Interesting........Career Paths for RN's #nursing #RN #careers {infographic}

Interesting information provided from Nursing@Simmons about nurses and career paths. Do you have plans to advance your nursing career, or are you happy at your present level of education? I myself have been seriously contemplating the vision of a MSN eventually. You are never to old to learn or better yourself, it will make a difference in how you feel about yourself and your patient care. 

In the Future of Nursing report  published by the Institute of Medicine, it is recommended that health care facilities throughout the United States increase the proportion of nurses with a BSN to 80 percent and double the number of nurses with a DNP by the year 2020. Research  shows that nurses who are prepared at baccalaureate and graduate degree levels are linked to lower readmission rates, shorter lengths of patient stay, and lower mortality rates in health care facilities.

What does the job market look like for RNs who are looking to advance their careers?

We tackle this question in our latest infographic, “Career Paths for RNs,” where we look in-depth at the three higher education paths RNs can choose from to advance their careers — Bachelor of Science in Nursing,Master of Science in Nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice.

For each career path, we outline the various in-demand specialties, salaries, and job outlook.

Thank you to Nursing@Simmons and Carly Dell for this great infographic and information. 

Brought to you by Nursing@Simmons: Nursing Career Paths

I order my Santa Letters and Packages here, supporting nonprofit org The Mommies Network 

SAFE HALLOWEEN : make it great!

 

Halloween is an exciting time of year for kids, and to help ensure they have a safe holiday, here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Feel free to excerpt these tips or use them in their entirety for any print or broadcast story, with acknowledgment of source.

ALL DRESSED UP:

• Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.
• Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.
• Because masks can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives. Hats should fit properly to prevent them from sliding over eyes.
• When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories look for and purchase those with a label clearly indicating they are flame resistant.
• If a sword, cane, or stick is a part of your child's costume, make sure it is not sharp or too long. A child may be easily hurt by these accessories if he stumbles or trips.
• Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.
• Do not use decorative contact lenses without an eye examination and a prescription from an eye care professional. While the packaging on decorative lenses will often make claims such as “one size fits all,” or “no need to see an eye specialist,” obtaining decorative contact lenses without a prescription is both dangerous and illegal. This can cause pain, inflammation, and serious eye disorders and infections, which may lead to permanent vision loss.
• Teach children how to call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost.

CARVING A NICHE:

• Small children should never carve pumpkins. Children can draw a face with markers. Then parents can do the cutting.

• Consider using a flashlight or glow stick instead of a candle to light your pumpkin. If you do use a candle, a votive candle is safest.
• Candlelit pumpkins should be placed on a sturdy table, away from curtains and other flammable objects, and should never be left unattended.

HOME SAFE HOME:

• To keep homes safe for visiting trick-or-treaters, parents should remove from the porch and front yard anything a child could trip over such as garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations.
• Parents should check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.
• Wet leaves or snow should be swept from sidewalks and steps.
• Restrain pets so they do not inadvertently jump on or bite a trick-or-treater.

ON THE TRICK-OR-TREAT TRAIL:

• A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.

• If your older children are going alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you. Agree on a specific time when they should return home.

• Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.

• Because pedestrian injuries are the most common injuries to children on Halloween, remind Trick-or-Treaters.
• Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going.

• Remember reflective tape for costumes and trick-or-treat bags.

• Carry a cellphone for quick communication.

• Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.

• If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.

• Never cut across yards or use alleys.

• Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks (as recognized by local custom). Never cross between parked cars or out driveways.

• Don’t assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing Trick-or-Treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn't mean others will!

• Law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.

HEALTHY HALLOWEEN:

• A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.
• Consider purchasing non-food treats for those who visit your home, such as coloring books or pens and pencils.
• Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
• Try to ration treats for the days following Halloween.

©2013 American Academy of Pediatrics

- See more at: http://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/news-features-and-safety-tips/pages/Halloween-Safety-Tips.aspx#sthash.Fdb2FMGW.dpuf

Be safe and have fun! Return home alive.

 

 

 

Speak Up, Speak Out! Stop This Problem! #worldwidechokinggameawareness

Today is a day, just like any other say yes? For some maybe for others no! If you have ever lost a child, no day is the same, you wake up with a piece of your heart ripped from you  that just can't be replaced.
No parent wants another parent to ever go thru the heartache of child loss, so today we urge you to wake up and educate yourself on something that 75% of kids already know about. Your kids!
The choking game has many names, it's all over YouTube, the internet, social media and your kids schools.
A high school trend...no, kids as young as 9 are dying everyday. So join us today on Worldwide Choking Game Awareness Day 2013 and Speak Up, Speak out, speak to Your kids today!

We don't want to add another statistic to our list......

National Football League is the past; Nursing the future! #nursing

National Football League is the past; Nursing the future!

On the face of it there is no comparison between the two; however if you look closely, a football player has a short playing career which gets shorter if there is any serious injury (chances of which are always very high). A nurse on the other hand, works for decades, not only serving humanity but also earning very decent amounts of money. In addition, nursing career has a great job outlook as well.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a registered nurse with an Associate’s degree earns in excess of $64,000 each year. Nurses with higher educational qualifications and prior related work experience may earn in excess of the quoted yearly income. For example, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), on average, earn $130,000 per year.

As mentioned earlier the career in nursing, nursing profession has a great job outlook as well. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 26 percent faster growth of the industry as compared to other industries between the years 2010 and 2020.  This exponential growth is due to the large and ageing baby-boomer generation which now requires medical services. This is also because of technological advancements and an increased emphasis on preventive care.

Despite the attractive professional outlook if you are still unsure whether nursing is the profession for you, consider this; if you have the following skills, nursing is the profession for you:

• ·         Critical thinking skills
• ·         Speaking skills
• ·         Organizational skills
• ·         Patience
• ·         Emotional stability
• ·         An eye for detail
• ·         Compassion

In addition to acquiring the right educational qualification(s) it is worth remembering that all nurses must have a nursing license to practice. This means passing the National Council Licensure Examination or NCLEX-RN. Some states may have further requirements as well.

*infographic and article credit to: http://www.excite.com/education/careers/nursing-careers