Nearly 50% of adults (over 16) in the US are considered to be health care illiterate. That doesn’t simply mean they can’t read. In fact, many can read quite well. It means that they don’t understand enough about their own health status and about the health care systems to be able to even ask the right questions to find out the answers they need. The Costs of Health Care Illiteracy Handing Joe a pamphlet to read about his newly diagnosed type II diabetes won’t help him to understand what diabetes is (it’s not an allergy to table sugar?), how he needs to adjust his diet and exercise, nor how to…
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The Five Biggest Myths About Online Nursing Degrees
From UT Arlington College of Nursing: 1. Sitting in a classroom is the only way to really learn. The nurses participating in an RN to BSN program all have plenty of clinical experience and the program is designed specifically to teach critical thinking, leadership/management strategies, community health advocacy and research skills. These are all areas that have proven well-suited for the online context and the method has produced thousands of successful holistic health care providers. 2. My degree will say “Online Nursing Graduate.” A BSN from a State University’s online program is the equivalent of a campus BSN. And the degree will not indicate that the student has completed his…
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Uniforms Harbor Bacteria
I work in an office setting now reviewing charts, but I am still acutely aware of the germs and bacteria the paper can harbor. I’m not a germaphobe by any means, but I wash my hands frequently. Years ago, when I worked in the field in home health, we didn’t wear uniforms and scrubs were not allowed. But the clothing I wore became my uniform as I designated specific pieces and shoes for work use only. Some days I couldn’t wait to get home and shower, and then wash my clothes in the hottest water!!!! I read something the other day about nurses coming home and picking up their babies…
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The Everything New Nurse Book — Second Edition
The Everything New Nurse Book — Second Edition comes out TODAY. It’s available in book stores and on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It’s also available in Kindle format from Amazon. I hope you enjoy it.
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Degrees and Certifications for Aspiring Nurses
A guest post from Elaine Hircsch Nursing is a field usually without a shortage of jobs. Nurses comprise the nation’s largest group of healthcare professionals, and while a lagging economy might cause some healthcare organizations to tighten up on hiring and shift nurses to different departments to fill in during these periods, there are generally still nursing positions available. Nursing is also a field that pays relatively well. Even in areas where financial resources are limited, recent graduates will find jobs earning at least $40,000 per year. There are several avenues to earn a degree or certification in nursing, both for persons desiring to enter the field for the first…