Prepare for the Certified Nursing Assistant Exam

Pursing a certificate as a Nursing Assistant is a very exciting adventure. The curriculum generally lasts from four to twelve weeks depending on the requirements in your state. Federal regulations require a minimum of seventy five hours of training. You Nursing Assistant course will be composed of classroom training, practicing what you learned on mannequins and each other, and clinicals that involve working with actual clients in a medical facility under the supervision of a Registered Nurse.

Upon completing your certification, you will be required to take the Certified Nursing Assistant Exam. Most states require you to sign up for the test within ninety days of completing all course work. Your program is set up to specifically teach you the fundamentals you will need on the job as well as to pass the exam. It is your responsibility to ask for clarification of any areas you are unsure of prior to taking the Nursing Assistant exam.

While the Certified Nursing Assistant Exam requirements will vary from state to state, most are very similar in structure and content. The test is made up of two parts – written and clinical. The written portion of the test will contain questions about basic concepts and procedures. Your course textbooks and class notes are excellent studying resources.

The clinical portion of the exam requires you to demonstrate anywhere from three to five Nursing Assistant skills you should have mastered during your program. You will need to perform these skills for a state examiner who will be watching your every move. These skills involve hand washing, privacy, dignity, providing a bed pan, re-positioning a patient in their bed, grooming, taking a patient’s temperature, and completing a linen change with the occupant still in the bed.

While hand washing, privacy, and dignity may all seem like common sense areas to many of us, they are very important. Since most communicable diseases can be eliminated by proper hand washing, this skill is absolutely necessary. Providing all patients with privacy and dignity are the cornerstone of any area of the medical profession. They are relevant to the many duties of Nursing Assistants.

Most people are very nervous about this portion of the test, but practicing correct processed during your program and on your own will help you be prepared. Forming study groups with classmates is an excellent way to practice for both the written and clinical portions of the test. There are also study guides available and online practice tests.

The state examiner understands that exams are stressful and make people nervous. They will be watching to see how you react under stress and pressure because these skills are also important for Nursing Assistants to acquire.

Passing your Nursing Assistant exam is very important. Some employers will hire you once you have completed the program, but you must provide verification that you also passed your state exam within a specified timeframe to maintain that employment. Most states will allow you to find out right after the exam if you have passed or not. You will have the opportunity to retest if you don’t pass the first time. There are rules regarding how many times you can take the test, the length of time between each testing, and the cost to retest. These things all vary by state guidelines.

Duties of a Nursing Assistant

Most of us are familiar with Nursing Assistants, but we don’t really know all that is required for them to complete their work efficiently and of the best quality. Time restraints can often make it difficult to decide to do a job better or to get more done. Thus, having an outstanding work ethic is of the utmost importance.

Nursing Assistants must also have excellent communication skills. They are required to have interactions with patients, family members, Nurses, and a variety of other medical professionals. It is imperative that they are able to effectively reply and communication that needs to take place with these various types of individuals.

It is widely known that Nursing Assistants provide basic are for patients including feeding, bathing, and dressing. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg when you take a look at all the various duties involved in being an effective Nurse Assistant. While the specific duties will vary according to the medical facility you work for, there are some that are found in most every one.

Bathing is generally either a shower or a bed bath depending on the level of care the patient requires. Personal hygiene including combing hair, brushing teeth, applying makeup, cleaning dentures all needs to be done for each individual patient. Shaving is also to be taken into consideration, and completed as needed.

Taking patients vital signs are a daily requirement of Nursing Assistants. Taking vital signs includes temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure. This information that is recorded on the patients chart, and reviewed by the Nursing staff and other medical professionals.

For patients requiring assistance with eating, the routine can take 20-60 minutes depending on the abilities of the patient and how much food they consume. The Nursing Assistant needs to document the type of food and drink consumed and the quantities of each on the patient’s chart. Some patients will need to take vitamins and other nutritional supplements, also the duty of the Nursing Assistant to administer.

It is also the duty of the Nursing Assistant in many medical facilities to be responsible for getting those who can feed themselves ready to be taken to the dining area. This may just be having their grooming done or helping to lift them into a wheelchair and take them to the dining area.

Nursing assistants will need to change any bedding or other soiled materials if found on the patient. This is a case by case basis and will vary each day. While interacting with the patient, you will need to document their behaviors. It is important that you notify the Nurse on duty if you see any changes that are unexpected or not generally seen. You will be trained in what to look for.

Keeping a sharp eye for details will assist any Nursing Assistant with successfully performing all duties. Caring for people changes because their needs change as well as those you are caring for changes. How quickly you are caring for new patients depends on the type of medical facility you work for.

In addition to performing all of these essential duties, Nursing Assistants are responsible for providing emotional support to patients and their families. This can be helping patients feel comfortable with their surroundings, hanging a photo on the wall for them, or helping them compose a letter. Family members may want you to certain things for a patient such as braid their hair daily or keep their fingernails short.

Performing all the duties of a Nursing Assistant takes practice, dedication, organization, and a sincere desire to help others. It can be an exhausting effort on some days, and often a job no one thanks them for doing. However, for those who enjoy what they do and take pride in it, we need to stop and see all that they do in a days work. They provide valuable services to patients and the medical profession.

Disadvantages of Being a Nursing Assistant

Being a Nursing Assistant can be a very rewarding career for those who are compassionate, hardworking, and who enjoy helping others. They are a necessary part of the medical field. Often, their work goes unappreciated by others in the medical profession. There are disadvantages to being a Nursing Assistant that can lead to someone no longer enjoying their job. The Nursing Assistant profession has one of the highest turn over rates in the medical field.

Most people who become certified as a Nursing Assistant don’t do it for the pay. They are interested as a way of helping others and working with other medical professionals. The low cost of the program as well as the short amount of time it takes to complete it are also big motivators to enroll in such a program.

We all like to feel appreciated, both professionally and personally. Nursing Assistants who don’t feel respected and appreciated by the other medical staff quickly come to dislike their job. It can lead to feelings of inadequacy and resentment. In some cases, it can result in not performing duties to the best of your ability. In others, it can result in simply not performing the duties you don’t enjoy doing.

While Nursing Assistants help keep things running smooth for everyone including patients, families, and other medical staff, they are often not paid very well. This type of position is considered entry level. The starting pay is generally a few dollars above minimum wage, but when compared to the earnings of Nursing staff, the pay is still considered to be very low.

Being a Nursing Assistant exposes you to a wide variety of patients. Meeting their needs including feeding, bathing, and dressing can often be difficult. Nursing Assistants are also required to be able to assist the Nursing staff with anything that arises during their shift. Nursing Assistants often find themselves running short on time to complete everything on the agenda for a given day.

One of the most difficult things for Nursing Assistants to deal with is the behaviors of patients. While most appreciate the help being offered, others become very angry and mean towards the Nursing Assistant. The risk of both physical and emotional abuse is very high in this profession. This can definitely take a toll of anyone.

As with any area of the medical field, Nursing Assistants are exposed to death and dying. There are times when feelings of hopelessness are felt by the Nursing Assistant as they see patients that they aren’t able to help as much as they would like to. While they understand that is part of the medical profession, it can still be very difficult to take.

Even the most dedicated and responsible Nursing Assistants can start to feel burnout in association with their job. This is when your job becomes so overwhelming that you lose interest in it, as well as other activities. It can be the result of working too many hours, working short staff, or a combination of other factors. Watch for the warning signs.

The decision to pursue employment as a Nursing Assistant lead to a wonderful career for you. However, it is important that you are fully aware of the disadvantages of the career choice as well. This way you can make an informed decision. You will need to ask yourself if the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. It will also help you prepare for signs of such disadvantages that you can overcome.

For example, you can obtain counseling services if you are experiencing negative feelings related to the death of a patient or other such issue. You can prepare yourself for issues that arise with other staff, and know where in your facility to go with that information for a solution. You can also prepare yourself to avoid burnout with the job, and take the necessary steps if you start to feel that way.

Medical Careers

People who choose to go for a medical career want to help people fight their illnesses. But since not everyone is qualified to be a doctor, there are other positions you can fill.

1. Some people have difficulty with their sense of hearing so they go and meet an audiologist. When a patient comes in, they try to find the source of the problem followed by treatment that may include cleaning the air canal, fitting and dispensing hearing aids, fitting and tuning cochlear implants and audiologic rehabilitation.

Those who want to become an audiologist will have to get a master’s degree in Audiology but this will soon change as the requirement will now be clinical doctoral degree. They must also pass the national examination given the Educational Testing Service or ETS; perform 300 to 375 hours of supervised clinical experience and 9 months of post graduate professional clinical experience.

2. Remember those people working in the drug store giving you medicine once you present a prescription? Those people behind the counter are called pharmacists. These individuals must first graduate from an accredited college and pass the state examination.

Having done so, they can already dispense drug and even provide information about their proper usage. In some cases, they advise doctors and other health professionals on the dosages, interactions, selection and side effects of medications.

The job of a pharmacist involves a lot of sacrifice as you have to work on holidays and weekends as drug stores are open 7 days a week and in some places, 24 hours a day. They may also find work in a mental institution, nursing home or neighborhood clinic.

3. Another job that will enable you to work hand in hand with a doctor is by being a dietitian. Their job is to tell a patient what to eat in order to lose weight or simply to promote better eating habits.

Nutritionists also fall under this category. Both individuals must have a bachelor’s degree in dietetics, food and nutrition or food service management systems. The dietitian may start their own practice and network with doctors; find employment in nursing homes, small hospitals or in a correctional facility to manage the food service department.

4. When you go for a medical checkup in a clinic or hospital, the person that will doing the testing is a laboratory technician. These individuals personally examine your body fluids, tissues and cells to see if there are any bacteria, parasites or other microorganisms that pose a danger to the patient.

They use state of the art machines like electronic microscopes, cell counters and other gadgets making their work less hands on and more analytical. If you want to pursue a medical career in this field, you must have a bachelor’s degree in medical technology. You will report to a clinical technologist or a laboratory manager.

There are other medical careers you can pursue aside from the four mentioned. You should do some research first if this is really something you want to do, go to school and then fulfill that dream. If at some point you want to shift somewhere else, go ahead and do so because there are other things you can do.

You can take on another job still in the medical field like assisting doctors in medical research.

Counseling for Nursing Assistants

The day to day activities of a Nursing Assistant can be rewarding and draining. Most of us only know that they offer assistance with feeding, dressing, and bathing patients. However, they do so much more. They develop ongoing relationships with the patients as they have more one on one time with them than any other medical staff. They also provide comfort to the patient and their family. They do all they can from reading to them, helping them write letters, and holding their hand as they move from life to death.

Experiencing the negative activities that occur in the Nursing Assistant profession can really take a toll on an individual. It is especially hard when someone they have been caring for takes a turn for the work, becomes terminally ill, or dies. They still have to go on with their other patients, but they can be left feeling empty and at a loss.

Many medical facilities are aware of this issue. With being compassionate comes true feelings of friendship and loss. Counseling is a good way to help Nursing Assistants deal with the events that take place in the working environment. This counseling can be conducted through the employer or at the expense of the Nursing Assistant from an outside resource.

Counseling services offered on site to Nursing Assistants is generally offered free of charge, as long as the information being discussed is work related. The employer may have several paid counselors that only provide services to employees. Others use their counselors to provide services to their employees, patients, and the family and friends of patients. You will need to look into how it is set up at your place of employment for specific details.

These counseling sessions can be ongoing or set up only when a Nursing Assistant feels the need to do so. It is important to understand that the information you discuss with the counselor at your worksite will not be shared with your employer. Too often, Nursing Assistants avoid this type of support and help because they are afraid their boss is going to get a transcript of the entire session. All counseling sessions are held in strict confidentiality. They only time anything is reported is if the counselor feels you are in danger of hurting yourself or others.

Since counseling is important in the medical profession, you may be able to encourage administration at your place of employment to set up services for employees. While they may argue that it is costly and not in the budget, be prepared to discuss the benefits to the overall effectiveness of the staff. Employees with good mental health will do a better job. They will also choose to continue employment longer than staff that needs counseling but does not receive it.

If your employer does not offer counseling services, it is important that you look into an outside resource for such services. The Nursing Assistant field can be draining and emotional. A key to staying on top of the game is to take care of yourself. This means both on a physical and emotional level. In reality, you aren’t going to be effectively caring for patients if you haven’t been taking care of your own needs. Counseling services can be expensive, but most health insurance plans cover them. If yours doesn’t or you don’t have health insurance, check in your area for discount programs and sliding scale fees.

Counseling services for Nursing Assistants is a vital key to staying compassionate and interested in your work. If you let the dark side of the profession consume you, then you will no longer be contributing to the well being of the patients you care for. Being a Nursing Assistant is a great opportunity to care for others and give something of yourself to society. However, it can’t be stressed enough that you must take the opportunity and time to properly meet your own needs. This is one of the biggest reasons so many people in the medical field suffer from burnout. They simply do not take their own needs into consideration at the level they should.

Medical Careers List

There was a time that there were no fields of specialization being a doctor. This has changed so those of you who don’t qualify as a surgeon may still pursue something once you narrow your choices from a medical careers list. Here are some of them to help you on your way.

1. First up is by working as a medical assistant. You can easily get this job after you complete a 1 or a 2 year program from a vocational technical high school, vocational school or community college.

Most of the time, their job is to perform routine administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of the doctor running smoothly. They will not examine, diagnose or treat a patient unless they are told to assist by the attending physician.

They will also fill out medical records and forms, handle correspondence, arrange hospital admission, laboratory services, bookkeeping, maintenance and purchase of new supplies and equipment.

2. Let’s say you know someone who has a back problem and going to the doctor has not produced any positive results. If you become a chiropractor, you may be the answer to their prayers as this specialist may make the problem go away for good.

A chiropractor performs their session holistically without the use of any drugs or surgical treatments. To make their treatment more effective, they will advise the patient to make some changes in their lifestyle such as a change in diet, exercise and sleeping habits.

There are times that the chiropractor will have to make a manual adjustment in the spinal column using water, light massage, electric, heat or ultrasound therapy. To make sure it lasts, they may apply braces, tapes and straps.

3. Another medical career that does not involve surgery is occupational therapy. Their job is basically to improve the conditions of a patient who is suffering from something emotionally, mentally or physically so they may once again live happily.

Treatment will vary depending on the patient. In some cases, physical exercises will be used to increase strength, those who suffer from short term memory will be given flash cards to aid in recall while those who have coordination problems will be given an exercise to improve hand and eye coordination.

The occupational therapist may also design special equipment and then teach the patient how to use it.

4. Something closely related to occupational therapy is physical therapy. The job of the practitioner is basically to help the patient become mobile by encouraging the person to use their own muscles to increase their flexibility and motion before engaging in other exercises that will improve balance, coordination, endurance and strength.

Sometimes, the physical therapist may use electrical stimulation hot packs, cold compresses and ultrasound to relieve the pain and reduce the swelling. If the patient is unable to become mobile anymore after losing a leg, they will be taught how to use assistive and adaptive devices such as crutches, prostheses and wheelchairs.

The 4 careers mentioned are just some of the things you can pursue. Of course, you will have to go to school first and get a degree then practice this for some time before you are able to open your own clinic.

If being a medical assistant, chiropractor, physical and occupational therapist is not for you, do some research and find something you are interested in the medical career list.

Consumer Complaints about Nursing Assistants

Most Nursing Assistants work very hard to ensure the safety of patients as well as provide them with quality care. However, consumer complaints happen often, resulting in the profession not getting a fair look. Too often the focus is on the negative that takes place during interactions with Nursing Assistants than reporting good staff to the proper people.

One of the biggest complaints about Nursing Assistants by consumers is that they are too rushed. They often have to hurry through bathing and dressing because they have too many demands on their time in a given shift. This often results in patients getting cared for, but quickly and robotically. The personal touch is often smothered in an effort to get it all done.

For patients, simple requests are on of the few perks they have in a medical facility. It also allows they to still exercise some control over their decisions. This is very important to someone who no longer is able to be at home or do basic tasks for themselves without assistance. These requests can be as simple as helping them from the bed to a chair or bringing them a pen and paper to write a letter. It is easy for Nursing Assistants to get side tracked or forget. However, since these simply requests are important to the patient, it is very important that Nursing Assistants follow through with them. Carrying a pen and notepad to jot down requests is a great way to remember them.

Patients don’t like to be kept waiting. It is very hard to adjust to. They may forget they are not the only patient. Nursing Assistants do the best they can to stay on schedule. However, working short staffed and medical emergencies can quickly put them behind schedule. Nursing Assistants have to prioritize, so sometimes helping someone who has fallen is more important than giving the patient a shower on time. Since confidentiality is so important, the Nursing Assistant can’t tell the patient why they are running late.

Never discuss a patient with another staff member or family member in a manner that makes the patient feel as if they are not in the room. Speak with them in mind. It is important to carefully choose your words, even when you think they are asleep or in a coma. Many patients have filed complaints regarding conversations they overheard while Nursing Assistants thought they were sleeping or unresponsive.

One huge area of controversy is that many consumers are uneasy with who quickly a Nursing Assistant can obtain a license. They do not feel there is adequate training time to do an effective job. Federal guidelines require all Nursing Assistant programs to have a minimum of 75 hours of training. The actual amount will depend on the program coordinator and the state requirements for a particular program. However, it is often debated that to be certified as a manicurist, it takes over 1000 hours of training, but so little to become a Nursing Assistant.

Medical facilities and program developers defend the hours required to earn a certificate as a Nursing Assistant. They feel the training builds on an individuals basic concepts of feeding, bathing, and dressing individuals. It is routine tasks we have all done at some point in our lives. They also stress that the clinical hours are hands on training in a medical facility with close observation. This type of training is more effective than just classroom curriculums of other programs. In addition, Nursing Assistants are closely supervised by Nursing staff on a regular basis.

Nursing Assistants work hard to do an effective job of meeting the needs of consumers. Complaints will continue to be file as long as Nursing Assistants maintain such high workloads. With the demand of this field continuing to grow, it is not likely that the workloads will get anything but larger over time.

Medical Device Careers

Sales agents who work for pharmaceutical companies do not only sell drugs to doctors. They also sell devices such as pacemakers. The best part of being a sales agent is that you don’t need a medical degree to get started. You simply have to know what you are selling and then making that pitch.

The first thing you have to do is apply for that position. That means polishing your resume and emailing or handing this out to potential medical device companies in the need for sales agent. If you have an interview coming up soon, you should do some research about the company and be familiar with their products so that if that if there is anything unclear, you can ask about this when it is your turn to raise questions during the interview.

It is also possible to ask your interviewer to do a SWOT analysis of their company because you will be able to understand what are their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

As for the information about the potential employer, check out the corporate website. Don’t forget to look at articles that have been written by various publications about them.

When the interview is over, ask how it went so you will have the opportunity to know what you need to improve on. This will also give you time to clear up anything that you may have missed earlier because this is the only way to show that even if you don’t get hired, you don’t make the same mistake when you are called by another company for an interview.

If however you are hired, then you should be familiar with the product. Most companies have product training programs which will you give time to learn about this device inside and out. This should also prepare you to answer any questions that potential buyers may have like what makes your product different than that of the competitor.

Those who are able to sell their product will be able to make a lot of money in terms of sales commissions. This is as analysts have seen that the sale of medical devices is a very lucrative career as more machines are released each year.

But the medical device career does not end by just selling the product. If you have the talent and skill of making one or further improving it, you can apply to work as part of the research and development department of the company.

To do this, you have to keep in mind that what you are building must have a high sense of reliability in mind with only a few minor problems during its life span. It should be something that doctors and nurses will be able to use.

This is done by what is known as reliability science which is defined as the probability of a product performing without any glitches. If the odds of it faltering are quite high, then more hospitals will want to buy this machine.

Will you succeed in a career selling or making medical devices? That entirely falls upon you. If you have the skill or want to give it a shot, there is no harm trying. Should things not go your way, maybe you can still be in the medical field selling drugs, doing research or work with doctors by some other means.

Confidentiality is a Must for Nursing Assistants

Nursing Assistants are exposed to a wide variety of events taking place in the medical field. It is crucial that they are aware of the importance of maintaining confidentiality in all aspects of their job.

Nursing Assistants are well trained in the policies and procedures of the facility. While it is important to follow them, it is not recommended to discuss them outside of the facility. For example, you don’t want to provide others with confidential information regarding evacuation and other emergency procedures. Doing so many compromise the safety of the patients and staff during a natural disaster or violent attack.

Patients requiring care in a medical facility are to have their privacy protected. This means you do not discuss their care or other personal information with any other person except staff they have an interest in the care of that patient. Confidentiality becomes an issue when you know someone in the facility or someone asks you why someone else in there.

All patients have the right to their privacy being maintained. Compromising this information is a direct violation of every medical practice. Providing such information can result in termination of your job, and in some cases, the loss of your Nursing Assistant Certification.

Communicable diseases can surface in medical facilities. It is important that you follow the policies and procedures set in place by the particular facility your work with. However, do not release information regarding such diseases to anyone. This could result in a panic over the possibility of an epidemic, and lead to patients wanting to leave the facility against medical advice.

The proper medical staff will release information on communicable diseases to the proper agencies. Often this includes the area health department. They can then help the medical facility incorporate a plan of action to remedy the solution. The decision might be made to share the information with the area newspapers in an effort to allow them to protect themselves and to seek medical attention if they display the symptoms of a communicable disease that requires treatment.

Confidentiality also includes other medical staff. Nursing Assistants should not be disclosing any information they overhear among other staff in regards to a patient. Likewise, they should not disclose any information that they hear about the private interactions of staff. Often referred to as gossip, this violation of confidentiality can result in poor working relationships. The result is often a stressful work environment and patients not receiving the best care because lines of communication are not open.

To protect yourself, it is important that you clearly understand the basics of confidentiality and why it is so important in the Nursing Assistant profession. Make sure you are fully aware of the specific policies and procedures in place for the facility you work for prior to accepting employment. In addition, it is the responsibility of the Nursing Assistant to report any violations of the confidentiality policies and procedures to the proper person. Not doing so makes you as much a part of the violation as those who committed it.

While it is human nature to talk and discuss things in common, make sure the information you are sharing in regards to your work are being shared with those who need to know the information. It can be humiliating enough for individuals who need to be in a medical facility without worrying about who is going to find out about what took place while they were in care.

Medical Devices Sales Career

Pharmaceutical companies do not only make money selling drugs. A certain percentage also comes from the sale of medical devices. If you think you have what it takes to sell, then perhaps you should go for a sales career selling these products.

A sales career in medical devices means going out of the office often to meet clients. You may have to drive a certain distance or get their by flying in a plane. But before you meet them, you should already have a plan on how to present this medical device and be prepared to answer any of their questions because you don’t have a second chance if you fail on your first sales pitch.

Your customers are usually doctors since they will be recommending your product t o patients. So, you have to tell them what you are selling and demonstrate how it works. If the device is placed inside the body of a patient, the best way to do this will be to create a computer generated visual presentation and then present it to them.

While you are doing this, you should let them hold the device and give them a hard copy of the brochure so they can also read it. As mentioned before, you have to be ready for whatever questions they throw at it because the minute you stutter or show that you are unsure of what you are selling, you may have already lost the opportunity right there.

This will never happen of course if you have reviewed your product carefully the second that it is given to you. Since you work as a department, you can ask questions or conduct mock up sales presentations because it is better to make mistakes now than with a client.

The best way to tell if the doctor will buy the medical device or not is to look for signals. These could either be verbal or non verbal. If they ask how many do you have, then you know that they are willing to get it. Non-verbal is a bit tricky so watch their hands. If they are playing with it as though they own it, chances are they are interested.

Once these signals are seen, then it is time to close the sale. You can be frank and ask if they are willing to buy if they have not said so yet. You may also say that the medical device is available in different colors and asking them which they prefer to get. Should they respond choosing one color or the other then it’s a deal. The other option will be to attach some freebies to the medical device. Usually, these help enhance the product which also helps.

One thing some sales agents forget to is to follow up with their previous customers. You have to remember that these doctors see lots of patients monthly. Aside from those who have to undergo regular checkups, there are new patients who come in so you have to call them up every so often to find out if they want to order from you again. This will also give you the opportunity to check if there are any problems so this can be corrected.

You can have a great sales career selling medical devices. You just have to be patient and persistent because along way, there will be some doctors that will not be interested in what you have to offer.

Being a Nursing Assistant can lead to a Career as a Nurse

A Nursing Assistant certificate allows you the opportunity to secure employment at entry level in the medical field. This position requires compassion and dedication to assisting others. It also requires a high level of effective communication as well as attention for detail. Most people entering the Nursing Assistant profession find it to be a rewarding and challenging career. However, many choose to use it as a building block for becoming a Nurse.

The program for becoming a Nursing Assistant is very fast compared with the time it takes to earn a degree in Nursing. Therefore, many see it as a logic choice to gain experience in the medical field. It is an excellent idea for those that aren’t sure if Nursing is for them. It is better to spend four to twelve weeks in training to find out then to spend two or more years working on a Nursing degree.

There are individuals who must maintain employment while pursuing their education degree for financial reasons. For individuals in this position, completing the Nursing Assistant program offers them a way to secure employment that is related to what they are going to school for.

Others choose to advance their career once they have been working as a Nurse Assistant because they see many of the tasks Nurses are responsible for. It is a level of responsibility they wish to acquire. Since they work so closely with the Nursing staff, it is a perfect opportunity to explore more of what takes place. Others have a sincere desire to further their education, but for a variety of reasons have not been able to.

There is a significant pay difference between working as a Nursing Assistant and having a degree as a Nurse. The dollar amount varies based on location, but on average the difference is $4 to $9 per hour more. It doesn’t take long at all for the overall income difference to be seen. Nursing assistants often decide that they want to work in the medical field, but definitely want to be paid more for their work. Of course, the level of responsibility differs greatly between a Nursing Assistant and a Nurse.

Working at a medical facility as a Nursing Assistant can work to your advantage when you decide to pursue a degree in Nursing. It might help you get into the program if there is more interest in the program than enrollment opportunities.

Due to the continuous demand for qualified trained professionals in the area of Nursing, most medical facilities will support you in your efforts to further your education. They will often adjust your work schedule to accommodate you whenever possible.

Tuition assistance programs are offered by many employers in the medical field. They work in a variety of ways. Some will cover a percentage of your tuition; others will pay up to a particular dollar amount. Often, you will be required to agree to work for them for a particular length of time or have to reimburse them for any tuition paid on your behalf. Others won’t pay anything while you are attending school, but will offer tuition reimbursement upon completion of your Nursing degree.

Another advantage of working as a Nursing Assistant prior to obtaining your degree in Nursing is you will have an edge over other recent graduates. You will have work experience to offer in combination with your degree while many others will only have their degree.

Employers like to maintain their quality employees. If you are able to show outstanding work ethic as a Nursing Assistance, it is very likely they will offer you a position as a Nurse upon your completion of your degree. This often depends on the job openings at the medical facility you work for.

Your certificate and work experience as a Nurse Assistant can help make career opportunities appear. It may peak your interest in returning to school to work on your Nursing degree for a variety of reasons. It can help you be accepted to a Nursing program, as well as help you secure employment after completing your Nursing degree.

Medical Equipment Sales Career

Hospitals require a lot of medical equipment so their patients can be treated. Monitors, respirators, bed, computers are just a few of them and given that they will need a lot of these, you can make money earning sales commissions by have a sales career in medical equipment.

Your clients as a sales agent include not only new hospitals under construction but also old ones as they also need to upgrade their facilities. There are also private and public clinics which you can visit and all you have to do is set up an appointment with whoever is in charge with their purchasing.

Whenever you meet with them, you have to show not only pictures of your products but also the real thing. At times, you may even have to leave a few with them so they can try it out. To make your presentation look impressive, you can even create or have someone make a computer generated presentation.

Explaining the features and advantages of the medical equipment your company is selling is just one aspect. You should also be ready to answer questions that they may ask. For that, you should ask yourself, if you were a doctor, what would you want to know about the product? Then practice how you will answer them by doing mock up sales presentation.

How do you know if the purchaser will buy the medical equipment you have or tell you they are not interested? The best indicator is how they respond both verbally and non-verbally. If they express interest by asking how many do you have or when this can be delivered, you know you have made a sale. Another indicator is if they have a smile on their face or nod their head.

Once you see these signals, it is time to close the deal. You can ask directly how many do they want and then tell them when these will be delivered. It also wouldn’t hurt to throw in some freebies to the deal so they know they are getting a good bargain buying the medical equipment from you instead of a competitor.

If ever they are not ready to make a decision, give them some time to think about it and then pay them a visit or call a few days later. You have to remember that medical equipment costs a lot of money even if they buy just one or two and they will probably have to review their budget.

Whatever happens, don’t forget to thank them for their time in seeing you. Who knows, they may not be interested in getting medical equipment from you now but if they are not happy with what they purchased from a competitor, they may decide to go back to you in the future.

Should they buy from you, don’t forget to also follow up on how the medical equipment is doing. This will give you the chance to check if they are satisfied with your product and if they are interested in buying more or something else in your catalog.

Hospitals need medical equipment and medicine to treat patients who are admitted. By doing your share as a sales agent, you contribute to their comfort when they have to undergo surgery or have to be confined there for a few days.

Ways to Show Appreciation to Nursing Assistants

Nursing Assistants work very hard to offer a contribution to the medical field. They work hard to help patients meet their basic needs. They also offer comfort and support. They work one on one with patients, getting to know them better than the other medical staff. They use this knowledge to make things easier for the patient as well as to help the other staff do what is best for the patient. In addition, they work with Nursing staff, often assisting with anything that comes up at a moments notice.

While most Nursing Assistants are happy in their role, they often do feel like they are taken for granted. The do so much behind the scenes that often the patients and the employer don’t realize all that they contribute to the overall goals of the medical facility and the medical profession as a whole. There are several things patients, staff, and employers can do to recognize the efforts of Nursing Assistants.

Many patients and their family choose to send a simply thank you note or letter to the Nursing Assistant. Often, this heartfelt thank you is more than sufficient. It can often help a Nursing Assistant stay motivated, knowing what they do really does make a difference for many people. A simple gift of candy, flowers, or a gift card can also be a great token of appreciation for someone who offered so much during your time of need.

Many Nursing Assistants do not feel appreciated by other medical staff, especially the Nursing staff they work directly under. Too often Nursing staff only point of what a Nursing Assistant didn’t do. This needs to be addressed, and verbal appreciation needs to be expressed towards the efforts of Nursing Assistants. Another great way to show appreciation is to ask Nursing Assistants for their input regarding patient care and include them in discussions about how to handle particular patient issues. This will definitely make them feel appreciated and valued.

Employers need to work hard to make Nursing Assistants feel appreciated as well. With them being is such high demand, they need to work hard to keep those quality workers they already have. In addition, their attitude towards the issue will often set the tone for other medical staff.

Employers can extend appreciation to individual Nursing Assistants or the profession as a whole in employment newsletters. These are often well read materials that pertain to the medical facility and can be distributed monthly or every pay day along with your check. If your facility participates in Medical Appreciate Week, then it is imperative that the Nursing Assistants feel honored during that time as well. Some employers offer raises to Nursing Assistants based on their performance as a bonus to recognize their efforts.

It is important to understand that Nursing Assistants don’t enter the profession looking for recognition. They sincerely want to help others the best way they can. However, being over worked and under appreciated it a mix that leads to stress, burnout, and often leaving the profession. Medical facilities need to take the opportunity to inform other staff of all the duties Nursing Assistants perform. Other staff and the facility need to work hard to make them feel as important as any other staff member. Too often, the mentality is that they are entry level workers with less education. This misconception will lead to a continued shortage of Nursing Assistants to help patients and other staff. That being said, it is definitely to the advantage of the staff and facility to make sure Nursing Assistants feel welcome, appreciated, and an intricate part of the team.

Become a Nurse Assistant

If you enjoy helping other people, a career in the medical field might be for you. The field is always in demand of qualified compassionate individuals who are willing to put forth their best efforts to help others. A Nurse Assistant is an entry level position that will allow you the opportunity to help others and gain experience in the medical field.

Since Nurse Assistants are needed throughout the Nation, you will be able to secure employment opportunities most anywhere. Job security is very high in most areas of the medical field. The training programs to earn your certificate all vary depending on state regulations. However, most can be completed in four to six weeks on average. The cost of such programs is very low.

If you need assistance with the cost of the course, many programs offer scholarships or financial aid. In addition, many community agencies such as Human Services will assist you with the cost of completing such a training course. Some employers in the medical field will agree to either pay for your Nurse Assistant training or reimburse you upon successful completion of the program.

Most Nurse Assistant programs start every six to eight weeks. It will depend on the length of the course and the interest in your particular area. This is different than most certificate programs where you have to wait until a full semester ends before you can enroll. Sometimes that can mean a three or four month waiting period.

During your Nurse Assistant training, you will attend a classroom learning environment as well as receive hands on training. The hands on training requires you to complete a certain number of hours, called clinicals, working at a medical facility with actual patients. All of your work will be overseen by trained professionals who with assist you with the proper procedures and medical understanding.

The combination of classroom learning and clinicals will result in you being well prepared to enter the job market as a Nursing Assistant. Often, the medical site that oversees the clinicals will offer employment to those students who are learning well, following procedures for their facility, and who have a positive attitude.

Working as a Nurse Assistant can be very exciting and rewarding for the right person. The work is challenging and you may find yourself over extended at times. Things in a medical setting will change all the time, so the job definitely isn’t predictable. There are so many variables including the patients, then number of patients, other staff, and the medical needs of the patients that you work day with never be predictable.

While being a Nurse Assistant is an entry level position, it is also a very important position. You will be responsible for many daily living tasks for each patient. These tasks include bathing, grooming feeding, and checking their vital signs. You will also be responsible for assisting with medical equipment and moving patients as needed. The exact requirements of the position will vary depending on the facility you work for.

Becoming a Nurse Assistant generally does not take very long. You will continue to learn about your role as a Nurse Assistant once you secure employment. You will be exposed to medical information and procedures by the rest of the staff. This information will be very valuable. Many people choose to use the role of Nursing Assistance as a foundation to continue their education and become a Nurse or to explore other types of employment in the medical field.

Why Choose to Become a Nurse Assistant

With so many possible careers to choose from, why choose to become a Nurse Assistant? It is a very exciting career that offers you the chance to work with people and to work in the medical profession. You will be able to work at a variety of medical facilities all over the Nation. Nurse assistants are in high demand, so securing employment is often very easy.

Being a Nurse Assistant is a great opportunity for anyone who enjoys helping other people. There is a lot of pride in this profession, and it is understandable. After all, at the end of the day, how many of us can truly say we spent our day helping others on the road to being about to help themselves. It is a rewarding career.

A Nurse Assistant is a great bridge between the patients and the Nursing staff. In addition to taking great care in providing all patients with quality assistance with basic needs, a Nurse Assistance is able to offer patients and their families emotional support. The Nursing staff depends on the Nurse Assistants to properly report vital signs for all patients, to check on the patients regularly, assistance with setting up medical equipment, and to help move patients when necessary.

While some people view a Nurse Assistant as lower level staff, the Nurses in any medical facility appreciate and understand just how vital nursing Assistants are for them to be able to provide a high level of care. With shortages of medial staff in most all facilities, Nurse Assistants take care of many important issues that allow the Nursing staff to focus on larger issues that need to be addressed.

For those of you who do not enjoy the same routine day after day, being a Nurse Assistant offers you a job where things change daily. While the basic fundamentals of what you need to accomplish remain the same, what takes place on any given day will never be predictable.

Being a Nurse Assistant is not a position that just anyone is willing or able to do. It takes a special type of person to be able to complete their tasks with compassion, dedication, and patience on a daily basis. It also takes a passionate desire to help others. You need to have excellent communication skills. You will be required to communicate with the patients, their families, and numerous other medical staff members.

Since Nurse Assistants help patients with their basic needs including bathing, eating, and getting dressed; the patients sometimes display their feelings of resentment and anger at needing such assistance towards the Nursing Assistants. This sometimes exposes Nursing Assistants to physical and emotional abuse.

It is important that you understand this can happen, and take steps to reduce the risk and the effects of such occurrences. All medical facilities have procedures in place for dealing with such issues. It is important that you take the time to make yourself familiar with such polices and procedures.

Choosing to become a Nurse Assistant is a decision to be a dedicated and helpful member of society on a daily basis. Throughout your career in this type of position, you will touch the lives of many forever. It is your responsibility to ensure that every patient in your care feels like they were important to you and not just another face for you to see throughout your day.

Medical Equipment Sales Careers

Hospitals don’t only need beds for their patients. They will also need CT scanners, mammograms, X-ray machines, respirators, MRI’s and a lot more in order to compete with other hospitals. If you think you have what it takes to be successful in this field, perhaps a sales career in medical equipment may be lucrative for you.

The first thing you have to do is to apply to a company as a sales agent. You can go to a manufacturer or work for a company that is an authorized distributor of the medical equipment. After a series of exams and interviews, you will then be trained on these products then it is up you to do the rest.

Some of the clients you will be offering medical equipment to are already regular customers. Since these people may not need new medical equipment every time you pay them a visit, you have to be resourceful and go off looking for new ones.

In both instances, you have to sell to them the features and advantages of the medical equipment. Some questions you should be ready to answer include what makes your product better than that of a competitor. If you are able to answer that, chances are they will buying from you even if what you have may cost a little bit more.

During the course of your sales presentation with a potential buyer, you should learn to sense if they are really interested or not. There are verbal and non verbal signs that will tell you this. The most obvious is asking you when the medical equipment you have presented will be available so you better be sure that the quantity ordered will be delivered on time so this will not be cancelled.

If ever you are not able to close the deal with the client you just met, don’t feel too bad because there are others out there that may be interested. It will be a good idea to recall how well you did and if there were mistakes made, this should be corrected so are able to sell better in the future.

In any case, don’t forget to thank the hospital representative for seeing you and leaving them your calling card and a brochure because it is possible that they may need your medical equipment in the future. You may even try your luck and give them a call later.

If ever they do buy from you, make it a point to see how the medical equipment is doing. Should there be problems, you should be able to fix them so you are able to earn their trust and perhaps additional orders of the same product or something similar in the long term.

Hospitals require medicine as well as medical equipment to help treat patients. If you have a knack selling things, perhaps here is your chance to make some money and at the same time help save lives. So what are you waiting for? Look at the companies that have job vacancies and then send in your application.

If you are good, a promotion will soon come your way and you will no longer be the one going out in the field but encouraging those who are under you to do the same as you did many years ago.

Burnout as a Nursing Assistant

Those who decide to pursue a career in the medical field as a Nursing Assistant set out to show compassion and help others. Their hearts are in the right place, but they may soon find their minds and bodies suffering from burnout. This is the result of continually feeling like you can’t meet your work requirements. Soon you find you are completely drained and exhausted due to feeling overwhelmed. Often, the result is losing the motivation that lead you to take on that role in the first place.

The role of a Nursing Assistant is a demanding one. One of the biggest complaints from them is that they have too much to do, and not enough time to get it all done. Burnout is dangerous because it affects individuals emotionally, physically, and mentally. It is tough to see bright, compassionate Nursing Assistants leave the medical field because they have come to resent the role they have taken on. It no longer serves a purpose for them. What was once a positive experience has become a nightmare.

The stress of burnout on a Nursing Assistant can lead to problems with their health as well as lead to depression. Often, they either quit their job or they are fired. This leads to financial difficulties and many times issues in their relationships. Nursing Assistants report burnout in their profession is common because they are overworked, unappreciated, confused about work expectations and priorities, worry about job security, they are overwhelmed by the number of responsibilities, and they do not feel their pay is sufficient for the amount of duties that they are required to perform on an ongoing basis.

It is important that Nursing Assistants understand burnout, and the havoc it can reap in their professional and personal life. Understanding what burnout is, why it happens, and the signs of it can help Nursing Assistants deal with the situation before it spirals out of control. The first step in avoiding burnout is to take care of yourself physically and emotionally.

Signs you are experiencing job burnout or soon will be include no longer finding enjoyment in areas of your job you once really liked, becoming cynical or bitter about your job, and you are starting to experience problems in relationships with co-workers, friends or family as a result of the conflicts of your job.

Other important signs to watch for are looking for excuses to not go to work, calling off or asking to go home early on a regular basis, becoming easily annoyed with co-workers, envious of those who do enjoy their work, and not caring if you do a good job or not. It is likely you will start to experience physical and emotional exhaustion.

Being a Nursing Assistant can be stressful. However, stress and burnout are different. They are often confused because they signs and symptoms of the two are very similar. The defining factor is stress comes and goes, so the signs and symptoms do as well. With burnout, the feeling doesn’t go away, so the signs and symptoms linger ongoing.

As a Nursing Assistant, you can’t eliminate stress, but you can help control and reduce the effects of it. It is important to get plenty of rest and take care of yourself. Since most of us stretch ourselves too thin with too many commitments, see if there are areas you can cut back in. If you have solutions to issues at work, write them down. Ask to meet with your supervisor. Explain the problems, then offer solutions. This will show that you are interested in resolving the issues rather than just complaining.

It is very important to take time for yourself. Relax with a warm bath or read a good book. Too often we take care of everyone else’s needs at work and at home, leaving nothing of ourselves for us! Since the healthcare profession is the top contender for employees suffering from burnout, Nursing Assistants need to really take head of this advice and put it to good use early on in their career. This will help ensure they continue to enjoy their work, offering patients the best possible care.

Work as a Nursing Assistant Offers Opportunity to Explore Medical Field

Employment as a Nursing Assistant offers you a unique opportunity to explore many avenues of the medical field. You will primarily be working with the patients, their families, and the Nursing staff. However, it is not uncommon that you will have interactions with many other areas including physicians, X-Ray, surgery, specialists, and emergency staff.

Since you will be working with so many types of individuals, having quality communication skills is a vital quality to have for being an effective Nursing Assistant. You will be responsible for meeting the basic needs of your patients including feedings, bathing, and dressing. They level of care with vary depending on the individual needs of the patient. In addition, you will be providing them and their family with emotional support.

Your position will involve working closely with the Nursing staff on a daily basis. This will be the medical professionals you deal with the most. From providing vitals for all patients to offering assistance with whatever comes up, the nursing staff needs to know they can rely on you. This means showing up as scheduled, completing your tasks to the best of your ability, paying attention to detail, and being willing to work as part of a time.

Depending on the type of medical facility you work in, physicians of the patients may be stopping in to check on them. They often as questions of the Nursing Assistant. For some, this is intimidating. If a physician is asking you for information on a patient, take it as a compliment. Physicians often recognize Nursing Assistants as having more one on one interactions with the patients. Therefore, things that you observe can help them with treating the patient.

For example, a doctor may prescribe a new medication. You will be able to let the physician know if the appetite of the patient has changed as well as if the patient’s level of being coherent has changed.

Working in the medical profession, you will be exposed to a variety of other staff from different medical fields. This is because of the changes in the needs of your patients. You may be asked to take patients to X-Rays or to help get them prepared to be moved to the surgery unit. There will be an array of specialists checking on patients, again based on the individual needs of those you are serving.

Working with emergency staff is very important. Their interactions can make all the different in some situations. It is vital that you are trained on when emergency staff should be called. You need to have detailed information of where to call, who to call, and what information to give them. This should all be secured prior to any event actually happening.

In this type of situation, you will need to work with emergency staff to provide information. Anything you can tell them about the events that occurred as well as the events before the incident took place can be of importance.

The role of a Nursing Assistant is one of many hats. You will have the opportunity to provide quality care for patients as well as be exposed to many other arenas of the medical field. The more you are able to effectively communicate with these other professionals, the better service you will be providing to those in your care.

Taking Advantage of a Medical Career Forum

Knowledge and understanding plays a big role in the success of any endeavor and this holds true for choosing the right job in the medical field to build a career from. To help make the right decisions in this regard, it is beneficial to attend a medical career forum at least once to be able to make informed choices.

A medical career forum can be likened to a communion of like minded individuals to be able to explore the different medical filed careers available. By attending these for a, you can equip yourself with the necessary information you will need to decide whether you want to pursue a job in the medical field or not.

This is also the place to find the right job for you in a setting you can learn and understand more about in case you have already made the decision to join the lucrative and stable medical field.

You can look at a medical career forum like a support group. The information and promotional materials can be overwhelming and cause individuals to become confused as to the best course of action on many things including what career to choose in the medical field and why to choose it. Sometimes, even after giving it ample amount of thought you still can’t be sure that you’ve made the best and most informed decision. In cases like these, joining a medical career forum is very helpful.

Through this type of forum, whether in an actual meeting or in a virtual one, can help individuals decide better. By aligning yourself to the people in these forums, you can equip yourself with more information and the more you know, the better your chances of making the right decision when choosing and going for a career in the medical field is needed.

You can ask the group questions to help you. Be sure to find individuals who may have been in the same situation as you find yourself in now and their own decisions and experiences can be a source of inspiration and answers to you.

Be sure to remember though that you should not base your entire decision on what other people have done and what other people think. Be sure to have your own inputs and make your decision based on your own interests and skills. Don’t choose to be a medical assistant because it sounds good to you. Instead, choose to be a medical assistant because you have the necessary skills sets or natural inclination toward that particular career.

For instance, an easy rapport with different types of people as well as a penchant for multi tasking and organization are also very important attributes that one needs to be successful at choosing a career as a medical assistant. If you don’t have these attributes or if you don’t have an interest in building these skills into your repertoire then you have no business going into training for this job and eventually applying for this position.

You can find a medical career forum online, through different pertinent government agencies, community boards and the like. Joining as many as you can will result in a better equipped self so go out there and join different medical career forums.

If you use a medical career forum correctly, this can help you in building the right career for you in the medical field.

Is Continuing Education Needed for a Career in Medical Coding?

Choosing medical coding as career can be ideal for a lot of people because it is a lucrative way to make a living that does not come bundled with the usual stresses of a regular 9-5 job. In fact, on the contrary, choosing a medical coding career is choosing to make a living with flexible time and work from home benefits. The question remains though: is continuing education needed for a career in medical coding?

The simple answer to this is yes. In order to better your employment opportunities, it would be beneficial for you to acquire the necessary training required to familiarize yourself with the different ins and outs of medical coding.

One needs to be able to understand and learn all there is to learn about medical coding. This is because a medical encoder is in charge of assigning specific codes to different medical services and procedures to enable healthcare providers to be able to bill for services rendered. This is the reason why medical coders are in demand in the industry.

If you have a propensity for organization and enjoy administrative work, learning medical coding will be easy for you. There are specialized courses and trainings available for individuals who want to learn the special ways used in medical coding. However, not all of the available courses will give you the necessary certifications needed to advance your career in this field. It will however equip you with the knowledge to pass necessary examinations to enable you to be awarded certifications.

You will find that going the extra mile and investing time and resources into continuing education for a medical coding career will take you far. After all, medical coders are needed by several institutions like hospitals, medical clinics and offices. If you have the proper accreditation and certification for this job then more opportunities present themselves to you.

The American Academy of Professional Coders offers different types of certifications after individuals have been able to pass their examinations. Each certification is nationally recognized and while you can still get a medical coding job without these certifications, your options for employment are limited. If you are serious about a career in medical coding, it is better to take the examinations and acquire these certifications.

Most specialized trainings that medical schools offer for individuals who choose a career in medical coding are prepared to take the examinations provided by the American Academy of Professional Coders. For this purpose alone, it is beneficial to acquire additional education.

The American Academy of Professional Coders offers Procedural Coder Certification to those who pass a particular examination for this. After passing the exam and being a Certified Procedural Coder, the individual can then be considered for various prestigious opportunities as medical encoder in different professional healthcare facilities, offices and clinics.

That type of certification is basic and if one wishes, they can also take the other types of examinations offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders. They offer Specialty Credentials that will enable an individual to prove their expertise within their present focus or they can even use this to jump start their medical coding career into a different type of specialization altogether.

It really is worthwhile to pursue continuing education needed for a career in medical coding because not only will the proper certification allow for a wider range of employment options, it will also open the door for you to be able to have and manage your own medical coding company.

Building the Foundations of Your Career in Medical College

An individual begins his career as a doctor in medical school while an individual who wants to get into the fast growing and promising medical field builds the foundations of his or her career in medical college.

As a result of an aging population and a technologically advanced society, the demand for excellent healthcare services and procedures is increasing and experts say that this trend will continue for several years henceforth. With this trend comes the proportional increase in opportunities for employment in the medical field.

Now students fresh out of high school and individuals with careers outside the medical path can now rightly contemplate the possibility of investing time and resources in medical college to be able to acquire the proper credentials to enable themselves to be qualified for careers in the medical field.

To get into popular medical field careers such as those as medical encoders, medical billings, medical assistants, lab technicians, pharmacy assistants and medical supply sales specialists, one needs to undergo proper training and pass the examination for certification. Many of the most promising employment opportunities will require certified individuals to prove their competency and credentials for the job.

Since is this is the case, be sure to check whether the medical college that you plan to go to for training offer certification courses or check if they can at least properly train you for certification. Otherwise, your time and effort will not be a very efficient choice after all. You can check out the different medical colleges in your area through their websites.

Make sure to explore the websites of each medical college in your area and understand the different programs they offer as well as the different reputations each college has. A reputable school will look better in your credentials.

A career in the medical field will be challenging but proportional to the amount of challenge are the benefits and satisfaction of securing a job in this career. For instance, the training and certification for being a medical coder will not only land a job as a medical encoder in the different types of healthcare and medical facilities such as medical clinics, hospitals and outpatient facilities. But one can also decide to own their own medical coder business and earn more money by servicing different clientele through a successfully managed outfit.

This option will not only secure one’s financial needs but will also allow one to choose and manage their own time and schedules. That’s certainly more than one can ever hope for in some other line of business or career.

Good opportunities don’t abound for the medical coder. The same is true for almost all other types of career in the medical field. For instance, medical assistants can opt to take continuing education into the field of nursing. Once a medical assistant graduates into a career in nursing the pay and incentives are considerably higher for them.

This is why the money and effort into medical college is time and money well spent. Not many other career options can offer the same privileges and guarantees. This is why if you want to take advantage of this opportunity, you better be on the look out for a good medical college to apply for.

Even if you already have a job and cannot afford to take the time off to go fulltime in building a career in medical college, don’t despair. Most if not all medical colleges offer courses during flexible times to allow individuals to take continuing education without having to quit their day jobs.

Career Medical Training

We start going to school at the age of 4 or 5. We graduate from secondary school at the age of 17 or 19. Those who want to pursue a career being a doctor will have to endure 4 years of undergraduate studies, 4 years of medical school, 3 to 7 years as an intern and resident then a couple of more years to move into a more specialized field. This means that you will have only established yourself as a doctor after you have reached the age of 30!

Do you really have to wait that long to undergo medical training and make a career for yourself? The answer is no. This is because aside from being a doctor, you can do something else that is in the medical field. To give you an idea, here are some of them.

For those who don’t want to work in a hospital, they can try to get a job as a pharmacist. This person is the one that dispenses drugs at the store. They can also recommend a drug similar to what was prescribed if this is not available or way beyond your budget. Sometimes, they also help doctors determine the proper dosage to be given to the patient as they are well aware of the side effects of giving too much to a patient.

Another job that you may apply for is that of a lab technician. These individuals depending on their training are the ones who test samples or man the X-ray or mammogram when a patient has to be examined.

One job that is high in demand right now in the US is that of a nurse. This is because a lot of those who are working right now are nearing retirement age and the youth these days are no excited about that which is why nurses are being hired from other countries.

Training for each of the jobs mentioned varies. For pharmacists, lab technicians and nurses, they don’t have to study for 8 years or more when they already qualify for their position after a couple of years in vocational school.

Here, they will learn subjects such as anatomy, biology, chemistry, infection control, medical terminology, physiology and several others before undergoing hands on training. There will be exams to test their knowledge with regards to each subject so there won’t be any problems when it is time to do the real thing.

You can also be successful working outside the hospital with a little medical training. You can get into medical transcription since all you have to do is transcribe what the doctor has said using a tape recorder. The work can be done at home and then the document is sent back to the doctor.

Another alternative will be to get into sales as pharmaceutical companies need sales agent to sell their drugs to doctors and hospitals.

Anyone can make a career once he or she has undergone medical training. You just have to decide what you want to specialize in and then go for it. For those that don’t have the money to study full time, look for a school that offers this part time or online.

Remember, this is only temporary because once you earn your degree, you can already make your career out of it.

A Career in Neonatal Nursing – Do You Have What It Takes?

If you want to start a career in neonatal nursing, you must not be only good with kids, you must love them no matter how loud they wail. NNP or the neonatal nurse practitioners are professionals who are highly skilled. They must have extreme experience when it comes to newborn babies.

As a neonatal nurse, you're dealing with infants most of the time, this can really be too much stressful. You have to feed the babies. You have to clean after their messes. You have to check up on them all the time. Those tasks can eat up all your time.

At such events when you no longer have time to eat, when you already find the luxury to do it, you cannot help but do such extravagantly. As a result, gaining weight is becoming an issue for those in the field.

If you are too concerned about the weight gain that might happen to you once you are into the field, counteract those thoughts. Just think about what you can do to keep fit while staying healthy. You need all the energy that you can muster in your field. Babies are not too easy to take care of. So you have to match your skills with physical abilities.

Neo Natal
The term neo means new. And natal means birth. You need to take care of newborn infants once you are in the field of neonatal nursing. This means that the babies can be as old as 28 days.

This is such a sensitive part of their development. They are very fragile at this moment. So your responsibility as a nurse is very big. You must also have a big heart to be able to succeed in the field and last in it.

There are different levels of neonatal nursing.

Level One
When you are assigned on level one, your task is to care for healthy newborn babies. This will be easy because you won't need to worry too much about their physical condition. Most of the time, your help won't be necessary because the mothers themselves will take the tasks off you. All you have to do is guide them through it.

Level Two
You have to take care of ill babies who were born prematurely. You have to keep watch on them all the time. You have to provide for the babies needs. You have to give them their meds and oxygen whenever necessary. And you must also know when it is necessary through a periodic table wherein you can list your tasks to do and the accomplished ones.

Level Three
On this level, you will be assigned to work on the NICU or the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The babies are your patients. You have to make sure that they have all they need to survive. You need to monitor everything, from their monitors to their ventilators. Anything bad that will happen to them may be faulted to you so you need to be very careful.

A career in neonatal nursing requires a lot of patience and hard work. But if this is really your passion, you might as well go for it. Offer your services where it is needed. You will surely go a long way in life when you are always thinking about the sake of others first before you think about your own.

A Career In Medical Transcription

Medical transcription has been in use since the 1950’s. This is used to keep records of patients and since the doctor cannot do it themselves, this is where people like you who have the training can come in to help them and at the same time make some money.

There are a lot of medical transcription companies that offer their services to clinics, healthcare facilities, hospitals, the individual sector, laboratories and physician groups. Given the strong demand, you can even get into it yourself with the proper training and the equipment needed for this to work.

To qualify, you have to enroll in an institution that follows the syllabus designed by the American Association of Medical Transcription or AAMT. This is available in vocational schools and colleges. Those who don’t have time to go to school may also find a program online so they can learn at their own convenience.

The important thing for you to learn are the medical terminologies often used by doctors so they will be able to transcribed the patient’s autopsy reports, clinical notes, consultation notes, discharge summaries, laboratory repots, psychiatric evaluations, operation reports, X-rays as well as referral letters.

Once given the job, you have to make sure that these are all error free otherwise; the doctor will decide to cancel your service and find someone else who can do a better job.

Just to give you an idea, some medical transcription services have been outsourced abroad because of cheaper labor costs. Two countries that have been doing quite well in this endeavor include India and the Philippines as majority of the people who come from there speak English quite well.

Some of the services that have been offered to them include cardiology transcription, chiropractic transcription, emergency room transcription, gastroenterology transcription, general Surgery transcription, internal Medicine transcription, maxillofacial surgery transcription, physical medicine transcription, plastic surgery transcription, radiology transcription and surgery transcription.

What kind of equipment is needed in order to have a medical transcription business? Most MT companies would require a toll free number, digital recorders, computer dictation systems, computers and a server.

They have to make sure that the line of communication is secure and that it is hack proof so information about the patient does not fall into the wrong hands given the rising number of incidents relating to identity theft. This is achieved or course using hardware that is HIPAA compliant secured with 256 bit AES encryption.

What kind of career do you expect with medical transcription? For those who are starting out on their own, they can make money if they are able to keep a client with error free documentation and submit this back on time.

If they are no longer able to handle the load themselves, they can train other people to do it or hire people who have passed through the same training and then hire these individuals to work for them. In short, you are able to start up your own medical transcription company.

Will medical transcription still be around for the foreseeable future? Many experts say yes because although there are already computer software programs that have been built and used by doctors to encode the data of the patient themselves, there are still issues that they have to deal with before medical transcription which has been around for more than 50 years will be phased out.