who have obtained formal prescriptions from their general practitioners and other medical specialists.

• Giving advice on how to use the medication appropriately, how to deal with any potential side effects and what to do if the medical problem persists.

• Recording personal details and medical records for future reference.

• Obtaining approval from the resident pharmacist before prescribing or dispensing certain medication.

• Distributing medical documents and receiving prescriptions from other local pharmacies in order to attend to the needs of patrons.

• Monitoring stock and facilitating the ordering and intake of medication and medical supplies.

• Administrative tasks relating to the operation of the pharmacy, its staff constituent and its medical stock.

In addition to these professional tasks, these technicians need to be able to interact with people on a deeply personal level. Often, these technicians interact with community members when they are at their most vulnerable emotional states. They therefore have to have to have the ability to build a rapport with their customers and be trustworthy and approachable.

Pharmacy Technician Jobs In Prisons And Other Institutions

In institutions, technicians perform vital roles similar to those performed at a retail level. In this field, they may work in conjunction with and according to governmental procedures and ensure that facilities run as effectively as possible. There tasks therefore extend to those including:

• Performing formal audits of the work and consultancies of general practitioners who treat patients in correctional facilities, primary care institutions and armed force treatment centers.

• Ensuring a constant supply of the right kinds of medication through procurement of medication and the use of ordering systems.

• Administering injections and medication as prescribed by other medical professionals.

• Assisting with the treatment of minor ailments like colds and influenza, which are potentially life-threatening in these environments where infected patients live in close proximity with their fellows.

• Administering medication according to state laws and legislation.

• Monitoring the condition of patients and treating them accordingly in conjunction with other specialists and internal practitioners.

As in the retail sector, these technicians will often have to undergo specialized pharmacy technician training to deal with their immediate environments, which can prove very challenging. They will also be trained in emergency procedures to ensure that outbreaks of disease or acts of violence can be contained on a medical level without disrupting the operations of the institution. Although they may not perform the role of professional counselors, they need to have the knowledge and level of assertiveness to deal with patients who may be incarcerated and/or living under highly stressed conditions within an institution.

Mail Order Medical Dispensary Jobs

Ordering medication and filling prescription via mail orders is fast becoming one of the most rapidly growing fields in the industry. The large demand for these kinds of services is influenced greatly by society’s constant need for more convenient service delivery. It requires less effort and time on the part of the customer and works just as effectively as ordering pharmaceutical drugs over-the-counter does. Benefits for these kinds of companies are lower operating costs and the ability to stipulate one’s own working hours according to fluctuations in the level of demand. The duties of technicians in these types of positions include the following:

• Receiving the orders and relevant prescriptions which need to be filled.

• Recording all the orders and tracking the activities of customers for future reference.

• Meeting delivery deadlines to ensure that customers receive the medication they need in the right quantities and within the correct time frame.

• Labeling medication accurately and ensuring that all usage instructions follow legal and medial health protocol in the interests of protecting the well-being of customers.

• Constantly processing the inflow of new orders and ensuring that supplies are kept at sufficient levels.

These kinds of technicians do not play the kind of roles as those in the retail field do, largely because they do not spend much time with customers and in fact, rarely come into direct contact with the people they serve. Thus, they need to practice extreme discipline, as their time constraints and work ethic is not dictated to them directly by the public but is largely reliant on their own sense of responsibility and commitment to doing their job to the best of their ability. They need to be just as meticulous as any technicians in other fields because a mistake in this industry can be a matter of life and death.

Careers In Clinics And Hospitals

Among the range of certified pharmacy technician jobs which are available, are those in hospitals, clinics and medical treatment facilities. Here, it is integral that technicians have the ability to work as a part of a team. The unity of any workforce in this field of medicine plays a central role in its overall success and there simply can be no room left for error. Technicians in this environment also need to be able to use their initiative. Although their work is always done in conjunction with a certified pharmacist or doctor, a large amount of responsibility lies on their shoulders, especially in emergency situations where decisiveness is the key. Their duties include but are not limited to:

• Providing patients with advice on how to use their medication safely while they are in hospital and when they are discharged.

• Checking and recording the different kinds of medication which are prescribed to each patient on a daily basis.

• Helping doctors to prepare specialized medication administered to specific patients with special medical needs.

• Ensuring that all medication is prepared or modified in environments free from bacterial infection and the infiltration of harmful chemicals.

• Helping in the making of special medicines which are not commercially available or which do not arrive in the form in which they will be administered to patients.

• Preparing creams and ointments.

• Measuring, counting and preparing medication for distribution to different wards.

Technicians in this field have to be adaptable and flexible in terms of their abilities. Their services may be needed in different areas in the facility throughout the day and they need to be readily available to help wherever they can. They may be required to work in shifts which may range from day or night shifts to those which require technicians to work in the early hours of the morning. While they may be able to prepare their tasks in advance, they can never be sure when an emergency situation may arise and should be prepared for anything in this fast-paced work environment.

Fields Of Work Requiring The Expertise Of Trained Pharmacy Technicians

In any area of work, whether it be in the retail or the hospital arena, technicians may undertake or oversee the facilitation of certain aspects of work in this industry. These aspects become almost like areas of specialization and technicians may wish to focus on one or more of these areas during their studies and further education.

Medicines Management

According to Richard Seal, Program Consultant in Medicines Management for the NHS: “Medicines management is about enabling people to make the best possible use of their medicines.”
Therefore, in short, it is the discipline whereby the medicine prescribed to each patient is monitored closely to avoid negative side effects which may occur when two or more different types of medication are taken simultaneously. It regulates different medication to ensure that the process runs smoothly and that any medication issued to the patient is directed in a safe and responsible manner. It also requires that technicians be able to assist with a level of forecasting. That is to say, a technician needs to be able to predict which medication may be needed by a patient in future, having taking into consideration their medical history and their present condition. These patients may include cancer patients or pregnant women. This forecasting ability will help them to ensure that the hospital or treatment facility is well stocked with the appropriate kind of medication to adequately supply patients with the assistance they need.

Medicines Manufacturing

The industry of medicines manufacturing is one of the largest and plausibly, the most influential medical industry in the world. It is the boiling pot for the new technologies and medication which have led to the phenomenal increase in worldwide life expectancy and the capability of medicine to sustain and support life for longer. Needless to say, technicians in this industry work in plants and laboratories which are often closely linked with governmental institutions and initiatives and are constantly looking at ways in which to develop the medical industry further.

This particular field of work for technicians has evidently led to the establishment of large-scale companies and medical manufacturing plants.

Quality Control

In this field, all medicines are thoroughly tested to ensure that they are safe for usage, that they produce the desired results and that they perform according to the required standards. Technicians will be involved in tasks like:

• Testing medicines and recording data regarding its effects on patients.
• Technical preventative procedures to ensure that all medication can be safely used.
• Quality management procedures as stipulated by lab scientists and authoritative bodies.
• Ensure that governmental quality standards are followed during the manufacturing, developmental, packaging and distribution procedures.

These tasks are of a highly technical nature and technicians will liaise with medical scientists and technologists.

Medical Supplies Procurement

Procurement technicians work closely with medicine manufacturing companies and plants to determine which suppliers would best suit their company’s/institution’s/hospital’s/retail pharmacy’s business model and individual needs. While working in conjunction with pharmacists and practitioners in different fields, they will have the following responsibilities:

• The ordering and purchasing of patient care supplies, medication and medical equipment.
• Supply sourcing
• Planning services according to available budgetary stipulations.
• Facilitating automated ordering systems and implementing changes where necessary.
• Managing information technology systems for these purposes.

These tasks are imperative to ensuring that the operations of medical facilities run effectively.

Changes And Job Prospects For Future Pharmaceutical Technicians

According to various studies on what the future holds for technicians in these fields, pharmacy technician job prospects look increasingly positive. This is due to a number of factors including:

• New developments in medical technology and the subsequent emergence of new medication which can cure previously “incurable” diseases and conditions.

• A rise in worldwide life expectancy and therefore the longer need for each individual to use medication.

• The opening up of entry-level positions due to the rapid advancements of former technicians and aides who study and fulfill managerial and leadership positions.

• The rising trend in insurance companies using pharmacies and treatment facilities to monitor and track the health of their insurance members.

• The increase in demand for more efficient administrative organisation and technicians’ abilities to fulfill the needs of this demand.

Statistics show that the, “employment of pharmacy technicians is expected to increase by 32 percent from 2006 to 2016, which is much faster than the average for all occupations,” (“Pharmacy Technician Overview” Sloan Career Cornerstone Center (www.careercornerstone.org)).

For many aspiring medical field workers, striving towards obtaining a pharmacy technician job is an obtainable and sustainable prospect. With studies showing the rise in opportunities for these talented and hard-working individuals, the earning potential for technicians is increasing, much to the benefit of the industry as a whole. Although these positions are demanding and personally challenging at times, the rewards always seem to prove greater. Besides playing a major role in the very sustenance and maintenance of human life, helping people is always a self-fulfilling undertaking.

The post Looking At Getting Pharmacy Technician Jobs appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

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.

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