Monday, March 31, 2008

Heart Association: Hands-only CPR works

According to the American Heart Association, CPR (rapid, deep compressions on the victim's chest until help arrives) works just as well as standard CPR for sudden cardiac arrest in adults.
Mouth-to-mouth breathing can be skipped.

for more information, click here.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Bulging belly now could mean dementia later

People with a bulging waistline in mid-life could face a higher risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s in the senior years, a new study shows.

Previous research has shown that having an apple-shaped body increases the risk of diabetes, stroke and heart disease, but this is the first time it has been linked to dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Health Tip: Sports Safety for Kids

(HealthDay News) - Kids need to take special care to prevent injuries to growing bones and muscles while playing sports.

Here are safety guidelines for kids, courtesy of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:

Prepare for sports by getting into good physical shape.

Learn all the rules of the sport.

Always wear appropriate protective equipment, and learn how to use it correctly.

Always warm up and stretch before you play.

If you feel pain or you are too tired, avoid playing until you feel better.

--Diana Kohnle

Friday, March 21, 2008

Travel Nursing

Travel nursing is an exciting and rewarding career option for nurses and allied health care professionals. Your skills are in great demand across the country, which means you have an almost limitless number of choices when it comes to where and how you want to work. Whether you want to take an assignment a thousand miles away or in your own hometown, travel nursing can put you right where you want to be.

Plus, as a traveling health care professional, you have the opportunity to work at the nation's most prestigious facilities, earn lucrative pay and generous bonuses, and enjoy living in free, quality housing provided by your travel nursing company. The top travel nursing companies offer excellent benefits including: comprehensive insurance coverage, 401(k) plans, continuing education, clinical support and incentive programs.

Read more

Looking towards the future: St. John’s builds a foundation of nursing


A foundation, as defined by Webster, is "a basis on which a structure is built or a concept supported."


It is the underpinning of a physical or conceptual structure. Upon questioning, many nurses would define "foundational" nursing as medical/surgical nursing.
However, medical/surgical nursing is much more than a foundation for specialty nursing practice.


Medical/surgical nursing is the care of adults with acute health conditions. This practice can occur in a variety of settings, from the acute care hospital to an outpatient clinic.
Medical/surgical nurses are challenged with ever-increasing patient acuities. They manage a vast array of co-morbidities, such as diabetes and cardiovascular/pulmonary diseases.The severity and complexity of these conditions often cause our focus to narrow, and sometimes to refer to our patients as diseases or conditions. However, the practice of medical/surgical nursing is holistic and shifts our focus back to the restoration and maintenance of health in the adult population.



Read more

Wednesday, March 19, 2008


IELTS Writing Test

Everyone’s biggest problem with Writing Task is finishing both tasks on time. What no one tells you is that if you don’t finish either one, you lost a whole band point. This never has to happen to you!

The key to making sure that your report and essay qualify as finished is that they have a clear Conclusion paragraph. That paragraph can be one sentence long, if necessary. And the best news of all is, you have already written that sentence!

At the end of the Introduction (paragraph 1) of the Writing Task 1 report, you have written a summary of the information. In the same position – at the end of the first paragraph – in Writing Task 2, you have written your Thesis Statement. Simply be repeating both of those sentences at the beginning of a Conclusion paragraph, you have made your writing qualify as finished – even if there is more you wanted to write. And you don’t lose a whole band point needlessly.

Here’s what you do:
1)Make sure you do write a good summary in Writing Task 1 and a good Thesis Statement in Writing Task 2. (Your report and essay won’t work without them anyway.)

2)Watch your watch! No one is going to keep you on track as far as elapsed time is concerned. It’s up to you to monitor your own progress.

3)In Writing Task 1, if 18 minutes have passed and you’re still writing Body Paragraph sentences, finish the sentence you’re writing, quickly. Then, start a new paragraph (and make sure it looks like a new paragraph), and begin it with the words, “In conclusion,…” Then rewrite the summary. If you can, change a word or two (but not the meaning). If not, just write it exactly the way you did at the end of the Introduction.

4)In Writing Task 2, if 38 minutes have passed and you’re still writing Body Paragraph sentences, finish the sentence you’re writing, quickly. Then, start a new paragraph (and make sure it looks like a new paragraph), and begin it with the words, “In conclusion,…” Then rewrite the Thesis Statement. (This needs to be done in any case. It is an essential part of the essay.)

5)Ideally, in Writing Task 2, you should write the Restatement in reverse order of the Thesis Statement. For example, if it is an opinion essay, and you wrote your opinion and three reasons in the Thesis Statement, write the three reasons first, and then the opinion, in the Restatement. Again, if you have time and can, change a word or two (but not the meaning). If not, just write it exactly the way you did at the end of the Introduction.

6)Make sure you finish these “In conclusion,…” sentences on time. The task ends at exactly 60 minutes.

Obviously, this will not save you any lost points if all you have is a few sentences and your essay is far too short in the first place. But if you have written most of the essay, and followed the format, it’s essential that you not lost a whole band point just because it isn’t finished. So make it look finished!


learn english online

IELTS Speaking Topics

Here is a list of topics that could be asked during your IELTS Speaking Test.

Tips:
Speak clearly and answer in full sentences.
Look at the examiner and maintain eye contact when possible.
Ask for something to be repeated if you do not understand what you are expected to do.
Take the time to plan for Part 2.
Vary the words and phrases you use.
Be well-mannered and respectful throughout the interview.
Don't speak too softly.
Don't give yes or no answers.
Don't try to be somebody else. Just relax and answer the questions as well as you can.
Don't worry about speaking too much. The examiner will control the timing of your responses.
Don't try to give a rehearsed speech.
Don't stop trying throughout the interview.




Summer Fluids

With summer in full swing, it's important to ensure that your fluid intake is at its peak. During the summer months you may be more prone to losing body fluids because of increased perspiration from exercise and heat. According to the American Dietetic Association, on an average day, an adult will lose approximately 10 cups of water, making your daily fluid intake goal between 8 and 10 cups, depending on the season and your activity level.

click here for summer fluids tips.

Diet-Friendly Comfort Foods

Start choosing the right food. Many favorites are loaded with calories, fat and sugar.
Here's a list of common comfort foods with lower-calorie swaps.

Nursing Jobs

Looking for a nursing job?

Click here to go to nursingjobs.org

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

2nd Philippine Nursing Expo

2ND PHILIPPINE NURSING OPPORTUNITIES CONFERENCE AND EXPO 2008

When: APRIL 4-6, 2008
Where: SM Megamall, Megatrade Hall 3
Time: 10AM onwards

visit philnursingexpo.com for more details.

The first 1000 pre-registrants gets the chance to win fun fun prizes!

Directory of Metro Manila Hospitals

AFP Medical Center
V Luna Rd, Quezon City
Tel No. (632) 426 2701

Amang Rodriguez Medical Center
Sumulong Hiway, Marikina City
Tel No. (632) 942 0245

Asian Hospital & Medical Center
2205 Civic Drive Filinvest Corporate City Alabang, Muntinlupa City
Tel No. (632) 771 9000

Cardinal Santos Medical Center
Wilson St, Greenhills, San Juan
Tel No. (632) 727 0001

Children's Medical Center Phils, Inc &General Hospital
11 Banawe St, Quezon City
Tel No. (632) 712 0845

Col Salvador T Villa Memorial Hospital
109 Caimito Rd, Caloocan City
No. (632) 361 2406

Cruz-Rabe Maternity & General Hospital
37 Gen Luna St, Tuktukan, Taguig
Tel No. (632) 642 3433

De Los Santos Medical Center
201 E Rodriquez Sr Blvd, Quezon City
Tel No. (632) 7230041-53

De Ocampo Memorial Medical Center
2921 Nagtahan St, Sta Mesa, Manila
Tel No. (632) 715 1891

Dr Jesus C Delgado Memorial Hospital
7 Kamuning Rd, Quezon City
Tel No. (632) 924 4051

Dr Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital
Lope de Vega St, Sta Cruz, Manila
Tel No. (632) 734 5561

Dr Jose N Rodriguez Memorial Hospital
Tala, Caloocan City
Tel No. (632) 962 8209

Dr Jose R Reyes Memorial Medical Center
Rizal Ave, Sta Cruz, Manila
Tel No. (632) 711 9491

Dr Victor R Potenciano Medical Center (formerly Polymedic General Hospital)
163 EDSA Mandaluyong City
Tel No. (632) 531 4911-19

East Avenue Medical Center
East Ave, Diliman, Quezon City
Tel No. (632) 927 9900

Fatima Medical Center
120 McArthur Hiway, Valenzuela
Tel No. (632) 293 2703

Fort Bonifacio General Hospital
Fort Bonifacio, Makati City
Tel No. (632) 812 7416

Hospital de San Juan de Dios
2772 Roxas BlvdPasay City
Tel No. (632) 831 9731-36

Hospital of the Infant Jesus
1556 Laong-Laan St, Sampaloc, Manila
Tel No. (632) 731 2771

J. P. Sioson General Hospital and Colleges
75 Bukidnon St, Bago Bantay Quezon City
Tel No. (632) 927 1339

Las Pinas Doctors Hospital
8009 Jl Aguilar Ave Pulang LupaII Las Pinas City
Tel No. (632) 829 7715

Lung Center of the Philippines
Quezon Ave, Quezon City
Tel No. (632) 9246101

Makati Medical Center
2 Amorsolo St, Legaspi Vill, Makati City
Tel No. (632) 815 9911

Manila Adventist Medical Center School of Medical Arts, Inc
1975 Donada St Pasay City
Tel No. (632) 5259191

Manila Doctors Hospital
667 UN Ave, Malate, Manila
Tel No. (632) 524 3011

Martinez Memorial Hospital
198 Mabini St, Caloocan City
Tel No. (632) 288 8861

Mary Chiles General Hospital
667 Gastambide St, Sampaloc, Manila
Tel No. (632) 735 5341

Mary Johnston Hospital
1221 Juan Nolasco St, Tondo, Manila
Tel No. (632) 245 4021

Medical Center Manila
1122 Gen Luna St, Ermita, Manila
Tel No. (632) 5238131

Medical Center Muntinlupa
38 National Rd, Putatan Muntinlupa City
Tel No. (632) 861 1668

Medical Center Paranaque, Inc
Dr A Santos Ave,Sucat, Paranaque
Tel No. (632) 8256911

Metropolitan Hospital
1357 Masangkay St, Tondo, Manila
Tel No. (632) 255 0401

National Center for Mental Health
Nueve de Pebrero St, Mandaluyong City
Tel No. (632) 531 9001

National Children's Hospital
264 E Rodriquez Sr Blvd, Quezon City
Tel No. (632) 724 0656

Olivarez General Hospital
Dr Arcadio Santos Ave, Paranaque City
Tel No. (632) 826 7966

Ospital ng Maynila
Pres Quirino Ave cor Roxas Blvd Malate, Manila
Tel No. (632) 524 6061

Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital (Sta Mesa)
46 P Sanchez St, Sta Mesa, Manila
Tel No. (632) 7163901

Pasay City General Hospital
P Burgos St, Pasay City
Tel No. (632) 833 6022

Perpetual Help Medical Center
Alabang-Zapote Rd, Las Pinas City
Tel No. (632) 874 8515

Philippine Air Force General Hospital
Villamor Air Base, Pasay City
Tel No. (632) 854 6701

Philippine Children's Medical Center
Quezon Ave, Quezon City
Tel No. (632) 924 6601

Philippine Heart Center
East Ave, Diliman Quezon City
Tel No. (632) 925 2401

PNP General Hospital
EDSA Camp Crame, Quezon City
Tel No. (632) 724 8735

Quezon City General Hospital
Seminary Rd Quezon City
Tel No. (632) 929 7224

Quezon Institute
E Rodriquez Sr Ave, Quezon City
Tel No. (632) 781 3761

Quirino Memorial Medical Center
JP Rizal St, Proj 4 Quezon City
Tel No. (632) 9134759

Research Institute for Tropical Medicine
Alabang, Muntinlupa City
Tel No. (632) 807 2628

Rizal Medical Center
Pasig Blvd, Pasig City
Tel No. (632) 671 9740-43

Sabater General Hospital
Caruncho Ave, Pasig City
Tel No. (632) 641 8194

San Lazaro Hospital
Quiricada St, Sta Cruz, Manila
Tel No. (632) 711 6979

Seamen's Hospital
Cabildo cor San Jose St Intramuros, Manila
Tel No. (632) 5278117

South Superhighway Medical Center
Km 17, West Service Rd South Superhiway Paranaque
Tel No. (632) 823 4344

St Agnes General Hospital
241 Roosevelt Ave San Francisco Del Monte Quezon City
Tel No. (632) 3741308

St Claire's Hospital & Nursery
1838 Dian St, Palanan Makati City
Tel No. (632) 831 6511

St Jude General Hospital
Dimasalang St, Sampaloc, Manila
Tel No. (632) 731 2761

St Luke's Medical Center
279 E Rodriguez Sr Blvd, Quezon City
Tel No. (632) 723 0101

St Martin de Porres Charity Hospital
70 A Bonifacio St, San Juan
Tel No. (632) 723 8045

St Vincent Hospital
35 Main Bayanan Ave Concepcion Marikina City
Tel No. (632) 941 7320

Sta Rita de Baclaran Hospital
0972 GG Cruz St, Paranaque City
Tel No. (632) 831 7006

Sta Teresita General Hospital
100 D Tuazon St, Quezon City
Tel No. (632) 731 9803

Taguig Doctors Hospital
184 Bagumbayan St, Taguig
Tel No. (632) 837 0712

The Family Clinic Hospital, Inc
1474 Ma Clara St, Sampaloc, Manila
Tel No. (632) 731 2901

The Medical City
Ortigas Ave, Ortigas Ctr Mandaluyong City
Tel No. (632) 631 8626

Tondo Medical Center
Kalakal St Honorio Lopez Blvd Balut, Tondo, Manila
Tel No. (632) 251 8420

UERM Memorial Hospital
Aurora Blvd Quezon City
Tel No. (632) 7150861

Unciano General Hospital(Mandaluyong)
393 Boni Ave, Mandaluyong City
Tel No. (632) 533 6565

United Doctors Medical Center
290 Espana Blvd cor N Ramirez St Quezon City
Tel No. (632) 712 3640-49

UP Philippine General Hospital
Taft Ave, Ermita, Manila
Tel No. (632) 521 8450

UST Hospital
Espana Blvd, Sampaloc, Manila
Tel No. (632) 731 3001

Veterans Memorial Medical Center
North Ave, Diliman Quezon City
Tel No. (632) 927 6426 to 45

World Citi Medical Center(formerly Quezon City Medical Center)
960 Aurora Blvd, Quezon City
Tel No. (632) 913 8384


Summer tips

It's summertime. Can you feel the prickling heat already?
Here are some tips for you to enjoy summer and at the same time stay healthy.

Protect your skin from the sun
Reducing skin cancer risk


Scientists claim skin cancer risk can be reduced by up to 78 percent if skin is protected during the first 18 years of life.
•Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen, which provides protection from UVA and UVB rays, to all sun-exposed areas. Dermatologists recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF rating of at least 15. A sunscreen with an SPF of 30 does not provide twice the protection; it only gives you 3 percent more protection. Remember, reapply sunscreen after swimming and reapply about every hour while you are in the sun.
•Throw out last year’s sunscreen; over time it loses its ability to protect you.
•Stay out of the sun when sunlight is most intense, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
•Lips are very sensitive to skin cancers; use a lip balm with an SPF rating of at least 15.
•Babies under six months of age are too young to use sunscreen. They should be kept out of direct sunlight.

Heat and sports tips
Heat illness can affect anyone — players, coaches or spectators — but heat affects people differently. Those who are physically fit, well-hydrated, and used to being out in the sun may tolerate heat well, but children (and the elderly) do not. They can become ill from too much exposure to intense sun and heat.How to stay safe in heat and sunIt’s essential to wear sunscreen and a hat, but drinking enough fluids is probably the most important way for athletes and others to stay safe in heat and sun.Approximately 60 percent of our bodies are water.


While sweating helps athletes and others cool themselves to maintain a normal body temperature, it’s also water lost from the body. In addition, during active play, hard working lungs also give up water.
An athlete can become dehydrated when the fluid lost during active sports play isn’t replaced. Every athlete needs to have plenty of water or sports drinks available before, during, and after play.
Ice pops are a great way to replenish body fluids and get glucose for energy too. Watermelon and oranges are also great ways to replenish fluids lost during strenuous sports activities.How to tell if someone is dehydrated•Clear/light-colored urine indicates adequate hydration, but dark urine indicates the body needs more fluids.
•Dehydration may cause painful muscle spasms called heat cramps. Gentle stretching can help relieve the pain of heat cramps and drinking fluids before, during and after active play can help prevent them.


Heat exhaustion
Heat exhaustion is a common heat illness that may cause sufferers to feel dizzy and/or nauseated. Headache, irritability and excessive sweating are also indications of heat exhaustion. The skin will feel cool and clammy to the touch.

These symptoms indicate that the person is losing their ability to maintain a normal body temperature and is beginning to overheat. The best treatment is getting out of the sun immediately and cooling off.

Heat Stroke
Heat stroke is uncommon, but is very serious and may be fatal. Heat stroke causes a person’s bodily cooling system to completely shut down. Their blood pressure may drop so low that they go into shock. The person with heat stroke may be confused, have hot and/or dry skin, a faster than normal heart rate and may not be sweating at all. The heat stroke victim may even become unconscious. The treatment for heat stroke is rapid cooling and quick transportation to a hospital.

Source: Children's Hospital Oakland

Saturday, March 15, 2008

April Visa Bulletin

03/14/08) - The US State Department issued its April Visa Bulletin. The status for the visas are as follows:
EB1 - all current.EB2 - all current, except China (Dec 1, 2003), and India (Dec 1, 2003).EB3 - all countries (July 1, 2005), China (Feb 8, 2003), India (Oct 1, 2001), Mexico (Mar 1, 2002), Philippines (July 1, 2005)."

Since last month, the Philippines and "All other Countries" moved forward 6 months, from January 1st to July 1st. China and India mover forward, but only by approximately 3 months.

If the trend continues, the Philippines and "All other Countries" will be current by later this year. Hope still remains high that the US Congress will take action to re-issue 61,000 unused visas for use by nurses. This would bring the backlog of visa applications filed by nurses up to date.


Source: AAFFEN

To all BSN Graduates (2002 - 2007) - 25th Advancement Program in Clinical Nursing

What: 25th Advancement Program in Clinical Nursing

When: June 16 - November 28, 2008 (6 mos.)

Where: UP - PGHFee: 8,000 Php.

Requirements:
a. PRC License (photocopy)
b. PNA Membership (photocopy)
c. TOR
d. Board Rating (80% and above)
e. letter of Intent address to:Mrs. Ma. Rita Villanueva - Tamse Deputy Director for Nursing

SCREENING OF APPLICANTS:MAY 26, 2008 2:00 PM
NURSING SKILLS LAB., NURSES' HOMES

for more info call: DNET # 524 -0703
Trunk line: 521 8450 loc. 3915


Phoning it In

A New Jersey cardiology practice is using wireless technology to achieve a national goal: shorten door-to-balloon time in heart attack patients.

The cardiology department at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) Medical School in Newark has teamed with emergency personnel to use a wireless network that transmits electrocardiograms (ECGs) to mobile phones with PC (personal computer) functionality.

"If the door-to-balloon time is shortened for heart attack patients, there's a decrease in death and an improvement in cardiac function," said Marc Klapholz, MD, director of UMDNJ's cardiology division. Klapholz spearheaded the wireless ECG project that went live last June.

Read the whole article here

Friday, March 14, 2008

Travel Nursing

Interested to be a travel nurse?
watch this video.

Travel nursing is a popular career option for nurses with at least 12 months of clinical experience. It gives you a chance to see new places, expand your résumé and work at some of the country's top facilities. You can choose jobs close to home or anywhere across the country. Most travel assignments last 13 weeks, although some travel nursing companies can customize the length of an assignment to meet your needs. There are also companies offering short-term, quick-start travel assignments, typically lasting four to eight weeks. There are no annual contracts, so you can work as many assignments as you like.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Suprapubic catheter

A suprapubic catheter is a hollow flexible tube that is used to drain urine from the bladder. It is inserted into the bladder through a cut in the tummy, a few inches below the navel (tummy button). This is done under a local anaesthetic, or a light general anaesthetic.

Click here to see how to irrigate a suprapubic catheter.

IELTS Tips and Tricks - Mastering the Writing Task

Everyone’s biggest problem with Writing Task is finishing both tasks on time. What no one tells you is that if you don’t finish either one, you lost a whole band point. This never has to happen to you!

The key to making sure that you report and essay qualify as finished is that they have a clear Conclusion paragraph. That paragraph can be one sentence long, if necessary. And the best news of all is, you have already written that sentence!

At the end of the Introduction (paragraph 1) of the Writing Task 1 report, you have written a summary of the information. In the same position – at the end of the first paragraph – in Writing Task 2, you have written your Thesis Statement. Simply be repeating both of those sentences at the beginning of a Conclusion paragraph, you have made your writing qualify as finished – even if there is more you wanted to write. And you don’t lose a whole band point needlessly.

Here’s what you do:
1)Make sure you do write a good summary in Writing Task 1 and a good Thesis Statement in Writing Task 2. (Your report and essay won’t work without them anyway.)


2)Watch your watch! No one is going to keep you on track as far as elapsed time is concerned. It’s up to you to monitor your own progress.

3)In Writing Task 1, if 18 minutes have passed and you’re still writing Body Paragraph sentences, finish the sentence you’re writing, quickly. Then, start a new paragraph (and make sure it looks like a new paragraph), and begin it with the words, “In conclusion,…” Then rewrite the summary. If you can, change a word or two (but not the meaning). If not, just write it exactly the way you did at the end of the Introduction.

4)In Writing Task 2, if 38 minutes have passed and you’re still writing Body Paragraph sentences, finish the sentence you’re writing, quickly. Then, start a new paragraph (and make sure it looks like a new paragraph), and begin it with the words, “In conclusion,…” Then rewrite the Thesis Statement. (This needs to be done in any case. It is an essential part of the essay.)

5)Ideally, in Writing Task 2, you should write the Restatement in reverse order of the Thesis Statement. For example, if it is an opinion essay, and you wrote your opinion and three reasons in the Thesis Statement, write the three reasons first, and then the opinion, in the Restatement. Again, if you have time and can, change a word or two (but not the meaning). If not, just write it exactly the way you did at the end of the Introduction.

6)Make sure you finish these “In conclusion,…” sentences on time. The task ends at exactly 60 minutes.


Source: ezinearticles.com

Monday, March 10, 2008

Chicken Soup

People with colds often feel dizzy when standing up, and this condition is helped by drinking salty liquids. Bouillon and chicken soup are excellent.

Vaccine Could One Day Control High Blood Pressure

Good news for people with hypertension.
I read this article about a vaccine that blocks angiotensin II receptors. It could relax blood vessels to lower blood pressure. This vaccine may one day replace current blood pressure medications, a new study suggests.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

B.C. TO FUND THREE-YEAR NURSING DEGREE PROGRAM AT BCIT

BURNABY – The Province announced today that it will provide $1.4 million in one-time funding to kickstart the first three-year accelerated nursing degree program in the province at the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

“Nurses play a critical role in our health system. An accelerated three-year nursing degree is an innovative approach to get nurses into the workforce sooner,” said Health Minister George Abbott. “One of the things we heard in the Conversation on Health and committed to in the throne speech was a three-year bachelor of science in nursing program.”

Last month’s throne speech recognized the importance of health professionals in providing quality health care and committed to substantially expand access to qualified health professionals. The throne speech included a commitment by the Province to establish a three-year bachelor of science in nursing program to permit nurses to gain their degree a year sooner with significant on-the-job training.


Read more

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Filing Period for H1-B visa coming up

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - The time is quickly approaching for the opportunity to obtain an H-1B Visa. Applications from employers will start being accepted on April 1, 2008 for the 65,000 visas available. Of those 65,000 visas 6,800 are set aside especially for Chile and Singapore nationals. The visas go to foreigners who are highly educated meaning they have at least a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent. They are professionals with specialties or unique skills. Individuals with an H-1B Visa may be allowed to remain in the United States for a maximum of six years. The visas are highly coveted and last year the visa quota was filled in one day. By the second day that H-1B applications were being accepted the USCIS had received nearly 150,000 applications. To make it fair to employers the government resorted to random selection. Applications filed after April 3, 2007 for fiscal year 2008 were not taken into consideration since the deadline was April 2, 2007. These applications along with those that were not selected were later returned to employers. If an employer is not able to obtain an H-1B Visa they may want to consider planning for next year’s H-1B Visas. Better yet employers should be looking into other ways that they can bring professionals to the United States. Other alternatives for U.S. employers include: the Treaty-Trader/Treaty-Investor visa (E-1/E-2), TN Visa, the J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa, the O visa and the L-1 Intracompany Work Visa. Currently it seems highly unlikely that the number of H1-B visas will be increased.

Source: US immigration newsletter

Friday, March 7, 2008

Sevilla Rose Elvira-de Leon: Dedicated and Excellent Nurse in Saudi

Here is a story of a Filipino nurse who works very hard in Saudi.

As a professional nurse, Sevilla Rose knows too well that many opportunities are waiting for her abroad and that getting an overseas job can paved the way for all her dreams to be fulfilled.

Read more

FDA: Heparin illnesses now in Germany

WASHINGTON - Dialysis patients in Germany have gotten sick using a different brand of the blood thinner heparin than was linked to 19 American deaths, U.S. officials announced Thursday, sparking concern that the problem could be more widespread than originally believed.

Read the whole article here

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Nursing News from Down Under

Nurses are a cut above.

IS BEING a theatre nurse just handing a surgeon instruments: ‘Scalpel. Retractor. Swab,’? Not according to Dianne Durrington, a perioperative nurse who works at Hawkesbury Hospital.

A perioperative nurse is an operating theatre nurse, but the term indicates that the role encompasses the time both before and after the operation as well.

read the whole article from hawkesbury

Saskatchewan looking to lure nurses from Philippines

Source: CBC News

Saskatchewan is off to the Philippines to hire 300 nurses.

Saskatchewan Party MLA Laura Ross and officials from five health regions and the provincial health recruitment agency are going on a hiring trip to the southeast Asian nation next week.
If they're successful, it'll take the government part of the way toward fulfilling the Saskatchewan Party's campaign promise to hire 800 more registered nurses — filling 600 vacancies and adding 200 new positions — during its first term in office.


Ross, the legislative secretary to the health minister, said hiring 300 people is an achievable goal.
Still, bringing that many nurses to Saskatchewan involves many issues, including making sure there is adequate housing, she said. Just making the move to Canada from halfway around the globe comes with its own challenges, Ross said.


"There is a certain amount of acclimatization," she said.
"That's why you know we've encouraged the community to become involved," she said.
For instance, when a dozen previously recruited nurses arrived in Regina, members of the Open Door Society were on hand to greet them, she said.


Saskatchewan Health Minister Don McMorris said the government will try to woo the nurses with competitive wages and a compensation package.
McMorris said he hopes the trip to the Philippines will help tackle what he calls the "huge problem" of the nursing shortage in Saskatchewan.


The province must also address the need for more training spaces for nurses at home, McMorris said.

New colon cancer screening guides issued: Virtual Colonoscopy, stool DNA

ATLANTA - Medical experts recommended Wednesday that a less invasive procedure known as a virtual colonoscopy and a stool DNA test join the arsenal of screenings for colon cancer in the hopes that more people would get checked out.

Find out more

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Killer nurse Colin Norris jailed for life

LONDON (Reuters)
Nurse Colin Norris was jailed for life on Tuesday after being found guilty of murdering four elderly patients with lethal doses of the diabetes drug insulin.

Norris, 32, from Glasgow, was told he will serve a minimum 30 years in jail.
He gave the drugs to four women during his time at two hospitals in Leeds in 2002.


Find out more here

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Safety Tips for Nurses

Here are safety tips for nurses in the workfield by Paula Kriner and Psyche Pascual of
CONSUMER HEALTH INTERACTIVE . Nurses, keep these in mind to prevent injury in a very busy atmosphere in the ward.

•Needlesticks. Health care workers have long fought for laws that would require hospitals and health care centers to use safe needles -- that is, needles with safety caps and other devices that prevent puncture wounds. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires gloves, gowns, masks, eye protection, and now needles to conform to the requirements of the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act. Since 2001, this federal law has required hospitals to use safe needles. If your hospital doesn't use safe needles, you may want to discuss it with the person responsible for workplace safety issues at your job. Meanwhile, make sure you're especially careful when drawing blood. Be aware that you are likely to be at your highest risk of injury at the end of a shift or when working a double shift, or at times when staffing is low.

•Back injury. The majority of injuries reported by nurses are head, neck, or back injuries related to lifting patients, nurses report. Although federal guidelines suggest workers do not lift anything above 50 pounds, most patients weigh much more than that.
Whenever you can, push instead of pull. This puts less stress on your back and you have twice as much power. Stay close to the bed or machine you are using and avoid reaching. Use both arms to prevent strain. When you lift from floor level, lift from a squat with your back straight, bend your knees, and let your legs do the lifting. If you have to lift from waist level, try to get help from another nurse or aide on the floor. Make sure you put the bed rails or wheelchair arms down. Explain what you're doing to your patient and to your co-worker who's helping you lift.

•Workplace violence. Nurses are particularly vulnerable to violent attacks when staffing is low and at times of high activity, such as visiting hours and meals, OSHA researchers note. Some nurses also work alone in remote locations and in high-crime areas where they are vulnerable to assault.
Many nurses can't avoid working alone or in emergency rooms and mental health centers where the potential for violence exists. Most health care centers have installed security systems that control access and require employees to wear ID badges.
Familiarize yourself with your patients, especially those with a history of violent behavior, dementia, or drug or alcohol intoxication. You can also make sure you always have an escort or another worker around when you feel you're in an unsafe situation. Make sure you have a system that protects confidentiality but alerts your co-workers if you know there's a patient who may become aggressive.

•Latex allergy. The powder that manufacturers put on latex gloves can cause a rash on your hands, and in some severe cases could send you into anaphylactic shock. Even if you don't develop an allergy when you first start using them, you could develop them later, and you may be sensitive to them even if they're on other people's hands.
Ask your workplace to use powder-free gloves. But if you do have to work with powdered gloves, wash and dry your hands thoroughly after removing them. While at work, avoid using oil-based lotions that contain mineral, coconut, or palm oil or lanolin. These oils break down the glove barrier. If you can, wear synthetic gloves or cotton liners with latex gloves for work that gets your hands wet. People who develop latex sensitivity may have to go to more trouble to avoid exposure. Consult a doctor and tell your employer if your symptoms get worse.



Monday, March 3, 2008

Lifelong Nurse Was Born With the Caregiving Gene

Here is another inspiring story of a dedicated nurse.

As a teenager, Rundy Hamblen dreamed of being an airline stewardess. She was born in 1921, so passenger service was still in its infancy, and a nursing degree, oddly enough, was one of the requirements for the job.

Although she never got to care for the needs of cosseted passengers traveling to glamorous world capitals, the young Wisconsin woman did get to fly eventually, as an Army nurse, and she did get relatively close to Paris -- Omaha Beach, to be exact. Four months after D-Day.
Mrs. Hamblen, a longtime Arlington County resident, died Feb. 1 of pulmonary fibrosis at Capital Hospice in Arlington. She was 86.

In a way, she was a nurse pretty much her whole life -- from age 4 until her retirement as an emergency-room nurse at D.C. General Hospital nearly eight decades later.

Born Margery Rundell in Ashland, Wis., she and her sister helped their mother, a nurse, care for people in their hometown. Her dedication to the profession, she told The Washington Post in 1999, is "something you're born with, not anything you acquire."

Making house calls with her mother, she recalled, "there'd be a grandfather on the cot in a kitchen, and it would smell like high heaven. My sister couldn't take it. She'd sit outside. I don't know why, but I could always work with my mother."

She got her nursing degree at St. Luke's Nursing School in Duluth, Minn. -- still planning to be a stewardess, as flight attendants were called -- but World War II prompted a change in plans. She enlisted in the Army Air Forces in 1943.

When she and her fellow nurses took a re-outfitted Queen Mary to England and then landed at Omaha Beach, the military was still relying on its medics. The nurses lived out of tents, with whatever clothes and supplies they could pack into duffel bags. It took a while before she got assigned to a MASH unit in Normandy and then in Germany.

"I got dubbed the psychiatric nurse," she told The Post. "Guys were what we used to call shellshocked. So many guys had seen things that blew their minds. They would stand and stare into space, going off their rocker."

Although she didn't tend to the wounded at the front, she saw many severely injured patients, including Gen. George S. Patton.

The commander of the Third Army was critically injured Dec. 9, 1945, when the Cadillac in which he was riding crashed into a truck. Mrs. Hamblen was one of two nurses who cared for the general until his death at a hospital in Heidelberg 12 days later.

"It was something she never really talked about," her daughter Jill Jones said, although Mrs. Hamblen did describe him as "a very interesting and wonderful patient."

read the rest of the story at washington post

Nurse who elevated her profession

Here is an inspiring story of a nurse, Pat Tarlinton (1912-2008) who worked for years to improve the quality of nursing care, professional status of Australian nurses and who had touched hundreds of nurses' lives.
Because of her numerous contributions to the nursing profession, she was awarded MBE.



PAT TARLINTON worked for years, often behind the scenes, for the education, training and professional status of Australian nurses. This was only after she had nursed around the world, in war and peace, so she knew what nurses could and should do.

She and her colleagues were rewarded for their education work in 1973 when, following the recommendations of the 1970 Truskett committee, nurse education was transferred from hospitals to the tertiary sector.

Patricia Annie Tarlinton was the fourth of the 12 children of James and Florence Tarlinton at "Woodburn", near Cobargo on the south coast. The family was descended from William Tarlinton, who first settled the Cobargo district in the 1830s and once owned all the land between the Brogo and Tuross rivers. Pat was sent to Cobargo Parish School then on to high school at Monte Sant' Angelo in Sydney.

After school, she started nursing training at St Vincent's Hospital. By the time World War II broke out she had progressed to sister and in 1940 she was one of the first to enlist in the RAAF Nursing Service.

Towards the end of the war she was selected for special training for a medical air evacuation unit. The unit's job was to fly into combat zones in transport planes converted to air ambulances and take wounded soldiers to hospitals or back to Australia.

The nurses became known as the "Flying Angels" for their hard work. At the end of the war, the unit was sent to evacuate prisoners of war from Changi Prison and prisoners from the Japanese camps in Sumatra, Malaya, Burma and other areas.

Tarlinton was the first Australian woman to enter Penang after the Japanese left, just behind two British officers who had been parachuted in. They were so impressed that a woman should arrive so close behind them that they presented her with their parachutes. She also served in Thailand, Sumatra and Morotai, in Indonesia.

After she was demobilised, she travelled for four years, working as a nursing sister in England and Scotland and seeing Europe and South America.

When Tarlinton returned to Sydney, she was offered a position as a teacher in St Vincent's newly established training school. She rose to become head tutor sister and worked tirelessly to improve the educational standards and status of the nurses under her care.

This work made her realise that nursing was a profession, and that it should be accorded that status. From her position she could influence and inspire a few hundred nursing trainees each year but she knew that she needed to change careers if she was to exert a wider influence.

She had been involved in the NSW College of Nursing (now part of the College of Nursing) since soon after it started in 1949, and served on its council for a number of years. In 1966, she took the position of executive secretary of the Australian Trained Nurses Association and the NSW branch of the Royal Australian Nursing Federation, where she stayed for 10 years working on her vision of nationally accredited tertiary training for all nurses.

For a lifetime of contribution to the profession, Tarlinton was awarded an MBE in 1978.
Patricia Tarlinton did not marry but she was a much-loved aunt to her many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. "Auntie Pat" was an adviser, a mentor, a role model, a great listener, a sharp wit, a constructive but gentle critic and a great friend. She is survived by four of her sisters, Betty, Madge, Mary and Raechel.

Mike Etheridge and Judy Tarlinton


Sunday, March 2, 2008

Nurse shortage affecting elder care

HARTFORD — Lawmakers are grappling with the demographics of Connecticut's rapidly aging population and an acute staffing shortage among the 241 nursing homes that have about 23,000 residents.

Majority Democrats in the General Assembly want to require higher nursing ratios, but Gov. M. Jodi Rell warns that the budget that takes effect on July 1 is perilously close to the constitutional cap on spending growth. Speaker of the House James A. Amann told lawmakers last week that the recent management failures of the Middletown-based Haven Healthcare nursing homes highlight the statewide need for more staff and tougher oversight.

read the whole story here.

Double Gloving Promotes Safety in the OR

Double gloving during surgical procedures can decrease the risk of bloodborne pathogen exposure, yet many nurses still wear just a single pair of gloves.

“Double gloving has been shown to be safer for staff and patients, [because] there is an extra layer,” said Rick Tryon, RN, BSN, CNOR, OR nurse manager at the University of Virginia Healthcare System in Charlottesville.

Read the whole article here

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Interview tips: Follow-up

1. Send a thank you note after the interview.
Letter writing may be a lost art, but a simple thank you note shows your interest and thoughtfulness, which reinforces a favorable impression. So, if you want the job....say thank you.


Thank the interviewers for their time and consideration. Keep the tone business-like, focused and warm. It should be a reflection of your personality, your professionalism and how you approach your nursing career. Mention a specific contribution you can make to address their current challenges and then wrap up the note by asking for the job.

Proofread the letter and make sure there are no typos or inaccuracies. E-mail, mail, hand-deliver or fax your letter so that it arrives within 24 hours after your interview.

2. What if the job’s not for you?
Send a thank you note anyway. It shows good manners and thoughtfulness on your part. Hiring managers will appreciate your courtesy and might even suggest another position at their facility or at another location.

3. What if you don’t hear anything from the hiring manager?
If it has been a few days, call to convey your continued interest and check the status of the interviewing process. Find out when the decision will be made and ask if there is anything else you can provide. This could be an opportunity to supply additional references, paperwork or information.

Follow up the day before the decision is supposed to be made. Be considerate of the hiring manager’s time and pressures associated with the pending decision. This warmth and graciousness shows compassion on your part and could turn things in your favor.


source: Nurse Zone

Interview tips: Interview day

1. It is important to make a great first impression.
Like the old adage says, "You only get one chance to make a good first impression," and the success of your nursing career may depend on those first few moments of an interview. Studies have shown that managers often make hiring decisions within 30 seconds of meeting a candidate. It's that initial impression that stands out in the interviewer's mind when they are evaluating you vs. another candidate. This is why dress, grooming, a clear speaking voice and a winning smile are important.


2. Dress to get the job.
What are you going to wear? If you do not know the personality of the hiring manager or the corporate culture of the hospital, dress in professional business attire. The degree of formality and what's acceptable varies around the country, but it is better to err on the side of being too dressed up than to come across as less-than-professional.

Ask your most "image conscious" nursing colleague for advice about what is appropriate to wear, or check with anyone who might have worked at that facility or department in the past.

Whatever clothes you choose, make sure they are impeccable; freshly cleaned and pressed. Don't forget to shine your shoes and make sure they are in good shape, as well. Dressing in neat, professional clothes shows respect for the facility and your nursing career. Hiring managers pay attention to these details since they reflect a candidate's diligence.

3. Keep personal accessories to a minimum.
Remove or tone down personal accessories that could be considered distracting or distasteful; avoid flashy nail decor, heavy makeup and clunky jewelry. The emphasis during the interview process is to portray a professional and neat appearance, not broadcast your unique style.
Style your hair so it is pulled back and off your face, a mirror of how it will be when you are doing patient care.

Avoid any scented lotions, perfume or after shave. It could trigger an allergic reaction and make a less than favorable impression.

4. Allow plenty of time to get to the interview.
Punctuality at your first meeting with a potential employer is crucial! It is a mark of your dedication and professionalism, and sets the right tone for the next step in your nursing career. So start out early and allow plenty of time to make it through traffic, find the facility, park your car and walk to the interview location. If possible, get directions ahead of time and ask about parking and access to the place where you need to interview.

Plan to arrive early just in case an accident or something unforeseen might slow you down. This pre-planning will also allow you to arrive at the interview relaxed and prepared. If you're very early, you can use the time to review the nurse interview tips and rehearse your answers to common questions.

5. Do not smoke before your meeting with the hiring manager.
No matter how tense you get, do not give into the urge for a cigarette. The smell of smoke on your clothes and breath can create a very negative first impression.

6. Greet your interviewer warmly.
Make eye contact, smile warmly and shake the interviewer's hand. Take a look at their personal décor in the office and find something pleasant to say about an item that draws your attention, or mention something about the facility in general. This "connection" can help set the tone and get the interview started on an upbeat note. Maintain frequent eye contact throughout the interview to show your continued interest.

7. Listen, respond and relax during the interview.
It's only natural to be a little nervous, especially during your first nursing interview. So don't worry if you stumble on your first sentence or don't immediately get your full point across. Look for the opportunity to provide more details and demonstrate your strong points.

Relax, take a couple of deep breaths and maintain a calm, even conversational tone. Listen carefully to each question and respond to what is being asked, not to what you anticipate will be asked. Ask for clarification if needed and be careful not to rush through your answers.

8. Your turn to ask questions.
Most interviewers will give you a chance to ask questions, so use this opportunity to show your interest in the position and find out key details about the workflow. Feel free to check your notes, but avoid asking questions about items that are already spelled out in the hospital's literature.

You might ask questions about the unit, current developmental projects, orientation and getting acclimated into the existing work group. It is also helpful to ask the hiring manager what skills they think are most important to succeed at this job, and then be sure to point out how you have demonstrated those skills in previous situations.

9. Extra things to bring to the interviewer's attention.
Discuss your professional association memberships and any committee positions which you've held. Mention research you've helped with, volunteer projects, published articles and continuing education.

Let the hiring manager know if you're interested in extra responsibilities such as committee or task force memberships. Express your willingness to take advanced training in subjects needed to fill in clinical competencies in the unit.
Ask for a tour of the facility and to meet some of your peers. Use this experience to get a feel for the unit.


source: Nurse Zone

Interview Tips: Before the interview...

1. Prepare your credentials and other paperwork
Create a professional résumé that profiles important coursework, clinical experience and any early nursing career highlights. List your job positions or clinical rotations, key responsibilities, accomplishments, rewards, recognition, credentials, licensing and education. Ask your nursing advisor or other mentor to review your résumé for content, grammar, format and overall effectiveness. (For tips on preparing your nursing résumé, read more.) Print out multiple copies of your résumé and keep them in a folder with your other documents.


Make a list and check off all of your credentials, immunization and identification documents. Make sure to include your nursing license, notice of passing board scores (if you have it), BCLS/ACLS card, additional certificates from any advanced training programs, driver's license, immunization record and social security number. Bring the original documents and two or three copies of each to give to the human resources department and the hiring/interviewing manager.

Bring a current copy of your nursing skills checklist(s) for any departments where you have worked. Be thorough but don't exaggerate your abilities; these lists demonstrate your clinical competencies and can help employers match you to the right job and training situation to begin your nursing career. If you are working with a staffing company, they can normally provide you with skills checklists that can be completed for your nursing interview.

Have at least two copies of your references available—one to leave with the human resources representative and the other for the hiring manager. Verify and update the names, titles, facility designations, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses of clinic managers, nursing faculty and personal references. (If you have reference letters, bring them along. Most employers use them as supplemental material, not as a substitute for references.)

Anticipate being asked for permission to conduct a criminal background investigation. The permission form may require you to list all of your prior addresses for the past five to seven years, so keep this information with you.

2. Anticipate the questions you will be asked.
Find out as much as you can about the facility where you'll be interviewing by visiting their Web site or picking up literature from your nursing school's career center. If you have any contacts who work at this facility, take the time to ask them about the staff, the corporate culture and general procedures.


Prepare answers for standard on-the-job type interview questions:
-How would others describe your skills as a team player?
-What is your approach for getting along with difficult staff members?
-How do you handle problem patients and/or families?
-What is your method for dealing with the workload when your unit is short-staffed?
-How do you give a treatment that you have never administered before?
-How do you handle three emergency admissions at shift change?


Develop an answer for one of the most common open-ended questions: "Tell me a little about yourself." This question is designed to evaluate your judgment. This is not the time or the place for a chronological biography or any self-critical remarks. It's your opportunity to reveal key details about yourself that validate why you are the right one for the job. Use this opportunity to point out the unique skills, talents and attitudes you bring to the nursing unit, backed up with specific examples. For instance, if you talk about your teamwork or leadership skills, give an example of when you demonstrated these qualities.

Practice answering questions in a way that shows you are a problem-solver. Staff shortages and new employee training can be a source of stress for the manager and the other workers on the unit, so show that you can be part of the solution. Provide examples from your nursing career—no matter how short—that demonstrate how you've picked up the slack, organized workflow and contributed in various ways to make things more efficient.

Craft answers to negative situations, but frame them in a positive light. Review your experience and write down pertinent examples that show how you overcame adversity and gained new insights. Even if you faced some difficult situations at your last job, refrain from speaking negatively about a previous employer, department or manager. You don't want to come across as someone who blames his or her situation on others or offend the hiring manager by mistake. Emphasize the positive and highlight how these challenging experiences strengthened and shaped your skills and your nursing career.

3. Practice, practice, practice!
Practice answering all of these questions until you feel comfortable and at ease. Don't just say what you think the interviewer wants to hear; be true to yourself. Otherwise you could be hired under the wrong expectations for a position that's not a good match. Your goal is to prepare answers that best reflect your skills and personality. Remember to be sincere, professional and show how you've excelled in your nursing career.


Give these nurse interview tips a test run and stage a mock interview. Ask a colleague, friend or relative who is a manager or familiar with the interviewing process to do a "mock" interview with you. Have them ask the same thought-provoking questions they would ask their candidates. Even if they don't work in nursing or health care, their interviewing experience is still relevant. Don't let them go easy on you; the tougher their questions the less stumped and more prepared you'll be when it comes time for the real interview.

You should also practice greeting your interviewers with a smile and a firm handshake, either with friends or in front of a mirror. Keep at it until you exude the warmth, confidence and professionalism that you want. It may feel strange at first, but it can help you alleviate jitters and appear more polished on the day of the interview.

Don't forget to get plenty of sleep the night before your nursing interview to help you look rested and feel more alert.


source: Nurse Zone

CDC to destroy oldest smallpox vaccine

ATLANTA - The government announced Friday that it has said goodbye to one of the world's greatest lifesavers — the oldest smallpox vaccine. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this month made arrangements to dispose of the last of its 12 million doses of Dryvax, and notified other health departments and the military to do the same by Feb. 29.

Yahoo News

Drug breakthrough 'could cure diabetes'

Diabetes sufferers have been given hope of a cure after scientists regenerated cells destroyed by the disease for the first time.

Researchers have identified a cocktail of drugs that prevents the immune system malfunction that triggers Type 1 diabetes.

They found that boosting levels of a chemical produced by the body to ease inflammation led to the regeneration of insulin-producing pancreatic cells. While the effect has been demonstrated only in animals so far, the researchers are planning human trials and hope the breakthrough could lead to a cure.

Click here to read more

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