The Nursing Blog

Vibra-train

2011-09-01T06:36:00.000-07:00

Vibra-train, or Vibration training, utilizes vibration plates that stimulate skeletal muscles causing the body to burn energy. It is also effective in lymphatic drainage, maintaining bone density, and balancing hormones.

The trainee stands on the vibra-plate and has to do the standard poses while the machine does the work in stimulating the muscles. The whole workout takes 10-15mins. It is fascinating to have developed a type of exercise which requires minimal effort. However, keep in mind that proper diet and exercise goes hand in hand in maintaining good health and fitness.

back again

2011-08-31T17:51:00.001-07:00

after a looong while!
Had to focus on quite a lot of things over the past year.

Will start updating the blog again or might make a new one.

Cheers!

New Zealand: Luring or repelling Filipino nurses?

2009-03-20T19:31:00.000-07:00

Filipino nurses express their concern regarding the changes in the requirements of nurses in NZ.

read the whole article here

Obama on Health Care

2008-12-13T22:21:00.000-08:00

Hopefully soon we could find Obama's stand on hiring foreign nurses to work in the US.

Barack Obama will make health insurance affordable and accessible to all:
The Obama-Biden plan provides affordable, accessible health care for all Americans, builds on the existing healthcare system, and uses existing providers, doctors and plans to implement the plan.

Obama will lower health care costs:
The Obama plan will lower health care costs by $2,500 for a typical family by investing in health information technology, prevention and care coordination.

Promote public health:
Obama and Biden will require coverage of preventive services, including cancer screenings, and will increase state and local preparedness for terrorist attacks and natural disasters.

Barackobama.com

Plan for Immigration

2008-12-13T22:17:00.000-08:00

Barack Obama and Joe Biden's plan for immigration.
(for more information, visit barackobama.com)

Create Secure Borders
Obama and Biden want to preserve the integrity of our borders. He supports additional personnel, infrastructure and technology on the border and at our ports of entry.

Improve Immigration System
Obama and Biden believe we must fix the dysfunctional immigration bureaucracy and increase the number of legal immigrants to keep families together and meet the demand for jobs that employers cannot fill.

Remove Incentives to Enter Illegally
Obama and Biden will remove incentives to enter the country illegally by cracking down on employers who hire undocumented immigrants.

Bring People Out of the Shadows
Obama and Biden support a system that allows undocumented immigrants who are in good standing to pay a fine, learn English, and go to the back of the line for the opportunity to become citizens.

Work with Mexico
Obama and Biden believe we need to do more to promote economic development in Mexico to decrease illegal immigration.

Beware of Fake Jobs in US

2008-12-12T04:55:00.000-08:00

The dean of the University of the Philippines Manila-College of Nursing, Josefina Tuazon said, “The US still needs nurses but it’s not giving out visas for nurses now. It needs to legislate to provide additional work-related permanent visas for nurses.”

Nursing guide

Brain Death

2008-11-02T23:25:00.000-08:00

Signs of brain death

+Unresponsiveness to all stimuli
+Pupillary responses are absent
+All brain functions cease
+No eye movements are noted when cold water is instilled into the ears (caloric test).
+No corneal reflex is present
+No gag reflex is present
+Quick rotation of the patient's head from left to right (doll's eyes test) causes the eyes to remain fixed, suggesting brain death.
+No response to painful stimuli is present
+An apnea test reveals no spontaneous breathing
+EEG shows no brain activity or response

What is DKA?

2008-11-02T23:21:00.000-08:00

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is an acute complication of hyperglycemic crisis in patients with diabetes. It's a life-threatening complication that's most common in patients with type 1 diabetes and is sometimes the first evidence of the disease.

It may result from infection, illness, surgery, stress or insufficient or absent insulin.

Chest X-ray

2008-11-02T23:07:00.000-08:00

During chest radiography (aka chest X-ray), X-ray beams penetrate the chest and react on specially sensitized film. Normal pulmonary tissue is radiolucent while abnormalities such as infiltrates, foreign bodies, fluid and tumors appear dense. That is why they are detected through X-rays.

Myths and Facts about Working as a Nurse in the Middle East

2008-10-25T21:52:00.000-07:00

If you are a nurse, Middle Eastern countries are one of the easiest regions to get in to. Some hospitals don’t require a great degree of clinical experience from their nurses the way European and North American countries do. In fact, most nurses can be deployed in the Middle East without work experience at all (depending on the country).

Most Filipino nurses are apprehensive about the thought of working in the Middle East. A lot of them view the region as quite hostile and strange. Some are afraid that adjustment to the culture would be too difficult.

That is however, not the case. Many Filipinos (who have worked in the Middle East) would tell you that the country is very rich and accommodating. All you need is time to adjust and then you will be very happy working in the Middle East.

Below are a few presumptions that nurses have about working in the Middle East.
· Nurses Salary in the Middle East is no better than their salaries in the Philippines – This is of course a myth. Most nurses in the Middle East earns a minimum of USD 30,000 annually. That’s about Php 1.3 million (depending on the dollar exchange rate). This is nothing compared to the meager Php 150,000 or less that most nurses in the Philippines get for an entire year.

· Nurses have to be covered head to toe in required garb when they go out in public – Fact. This is just a Middle Eastern tradition that the women in the country have to adhere to. There may be some exceptions along the way, but most of the time this is the case. Female nurses need not worry though; they do not have to be dressed in that manner when they are inside their houses or compounds.

· Saving money in the Middle East is easy – There is some truth to this Middle Eastern perception. That is due to the fact that most of the basic expenses are covered by either the government or the hospital. Most hospitals provide meals for their employees during service hours. Nurses are also often housed in low cost or free compounds within the hospital grounds.
But, despite the fact that a lot of the expenses are already paid for, there is still the temptation of shopping and partying. Therefore, money stored away for a rainy day can just as easily be used in a shopping spree.

· Nurses are not allowed to leave the compound that they are housed in – Myth. The fact is that the social scene in some Middle Eastern countries is compound based. People are allowed to move from compound to compound as long as they adhere to and respect the practices imposed on them when they are in public.

Source: Nursingguide.ph

Gov’t doctors, nurses to get pay hike once 2009 budget bill OK’d

2008-10-04T19:04:00.000-07:00

The government has allocated P20 billion to cover salary increases of all state workers, especially nurses and doctors, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. said yesterday.
Funds for such purpose have not been included in the budget of line agencies like the Department of Health (DOH) because this was contained in the separate Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF), Andaya said, clarifying reports that government has not set aside a budget for nurses’ pay increases.
“In the case of the pay hike for DOH employees, the amount needed is not included in the agency’s proposed budget for 2009, but in the MPBF,” he explained.

Read more

Source: Philstar.com

RP Nurses in UK Want to Move to Australia

2008-09-07T00:39:00.000-07:00

Employment opportunities and the promise of a high salary attract Filipino nurses to work in United Kingdom (UK). However, since UK is one of the most expensive countries in the world, what some perceived to be a high salary is actually just enough to get you by in this European county.

This is the reason why many Filipinos nurses in UK want to move to another country that can provide better living conditions and higher value for their money and they are targeting Australia.

Many Filipino nurses currently in UK want to transfer to Australia because they feel that they will be better off there. Aside from the competitive salary, it also has lower cost of living and favorable climate. Other Pinoy nurses in UK are eyeing Canada and Saudi Arabia as the country to migrate to.

The annual salary of a Filipino nurse is 24,000 pounds or more or less 2 million pesos. However, if you have a family to support and considering the high cost of living there; that seemingly huge amount is still not enough for the nurses in UK to afford a house they can call their own.

A study conducted in Britain confirms the poor quality of life in UK and the country has recently come to be regarded as the “Sick Man of Europe.” Even British citizens are leaving UK to migrate to another country.

An estimated 41,000 Britons left UK in 2006 to settle in other countries. The figure is said to be the highest number of mass departure in Europe.

Source: Nursing Guide

Saskatchewan and Japan Compete to Hire Foreign Nurses

2008-09-07T00:33:00.000-07:00

The healthcare industry of Saskatchewan, Canada is facing labor shortage and they need to hire more foreign nurses to fill the demand. As Filipino nurses are known for their excellent work ethics and job performance, Saskatchewan seeks to hire the services of RP nurses.

However, aside from Saskatchewan, Filipino nurses are also in demand in other countries as well and one of them is Japan. The need for people to fill up job vacancies in the medical field and the aging population leave Japan no choice but to open its doors for foreign nurses and caregivers.

Japan seeks to hire healthcare professionals from the countries of Indonesia and the Philippines. A Washington, D.C.-based reporter for Japan's NHK, Masaru Takagi, said that a memorandum of agreement between Japan and countries of Philippines and Indonesia has recently been created and Japan would soon hire soon foreign nurses and caregivers.

Takagi said, "The first large group of health care workers from Indonesia is expected to arrive in Japan in early August. Nurses and caregivers are in demand especially in more rural areas, while hospitals are also seeking workers for the less desirable midnight shifts.

The deployment of foreign nurses is big news in Japan which had always been wary of any agreements that would allow the entry of expatriates in their country. Nursing organizations in Japan criticize that hiring of foreigners is not the best solution to address the labor shortage.

Foreign nurses to be deployed in Japan are advised to familiarize themselves with the Japanese language and culture to avoid culture shock and to make communicating with the locals easy. Hired nurses will also undergo six-month training and pass a national nursing exam in Japan within three years. Nurses who will fail the exam will be sent home.

On the other hand, Saskatchewan is active in its efforts to attract the entry of Filipino nurses. Representatives from the government of Canada (Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association and the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses) visited the Philippines last March and May to conduct a nine-day recruitment mission. An estimate of 300 new nurses was hired as a result of that trip.

Saskatchewan prefer Filipino nurses because of the excellent English skills and for being educated using an American nursing curriculum.

Source: Nursing Guide

Demand for registered nurses wanes in US, UK

2008-08-31T06:05:00.000-07:00

Click here for more info.

Philippine school plans to acquire more hospitals

2008-08-31T06:01:00.000-07:00

A Philippine school which also runs two hospitals in Quezon City plans to acquire two more medical facilities. Systems Technology Inc. (STI), which owns De Los Santos Medical Center and Del Mundo Hospital, plans to buy two more hospitals, one in Davao and another in Metro Manila.

The Davao facility has 100 beds while the Metro Manila hospital has 70, said STI, which also offers nursing courses. Monico Jacob, STI’s President and chief executive officer, said the school is also planning to acquire a network of hospitals with 2,000 beds.

De Los Santos Medical Center, located along España Avenue in Quezon City, was founded in 1949 by Dr. Jose V. de los Santos, the father of Philippine orthopedics. Meanwhile, the del Mundo facility, which has 107 beds, was named after Dr. Fe del Mundo, an internationally-recognized Filipino pediatrician.

Besides receiving the Ramon Magsaysay award for public service in 1977, she was also conferred the rank of a National Scientist in 1980. - Cheryl M. Arcibal, GMANews.TV

New Zealand needs Filipino Nurses

2008-08-31T05:48:00.000-07:00

Good news for Filipino nurses aspiring to work in the Land of the Long White Cloud.
You could bring your family along with you to NZ.

Click here to watch the news video.

Symptom Checker

2008-08-23T03:06:00.001-07:00

experiencing symptoms? want to know what these are?
click here to find out about those symptoms.

Cholecystitis

2008-08-23T02:49:00.000-07:00

Cholecystitis: Inflammation of the gallbladder, a complication of gallstones which are formed by cholesterol and pigment (bilirubin) in bile. (Bile is produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder). Cholecystitis is frequently associated with infection in the gallbladder. Risk factors for cholesterol gallstones include age, obesity, female gender, multiple pregnancies, birth control pills, and heredity. The most common symptom is pain in the upper abdomen. Diagnosis is usually made with ultrasound of the abdomen. Some patients have no symptoms. Patients with mild and infrequent symptoms may consider oral medication to dissolve gallstones. Surgery (standard or laparoscopic) is considered for patients with severe symptoms and for patient with cholecystitis.

things to remember about cholecystitis:
- right upper quadrant or epigastric pain
- leukocytosis
- jaundice
- nausea and vomiting
- fat ingestion intolerance
- feeling of fullness
- abdominal distention
- increased pain with deep breathing

Diabetes Mellitus

2008-08-23T02:31:00.000-07:00

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels, that result from defects in insulin secretion, or action, or both. Diabetes mellitus, commonly referred to as diabetes (as it will be in this article) was first identified as a disease associated with "sweet urine," and excessive muscle loss in the ancient world. Elevated levels of blood glucose (hyperglycemia) lead to spillage of glucose into the urine, hence the term sweet urine.

Normally, blood glucose levels are tightly controlled by insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. Insulin lowers the blood glucose level. When the blood glucose elevates (for example, after eating food), insulin is released from the pancreas to normalize the glucose level. In patients with diabetes, the absence or insufficient production of insulin causes hyperglycemia. Diabetes is a chronic medical condition, meaning that although it can be controlled, it lasts a lifetime.

Type 1 diabetes was also called insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), or juvenile onset diabetes mellitus. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas undergoes an autoimmune attack by the body itself, and is rendered incapable of making insulin. Abnormal antibodies have been found in the majority of patients with type 1 diabetes. Antibodies are proteins in the blood that are part of the body's immune system. The patient with type 1 diabetes must rely on insulin medication for survival.

Type 2 diabetes was also referred to as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), or adult onset diabetes mellitus (AODM). In type 2 diabetes, patients can still produce insulin, but do so relatively inadequately for their body's needs, particularly in the face of insulin resistance as discussed above. In many cases this actually means the pancreas produces larger than normal quantities of insulin. A major feature of type 2 diabetes is a lack of sensitivity to insulin by the cells of the body (particularly fat and muscle cells).

The early symptoms of untreated diabetes are related to elevated blood sugar levels, and loss of glucose in the urine. High amounts of glucose in the urine can cause increased urine output and lead to dehydration. Dehydration causes increased thirst and water consumption.
The inability of insulin to perform normally has effects on protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism. Insulin is an anabolic hormone, that is, one that encourages storage of fat and protein.

A relative or absolute insulin deficiency eventually leads to weight loss despite an increase in appetite.
Some untreated diabetes patients also complain of fatigue, nausea and vomiting.
Patients with diabetes are prone to developing infections of the bladder, skin, and vaginal areas.
Fluctuations in blood glucose levels can lead to blurred vision. Extremely elevated glucose levels can lead to lethargy and coma.

source: medicine net

Jackson Pratt Drain Care

2008-08-17T20:13:00.000-07:00

What is a Jackson Pratt drain?

A Jackson Pratt drain, or JP drain, is used to remove fluids that build up in areas of your body. Unwanted fluid can collect in areas of infection, areas where surgery has been done, or in other body areas. The JP drain is made up of a thin rubber tube and a soft round squeeze bulb. One end of the rubber tube is placed in the area where body fluids may build up. The other end sticks out of your body through a small incision (cut), and is connected to the squeeze bulb.

Click here to see how to care for your Jackson Pratt

10,000 Filipino nurses took US licensure test -- labor group

2008-08-17T20:02:00.000-07:00

A total of 9,837 Filipinos took the United States licensure examination for nurses for the first time from January to June 2008. These Filipinos dream to work in th US, like most people.
But with retrogression still on, are they one step closer to their dream?

read more at Inquirer

Ingrown nails

2008-07-31T19:44:00.000-07:00

Ingrown nails can be treated at home. Cut the nail straight across so that it can grow outside the skin. Let the nail grow free by firmly pushing the skin back from the corner with a Q-tip twice a day. Keep the area clean. For hangnails, keep them clean. Don't chew on them.

Tonsillectomy

2008-07-31T19:30:00.000-07:00

Children between the ages of five and ten commonly have sore throats. There is no evidence that removing the tonsils lowers their frequency. Doctors now agree that children very seldom need the tonsillectomy operation.

Nurses' rights

2008-07-27T01:46:00.000-07:00

Why, even the apolitical nurses are also going to have their own SONA, except that this will be their State of the Nurses Address at 10 a.m. on Monday, just hours before Mrs. Arroyo delivers hers in Congress.

Read the whole article at The Manila Times

DEVELOPMENT DIALOGUE
By Nora O. Gamolo

Underpaid

2008-07-27T01:37:00.000-07:00

By Gloria Jane Baylon

...Six years after the enactment of the Nursing Law, nurses (in government service) remain underpaid … many nurses are still receiving less than P10,000 monthly … way below the legal salary’ said Dr. Leah Primitiva Samaco-Paquiz, president of the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA).

The Nursing Law’s Article VII, Section 32, clearly states that public nurses must be given the ’salary of not lower than Salary Grade (SG) 15,’ which is listed at P16,093 in the Compensation and Classification Act (R.A. 6758)...

read more

Source: thepinoy.net

Gov't fails to implement Nursing Act

2008-07-25T22:16:00.000-07:00

Source: Malaya

THE Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) yesterday assailed the government over the continued non-implementation of the Nursing Act of 2002 (RA 9173) which should have given those nurses working in government hospitals higher pay.

PNA president Dr. Leah Samaco-Paquiz said that under RA 9173, a nurse working in a government hospital should be getting P16,093 a month in salary but the reality is many are getting less than P10,000 a month.

"What is taking them so long to implement this salary (upgrade)? We need to entice these nurses to work in public health and in government service by this simple request to provide them what is just and legal," Paquiz said, adding that the low pay is one reason why Filipino nurses leave for jobs abroad. "While salary is not the reason why nurses serve, the high salaries offered by foreign employment becomes more attractive to them. How do we expect these nurses to remain in government service with this kind of salary?"

PNA said it will send 1,000 of its members to join Monday's rallies along Commonwealth Avenue against President Arroyo when the latter delivers her State of the Nation Address at the Batasan. - Gerard M. Naval

Open Heart Surgery

2008-07-21T20:27:00.000-07:00

wanna be a surgeon? try this fun interactive and learn more about open heart surgery.

False text messages

2008-07-19T04:02:00.000-07:00

False text messages about the results of the June 2008 licensure exams for nursing have been flying about and the Board of Nursing has issued an advisory saying that there's no truth to them.

Hiccups

2008-07-15T23:30:00.000-07:00

Hiccups, which are caused by irregular contractions of the diaphragm muscle, may occasionally prove troublesome. Although there have been many home remedies recommended over the years, including drinking large amounts of water and startling the sufferer, research suggests that one-half teaspoon (3ml) of dry sugar placed on the back of the tongue is the most effective treatment.

Dialysis Management Training Course

2008-07-15T21:36:00.000-07:00

for those who wants to have a dialysis training,
Metropolitan Medical Center near Bambang Station offers a training course for dialysis.

9,800 cash and discounts for first 10 applicants

2 weeks didactic1 week skills lab
5 weeks clinical duty

requirements:
resume2 pcs,
2x2 and 1x1
photocopy of TOR (authenticated as true copy)
PRC license
NBI clearance
IVT Card

Source: Friendster message from Angel

Philippine Heart Center: Cardio Renal Practitioner Program

2008-07-13T22:11:00.000-07:00

Philippine Heart Center in cooperation with H.E.A.R.T. Foundation invites you
to the five-week CARDIO - RENAL PRACTITIONER PROGRAM

If your interested, pls proceed to 4a Hospital Bldg Philippine Heart Center

Look for:
Ms. Raquel Tejada RN,CRNS
Ms. Raissa Sese RN
Ms. Fatima Asin RN
or H.E.A.R.T. Foundation Inc.,9th floor of MAB Bldg.
Philippine Heart center

Look for Ms. Ingrid Garcia.

Requirements:
1. PRC License
2. RENAP membership
3. 2 1x1 picture
4. resume
5. Fee (20,000.00)

It includes ECG, BLS, ACLS, 2 scrub suits and 1 labgown.

The schedules and its (registration dates):
July 16 – August 19, 2008 (reg July 8, 2008)

August 25 - September 26, 2008 (reg August 12, 2008)
October 8 – November 10, 2008 (reg September 8, 2008)
November 17 – December 19, 2008 (reg November 4, 2008)

The registration for July 16 – Aug19 first batch is until July 14, 2008.

First come first serve basis starts now.

Only 10 – 15 participants per batch.

Please bring your payment upon registration. Thank you!

For more information call:
Raquel Z. Tejada, RN, CRNS
Philippine Heart Center East Avenue,Quezon City
925 – 2401 loc. 2474

Raissa Joy P. Sese, RN
Philippine Heart Center East Avenue,Quezon City
925 – 2401 loc. 2474/ 0927 – 3400529

Fatima P. Asin, RN
Philippine Heart Center East Avenue,Quezon City
925 – 2401 loc. 2474/ 0921 - 2923451

Source: Friendster message from Fatima

Improving memory

2008-07-13T21:52:00.000-07:00

A. Pay attention. You can’t remember something if you never learned it, and you can’t learn something — that is, encode it into your brain — if you don’t pay enough attention to it. It takes about eight seconds of intent focus to process a piece of information through your hippocampus and into the appropriate memory center. So, no multitasking when you need to concentrate! If you distract easily, try to receive information in a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted.

B. Tailor information acquisition to your learning style. Most people are visual learners; they learn best by reading or otherwise seeing what it is they have to know. But some are auditory learners who learn better by listening. They might benefit by recording information they need and listening to it until they remember it.

C. Involve as many senses as possible. Even if you’re a visual learner, read out loud what you want to remember. If you can recite it rhythmically, even better. Try to relate information to colors, textures, smells and tastes. The physical act of rewriting information can help imprint it onto your brain.

D. Relate information to what you already know. Connect new data to information you already remember, whether it’s new material that builds on previous knowledge, or something as simple as an address of someone who lives on a street where you already know someone.

E. Organize information. Write things down in address books and datebooks and on calendars; take notes on more complex material and reorganize the notes into categories later. Use both words and pictures in learning information.

F. Understand and be able to interpret complex material. For more complex material, focus on understanding basic ideas rather than memorizing isolated details. Be able to explain it to someone else in your own words.

G. Rehearse information frequently and “over-learn”. Review what you’ve learned the same day you learn it, and at intervals thereafter. What researchers call “spaced rehearsal” is more effective than “cramming.” If you’re able to “over-learn” information so that recalling it becomes second nature, so much the better.

H. Be motivated and keep a positive attitude. Tell yourself that you want to learn what you need to remember, and that you can learn and remember it. Telling yourself you have a bad memory actually hampers the ability of your brain to remember, while positive mental feedback sets up an expectation of success.such type of exercise works very welll.

Source: Wikihow

Schedule of IV Therapy Trainings

2008-07-11T19:31:00.000-07:00

July 9-11, 2008
Veterans Memorial Medical Center

July 10-12, 2008
Calalang General Hospital

July 10-12, 2008
Parañaque Doctors Hospital

July 11-12, 2008
Davao Medical Center

July 12-14, 2008
Unciano Medical Center

July 16-18, 2008
Philippine Navy, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig

July 16-18, 2008
Davao Regional Hospital, Tagum City

July 23-25, 2008
Nursing Training Hall, AFP Medical Center

July 23-25, 2008
Southern Luzon Hospital and Medical Center

July 23-35, 2008
Cotabato Regional Hospital and Medical Center

July 24-26, 2008
New Era General Hospital

July 29-31, 2008
Dr. Avenilo P. Aventura Hall, Philippine Heart Center

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF SEMINARS (Philippine Nurses Association)

2008-07-10T08:59:00.000-07:00

PHILIPPINE NURSES ASSOCIATION
Committee on Continuing Education

Here is a schedule of seminars for July-December 2008 provided by the PNA.

Venue:
PNA Auditorium
Philippine Nurses Association, Inc.
1663 F.T. Benitez Street, Malate, Manila

Increased salaries and benefits for Pinoy nurses in Saskatchewan

2008-07-09T08:04:00.001-07:00

source: email from aredula@yahoo.com

This is good news to more than 300 pinoy nurses who will be deployed there starting next month. Some 50 pinoy nurses who are already there participated in the voting.

SASKATCHEWAN'S NURSES ACCEPT OFFER FROM SAHO

Nurses vote 78 per cent in favour of proposed deal
Published: Tuesday, June 24, 2008
REGINA -- The province's nurses voted Monday to accept the final offertabled May 30 by the Saskatachewan Association of Health Organizations(SAHO), which bargains on behalf of the health regions.The more than 7,200 nurses, members of the Saskatchewan Union of Nursesvoted 78 per cent in favour of the proposed four-year deal which will see a general duty nurse's wage increase by nearly 35 per cent duringthe life of the contract....

RP seeks pact for 3,000 nurses to Belgium

2008-07-08T05:13:00.000-07:00

The government is seeking a bilateral labor agreement with Belgium that would allow the employment of 3,000 Filipino nurses, particularly those specializing in geriatrics and pediatrics, in the European nation, said a former labor attaché there.
Find out more

Global demand for nurses falling, says PNA

2008-07-08T04:30:00.000-07:00

For the last two years, there has been no increase in the domestic demand while global demand for licensed nurses has been consistently decreasing since 2004, PNA data shows.

Read more

Australia needs Nurses

2008-06-29T20:56:00.000-07:00

Good news to Filipino registered nurses(RN), licensed practicalnurses (LPN) or midwives.
The Australian governmentis dire need of nurses thus seeking applicants from the Philippines.
Jenny Anastasi, Program Director of Central Queensland University(CQU) based in Australia, said their countrypresently needs around 40,000 nurses.
Anastasi along with CQU lecturers Duncan Bray and Lydia Mainey werein Iloilo City recently to spread the good news.
They intend to tie up with Central PhilippineUniversity (CPU) for the conduct of assessment for prospectiveapplicants.
Anastasi said application is open for all RNs, LPNs and midwives(with Bachelor's degree) in the Philippines providedthey obtain an overall passmark of 7 in the International English Language Testing System Academic module (IELTS).She said, there is no age limit for the applicants.
The applicants will then be required to pass a nursing competencytest (theoretical and clinical) before gettingregistered as nurse in Australia.

Anastasi said they will conduct a nursing test in Manila, Cebu andIloilo this coming July and September for free.
On top of the theoretical test the applicant will be required toundertake a four-week clinical test to be held in Australiain which the expenses will be shouldered by the applicant. Anastasi said they could help with the accommodation ofapplicants who will take the clinical test in Australia through their linkages with the Filipino community there.
Anastasi urged Filipino RNs, LPNs and midwives to try Australia as the processing time for a working visa is shorter compared to that of the United States of America or the UnitedKingdom. She said the processing time for a working visa to Australia for oneyear up to four years could be as short as sixweeks.
She added that the Filipino nurses working in Australia are allowed to include their entire family (spouse anddependent children below 25 years old) in their permanent resident visa. Also, once they get permanent resident visa then it will open the doors to the migration of their brothers,sisters, nephew, nieces and other relatives.With regard to compensation, Anastasi said that nurses in Australia get as much as A$50,000 (P1,925,000 atP1=A$38.50) a year exclusive of overtime pays and other benefits.Their salary also increases depending on their work experience and expertise.Mainey, on the other hand, stressed that nurses are one ofAustralia's most highly respected professional groups.
She said, they are recognized as skilled health care providers,combining education and professionalism with a caring concern for patients.

Hematuria

2008-06-29T20:42:00.000-07:00

Hematuria- blood in the urine.

Not all cases of dark or red urine are due to blood in the urine. Muscle breakdown, eating a large amount of beets, or taking the antibiotic rifampin can all turn the urine dark or red. True blood in the urine can only be confirmed when red blood cells are seen in the urine with a microscope. There are many possible causes of blood in the urine.

What are the causes and risks of the condition?
There are many possible causes of blood in the urine, including:
benign prostatic hyperplasia, or an enlarged prostate, a common condition in men over age 40
bladder infections such as acute cystitis or recurrent cystitis
bleeding or blood-clotting disorders, such as hemophilia A or hemophilia B. Clotting problems may also be seen in a person who is taking too much of the blood-thinning drug warfarin.
infection in the urethra, known as urethritis. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body.
kidney damage, such as from the condition called glomerulonephritis. In children, this damage is commonly due to an infection with Group A streptococcus, commonly known as a strep infection.
kidney infection, known as pyelonephritis
a kidney stone, which is usually quite painful
sickle cell disease, an inherited condition usually seen in African American people. It results in abnormally shaped red blood cells, which can damage the kidney.
a tumor or cancer, most commonly in the kidney, bladder, or prostate

Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

2008-06-19T03:26:00.000-07:00

TSH is produced when the hypothalamus releases a substance called thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). TRH then triggers the pituitary gland to release TSH.

TSH causes the thyroid gland to make two hormones: triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). T3 and T4 help control your body's metabolism.
Triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) are needed for normal growth of the brain, especially during the first 3 years of life. A baby whose thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone (congenital hypothyroidism) may, in severe cases, be mentally retarded. Older children also need thyroid hormones to grow and develop normally.

How To Prepare for TSH test

Tell your doctor if you have had any tests in which you were given radioactive materials or had X-rays that used iodine dye within the last 4 to 6 weeks. Your test results may not be correct if you have had iodine contrast material before having a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test.

How It Is Done
The health professional drawing blood will:
Wrap an elastic band around your upper arm to stop the flow of blood. This makes the veins below the band larger so it is easier to put a needle into the vein.
Clean the needle site with alcohol.
Put the needle into the vein. More than one needle stick may be needed.
Attach a tube to the needle to fill it with blood.
Remove the band from your arm when enough blood is collected.
Put a gauze pad or cotton ball over the needle site as the needle is removed.
Put pressure to the site and then put on a bandage.

How It Feels
The blood sample is taken from a vein in your arm. An elastic band is wrapped around your upper arm. It may feel tight. You may feel nothing at all from the needle, or you may feel a quick sting or pinch.

Risks
The blood sample is taken from a vein in your arm. An elastic band is wrapped around your upper arm. It may feel tight. You may feel nothing at all from the needle, or you may feel a quick sting or pinch.

You may get a small bruise at the site. You can lower the chance of bruising by keeping pressure on the site for several minutes.

In rare cases, the vein may become swollen after the blood sample is taken. This problem is called phlebitis. A warm compress can be used several times a day to treat this.
Ongoing bleeding can be a problem for people with bleeding disorders. Aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin), and other blood-thinning medicines can make bleeding more likely. If you have bleeding or clotting problems, or if you take blood-thinning medicine, tell your doctor before your blood sample is taken.

Source:WebMD

Common Infectious Diseases Worldwide

2008-06-17T18:55:00.000-07:00

Sources: The Centers for Disease Control (CDC); The World Health Organization (WHO).

The following is a list of the most common infectious diseases throughout the world today. Accurate caseload numbers are difficult to determine, especially because so many of these diseases are endemic to developing countries, where many people do not have access to modern medical care. Approximately half of all deaths caused by infectious diseases each year can be attributed to just three diseases: tuberculosis, malaria, and AIDS. Together, these diseases cause over 300 million illnesses and more than 5 million deaths each year.

The list does not include diseases that have received a significant amount of media attention in recent years—such as Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever or West Nile Virus > but which in fact have infected a relatively small number of people

African Trypanosomiasis (“sleeping sickness”):
African trypanosomiasis is spread by the tsetse fly, which is common to many African countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that nearly 450,000 cases occur each year. Symptoms of the disease include fever, headaches, joint pains, and itching in the early stage, and confusion, sensory disturbances, poor coordination, and disrupted sleep cycles in the second stage. If the disease goes untreated in its first stage, it causes irreparable neurological damage; if it goes untreated in its second stage, it is fatal.

Cholera:
Cholera is a disease spread mostly through contaminated drinking water and unsanitary conditions. It is endemic in the Indian subcontinent, Russia, and sub-Saharan Africa. It is an acute infection of the intestines with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Its main symptom is copious diarrhea. Between 5% and 10% of those infected with the disease will develop severe symptoms, which also include vomiting and leg cramps. In its severe form, cholera can cause death by dehydration. An estimated 200,000 cases are reported to WHO annually.

Cryptosporidiosis:
Cryptosporidiosis has become one of the most common causes of waterborne disease in the United States in recent years; it is also found throughout the rest of the world. It is caused by a parasite that spreads when a water source is contaminated, usually with the feces of infected animals or humans. Symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, an upset stomach, and slight fever. Some people do not exhibit any symptoms.

Dengue:
WHO estimates that 50 million cases of dengue fever appear each year. It is spread through the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Recent years have seen dengue outbreaks all over Asia and Africa. Dengue fever can be mild to moderate, and occasionally severe, though it is rarely fatal. Mild cases, which usually affect infants and young children, involve a nonspecific febrile illness, while moderate cases, seen in older children and adults, display high fever, severe headaches, muscle and joint pains, and rash. Severe cases develop into dengue hemorrhagic fever, which involves high fever, hemorrhaging, and sometimes circulatory failure.

Hepatitis A:
Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. Spread primarily by the fecal-oral route or by ingestion of contaminated water or food, the number of annual infections worldwide is estimated at 1.4 million. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, jaundice, and dark urine. Although those exposed usually develop lifelong immunity, the best protection against Hepatitis A is vaccination.

Hepatitis B: Approximately 2 billion people are infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV), making it the most common infectious disease in the world today. Over 350 million of those infected never rid themselves of the infection. Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that causes symptoms such as jaundice, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain; hepatitis B is the most serious form of the disease. Chronic infections can cause cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer in later years.

Hepatitis C: Hepatitis C is a less common, and less severe, form of hepatitis. An estimated 170 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV); 3–4 million more are infected every year. The majority of HCV cases are asymptomatic, even in people who develop chronic infection.

HIV/AIDS: See Understanding AIDS.

Influenza:
Several influenza epidemics in the 20th century caused millions of deaths worldwide, including the worst epidemic in American history, the Spanish influenza outbreak that killed more than 500,000 in 1918. Today influenza is less of a public health threat, though it continues to be a serious disease that affects many people. Approximately 20,000 people die of the flu in the United States every year. The influenza virus attacks the human respiratory tract, causing symptoms such as fever, headaches, fatigue, coughing, sore throat, nasal congestion, and body aches.

Japanese Encephalitis:
Japanese encephalitis is a mosquito-borne disease endemic in Asia. Around 50,000 cases occur each year; 25% to 30% of all cases are fatal.

Leishmaniasis:
Leishmaniasis is a disease spread by the bite of the sandfly. It is found mostly in tropical countries. There are several types of leishmaniasis, and they vary in symptoms and severity. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL, or kala azar) is the most severe; left untreated, it is always fatal. Its symptoms include fever, weight loss, anemia, and a swelling of the spleen and liver. Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL, or espundia) produces lesions that affect the nose, mouth, and throat and can destroy their mucous membranes. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) produces skin ulcers, sometimes as many as 200, that cause disability and extensive scarring. Diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL) is similar to CL, and infected people are prone to relapses.

Approximately 12 million cases of leishmaniasis exist today.

Malaria:
Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease that affects 300–500 million people annually, causing between 1 and 3 million deaths. It is most common in tropical and subtropical climates and is found in 90 countries—but 90% of all cases are found in Sub-Saharan Africa. Most of its victims are children. The first stage consists of shaking and chills, the next stage involves high fever and severe headache, and in the final stage the infected person's temperature drops and he or she sweats profusely. Infected people also often suffer from anemia, weakness, and a swelling of the spleen. Malaria was almost eradicated 30 years ago; now it is on the rise again.

Measles:
Measles is a disease that has seen a drastic reduction in countries where a vaccine is readily available, but it is still prevalent in developing countries, where most of the 777,000 deaths (out of 30 million cases) it caused in 2001 occurred. Symptoms include high fever, coughing, and a maculo-papular rash; common complications include diarrhea, pneumonia, and ear infections.

Meningitis:
Meningitis, often known as spinal meningitis, is an infection of the spinal cord. It is usually the result of a viral or bacterial infection. Bacterial meningitis is more severe than viral meningitis and may cause brain damage, hearing loss, and learning disabilities. An estimated 1.2 million cases of bacterial meningitis occur every year, over a tenth of which are fatal. Symptoms include severe headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, delirium, photophobia, and a stiff neck.

Onchocerciasis (“river blindness”):
Onchocerciasis is caused by the larvae of Onchocerca volvulus, a parasitic worm that lives in the human body for years. It is endemic in Africa, where nearly all of the 18 million people infected with the disease live. Of those infected, over 6.5 million have developed dermatitis and 270,000 have gone blind. Symptoms include visual impairment, rashes, lesions, intense itching, skin depigmentation, and lymphadenitis.

Pneumonia:
Pneumonia has many possible causes, but it is usually an infection of the streptococcus or mycoplasma bacteria. These bacteria can live in the human body without causing infection for years, and only surface when another illness has lowered the person's immunity to disease. Streptococcus pneumoniae causes streptococcal pneumonia, the most common kind, which is more severe than mycoplasmal pneumonia. S. pneumoniae is responsible for more than 100,000 hospitalizations for pneumonia annually, as well as 6 million cases of otitis media and over 60,000 cases of invasive diseases such as meningitis.

Rotavirus:
Rotavirus is the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis worldwide. It kills more than 600,000 children each year, mostly in developing countries. Symptoms include vomiting, watery diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain.

Schistosomiasis:
Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that is endemic in many developing countries. Roughly 200 million people worldwide are infected with the flukeworm, whose eggs cause the symptoms of the disease. Some 120 million of those infected are symptomatic, and 20 million suffer severely from the infection. Symptoms include rash and itchiness soon after becoming infected, followed by fever, chills, coughing, and muscle aches.

Shigellosis:
Shigella infection causes an estimated 600,000 deaths worldwide every year. It is most common in developing countries with poor sanitation. Shigella bacteria cause bacillary dysentery, or shigellosis. Symptoms include diarrhea with bloody stool, vomiting, and abdominal cramps.

Strep Throat:
Strep throat is caused by the streptococcus bacteria. Several million cases of strep throat occur every year. Symptoms include a sore throat, fever, headache, fatigue, and nausea.

Tuberculosis:
Tuberculosis causes nearly 2 million deaths every year, and WHO estimates that nearly 1 billion people will be infected between 2000 and 2020 if more effective preventive procedures are not adopted. The TB bacteria are most often found in the lungs, where they can cause chest pain and a bad cough that brings up bloody phlegm. Other symptoms include fatigue, weight loss, appetite loss, chills, fever, and night sweats.

Typhoid:
Typhoid fever causes an estimated 600,000 deaths annually, out of 12–17 million cases. It is usually spread through infected food or water. Symptoms include a sudden and sustained fever, severe headache, nausea, severe appetite loss, constipation, and sometimes diarrhea.

Yellow Fever:
Yellow fever causes an estimated 30,000 deaths each year, out of 200,000 cases. The disease has two phases. In the “acute phase,” symptoms include fever, muscle pain, headache, shivers, appetite loss, nausea, and vomiting. This lasts for 3–4 days, after which most patients recover. But 15% will enter the “toxic phase,” in which fever reappears, along with other symptoms, including jaundice; abdominal pain; vomiting; bleeding from the mouth, nose, eyes, and stomach; and deterioration of kidney function (sometimes complete kidney failure). Half of all patients in the toxic phase die within two weeks; the other half recover.

*remember, not all infectious diseases are communicable, but all communicable diseases are infectious*

Answers...

2008-06-13T19:55:00.000-07:00

Bacteria (formerly known as eubacteria) and Archaea (formerly called archaebacteria) share the procaryotic type of cellular configuration, but otherwise are not related to one another any more closely than they are to the eukaryotic domain, Eukarya. Between the two procaryotes, Archaea are apparently more closely related to Eukarya than are the Bacteria. Eukarya consists of all eukaryotic cell-types, including protista, fungi, plants and animals.

Archaea are the least evolved type of cell (they remain closest to the common point of origin). This helps explain why contemporary Archaea are inhabitants of environments that are something like the earth 3.86 billion years ago (hot, salty, acidic, anaerobic, low in organic material, etc.).

Eucaryotes (Eucarya) are the most evolved type of cell (they move farthest from the common point of origin). However, the eucaryotes do not begin to diversify (branch) until relatively late in evolution, at a time when the Bacteria diversify into oxygenic photosynthesis (Synechococcus) and aerobic respiration (Agrobacterium).

click here to find out more about Robert Koch

Leeuwenhoek, Antoni van
Although Leeuwenhoek's family was fairly well off, he received little formal education. After completing grammar school in Delft, Netherlands, he moved to Amsterdam to work as a draper's apprentice (a draper was a person who made and sold clothing). In 1654 he returned to Delft to establish his own shop and worked as a draper for the rest of his life. His medical achievements in lens grinding were actually a hobby rather than his main work. Lenses were an important tool in Leeuwenhoek's profession, since cloth merchants often used small lenses to inspect their products. His hobby soon turned to obsession, however, as he searched for more and more powerful lenses.

In 1671 Leeuwenhoek made his first simple microscope. It had a tiny lens that he had ground by hand from a globule (small ball) of glass and had placed in a brass holder. To this he had attached a series of pins designed to hold the specimen. It was the first of nearly six hundred lenses ranging from 50 to 500 times magnifications that he would grind during his lifetime.
Through his microscope Leeuwenhoek examined such substances as skin, hair, and his own blood. He studied the structure of ivory as well as the physical composition of the flea, discovering that fleas, too, had even smaller parasites on them.

Working and living in Canada

2008-06-12T02:39:00.000-07:00

from Yahoo Groups. forwarded email.

*Working and living in Canada* is a good one compared to other first world
countries in the world, since Canada has a good social welfare in terms of
benefits and compensation. And it has lots of jobs to offer, especially
skilled worker. Canadian immigration law firms are duly licensed and
committed in providing inland and overseas Canadian immigration legal
services to their clients in need. Most of theses firms composed of
highly-trained and experienced professionals and expert legal practitioners
with in depth knowledge of Canadian immigration issues.They give out-of-the-box ideas and legal advice regarding all immigration needs and help to receive Canadian visas quickly and legally. That's why its easy tobe employed in Canada , especially skilled workers that are needed to fill in the work shortage in Canada. The Canadian market is booming and on the rise that's why they need more highly-skilled workers and professionals in their country. There are a lot of boom towns in Canada that's why there arelots of opportunities waiting.

*Under the POEA, in the Philippines* we have the *Canadian Skilled Workers Program,* in this program *Filipino skilled workers* are given a visa to become permanent residents in Canada. Since Canada is looking for skilled migrants, particularly migrant workers that have experience in their field. One must be proficient in English or French, no job offer is required under this program. In order to qualify with this program the applicant must at least have 1 year work experience to file an application. There is an online assessment under this program, one must exceed or meet the eligibility assessment in order to qualify. Currently, the passing grade under the* online assessment is 67 points*.

The application will be based on your educational attainment, work experience,proficiency in English or French, age and your adaptability in the Canadianway of life. The good thing about the Canadian Skilled Worker Visa it allows you to settle anywhere in Canada, including taking any employment of your choice, pursue study. The entitlements under this program is that you can be a Permanent Resident thus having access to the Canadian Medicare system,educational subsidy, unrestricted access to Canadian employment market,pension plan, or a Citizen after having satisfy your residency requirementand lastly, Sponsorship, through this you can sponsor your family who wishto join you in Canada.

*For those who have not attended our seminar yet.*
We would like to invite you to attend our seminar on:

JUNE 4,11,18 25, 2008 , Wed 2pm
JUNE 7,14,21,28 2008, Saturday 10am or 2pm
OR JUNE 1,8,15,22 29 2008 Sunday(Family Day) 10am only

What better way to spend family day than to find ways to make your families future better.We are located at Canadian Immigration Consultancy,Ground Floor, Uniwide Sales Coastal Mall, Tambo Paranaque City. Please choose a schedule and confirm your attendance by replying to my email. Due to the great volume of attendees that we have, this seminar is *ONLY by reservation*.

The seminar is designed to answer all your questions about Canada. It will also discuss in Detail the opportunities to either Immigrate or work in Canada. At the end of the seminar there will be a one on one discussion on where you qualify and teach you what steps you have to make in order to take advantage of the opportunity.

Seminar Fee is *P300.00 for Single, P400.00 for married* attendees.Let us know if you can make it so that we can reserve a seat for you.*Please Contact us!!**

EVANGELINE NARON OR MARIBEL NARON- BRIAGAS**Consultant**Canadian Immigration Consultancy*G/F Uniwide Coastal MallRoxas Blvd cor MIA RoadParanaque City(02) 357-5493301- 1060 loc. 8402mob. smart :63920-5348854YM: enaron_cicemail: enaron@...,enaroncic@...mnaron@...,maribel.cic@...

*We are processing visas for Immigrants , Provincial NomineeProgram and Tourists to Canada & Possible Job offer !!!*

RP nurses tricked to New Zealand jobs urged to tell on recruiters

2008-06-12T02:21:00.000-07:00

Read this article from GMA News about migrants’ support group in New Zealand that is willing to provide assistance to Filipino professionals, particularly nurses, who become victims of false promises of recruiters and loan sharks, in taking their cases to court.

Coronary angiography video

2008-05-31T07:50:00.000-07:00

watch the video here.

Nursing Shortage

2008-05-31T01:57:00.000-07:00

Here is a news article and video about how the nursing shortage is affecting nurses at the bedside. Suzanne Gordon, a nurse and author of several books, tries to bring awareness to the public about the role of nursing. How long before hospital administrators see the light?

Miracle baby survives ovarian pregnancy

2008-05-31T01:54:00.000-07:00

Durga Thangarajah is the only child in Australia - and possibly the world - to survive a full-term ovarian pregnancy.

Read the whole article

Q:Is it possible to have asthma without wheezing?

2008-05-31T01:49:00.000-07:00

A: Yes, it's possible to have asthma without wheezing.
Although wheezing is the most reliable sign of asthma, it's not the only sign or symptom. Other common signs and symptoms of asthma are coughing and shortness of breath.

Source: health.yahoo.com

Opinion: Spotlight on Nursing

2008-05-31T01:42:00.000-07:00

by Judith G. Berg, RN, MS, FACHE

Nursing care has always been critical to hospital patients’ experiences and outcomes — and that’s about to become even more true. In October, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will eliminate additional payment to hospitals for eight complications that are viewed as being preventable. These conditions will be “ignored” as secondary diagnoses in calculating payments and will not factor into higher payment levels, which would typically be associated with higher levels of care. That translates into the possibility of hospitals’ reimbursement levels dropping if these complications are not prevented.

The eight conditions are pressure ulcers; certain preventable inpatient injuries such as fractures, dislocations, intracranial injuries, and burns; catheter-associated urinary tract infections (UTIs); vascular catheter-associated infections (BSIs); certain surgical site infections; objects left in surgery; air embolism; and blood incompatibility. CMS says this list will expand in coming years; data are already being collected on ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).

Most of these complications are linked to nursing care; this should result in more recognition of the value of nursing in lessening and preventing them. I hope that is the message, and that the message is heard.

Evidence shows these inpatient adverse events can be reduced. Dramatic reductions in falls, pressure ulcers, UTIs, BSIs, and surgical site infections occur when systematic improvement strategies are employed and nurses are central to the change processes. We also know these improvements happen in environments where nurses and their colleagues receive encouragement and support as they search for better ways to serve their patients. This takes committed leadership; investment in nurse time for patient care, research, and education; appropriate environments of care, including supplies and equipment; information gathering and disseminating systems both at the individual patient level and for groups of patients; and a relentless commitment to improving the patient experience.

Of course, nurses may also be held accountable for failing to prevent these complications. This could add to their levels of job stress and dissatisfaction, which could result in them leaving their jobs. Efforts to prevent errors and improve safety will be most successful if we don’t hold the individual nurse solely responsible and instead focus on changing systems and accounting for human error.

With that thought, the upcoming changes in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement could make nursing’s contribution to patient care and safety more visible than ever. We need to take advantage of this visibility by advocating for research and policies that reflect nursing’s core contributions to quality, and support nurses’ ability to make timely care decisions in the best interests of their patients.

Source: include.nurse.com

Filipino nurses a big win for Sask

2008-05-31T01:31:00.000-07:00

Randy Burton, The StarPhoenix

It's hard to overestimate the effect of adding almost 300 nurses to the health system in a matter of months.
In one stroke, the provincial government and the health regions have made it more than one-third of the way to the goal of hiring 800 nurses over four years.
One recruiting trip to the Philippines has netted the province 297 nurses, who will begin moving to Canada over the next six months.

They will be spread across a number of different health regions centred in Saskatoon, Regina, North Battleford and Prince Albert. All of a sudden, the nursing crisis begins to look a lot more manageable.
The Saskatoon Health Region will be the biggest beneficiary of this influx with the addition of 105 nurses.
Naturally, there will be significant challenges in settling this many people in Saskatchewan's tight housing market, but given the present nursing shortage, that's a good problem to have.

Read more

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

2008-05-27T05:58:00.000-07:00

This is a type of heart surgery. It's sometimes called CABG ("cabbage"). The surgery reroutes, or "bypasses," blood around clogged arteries to improve blood flow and oxygen to the heart.

The arteries that bring blood to the heart muscle (coronary arteries) can become clogged by plaque (a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances). This can slow or stop blood flow through the heart's blood vessels, leading to chest pain or a heart attack. Increasing blood flow to the heart muscle can relieve chest pain and reduce the risk of heart attack.

How is coronary bypass done?
Surgeons take a segment of a healthy blood vessel from another part of the body and make a detour around the blocked part of the coronary artery.
An artery may be detached from the chest wall and the open end attached to the coronary artery below the blocked area.
A piece of a long vein in your leg may be taken. One end is sewn onto the large artery leaving your heart—the aorta. The other end of the vein is attached or "grafted" to the coronary artery below the blocked area.
Either way, blood can use this new path to flow freely to the heart muscle.
A patient may undergo one, two, three or more bypass grafts, depending on how many coronary arteries are blocked.
Cardiopulmonary bypass with a pump oxygenator (heart-lung machine) is used for most coronary bypass graft operations. This means that besides the surgeon, cardiac anesthesiologist and surgical nurse, a competent perfusionist (blood flow specialist) is required.
During the past several years, more surgeons have started performing off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB). In it, the heart continues beating while the bypass graft is sewn in place. In some patients, OPCAB may reduce intraoperative bleeding (and the need for blood transfusion), renal complications and postoperative neurological deficits (problems after surgery).

What happens after bypass surgery?
After surgery, the patient is moved to a hospital bed in the cardiac surgical intensive care unit. Heart rate and blood pressure monitoring devices continuously monitor the patient for 12 to 24 hours. Family members can visit periodically. Medications that regulate circulation and blood pressure may be given through the I.V. (intravenously). A breathing tube (endotracheal tube) will stay in place until the physicians are confident that the patient is awake and ready to breathe comfortably on his or her own.The patient may feel groggy and disoriented, and sites of incisions — both the chest and the leg, if a segment of blood vessel was taken from the leg — may be sore. Painkillers are given as needed.Patients usually stay in the hospital at least three to five days and sometimes longer. During this time, some tests will be done to assess and monitor the patient's condition. After release from the hospital, the patient may experience side effects such as:
Loss of appetite, constipation
Swelling in the area from which the segment of blood vessel was removed
Fatigue, mood swings, feelings of depression, difficulty sleeping
Muscle pain or tightness in the shoulders and upper back
Many of these side effects usually disappear in four to six weeks, but a full recovery may take a few months or more. The patient is usually enrolled in a physician-supervised program of cardiac rehabilitation. This program teaches stress management techniques and other important lessons (e.g., about diet and exercise) and helps people rebuild their strength and confidence.
Patients are often advised to eat less fat and cholesterol walk or do other physical activity to help regain strength. Doctors also often recommend following a home routine of increasing activity — doing light housework, going out, visiting friends, climbing stairs. The goal is to return to a normal, active lifestyle.
Most people with sedentary office jobs can return to work in four to six weeks. Those with physically demanding jobs will have to wait longer. In some cases they may have to find other employment.

Pop Pills at your own Peril

2008-05-16T07:04:00.000-07:00

By Sarah Scrafford

It’s not just stupid, it’s plain dangerous – this practice of popping pills without consulting a qualified physician. The drug may be available without a prescription or left over from a previous prescription and labeled safe by the FDA, but that’s certainly no reason to take it without medical supervision. If the fact that 8 percent of patients admitted to hospitals were there because of complications from self-medication is not enough to convince you to avoid OTC medication like the plague, read on:

· That common cold may be the harbinger of worse ailments and that nagging fever may be much more than a simple viral infection. Suppressing the symptoms with OTC drugs only makes you overlook the underlying disease, and this could lead to serious consequences.
· Medicines available OTC come with side effects that lead to other medical complications
· When one OTC drug is taken in combination with another (or more), they may either cancel or enhance each other’s effect.
· Most people do not read the labels properly when dosing themselves with OTC medicines and get the dosage and frequency wrong more often than not. The National Consumer League reports that of the 175 million Americans who take OTC drugs, 44 percent exceed the recommended dosage.
· Even if they do read the dosage correctly, they may take more than one dose in order to reduce symptoms and get relief more quickly, an action that is not advisable as it may lead to unforeseen consequences.
· Some medicines, when taken with alcohol or other stimulants, cause adverse reactions
· OTC drugs may contain chemicals that cause rashes or hives in people allergic to them.
· OTC drugs negate the effects of prescribed drugs for serious ailments like hypertension and lead to other complications.
· Painkillers prescribed for one kind of pain may not be suitable or apt in treating and curing another. Taking pain medication without a prescription is not advisable as most painkillers are filled with strong chemicals.

Kidney failure, blindness, rashes, allergic reactions, stroke, kidney and liver damage, stomach bleeding and ulcers are just a few of the complications that arise from irresponsible use of OTC drugs. So instead of reaching for the medicine cabinet every time you feel a headache coming on or a cold creeping in, try alternative, natural remedies to relieve yourself. A hot bowl of soup, a warm bath, a brisk walk in the park, or even an hour of sleep or relaxation will do you a world of good. Exercising is an excellent way to get your body to release natural pain killers like dopamine. Remember, drugs are life-saving only if they are used judiciously; if not, they can turn the tables on you and turn killers.

Sarah Scrafford is an industry critic, as well as a regular contributor on the subject of RN. She invites your questions, comments and freelancing job inquiries at her email address: sarah.scrafford25@gmail.com.

June Visa Bulletin

2008-05-14T05:43:00.000-07:00

From the American Association of Foreign Educated Nurses :

The June Visa Bulletin has been published. Unfortunately, there has been no changes in the status of EB-3 visas from the May Bulletin.

The only changes that did take effect was that EB-2 visas for China and India moved forward 3 months to April 1, 2004.

There are 3 pieces of legislation working its way through the US Congress.

H.R. 5924 seeks to lift retrogression for Schedule A workers. The Bill, if it becomes law, will set aside 20,000 visas annually for healthcare workers.

H.R. 5882 seeks to recapture unused visas from 1992 to 2007. These would be work-related visas. While the Bill does not single out healthcare workers, it does set a minimum of 226,000 visas to be recaptured, so there should be plenty for healthcare workers.

S 2838 "Global Competitive Act of 2008" seeks to recapture 61,000 visas for healthcare workers.

More Med Students Won’t Mean More Doctors

2008-05-08T00:37:00.000-07:00

WSJ Health Blog

After 25 years without much growth, the U.S. is about to start cranking out lots more young MDs. The number of first-year med students will grow 20% between 2002 and 2012, according to a report out this week from the Association of American Medical Colleges.

As new schools open and existing schools expand, the number of first-year students will be 20,000 by 2012, according to the report. During the same period, the number of first-year students at osteopathic med schools (which grant the DO degree) is expected to grow from about 2,000 to a little over 5,000.

Expanding med schools here will be good news for all those nervous pre-meds fighting for scarce slots, but it may not do much to ease what many believe is a looming physician shortage.

After med school, young docs have to go through medical residency before they can strike out on their own — and there are already well over 20,000 residency slots every year.
The gap between the number of graduating U.S. MDs and DOs and the number of first-year residents is filled by grads of foreign med schools. Among those starting residencies this summer, more than 1,500 are U.S. citizens who graduated from overseas schools, and another 3,100 are foreign grads of those schools, according to the National Resident Match Program. Thousands more applied for slots and didn’t get them.

So the real question is what’s going to happen to the number of residency slots. “I really can’t predict what’s likely,” Edward Salsberg, who runs the AAMC’s Center for Workforce Studies, told the Health Blog. “I had been thinking we would see a slow, very limited growth.” But the feds are the source of most residency funding, and Washington’s been making noises to suggest more residency dollars may not be coming anytime soon, Salsberg said.
That means the number of ready-to-practice doctors coming out of the pipeline may be about the same in four or five years as it is now.

(c)Wall Street Journal

2008-05-07T01:58:00.000-07:00

Hotels near Pearsonvue

2008-05-07T01:36:00.000-07:00

Philippines.

Here's a list of hotels near Pearsonvue. visit their websites, call them then choose which best suits your needs. If you would like to avail of any accommodations, it is better to book yourself as early as possible.

City Garden Hotel Makati - http://www.citygardenhotels.com/makati/main.html

Salcedo Suites - http://www.salcedosuites-makati.com
-LPL Manor Building, 116 L.P. Leviste Street,Salcedo Village, Makati City

Fersall Inn - http://www.fersalinn.com.ph/makati/index.php

Makati Prime Tower Suites - http://www.makatiprimetowersuites.com

Oxford Suites - http://www.oxfordsuites-makati.com/

Sunnete Tower - http://www.sunette.com.ph/index.php

Mandarin Oriental Manila - http://www.mandarinoriental.com/hotel/511000010.asp

Makati Palace Hotel - http://www.makatipalacehotel.com.ph/mph2/
-5011 P. Burgos corner Caceres StreetsMakati CityTel: (02) 899-0344

CEO Suites - http://www.mnlceosuites.com.ph/

Jupiter Suites - http://www.jupiterarms.com

Millennium Plaza - http://www.millenniumplaza.com.ph

Century Citadel Inn - (632) 897-2370, (63+2) 897-2666
-5007 P. Burgos St. and Kalayaan St.Bel-Air Makati City

Traveler's Inn Makati - (632) 897-1771

Tiara Oriental Hotel (632) 7297888 e-mail: sales@tiara.com.ph

St. Illian's Inn - http://www.saintilliansinn.com/index.php

Regine’s- 339 Gil J Puyat Ave.Makati CityTel: (02) 899-9594

France set to hire Nurses & IT pros

2008-05-05T19:28:00.000-07:00

France wants to hire thousands of “competent Filipino workers,” including nurses and information technology professionals.

French Ambassador Gérald Chesnel said discussions on the possible signing of an agreement are underway as his government has already expressed its intent to open his country’s doors to skilled Filipino workers to address France’s labor market needs.

“We are in the process of discussions with the Philippine government. We have already signed the letter of intent and we hope to sign the formal agreement this year,” he said.
Last February, Brice Hortefeux, French Minister of Immigration, Integration, National Identity, and Co-Development, expressed Paris’ interest in forging an agreement with Manila to address the needs of its labor market.

The parties involved in the signing are the French Ministry of Immigration, Integration, National Identity, and Co-Development, the Department of Labor (DoLE) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

The Philippines is among the Asian countries qualified under the third-category quota policy set by the Attali Commission. Countries in the third category are those with which France has “traditional links,” including several Asian and African nations.

Chesnel said his government has softened its immigration laws benefiting Filipinos who intend to work in France.

“Those who are coming are people who can be useful to France and who can be also usefully trained and useful to the Philippines when they come back. Our policy is not to make brain drain. We think the best thing we can do is to have your competent people to come to France to work for six, nine, 10 years and then they go back to the Philippines,” he explained.

Chesnel said under the new immigration system, the Filipino workers will leave 20 percent of their salary with either their employer or government and they will get it when they go back to the Philippines. “There’s certain condition they have to use the money to create their own enterprise,” he said.

Needed in France are those engaged in electronics, IT professionals and particularly nurses who, he said, “we don’t have enough in France.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs records showed that there are about 65,000 Filipino workers in France, half of whom are illegally staying.

Visa Update

2008-05-01T00:25:00.000-07:00

Latest News:
(04/29/08) - Rep. Wexler (D-FL) introduced H.R. 5924. The legislation has not been published, but it is understood to include the following:

It will lift retrogression for Schedule A workers (Registered Nurses and Physical Therapists). Visa quotas and/or caps are eliminated for "Shortage Occupations" provided that I-140 is filed before September 30, 2011.

The USCIS must review (and approve or issue a RFE) all Schedule A I-140 cases within 30 days of receipt.

A link to the body of the legislation will be provided once it has been published.
(04/23/2008) - Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) introduced H.R. 5882: "To recapture employment-based immigrant visas lost to bureaucratic delays and to prevent losses of family- and employment-based immigrant visas in the future."

This Bill is a new attempt by the House to overcome retrogression. It seeks to recapture unused visas from fiscal years 1992 through 2007. While the exact number of recaptured visas is uncertain, the bill states that there will be a minimum of 226,000 visas reissued.

source: aafen.org

Is nursing still the caring profession?

2008-04-29T02:25:00.000-07:00

Nurses are increasingly coming under attack. Patients groups say they are too busy to see to their basic needs such as eating and washing, while politicians have labelled them lazy and grubby.

What is happening to nursing?

Filipino nurses seeking US jobs down by 7%

2008-04-27T04:45:00.000-07:00

"Many young Filipinos aspire to become nurse practitioners because of the lure of lucrative overseas employment. We must protect this hope and dream by seeing to it that flunkey schools and reviewers are shut down"

Click here to find out more.

Alzheimer's Patients On Experimental Drug Showed Improved Mental Skills After One Year

2008-04-18T22:09:00.000-07:00

Patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease who were treated with the experimental drug Dimebon from US drugmaker Medivation Inc, showed improvement in key mental skills after a year compared to patients who took the placebo. The patients on the active drug showed clear improvements in memory, language, awareness of time and place, and a more complex process called "praxis", which means having an idea and then actually putting it into practice.

Read more

VISA BULLETIN FOR MAY 2008

2008-04-13T03:17:00.000-07:00

The visa bulletin for employment based-category for philippines for the month of may 2008 showed an 8-month jump from last april, from july 2005 to march 2006.

Click here for the visa bulletin

The H-1B Cap and the New OPT Rule

2008-04-12T02:51:00.000-07:00

A couple of very important developments have occurred in the past few days that affect students on OPT and those who just recently filed for an H-1B petition for the upcoming fiscal year.

The first development is that USCIS has just announced that the H-1B cap has been reached. Although that is not a surprise, the big surprise is that the Masters cap of 20,000 has also been reached. At this point, USCIS has not released any numbers as to exactly how many regular petitions and how many Masters petitions were received.

Read more

Sleep

2008-04-09T00:19:00.000-07:00

Tips for Healthcare Professionals

• Sleep hygiene should receive as much attention as other aspects of health screening
• Incorporate sleep assessments in the healthcare history and in parental education
• Sleep histories may provide you with a clue regarding comorbidities or family dysfunction
• Asking the child about sleep patterns can stress the importance of healthful sleep habits

Extravasation: Prevention is the Best Treatment

2008-04-09T00:14:00.000-07:00

Infiltration is the inadvertent infusion of non-vesicant solutions or medications into the surrounding tissue. Extravasation is the inadvertent infusion of vesicant solutions into the surrounding tissue. A vesicant is defined as a drug that is capable of causing tissue injury.

Dealing with extravasation

The best treatment for extravasation is prevention. When the extravasation occurs, commonly used antidotes may or may not work. According to the Oncology Nursing Society’s Chemotherapy and Biotherapy Guidelines and Recommendations for Practice, treatments using sodium thiosulfite and DMSO have shown very limited success. In some cases, the manufacturer has specific recommendations for treatment of an extravasation. When doxorubin extravasates, for example, the manufacturer recommends applications of cool packs to the swollen area. When vinca alkaloids extravasate, the recommendation is warm packs to the swollen area. In all cases of suspected or actual extravasation, the physician should be notified immediately and given specific information about the drug and drug concentration, as well as an accurate, detailed description of the appearance of extravasated area.Hospitals may have specific extravasation policies and procedures. It is the nurse’s responsibility to know the hospital’s policy. In some cases, the protocol may include subcutaneous steroid injections and/or application of steroid or Silvadene creams. In most cases, once the infusion has extravasated, the only thing that can be done is to monitor the site until tissue damage demarcation is complete. At this point, the site will be assessed for maximum tissue damage. In many cases, a split or full thickness skin graft may be required. In the worst case scenario, amputation above the injury may be required to remove the dead tissue or to stop the spread of the tissue damage.

Preventing extravasation

To help prevent extravasation, two myths need to be dispelled: The first is that a “new” IV device should be used for each vesicant infusion. A new IV site is not guaranteed to work better than an existing one. The second myth is that a peripheral IV catheter should be checked for a blood return prior to the infusion and during the infusion. According to Infusion Therapy in Clinical Practice, obtaining a blood return on a peripheral IV catheter is an inconclusive assessment tool and should not be relied on to determine if the IV catheter is properly seated within the vein. Obtaining a blood flash or obtaining no blood return from a peripheral IV catheter is not an indication of catheter placement within the vein.

The most reliable tests are flushing the catheter before and during the procedure with copious amounts of saline and observing the site for swelling. A complete assessment of the IV site prior to the infusion is essential. A free flowing bag of normal saline should be infusing for IV push or IV piggyback vesicant injections. The vein should be completely flushed with at least 20 mL to 30 mL of saline after the vesicant infusion is complete to prevent the vesicant from “tracking” when the IV catheter is removed. The site should be continually assessed for swelling, coolness, stinging, or burning. When in doubt, the IV device should be removed. Any patient complaint is an indicator that the catheter may be malfunctioning.

Oversupply of nurses plagues RP

2008-04-04T18:09:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippines has oversupply of nurses thisyear as “world-class schools” in the country continue to produce thousands of nurses and some diploma mill schools churn out countless of practical nurses.

University of the Philippines College of Nursing Dean Dr. JosefinaTuazon and Philippine Nurses Association National President Leah Paquiz disclosed that the oversupply of nurses is fast becoming the country’s problem even as deployment abroad may be the “first choice” for these graduates.

Tuazon explained that due to the numerous nursing graduates this year at 67, 728, hospitals have to get volunteer nurses -- a lot better because they are not paid -- to accommodate the fresh graduates.

High number of graduates of Practical Nursing, a two-year course that focuses on the basics of nursing, aggravates the unemploymentproblem, Tuazon stressed.

“There is no local demand or positions for practical nurses withinthe Philippine Health Care Delivery system particularly in the light ofthe oversupply of nurses and subsequent unemployment of graduatenurses,” PNA’s Paquiz revealed in a written statement distributed tothe media recently.

Schools offering Practical Nursing have mushroomed in the countryovernight as they promise overseas employment that may await thegraduates of this two-year non-degree course. The promise of work abroad, however, is not true as foreign employers prefer the four-year college-degree nurses who passed the Licensure Board Exams, Paquizadded.

The farthest thing that these practical nurses can reach is become nurse assistants, Tuazon noted.The PNA likewise asked the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) ofthe Department of Education to put a stop to other schools’ offering the Practical Nursing program.

The PNA “strongly objects to the institution of the PracticalNursing program and vehemently rejects the proposed ladderization ofthe nursing curriculum,” the PNA statement said.The PNA president also disclosed that United States, home to almost250,000 Filipino nurses in the past years, stopped issuing work visas this year because the quota requirement for migrant workers has already been reached. There were 21,000 Filipino nurses seeking employment in the US in 2007.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration deployed a totalof 13, 525 licensed nurses around the world in 2006. Of this number,12, 263 are females and 1, 261 are males.

Saudi Arabia employed some 5,600 Filipino nurses, the highest so far of all Middle East countries in 2006.

Japan has 1.1 million Filipino nurses and licensed caregivers in 2005.

Source: Inquirer.net

What nurses want

2008-04-04T06:22:00.000-07:00

The health care industry’s continued reliance on paper astounds Lillee Gelinas, vice president and chief nursing officer at VHA Inc., an alliance of hospitals and non-acute-care facilities.

Gelinas was making rounds at a major hospital recently when she came upon a familiar sight: a nurse struggling with a huge pile of paper files. A work shift had just ended, and Gelinas assumed the nurse was catching up on the day’s charts. Instead, the nurse told her she had come in on her day off to manually gather data for review by the hospital’s quality committee, which was meeting the following day.

“We have a nursing shortage going on,” Gelinas said. “Is that the best use of people’s time?”

Read the whole article here .

registration of new nurses (December 2007 Nurse Licensure Examination passers)

2008-04-03T04:48:00.000-07:00

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) will begin the registration of new nurses (December 2007 Nurse Licensure Examination passers) on March 24, 2008 at the PRC office in Manila.To facilitate an orderly registration, successful examinees are advised to observe the following registration schedule

ABA, Adrian A. to ALE, Quinessa S. (March 24)
ALEGADO, Jane A. to AQUINO, Tristan L. (March 25)
AQUINO, Xenia Joy L. to BALBIN, Anna Irish Y. (March 26)
BALBIN, Jon Nelson C. to BELLO, Martin II R. (March 27)
BELLO, Mecca Angela Q. to BURGOS, Roland A. (March 28)
BURI, Karen Anson R. to CAPUNDAN, Gretchen M. (March 31)
CAPUNO, Ann Naciancina V. to CIANO, Setrina N. (April 1)
CIELO, Leonida P. to DALAYGON, Casedil D. (April 2)
DALERE, Daryl Dave T. to DELA CRUZ, Uzzielle D. (April 3)
DELA CUADRA, Eunice Mae P. to DURA, Clair M. (April 4)
DURAGO, Neniel Kate B. to FAJARDO, Stephanie R. (April 7)
FAJARDO, Vergel S. to GAMAD, Charliselle A. (April 8)
GAMAD, Honesto Jr. G. to GRANIL, Romyr Jane A. (April 10)
GRANITO, Hazel Grace L. to JABONILLO, Joyce S. (April 11)
JACA, Flora Mae G. to LANGAMON, Emerald P. (April 14)
LANGBAYAN, Gibran A. to LOPEZ, Joann N. (April 15)
LOPEZ, John Michael C. to MALLARI, Florian Edgar A. (April 16)
MALLARI, Francis Ian Q. to MEDINA, Jeden Marneleh A. (April 17)
MEDINA, Julie Jane D. to NANGLIGAN, Marilyn D. (April 18)
NANI, Al-Nash A. to ORDANZA, Ma. Angelica E. (April 21)
ORDEN, Janice M. to PARUNGAO, Melvin A. (April 22)
PARUNGAO, Nalla L. to PULIDO, Eduardo C. (April 23)
PULIDO, Pamela E. to REYES, Jera R. (April 24)
REYES, Jerome Anthony D. to SALAMAT, Sharlene Ann G. (April 25)
SALAMATIN, John Lester R. to SEMIC, Jiesylmay T. (April 28)
SEMILLA, Florence Erika B. to TACDORO, Shiela B. (April 29)
TACIO, Herbert D. to TONO, Emelou S. (April 30)
TONOG, Joeky Z. to VESAGAS, Rainier M. (May 1)
VETUS, Ralph Joshua I R. to ZUNIGA, Woodrow Rafael III M. (May 5)

Study says fasting may reduce chemo side-effects

2008-04-01T16:25:00.000-07:00

A few days of fasting might help protect patients from some of the unpleasant and dangerous side-effects of cancer chemotherapy.

They said mice given a high dose of chemotherapy after fasting thrived while half of a group of well-fed mice died, they reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The researchers stressed that people should not try this on their own yet but said the findings might lead to a way to use chemotherapy to more effectively kill tumors while sparing healthy cells.

Read more.

Heart Association: Hands-only CPR works

2008-03-31T16:59:00.000-07:00

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.

Bulging belly now could mean dementia later

2008-03-27T18:26:00.000-07:00

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.

Health Tip: Sports Safety for Kids

2008-03-24T21:04:00.000-07:00

(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

Travel Nursing

2008-03-21T04:52:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-21T04:46:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-19T23:42:00.000-07:00

IELTS Writing Test

2008-03-19T23:38:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-19T06:43:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-19T03:43:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-19T03:40:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-19T03:03:00.000-07:00

Looking for a nursing job?

Click here to go to nursingjobs.org

2nd Philippine Nursing Expo

2008-03-18T20:43:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-18T02:02:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-18T00:02:00.000-07:00

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

April Visa Bulletin

2008-03-15T18:27:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-15T06:21:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-15T05:56:00.000-07:00

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

Travel Nursing

2008-03-14T04:21:00.000-07:00

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.

Suprapubic catheter

2008-03-11T05:03:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-11T03:09:00.000-07:00

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

Chicken Soup

2008-03-10T15:44:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-10T08:15:00.000-07:00

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.

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

2008-03-09T20:08:00.000-07:00

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

Filing Period for H1-B visa coming up

2008-03-08T01:11:00.000-08:00

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

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

2008-03-07T03:56:00.000-08:00

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

2008-03-07T03:11:00.000-08:00

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

Nursing News from Down Under

2008-03-06T10:18:00.000-08:00

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

2008-03-06T10:14:00.000-08:00

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

2008-03-06T10:09:00.000-08:00

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

Killer nurse Colin Norris jailed for life

2008-03-05T13:22:00.000-08:00

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

Safety Tips for Nurses

2008-03-04T16:01:00.000-08:00

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.