Archive for March, 2011

Benefits of a Career in Nursing

March 21st, 2011
Sandy Darson asked:




If you are searching for a new and exciting career, or a second career, then you should definitely take a look at a career in nursing. A career in nursing has more benefits today than it offered 20 years ago. Nurses today are constantly changing the healthcare industry, by consistently challenging the methodology, ideology, and overall practice of medicine. A career in nursing provides a rewarding experience and you can you can end each day knowing you helped make a difference in somebody’s life. Nurses are also needed in many industries aside from the traditional jobs in a hospital or doctor’s office.

In today’s job market, the best thing about a career in nursing is the fact that nurses are in such high demand. Nursing positions can be found in almost every state. There are many different positions available in various types of organizations, from insurance firms to universities. Nurses are also needed throughout the world rather a few types of organizations. Nurses are in such great demand that you can decide to take a break from your career and easily find a job whenever you are ready to return. As baby boomers enter retirement age, and people live longer in general, the need for nurses should only grow stronger for years to come.

However, being a nurse is much more than just being in demand. Nursing has a wide array of specialties. Therefore, you have the freedom of working in multitude of capacities throughout your career. New and emerging specialties such as holistic nursing, forensic nursing, and occupational nursing are constantly expanding upon what it means to be a nurse today. Nurses are also breaking into managerial, leadership, and financial roles like never before. You can decide to start in traditional nursing; later, try your hand at forensic nursing; then, move into a leadership or managerial position. Then there is the ability to start your own business as a consultant or an in-home healthcare professional; two industries that are growing at unprecedented rates right now. Besides, few other occupations allow a person the level of opportunities that a career in nursing can offer. The opportunity for advancement in nursing can rarely be duplicated in any other profession.

Nurses also benefit from having flexible schedules. Nurses can choose to work a variety of different shifts including 4, 8, 10, or 12 hour days. With the ability to work weekdays, weekends only, or a combination, nursing is quickly becoming the preferred occupation of parents, especially single parents who need flexible schedules. Not to mention, the freedom to work part time, full time, or the ability to change your schedule entirely as needed.

Starting salaries for new nurses is nothing to laugh at either. Though the salaries depend largely on the city and state that you are in, the median starting salary for registered nurses is close to $50,000 a year and there are always opportunities to work over-time.

Nurses are also encouraged to continue learning their craft through training and continuing their education. The nursing profession is constantly changing and evolving; so staying on top of new trends, techniques, and laws can only be beneficial to you. Luckily, there are enormous training opportunities available for nurses. A nurse’s employer often pays for these training opportunities.

Nurses also benefit from having a strong support system. Almost every nursing specialty has its own trade association. These resources serve nurses tirelessly, by providing and informing them of training opportunities for their specialty and general nursing, alerting them to job opportunities within their field; and, giving them a outlet to exchange challenges and ideas with their peers. These support systems also strive to prevent nurses from burning out by stressing the importance of a nurse’s need take care of him or herself. A nurse should also stay on top of the new laws that become a part of the healthcare industry along with the latest innovations in nursing tools and hospital equipment. Nurses can easily find the support they need because nurses are known for helping each other.

Then there is the level of job satisfaction. Most nurses cherish the fact that they spend their days helping people who need and appreciate their skills. Patients usually spend more time with their nurses than they do with their physicians. In many cases, nurses are able to not only translate medical jargon for patients, but also help patients feel better about their condition and/or treatment options. Nurses, provide comfort to patients and their families in difficult times.

Though nursing is not an easy profession, and you are likely to experience a faced paced, hectic, work environment. Being a nurse means making sick children feel better, bringing a smile to elderly patients, and helping families in crisis. You remember these experiences for the rest of your life. Becoming a nurse is a very rewarding career choice and you are able to help many people in many different ways.



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Pain Relief – 7 Risks, Dangers and Warnings If You Take Painkillers – From a Nurse

March 21st, 2011
Helen Hecker asked:




If you’re taking painkillers right now for a recent injury or other trauma for pain relief or if you have other acute or chronic pain that you’re taking them for here are a few risks, dangers and warnings I want to pass on to you about over-the-counter and opioid or narcotic painkillers. Plus what happened to my young assistant.

1. If you’re taking high doses of painkillers and have been for some time to treat back pain, joint pain, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis or any chronic pain condition, you should be in close contact with your doctor. You need to be checked regularly for heart, stroke, kidney, liver and gastrointestinal problems. Your blood pressure should be checked often to watch for any increases in blood pressure or high blood pressure.

2. All other avenues for relieving pain should be explored that are non-drug options. There are many techniques, therapies and treatments that you can do yourself that will relieve, diminish or stop your pain. If you have severe pain these methods may still reduce the amount you’re having.

3. If you’re taking painkillers often you want to use the lowest possible effective dose to treat your pain flare-ups. Painkillers should not be used to prevent pain. I’ve seen many patients expose themselves to the risks of painkillers by taking painkillers as a preventative measure. All drugs and over-the-counter, opioid and narcotic painkillers have side effects and potential risks. Many can be life threatening. You can do a lot of damage to your stomach, liver and kidneys. The liver and kidney act as filters. They try to get rid of toxins and in the process damage to these organs can occur.

4. Certain basics for taking pain medicines or pain medications apply. If you have a liver disorder or drink alcohol you should avoid acetaminophen (Tylenol.) Acetaminophen is in many combination drugs, read the labels or ask your pharmacist.

5. If you’ve ever had gastrointestinal bleeding or ulcers caused by any one of the NSAIDs then make sure to avoid them if at all possible. Especially if the damage was done in the past year. NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve).

6. Pain killer addiction can sneak up on you – another reason not to take them unless you absolutely have to. And a lot of people think they’re addicted to painkillers when they’re actually physically dependent on the narcotics or painkillers and not addicted. There is a simple, easy question and answer test you can take to find out if you’re physically dependent or addicted to painkillers.

7. Taking painkillers and other drugs should not be taken lightly. Many people are on transplant waiting lists for liver or kidney transplants because of the damage over-the-counter painkillers and narcotic painkillers have done. Narcotic painkillers are often combined with acetaminophen and the NSAIDs can cause more damage than the narcotic in many cases.

My former assistant who is in her twenties is on a kidney transplant waiting list. She goes in three days every week for several hours for her kidney dialysis. She spends almost half her time at the hospital. Taking Advil over a period of time gave her gastrointestinal ulcers and damaged her kidneys. There are many other cases like this. Be careful.

These are just a few of the risks, dangers and warnings that come to mind. There are many others. So be cautious if you’re taking painkillers for pain relief. Prescription and over-the-counter pain pills are not harmless. Find other non-drug options to reduce or stop your pain. Many others have found ways to do it. And remember that combined pain from two or more sources at the same time can greatly increase your pain. Reducing one can significantly lessen your total amount and give you relief. Seek non-drug options for the best pain relief.

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Diverticulitis Cures

March 21st, 2011
Christine Traxler, M.D. asked:




One in five people will suffer from a serious complication of diverticulitis, so it is important to know the diverticulitis cures that work best for early diverticulitis to keep the condition from becoming severe. Some doctors insist there are no real diverticulitis cures and that the treatment available only keeps the situation at bay; however, the available treatments do cure the infection and inflammation of diverticulitis, leaving only diverticulosis.

Diverticulosis is a collection of pockets in the colon that can get clogged with foodstuffs and stool and can get infected. Medical diverticulitis cures include giving antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, Flagyl, vancomycin and Keflex, which attack colonic bacteria that may be in the diverticulum. If the infection has spread to involve the entire abdomen, then IV antibiotics are used along with food given strictly by IV. In some cases, diverticulitis cures include drinking clear liquids like gelatin, tea, coffee, water, juice without pulp, popsicles, juice pops or beef, chicken or vegetable broth. These allow the colon to rest so that the infection clears faster.

Severe cases of diverticulitis need bed rest but in mild cases, a bit of walking is recommended so as to move food through the digestive tract faster. Muscle relaxants are good diverticulitis cures. These antispasmodics block the smooth muscle of the colon so as to reduce the pain of diverticulitis and allow the bowel to rest as it heals. Pain killers can be used to make you more comfortable as you heal from diverticulitis but are not diverticulitis cures per se.

There are natural and personal diverticulitis cures that you can do at home. You can increase the amount of fiber in your diet so as to keep food moving through the colon quickly. You can exercise more so that your bowels move regularly and quickly. As always, you should contact the doctor if you have any rectal bleeding, severe abdominal cramps, severe abdominal pain or a fever associated with any of the previous three symptoms.

Reduce the stress in your life to prevent diverticulitis from occurring. It is known that diverticulitis is exacerbated by stress so doing things like taking bubble baths and listening to soothing music or reading a book can reduce your chances of having your diverticulosis become diverticulitis. Other diverticulitis cures you can try at home involve manipulating your diet.

A high fiber diet is important in preventing diverticulitis. This can include diverticulitis cures like oatmeal, high fiber breads and cereals, fresh fruits and vegetables and flax seeds. These can keep you having regular bowel movements and reduce the chances that food can get caught in the diverticuli (pockets of the colon).

Certain foods are good diverticulitis cures because they are soothing to the colon. This can include papaya, which can be served whole and singly or paired with other melons in a fruit salad. Garlic also is soothing to the colon and must be eaten relatively raw at a rate of one clove three times a day. Brown rice has plenty of fiber in it and can be used to soothe the digestive tract as a tea or in a dish with vegetables. Potatoes without skins are good when you have a mild case of diverticulitis as they are easily digested and provide plenty of starch to the diet.

If you develop a complication, such as a blockage of the colon, holes in the diverticulum, severe constipation, bleeding from the rectum, abscesses, fistulae or other complications, you need to be hospitalized and use diverticulitis cures that might include surgery, IV antibiotics and a complete bowel rest. The recovery time is slower and it may be a while until you are back on your feet again, using your measures to keep diverticulitis from coming back again.

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