Career | Male Nurse

Practical and Ethical Reasons to Pursue a Career in Nursing

2011-12-26T20:00:00.001+08:00

There’s no denying that employment options are few and far between for Americans of all backgrounds. Young adults out of college or vocational schools face particularly harsh challenges in the employment arena, competing against countless job-seekers with commensurate experience in their fields. To young men still searching out for a viable career path amidst this economic downtown, I would advise one option above all: nursing. Nursing stands as an appealing career choice to young men on both practical and ethical grounds, offering endless opportunity for growth not only as a professional but as a person. In many ways nursing offers incentives simply unheard of in any other typical 9-5 post college profession. Here are just a few compelling reasons to consider nursing.

Job Security

Nursing, from a practical perspective, can be tempting if only for its consistency. Nurses employed by major hospitals and clinics often reside for years and years with little fear of losing their job (if they do their job well) unless through some unforeseen circumstance. Unlike most other professions sloughing off employees and freezing their hiring processes, health care institutions are clamoring for more nursing staff. The demand for nurses is only tempered by poorly-funded health care facilities affected by the economic downtown; as a nurse, your employment opportunities are essentially limited by the economic climate of your area. But there will always be need for the profession. After all, being unwell will never go out of style, there will always be a demand for professionals capable of helping others.

Flexible Schedule

Perhaps one of the most immediately appealing aspects of nursing is the allowance for variable schedules. Nurses (to an extent) can plan their shifts, typically served in 9 to 12 hour increments. Nurses who work multiple long hour shifts in a row are allowed ample days off to recuperate. To be clear, this isn’t to say that nurses have an “easier” work schedule than the typical person in the workforce; it simply calls for different time commitments. But the condensed work schedule of a nurse opens the door for freedom to do what one pleases during non work days.

Dynamic Work Environment

If you go to a higher education institution for nursing, you’ll be trained over the course of several years to perform a myriad of duties. Nurse educators seek to impart a perpetual readiness among their pupils; as a nurse you’ll need to be ready for whatever new challenge faces you. Every day at a clinic you’ll encounter a different patient with completely unique needs to be met. Lessons learned in school years ago may not be utilized until you least expect it. The monotony of a workday simply doesn’t exist to a nurse; no two days will be the same, you’ll always find ways to grow as a professional as you grapple with the obstacles of every patient.

Make a Difference Every Day

Perhaps the most value derived from nursing is derived from the daily interaction with people of all walks of life. As I’ve already explained, nurses work with an ever-changing group of patients. The extent of your patient interaction will vary based on the unit in which you’re assigned (ER, OR, surgical, etc.), but you’ll always connect with the people you work with. In nursing you play a very immediate part in helping to better the lives of other people. The satisfaction in nurturing an ailing human being and see them recover is immeasurable; to be allowed the privilege of performing such a task on a daily basis is an honor not worth passing up. If you enjoy interacting and helping others, you would do well to investigate a career in nursing.

Author Bio:

This is a guest post by Nadia Jones who blogs at online colleges about education, college, student, teacher, money saving, movie related topics. You can reach her at nadia.jones5 @ gmail.com.

Persevere

2011-09-30T20:00:00.003+08:00

We work with People. It’s what makes our work – Healthcare – so special and so great. Not spreadsheets, not bottom lines, but average human beings that are having anything but an average day.

It can be very tough, working in the hospital. But it also comes with very special rewards. Each night after a long shift, home and resting in your own bed, only we know that truly weightless rest that comes with spending your day in the service of those in need. When our work is good, it’s really good. It’s the beauty and mystery of our work.

The opposite is just as true, however, and when it’s bad, it can be really bad. We deal with people. And yet, we’re people too. We’re human. We make mistakes. And when we do, there are often very real and very serious consequences for those we care for. This is the sometimes tragic, and all too often humbling nature of our work.

Anyone involved in this business long enough eventually develops a story or two of their own about the time things went bad. Really bad. For me, I’m taken back 10 years in an instant. I can remember that night and those days that followed in great and vivid detail. I was a Surgical Intern at a busy Army Hospital. It was November and I was five months into being “Dr Ruiter” – and I was pretty bad ass. I’d worked my way through those first awkward, fear-soaked months by way of shear grit and determination. I was meant to be a “”Surgeon””, and dammit, I was going to do it, whatever it took. I had been working very hard over the first few months of internship and had developed, I dare say, a pretty solid reputation. Overall, I was feeling pretty good about my place in the world. And then, one night in November on call, I met Mr. Jones (not real name).

Mr. Jones was a 54 year old former Marine who now worked as a police officer in the community. Mr. Jones had been unfortunate enough to have developed his second bout of sigmoid diverticulitis, and back in those days, that meant Mr. Jones needed to have his sigmoid colon removed. Mr Jones walked into our hospital to have his sigmoid colon removed electively. The diseased portion of colon was removed, back to healthy tissue, and was then re-connected via a hand-sewn, colo-colonic anastomosis

As an Intern, I had nothing to do with cases such as Mr. Jones surgery, or any other surgery for that matter. My job was to tend to the wards, and keep the gears greased. Every day. We saw each patient. We wrote the notes. We spoke with each Nurse. We checked the vital sign logs and carefully reviewed and recorded the inputs and outputs from the night before, and then spoke with the nurse again. Looking back, it’s easy to see how the senior ward nurses on the night shift were very important people in our lives as Interns. They were there when no one else was around. They had the experience and the know-how that I didn’t. They told me what to do and I obeyed like the scared little guy I was – at first. And then I started to get the hang of things. I started to get my sea legs under me. A new confidence and pride began creeping into my routine – somewhere around November – five months into being a Doctor. I was starting to officially know it all.

Mr. Jones was now POD4 following his open sigmoid colectomy. Although I didn’t sew the anastomosis myself, I knew all about him. He was suffering from a post-operative ileus. Had a quiet but soft abdomen, so we were going slow with him. He had had a fever two days ago on POD2, but that had defervesced with some incentive spirometry and pulmonary toilet and he hadn’t had any trouble since. His white count was up just a smidge this morning, but all indications were he was doing fine. We were anticipating the return of his bowel function any time now.

It was around 2200, and I was on call. The nurse paged. Mr Jones had developed a low grade fever to 101. I went and saw him right away. He was resting in bed, and generally appeared to be OK. I asked this former Marine if he had any pain or discomfort, and he said he did not – he was doing alright. No complaints. I examined him carefully, noticing his heart rate was up slightly and he had developed this new low grade fever, but otherwise, I felt his exam was entirely unchanged. His lungs were clear and his belly was quiet, only minimally distended, and soft and nontender. I felt it was most likely atelectasis causing the trouble here and I asked Mr. Jones if he could get up out of bed and walk around the ward. He said “sure Doc” and sat right up and struggled just a bit, but got out of bed and trooped around the ward for a while. When he got back into bed, his temp had decreased, and I assured the nurses Mr. Jones was going to be just fine.

Around 0100, when I got another call from the senior nurse on that night, I reassured her. She persisted. His temp was back up, his heart rate was still a little high, and she was starting to get worried. I again came down and saw Mr. Jones, examined him carefully, and again was not impressed. He must be experiencing post-operative atelectasis, so we worked again with the spirometer. Mr. Jones sometimes took a sleeping pill at home, and asked for some help falling asleep at this point. I felt confident there was no signs of trouble, and even though the nurse asked me if I was sure, I had it under control. You bet. Ambien to the rescue.

Well, it was around 0300 that things started to change in a hurry for Mr. Jones, and for me. He had spiked a fever to 103, his tachycardia was increased and persistent, and this time the nurse notified me and my junior resident. We both arrived at the same time to find Mr Jones no longer looking like everything was OK. He looked sick. His belly examine was only slightly more distended and still quiet, soft and nontender. Yet he was going into shock. We called for a portable AP Chest and drew labs and cultures. Our x-rays were reviewed by residents at night, and just as we finished drawing all the blood, a radiology resident was on the phone, holding for us. I didn’t even know what pneumopericardium or pneumomediastinum was at that point in my training, but I certainly knew what free air in the abdomen meant… it meant Mr. Jones was in big trouble and would need to get back to the operating room STAT to have his belly opened again.

And then that sinking feeling…quicksand… set in. Swallowed me… sinking… The floor just gave way and I remember vividly clutching for anything solid to hold onto: ”But his belly exam was benign,” ”But he walked around the ward with me without any trouble,” “But he had no pain.” Sinking, sinking – and then, my junior resident snapped: “Why didn’t you call me earlier!?” The chart didn’t read too favorably for the physician caring for Mr. Jones…The chief resident asked harshly, “Why didn’t you call us earlier!?” Later, at morning report, the attending chided, “Why didn’t you call us earlier!?” We transferred Mr. Jones urgently to the ICU, started him on broad spectrum Antbx, sent him though the CT scanner, and ultimately ended up taking him to the operating room later that morning. His anastamosis had broken down and eroded into the retroperitoneum, as well as resultant purulent peritonitis. It was amazing to me to think back this tough old marine was able to follow my every request: deep breathing, ambulation, and ultimately sleep, with minmal complaints. After debriding the necrotic tissue, we had to bring up an end colostomy. Then it was over, and Mr. Jones was transferred back to the ICU.

Mr. Jones was now stable back in the ICU, and all the work had been done. The other residents were going home, to their beds and their wives or girlfriends, and I was sinking again, and I just couldn’t go home. I couldn’t do it. I slept in the hospital and stayed with Mr. Jones for three days. Sleeping and showering in call rooms. Spending ‘down’ time at Mr. Jones’ bedside. The hurt I felt cut so deep. I can still feel the warmth of shame, embarrassment and regret at my decade old mistake. I just felt so terribly bad. After three days in the ICU, Mr. Jones had improved, and was soon to be transferred back to the floor, and I was able to find my way home to my own bed.

————————————————————————————————
The worst was over for Mr. Jones as he continued to improve and ultimately went home several weeks later, returning later that year to have his colostomy reversed. Ultimately,I decided to leave surgery as a result of this case. I finished my internship year, but I notified the Chairman I wouldn’t be staying as a second year.

Looking back, now with a decade of experience (I didn’t quit forever), my delay of several hours in making Mr. Jones’ diagnosis was actually of limited clinical significance. The Chief resident and Attending surgeon that tied his Hand sewn anastamosis and then missed the evidence of its leak and breakdown for four days were far more culpable than I, but this is the nature of the perverse world of surgery – protect the surgeons’ ego and confidence at all costs, so he can go on with that same confidence, diving into the next belly, and the next, without second guessing himself. It’s part of the game and I was too naïve to appreciate when I was young and so wrapped up their approval. But I will tell you one thing, now 10 years later, having finally worked my way up to being a chief resident myself, I will NOT protect myself at the expense of someone lower down the food chain. I think its reprehensible that our profession routinely consumes its young, and no one should have to go through what I did.

And, now returning to the present day, I’ll share just a little about today, one of my finest… I matched. I’m finally earning the privilege to fulfill my dreams, and to study the art and the science of Surgery of the Hand and Upper Extremity. I’ve had my ups and my downs, my ins and my outs, but somehow, and only through God’s strength and direction I suppose, I’ve managed to stay the course. It’s the greatest achievement of my life, and it came only after, years ago, I learned to strip away my pride and my ego that had been holding me back.

My advice to doctors, nurses and anyone in healthcare, keep going. Stay the course. We work with People. It’s what makes our work – Health care – so special and so great. When times are at their darkest, strip down your ego, get on your knees, talk with God and confirm in your heart the path you’re on is the right one. Do all of this, and then Persevere.

About the author: Dr. Ruiter is finishing his Surgery Residency in Queens, NY. He also sells scrubs. Check out his company at XY Scrubs.com.

How did Nursing Become a Female Profession

2011-06-26T21:46:00.004+08:00

How did Nursing Become a Female Profession
By Patricia Walling

When you make a visit to a doctor's office, clinic or hospital you have a far greater chance of meeting a female nurse than a male one. While the proportion of men entering the nursing profession has been growing, it remains a female-dominated occupation. Men constitute a mere 7.9 percent of all nursing jobs in the United States despite being predominant in nearly every other sector of healthcare, from medical transcription to cardiology. It's difficult to say where exactly this trend started, but peering back through the veil of time makes it easy to see that this is a recent development.

Male-Dominated

In examining the history of nursing, it seems only right to acknowledge the origins and development of Western medicine in general. Following the advent of formal medical study in the wake of Hippocrates, what we consider nursing was originally a task assigned to apprentice doctors, nearly all of whom were men. Throughout recorded history, healthcare roles have been dominated by men. For instance, St. Camillus is famously credited with first associating the sign of the red cross with medicine, and while midwives might be thought of as the basis for the future takeover of nursing by women, this is not the case. As medical science spread, the traditional role of the midwife was often assumed by a doctor.
Male domination continued even after the nursing discipline had been formally established. Nearly all healthcare positions in the world were held by men clear through to the early 20th century. However, by the 1930s a mere one percent of nurses were men. This baffling change came swiftly and almost without warning, but makes sense when examined in its context.

Female-Dominated

The word nurse itself came into use sometime in the 12th Century. From the French nurrice, it applied exclusively to wet-nurses, women who suckled the children of the wealthy in lieu of their biological mothers. As this practice died out in the 14th and 15th Centuries the word's meaning changed, eventually coming to mean “to care for the sick” by the 1530s. Professionals who aided the sick, but were not qualified to be called doctors, were nurses; and while the field remained dominated by men, the secondary definition and female connotation remained.

In addition to this, three major factors contributed to the change of hands that occurred in nursing: industry, war and publicity. As options for workers developed in the wake of the industrial revolution, nursing, with its low pay and high risk of disease, became a less desirable occupation. As men stepped out of the field, women stepped in to fill the labor gap. This, in conjunction with the increased demand for nursing professionals and lack of male candidates brought on by the American Civil War, Crimean War and First World War gave women a chance to increase their presence immensely.

However, a less obvious major contributor to female nursing was Florence Nightingale. Following her lifetime of nursing throughout the 19th century, Florence became a cultural icon of the age synonymous with the practice of nursing. Romanticized accounts of her life fueled public perception of what nurses should be: compassionate, selfless, faithful and female.

Lingering Stereotypes

Although most people would like to consider themselves as forward thinking, the bias and prejudices toward men in the nursing profession still exist to this day. While there are no physical or legal barriers arrayed against male nursing students, educational materials frequently use feminine pronouns in their texts and most classes are taught and attended primarily by women, creating a more awkward social atmosphere. Worse still, male nurses pursuing work in obstetrics, gynecology or maternity may face unwarranted prejudice among other hindrances, sometimes resulting in legal action.

The evolution of nursing as a female profession did not occur overnight. Yet due to the sheer number of female nurses currently in the field, it is hard for males to regain their status and dignity in the current social and professional climate. However, if men persist in their desire to pursue nursing, these biases and prejudices will wane over time just as they did for women.

An Emphasis on Technology

2011-03-15T19:00:00.000+08:00

Technology has advanced and improved numerous aspects of our lives. It has revolutionized the information and entertainment industry, thanks to instant communication making it possible to reach millions of readers, viewers, and listeners all at the same time. Technology has also changed the face of businesses, with computerized records making it easier than ever to keep up with clients and grow the organization. Technology has even reached our daily lives, which is seen in the gadgets we carry, such as cell phones, iPods, and new tablet computers. With all this in mind, it should come as no surprise then to hear that the nursing industry is catching up and adapting to new technology as well.

Nursing is a fast-growing industry. In fact, there are about 2.6 million registered nurses working today, making nursing the largest health care occupation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This number is projected to increase well into the next decade, fueled by the number of nursing students currently learning about the field and honing their skills. Many nursing programs now require nursing students to complete technology courses so that they may become more adept at using technology to better do their jobs and provide care to patients.

Some of these technologies being taught in nursing schools and being utilized on the field in physicians' offices and hospitals simply make things easier and more accurate, such as record-keeping technology to maintain patient medical histories, while others are just downright cool, such as wireless patient and materials locating systems.

Some hospitals already have nurses using wireless communication devices that will link them to other nurses and medical professionals. These devices allow them to streamline their duties so that they do not waste time and effort responding to a situation that is not part of their job, according to a report published by the California Health Care Foundation. Nurses can also cut down on wasted time trying to conduct non-patient communication, such as communication with a hospital department or laboratory, by using Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) to speak with personnel immediately. This immediate communication is possible using VoIP due to the fact that the device used to send and receive messages is always on the person, unlike wall-anchored telephones.

Another cool thing that nurses are incorporating into their work is real-time tracking of everything within their domain, including medical supplies and patients. Oftentimes, and especially at busy health care facilities, nurses can have a difficult time tracking down the supplies they need as well as the patients they are helping. Some patients tend to wander off to other parts of the facility without informing anyone, and sometimes medical supplies, like IV pumps, seem to do the same thing. With real-time tracking, everything has a small transmitter placed on it and nurses simply have to use a locating device to see exactly where everything (and everyone) is in the building. This certainly cuts down on the amount of time wasted scouring every inch of a hospital for something.

Nursing students are learning to use and take full advantage of these types of technologies, as well as many more that can make health care even more efficient.

By-line:
Kitty Holman, regularly writes on the topics of nursing colleges. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: kitty.holman20@gmail.com.

Top 15 Medical iPad and iPhone Apps

2011-03-01T23:00:00.006+08:00

With the advent of new technologies in recent years, the medical community is increasingly leaning on technology to help them learn new skills, provide better patient care, eliminate paper waste and confusing charts, and to constantly improve the state of the medical profession. With the advent of the Apple iPad and its many wonderful capabilities come real and valuable tools to the medical community.

I have compiled for you, the male nursing community, the top 20 iPad and iPhone apps available to you, the healthcare professional. Use these tools, the best iPad apps available for the medical profession, and make yourself a more valuable tool in the medical community!

All links go to the iTunes store.

Encyclopedias

Carter Encyclopaedia of Health and Medicine
Category: Encyclopedia
Description: Written for the general public but useful for nurses and paramedics, this encyclopaedia has the definitions and explanations of every medical term and health problem likely to be encountered as a living, breathing human being. Surgery, lifestly experiences, and medical histories are all included in this comprehensive encyclopaedia.
Price: $9.99

Medical Encyclopedia
Category: Encyclopedia
Description: The University of Maryland free Medical Encyclopedia contains more than 50,000 pages of high-level articles in both English and Spanish. The information is divided into categories to allow for easier browsing, including symptoms, injury, and disease, among others. The search feature also allows you to easily find the information you are looking for. Best of all, once you have found the information, you can email it directly to your colleague who needs the information immediately.
Price: Free

Merck Manual - Home Edition
Category: Encyclopedia
Description: The name Merck is synonymous with innovation and education for pharmaceutical drugs. That said, to find the best information existing regarding current drugs on the market, use the Merck Manual - Home Edition to quickly find information about needed pharmaceuticals. You can browse by section or explore the index alphabetically. This app, though $9.99, comes highly regarded by the medical field.
Price: $9.99

WebMD
Category: Encyclopedia
Description: When people get sick, they no longer call their doctor first. Most go to WebMD and instantly search their symptoms. This app puts all of the WebMD information onto your iPad, so that you can quickly access the information.
Price: Free

Lexi-Complete
Category: Encyclopedia
Description: The Lexi-Comp Encyclopedia offers free access to their comprehensive, well-respected databases when you download this app. A year-long subscription will cost you $285, but this is a small price to pay for the hundreds of images, charts, and tables, available without a cell or wifi connection.
Price: Free to download, $285 per year subscriptions

Resourceful iPad Apps for Medical Professionals

Medical Spanish
Category: Help
Description: In the medical world of today in the United States, Spanish is increasingly becoming necessary to know for medical practitioners. The numbers of Spanish speakers are rising, so be prepared to offer them the best medical care possible by studying up on Spanish medical terms.
Price: $4.99

Nursing Central
Category: Help
Description: From the site: ursing Central helps nurses and students find detailed information on diseases, tests, drugs, and procedures. The moment a question arises you can consult the automatically updating database of 5,000 drugs, find a definition in the dictionary with more than 60,000 entries, interpret hundreds of lab and diagnostic tests, and consult the latest disease information. You can also keep up with your favorite nursing journals with tables of contents, citations, and abstracts delivered directly to your device.
Price: Free to download, paid subscription

PubSearch
Category: Help
Description: PubMed brings thousands of published medical articles right to your iPhone or iPad. This app lets you concentrate on finding the articles you want and need with its easy-to-use and intuitive user interface.
Price: Free

Universal Doctor Speak
Category: Help
Description: The medical field contains its own language and terms, many of which the common patient will not understand. This app helps you translate what you are saying so that your patients understand better the care they are receiving. Let this app help break down communication barriers and help you provide your patients with better care.
Price: Free

Visual DX
Category: Help
Description: Touted as he ONLY medical app to show disease variation with MULTIPLE images of each disease,?Visual DX helps you diagnose your patient ailments by allowing you to compare their symptoms to photographic examples contained within the app.
Price: Free

Medical Medications Apps

iPharmacy - The Drug and Medication Guide
Category: Medications
Description: iPharmacy calls itself ?1 Medical App of 2010!? Containing a guide of over 10,000 medications and prescriptions for doctors, nurses, and consumers alike, iPharmacy contains descriptions, dosages, notes, and other important information for everyone from the consumer and medical professional to the pharmacist responsible for filling the correct order.
Price: $0.99

Mediquations Medical Calculator
Category: Medications
Description: Calling itself the ost comprehensive medical calculator on the App Store? Mediquations includes 230 formulas and scoring tools in an intuitive user interface. Supporting both US and SI units, it allows you take into account a host of factors involved when setting dosage amounts for patients.
Price: $4.99

Fun iPad Apps for Medical Professionals

Anatomy Quiz
Category: Fun
Description: Anatomy Quiz is a fun, simple quiz that is great for testing your own knowledge or the knowledge of others. You can use this app to teach about anatomy as well. Challenge your fellow nurse friends to a game and see who remembers more!
Price: $0.99

Sleep Cycle (iPhone only)
Category: Fun
Description: The app description says n alarm clock that analyzes your sleep patterns and wakes you in the lightest sleep phase - a natural way to wake up where you feel rested and relaxed.?The acceleromator in your phone analyzes your sleep schedule and then finds the optimal time to wake you up within a set 30-minute window. Brilliant! I may even download this one for myself!
Price: $0.99

Speed Bones Lite
Category: Fun
Description: Another fun anatomy quiz, Speed Bones Lite tests how quickly you can identify bones in the body. It tests your knowledge of bones and increases your reflexes. Combine this with Vessels MD, Bones MD, and Muscles MD to have a comprehensive quiz set for your friends and patients.
Price: Free

Conclusion

We hope that you find the above apps helpful. If you find or use other apps that are helpful, please share them in the Comments section!

About the author: John Doherty is a copywriter for an online portal representing over 100 accredited online colleges. During the day he helps prospective students find the right online degree programs for their future. In the evening he is a photographer and traveler.
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10 Celebrities Who Were Once Nurses

2011-02-15T18:00:00.001+08:00

original article located in the Nursingschools.net blog

Nursing isn't a logical first step towards a career in music, TV or or politics, but it's helped these famous faces achieve great success. And why shouldn't it? Having a background in caregiving, research, advocacy and medicine broadens your understanding of how other people live and what they need. Here are 10 celebrities who who once worked as or studied to become nurses...

Click here to read the whole article.

10 Incredibly Cool Nursing Jobs You Didn’t Know Existed

2011-02-01T11:00:00.001+08:00

original article written by Kitty Holman for the Nursingschools.net blog

...Here are some of the coolest, most cutting edge, fulfilling and interesting ways to use your nursing degree, many of which you might not have ever even considered as a career path for yourself...

Click here to read the whole article.

How a CNA's Scope of Practice Differ from an LPN's

2011-01-14T11:02:00.003+08:00

Maybe you are one those who want to pursue a nursing career right out of high school. Or perhaps you earned a few college credits and you want to achieve your goal of becoming a nurse. You also might want to start studying soon and earn that nursing degree as quickly as possible. If that's the case, then enrolling in a certified nursing assistant (CNA) or a licensed practical nursing (LPN) program would suit you best. These degrees can be finished in a short period of time and remain the fastest way to enter the nursing profession. You already know that CNAs and LPNs are valuable members of the health care team, otherwise why would they be present in practically all settings? Both CNAs and LPNs seem to have the same skill sets at first glance. But, do they really perform the same tasks? Before finding out the difference in their scopes of practice, let us define first what is a CNA and an LPN.

What is a CNA?

Depending on the place of work, CNAs can be referred to as nursing assistants, nursing aides, patient care technicians, or unlicensed assistive personnel. Don't be confused, they are the same type of health care workers. They have to complete no less than 75 hours of basic nursing theory and clinical practice before they are eligible for certification by the state board of nursing. CNAs are not nurses per se, but they do basic nursing tasks. When you visit a long-term care facility, chances are you get to see a lot of CNAs around.

What is an LPN?

LPNs, also called licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), need to complete one to two years of nursing studies. If you feel like the educational preparation of CNAs is not enough and you want to have a basic qualification as a nurse, then an LPN program is right for you. LPNs are required to study anatomy, medical-surgical nursing, obstetric nursing, and pharmacology, aside from completing the clinical component. They need to pass the NCLEX-PN for licensure. Most LPNs nowadays are found in nursing homes, community clinics and hospitals. To give you a clear idea of the differences in the scope of practice between CNAs and LPNs, please read on.

Scope of Practice: What's the Difference?

CNAs perform basic and routine tasks needed for the daily functioning of patients. They are the ones who usually take care of the more mundane but important activities of the patient like bathing, grooming, ambulating, turning, feeding, toileting, and the like. CNAs are in constant contact with the patient to assist them with these activities of daily living (ADLs). They also perform repetitive tasks such as monitoring vital signs, recording intake and output, and collecting specimen and lab samples.

In some states and facilities, CNAs are legally allowed to perform phlebotomy, take ECGs, and assist in treatments and procedures. Take note, however, that CNAs must be supervised by the LPN or registered nurse (RN) at all times when performing nursing tasks. When a task is delegated to the CNA, he or she must make sure that the task is under the scope of practice before accepting. This is to ensure responsibility and accountability. We don't want the hassle of lawsuits stemming from negligence and malpractice.

So, what are the limitations of CNAs? One thing is that CNAs should not perform a complete assessment. Only RNs can assess and LPNs can collect data. CNAs assess patients to a very limited extent and they should always report their observations to LPNs or RNs. Another no-no for CNAs is performing invasive procedures such as inserting or removing tubes and catheters, administering food through tubes, and tracheal suctioning. They are likewise prohibited from administering blood products and medications, including oxygen. Unlike LPNs, CNAs are never allowed to take verbal orders from physicians. But can experienced CNAs supervise new LPNs? No. LPNs ALWAYS supervise CNAs and NEVER the other way around. There are always exceptions out there, but it pays to know the general restrictions of the CNA's scope of practice.

What about LPNs? The crucial thing to remember is that LPNs can do all the tasks that CNAs can perform, and additionally, they can perform invasive procedures. So, LPNs may perform routine bedside nursing tasks themselves such as assisting in hygiene, dressing, feeding and ambulation. Assisting in range of motion exercises also falls under the responsibilities of LPNs. The invasive tasks they are allowed to do include suctioning, changing dressings, catheterization, enemas, taking laboratory samples and administering oral, intradermal, subcutaneous and intramuscular medications. They are supervised by the RN in doing these activities. A task can be delegated by LPNs to CNAs but they must provide guidance and supervision. An LPN makes sure that the CNA knows exactly what he or she is going to do, and directs the CNA while doing the procedure. LPNs in turn are guided and supervised by RNs and physicians.

Now, have you figured out the basic differences between the CNA and LPN scopes of practice? You must have determined by now that CNAs are more limited when compared to LPNs. But that does not make them any less valuable than LPNs. They just have different roles. CNAs focus on rendering routine and basic tasks for the daily functioning of patients such as performing ADLs. They are under the direction and supervision of the LPN or RN. The LPN meanwhile can perform all the tasks that CNAs do. But by virtue of their education and nursing license, they are permitted to perform more invasive tasks.

While laws and regulations specify the distinction between CNA and LPN practice, in reality they may overlap in certain situations because they are both oriented toward the technical side of nursing. You can make the choice between going for a CNA or an LPN degree and certification. Both are considered quick paths to the nursing profession. If you don't mind doing routine work and love to interact with patients often at the bedside, then a CNA or LPN career is an excellent choice.

J.G. Enriquez has worked as a nurse for 4 years. He writes articles about nursing careers for BrainTrack.com.

Career Prospects for Male Nurses

2010-12-18T09:00:00.002+08:00

Joy Paley is a guest blogger for Pounding the Pavement and a writer on the subject of technical schools for the Guide to Career Education.

Who amongst us hasn’t seen Meet the Parents, where male nurse Greg Focker gets lambasted by his girlfriend’s CIA agent father. The movie brought nurse stereotypes to the big screen, a place where they’ve been less-overtly portrayed for many decades already.

To its credit, the movie also satirized the idea that the male should be the doctor, and not the lowly nurse. These days, more men than ever are also realizing the ironies of stereotyping against a profession that provides secure job prospects and good pay, even as more “manly” jobs like construction languish in the dregs of our current economic toilet bowl. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports more male nurses graduating and pursuing jobs than ever before. Here are a few nursing professions that may be particularly amenable to men entering the nursing field.

Nurse Practitioner
Male nurses may meet some challenges in hospital settings, where biased patients expect the “safety” and “mothering” of your classic matronly, female nurse. Nurse practitioner is a career where nurses have the freedom to act as primary caretakers. Men may find they meet less resistance in this position that mimics the independence experienced by an MD.
Nurse practitioners must complete their RN training, as well as a master’s degree in nursing and practitioner certification. A doctor of nursing degree can also help. Nurse practitioners can expect an $83,000 average yearly salary.

Nurse Educator
What better way to get rid of nursing stereotypes than to become a male nurse educator? According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, only 4.2% of nursing faculty are male. Since 10% of all nurses are male, this number is particularly pitiful. While you will be a trailblazer and can expect the resistance that this entails, becoming a nurse educator will mean that you’re actively working to even out the playing field. An MSN degree is the minimum educational requirement to teach in a nursing school, although a doctoral degree will better your chances of employment.

Occupational Health Nurse
The occupational health nurse field is just a bit more gender-balanced than nurses in general, with 13% being male. It’s potentially more man-friendly, however, because it gets men out of the hospital setting, where women nurses are stereotypically considered to rule the roost. OHNs work more independently to assess workers’ environments, advocate for worker safety and health, and manage occupation-related injuries. Occupational health work exists in all experience levels and specializations, and RNs can expect better job prospects when they have more of each.

Legal Nurse Consultant
As unfair as it is, men still experience a greater presence in the legal field, both as judges and attorneys. Male nurses can use this stereotype to their advantage, if they choose to pursue the field of legal nurse consulting. Legal nurse consultants help advise lawyers and others on any cases where their clinical knowledge may be applicable. While no advanced education is necessary, RNs can get jump-started in the field through many available educational programs and certificates.

Nurse Officer
Think of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps as the Navy Seals for healthcare workers. This team of health professionals promotes public health and disease prevention for the federal government. Nurse officers in the Corps perform a variety of tasks, from treating individuals in remote communities, to helping during natural disasters, to conducting research. Besides affording excellent career opportunities, the Corps offers a large signing bonus and excellent benefits. For male nurses who are interested in a more dynamic nursing job, this could be a good fit.

Four Challenges Male Nursing Students Continue to Face

2010-11-12T14:56:00.002+08:00

Although the numbers of male nursing students enrolling in programs across the country have steadily increased over the past few decades, male students continue to face a few challenges during their education career. These challenges all generally arise from the gender issue at the heart of the nursing profession; however, this doesn't mean that male nursing students should avoid these challenges. If anything, these challenges represent opportunities to make great strides on behalf of future male nursing students.

Cold Recruitment

Many nursing schools still have not fully adjusted their recruiting methods, and this gives prospective male students the impression that the program will not support them upon their enrolling, whether or not that is the reality. If male nursing students wish to improve their program by creating a more diverse atmosphere, then they should consider lending their voice to the recruitment process. They should suggest to the administration ways they could make the program more welcoming to male nurses.

Discrimination

Gender discrimination also commonly occurs in programs. These can range from enduring casual jokes about what 'real men' do to facing an instructor who perhaps stands in the way of a male nursing student's education. Each program will, of course, vary in this regard; however, one thing that male nursing students can do is create or join support groups to help them work through any issues of gender discrimination they experience.

Self-Doubt

Many male nursing students might also experience self-doubt as a unique challenge. In these cases, such self-doubt is normal. Most everyone experiences this at some point or another in their education and career path; however, other challenges can combine to exacerbate the problem. Male nursing students should speak with a mentor or a close friend or family member who can encourage them along the way.

Resistant Patients

Finally, male nursing students often face patients who resist the care of a male nurse. This is perhaps the most unique challenge, and it is one that should be addressed carefully because in nursing the most important aspect is the connection that is developed between patient and nurse. In these instances, a male nursing student would do well to remain calm and sympathetic in understanding the issues the patient has with his presence. Ask the patient if she or he is okay with having a male nurse. If she or he is, then make sure to communicate thoughtfully with that patient throughout the treatment. If she or he isn't okay with your presence, ask if it is okay if you can remain in the room with the patient while a female nurse works with her or him. Even a little gesture like that could help a patient become a little more comfortable with a male nurse. And, most importantly, it helps to establish a connection with that patient.

By-line:
This guest post is contributed by Kate Willson, who writes on the topics of top online colleges. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: katewillson2@gmail.com.

45, Male and Now a Nurse

2010-11-06T17:00:00.000+08:00

BALTIMORE’S gritty Levindale section is a world apart from Ponce Inlet, Fla., the upscale barrier island where Rich Van Rensselaer owned a boutique liquor store and coffee shop before becoming a trauma nurse. If you had asked Mr. Van Rensselaer in 2004 if he thought he would trade in life in Margaritaville for scenes from “The Wire” — treating gunshot wounds, drug overdoses and unmanaged diabetes in one of the city’s busiest emergency rooms — he might have assumed you had been to one too many of his wine-tasting events.

“Never in a million years,” he says, laughing, as he walks the halls of Sinai Hospital, showing off his workplace.

Click here for the full article.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/education/edlife/07conted-t.html?_r=2

The image of nursing: Not good enough for a feminist?

2010-11-03T16:00:00.000+08:00

In the sixth of our series of blogs on the image of nursing, Sandy and Harry Summers wonder if nursing is a job for modern men and women? Or is it just a sad throwback, suitable only for females with few options?

About the author
This article was written by Sandy and Harry Summers authors of Saving Lives: Why the Media’s Portrayal of Nurses Puts Us All At Risk.

Click here for the full article.
http://www.nursingtimes.net/5021297.article

BEAUMONT: School sees more male nursing students

2010-10-25T16:00:00.003+08:00

By ERIN WALDNER
The Press-Enterprise

Elmer Ramos had worked in distribution nearly 20 years when his company went bankrupt in 2008 and he lost his job.

"I sat around the house for three months," said Ramos, of Hemet.

Ramos, 37, considered looking for another job in distribution but decided to pursue a vocation that offered more job security, he said. He enrolled in the licensed vocational nursing program at Beaumont Adult School.

The 16-month program concluded Friday night with a commencement ceremony. Ramos plans to take the state licensing exam as soon as possible and if he passes, could be working as an LVN by early next year.

Nursing remains a female-dominated profession, with only 5.8 percent of registered nurses in the U.S. being male.

"There's a stigma that nursing is for women," said Lori Edwards, medical arts coordinator at the Beaumont Adult School. "But I think it's getting better."

Seventeen students graduated Friday night and two are men: Ramos and Russell Bailey, 24, also of Hemet. The next LVN class starts Tuesday with five men among the 29 enrolled students.

The adult school has seen an increase in the number of men inquiring about the program.

"I think it's because of the economy," Edwards said.

She said some of the men have been laid off and others are looking for a job with more stability.

"We're always going to need health care workers," Edwards said.

Before he enrolled in the LVN program Bailey worked in drywall.

"It got slow," he said.

Licensed vocational nurses are respected and there's job security, he said.

Bailey's mother is a nurse as is Ramos' longtime girlfriend.

"I felt comfortable going into the profession," Ramos said. "I was apprehensive about going back to school. It's been 14 years."

Bailey said he has friends in construction who tease him about going into nursing.

"There's a lot of jokes about being a murse," shorthand for male nurse, he said.

Ramos has been teased as well but the men said it doesn't bother them. Bailey plans to continue his studies and become a registered nurse.

In drywall he made $11.50 an hour, he said. As an LVN he can expect to make $15 to $22 an hour.

"I tell every one of my friends to come get their butts down here," Bailey said.

Ramos said men should consider nursing because "there will always be patients. ... They will always have a job."

Reach Erin Waldner at 951-763-3473 or ewaldner@PE.com

Labor room training for male nurses causes brawl between nurses and doctors of Sri Lanka

2010-10-20T16:00:00.001+08:00

Sri Lanka's medical and nursing officers' trade unions are in a brawl on opening the labor rooms to training for male nurses.

The doctors at Kurunegala Hospital protest labor room training given to male nurses who are reading for a nursing degree. The Government Medical officers' Association (GMOA) says that the training makes the female patients uncomfortable and must be stopped.

Nursing officers in Kurunegala Hospital have walked out in protest of the GMOA. Nursing trade unions have threatened to strike unless the training is given to the male nursing students.

GMOA further argues that there is no need for nurses in labor rooms and the Ministry should consider removing them to slash costs.

source: Colombo Page

How Practical is Online Shopping for Medical Uniforms

2010-09-18T11:40:00.001+08:00

Once, nothing could match traditional way of shopping. Customer got to personally see and scrutinize the quality of products, and choose from them the best ones. But what was once the most efficient practice of buying goods has proved to be time consuming and impractical to some of us today, especially to people who are busy with their respective secular occupations, like the nurses and physicians. The exhausting work in the hospitals leave them hardly any time to socialize, play with kids, or even go out with their partners, never mind shopping for nursing scrubs and medical lab coats.

With the emergence of online shops, such as the PulseUniform.com though, these busy health care professionals can shop for their medical uniforms right at the convenience of their home. It would take only a few minutes of their free time. In fact, online shopping can be done while waiting for a delectable soup to simmer.

Nursing scrubs and medical lab coats online stores provide health care workers with all their uniform needs. Whether a customer is looking for traditional medical uniforms or the modern nursing scrubs, such online stores can readily provide. They have nursing dresses and nursing skirts as well as scrub tops and scrub pants in enormous array of styles, colors, and sizes. Wide selection of lab coats and scrub jackets are also obtainable. Even nursing shoes, surgical caps, and other medical accessories, such as stethoscopes, scissors, and thermometers are also found in nursing scrubs and medical lab coats online stores. In PulseUniform.com, even name and logo embroidery service is available.

Personally going to shopping center for some medical uniforms would be impractical if one has the option of simply ordering online. Travelling time can be a precious bonding time with the family. Money for the gas can be used to pay for shipping instead. Of course, not all health care workers live far from cities where nursing uniforms are available; some may even be living only a few blocks away. However, moving around stores on the day off can simply add to exhaustion, whereas ordering online will let one get a long nap and be fully energized for work again.

If you are a health care professional barely having time to pay shopping centers a visit, you may as well try the convenience and practicality of online shopping. Many nurses and physicians have been shopping online already, hospitals buy in bulk for the employees’ medical uniforms supply, and they all find it convenient and practical. To help you decide, run a check on its advantages and disadvantages. Compare prices. Learn shipping time span. Know accepted payment methods. Check privacy security. Be sure the Nursing scrubs and medical lab coats online store you chose to do business with is reliable.

Men in uniform

2010-09-13T20:52:00.001+08:00

The role of male nurses in health care

By Hilary Matheson
The Journal-Standard

Nursing may be one of the few professions that is not male dominated.

Although females outnumber men 15 to one according to the 2008 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses, more men are enrolling in school to become nurses.

Highland Community College’s Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) program has seen a slow, but steady growth in males graduating from the program and becoming registered nurses from the first graduating class in 1980...

Click here to read more about it from the source.

Heralded nurse knows his calling

2010-09-01T21:00:00.000+08:00

It doesn't happen much, but every now and then, a would-be client will decline Gary Springer's services.

"Well, no thank you," they'll say. "Send somebody else."

Source: Dallasnews.com

The numbers are changing, but in his profession, Springer is still in the lopsided minority. He's among the estimated 9 percent of registered nurses in this country who are men.

That patients can still be a little taken aback is perhaps reflected in the stubborn persistence of the counterintuitive occupational descriptive "male nurse," long after we have discarded such unnecessary epithets as "man teacher" or "lady doctor."

Even in these ostensibly enlightened times, there's still a little bit of a gee-whiz, girl-on-the-wrestling-team novelty about a man working as a nurse.

This novelty was about a hundred times more pronounced in 1974, when Springer was one of eight men in the graduating class of Baylor University's nursing school, the first to include a purposely recruited male contingent. At that time, it was estimated that less than 1 percent of the nation's nurses were men, a statistic that hadn't changed since about 1900.

"There's still just something about the word nurse that makes people think, female," said Springer, 58. "Culturally, we're still stereotyped."

A few minutes' conversation with Springer, who possesses the sort of reassuring unflappability that gets anxious patients through rough moments, is all it has ever taken to get reluctant clients to change their minds.

"I'd say, 'Let me talk to them first,' " he said. "I'd tell them, 'I am very, very interested in your getting better and in your health care needs.' If I had that chance to talk with the patient first, I don't remember ever being rejected."

In his nearly four-decade career, Springer has worked at the VA hospital and for the nonprofit Visiting Nurse Association, where he now works with hospice patients. He makes home visits to critically ill patients, as well as scheduling a team of his colleagues after determining when visits are needed.

Last week, he was honored by a statewide association of home-care and hospice organizations for "distinguished service in the nursing arts." As nurses go, this one clearly knows what he's doing.

Springer said he didn't encounter hostility from his female classmates in nursing school, even though he began studying years before the landmark Mississippi University for Women vs. Hogan decision, widely regarded as opening the doors of previously women-only nursing programs to men.

Perhaps that's because Springer's choice was pragmatic, not political. He had always contemplated a hands-on service career, perhaps as a social worker or physical therapist. When he landed a scholarship for nursing school, he jumped at the chance.

"My parents were very supportive," he said. His father, a Baptist minister, assured him: "It's an honorable profession."

He quickly found out what generations of his female colleagues had learned: Nursing is extremely demanding, profoundly rewarding work.

"Women in this profession haven't been threatened. They realize this is very difficult work," Springer said.

The stereotypes come from outside the profession – the selfless Victorian-era ministering angel; Ken Kesey's Nurse Ratched, the archetypal hospital ward-boss battle-ax.

In recent years, Springer has heard those once-ubiquitous dopey remarks less and less: "Why not just stay in medical school and be a doctor?" Because nurses aren't junior doctors – it's an allied profession with complementary standards and goals.

Or: "Do you really want to empty bedpans?" A remark not worth addressing, perhaps, but Springer doesn't shy away from the basic realities of care, either: Ensuring patients are clean and comfortable is essential to their well-being.

"You are not going to treat a patient how to, say, manage his diabetes if he's not comfortable," he said. "Sometimes you've got to clean that patient up, get them comfortable, change that bed."

Still, Springer thinks nursing could do a better job selling itself to male candidates.

"A degree in nursing is going to open up a thousand different doors for you," he said, citing opportunities not just for patient care, but for management, travel, flexibility, specialization. "It's a great degree to get."

Talking with Gary Springer didn't so much make me think that nursing needs more men as that it needs more nurses like Gary Springer.

It needs capable, compassionate people who are going to be ready to help all us baby boomers navigate the unfamiliar waters of aging and illness and, ultimately, death.

We're going to need all of those we can get.

After three years, a male grad tops nursing board exam

2010-08-28T21:00:00.002+08:00

ANDREO C. CALONZO,
Source: GMANews.TV

With his first place finish in the July 2010 nursing board exam, Ateneo de Naga University graduate Rayan Oliva brings pride not only to his school but to the Filipino male population as well as he is the first male to top the exam in three years.

Oliva broke a three-year trend of female nursing graduates topping all six nursing licensure exams given by the Professional Regulation Commission from June 2007 to November 2009, according to data culled by GMANews.TV.

The last time the nursing board exams had a male graduate as a topnotcher was in December 2006, when Jayben Matamis of the Unciano Colleges and Medical Center in Antipolo City topped the 19,712 passers.

Since then, the topnotchers have been female nursing graduates, the latest being Clarie Bontol of the Iligan Medical Center College Inc. in Lanao del Norte, who headed the list of 37,527 passers of the November 2009 nursing board exam.

Oliva, who hails from Camarines Sur in Bicol Region, however continues the trend of provincial nursing graduates ranking first in the licensure exams.

Since November 2008, provincial exam takers have been leading the list of passers.

At that time, Jovie Ann Decoyna, a farm girl from the Baguio Central University, was announced as the topnotcher in the nursing board examination.

Top-performing schools

Although the topnotchers in the past four nursing board exams all came from the provinces, the list of top-performing schools for this year showed a mix of colleges and universities both from urban and rural areas.

The Chinese General Hospital College of Nursing and Liberal Arts in Manila was named the top-performing school with 100 or more examinees this year, with a passing rate of 99.60 percent. It was followed by the West Visayas State University in Iloilo, with a 99.36 percent passing rate.

Three universities—Saint Paul University in Iloilo, University of the Philippines-Manila and the Philippine Christian University-Manila—were meanwhile named as top-performing schools with 30 to 99 examinees. All three schools posted a 100-percent passing rate.

Two of the top-performing schools this year—the West Visayas State University and Saint Paul University, both in Iloilo—also made it to the list of schools with 100-percent passing rate during the November 2009 nursing board exam.

Slightly higher passing rate

The overall passing rate for this year’s nursing licensure exams, meanwhile, slightly recovered from the figures last year, when slightly less than 40 percent of the exam takers managed to pass the exam.

A total of 37,679 out of the 91,008 exam takers, or 41.4 percent, passed the nursing exam given last month by the PRC Board of Nursing. This figure is a slight improvement from last year’s 39.7 percent passing rate.

The number of exam takers this year also slightly declined compared to the November 2009 figures, when 94,462 graduates took the exam—the highest in history.

The high number of exam takers supposedly reflects the popularity of nursing as a field of study due to the promise of a well-paying job abroad.

The popularity of nursing as a field of study has also prompted the mushrooming of sub-par nursing schools around the country, despite a government ban on opening of new nursing schools implemented six years ago.

–VVP, GMANews.TV

Top hospitals show bias

2010-08-18T20:28:00.001+08:00

for male nurse directors

Male nurses are twice as likely to hold a top job in England’s leading hospitals, a Nursing Times investigation has revealed.

source: Nursingtimes.net

In a survey of 84 acute trusts, 47 of which had foundation status, 8.1 per cent of non-foundation trust nursing directors were men but the figure jumped to 14.9 per cent among foundations.

By contrast, men make up just 7.9 per cent of the total acute nursing workforce.

The figures are being blamed on the “business ethos” of foundation trusts deterring women from applying for leadership roles or being picked for top jobs.

Unison head of nursing Gail Adams called the figures “worrying”. They could be due to foundation trusts focusing on their business models instead of “moral and ethical” concerns over equality, she said.

She urged foundation trusts to investigate whether women had been disadvantaged because of career breaks or biased recruitment processes.

Julie Stevens, West Middlesex University Hospital Trust consultant lead nurse in tissue viability, said: “The perception is that [in an FT] you need to have more of a financial head.”

Men might be seen as more “financially canny” than women, she added. Nurses had little training in business, but men were more able to “put on a front”.

Royal College of Nursing head of policy Howard Catton agreed foundations were perceived to have a “harder style”. He said that, added to the lack of senior clinical leadership at regulator Monitor, could be associated with a male bias.

The same trend was apparent when deputy nursing directors were included in the figures. Taken together, nursing directors and deputies were 10.8 per cent male in non-foundation trusts but 15.5 per cent in foundations.

Derby Hospitals Foundation Trust director of nursing Brigid Stacey said, as male nurses were in the minority, “they might want to fight harder to get to the top - to be the big fish”.

“It might be that men want to strive harder for those prestige [foundation trust] jobs,” she said.

However, NHS South Central chief nurse and director of clinical standards Katherine Fenton said she was “really, really surprised” at the figures.

She said: “My personal experience is that it [gender] has never held me back, and it’s not included as a factor in our appointment panels. It might have been true 25 years ago but it’s down to merit now.”

A smaller sample of 27 mental health trusts, where men make up a bigger proportion of the nursing workforce, shows a similar pattern as acutes.

Among mental health foundation trusts, 37.5 per cent of nursing directors were male, compared with 27.3 per cent of nurse directors at mental health non-foundations.

David Robinson, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Foundation Trust director of nursing, quality and safety, said his trust, where three quarters of senior nurses were female, was an “exemplar”.

He said: “We try and ensure gender and ethnic balance throughout the organisation by nurturing talent. Flexible working applies right up to director level.”

Claire Murdoch, a former nurse who is now chief executive of Central and North West London Foundation Trust, admitted women had to break through a “glass ceiling” to get to the highest positions.

However, she said some of the gender imbalance was due to women consciously staying in their “comfort zone” rather than pushing themselves into more senior roles, which were harder to juggle with childcare.

She said while employers should allow staff flexibilities to cope with senior roles and child care, there needed to be a “reality check” about how far that could go as board positions were largely full time jobs.

NHS Employers employment service deputy head Caroline Waterfield said Nursing Times’ findings did not show there was a “glass ceiling” for women, but rather that “there isn’t a glass ceiling for men”.

Nursing Times’ research suggested the gender imbalance was less pronounced among primary care trusts. As PCTs will be abolished from 2013, this could lead to many senior female nursing leaders being made redundant.

A Monitor spokesman said it was up to boards to choose the right person for the job.

The Evolution of Nursing Uniforms

2010-05-08T01:06:00.003+08:00

About the author: John Smith works for NursingUniforms.net, the largest online selection of nursing scrubs, lab coats and medical uniforms.

Uniforms are the most essential part for any profession, may it be a lawyer, doctor, police or even the nurses. It is through these uniforms that people are recognized for their professions. This was the main motive behind the creation of nursing uniforms. The first nursing uniform was worn by renowned Florence Nightingale who also went on to become one of the most influential nurses in the entire profession. In the 1800’s Nightingale took up nursing as a profession and treated the underprivileged and poor people along with the wounded soldiers in the wars. Her work and achievements gave the profession a completely new elevation and also made it count amongst the highly respected professions.

The advancements made by the profession slowly brought in several changes that crept in the nursing uniforms which were previously designed similar to the dresses worn by the nuns in the missionaries. Nuns in the earlier times served the wounded and other people suffering from several diseases. As a result of this the first nurse uniform designed was the identical to the uniform of the nuns. Later on, somewhere during the First World War, the nursing uniform changed slightly. The nurses working in the wars wore an additional arm band from the Red Cross on their left arm. An additional cloak was also included in the uniform apart from its previous full length gown.

With the passing time, the nursing uniforms evolved further giving way to several other patterns. The newer uniforms were more practical and designed according to the varied functions performed by the nurses in the hospitals. The uniforms were also made available in different colors which were used as a major source of identification for the nurses belonging to the different departments and ranks. Nurses of different ranks were assigned a different colored uniform which thus became an easy way for the patients to recognize the nurses. These nurse uniforms also had a little touch of style in them which thus gave the nurses a smart and stylish look. Uniforms with pockets were also introduced which became a very feasible addition to the nurse uniforms. The pockets allowed the nurses to carry their essential things such as pens, reports, etc. However, new styles were also introduced in the later phase of the nurse uniform history.

Nurses wearing their newly designed nursing uniforms based on the requirements of the profession look highly authoritative. This look impressed the patients and gave them great comfort and mental satisfaction. Also, new designs have been designed especially with the growing popularity of the profession amongst the male nurses. Different colored nursing scrubs are assigned to the nurses performing different tasks in the hospitals. The scrubs are usually the shirts, trousers, tunic tops, etc. which are worn in combination by the nurses in the hospitals. The scrubs are also worn by the doctors in the operating theaters and are extremely comfortable to wear.

Nursing career: Role and responsibilities of a Public Health Nurse

2010-04-11T02:02:00.004+08:00

Becoming a Public Health Nurse would be one of the most satisfying career options in Nursing Profession for the service-minded nurse who has a little extra patriotism and extra motivation to help the community or the State have a healthy population.

Who can become a Public Health Nurse?

As is the case with any other options in nursing profession, the basic qualification required to become a public health nurse is the normal 4-year degree course in nursing through any one of the affiliated nursing colleges, followed with license and recognition as a Registered Nurse. The number of years put in to the profession also plays an important in taking up the career as Public Health Nurse.

The role of a Public Health Nurse is to ensure that the health of the community at large is in good shape. It is the responsibility of the Public Health Nurse to monitor the health of the community, foresee threats for diseases of mass communication, plan accordingly for prevention of such diseases and also educate the community at large about the benefits of leading a healthy life.

The real challenge for a Public Health Nurse lies in promoting health of the children, adolescents and pregnant women. Educating the people about nutrition, adequate care in hygiene and precautions to be taken at times of calamities such as flash floods or spread of any disease is one of the very essential or prime responsibilities of a Public Health Nurse. He or She has to co-ordinate with other agencies, doctors and community services in maintaining the health of the community at large and the inhabitants of the community.

The role and responsibilities of a Public Health Nurse goes beyond healthcare assistance to a patient in a hospital setting. The responsibilities can be broadly classified into three broad categories – primary prevention, secondary prevention and tertiary prevention.

As a public health nurse, it is essential that adequate steps are taken by the community at large before the threat of any disease affecting the community at large. A flash flood or thunderstorm might be the ideal cause for outbreak of diseases like cholera or other diseases. It need not be just a calamity. Possibility of sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS/HIV are ever present in a community. Teaching the population about the importance of precautions, organizing promotional activities to create awareness among the people and educating the importance of prevention are the activities that come under the purview of primary prevention.

The responsibilities of a Public Health Nurse does not rest with primary prevention. A public health nurse should take all possible precautions and organize for carrying out tests to ensure that the diseases are discovered at an early stage, and the spread of diseases is nipped in the bud. For example, a screening test for colonoscopy will help in discovering whether the patient is suffering from or likely to be affected by colon cancer.

Tertiary prevention is another important thing that a public health nurse should be responsible for. He or she, on discovery of a disease, should provide scope for rehabilitation of the patient and also developing ways and means for management of chronic diseases that include preventive interventions.

CNABoard has more information on cna training and cna programs for nurses seeking cna career.

Nursing ad campaigns take on the male stereotype

2010-04-09T21:08:00.002+08:00

By Marisa Ramiccio
Source: The Orlando Sentinel

When young boys are asked what they want to be when they grow up, they're supposed to answer "doctor," not "nurse," because nursing is for women--at least that's how the stereotype goes.

But national ad campaigns are trying to eliminate that stereotype by asking men "Are You Man Enough to Be a Nurse?" The ads depict a variety of men some in nurse scrubs, some in sports uniforms or business suits--and provide a brief description of a hobby each man enjoys.

"I love [these ads]," said Christopher Blackwell, an assistant professor for UCF's College of Nursing. "When we get positive ads and positive characters on shows like 'Nurse Jackie' and 'House,' they break some of the stereotypes down," said Blackwell.

A study conducted by the Bernard Hodes Group in 2004 found the most common misperceptions about male nurses are that they are homosexual, that nursing is viewed as a more feminine profession, and that men aren't seen as caring enough to be nurses.

"When you look at stereotypes, you have two different kinds: public and professional," Blackwell said. "Because nurses work together, they know the gay stereotype isn't true."

However, Blackwell said that some female nurses may feel that men should be better at the technical side of nursing and that men can be seen as "muscle" for the female nurses who can't lift patients.

According to the Hodes study, 50 percent of the male nurses polled said they have encountered these kinds of stereotypes in the workplace, and 56 percent of the men polled said they encountered stereotypes in school.

Are the men in UCF's nursing school facing these stereotypes?

"I don't really know how much of a presence stereotypes have concerning male nurses anymore," said Joe Eichorn, a nursing major in the accelerated nursing program. "We have fun in class joking with each other about them. Other than that, it has never really come up."

Dominic Pham, who is also in the accelerated nursing program, says that the stereotyping he has faced has mostly concerned his Asian descent. "I've never really minded the stereotyping I've faced since none were ever truly malicious in my eyes," said Pham.

Stacey Grant, a first-year nursing student, says she used to believe some of the stereotypes herself. "I must admit, when I first entered the program, I did have a few stereotypes about male nurses stuck in my head. Some people may still think that 'murses' [male nurses] must be feminine or pre-med drop outs," Grant said.

"However, all of the guys I know in the nursing program are the 'typical' college student just trying to get an education," Grant said. "If anything, they get more attention than all of the girls."

Although there are many males who have not encountered stereotyping, the Hodes study cites stereotypes as a factor in the low number of males who have entered the nursing profession.

Of the 2 million registered nurses in the U.S., only about 5 percent of them are male. At UCF, about 2,250 students are nursing majors, but only 246 of them are male.

According to Blackwell, this is why using ads to recruit men into the profession is crucial.

"I think it's important [to advertise to men]. Having a strong male presence [in health care] is important," Blackwell said.

Pham also thinks this type of advertising is a positive step.

"I think there are very few situations where publicity is bad," Pham said. "Like other advertisements, even if it is annoying or controversial, attention is brought to it, which may trigger inspiration in those that have never considered [male nursing]."

However, many of the men polled in the Hodes study did not view the ads as positive.

"Many commented that in pushing the macho image, the ads were underscoring the stereotype that men in nursing are overwhelmingly gay or that nursing is not a masculine career choice," the study reports.

Masculine career choice or not, Blackwell said that if you work in a good team environment, the stereotypes won't matter.

"We did not care if you were male, female, white, black or Puerto Rican," Blackwell said. "What we cared about was that you were a good, productive member of the team."

Marisa Ramiccio is a UCF journalism student.
Copyright © 2010, Orlando Sentinel

The Top 5 Areas of Nursing for Men

2010-04-07T23:42:00.004+08:00

The following guest post was contributed by Wendy Graham who frequently writes about college related topics for Online College Guru. She invites readers to checkout online nursing degrees if they are interested in pursuing a career in nursing.

Nursing is one area that is currently not overly affected by the economy. The American Hospital Association estimates that 75% of all medical job vacancies in the U.S. are in the field of nursing and the Department of Labor lists Registered Nurses as the top occupation for job growth through the next decade.

According to the American Nurses Association, between 5 and 6% of all nurses in the United States are male. While men are still currently in the minority, nursing schools are seeing an increase in the number of males who are entering the nursing profession, particularly in specialty areas. Studies have shown that men enter into nursing because they want a challenging position caring for sick and injured patients that also has reasonable job security and good wages.

Unlike other nursing careers, Certified Registered Nurse Anaesthetists are approximately 40-45% male, according to the American Association of Nurse Anaesthetists. A CRNA collaborates with surgeons, anaesthesiologists, and other procedural healthcare providers to safely administer anaesthesia medications. CRNA’s must first achieve a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and hold a Registered Nursing license before being accepted into a CRNA program, which lasts about 24 to 26 months.

Military nursing is another field that has a strong following among men. Military nurses perform all of the duties of a traditional nurse, but may also be entrusted with a wider range of responsibilities. Careers in the military also have the added benefits of financial assistance, low-cost housing, specialized training, and world-wide travel opportunities. Nurses can enter into the field as Licensed Practical Nurses, but those with a BSN and RN can enter the service as officers. Military nurses also have the opportunity to continue their education with tuition paid.

Forensics is another appealing nursing career for many men, combining science with the caring atmosphere of traditional nursing. Forensic nurses document injuries and collect evidence for law enforcement agencies. They also counsel assault victims and testify against defendants in criminal trials. Most forensic nurses work in hospitals, primarily in the emergency department, or in the Medical Examiner’s office.

Surgical nursing is another nursing career that is drawing more men into the field. Surgical nurses prepare the patient before surgery, assists the surgeon during both major and minor surgical operations, and charts progress in the recovery room. Different positions within surgical nursing include scrub nurses, circulating nurses, and RN first assistants.

For men interested in entering into a nursing career, Male Nurse Magazine lists the University of Pennsylvania as the top male-friendly nursing school in the U.S. Rounding out the top.

Changing the stereotype: Men in nursing

2010-03-26T19:53:00.002+08:00

By Alyssa Rossomme (arossomme@wsbt.com)
WSBT.com

Two or three decades ago, nursing was a popular career choice for women. In time, it became a female-dominated field. These days, however, the number of men in the profession is increasing.
Wayne Dockery has been a nurse at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center for about 17 years. He works in the surgical intensive care unit. Some patients are surprised when they meet him.

“A lot of them think I’m a doctor when I walk in the room, because I’m a male. Then I have to tell them, ‘No, I’m your nurse for the day,’” Dockery said.

In the last ten years, St. Joseph Regional Medical Center has seen more men make nursing a career.

“The true component of being a nurse, “ explained Marsha King, system chief nursing officer, “is caring about patients and caring about treating people with dignity and respect, and be able to have that hands on approach, so it really doesn't matter if you're male or female.”

Patients do not seem to think the gender of a nurse matters either.

“It's nice to see they [male nurses] can be just as attentive as the female nurses,” said Jill Molen, the wife of one of Dockery’s patients. “Sometimes, when it’s a male patient, it’s kind of nice to have another male taking care of them. It can be a little more comfortable,” she added.

Some male nurses, like Dockery, have chosen nursing as a second career later in life. Perhaps their first career was not fulfilling, or they may have lost their job. Dockery worked in a warehouse for 15 years, and started nursing school when the plant closed.

“My day [at the warehouse] was routine. I did the same thing day in and day out. Here it's a different challenge every day,” said Dockery.

He finds his current job rewarding.

“When I go home at night, I have a good feeling knowing I helped someone out, and the decision I made had a positive impact on their life.”

A growing trend is young men studying nursing. Five years ago, men in IUSB's School of Nursing accounted for about 8 percent of the students. Today, about 15 percent of the nursing students there are men.

Marta Makielski, IUSB undergraduate nursing program director, said there are a number of reasons men choose the nursing field. “A lot of men really work well with people. Sometimes they're attracted to the technology that's available. And, of course, the job opportunities are endless,” she said.

Additionally, nurses often work flexible hours, and the position pays well. King said the starting wage for a nurse in the Midwest is $20 to $23 an hour. She said nurses also have the ability to continue their education while on the job.

“Nursing is such a dynamic career. It is a great opportunity for men, and they’re recognizing that,” King said.

She said male nurses are welcome at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, and bring a different dimension to the dynamics of a nursing unit.

Michael Carroll is one of the men in IUSB’s nursing program. “I like working with people and I like helping people,” he said.

Carroll said he knows some still hold stereotypes, but he thinks fewer people see nursing as a female-only career. He looks forward to his future job.

“I don't see myself as a male nurse, I just see myself as a nurse,” Carroll said.

Healthcare workers hope everyone will begin to see things that way.

Women are still doing jobs men don't want

2010-03-08T21:48:00.002+08:00

By George Pitcher
Source: telegraph.co.uk

Sexism has returned – but not in the way the martinets of new feminism say it has, argues George Pitcher.

Today is International Women's Day. I know, your heart sinks, doesn't it? But this isn't one of those faddish lobbying festivals, like Bruce Forsyth's Artificial Hip-joint Day or the Andrew Rawnsley Stop Bullying Week. IWD has been going since 1911 and has its roots in the Suffragette movement, so today seems as good a day as any to review the progress of feminism.

I'm not, admittedly, first into the ring on this one. Heavyweight women's-issue wrestlers have been weighing in on the subject for weeks. In the red (in tooth and claw) corner, we have the likes of Charlotte Raven and Natasha Walter, whose new book, Living Dolls: The Return of Sexism, serves as the current seminal tract, if she'll pardon that expression, of how former visionary sisterhoods have been let down by the ladette culture, Wags and pole-dancers.

Meanwhile, in the blue (stocking) corner, we have Fiona Millar, "Mrs" Alastair Campbell as she isn't known, who writes in that Spare Rib of contemporary journalism, Radio Times, that men like hers are hopeless around the house, simple domestic vacuums who can't do the Hoovering. So women like her have to do all the domestic chores as well as holding down top-line executive jobs, like telling Cherie Blair what to wear and slagging off private schools.

There is some truth in all of this. Nearly a hundred years after truly fearless fighters for gender freedom, such as Millicent Fawcett and Emily Pankhurst, won universal suffrage and 40 years after Germaine Greer published The Female Eunuch, women are in a disappointing place. A majority of schoolgirls in a recent study said that the form of prostitution known as "glamour modelling" is a serious career choice. There are just four female CEOs of FTSE companies today and Katie "Jordan" Price sells more books than Martin Amis.

Admittedly, that last point is good news for a women's movement trying to counter oppressive and misogynistic male attitudes, but where the Walters and Millars have a point is that, in short, women are still doing the jobs that men don't want to do. Partly, that has its primal cause in biology: women bear the children and, unable to offer any role- reversal in that regard, men stand back or pretend to be hunter-gatherers while the women go on to feed the children, choose their schools and listen to their boring stories. I mean, empathise with their development, obviously. Beyond families, this tendency is reflected in the wider world
of work.

Alpha males do the competitive, dragon-slaying and lucrative stuff, while women do what needs to be done. There has been a spike recently in the numbers of men going into primary school teaching, which is nice, until you realise that they've all lost their jobs being masters of the universe in the City and have just noticed that children go to school.

Then there's nursing, still overwhelmingly dominated by women. I may have expressed the odd view against euthanasia here in the past, but guess who will have to do the killing as and when a predominantly male Parliament legalises "assisted dying". Yes, that's right. Jobs for the boys also means getting the girls to do the ones we don't like.

But the prophetesses of doom seem to miss one major point. And it's the economic one. Firstly, it's no good for moaning, middle-class minnies like Ms Millar to complain that they are shackled to domesticity, while loveable but useless Campbell potters about, hoping to be played by Neil Morrissey in the movie. I have it on good authority, as they say, that the Millar-Campbells have been as well served by domestic staff as the rest of us.

During the boom years, we subcontracted domesticity. Now the markets have turned, couples are jostling for position over who does the chores. And there may be the teensiest bit of control-freakery: I don't do the house either, but let's pretend it's just Alastair that's hopeless, shall we?

Secondly, one of the supposed triumphs of Seventies feminism was liberating women into the world of work. Never mind if most young women were going into second-line servicing, such as public relations, rather than the mainstream economy. They were getting out of the home. But that meant dual incomes for bigger mortgages, which in turn hugely inflated pushed property prices. So we're now in a place where both partners have to work just to service their mortgages, especially in London, whether they want to or not. Some liberation.

I have to be careful here, but if a martinet of the new feminism tells me it's Cheryl Cole or Jordan, or even Fiona Millar with her Hoover, who have betrayed the sisterhood, I have to tell her she's talking rubbish. It's the economy, stupid.