Nursing is – and will be for the foreseeable future – one of the fasting growing professions in the country. But for the job seeker, it’s important to remember that the scope and nature of nursing jobs is changing just as rapidly, and competing for the best jobs means you need to strategically position yourself.

“We have a competitive market, because health care is changing,” Donna Cardillo, author of The Ultimate Career Guide for Nurses. “Nurses need to look for jobs in a completely different way than they were accustomed to in the past.”

Nearly as important as the degree you list on the resume, is the activities you engage in. Make sure that your resume shows of your volunteer work and professional organizations. Older nurses need to show they are enthusiastic, according to Lynn Berger, a career counselor in New York. New nurses need to show their commitment and eagerness to learn. You need to highlight these on paper and then embody them in the interview. “Many managers will take a chance on the right personality,” Cardillo added.

Furthermore, the best jobs may not be easy to find. You have to be ready to network and present yourself beyond just the formal interview. Leverage your volunteer and professional activities as places where you can find job opportunities.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that a low unemployment rate means it’s not a competitive field. According to Cardillo, “Because the job market is more competitive and will stay that way, it’s important for all nurses, at every level of practice, to keep their education current, get further education, and stay current with clinical, communication and social skills.”

Source: Nursezone.com

Get the Nursing Job You Want is a post from: Unitek College's Healthcare Training Blog

As the push for nurses with four-year degrees gains momentum, healthcare professionals of all ages are considering nursing school. If you are starting out in your career, pursuing a bachelor’s of science in nursing may make sense. But if you’re later in your career, with a family and a mortgage, do the financial and career rewards justify the time and effort?

“It really does depend on the individual and how much longer they intend to practice,” said Rita Frantz, a registered nurse and a professor at the University of Iowa College of Nursing.

In 2010, The Institute of Medicine called for 80 percent of nurses to have a four-year degree by 2020, citing better patient outcomes. Roughly half of nurses have baccalaureate degrees today. As employers seek nurses with more education, job security, prospects and advancement potential is rising for those with a four-year degree, and in some cases it may even be a liability not to have a four-year degree.

“The hospitals are making edicts,” said Karen Goldschmidt, department chair of Drexel University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions.  “If you want to keep your job here, you need to get your bachelor’s degree.”

While financial considerations and job security are usually the main considerations, often overlooked is the transformative experience that education can have on you and your career. “The education opens up doors for them that they couldn’t even imagine before,” added Goldschmidt. Whether you are a seasoned nurse or considering entering the field, going to nursing school requires a commitment, but the rewards will be there at any age.

Source: Nursezone.com

Too Old for Nursing School? is a post from: Unitek College's Healthcare Training Blog

There’s something very special about organ transplants: the incredible odds of finding a match, the mind-boggling skill and technology required for the procedure, the compassion and sacrifice of the donor, and the courage of the recipient. For 15 years, transplant nurse Mary Saubert has borned witness to that magic. Her new book, “My Christmas Miracles and Other Stories about Organ Transplant,” is a collection of the most inspiring of those magical moments.

After shifts, Saubert would transcribe the moving experiences that happened on the job. “I would think of something that occurred during that shift that really impacted me, like the courage of a particular patient,” she said. And from those moving moments grew a book. She writes in the preface, “Their stories are all true. Some are sad, some are funny, but all of them show how precious life is.”

The story of Melody struck Saubert as especially poignant. Melody had pulmonary fibrosis and hypertension; she was dying and she needed new lungs. Not only did her unusually high antibody levels make finding a match difficult, but she needed to lose weight in order to undergo the operation. A challenge for people with healthy lungs, Melody took on weight loss with inspirational perseverance.

But even after losing the weight, Melody still could not find a donor. She became sicker and sicker; her face began to turn purple and she was losing circulation in her legs.

When a match was found, Melody was delirious from a lack of oxygen. But the operation was a success, and Melody hasn’t been back to the hospital since. In her book, Saubert describes Melody’s life after surgery – traveling with her husband and camping with her grandchildren.

So what can these patients teach us? According to Saubert, “They have truly learned to use every moment wisely, because you don’t know what will happen to you tomorrow.”

Source: Nursezone.com

Transplant Nurse Writes of Miracles is a post from: Unitek College's Healthcare Training Blog

Fremont, CA (March 28, 2013) – Unitek College is pleased to announce its Vocational Nursing Training program reported the highest aggregate NCLEX passing rates among all private for-profit institutions in the Bay Area.*

1. The 91.21% passing rate of the Fremont campus marks the third consecutive year it has achieved the highest NCLEX passing rate in the Bay Area.
2. Second only to Fremont, our San Jose campus** had the second highest aggregate NCLEX passing score of any private for-profit school in the Bay Area***, with an aggregate first-time passing rate of 80.65% for 2012.

Unitek College’s Vocational Nursing Training program prepares students to care for patients under the supervision of a physician or registered nurse. The program is an innovative combination of traditional classroom learning and hands-on training – including 1,000 hours spent in simulation labs and real-world healthcare facilities. The program is designed to be completed in just 44 weeks.

Navraj Bawa, Unitek College’s Chief Operating Officer, stated, “We are extremely pleased our nursing school is training and educating such capable and competent graduates. The high passing rate they have achieved speaks to the hard work and dedication by the faculty, staff and students. Our faculty and staff have established a culture of excellence, and the students have consistently risen to the challenge. Kudos to the Vocational Nursing Program for the momentous achievement.”

About Unitek College

Unitek College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), a private, non-profit independent accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. Programs offered include:

• Vocational Nursing Training
• Registered Nurse Bridge – LVN to RN
• 2 Stage Associate Degree Nursing
• Bachelors of Science Nursing – RN to BSN
• Medical Assisting Training
• Pharmacy Technician Training

To learn more about Unitek College, and the programs offered at each of our campuses, visit http://www.unitekcollege.edu or call toll-free at 1-888-735-4355.

* The numbers reported above are provided by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and distributed to vocational institutions each quarter. (Source: www.ncsbn.org 03/2013). Access to the report can be found here: http://www.unitekcollege.edu/nclex-scores-2012.pdf.

**Santa Clara Satellite Location has moved to San Jose; pass percentage represents Santa Clara 2012.

***Bay Area is a reference to the major cities and metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose.

Unitek College Reports Stellar Vocational Nursing Program NCLEX Passing Scores is a post from: Unitek College's Healthcare Training Blog

Teddie Wiggins is a certified patient care technician at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center. For him, the job he loves boils down to three things: keeping a schedule, adapting to different environments, and wanting to help people. “I love my job, but most of all I love the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others,” he explained. But what does his job look like day to day?

Keeping a Schedule

We all have one, so what’s the big deal? Well when dozens of essential functions depend on your schedule, and every step needs to be on time and accurately recorded throughout the day, it can be quite a big deal. “My CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) instructor always said, ‘if it is not charted, it is not done,’” Wiggins recalled.

Different Rhythms

Medical Assistants need to be comfortable in the fast-paced and hectic environment of the emergency room, where everything is about speed. But you also may end up in Obstetrics, where taking care of newborns and their mothers, requires a gentler approach. Though Wiggins admittedly prefers the excitement, “I love working in the E.R. because every day is completely different.”

Patience Rewarded

Perhaps the most essential skill to have to be a successful medical assistant is patience. While this is an ongoing challenge, the results are worth the effort. “I often hear from the patients that ‘the smallest gestures are the most appreciated,’” Wiggins explained, “I know that the thanks I get from my patients is the best part of my job, and I love it.”

Source: AOL Jobs

Inside the Life of a Medical Assistant is a post from: Unitek College's Healthcare Training Blog

Did you know there’s a Medical Assistants Recognition week? For good reason: medical assistants are becoming an increasingly valuable part of the medical community. From handling sensitive patient information to drawing blood, they have to be adaptable and knowledgeable in a several areas.

“Medical assistants are essential for an office medical practice in today’s world,” said Dr. Paul Hobbs of Tahlequah Medical Group. “They are specially trained to make our jobs easier.”

For Amber Camp, who works with Dr. Hobbs, you have to be flexible and like helping people. “It’s important to have good people skills,” she said. “More often than not, the people you deal with aren’t feeling well, and may not be on their best behavior. You have to be pleasant, and do your best to put them at ease. You can’t be squeamish, either. This isn’t a job for you if bodily fluids bug you.”

Like doctors, medical assistants can focus on an area and receive special training in areas like podiatry, orthopedics or ophthalmology. All medical assistants receive on-the-job training, but to advance to other fields or as a medical assistant, formal training is critical.

Camp understands the importance of education, “There is so much you have to learn, including testing, lab results, etc., and it’s important you have a working knowledge of these things.” The bottom line according to Camp? “Get an education.”

Source: Tahlequah Daily Press

Education Makes Medical Assistants Essential is a post from: Unitek College's Healthcare Training Blog