August 12th, 2009 by alexi
Becky, a university graduate with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Nursing, took time out of her busy week going through hospital orientation as a recently certified Registered Nurse, to answer some questions about the world of nursing.
When did you become interested in nursing?
I became interested in nursing after my freshman year of college. I was Pre-Med and the fit just didn’t seem right for my long term goals. I knew I wanted to be a mom, but at the same time, I wanted to have a career. I love that nursing will afford me the opportunity to identify with something outside of mothering. Also, after a few years of work experience, I plan to go back to school and get my master’s degree and become a nurse practitioner, or possibly even get my Doctorate in Nursing Practice. I love that I have these choices!
What is your favorite part of being an RN?
I love that I am always learning! It can be frustrating at times to not know everything, but the learning and growth can be so rewarding because you really see the impact in people’s lives! As a nurse you get to be with your patients during some of their most vulnerable times-being a part of that and helping them through the process of healing, loss, whatever their situation may be is really fulfilling.
What has been particularly memorable about your job now or nursing school?
I can’t pinpoint one single patient. You see everything in nursing! Really, everything.
“You see everything in nursing! Really, everything.”
I love the growth that I have seen in myself throughout nursing school, and even now as a RN- I learn something new each day, and have so much left to learn. I also love knowing that I really helped someone in my day.
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Tags: health, health care, health care degree, interview, medical careers, nursing, spotlight
Posted in Career, Education, Healthcare, Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
August 11th, 2009 by alexi
Nursing is a virtually recession-proof job that will always be in demand. My Colleges and Careers asked pediatric nurse practitioner SueAnn Hyland (R.N., P.N.P.) of Orange County, Calif., more about what she does on a daily basis.
Fun Fact: Married with two children, Hyland just completed her first triathlon last weekend. No big deal at all…
What made you interested in nursing?
My grandma was a Labor and Delivery nurse and growing up, my family and I always talked with her about her career which made me very interested in health care. As I got older, I recognized I really enjoyed working with and helping people and I was particularly keen on the variety of opportunities and flexibility within the world of nursing.
What are your typical daily responsibilities as a nurse?
Currently I work as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with two pediatrician’s in a pediatric office. I work completely autonomously in the care of children with ages ranging from birth - 21 years. My responsibilities include baby/child/teenage check-up’s and sports physicals, diagnosing and treating illnesses, writing prescriptions, and ordering and interpreting labs, x-rays and other tests.
What is your favorite part of the job?
My favorite of my job is building relationship with the families and children I take care of. I particularly enjoy helping new moms during the challenging transitions with a newborn and watching the baby grow as they visit the clinic regularly during the first 2 years of life. Also I really enjoying working with teens and helping them better understand and take care of their bodies. In my nursing career I have worked in a variety of settings and specialties including pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (ICU), neonatal ICU, pediatric ICU, and general pediatrics. Every area of nursing has its pros and cons, with unforgettable patients in each setting.
Every area of nursing has its pros and cons, with unforgettable patients in each setting.
Tags: health career, medical careers, nursing
Posted in Career, Healthcare, Uncategorized | No Comments »
July 16th, 2009 by alexi
Do you love watching Grey’s Anatomy, Scrubs, or ER (regardless of whether George Clooney is acting or not)?
Do you find satisfaction from the precision required to pull a splinter out of a friend’s toe, enjoy cleaning and bandaging a roommate’s cut finger?
Does the thought of medical school sound like financial (and social) suicide?
Then perhaps you should look into a medical assisting job!
WHAT IS MEDICAL ASSISTING?
Medical assistants perform a range of administrative and clinical tasks in offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners. Unlike Physician assistants (who can examine, diagnose, and treat patients with physician supervision), medical assistant duties vary from office to office.
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Tags: medical, medical careers, medical specialties
Posted in Areas of Study, Career, Healthcare, Human Services | No Comments »
June 15th, 2009 by Kate Lehnhof
An anesthesiologist is a doctor who is specially trained to administer anesthesia. It is one of the fastest growing medical careers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. What is anesthesia you might ask? Your best friend in the operating room. It is the stuff that puts you to sleep during a surgical procedure so surgeons can open you up, scramble things around and stitch you back together, while you are comfortably sleeping in la-la land.
An anesthesiologist’s main job is to make sure that you feel no pain. They do this by monitoring the patient’s vital life functions—heart rate, body temperature, blood pressure and breathing and then adjusting the level of anesthesia when necessary.
Pay
One of the biggest benefits of this job is that it pays well and let’s be honest, money is important. If everybody just picked their career according only to what they liked to do this nation would be overrun with ice cream taste testers and professional poker players. The median salary for an anesthesiologist is $197,570.
Perks
Next to money, job satisfaction is another top concern in career choice. There is satisfaction to be found in being in the anesthesia field.
Anesthesiologists help people when they are the most vulnerable: on the operating table.
They take away their pain. They assist in improving the quality of life for others.
Preparation
Profiling
According to the Myers Briggs Personality Test, anesthesiologist’s are often most often associated with the SF personality (Sensing and Feeling) type.
This personality type deals well with change, gets along with others easily, is most often characterized as the “friendly doer.”
Did you know?
- Redheads require more anesthetic blondes and brunettes.
- Anesthesia was given its name from American physician Oliver Wendell Holmes and in Greek it means “no sensation.”
Tags: medical careers
Posted in Healthcare | 3 Comments »