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Nursing Specialties-Emergency

This is the first in a series of articles on Nursing Specialties. Do not just focus on getting your LPN/LVN, RN, BSN or MSN, focus on entering a specialty where you can grow as a Nurse, touch lives and enjoy a good paycheck. This first article will focus on two Nursing Specialties in Emergency care.

• Cardiac Care Nurse- Cardiac Care Nurses treat patients suffering from heart diseases and conditions. A cardiac care Nurse helps patients in surgical or ambulatory settings. A cardiac care nurse does the following: cardiac and vascular monitoring, health assessments, Electrocardiogram monitoring and post operative care. As a cardiac care nurse, one must have a working knowledge of  Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support and hold the necessary certification. Cardiac nurses must possess skills including electrocardiogram monitoring, defibrillation, and medication administration administration by continuous intravenous drip.First, you need to become a registered nurse. You’ll need to work as an RN for a minimum of two years, and get at least 2,000 hours of clinical experience in cardiovascular nursing. Also, you’ll need to take 30 hours of continuing education classes, then you can apply to take the Cardiac Care Nursing Certification Exam administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Once you pass you will need to renew your certification every five years.

 Cardiac care nurse career outlook and salary

• Critical Care Nurse- As a Critical Care Nurses you most likely will work in a hospital-emergency room and intensive care- but one can also work in nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, outpatient facilities and flight unit. A critical care nurse gives care to critically ill patients. the environment that critical care nurses work in is fast paced and can be exhausting, both emotionally and physically. A critical care nurse's functions are: assessment of patient, intensive therapy and intervention and  life support. Critical care nurses have to be conversant with different equipment. this includes equipment such as mechanical ventilator, intra-aortic balloon pumps, cardiac monitoring systems and many other advanced life support devices. To become a Registered Critical care Nurse you’ll need to work as an RN for a minimum of two years in critical care. Also, you’ll need to take continuing education classes (the amount of hours are set by your hospital), then you can apply to take the certification exam specific to your specialty area. There are variants of critical care certifications under the Critical care umbrella that the AACN offers to allow nurses to certify in progressive care (PCCN), cardiac medicine (CMC) and cardiac surgery (CSC). Sub-specialities of critical care nursing include such areas as Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU), Pediatric Intensive Care (or PICU), and Adult Intensive Care (or ICU).

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Critical care Nurse job outlook

In the next article we will feature three other Emergency specialties : Pulmonary care nurse, Sub-acute nurse and Toxicology nurse

5 Must-Have Nursing tools

These are the must-have tools for any nursing student or Licensed nurse

• Tablet-A tablet is a Must-have nursing tool. It comes handy especially when studying, or pulling out research information. It's light, and can easily fit in a back-pack. There is quite a huge range of Tablets in the market today. I find the 10" tablets the best size. Samsung has a new tablet that is to die for. its 10.1inch screen is HUGE and its 1.6GHz processor makes it fast. it has a generous memory to allow for you to save pictures and videos. if the $379 price tag is too much, you can opt for the 7" Samsung galaxy 3 for $1.99. Then there is the Amazon Kindle. Amazon has revamped its Kindle line with the Kindle Fire HD 16GB for $269 (you can get it with 32 GB for $299). It's smaller that the Samsung at 8.9", but its resolution is terrific, and it comes with wifi and custom Dolby audio and dual stereo speakers for crisp, rich sound. The kindle fire gives Nurses access to the amazon massive library of movies, books, magazines and apps. As a nursing tool, one cannot go wrong with the kindle fire (their 7" Kindle fire HD goes for an affordable $159). Then there is the Apple iPad products, the cheapest tablet right now is the Apple mini, with a 7.9" screen and the same features as the Kindle and Samsung galaxy. it retails for $335. The Apple iPad 3 retails for $4.99, it comes with 4G. So for the Nursing student and licensed nurses alike, you are pretty well covered with what tablets to choose to add to your nursing tools.

• Smart Phone-Another tool to add to your must-have nursing Tools is a Smart phone. Smart phones have become necessary in the industry and in life. You carry your notes on your smart phone, access vital nursing apps and even ebooks. There are a variety of affordable smart phones like the unlocked quandband 2 sim with android 2.3 OS that retails for only $68. It can be a hustle to find a carrier and download apps on it, so beware. At the same price range there is the No-contract Motorola Droid at $77, and the HTC Droid for verizon at $79.99. At over $100 There is the galaxy ace at $144. This is a nice phone with 3G, 5MP Camera, WiFi and GPS on a 3.5" screen. it's light, decent size and affordable. If you wish to have a bulkier, more expensive phone there is the Samsung Galaxy S with a 5 MP camera, GPS, 4" Screen, dual SIM and 3G. There is of course the iPhone. Right now the iPhone 4 is going for between $290-$400. It comes with 16 GB, 3G and 5 MP Camera. On the high end is the iPhone 5 at between $700 and upto $900 depending on the carrier and storage. it comes in 16 GB and 32 Gb

• Memory Notebook- For the visual learner, a nursing memory notebook would come in handy. The memory notebooks come with a collection of visual images and mnemonics to help increase learning and memory. the memory books retail anywhere from $18 to upwards of $50. You, however, do want want to invest too much in this. As a quick reference, this is a very good Nursing tool for learning concepts. 

•  Medical Organizer Kit-Now this will come in handy as a Nursing tool, while in College during clinicals, and out of College working as a Licensed Nurse. There are a variety of Medical nursing organizers that provide a way to store medical items. most come with a pair of scissors, penlight and even a chart pen. they come with enough pockets to keep your equipment within reach. They range in price from $5-$30. This is a nursing Tool every nurse needs to avoid fumbling through your pockets to find equipment.

• BP Cuff and Stethoscope-A BP cuff and Stethoscope is always a must-have nursing tool. You will need them for clinicals and while on the job. Not having a BP Cuff and stethoscope will make one look unprofessional.They go for a decent price from $15-$50.

This list is by no means extensive, do you have suggestions for any other essential nursing tools? please share with us through comments. Like the page or share

Interactive Body

6 Tips of Choosing Nursing Shoes

As Nurses, we are constantly on the move. We are on our feet 8 hours a day at work, sometimes even longer if we are pulling doubles. One of the things most nurses overlook are shoes. we go to Walmart and get the fisrt affordable shoes we can find. some of these shoes are not meant for walking. Here are some tips of how to choose the best shoes for you nursing career:

1. Get the right shoe size: getting your shoe size right is the most important part of shoe hunting. Go to a store and pick the shoe size that fits you best, not too tight and not too loose. if you are shopping at a nursing supply store then you will have your choice for the best Nursing shoes that will fit you well, if you are visiting a athletics store, you might need to ask the associate where to find the best walking shoes. Online there are plenty of stores like amazon that sell Nursing shoes. When you shop online make sure you have the size right.
2. Follow the uniform rules: Buy the right color and style according to your Company's uniform policy. deviating from this policy might make your Company bar you from wearing the shoes to work.
3. Stay on budget: Do not buy an overly expensive shoe if you can find a cheaper shoe that functions the same and has the same specs. Do not be lured by labels and fashion trends. wear what will be comfortable to you.
4. Test drive: before putting the shoes back in the box and heading off to the counter, walk in them. Take a long walk around the store to make sure that you feel comfortable in them. do it even if the associate or customers look at you weird. Do not worry about them, after all, you will be the one hurting if you make the wrong choice.
5. Consider inserts: if you plan to put in gel or foam inserts, leave some space to accommodate them. Try your shoes with inserts, even if they are not the desired inserts, to make sure they don't get too tight after putting the inserts.
6. Do not over use: Buy several pairs of shoes, so you don't overuse one pair. Having several pairs allows your feet to breathe especially if you move from clogs to laced or slip-on shoes. Worn out shoes will only hurt your feet and make a long day gruelling.

Feel free to share, comment and ask questions. What other methods do you use to Choose your shoes?

8 Tips on How to Ace the NCLEX Test

1. Study-The night before, study your NCLEX Flashcards. Do not try to cram, just go through them and understand the concepts. Take NCLEX quizzes and tests. the best are the ones that are randomized, that way you do not have to see the same quiz questions.
2. Sleep early-Make sure you go to bed early. do not stay up late worrying, panicking and stressing. You need to wake up early and refreshed.
3. Get up early-get up early with enough time to prepare with no rush. Make sure you account for every eventuality, including traffic jam, a re-routing due to accidents or construction, a burst tire or having to stop for gas or breakfast. Give yourself ample time to reach your destination even if something unforeseen happens.
4. Have a nice meal-Treat yourself to a hearty breakfast, but be careful it's nothing that riles your stomach. eat foods that are familiar to you and that have never given you adverse reactions. avoid too many fluids like soda, as it might make you want to visit the bathroom frequently. Stay away from any foods that have given you diarrhea or stomach pains before.
5. Follow the rules and guidelines-Do not take any items not allowed, it will just infuriate the examiner and can cause you to be dismissed. cell phones are not allowed in the examination room, nor are notes. This State guideline might help. Make sure you take the acceptable ID and ATT letter (The ATT letter contains the authorization number, candidate identification number and an expiration date). Do not overdress, since you will be told to take off most items such as coats, hats, scarves and even jewellery.
6. Understand the Structure of the Paper-make sure you understand the structure of the paper and how it is scored. The NCLEX is designed around the concept of client needs, divided into the categories of care environment, health promotion and maintenance, and psychosocial and physiological issues. The content in both the RN and LPN/LVN is the same but for the scope. The NCLEX RN requires six hours while the NCLEX PN takes five hours, and both tests provide scheduled breaks. The test is computer-adaptive, the difficulty level of questions adjusts according to the participants' ongoing answers.
7. Take your Time- Do not rush answering questions. take your time and think the answers through pace yourself. Do not panic if you don't know the answer, just choose one that figures as the best and most rational.
8. Do Not discuss the exam-When you go on your breaks, do not discuss the exam. Discussing might make you panic especially when you start realizing mistakes you made. Count the parts done as the past, something you cannot take back, focus on how you do the rest of the exam.

Thanks for reading these tips. feel free to share and comment. do you have any other test taking tips? please share via comments

8 Tips on How to Prepare for your NCLEX

1. Pay attention in class-Carry a notepad, and write notes in class. Anything you feel is important or the instructor seems to emphasize should go to your notes. later that evening study the notes and do a followup using a textbook to get an in depth understanding. 
2. Create Flash Cards- Flash cards are very important to put any important information for quick reference. There are websites such as quizlet.com and studystack.com which can help you create printable flash cards. create as many as possible and use them regularly. Alternatively, you can buy ready made nclex flashcards.
3. Get a Study Partner-Get a serious study partner with a good work ethic. Get a study partner who will push and motivate you to be better. Ideally you shouldn't choose a study partner who you are very close socially like your boyfriend or best friend. A study partner should be one who gets straight to the topic or subject of discussion and sticks to it without straying to other mundane issues or gossip.
4. Find a Suitable location- Find a suitable study location where you can study with little distraction. do not try to study in the kitchen, or in your living room while your brother is playing video games. Find a quiet place, like your room or the school library to study.
5. Buy Appropriate study material-Buy all the material will need for NCLEX Review, spare no expenses because the hard work you put in and the more study material you have the easier your life will get. Buy exam review books with sample quizzes and tests. Invest in NCLEX review Apps to help you review test questions on the go. You should give it 100% in order to reap the benefits.
6. Take simulated Tests-use your App or your NCLEX review to take as many quizzes and tests as possible. Simulate taking the actual test. sit for the required time and take a test that simulates NCLEX. This will make you comfortable with the test-taking process and help you gauge your understanding and iron out your weaknesses. make sure to go back and revise topics that you fail.
7. Minimize destructions-While you are preparing for your NCLEX you want to be able to soak everything that causes your mind to wander. Do not plan parties, vacations, trips or anything that will take your mind off the pending Test. Even a relationship that constantly worries you, or is rife with arguments, fights, accusations should be done with or put on pause. if you are in an unhealthy relationship this is the time to either walk away or ask for some space.
8. Get a goodnight sleep-If you plan on studying and learning the next day, get an early sleep. Create time to be able to get a solid 7-8 hour sleep, otherwise the next day you will miss a whole lot of new concepts because your brain isn't at 100%.

Next read our article on 8 Tips on how To Ace the NCLEX Test 

How do you or how did you prepare for your NCLEX? please share the experience of what you are doing to get yourself ready. please share, comment and even ask questions. You can also go to our forums and post anything for discussions

Mercy Killings by Nurses, Right or Wrong?

Recently, we have seen an escalation in what the defense usually calls ‘mercy killings’. This is the killing of a patient, usually terminal, out of ‘pity’. At times, like the case of John Walter Bardgett, the nurses see themselves as ‘Angels of death’, but are they really?

Are you as a Nurse justified in ending anyone’s life, out of pity, no matter how much pain they are in? Are you justified in giving them some aid in ending their miserable lives if they so beg or give you consent? Is it torture to constantly walk in a room and see your patient writhing in constant pain, crying and begging for relief yet you know there is nothing more to do save to wait for them to die? These questions are always in the back of some nurses’ minds and do give them pause.

Advances in medicine has been godsend, yet it has also been a curse of sorts. Our lives now drag on and on, the suffering lasts longer than it should. We as patients- even with terminal diseases- are pulled out of the verge of death over and over again just to have our painful, miserable existence extended a further ninety days, or six months. It’s a miracle when it works, when everything falls into place and a patient is saved, but it gets sad when nothing works and all we are doing is buying more days, weeks or months.

 So far morphine has become the popular drug of choice. A large overdose of Morphine can cause asphyxia and a quick death. Some patients have asked for assisted suicide, willingly, but most have had death visited upon them early, unbeknownst to them, by a nurse with a syringe.

It’s true, most of these Nurses are disillusioned, even mental. Most need psychiatric help before they get caught up in a killing spree. The sad thing is that most don’t go screaming from the rooftops that they are killing their patients. It takes a few deaths, alert co-workers and a good investigator to unearth the truth and the extent of the killings.

The involuntary killings aside, are we as a nation ready for voluntary/assisted suicide? Are nurses willing-especially in cases of strong religious ethics-to take part in this? Is there anything wrong with assisted suicide, where there is extreme pain and suffering?

Some states, such as Vermont, have passed the law allowing Physicians to prescribe medicine to end lives. "Vermonters who face terminal illness and are in excruciating pain at the end of their lives now have control over their destinies. This is the right thing to do," said Governor Peter Shumlin.

Some other States are joining the bandwagon.

 It sounds like a smart move, the humane thing to do. This is set to benefit especially those willing to die, yet cannot accomplish the task due to some limiting handicap. If one cannot be able to commit suicide, yet they want it due to a chronic disease, then by all means they deserve assisted suicide.

Some proponents see it different. Some of these are religious conservatives, same ones who crusade against legalized abortions. They do have some valid rationales. One friend of mine asked, what is the difference between one getting a prescription to commit ‘assisted suicide’, and one who lopes a rope on a tree and hangs himself?

Technically, there is no difference, both just can’t stand their lives as-is. Problem is, we as a society see suicide in most other forms-blowing your brains out, hanging yourself, jumping off a building etc-as cowardly, a cop out, no matter the reason. But really, what is the difference? If you had a terminal disease, and you stood on a balcony at the top floor of a sky scraper announcing you are ready to jump, the Police and firefighters will pull all stops to ensure you live, yet the same patient can walk to a physician’s office and come out with a cocktail that will kill him? Legally?

This is a rather complex topic, where no one knows any better than the patient himself.

Pharmacology

Why Most nurses Fail-by Empowern

Medical Abbreviations Quiz

NCLEX Review test

This is a medical diagnosis tool i found rather interesting. it comes with all the information one needs.

Simple NCLEX Tips

• Do not drink or party the night before
• Get a good night’s sleep before the test.If you Study, glance at your Flashcards
• Always arrive Early to the testing center.
• Bring multiple forms of idea.
• Dress comfortably
• Use a study partner when preparing for the exam especially with Flashcards.
• Be familiar with the format of the exam.
• Limit your distractions preparing for the exam.
• Take time to unwind and reduce stress as you prepare.
• Do not panic if you don't know the answer
• Take your time, do not rush
• If you do badly, you can always retake the Exam. Do not beat yourself

Drugs and medication dictionary

Body Systems

Visual map-Vascular diseases