Category: Healthcare

Helping People with High-Tech Healthcare: Five Advantages to Being a Radiologic Technologist

Radiologic technologists, also called “rad techs” or “x-ray techs,” are crucial healthcare professionals who perform medical imaging examinations. Every day you get to help people and use cutting-edge medical technology. That can be a great combination.

I’ve been a radiologic technologist myself as well as an instructor in this field, and I know firsthand the satisfaction that this career path can bring.

In the following, I’ll discuss five reasons to consider being a radiologic technologist.

1. Become a highly valued healthcare professional in two years

If you’re interested in a healthcare career but have concerns about the time and expense your education would take, radiologic technology could be a great option for you.

Becoming a radiologic technologist generally requires attaining a two-year associate degree. In other words, you could be working full-time as a valued healthcare professional — and earning a good salary — in as few as two years.

(See How to Become a Radiologic Technologist for more information.)

2. Experience the rewards of helping people on a daily basis

Some people find medical examinations stressful. As a radiologic technologist, your warm, friendly demeanor can help patients feel more calm and comfortable. This also helps create trust and can go a long way toward creating a positive experience for patients.

In fact, as you interact one-on-one with your patients, you have lots of opportunities to make a difference in their experience by doing things such as:

  • Gently and carefully positioning their body
  • Directing them through procedures in a clear and calm manner
  • Addressing questions and concerns in a compassionate, thoughtful way
  • Protecting them from unnecessary radiation through specific radiation protection protocols

In addition, you may also be talking with family members of patients.

3. Work with advanced medical technology

Are you a hands-on kind of person? Radiologic technologists perform medical imaging examinations like the following using sophisticated equipment and technology:

  • X-ray (also known as radiography)
  • Computed tomography (CT)
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
  • Mammography
  • Interventional radiology

The resulting imagery — of tissues, organs, bones, or blood vessels — helps physicians diagnose and treat illnesses and diseases.

On top of that, medical imaging technology is continually advancing. You’ll get to learn about, and experience firsthand, the exciting ways that your profession is helping to improve patient care.

4. Enjoy the benefits of a profession needed widely

If you want a profession that doesn’t limit you geographically, radiologic technology could be an excellent fit. Radiologic technologists are typically needed wherever healthcare is offered — from small towns to suburban areas to big cities.

Also, radiologic technologists generally must pass a national registration exam (see No. 5 for more info). That’s good news because it means the credentials you’ve worked so hard to earn are valid in all 50 states. (In fact, it’s even possible that your education and registration can help you secure employment beyond the U.S., if desired.)

Then there’s the question of your work environment. Because radiologic technologists are needed in so many facets of healthcare, you’ll have more opportunity to be selective about the setting you work in. Here are just some examples of where radiologic technologists are employed:

  • Primary care medical offices and clinics
  • Specialty clinics
  • Outpatient imaging centers
  • Hospitals
  • ERs
  • Trauma centers (within ERs)
  • Chiropractic clinics

5. Choose a professional path with plenty of opportunities for career development

Radiologic technologists have many ways to advance their career and create more professional opportunities. Graduating from a radiologic technology program generally makes you eligible to sit for The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists’ (ARRT) radiography exam.

Passing that exam means you become a registered radiologic technologist certified in radiography — the most common way people enter the profession. That also opens the door to acquiring more registrations in the future, which can:

  • Help you become a more competitive job candidate
  • Allow you more options to specialize
  • Give you more control over the kind of environment you work in (see also No. 4 above)

Note that these additional registrations do not require completing more programs or acquiring more degrees. Instead, you’ll need to 1) complete continuing education units (CEUs), often available through online courses, and 2) demonstrate competency by performing the procedures under supervision in a professional setting.

You can also can take your radiologic technologist background in related career directions like these:

  • Radiography equipment training
  • Medical sales
  • Healthcare management (which would typically require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree)

Take the next step and start exploring programs

Helping people, working with cutting-edge technology, enjoying a flexible career path — those are just a few highlights of being a radiologic technologist. Plus, you could join the profession in around two years.

If what you’ve learned above sounds appealing, I strongly suggest you take the next step: Start exploring radiologic technology schools today!

Heather Schepman, MS, R.T. (R), is an experienced radiologic technologist who is also the Radiography Program Chair at Northwestern Health Sciences University. 

 

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

How to Use Healthcare Job Boards More Effectively

It used to be that using a healthcare job board required very little effort above and beyond posting your resume and waiting for responses. Many job seekers still do that today. However, the most successful use healthcare job boards differently. They do more than post their resumes and wait.

 As far as job boards go, Health Jobs Nationwide is among the best. We are comfortable saying that because of the tens of thousands of listings we offer along with the well-known, reputable companies who post their jobs with us. Still, the quality of our job board alone will not get you hired. There is more to it.

 The good news is that we won’t leave you hanging. Below are strategies for helping you utilize healthcare job boards more effectively. Ultimately, our goal is to be your gateway to the physician, nurse practitioner, or registered nurse position you are looking for.

 1. Practice Different Filtering Methods

 Healthcare job boards like ours tend to offer multiple filtering methods. We do this because job applicants have different ways of searching. What must be understood is that our filters are heavily dependent on the data posters enter. This means that not every job that could be appropriate to your search will turn up under all your filters.

 From a practical standpoint, you may have to utilize several different filters. Don’t stress over it. Just practice utilizing different filters to see the results they turn up. With enough practice, you will know exactly how to search every time you log on.

 2. Take Advantage of Employer ATS

 Healthcare employers receive so many resumes that they just don’t have the resources to manually look through each and every one. So these days, they use automated systems known as applicant tracking systems (ATS) to narrow down potential candidates. Out of 500 resumes, perhaps only 30-50 will be actually viewed by human eyes.

 You increase your chances of getting your resume seen by understanding and taking advantage of ATS. For starters, always send your resume and CV in .pdf format. That’s the one format most ATS systems can read. If you submit a .docx, your resume may not make it past the first level.

 Next, don’t use tables, text boxes, etc. Most ATS systems cannot read the data contained in boxes and tables, so that data will be ignored. However, do use formatting – like headings, for example. An ATS can recognize headings like ‘Education’, ‘Work History’, and so forth.

 Finally, use the right keywords. ATS systems are a lot like search engines in that they look for keywords to understand a document. Use keywords that are appropriate to the type of job you are looking for. If you’re not sure what those keywords are, look in the job description of a particular post. That will tell you everything you need to know.

 3. Make Proactive Contact

 Finally, the one thing about job seeking that hasn’t changed is the need to be proactive. After you submit your resume and CV to a particular employer, try to make contact with someone in that organization. A common suggestion among job coaches is to look up the employer on LinkedIn. You might find an HR officer, healthcare administrator, or someone else you can connect with. A simple note of introduction is all you need.

 Healthcare job boards are a fantastic resource for finding career opportunities across the country. Whether you are looking to stay local, or you are prepared to move, don’t just submit your resume and wait. Utilize the three strategies described in this post and you’ll increase the chances of finding a great job.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Tools for Healthcare Workers to Manage Physical and Mental Health

By using the right tools, healthcare workers are well-equipped to stay healthy

Today’s healthcare workers face unprecedented physical and mental health challenges. They must account for the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and ensure they are administering care per proper health and safety protocols. In addition, many healthcare workers are forced to deal with bed shortages and limited access to critical supplies. At the same time, they are coping with patients who may be politically charged, leading to tense and stressful interactions. Healthcare personnel are also prone to working long hours, which can result in exhaustion and burnout.

Healthcare workers should not expect the aforementioned challenges to disappear on their own. If left unaddressed, these issues can have far-flung effects on these workers’ physical and mental wellbeing. Fortunately, tools are available to help healthcare workers take care of their health. By utilizing these tools, healthcare personnel can establish and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Now, let’s look at three tools that can help healthcare workers manage their physical and mental health.

1. Education

In a recent survey of 1,119 healthcare workers, 93% said they experience stress. Although stress is normal, it can become too much to handle at times. And those who cannot manage their stress levels may experience myriad physical and mental health problems.

 Stress can cause body aches and pains, headaches, high blood pressure, and other physical symptoms. Meanwhile, it can contribute to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.

 Ultimately, stress management is paramount. Thanks to stress management training, healthcare workers can learn safe and effective ways to manage their stress levels.

 Healthcare workers can access online stress management training tools. Furthermore, they can enroll in web-based stress management training courses. These tutorials can teach healthcare workers how to identify stressors and minimize their impact.

2. Technology

Stress management technology is expanding. Healthcare workers can leverage this technology to reduce on-the-job stress. Plus, the technology can help healthcare personnel become more productive and efficient.

 For instance, many healthcare providers are implementing artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Healthcare workers can use these technologies to eliminate repetitive tasks and the stress associated with them.

 Expect stress management technology to continue to evolve. The technology will keep getting better, and healthcare providers may become increasingly inclined to implement it. As a result, healthcare workers can leverage state-of-the-art stress management technologies to assist in the long game of physical and mental health.

 Let’s not forget about the use of fitness trackers in healthcare, either. Healthcare personnel can wear a fitness tracker to monitor their pulse and other health metrics. They can gain insights into their sleep patterns and other factors that can impact their physical and mental health. Then, healthcare personnel can use these insights to determine the best ways to manage their physical and mental wellbeing.

3. Lifestyle Changes

Healthcare workers can make lifestyle changes to enhance their physical and mental health and increase their energy for their days. For instance, healthcare personnel can choose nutrient-rich foods over fatty ones. By establishing a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and other healthy foods, healthcare workers can guard against obesity and related physical and mental health issues.

 Moreover, healthcare workers can incorporate exercise into their daily routine. They can go for walks, practice yoga, or perform other activities to stay active. These activities can help healthcare workers remain physically and mentally fit.

 Healthcare providers can help their workers establish and maintain a healthy lifestyle, too. For instance, they can offer free gym memberships and other incentives to encourage healthcare workers to take care of their health. Healthcare providers can also provide their workers with sufficient time off, so these employees have plenty of time to break away from the hustle and bustle of their jobs.

 Lastly, healthcare providers must do everything in their power to support their personnel. They should encourage healthcare workers to come forward to discuss any physical or mental health issues. In doing so, healthcare providers can ensure their workers get the support they need at all times. They can even partner with other healthcare providersto verify all healthcare personnel can get the help they need to optimize their physical and mental health.

Healthcare Workers Must Prioritize Their Physical and Mental Health

The aforementioned tools can help healthcare workers manage their physical and mental health. However, it is important to note that they do not offer a one-size-fits-all solution for all physical and mental health problems.

 Physical and mental health problems can affect any healthcare worker, at any time. Many healthcare workers try to “tough it out” in the hopes that their physical and mental health issues will eventually subside. But the longer these problems linger, the worse they can become. The issues can reach a point where they impact a healthcare worker both on the job and outside of it.

 Healthcare workers should not let physical and mental health issues develop and persist. At the first sign of physical or mental health problems, healthcare workers should consult with a doctor. From here, they can identify the root cause of any health issues and take appropriate steps to manage them.

      Katie Brenneman is a passionate writer specializing in lifestyle, mental health, activism-related content. When she isn’t writing, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or hiking with her dog, Charlie. To connect with Katie, you can follow her on Twitter. 

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Permanent or Travel: Registered Nurse Jobs Are Plentiful

Is it appropriate to say that the current nursing shortage is unprecedented? Perhaps. But even if it isn’t, there is one thing that cannot be argued: registered nurse jobs are plentiful. The latest estimate suggests more than half-a-million vacant jobs. That number could realistically exceed one million by the end of 2022.

 We could try to explain why that is, but the reasons are less important than the fact that hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s offices are hurting right now. The thing the industry has to focus on now is finding ways to recruit more nursing candidates. Simply put, America needs more people going into nursing than ever before.

 As for already licensed nurses, they really do have the pick of the litter. If there were ever a candidate’s market, we are in it now. There are so many registered nurse jobs waiting to be filled that candidates can pretty much write their own tickets.

 Permanent Placement Jobs

 Feel free to browse our job board and you will find thousands of unfilled registered nurse jobs. Search by state or city. Search by job type. Create your own custom search based on whatever criteria is most important to you. The point is that there will be no shortage of returns. Click the ‘search’ button and you will have tons of jobs to look through.

 These are mostly permanent placement jobs. Some are found at hospitals in major cities and rural towns alike. Some of the hospitals are big, others are small. Others are affiliated with medical schools while others are not. The point is that you have choices.

 You will also find job openings in local clinics and doctors’ offices. You’ll even find registered nurse positions involving education and training. Again, there is just so much for you to choose from.

 Travel Nursing Jobs

 If you prefer to go the travel nursing route, rest assured plenty of those jobs are available as well. Travel nursing was already taking off before the start of the COVID pandemic, but the pandemic sent things into overdrive. Healthcare facilities around the country are now using travel nurses to fill conventional positions because they cannot find enough candidates willing to be hired permanently.

 Travel nursing is obviously not for everybody. It is not just a job, it’s actually a lifestyle. For some, it is the perfect lifestyle that mixes work with a love for travel. Yet others find it too wearying and taxing. It’s really a matter of personal choice.

 A Job Board Is One Tool

 Your search for registered nurse jobs will probably take many forms. We get that. A job board is just one tool you will use to locate your next position. But definitely use it. Our job board can be your central location for searching. It is also a great tool for submitting applications and resumes. Because we put everything you need in one place, we think you’ll find Health Jobs Nationwide efficient and easy to use.

 When you do get a lead on a job, do not just submit your resume and hope for the best. Be proactive. Try to make a second or third contact with the employer outside of the jobs board. Meanwhile, research the facility so you know what you’re dealing with when you get called for an interview.

 Registered nurse jobs are plentiful. For you, it is really a matter of finding one that meets your needs. With tens of thousands of jobs waiting to be filled, you are bound to find something. So keep your head up and keep looking. Your next job is right around the corner.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Is a Career in Allied Health Right for You?

Healthcare is one of those industries for which there will always be available jobs. Healthcare is a basic human need, so the demand for healthcare workers will always exist. But do not assume that the best careers in the healthcare sector are limited to doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists. There is an entire allied health category to consider.

Positions in allied health are still healthcare jobs. Many of them involve direct patient interaction. Others do not. Either way, careers in allied healthcare are every bit as important to patient health and well-being as clinical careers. To be clear, clinical careers are more or less the ‘big four’:

  • Medical doctor
  • Nurse (including advanced practice nurses)
  • Pharmacist
  • Dentist

Pretty much all other healthcare jobs fall under the allied health category. As it turns out, a majority of all healthcare jobs are in the allied category. Allied healthcare workers run the gamut from radiologists to technicians and dental hygienists.

3 Categories of Allied Health

There are no hard and fast rules for dividing up allied healthcare jobs into highly specific categories. However, there are three general categories that most healthcare facilities and hiring managers recognize:

  • Primary Care – Allied healthcare jobs in primary care are those related to providing day-to-day care in the GP’s office, community medical clinic, etc.
  • Diagnostic and Lab – Healthcare jobs in the diagnostic and lab category include things like lab technicians and phlebotomy technicians.
  • Admin, Rehab, and Promotion – This is the broadest category and includes administrative jobs, careers in marketing, and rehabilitative specialties.

We list literally thousands of allied healthcare jobs on the Health Jobs Nationwide jobs board. Take a few minutes to browse through them and you will see all three categories represented quite well. Needless to say, the healthcare sector has plenty of room for new allied health workers.

Choosing the Right Career

With so many possibilities in allied healthcare, choosing the right career may be a bit challenging. Ask yourself whether you are looking for a patient-facing career. That is the first dividing line. If you would prefer to not work directly with patients in a delivery setting, you can then take certain career choices off your list.

Next, what are your thoughts on education? Different allied health jobs require different levels of commitment in both time and financial resources. Some allied health jobs for example can be had with just a certification that can be obtained after taking a comparatively short training course. Other careers require many years of college education along with state licensing.

Finally, ask yourself where you actually want to work. Although allied healthcare jobs are available all across the country, some markets are stronger than others for specific types of jobs. The Health Jobs Nationwide jobs board can help to some degree in this respect. You can browse the board to see what types of jobs are available where you want to live.

Your Job Search Starts Here

Whether you are new to allied health or a seasoned pro, your search for a new job starts right here. Health Jobs Nationwide offers thousands of posts from employers looking to hire allied health workers. You can sort by job type, geographic location, and much more.

Is allied health right for you? Only you can decide that. But if it is, be confident in the fact that there are plenty of allied healthcare jobs available in the U.S. We can help you find the one you are looking for. If you are ready to get started, so are we. Your career in allied health is waiting.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Why the Search for the Perfect Physician Job Might Come up Empty

The world loves superlatives. Most of us think nothing of categorizing something as the ‘best’. And in fact, the introduction of digital marketing in the internet era has caused us to take superlatives to unprecedented levels. We even do it in the healthcare sector, particularly when it comes to discussing the ‘perfect job’.

How many of us have searched for the perfect physician job among the thousands that seem to always be listed? How many of us really believe the perfect job exists? It may or may not. The one thing we can say for sure is that the search for the perfect physician job sometimes comes up empty. But that is true for any career.

Physicians might be at a slight disadvantage here due to the high honor we attach to the profession. We assume that because becoming a physician requires so much time and effort, physician jobs are somehow superior to other career choices. And with that thinking comes the inevitable letdown when a doctor fails to find the perfect job promised in medical school.

3 Main Job Criteria

Your average job seeker searches for jobs based on their particular criteria. That criteria could be anything. But by and large, there are three things that dominate most job searches:

  • Salary
  • Location
  • Description

If you are like most people, your search for physician jobs is dominated by salary requirements. In other words, you look for the jobs that pay the most. You may be the kind of person who wants to work in a particular geographic location, so that might be just as important to you as salary. But what about job description?

Job seekers tend to look at descriptions to see if they qualify. Some go so far as to try to understand what a particular job entails by paying close attention to minute description details. But let’s be honest. When push comes to shove, job description takes a distant third place to salary and location.

Scoring the Trifecta

To use a horse betting analogy, finding a physician job that met all your requirements for salary, location, and job description would be like hitting the trifecta. Is it possible? Absolutely. Is it likely? Perhaps.

Conventional wisdom says that you can probably count on getting two of the three but getting all three is not likely. Does that mean you should not try for the trifecta? Absolutely not. You definitely will not get all three if you do not try. If you do try, you may or may not succeed.

This all boils down to the idea of pragmatism. One’s search for healthcare jobs can be supported by plenty of optimism and high hopes for the future. But it can also be tempered with the pragmatic reality that perfection is hard to come by. When one accepts the fact that the perfect job may either not exist or not be found on the first try, finding a job becomes easier.

Perfect Is a Matter of Perspective

Taking a pragmatic approach to physicians jobs does not automatically mean settling for whatever you can get. Rather, a better way to look at it is to acknowledge that perfection is a matter of perspective. A physician job that pays well, allows a good work-life balance, and gives you an opportunity to grow professionally may be exactly what you need. It may not be what you dreamed of, but so what?

Like any other job category, physician jobs are abundant. Whether or not you will find the perfect job remains to be seen.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

The Importance of Diversity in the Healthcare Community

Healthcare is, by definition, a person-focused industry. After all, a healthcare worker’s job is to help people through some of the most important moments of their life, from birth to death, from illness and injury to recovery. It is, in other words, a universal endeavor, packed with the eternal and timeless moments that comprise the human experience, no matter who you are or where you may be.

Yet, for all its universality, the healthcare community has been far too homogeneous, its practitioners rarely reflecting the diversity of the patient populations they serve. That’s a concern, because lack of diversity can not only significantly compromise patient care but it can also curtail opportunities for diverse healthcare providers today and into the future.

Forgotten Populations

One particularly dire effect of the lack of diversity in the healthcare community is the ease with which “diverse” populations, including women, minorities, and members of the LGBTQ+ community may become “lost” in the system.

For instance, indigenous populations tend to suffer disproportionately from the lack of access to consistent and high-quality healthcare. And yet the consequences of this lack of healthcare access remain little understood due to the woeful underrepresentation of indigenous populations in medical research.

This has created, for example, significant health disparities within marginalized groups, such as the Hawaiian and Pacific Islander patient populations. Without a sufficient understanding of the specific needs of discrete patient populations, marginalized groups not only suffer from a lack of healthcare access but also from the increased risk of misdiagnosis and improper treatment.

Minding the (Gender) Gap

The lack of diversity in the healthcare community isn’t just taking its toll on minority and indigenous populations.

Studies show that female patients, regardless of ethnicity, are at a significantly higher risk of being misdiagnosed, experiencing improper or ineffective treatment, and enduring delayed diagnoses, often due to the subconscious gender biases that continue to inform healthcare.

These biases, indeed, appear not only to impact patients, but also practitioners, which serves to more deeply entrench these inequities in the system. For example, female physicians’ assistants (PA) continue to be paid less than their male counterparts.

Such pay inequities only serve to perpetuate the dearth of women at the highest echelons of the medical field. With fewer female healthcare providers, the scope of perspectives and experiences so conducive to the effective practice of medicine narrows.

Indeed, the relatively low number of women serving as doctors and PAs may well account, at least in part, for the disproportionate numbers of inaccurate or delayed diagnoses affecting female patients.

Rural and Low-Income Patient Populations

Patients who are at the lower end of the socio-economic stratum, particularly those who live in rural areas, are also more likely to be negatively impacted by the lack of diversity in healthcare.

For instance, healthcare providers from more affluent middle and upper-class backgrounds may be unable to identify or understand the unique health challenges that rural and impoverished persons often face.

Not only may these patients lack the transportation needed to travel often long distances for medical care — they may also be unable to adhere to clinicians’ recommendations and treatment plans. It will do little good, for example, if a physician instructs a diabetic patient to adhere to a renal diet when the patient has neither the money for nor access to the foods prescribed by this regimen.

These social determinants of health have a profound impact on patient care and outcomes, especially for marginalized patient populations, and are factors that are rarely discussed in medical schools. Healthcare providers who hail from diverse cultural, geographic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, however, can often offer a more nuanced, comprehensive, and actionable perspective on the effective care of rural and low-income patients.

The Takeaway

Diversity in the healthcare community is not simply a laudable talking point — it is a necessity if the healthcare system is to resolve the many inequities and disparities that still plague the system today. Increasing diversity within the healthcare community will not only enhance the quality of care for patients, but it will also open up immense opportunities for future generations of healthcare providers representing a wide array of perspectives and experiences across all walks of life.

      Katie Brenneman is a passionate writer specializing in lifestyle, mental health, activism-related content. When she isn’t writing, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or hiking with her dog, Charlie. To connect with Katie, you can follow her on Twitter. 

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Why America Needs Nurses Now More than Ever

It’s 2022 and COVID-19 and its variants still represent a massive threat to public health. At the same time, however, a nursing shortage threatens the effectiveness of healthcare solutions for the general public. Now, estimates suggest that 1.2 million more registered nurses (RNs) will be needed by 2030 to adequately serve the populace.

This flood of demand has made RNs America’s most wanted healthcare worker. Now, we need nurses more than ever. And yet, the causes of the nursing shortage continue to rage, limiting our ability to replace retiring nursing staff.

Facing major implications for public health, evaluating and solving these causes is essential. Understanding is the first step in a healthcare environment more inviting for professional nurses.

What is Causing the Nursing Shortage?

First, let’s look at some of the measurable causes of the nursing shortage. These are observed patterns in the data that reflect bottlenecks and challenges that may come to affect the way most of us receive care in the future, should the situation not improve. These causes include:

  1. The aging population. Lifespans, birthrates, and advancing medicine have all contributed to a changing demographic. By 2030, it’s estimated that one in five people will be a senior. This is an age group that requires more care and more nurses to care for them.
  2. Retiring nurses. Similarly, healthcare workers themselves are aging up. With one-third of the workforce age 50 or older, retirements are occurring faster than nursing staff can be replaced. This is a problem exacerbated by the next cause of the worsening nursing shortage.
  3. Limited newcomers. Nursing schools can only train so many people. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging on many learning institutions. The rate of new to retiring nurses isn’t enough to make up for lost workers, and patients are the worse for it.

All these causal factors were present in the healthcare industry even before the pandemic emerged, but COVID drove the shortage to new depths. That’s because pandemic conditions have redoubled our reliance on nursing staff and overburdened them to the point of frequent burnout.

In a survey of 6,500 critical care nurses, 66% said they were considering leaving their careers because of their COVID experiences. Meanwhile, 92% said that nurses at their hospitals had cut their careers short as a result of burnout. These numbers represent vital healthcare staff that we cannot afford to lose. And yet, the shortage is a looming threat impacting us all.

America is in desperate need of nurses but the conditions of the job as well as larger social factors make it exceptionally difficult to fill the gaps. Incentives and workloads have to be adjusted if we are to change these circumstances in the future.

In the meantime, what exactly are the implications of not enough nurses in our hospitals and care facilities? These will be the effects we’ll see play out unless this negative trend is disrupted.

The Effects of Not Enough Nurses

A world with too few nurses is a world in which no one should want to live. These care professionals fulfill many of the most important functions within a care institution. Without their work, being seen and treated for any and all health conditions would take longer and would be less effective. The consequences of such a reality would be negative for everyone involved — from the average patient to the doctor who would then have to take on a much greater burden.

As you explore the question of America’s nursing shortages, keep in mind the associated effects. These include:

  1. Longer care wait times and expenses. Nurses take care of just about all the care-related tasks that don’t require a doctor’s training to legally treat. This includes record-keeping and administrative functions. The fewer nurses available to check in with patients, move them along, and conduct vital care processes, the longer patients will have to wait for care. Meanwhile, relying on more highly trained medical staff for every procedure all but guarantees higher costs for patients.
  2. A lack of empathy in care. Empathy is essential to care. There is something healing in the simple act of a human being listening and being friendly, and nurses provide this empathy in heaps. Where it is applied in healthcare, empathy has been found to improve care satisfaction and even reduce burnout rates in hospital staff. However, human professionals are needed to practice empathy.
  3. A greater reliance on tech. Amidst nursing shortages, care practices are increasingly turning to tech to fill labor gaps. The implications of these tools are enormous. Chatbots, for instance, are taking down patient symptomsand computing diagnoses, sometimes with even greater efficiency than human workers. As these tools improve, some healthcare roles may even be automated out of existence.

A world with too few nurses presents too many challenges for society to accept. Instead, the industry looks to potential solutions for staffing and supporting care facilities while inspiring new generations of nurses. With a need this desperate, the healthcare industry must apply all the tools and tricks necessary to reduce nursing labor gaps.

A Life-Threatening Need

When it comes to healthcare, labor shortages present real risks to life and well-being. That’s why the 1.2 million nurses needed within the next eight years is a scary number. Without nurses, care is longer, worse, and more robotic. However, this last point may also be part of the solution.

Just as artificial intelligence presents certain risks to human workers (such as displacement), it can produce benefitsas well. Through automated data collection, chatbot interfaces, personal medical AI, and more, healthcare work is changing for the better. This means reduced workloads for nurses and potentially less-stressful work environments in which to care for patients.

The causes of the nursing shortage may be too widespread and human to fully correct. However, supportive technology may help to reduce the negative implications of this shortage and even encourage up-and-coming talent. Perhaps when nurses all have personal AIs to make the job easier, nursing schools won’t be able to handle the flood of compassionate individuals wanting to save lives and make a difference.

**Article Image Source: Pexels

         

      Katie Brenneman is a passionate writer specializing in lifestyle, mental health, activism-related content. When she isn’t writing, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or hiking with her dog, Charlie. To connect with Katie, you can follow her on Twitter. 

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

6 Awesome Benefits of Pursuing a Career in Nursing

Nursing is a career where you can help save lives and provide necessary care for people of all ages during your daily work hours. There are few things that are as rewarding as a career in nursing and it doesn’t hurt that the pay is excellent as well.

If you have ever wanted to have a job where you could make a really big difference in people’s lives, you need to consider nursing. This is a career where you can help save lives and provide necessary care for people of all ages during your daily work hours. There are few things that are as rewarding as a career in nursing and it doesn’t hurt that the pay is excellent as well.

If you have been considering a career change to nursing, you might be wondering if there are other benefits that you can take advantage of. There are many reasons that nursing might be the career for you!

If you are ready to learn more about the benefits of pursuing a nursing career, you need to read on!

Awesome Benefits of Pursuing a Career in Nursing

1.       Helping People

Many nurses were originally attracted to the career due to the potential for their training to help save lives. Nurses are on the front line of medical care in every location that they are hired to work, from clinics to hospitals. Making a difference to the people that you care for is a daily occurrence for nurses.

If you value being able to help others and want to make this your life’s work, being a nurse is a great career choice for you to make!

2.       Earning Potential is High

Nurses are some of the best-paid professionals in the medical setting. The U.S. Bureau of Labors Statistics says that registered nurses can make around $75,000 a year. If you have specialized training or work night shifts or holidays, you might make even more.

This is a career that pays very well and offers a lot of room for continuing education with master’s degrees in nursing. If you have ever wanted to have a hands-on job that allowed you a lot of room to grow your income, this is the right career path for your needs!

3.       Demand is High

Nurses are always in demand. It is rare for any healthcare facility to have all the nurses that it needs on staff. This means that being a nurse will allow you job security that you would not have access to in many other fields and flexibility to choose when and where you work. You will also have the chance to work in many fields as a nurse, even with a basic nursing degree.

Traveling nurses are also very much in demand, so if you like to enjoy a change of pace throughout the year, you can become a traveling nurse and go where you are assigned. There are many exciting career styles within the nursing field so you can pick and choose where you work with ease.

4.       Flexible Schedules

Nursing is one of the most flexible careers in terms of scheduling. You will usually have the choice of various shifts that you want to work and once you have seniority you might be able to flex your time to work overtime for a month or so and then take a few weeks in a row off each year. There are many ways to make your nursing career suit your unique scheduling needs so that you can enjoy opportunities and trips that you would not have been able to take.

Many people are amazed at how flexible their schedule really can be and how much they can enjoy their vacation time when they are working in the nursing field. This is one of the few jobs that offers people this much control over their scheduled working hours and it is a big benefit to choosing a nursing career.

5.       Simple Wardrobe

If you have never wanted to have to buy work clothes and matching shoes and accessories, then this is the career for you! You will only need a few pairs of scrubs and you might even be provided these as part of your work contract when you are hired. Scrubs are simple to get into and out of and they are often cleaned by the laundry service at your place of employment.

This is one of the best careers for those who hate to buy work clothing and who do not want to have to dress in work slacks and polos every day. Having a simple set of shoes and your scrubs on hand can make dressing for your job easy every day!

6.       Trusted Professional

If you have always wanted to work in a job that comes with immediate trust and respect from most people, this is the right choice to make! Nurses are well-educated healthcare professionals and people think very highly of nurses for a whole variety of reasons. From inspiring kids to want to grow up to be like you to being well-thought-of in your community, this immediate bond of trust can be a very exciting part of choosing to be a nurse.

Many people can think of nurses and doctors that they have looked up to when they were younger or even consider them to be important advisors for their adult healthcare needs. You can join these professionals and work alongside them when you choose to get a nursing degree.

A Nursing Career Can be an Amazing Choice

There are many reasons that being a nurse might appeal to you. You will have access to great pay, really flexible work schedules, and a profession that is in high demand almost everywhere in the US. You will also be able to advance your career with ease through additional education. There are so many good reasons to be a nurse, and respect from your community might be a big factor in your considerations as well.

Choosing to be a nurse is often one of the most rewarding career changes that you can make. If you are ready to start making a difference in people’s lives while also earning a really good living, you need to start looking into getting your nursing degree today!

 

Gabe Nelson is a content specialist of over 7 years of experience, currently working with nurse.org. Just out of high school he set off crab fishing on the Bering sea in Alaska. From there he went back home to finish his college degree at the University of Montana. He has a passion and keen understanding when it comes to healthcare inside and out. He has written hundreds of content pieces in numerous niches.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Why Acupuncture Could Be the Right Career for You

Being an acupuncturist could be the profession you’ve been looking for! Learn about the advantages to joining this expanding field of healthcare.

Acupuncturists bring a completely unique skill set to healthcare — and they’re needed now more than ever. In fact, acupuncturists are being integrated into many healthcare settings that weren’t even an option 20 years ago.

If you’d like a career in healthcare but haven’t found a profession that feels right to you, then you may want to consider acupuncture. As an acupuncturist myself, as well as the dean of  Northwestern Health Sciences University’s College of Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine, I have seen the exciting changes in this field firsthand.

In the following, I’ll describe four reasons to consider being an acupuncturist. But first, let’s take a closer look at what acupuncturists actually do.

What do acupuncturists do?

Acupuncturists use techniques rooted in Chinese medicine to treat illnesses and improve health. More specifically, they stimulate prescribed points on the body through the use of sterilized needles or similar techniques that involve heat, pressure, or electric current.

Understanding the East Asian perspective of the body is integral to being an effective practitioner of acupuncture. However, to be successful in today’s modern healthcare environment, acupuncturists also need to understand the Western, biomedical-based perspective.

Special note on education requirements. In the U.S., attending an accredited acupuncture or Chinese medicine program and obtaining a master’s degree is the minimum education requirement to become an acupuncturist. Note that there is a movement toward doctoral degree training.

Let’s now turn to those reasons for becoming an acupuncturist.

1 – Enjoy helping patients and also getting to know them on a deeper level

If you feel called to help others, acupuncture could be a great fit for you. Acupuncturists help their patients on multiple levels and have the opportunity to connect with them more deeply.

Managing pain, reducing anxiety, finding relief from insomnia — these are just a few examples of how acupuncturists can help their patients. And they also can utilize more than just needles in their care.

For instance, acupuncturists can help patients achieve health goals by making dietary recommendations, suggesting lifestyle changes, and, with the appropriate training, prescribing Chinese herbal medicines.

More generally, acupuncturists can serve their patients by simply providing more time and attention. Yes, conventional medical appointments are important, but if you think about it, they’re often quite brief.

Acupuncturists, on the other hand, can take more time to sit and discuss a patient’s health and well-being. And that can be incredibly rewarding for both the acupuncturist and the patient.

2 – The role of acupuncturists is expanding in mainstream healthcare

Acupuncture services are being incorporated into more and more hospitals and primary care clinics. This is an important indication of acupuncture’s growing acceptance within conventional Western healthcare.

These positive developments also extend to the job market. Consider, for example, major healthcare organizations like the following that now employ acupuncturists:

In addition, influential healthcare entities like The Joint Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, and the American College of Physicians all officially support acupuncture as a viable drug-free option for pain relief.

3 – Have the freedom to create your own career path

Compared to many other healthcare professions, acupuncturists can enjoy more freedom to create a personalized career path.

For example, there’s good news if you have an entrepreneurial spirit: Establishing a private acupuncture practice is a viable and popular option. This also makes it easier to shape your own schedule, create your own work atmosphere, and have more control over your work pace and earnings.

But if running your own practice doesn’t sound appealing, today you actually have more options than ever. I’ve already mentioned the growing opportunities for acupuncturists in mainstream healthcare settings, but here are more specific examples of where you could work:

  • Public and private hospitals
  • Integrative care clinics
  • Chiropractic offices
  • Community clinics
  • Primary care clinics
  • Sports and rehabilitation clinics
  • VA medical centers
  • Health & fitness centers
  • Sports team facilities
  • Hospices
  • Long-term care facilities

From another perspective, you can also help shape your own career direction by developing a speciality with a certain type of patient population. What are you passionate about? Who do you imagine helping on a daily basis? Here are some possibilities:

  • Athletes
  • Children
  • Seniors
  • Veterans
  • Cancer patients
  • Expectant mothers
  • Women with fertility issues
  • Underserved populations (e.g., people without homes, low-income families)
  • Patients undergoing rehabilitation from a stroke, spinal injury, or brain trauma
  • People in hospice care

4 – Join a new and promising era in healthcare

As an acupuncturist, you can become part of the exciting changes happening in healthcare. A great example is the movement toward integrative healthcare. This is a patient-centered, team-based approach involving practitioners from various fields working together to help patients.

It’s also an approach that bridges treatments like acupuncture with mainstream Western medicine. That means acupuncturists are increasingly part of healthcare teams that include medical doctors, nurses, chiropractors, massage therapists, physical therapists, and more.

Also, as drug-free approaches to pain relief and overall health improvement become more common, the job opportunities for acupuncturists will continue to grow.

In fact, the demand for acupuncture is increasing as more and more healthcare practitioners — and their patients — seek alternatives to opioids and other drugs for pain management. (A great example of this can be found in acupuncture’s growing use in emergency departments.)

Take the next step and start exploring acupuncture programs

Acupuncturists are becoming more and more valuable in today’s evolving healthcare system. You now have a better understanding of the career advantages to being an acupuncturist. Do the points I’ve made resonate with you? Could acupuncture be the professional fit you’ve been looking for?

If you’re intrigued by the prospect of becoming an acupuncturist, I encourage you to take the next step and start researching acupuncture programs today.

Jessica Frier, DAOM, L.Ac., is dean of the College of Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine at Northwestern Health Sciences University and owner of Birchwood Integrative Care Clinic in Eagan, Minn.  

 

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.