Primary care providers treat patients of many ages with a variety of health problems. Sometimes called “family doctors,” physicians who have typically filled this role are aging and many of their younger counterparts aren’t willing to fill their shoes. Over the next decade, one out of every three physicians will retire, and by 2020, the physician shortage is estimated to be between 24,000 and 200,000. Adding to the problem is the surge of Americans who have entered the health care system with the introduction of the Affordable Care Act. Google Images While staffing challenges exist across the board, rural primary care is facing an extraordinary struggle. Many physicians are less…
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Use Job Listings to Provide Insight Into the Emerging Roles for Nurses
Nursing is a noble profession. I’m sure you’ve heard that many times. But it really is. It’s one of the few professions that combine a science of knowledge, skills, techniques, critical thinking and abilities with a passion for helping others that forms an art unequaled by many other professions. Florence Nightingale wrote about this 2 centuries ago. Nurses come to the profession with the passion for helping others and learn the science of how to do this with skill and finesse. As science and technology continue to grow and evolve, nurses must continue their education for the life of their career. Continuing education is required to renew nursing licenses, and…
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Highway Hypodermics a Premier Guide for Travel Nurses
When nurse authors meet, they swap autographed copies of their books. Epstein LaRue (Epi also known as Kay in the real world) and I recently met for lunch to celebrate our half birthday. We share July 27 as our real birthday. Epi is now working in So CA as a travel nurse and we just had to find time to meet face to face finally and celebrate! And to swap books and have a photo op. photo (c)Tim Quan : nurse authors Epstein LaRue and Kathy Quan The Highway Hypodermics series is the premier guide for travel nurses in my mind, and Epi is the guru. I never had a…
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The Doctor Shortage and Nurses’ Role in Filling the Gaps
By Kathryn Norcutt Doctor shortage could be intensified by the Affordable Care Act Despite how one may feel about the Affordable Care Act, it is going to change the face of American medicine forever. For better or for worse, once it is up and running in 2014 an estimated 30 million newly insured people will have access to the health care system outside of the emergency room. This is great news for anyone who works in or has been forced to visit one of the thousands of overcrowded emergency rooms across the US, however, the looming doctor shortage will loom even larger once those patients have access to specialists in…
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Is the CRNA Path Right for You?
This guest article was contributed by Catherine Santos who frequently writes about Nursing education like CRNA Schools. When choosing the right nursing career path to follow, one must consider several things. The individual must first be passionate about the job duties of the selected occupation. The candidate must also be willing to put forth the time and effort to obtain the proper training for the position. In addition, the salary must match the individual’s personal desires. CRNA is one of many nursing jobs a person seeking a career in nursing can pursue. Making a decision to enter this field requires a close look at all aspects of the position. What…