Sunday, November 18, 2012

Benefits of Getting an RN Nursing Degree Online

Even in today's tough job market, an online RN nursing degree is extremely promising and a good thing to have. After all, these days, it seems like a lot of people are nervous about the fact that the economy has been on the downturn and there simply does not seem to be such a thing as job security anymore. However, the truth is that nursing is one of just a few fields that will essentially always be in high demand, as there is always a need for people to assist doctors and patients in hospitals, physician's offices, and many other settings. So if you have been in limbo about whether or not you are going to go for this degree, now is the time to get it figured out.
One major road block that tends to get in people's way when they are trying to get a nursing degree--or any degree, for that matter--is that they simply do not feel as though they have the time to attend classes on campus. However, the good news is that there are a lot of accredited schools and universities out there these days that offer online classes and full online degrees, with Nursing being one of them. So even for those who are busy with taking care of a family, working full time, or both can attend classes on their own time and work towards obtaining their RN nursing degree.
The most common degree in nursing that people strive to obtain is a Bachelor's degree, which is essentially the first step to becoming an RN. Obtaining one of these degrees usually takes about four years, but it can be done in more or less time, depending on how many classes and credit hours you are willing to take. However, once you have your Bachelor's, you may even want to consider furthering your education even more to make your job prospects that much better. Still, with a degree in Nursing, you could typically find a job right out of school and be making a decent salary as well.
So if you think that an online school would be right for you in going for your rn nursing degree onlinea, then the next step you are going to want to take is to find a school that is right for you. For starters, ensure that the school is accredited, which is necessary in order for your degree to mean much of anything. Some reputable schools that offer these degrees include Indiana State University, Colorado Technical University, Liberty University and Post University. However, there are also many others who offer this specific degree and a great online experience that will teach you how to become a qualified and knowledgeable nurse in the field.
Overall, if you enjoy helping people and would like to work in the medical field, then obtaining a degree in nursing by taking online classes could be perfect for you and your future career outlook. So be sure to find a school that is right for you and that offers an RN nursing degree. Good luck!

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Pregnant Moms Can Make a Difference

If you had to guess, how many professionals would you say you might meet during one stay at the hospital? Two or three? Five or six? Well, I did a brainstorm and came up with TEN! And for each of those ten categories, you might see three or four different people during your stay there,depending how long it is. That is 40 different people you will be sharing your birth experience with.
Now for some folks, meeting new people is no problem. Others of you might not even mind meeting people when you are not feeling your very best. And others of you might even feel comfortable meeting new people when you are wearing a thin not-so-terrific-looking greenish gown that doesn't completely close in the back AND you are not feeling your best.
Even if you feel comfortable with new people, for some people, just walking into the hospital can make them nervous. You associate hospitals with being sick, something yucky, and even scary. "White coat hypertension", otherwise known as getting really nervous when you go to the doctor, is a real phenomenon. So when you get to the hospital to have your baby, nervousness or fear are automatically triggered in your brain. Add to that a bunch of unfamiliar people, not to mention that you are going to have your baby now and this isn't a "drill", and who wouldn't be nervous or even afraid?
But for those of you who MIGHT have some nervousness about all this or who might be thinking, "WHAT????", I have some good news. There is a solution and it's something that is easy and free for you.
So what's the problem with a little fear or nervousness? From the perspective of a pregnant mom, a problem with the nervousness and fear is that it can contribute to the "fear-pain" cycle. The fear-pain cycle has to do with activation of a bunch of chemicals in your body via FEAR that create more PAIN. Pain itself is actually made up of two distinct parts, and this is helpful to understand when you are thinking of the fear-pain cycle. There is the part where nerves send signals up your spinal column to your brain telling it to tell you, "That hurts!" Then there is the MORE important part, the part where you are about to make a difference, and that is the part where your brain sends signals back down to the painful area and actually BLOCKS those signals coming up to it. Your amazing brain will STOP THE PAIN, or at least decrease it.
Probably the easiest and most important way to decrease your fear and anxiety is through relaxation. Yes, you may be laughing right now and saying, "If I could relax, I wouldn't be feeling fear and anxiety!!" This is a two-part answer. One is that you need to practice particular relaxation techniques and the other is that you need a partner to REMIND you very gently to activate those techniques as there this a good chance that a) you will forget because you are about to have your baby and b) You will not recognize that you are feeling tense because you are about to have your baby and you have other things on your mind.
Remember all those people I mentioned at the beginning of this article? That's another reason why your partner is key in having a smart, confident birth. He or she is a familiar anchor for you, a reminder to you to use your relaxation techniques, a signal to your brain that everything is okay. And all of those things will automatically activate your brain to send signals down your spinal cord to tell any pain you might be having that it actually doesn't hurt, leaving you feeling calm and confident and leaving your body to "do its thing" in labor and help you and your doctor to safely deliver your healthy baby.
Relaxation is taught and, most importantly, practiced in childbirth education classes. This is important, because the more you practice relaxation, the better you will be at it and the quicker you will be able to activate your brain to tell pain to stop or decrease. There are a variety of techniques for relaxation as well, and you may find some of them are a better "fit" for you than others.
So even though the people and setting of the hospital may be unfamiliar to you, once you and your partner learn the technique of relaxation, YOU will be more confident in your birth experience.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Solving Water Contamination Problems At Venice Beach

When the beaches of Venice started experiencing excessive contamination, local officials suspected a common source: human feces. However, that wasn't the case. After studying six DNA samples, they also ruled out dog and bird wastes as the cause of the problem. The next step was to make an educated guess as to what was causing the pollution, and by process of elimination, tests pointed a finger at rat and raccoon feces. Case solved? Hardly! Whereas they could have repaired compromised sewer lines, how can you tell a wild creature where to do his duty?
Anyone might conclude that the Department of Health was overjoyed to finally know the reason behind the higher-than-acceptable levels of fecal coliform and enterococcus bacteria. The fact that there had been no rain yet the worst of the pollution had been concentrated near two pipes which were used to drain storm water into the gulf had them stymied. Then they discovered that the water flow into the area was caused by homeowners watering their lawns since there was no rain. This clean water was particularly appealing to thirsty wildlife who congregated at the mouth of these pipes in order to drink during dry periods of time.
The good news here was the fact that human swimmers are less likely to contract diseases from animal feces. However, the problem in general wasn't good, and engineers had to come up with ways to cut down on the contamination. A common misconception is that screens can be used to stop wildlife getting into pipes such as these. True, it's a solution that could work except for the fact that screens clog with debris which, during heavy rainfall, could cause the sewers to back up.
The solution that seems to be working best so far is keeping watch of the amounts of contamination in these areas. If a problem build-up of bacteria is found, city workers can be assigned the task of cleaning out the pipes. Unfortunately, operating this aggressive maintenance procedure has escalated costs to unacceptable levels. A permanent fix would be far less costly, that is provided a viable one can be found.
Starting in August, the city plans to try revamping the way the sewer system runs in order to stop the accumulation of bacteria. By rerouting two of the worst water runs so as to detour them through a shallow swale, the water will percolate into the sand, the ultraviolet rays of the sun will help to break down the colonies of bacteria. Two other water systems will be connected to vaults where the water will be filtered and UV treated before being pumped offshore.