So You Want To Be a Nurse When You Grow Up?

You're interested in becoming a nurse. How do you get into the field? First of all, you need to assess your basic interest. Why do you want to get into nursing? Are you getting ready to graduate from high school and always wanted to be a nurse? Do you want to go into nursing, because a relative is in the profession or your family has a tradition of graduating nurses, and it seems like the right thing to do? Nursing seems like a nice secure profession-the pay attracts you? You've always liked helping others and you care a lot?

Have you worked in another career field and want a change for various reasons? Does the "nursing shortage" make you feel like you need to be a part of the "gold rush," because you have read and heard about all of the wonderful sign on bonuses? Thorough research still needs to be done, before the decision is made to embark upon a nursing career.

There are many resources which provide information on getting into nursing school, studying for and passing boards, getting into new graduate employment programs, summer exploratory programs, etc. But for traditional nursing work (bedside nursing) in a hospital or long term care facility (traditionally known as a nursing home), it really would do some good if you had a reality TV type experience. Reading books and articles exclusively, won't prepare you for what the profession is like.

During my first nursing clinical rotation, I knew instantly that I didn't like hospital nursing. However, I loved research, collecting data, writing papers, and so forth. Since I had a science background and had worked in various laboratory settings (e.g., a dairy plant testing milk to biotechnology company testing, human sera, a county environmental health lab testing water sample on a mass spectrophotometer, a food plant testing spaghetti sauce), going into nursing research seemed like a natural progression. The rude awakening: No one ever told me about the 5-6 years of med-surg hospital experience needed, before an employer would even look at me. It was not anyone else's responsibility to tell me this. Clearly, the lesson is to do all of your homework.

After graduating from nursing school, I combed the Internet, help wanted ads, journals, and even enlisted a network of friends to be on the lookout for any nurse research employment opportunities. Positions in nursing research were scarce. My diverse science background, along with my Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Rochester, weren't a powerful enough combination to hurry me into the interviewing seat. Hence, I never landed an interviewing spot for any nursing research positions.

There are simple, invaluable, economically efficient ways to thoroughly research nursing as a profession. Of course, nothing can substitute for the actual on the job experience. But you are not there yet, and you want to investigate to see if you want to get there. Here a few suggestions to include on your career research things to do list: (1) utilize the Internet to the fullest, (2) use the services of your ISP (Internet Service Provider) such as AOL, MSN, etc., (2) make contact with potential employers in your area, (3) try volunteering, (4) and find student mentors at your local college and university. Start with an open mind before you use any of these resources.

Many prospective students have their specialty title etched in stone. "I want to go into pediatric nursing, because I love children." "I want to work in trauma." Moreover, they don't want to discuss or research anything else. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a vision of which practice area you'd like to specialize in, but it is a good idea to keep the door open for other possibilities. The turn over can be high and many nurses change specialty areas for various reasons, from burnout, boredom, needing a change of pace, advancement reasons, to unforeseen circumstances. The good thing about changing specialty areas is your skills are transferable.

Utilizing the Internet yields a wealth of information. There are many contacts to be made on the Internet. Let's hypothesize, for reference purposes, CRNA (Certified Nurse Anesthetist) will be used as an example specialty area, and hypothetically, you are interested in becoming a CRNA. Keep in mind you have already researched nursing schools, salary ranges, employment outlook, and in addition to becoming a registered nurse you're aware of the advanced degree requirement. This part of your research has already been done.

There are many organizations where you can make email contact, or get other contact information from nurse professionals who are retired CRNAs, or those who currently work in the field. Go to http://www.google.com to do a search. Try Google's advanced search feature and type in keywords "email" and "CRNA" without quotes, on the first line.

Your first 100 search results will include some email addresses for people who are actually CRNAs. You will find some with university addresses, who may be professors or alumni, company addresses of CRNAs who are employees, and personal email addresses. Select a CRNA's email address from these four different areas: (1) university employed, (2) hospital employed, (3) military employed, (4) and other areas, such as a physician practice group. To narrow your search you may type in "email" & "CRNA" or "military" or "physician practice group" or "retired."

Click on the web page links to view email addresses listed. Send each nurse professional a simple introductory email, about your interest in the profession and ask them three open ended questions: (1)"What are some of the things I should consider before deciding to go to nursing school to become a CRNA?" (2)"What is your outlook on the future of CRNAs?" (3) "What are the positive and negative aspects of working as a CRNA?" Nurses are a kind body of professionals and most won't mind that you took the time to contact them. It is always a good idea to get feedback from someone who is currently in the field (new graduate and seasoned professional), as well as retirees. Your email should be composed of a very brief note. Don't forget to thank them for their responses.

Another place to locate a CRNA is the AOL people directory, provided you are an AOL subscriber. On your navigational tool bar, just click on "People”, then "Member Directory." Next, on the first text field line, type in “CRNA” and you will find hundreds of CRNAs who are already in your own backyard. If you are not an AOL subscriber, check to see if your ISP has a searchable membership directory and find other members in a similar fashion. Send a member or two the same introductory note mentioned earlier. This may be time consuming, but going through nursing school and getting an advanced degree, only to find it is not for you, is both equally cost and time consuming. So save yourself some time, money, and peace of mind. Becoming a CRNA is an investment.

Your Guide To Top Nursing Schools

So, you want to go to one of the top nursing schools, take up nursing and be a well paid and steady employed nurse years from now? To achieve this and more, you have to scout for the top nursing schools that could give you the best level of education. You go here and there to look for top nursing degree programs such as Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Registered Nurse (RN), Bachelor nursing programs, Masters nursing degree programs, nursing license and other specialty nursing areas like that of the certified nurse midwife programs.

Put an end to that search... All over the world, University of Phoenix, Walden University, Sanford-Brown College, and Bethel University are the most well known and top nursing schools.

Throughout the years, the field of nursing has brought millions and millions of people above average paying jobs. Not only that opportunities arises like the golden sun everyday, and awaits all degree holders of nursing, especially those that graduated from the top nursing schools, and since nursing is proved to be in an endless great demand, a number of nursing schools grow and multiple every year like mushrooms. If you wish to take the path of nursing and get high quality education, you'll find the top nursing schools in states such as: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Melaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming and more.

Most of these top nursing schools require applicants and/or students to acquire formal training and certification. Top nursing schools, according to the studies, are expected to grow more in numbers and go full blown before year 2010. Moreso, the Bureau of Labor Statistics have seen figures of obvious uncontrollable growth in number of employed registered nurses up to date. With this, nursing professions prove itself to be the most in demand and the largest well known profession worldwide. Graduating and earning a degree from the top nursing schools will be your key to the gate of the golden variety of professions such as nurse practitioners, family nurse practitioners, nurse assistance, and registered nurses. Among the given nursing professions, the most popular field is registered nursing.

The top nursing schools enhances the development of their nursing school program and offers which includes undergraduate / non-degree/ graduate medical and health professions; nursing professions; registered nurse; public health and safety; medical administrative services; education; business; liberal arts and humanities; public safety and law enforcement; psychology; computer sciences; math and statistics; nurse practitioner of family; nurse practitioner; public health nurse or community nurse; nursing administration; social services and public administration; dental hygienist; sports medicine; paramedic; therapeutic and rehabilitation professions; nursing for adults and seniors; engineering technology; visual and performing arts; medical ethics and bioethis; religion and philosophy; communication technologies; religious vocations; communication and journalism; residency programs and so on.

The world's top nursing schools are more often than not, located in the top cities where mode of transportation to and from the location is easy and the cost of living is nonetheless, affordable.

Inspite of the tight competition going on between all the top nursing schools, they maintain the quality of education and continue to vie for a reputable name in the field of nursing. Throughout the years, they've given their students a systematized curriculum within convenient class hours, an extensive and strong alumni network, and solid learning groups and learning teams. These tons of benefits and advantages have brought in more than a million students lined up for enrollment. Surely, these top nursing schools are the answers to all your professional high education worries.

Learning groups and Learning teams in top nursing schools
So, how does the learning groups differ from the learning teams? The learning groups are a heard of nursing students who go all the way up TOGETHER all throughout the degree process. They help each other hand in hand as they move from one course to another. The solidarity in learning groups remain intact even after they've earned their degrees. However, learning teams are a bit smaller than the learning groups in terms of head count. Usually, learning teams in top nursing schools consists of around 3 to 6 students only. They are not as intact as the learning groups because their ways of interaction and communication is very minimal. And most of the time, they do their group assignments and projects, and other activities which enchances learning skills through online learning.

Picking Out the Best Nursing School

The health care profession has certainly grown throughout recent years from pharmacists to doctors and especially nurses wherein the demand in the United States has been steadily increasing. Various nursing schools, which can be found in the country, will be able to provide nursing aspirants with the proper training as well as nursing degrees which will play a critical role in the country's health care system.

Since there are various nursing schools in the country, expect that these nursing schools also offer various types of nursing education which includes the Registered Nursing degree, RN to BSN programs, licensed practical nursing schools, RN to MSN programs, CAN training as well as Parish nursing. It really depends on the kind of nursing job that you want to pursue later after you graduate from the nursing school.

In nursing schools, some of the nursing education programs are especially designed for students who are already registered nurses who wants to give their career that added boost which is why in the RN to BS nursing education programs in the nursing schools, teachers will their nursing school students to prepare for the transition towards taking on more senior nursing roles in the nursing profession.

Each and every nursing school actually offers the needed clinical training which is needed in your area so that you will be ensured that whatever nursing education and training that you get from theses nursing schools. You will surely be able to benefit from them once you start working in the health care profession. Also make sure that whichever nursing school that you choose to attend to is actually NLN accredited.

Nursing school graduates are definitely in high demand nowadays since there are more and more important managing roles in clinics, hospitals, research etc that is in great need of professional nurses. There is actually a great shortage of nurses in the United States which is why a lot people are being encouraged to become nurses since not only is it a great job but it does have its numerous benefits as well. However, if the United States continues to have a great shortage on nurses, the country will be suffering a shortage of 400,000 professional nurses by the year 2020.

A good nursing education from a reputable nursing school will be able to help these nursing students prepare for the seemingly daunting task of helping the sick, the injured and the disabled. And in addition, each and every of the nursing schools in the United States also offer financial aid as well as job placement assistance for their students.

Aside from the usual nursing schools wherein you actually have to go there to have the nursing education that you are looking for, take classes and basically just have a normal nursing life there are those working professionals who are thinking of becoming professional nurses but don't actually have the time to go to nursing school. Various nursing schools in the country have thought of putting up online schools so that these working professionals as well as those who opt to have the leisure of time when it comes to studying, to just take their classes as well as their other training modules in the comfort of their own home or whichever place that they can find which has a computer and internet connection.

The California College for Health Sciences is a good online nursing school because it offers comprehensive online diploma courses for both bachelor's and master's degree programs in various health care professions such as Nursing, Respiratory therapy, early childhood education, public health and health care management. This popular online nursing school also offers the following health care programs, administration (for the medical office), dental assistant, gerontology, EKG technician, health care management as well as health care management associates, health care management (bachelor's degree), health care management (master's degree), medical transcription, nursing (master's degree), nursing (RN to bachelor's degree), Pharmacy Assistant/Technician and Respiratory Therapy.

There really are a lot of career opportunities that are just waiting to be tapped by simply attending a reputable nursing school. Various nursing jobs that are available in various hospitals, clinics right now are the following: registered nurse, case management nurse, clinical nurse specialist, home health aides, home health nurse, hospital nurse. LPN careers nurse, anesthetist nurse, midwife nurse practitioner and nursing aides.

To BSN Or Not to BSN - That is the Nurse's Question!

The Goldmark Report in 1923 was the first to recommend that the entry level of education for professional practice as a registered nurse should be a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSN), and heated debate has raged among nurses over the issue ever since.

Diploma and Associate Degree RN's will clearly tell you that they can run rings around BSN program graduates when it comes to patient care. They'll explain that they have more actual clinical experience and patient care know how in their little finger than a new BSN grad, and 99% of the time they're right about that! I'll be the first to admit that if I get seriously ill I'm hoping that my nurse graduated from a diploma program like the one they used to offer at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. Those nurses had so much training and hands on care experience by the time they graduated that few physicians could hold a candle to them on their best day.

This isn't about whether BSN nurses are better than ADN or Diploma nurses

Up until a few years ago I would have been just as emotional as the next nurse in arguing against the very idea of making the BSN degree the minimum educational level to practice as a professional nurse. The arguments were many and seemed to make sense - no difference in pay for a BSN versus an ADN or Diploma nurse, we all do the same job etc....

Nurses Must Be Prepared To Meet Increasingly Complex Patient Needs

"Rapidly expanding clinical knowledge and mounting complexities in health care mandate that professional nurses possess educational preparation commensurate with the diversified responsibilities required of them. As health care shifts from hospital-centered, inpatient care to more primary and preventive care throughout the community, the health system requires registered nurses who not only can practice across multiple settings - both within and beyond hospitals - but can function with more independence in clinical decision making, case management, provision of direct bedside care, supervision of unlicensed aides and other support personnel, guiding patients through the maze of health care resources, and educating patients on treatment regimens and adoption of healthy lifestyles. In particular, preparation of the entry-level professional nurse requires a greater orientation to community-based primary health care, and an emphasis on health promotion, maintenance, and cost-effective coordinated care." (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Position Statement, Dec. 2000)

Nursing is a dynamic profession and lifelong learning is essential for nurses to stay current with the increased complexity of the healthcare needs of today and into the future. In other words, the needs of our patients are changing, as we must change in order to be prepared to better serve that need.

BSN degree nurses are better prepared to meet patient needs

The main difference in study between an ADN and BSN is the emphasis on additional education in leadership and management, wellness, and community nursing. BSN prepared nurses possess greater knowledge of health promotion, disease prevention, and risk reduction as well as illness and disease management and are prepared to assist individuals, groups, and communities to prevent disease and achieve optimum levels of wellness. As nurses expand their role and move further into providing more community based primary care delivery the need for BSN prepared nurses is apparent.

Having a BSN degree means more career opportunities

The health system's increasing demand for front-line primary care, and the accelerating drive toward managed care, prevention, and cost-efficiency, are driving the nation's need for nurses who are prepared to practice in non-structured setting and interact directly with the public in matters of providing health and prevention services to the community, and that requires a BSN prepared nurse for starters.

Am I saying that every RN should become a BSN?

No, of course not! That's an individual choice each of you needs to make for yourselves. Don't do it for money. In many cases there's no benefit in pay for having a BSN versus an ADN or Diploma- at least initially. The truth however is that increased education leads to increased responsibilities and increased career opportunities which give rise in turn to increased pay.

BSN nurses will have more career options than ADN and Diploma nurses. Diploma nursing programs are all but extinct anymore and I expect the ADN programs will vanish sometime in the future as well, but those of you who are already licensed will continue to be able to practice as an RN. You might find your job opportunities becoming narrower in the near future however. North Dakota has required all new nurse hires to possess a BSN degree since 1987. The New York State Board has similar legislation pending. The Dept. of Veteran's Affairs began requiring all new hires to possess at least a BSN degree in 2005. Who knows what's coming next?

Having a BSN degree allows more opportunity for employment, increased responsibility, and career progression. It opens the door for professional certification in specialty areas of nursing practice and leads to an expanded role as a provider, designer, manager, and coordinator of patient care as well as provides the foundation for graduate education.

Today's working RN's can attain a BSN degree without sacrificing their present job or income by going through an accredited online program. Programs are available that offer NLN accredited LPN to RN/BSN degrees, RN to BSN degrees, RN/ BSN to Master's degrees, and even PhD in Nursing. Your employer's education benefits often cover the expense of advancing your degree and tuition assistance is available for those who need additional help.

Nursing Continuing Education For the 21st Century

One need only to scan a newspaper or read a weekly magazine to be astounded by the number of stories about new medical breakthroughs, disease processes, emerging threats of disease, or innovations in medical and health care technology. The World Health Organization warns us to prepare for a potential worldwide Bird Flu epidemic, terrorists threaten us with chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, and new protocols for ACLS are released. How is a working nurse to keep up?

Nursing education provides the basic building blocks of medical, scientific, and nursing knowledge, but competence in the nursing profession requires an ongoing process of continuing education. Continuing education for nurses is necessary for the nurse to remain up to date with the latest practice issues and it is necessary for patients safety as well. Some states have made continuing education for nurses mandatory and require a certain number of course credit hours be attained before license renewal, or require certain mandatory course subjects, while other states leave it to the nursing professional themselves to accept a personal responsibility for their own continued learning. Regardless of whether nursing continuing education courses are mandatory in ones state or not, all nurses who describe themselves as professionals need to be willing and ready to implement change in their own practice by realizing that competence in any profession requires periodic updating.

Methods of obtaining nursing continuing education hours and the pros and cons of each:

1. Professional Journals: Most professional nursing journals offer an article for continuing education credit. Some offer a partial credit hour or one credit hour to readers who fill out a post test after reading the article and mail it in. While some journals offer the credit for free, others charge $10 or more and in addition to the inconvenience of needing to tear out a post test form and mail it in the nurse has no official record of having taken and passed the course. Obtaining continuing education hours through professional journals is costly and inefficient in that the cost of the journal itself must be taken into consideration along with the cost of the course if there is one, and the time and expense of mailing in addition to the lack of official record of completion and lack of central maintenance of all credits accumulated by the nurse. Additionally, nurses who rely on professional journals for their CEU hours are typically only exposed to courses related to their own specialty rather than a broader range of topics that they actually need to be exposed to in today's ever evolving health care climate.

2. Seminars: Professional development programs and seminars that offer accredited continuing education hours for nurses are frequently offered at various locations in every state, in some foreign countries, and even on cruises. Employers frequently pay the registration fees for nurses to attend local seminars of short duration such as one day, but nurses still have to sacrifice their precious day off to attend them or lose time from work to do so. In addition nurses who attend seminars away from home have to pay their own travel expenses, hotel bills, and costs of meals. Needless to say cruises and foreign travel are an appealing avenue, but obtaining one's continuing education by that method is not something every working nurse can afford to do.

3. Online Nursing Certificate Programs: The internet provides nurses access to extremely affordable and high quality accredited continuing education programs and professional certificate courses covering a plethora of professional nursing topics. Online nursing certificate courses are the gateway to nursing continuing education for the 21st century! Nurses who take advantage of online nursing courses are not restricted by geographical barriers, financial hardships, or the inconvenience of taking time from work or family in order to attend courses. Online nursing education courses are readily available for both mandatory state required subjects, courses in ones own nursing specialty, and courses that all nurses regardless of practice specialty need to be familiar with. Online nursing programs give nurses easy access to a much broader choice of subject matters than they ever had before when restricted primarily to journals or seminars. In addition to those benefits, substantial as they are, online nursing courses are inexpensive, up to date with changing trends, can be taken from the comfort of ones own home.

A Nursing Job That's Right For You

If you're considering a nursing job, you'll have a lot of employment options to consider.

Nursing is among the oldest of professions, and with modern medical breakthroughs a nursing job can be highly lucrative. A nursing job will require you to be dedicated and diligent. If you don't think you would enjoy giving 100% you probably won't enjoy a nursing job.

However if you like science and medicine and enjoy helping people, a nursing job could bring you great satisfaction.

Many options in work environment exist in nursing jobs today. The common picture of a nurse is of someone standing next to your hospital bed, but today nurses perform many different functions both in hospitals and patient homes. You'll find a lot of nursing job options available in an environment that will suit you.

Private nursing jobs may involve working in a hospital or home with a single patient, helping them recover from an illness or surgery. Caring for a patient with a chronic or terminal disease could also be a private nursing position.

Another nursing job, that of Hospice Nurse, works with dying patients and their families to ease the death transition. Hospice Nurses also act as liaison between doctors and medical staff, allowing the patient to remain at home where they are comfortable for the remainder of their life.

More traditional nursing jobs involve operating room nurses. These nurses are the surgeons right hand, and must have a good understanding of the procedures being performed and the equipment used. If you are detail oriented, a job as an operating room nurse could be for you.

Can you remain calm in a crisis? If so, a job as a trauma nurse could be right up your alley. These nurses work in large hospitals or trauma centers, and may be responsible for helping save the lives of people injured in accidents or catastrophic events.

Institutional nurses treat all manner of sickness and injury in young patients. If you are someone who likes kids, you might enjoy this type of nursing job. Institutional nurses work in schools, colleges, shelters and nonprofit organizations. This is a low-stress nursing job where you could get to know your patients.

Today, home health care nurses work in a variety of settings from the rural to the urban. This nursing job involves traveling from patient to patient, caring for their needs and relaying medical information to doctors and medical staff. Home health care nurses help patients to remain at home and still get the care that they need. As a home health care nurse, you would need to use mobile equipment to monitor patient health. This nursing job would allow you to interact closely with patients.

Another nursing job is that of hospital nursing. Hospital nurses are expected to master new equipment and technologies quickly. This nursing job involves responsibility for patient care as patients recover from surgery or sickness. The speed of patient recovery depends on the care hospital nurses provide. This nursing job is very satisfying when patients improve under your care.

Get started on your nursing career now! Check into local nursing schools and ask about the curriculum. With qualified nurses in short supply, nursing school graduates can choose their employers and receive hiring bonuses as well.

Nurses Wanted -- Incredible Career Opportunities in Nursing Today

While the need for qualified nurses has always been a factor in the healthcare industry, the demand is greater now than in the past decade. Who will make the Nursing Choice?

Nursing is today a very bright career option given its wide application and multifaceted nature. Though nursing has always been to support health needs of the people, but being an inseparable part of doctor-patient relationship, it has undergone many alterations effected by the changing needs of the people and the society at large. Today nursing has assumed a colossal role, encompassing all aspects of healthcare provided to the society. The testimony to its value lies in the fact that nursing makes the largest component of healthcare profession with about 2.6 million registered nurses (RNs) in US. So then what does a nurse do? By tradition, a nurse's unique function in health care is to assist the patient in regaining his or her normal health and activities within a reasonably short period of time. In other words, nursing caters to that function where a patient is helped to perform routine activities, which she or he would be in a position to do without aid under normal health conditions. Nursing differs from practicing medicine in that it aids in easing problems arising out of ailment rather than diagnosing and treatment of illness as is the case with medicine.

While this has been the traditional view, nursing today belongs to a wide gamut of healthcare activities. Thus, apart from catering to patients' well-being in hospitals, community health clinics, nursing homes, long-term care centers and home-care agencies, nursing is also a sought-after profession as teachers in nursing schools, as research scholars engaged or helping in research activities, as hospital regulators, as professionals in insurance and healthcare companies, and above all as administrators in nursing related entities.

Even as nursing career has diversified into many disciplines, the principal requirement of nurses remains in hospitals and different healthcare centers. However, many nurses prefer to function independently as nurse practitioners, certified midwives, specialist nurses for clinics, certified nurses for anesthetists and so on. Many of these specialized jobs call for nursing education up to master's level after having served as registered nurses that require bachelor's degree.

Let us now look at what a student needs to know in order to become a practitioner in nursing.

Studying Nursing

You need to be a student of Science in high school with chemistry, biology, physics, psychology, algebra, English, and preferably computer application. In order to enroll into a nursing school, you may need to take NLN Pre-Admission Examination in addition to other tests, such as SATs. It is always a good idea to seek admission in state-approved accredited nursing schools. For good career prospects, studying 4-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is preferable. Other common courses are 2-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program and 2 to 3-year Hospital Diploma in Nursing. A BSN degree will pave the way to study masters course in nursing, if later you so desire.

NCLEX Licensure Examinations

Assuming that you have already earned your bachelor degree in nursing, it is now time for you to pass one of the two licensure examinations conducted by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). The examinations are meant to test your competence to effectively and safely serve as a newly licensed, entry-level registered nurse. The two examinations are the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN).

For more detail information about the tests and how you must prepare to perform well, consider visiting the website of NCSBN.

Nursing Opportunities

Career opportunities are aplenty in nursing as briefly elaborated above. There is indeed a varying choice of attractive careers available today for nursing graduates owing to several factors, the chief among which being huge shortfall of qualified nurses projected over the coming decade.

Earnings Potential

Upon becoming a registered nurse (RN) with 4-year BSN degree, entry-level nurses can expect yearly income of $31,000 to $41,000. That translates to $15 to $20 per hour of work. Salary increases with experience. If you opt to become a traveling nurse later in your career, you may make between $23 to $35 per hour plus free housing, free insurance, travel reimbursement and lots of fringe benefits.

As you can see, nursing is a good career option loaded with immense opportunities.

Nursing School - Get Off to a Good Start

Ever thought of Nursing as your occupation? Taking care of the elderly, playing with children, consoling a sick person, being there for someone when they're on their death bed? These are some of the things that you would do being a nurse. The bond that builds up between the patient and his caretaker - the nurse, is something to be cherished. The patient becomes dependent on you, and as long as he is under your care, you become his guardian angel.

Many people also go for nursing as their second career. To become a qualified nurse, you have to take nursing education from any recognized nursing school or nursing college. Nurse education is just like any other education, where you would be taught and prepared for nursing care. The students will be given lessons on various health education and medicines by qualified doctors, experienced nurses, and educators. Almost everywhere around the world the basic courses are similar; like general nursing, mental health nursing, and taking care of sick children. The courses are usually three years long.

Nursing is taught in nursing schools. You can also get a post graduate qualification in any specialist subject within nursing from a reputed nursing college. In the past, the emphasis was more only on the practical part, but now all nursing schools are focused both on the theoretical as well as the practical part, as nurses have to deal with so many types of patients. They have to know what to do and what not to, incase the doctor is not around. They are given basic education on medicine as well. Nurses today are not just a helper of the doctor concerned, but they are trained so that they would be able to contribute equally to the team.

Nursing education:

The first nursing school was set by Florence Nightingale at St Thomas' Hospital, London. The curriculum in those days was just focused on hygienic factor and task competence. Nursing at that time was mainly adopted by girls, often taken in religious orders, but now we find many male nurses in all the hospitals, especially in mental health services. So many nursing schools and colleges have come up with the increasing need of nurses all over the world. It is recorded that in America itself there are about 45,000 nursing schools.

A lot of arguments still surround nursing education. Some believe that practical knowledge is what is most important, but some argue that with so many advancements coming in the medical world, these nursing schools should be able to teach them to manage health care and also to see the "future picture". So to meet all these needs, nursing schools aim to train nurses who can be nurtured and trained to be life long learners, so as to meet any changes in both theory and practical parts of nursing.

Things to remember:

There are some points that you should remember when going for a nursing education:

o Decide on what program you want to take, and then decide on a school that matches.

o Look out for the featured schools around your area.

o Some people want the close attention of a small school, while others prefer the intellectual stimulation of a large institution.

o Make enquiries about the school, and the school's reputation.

o It is better to take a school where the ratio of the students and the faculty is good. It is better to be in a small class size so that each student will be given equal attention.

o See that the school meets the standards of education set by a national accrediting organization.

To become a nurse you would need to dedicate your time and care whenever there is a need. Remember you can be a nurse at any age. If you are in your thirties or forties, this doesn't mean you are not eligible. As long as you are ready to dedicate your life into this profession, you can become a nurse.

Types Of Nursing Jobs

Nursing jobs are classified as registered nursing/ (RN), licensed practical nursing or licensed vocational nurses (LPN/LVN), and nursing assistant. Registered nurses are professional nurses who supervise the tasks performed by LPNs, and nursing assistants. LPN and LVN nurses provide basic care under the guidance of a doctor, registered nurse, or a nurse practitioner.

Nursing assistants cannot be considered nurses. Their duties are limited to the tasks handed over by the RN or LPN. Certified nursing assistants help nurses by administering hygienic care, giving basic psychosocial care, and similar duties. Furthermore, the nursing jobs are categorized as full time nursing, part time nursing, contract nursing, hospital nursing, office nursing, permanent nursing, private duty nursing, public health nursing, health or industrial nursing, psych nursing, and travel nursing.

A full time nurse is a registered nurse who is regularly scheduled on a forty hour week in a seven day period, or an eighty hour week schedule in a fourteen day period, or one hundred sixty hours in a four week period. Hospital, office, and home nursing are the types of full-time nursing jobs. Part time nurses have to work a minimum of twenty hours in a seven-day period and are eligible for prorated salaries and benefits.

Of the different types of nursing jobs, contract nursing is rapidly becoming the favored RN career opportunity. For those who prefer a stable position in one location, full-time nursing job is the right choice. Part-time nursing and travel nursing jobs are best suited for those who enjoy traveling and variety in the work place. Most of these nursing jobs offer competitive pay and free housing.

Recently, there has been an increase in the number of nursing agencies and recruitment Web sites like CyberCoders, Advance Nursing, Allied Global Nursing Inc. These Web sites help job seekers to find a nursing job across the nation or in their own neighborhood.

Nursing Jobs provides detailed information on Nursing Jobs, Types Of Nursing Jobs, Home Nursing Jobs, International Nursing Jobs and more. Nursing Jobs is affiliated with Travel Nurse Companies.

Pre-Nursing School - How to Realize the Rewards of Nursing

Nursing began since the early Christian-era when sympathetic Church members provided health-care to the sick person's physical body apart for their care for the person's spiritual-wellness. Proper hygiene and comfort-needs were just among the focus of the early Christian nurses as part of their mission. Nowadays though, people may no longer need to see nursing as a religious-responsibility in order to realize the society's need for health-care providers.

It's a sad thing that most people these days only pursue a nursing profession because of the great range of career opportunities that it offers. Some graduates from the developing Asian countries like the Philippines are going back to school to enroll in a fast-track nursing degree leaving the profession they've practiced for years in order to grasp the multitude of career options that a nursing degree promises.

Most pre-nursing school tips given only focus on the convenience of taking nursing as a profession. To bring back the rewards of nursing, all individuals pursuing the career must leave for the moment the financial-practical drive and find devotion in the following nursing school tips aiming to recognize and appreciate the humanitarian-theme of the health-care profession:

Pre-Nursing School - Tips To Realize the Rewards of Nursing:

The first pre-nursing school tips is to have a good understanding of the profession. The American Nurses Association now defines Nursing as "the diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or potential health problems." Nursing is a fulfilling discipline focused on service and on assisting individuals to attain and maintain their optimal-health.

Second of the most important pre-nursing school tips is to know the historical-foundation of nursing. Knowing the beginnings of nursing allows future nurses to realize the true nature and need of the profession. Historically, more women have chosen nursing as a career leading to the misconception that nursing is a career exclusively for women. There have been statistics though showing gradual increase of male nurses implying that all has a human responsibility for caring.

Statistics also show that since 2000, there has been a relative increase in the median-age of nurses in the US (previously nurses ages 40-below), indicating an older nursing population and fewer young nurses entering the profession. This shall push the youth in entering the profession knowing that they are needed to replace the older generation of nurses.

Also, experts have predicted and revealed that years from now, the majority of the total world-population will consist of older people. Those who were born in the 'Baby-Boomers'-Period are aging altogether hence more nurses and caregivers are needed particularly those in the gerontological-field.

The total world-population itself has excessively increased leaving a general nurse-shortage in the health-care arena. Hence nursing-shortage is a worldwide phenomenon. [next...]

In addition, most hospitals these days are having more and more sophisticated intensive-care-units notably as part of the typical patient's therapy, raising the need for skilled and specialized nurses.

Finally, nurse-staffing have become the vital indicator to assess the excellence of hospital-care. Statistics indicate that nurse-shortage can be a major cause of higher morbidity (death)-rates in hospitals. Thus, nursing shortages must be resolved first and foremost.

It may be true that well-paying jobs for those having a nursing degree are available in every city of the developed countries. Yet nursing is an excellent career choice not only because of the financial-compensation it offers. Nursing will always be more of a humanitarian responsibility dealing more with compassion rather than mechanics.

The pre-nursing school tips mentioned above are not bare issues about nursing as a changing profession. It is more about life itself and how nurses are (and must be) deeply-valued.

How to Become a Home Health Care Nurse

Home Health Care Nursing Information and Overview

Home health care is allowing the patient and their family to maintain dignity and independence. According to the National Association for Home Care, there are more than 7 million individuals in the United States in need of home health care nurse services because of acute illness, long term health problems, permanent disability or terminal illness.

Home Health Care Basics

Nurses practice in a number of venues: Hospital settings, nursing homes, assisted living centers, and home health care. Home health care nursing is a growing phenomenon as more patients and their families desire to receive care in their homes. The history of home health care stems from Public Health Nursing where public health nurses made home visits to promote health education and provide treatment as part of community outreach programs. Today academic programs train nurses in home care and agencies place home health care nurses with ailing individuals and their families depending on the nurse's experience and qualifications. In many cases there is a shared relationship between the agency and the academic institution.

Many changes have taken place in the area of home health care. These include Medicare and Medicaid, and Long Term Care insurance reimbursement and documentation. It is important for the nurse and nursing agency to be aware of the many factors involved for these rules and regulations resulting from these organizations. Population and demographic changes are taking place as well. Baby boomers approaching retirement and will present new challenges for the home health care industry. Technology and medical care in hospitals has lead to shorter inpatient stay and more at-home rehabilitation. Increases in medical outpatient procedures are also taking place with follow-up home care. This has resulted in the decrease of mortality rate from these technologies and medical care has lead to increases in morbidity and chronic illness that makes the need for home health care nursing a greater priority.

Home Health Care Nurse Job Description

Through an array of skills and experience, home health care nurses specialize in a wide range of treatments; emotional support, education of patients who are recovering from illnesses and injury for young children and adults, to women who have experienced recent childbirth, to the elderly who need palliative care for chronic illness.

A practicing nurse must have the skills to provide care in a unique setting such as someone's home. The nurse is working with the patient and the family and must understand the communication skills for such dynamics. Rapport is evident in all nursing positions, but working in a patient's own living space needs a different level of skill and understanding. There is autonomous decision making as the nurse is no longer working as a team with other nurses in a structured environment, but is now as a member of the "family" team. The host family has cultural values that are important and are different for every patient and must be treated with extreme sensitivity. Other skills include critical thinking, coordination, assessment, communication, and documentation.

Home health care nurses also specialize in the care of children with disabilities that requires additional skills such as patience and understanding of the needs of the family. Children are living with disabilities today that would have resulted in mortality just twenty years ago. Genetic disorders, congenital physical impairments, and injury are just a few. Many families are familiar with managing the needs of the child, but still need expert care that only a home health care nurse can provide. It is important that a home health care nurse is aware of the expertise of the family about the child's condition for proper care of the child. There are many complexities involved, but most important, a positive attitude and positive reinforcement is of utmost importance for the development of the child.

Medication coordination between the home health care nurse, doctor, and pharmacist, ensures proper management of the exact science behind giving the patient the correct dose, time of administration, and combinations. Home health care nurses should be familiar with pharmacology and taught in training about different medications used by patients in the clinical setting.

Many advanced practicing nurses are familiar with medication regiments. They have completed graduate level programs. Home health care agencies believe that a nurse should have at least one year of clinical experience before entering home health care. Advanced practicing nurses can expedite that training by helping new nurses understand the home health care market and teaching.

Employment and Salary

According to the United States Department of Labor, there were 2.4 million nurses in America, the largest healthcare occupation, yet many academic and hospital organizations believe there is a gross shortage in nursing staff. The shortage of nurses was 6% in 2000 and is expected to be 10% in 2010. The average salary for hospital nursing is $53,450 with 3 out of 5 nursing jobs are in the hospital. For home health care, the salary is $49,000. For nursing care facilities, they were the lowest at $48,200.

Training and continuing education

Most home health care nurses gain their education through accredited nursing schools throughout the country with an associate degree in nursing (ADN), a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN), or a master's degree in nursing (MSN). According to the United States Department of Labor, in 2004 there were 674 BSN nursing programs, 846 ADN programs. Also, in 2004, there were 417 master's degree programs, 93 doctoral programs, and 46 joint BSN-doctoral programs. The associate degree program takes 2 to 3 years to complete, while bachelors degrees take 4 years to complete. Nurses can also earn specialized professional certificates online in Geriatric Care or Life Care Planning.

In addition, for those nurses who choose to pursue advancement into administrative positions or research, consulting, and teaching, a bachelor's degree is often essential. A bachelor's degree is also important for becoming a clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners (U.S. Department of Labor, 2004).

All home health care nurses have supervised clinical experience during their training, but as stated earlier advanced practicing nurses hold master's degrees and unlike bachelor and associate degrees, they have a minimum of two years of post clinical experience. Course work includes anatomy, physiology, chemistry, microbiology, nutrition, psychology, and behavioral sciences and liberal arts. Many of these programs have training in nursing homes, public health departments, home health agencies, and ambulatory clinics. (U.S. Dep. of Labor, 2004).

Whether a nurse is training in a hospital, nursing facility, or home care, continuing education is necessary. Health care is changing rapidly and staying abreast with the latest developments enhances patient care and health procedures. Universities, continuing education programs, and internet sites, all offer continuing education. One such organization that provides continuing education is the American Nurses Association (ANA) or through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Conclusion

There are many rewards to becoming a home health care nurse. Some rewards include the relationship with a patient and their family, autonomy, independence, and engaging in critical thinking. The 21st Century brings with it many opportunities and challenges. We must meet these challenges head on - there is an aging baby boomer population, a growing morbidity factor due to increased medical technology and patient care, and the growing shortage in nursing care.

Becoming a home health care nurse today is exciting and an opportunity to make a difference one life at a time. With clinical experience and proper education, a home health care nurse will lead the future of medical care.

Physical Rehabilitation Centers and Nursing Homes Night Mares

The reader decides what is good in each individual case. If any suggestion or advice is not helpful in your case, the authors suggest that you do not use it. Each case is individual; each case is different. Be your own judge of what is good in your particular case.

WOW! So you have a complaint! So, you have a serious complaint! What do you do? How do you pile through all the red tape of dealing with nursing homes and physical rehabilitation centers? Have you been given the run-around by a physical rehabilitation center or nursing home. Do they ignore your questions or requests? Does it seem like you are invisible to them? Have you made legitimate requests and been ignored at every turn? Does it "seem" like the corporate persons or people in charge or the licensed social workers are taking advantage of the situation?

Is the center or nursing home ignoring bedsores that were acquired right there in the center or nursing home. Those are questions to ask yourself when you feel like you are getting the run-around when dealing with health or financial issues in relation to physical rehabilitation centers and nursing homes in this world.And there are more questions; you probably can think of hundreds of questions yourself. How about these questions? Do they wait days or even weeks before the patient or resident is given proper care? Does it "appear" that the physical rehabilitation center or nursing home is doing "more bad than good"? And are they covering this up with avoidance or fabrication? Do these sound like the same complaints that you have about a particular rehabilitation center or nursing home? If they do sound similar or the same, your first steps in protecting the patient, resident and family can be found here in this self-help article.

Have you caught the place in outright lies? What has been your experience in dealing with physical rehabilitation center s and nursing homes? Everyone has a different experience. And while some might have a good experience, there e are possibly dozens or hundreds of others who are having bad experiences or terrible experiences inside physical rehabilitation centers and nursing homes.So, what is your experience? And If you have a bad experience, how do you handle it; How d o you react and how do you act in order to benefit the patient or resident inside the home?

First, build a solid base of honesty, and if there is no honesty inside the nursing home or rehabilitation center, if there is no honesty coming from the staff or supervisors, then build a case for proving their dishonesty. Once you have seen that staff or supervisors or administrators have lied about circumstances, and then you need to protect yourself from happening that happen again.For example, if the rehabilitation staff is claiming that something happened or is happening and you know for a fact that this is not true, then any future contact that you have with them might end up the same way. So how do you protect yourself under these circumstances?

Put It In Writing!

WRITING! Yes, a simple thing like writing changes all perspectives of a particular situation. Writing can bring a situation around to having more honesty, to having the staff and social workers and administrators "become" more honest. Once they see that something is in "writing" --in "print", they might think twice about compromising their honesty and integrity. So, if anyone at any of those places has lied or fabricated, made up a story or ignored any of your verbal requests, it would be just common sense to have future dealings with them in "writing".

Once a physical rehabilitation center has lied or misconstrued something or ignored your serious verbal complaints, it might be time to hit the typewriters and computers and compose a letter -IN WRITING-- to the administrators or supervisors that are responsible in the corporate setting. If you have serious complaints and your complaints are being ignored, it might be the time that you put your serious complaints in writing and it might be the time to send such complaints by certified mail or by express mail or by priority mail.What? What if you cannot afford these types of mail services? Have no fear! You can properly complain in writing and still have proof that you sent your letter -by asking the post office for a "certificate of mail". This is a small white receipt that is postmarked by the Postal worker, and then your letter is "on record" for being mailed at the US Post Office. This service is under two dollars per letter. (It might be under one dollar and fifty cents; check with your local post office). ALWAYS put your complaints in writing once your verbal complaints have been ignored or once stories have been fabricated by any staff or personnel at any physical rehabilitation centers or nursing homes.

Staff who are honest and personnel who are honest will not resent or be bothered by any complaints that are put in writing. It is only dishonest staff and dishonest personnel and dishonest licensed workers at physical rehabilitation centers and nursing homes that would be upset about any complaint put in writing. If staff is honest, they will respond professionally; if they are dishonest, they will dig their own hole deeper. Be forewarned that the battle gets tougher and the steps get deeper once you decide to register your formal complaints, so it might help you to have a few others on your side.

Helpful Hints:

Keep a Journal.

Begin a journal book and record EVERYTHING that happens -time, date, place, day, occurrence and the person's involved. KNOW that this corporate place is doing that so, you get on board and keep your own records, your own journal book/diary, regarding all issues and applicable communications, calls, visits. This is vitally important for your own protection from unscrupulous rehabilitation centers and nursing home

Keep records and copies.

Make a record of every phone call and every conversation, topic, date, time, day, and topic of conversation with details -every time you speak with someone regarding the rehabilitation center or nursing home. Some individuals make tape recordings of their phone calls. As long as "you" speak during that conversation, and you are "present" in that conversation, then this is not "eavesdropping" but simply a recorded conversation

Document everything.

Document everything that is done, everything that is said, everything that is not done and not said, to have accurate records of what is happening. Your documentation can mean the difference between success and failure, so document NOW- even before you have need to document things.

Have Everyone Join In and Check licenses:

Bring your entire family into the picture. Instead of one person doing all the work and making the complaints, ask all the family members who are available to help out and file their own complaints, either with the corporate place or with outside complaint agencies. The more participants the better. Consider, that's consider, reporting any unscrupulous "licensed" individuals to the appropriate "licensing" bureaus. In some states the places that give licenses is the Department of Education, in other states, it is another department.

Research online and be persistent:

Go online and do a search of any and all organizations that are there to help you with complaints against physical rehabilitation centers and nursing homes. Do a thorough search and you will come up with, maybe, more help than you need.Be persistent in your complaint. KNOW that so many others have been successful in battling bad nursing homes. Check out the article about a Southern California lawyer who successfully is getting settlements of more than a few million dollars from unscrupulous nursing homes who "lied about the quality of care inside the nursing home. Now, nursing homes are going to be more careful about what they "advertise" because if they do not produce what they advertise, they just might end up in some million dollar lawsuits -against them. One nursing home that has recently settled because it decided that it was better to settle than to go through a lawsuit for false advertising. It's tempting to give up when a large corporation is battling against you, especially when they are battling with illegal or unscrupulous tactics, but always have hope. Always know that all throughout history, eventually good conquered evil. Even when things looked worse in history and in life, good always survives and the truth always comes out. So have hope knowing that you are in good company and you will prevail with your honest reports to the appropriate places.

Stay connected to win!

You cannot underestimate the power of being connected. Talk with everyone you know, everyone you trust about the situation but without mentioning names. Ask for any and all help that you can get in fighting the red tape, the fabrication, the lies, and the unscrupulous dealings of any happenings inside of bad nursing homes and bad physical rehabilitation centers. If you are staying in a nursing home for rehabilitation, ask everyone you know if they know about your particular residence. Always listen to your gut instinct, no matter what anyone says. You can do whatever you set out to do, just make sure that you always listen to yourself.

Now, gather your evidence.

Gather the rest of your evidence. Who would think that nursing home advertisements would be helpful in bringing down a nursing home which is giving inadequate care or bad care? Well, think again. Read the news articles, and go at once to gather any and all of the advertising that any offending nursing home or any offending rehabilitation care center is giving out. Do you have a brochure? Look in your newspapers, where local places advertise. Tear out and save any and all advertisements that those places offer. Buy the newspaper or get the newspaper at your library and read about all the things that these care centers "offer" to their patients and residents. SAVE EVERYTHING! If a nursing home or care center is offering a certain kind of care, certain kinds of rooms or certain kinds of services ONLY in advertising but not in reality, then perhaps that particular corporation can be brought to law to be accountable for all of its false advertising. Be persistent. Study , research, and keep your research and keep your evidence. Then and if you decide to sue, you will have enough physical evidence to present to your lawyer. You just might win your case.

Value trust and guard it.

Forget trust? Wow. How can we say such a thing and be serious? Here's how. If you are dealing with a rehabilitation center or nursing home and some or any of the staff has already fabricated stories, withheld or lied or ignored your legitimate requests perhaps this is time that you should remember that these people should not and cannot be trusted. Why? Well, if they lied to you once, what stops them from fibbing to you or withholding vital information from you twice or three times or even all the time? If they have already thrown your trust in the garbage, how do you get that trust back and protect yourself? Usually, once staff lies to you, you can ALMOST be sure that they will lie again. After all, how do they cover up their first lie? They can only do that by either apologizing for their first lie - which won't happen- or by continuing to lie to you again and again. So, if this applies to you, the "forget trust". We are not claiming that everyone inside a nursing home lies; what we are stating is that sometimes "SOME" staff at some nursing homes cover up the truth simply because they are afraid of losing their jobs. After all, if a nursing home lets someone wait for hours and hours to go to the bathroom and if a staff member complains about this -what happens to that staff person? So when bad things happen inside of good or inside of bad nursing homes, the staff is pressured to cover up the lacks and to cover up the bad things that are happening --under the pressure of losing their jobs if they speak out.

Remember the eight nurses who walked out.

Look at what happened to those eight nurses who walked off the job due to bad conditions. That was in the news. EIght - not one, but eight nurses walked off in unity, yet even they had the tables turned on them. So, good employees are pressured to be silent and this makes the nursing homes and rehab centers worse than they should be.

If you are a nurse or social worker or supervisor in a rehab or nursing home, you need to SPEAK OUT against the bad practices that are happening inside these places. With your help, society will be successful in changing things for the better. (If you are afraid to speak out because you might lose your job, speak out to us. We will keep your confidentiality, and through a unity, YOU can help save lives. You can help give better care.

Complain to Agencies.

About complaining: Do your complaining (to other agencies and departments regarding these issues) in writing. It's tempting to get on the telephone and complain verbally because that is easy, however, only the true complaint prevails if you put things in writing. You put things in your own words-not in the words of the person taking the complaint.

Be Knowledgeable and consider suing.

Realize! Yes, realize what really happens once you initiate a complaint. First know whom you are speaking to if you complain by phone Know that most or some agencies are staffed by volunteers and even some are sympathetic to the corporations that you might be complaining about. (So consider suing if you have a good case). Complain to the agencies that issue licenses -whether the person you are complaining about is a doctor, nurse, home health aide, or social worker, complain to the proper parties. Ombudsman complaints are, well, okay, maybe, but sometimes even these ombudsmen are volunteers and sometimes you might get one who is not "impartial". However, when you complain to a licensing agency, they must check into every allegation, so much more than an ombudsman can and or will. Thinking about suing? Well, half of the work is done for you if you have followed the proper steps and taken the proper records. Your journal can probably be used in court to help your case. (Only your lawyer would know this). Persist! Don't let anything negative that the "red-tape builders" say to you; discourage you from being persistent in your honest reporting to the proper agencies and possibly lawyers also.

YES, build yourself up; strengthen your position and protect your family members and patients and residents by using the best resources that are available to you both in print and online. We make some recommendations about helpful books and helpful resources tools that you might be able to locate online or in your home town. Why not check out Mark Green's publications, such as THE CONSUMER BIBLE, or other consumer books by Mark Green.

Never "threaten" to sue, just do it

Locate a lawyer.

Finally? Finally, if nothing else helps the case and you are still getting nowhere and the corporate and staff are still fibbing, fabricating, or withholding vital information, seriously considering suing the place. Yes, a lawsuit might be quite appropriate in some cases. In no matter what state you live in, there are usually competent lawyers who will take your case without taking any upfront money from you. (Check with friends and relatives who may have used lawyers or check the yellow pages).

Search the net.

Know the net. Be aware of how the net works and be aware of how advertisements pop up on the net and what they mean and what they stand for. For example, you are now reading an article about rehabilitation centers and nursing homes. So, the way the net works is this - you might look to the side there and see many advertisements for nursing homes or rehabilitation centers. KNOW that this does not mean that this article is about those and this does not mean that we recommend any of those places. The way the advertisements get there is purely random. Somewhere in the net, the words "rehabilitation center" and "lawyer" and "nursing home" are picked up by the net and the advertisements are almost automatically generated. So know that we have no affiliation or recommendation of any persons or companies that are mentioned on this web page or in this website. In fact, we have no way of knowing which or if any of these corporations will appear on the same web page that our article is on. So beware and do your own "checking" when it comes to businesses.

Believe in yourself.

Believe in yourself and in your own inner instinct. Know that most staff or personnel that are connected with the physical rehabilitation centers and nursing homes probably would advise you not to put anything in writing. Why? Once you put your complaint in writing, they actually have to DO something about it, instead of being able to ignore your complaint the way they might be able to ignore a verbal complaint. So by putting your complaint in writing you make them accountable; you make "more work" for them, and you protect yourself and your family member. So, if you want to protect yourself and your family members, it would seem that it makes sense to put things in writing. (After all, what's more valuable, a verbal contract or a written contract? Correct!)

Always stay connected.

Connect! Yes, yes, yes, connect! Connection is a tool that has helped people throughout centuries throughout the world. You have seen evidence of this yourself. Don't "unions" get more benefits for employees? Aren't union members usually more protected than those that are non-union? Well, that's the connection theory at work. The more people you have on your side, the better protection that you have. So, if you can be connected with others that have the same problem as you have, that is protection for you and protection for them. SO, connect! I f you are seeking connection with others who are complaining about rehabilitation centers and nursing homes write to us and we will do our best to put you in touch with others having the same problems. ALL through history the ones who are and were the most successful are those who enlist the help of others and the ones who have a group behind them. That is why or how many unscrupulous rehabilitation centers and nursing homes get the upper hand, because there is more "staff" than "you". Once you join with others that are when you might begin to be successful in your journey towards truth, honesty, and integrity in rehabilitation centers and in nursing homes. Connect with us and join our worldwide project that will put the spotlight on nursing homes and physical rehabilitation and care centers across the world, and more specifically ones right in your own neighborhood. You can make this happen. Join us by emailing us with your facts, research, photos and your true story. Include a confidentiality statement with your work and you can be in consideration for joining our worldwide project.

SKEPTICS? :

Ahh, there are skeptics reading. Yes, we hear you. You are reading thinking that there are great nursing homes out there and there are wonderful people working there too. There are many giving wonderful and great service. YES! That statement is true, but in reality, the better truth is that there are probably MORE unscrupulous, offending, and damaging rehabilitation centers and nursing homes out there, throughout the country and throughout the world than there are good ones. If you doubt this statement, just do this, use the "Google" tool and set up Google alerts on your email account.

Put the words nursing homes or nursing home in there. You will probably get HUNDREDS of emails -Google alerts - in your box daily, about the negligent and malpractice nursing homes and rehabilitation centers. You will get emails about staff committing crimes, staff being negligent and emails about people dying all over the country of unnecessary deaths. Just check out a few of those Google alerts and see what happens. Yes, Virginia, there are good nursing homes in the world, but this article is about the bad ones. That's the difference. Our purpose in writing this article is to bring world attention to the deficiencies and the malpractices and the negligence's and the crimes being committed inside of unscrupulous rehabilitation centers and nursing homes.

REHABILITATION CENTERS

Why rehabilitation centers? You've asked why we use this term, and we have the answer for you here. For many, many years, there have been so many deficiencies in some nursing homes that the term "nursing home" leaves a bad taste in the world's mouth. Lately, we have come to connect the word nursing home with something bad -due to all the bad publicity that has been in the news and on television. So, what's the solution when a nursing home wants to advertise yet doesn't want that bad connotation to its name? Well, name it something else. Most all nursing homes have always had a floor or two for "rehabilitation" for many years. But now, some have changed their names so as to exclude themselves from the 'bad news' that might generate from searches about "nursing homes'. So, throughout our country, and throughout the world, "rehabilitation centers" are popping up all over, trying to not be classified as "nursing homes' in an effort to divorce them from any and all bad publicity. There actually are legal definitions of nursing homes and physical rehabilitation centers for the purpose of Medicaid and other agencies. The definitions have to do with how long people stay in a facility.

For example, if a place names themselves a "rehabilitation center" instead of a nursing home, then when people Google "nursing homes" their place might not come up in the search -even if there is bad news about the place. So, don't be fooled by name changes of places. (There is an actual legal clarification and definition between "nursing homes" and "rehabilitation centers" and you can find that online in one of the government sites). Google both names and read them all. These are terms you can Google to get news: "nursing homes, nursing home, rehabilitation center, rehabilitation and care centers, care centers, long-term care centers, aging, and things like that. But to begin with Google nursing homes and rehabilitation centers -two separate terms.

THE GOOD ONES: Yes, we acknowledge there are many helpful, good and law-abiding nursing homes and rehabilitation centers. This article is about the opposite. This article is written about the bad ones, the unscrupulous ones and the ones that violate personal and civil rights of human beings.

I f you are in a good one, we are happy for you. If you have a family member in a good one, we are happy for you, and we still ask you to JOIN US, yes join us, in stopping the corruption or the lack of care and non-care in the bad facilities. Join us and together , nursing home service will improve.

WRITE TO US:

(If you have a good comment about nursing homes and you do not understand this article, you are welcome to write to us also). We write, these articles regarding nursing homes and physical rehabilitation centers in an effort to band together with others who have been bound by red-tape, the run-around, and by unscrupulous nursing homes and physical rehabilitation care centers. We hope that you spread the word, and ask others to join us as soon as possible. TOGETHER, we can make progress; together we can be successful in making all nursing homes and all physical rehabilitation centers --better, and healthy for all of our people.

Slow Death Inside Of Nursing Homes

Slow murders and quick murders inside of nursing homes:

Please note there is an extremely important update to this article, at the end of the article. If you are any way involved in living in or visiting a nursing home or rehabilitation and care center, or if you have friends, relatives or co-workers inside of one of these places, it is vitally important that you read this complete article and the ultra-important update at the end of the article.

What is happening inside of our nursing homes and inside of our physical rehabilitation centers today would shock the average person. Right now, today, while you sit in your comfortable home reading this, someone your age, someone of your background is suffering at the hands of unscrupulous staff in nursing homes and in physical rehabilitation and care centers right in your own city.

Just recently a friend of mine from across the country called me to tell me that her mom was put into a hospital due to bedsores. The home-health care agency that was in charge of trying to help her and keeping her safe, neglected to turn her or move her every two hours and as a result of that neglect, this woman was hospitalized when the bedsores got so bad they were life-threatening. Would you think that a sore could be life-threatening.? Yes, and this is especially so to seniors, fragile , ill people and to disabled people. This woman recently died. And she died not from illness, but from needing to be hospitalized due to horrible bedsores.

What permits this to go on? Sometimes it is indifference but most times what permits the abuses to go on is that people are not aware that this is happening. This article brings it to light, brings it to your attention and begs your participation in changing things for better and asks you to take small steps to save a life today.

As you are reading this, pause for just one moment and let me ask you this question: Are you one of those people who do not or will not believe that people are being treated so horribly in America? If you are, give yourself and everyone else the benefit of the doubt and read the article that is listed inside this link near the bottom of the page. Also, if you know any doctors, ask them if they would put ANY family members inside of a nursing home. You will have your answer there.

One of the biggest reasons that residents get more unhealthy and sometimes die in nursing homes is due to bedsores. And usually bedsores are a direct result from lack of care, lack of good nursing home management and supervision and under-staffing of rehabilitation and care centers. In other words, the management in these places is so lacking and so inexperienced at keeping people healthy, that they do not keep proper track of how often patients are moved and changed from side to side. Once residents are allowed to lay still for hours at a time, these patients develop sores, which most times never heal. Most times, these sores can be life-threatening. How? If a resident has diabetes or other serious physical ailments, these sores can cause the patient to be more unhealthy and unhealthy to the point where they can reach near death. And the horrible truth is that ALL of these sores are totally unnecessary and totally avoidable. All the rehab and care centers and nursing homes have to do is to turn patients and move patients every two hours and document such moves. However the bad rehab and care centers and bad nursing homes just let the patients rot immobile until they develop sores.

How do they get away with doing that? Here is what they do. They allow the patient to rot in bed, bringing breakfast and other meals to the room, not encouraging the patient to come out to the dining room. Then once they rot in bed, they begin to be able to not move or turn themselves. This happens over time to patients in these bad centers. Once they cannot move themselves, they are getting worse, more unhealthy and sometimes die due to ulcers and bedsores.

Injury happens; patients may need amputations due to bedsores if they develop into gangrene. And then the cycle goes over and over until the person dies. And the bad rehab and care centers get away with this action. And today, they are getting away with it over and over and over. How? They are getting away with it because many patients have no visitor that can see what the place is doing to the resident. And the really bad places try their best to stop the other patients from having visitors. What can you do about this?

You can help also by reading ALL the articles that talk about negligence and malpractice inside nursing homes. Print these articles here and have them circulated inside of libraries and other stores that give you permission to put these articles out there. If you are store owner, kindly post this article on your bulletin board and pass it around the colleges and other schools. Thank you for saving lives. If you work in a nursing home, I urge you to copy this and bring it inside the nursing home and circulate it amongst family members and visitors. Please spread the word. You can do this anonymously. Leave it in bathrooms in a safe place. Place one in peoples' rooms , of course with their permission. But spread this word about what is happening inside of these bad rehab and care centers and nursing homes. Pass the world, just like they passed the word about concentration camps, spread it person to person, business to business. Thank you, read more here.

Please check the email box at the top and circulate this to all your friends.

The average person would wince if they knew the truth. The truth is that each and every day, there are nursing homes and physical rehabilitation and care centers that make people sick. Instead of helping the patients get better, they allow them to vegetate. When elder care abuse occurs in the nursing home or physical rehabilitation and care centers across the nation, that abuse is more apt to be "covered up" because there are entire teams of people to do the covering up. In other words, something happens inside of a rehabilitation and care center or nursing home; it happens at "one level" -- for example, inside a patient's room or in the bathroom or other solitary places, and only that staff person sees what that staff person is doing or has done.

Once this abuse is "discovered" within the physical rehabilitation center or nursing home -it is the nursing home's "job" to see that this abuse is not 'let out " to the public. After all, the staff, in reality is there to protect the nursing home's image and to protect the nursing home's finances and future FIRST -before they are there to protect the patients. Anyone who has been behind the scenes and inside of nursing homes can see that in most places or in lots of nursing homes --the staff does just that - protects staff and the corporation from social and financial losses.

One of the worst abuses that some rehabilitation and care centers commit are those abuses where they permit patients (who are able) to recline in bed all day just because it is easier for the staff to do that. Patients who come into the center in fair condition begin to lose muscle because they are permitted to recline in bed for many long hours during the day and night. These abuses are intolerable yet they still exist today in some centers and nursing homes.

Wheelchairs as Restraints: Another of the worst abuses in bad nursing homes is when they use wheelchairs as restraints. Wheelchairs are supposed to make residents lives easier and happier. They are not supposed to be used as restraints, but in the bad nursing homes and in the bad rehabilitation and care centers, the wheelchairs are restraints. Most of the residents on their long term care floor are basically prisoners and they wait for hours to go to the bathroom even though they are fully aware they have to go and they tell residents they have to go.

Most times, in these offending rehab centers, the residents are forced to wear diapers even if they do not want to wear a diaper. Would you want to wear a diaper if you did not need to wear one? No. But in the offending rehab centers, the residents are forced to wear them. Their other choice is to sit in their wet, cold clothing for hours and hours (because no staff brings them to the bathroom). The staff keeps the residents in wheelchairs and diapers as a matter of control, and as a matter of less work for them. (If a resident has no clean clothes, the resident (bound to his wheelchair cannot come out of the room and stays isolated in there). Once they are bound to their room, the staff has less work. That is one less resident that they have to care for. So watch out for places that use the wheelchair as restraints, because most likely they will use diapers for their convenience, even though some patients do not need nor do they want to be in diapers.

Discern: What is the difference between a place that is using wheelchairs as restraints and one that uses wheelchairs only when necessary? Look around. Go into many of the homes to visit. If you see tons of people in wheelchairs, just sitting around for hours (not for minutes), then you know that place is using wheelchairs as restraints. They make the people in wheelchairs wait and wait and wait and wait for ordinary living things like having meals or going to the bathroom. The good place that uses wheelchairs only when necessary has residents in wheelchairs too, except the residents do not have to wait for hours and hours to go to the bathroom. The waiting time is cut down, yet in the offending places, the waiting time is prolonged until no human being could wait that long.

Good verses Bad: That is the difference. And you will know as soon as you walk in whether the home really cares for residents or whether the home is just out to make money no matter what the residents feel like or look like. In the offending homes it is all about money. In the good homes, it is all about making residents and families comfortable. No one is making a blanket statement against all nursing home. However, the people who work inside of these nursing homes and care centers are well aware of what is happening. . This article is about the ones that are lacking in care, lacking in respect and about the ones that are daily breaking the law and on a daily basis violating the residents, patients and visitors' rights. There have been cases where staff inside of physical rehabilitation centers and nursing homes have purposely covered-up wrong-doings to protect their own jobs and to continue to collect money from insurance for the benefit of the corporations that owned the rehab centers and nursing homes.

Now, here's the news breakers that you might want to notice:

Inside some Nursing Homes and Physical Rehabilitation and Care Centers:

• There are some residents and patients who have to wait an HOUR or more or sometimes two hours in order to go to the bathroom. Sometimes when residents complain about the treatment or complain about the lack of care, the residents are punished for speaking out. This is why you will not hear the complaints of the residents who are presently inside these nursing homes and physical rehabilitation and care centers.


• There are some residents who are emotionally forced into wearing diapers because the staff lets them wait so long to go to the bathroom and the residents know this and thus they have to wear diapers against their will OR they have to sit in wet clothing for hours because no one can or will take them to the bathroom when they NEED to go to the bathroom


• There are sometimes walls of people in wheelchairs in the corridors. Some residents are put in 'recliner-type' wheelchairs which they cannot move. Some sit for hours and hours in a corridor with no one around. They are left in these chairs unattended, unable to move, unable to get out of the chair; they sit and just hope that someone passes by. Then, when and if they are permitted to have visitors, the place changes "atmosphere" and the staff makes it appear as if these residents are actually getting attention and care.


• There are some residents who are very afraid to speak up or to complain about these places because they have to be there all alone with the staff and SOMETIMES there are some staff who will retaliate against residents who complain about anything that happens behind the closed doors of these facilities. Speaking out is a punishable offense (though it is not legal, it still happens). Patients and residents are being punished for speaking out. Visitors and family members are being punished for speaking out. And this is the very reason why society needs to continue to speak out - for the protection of residents all over the United States of America and all over the world.


• There is a majority of staff --against a small amount of family members, so when it comes to complaining to staff, when family complains "verbally" , those complaints are and will be ignored; and when family complains in writing, those families are retaliated against and the facilities illegally stop visitors on false trumped up charges.

These are just a few of the horrible things that happen inside of some physical rehabilitation and care centers and some nursing homes , today and every day, or every other day. Yet, none of this is put in the newspapers. None of this is made public because families and residents and patients are afraid of further retaliation. So, where does the buck stop? Who can help these residents and families. What can you do about these horrible injustices? How can we help those people inside of nursing homes and inside of physical rehabilitation centers?So, how do you help change lives? How do you change the system that is damaging many seniors and disabled individuals? How can you look inside of a nursing home and or rehabilitation and care center and bring care to those that might not be receiving care? You can help and you can help today. YOU, yes YOU -- can make a big difference in this world today.Read and learn how you can help in this world today, help residents, help patients and help save a life today!

Beginning steps:

• Get together with your local community organizations and or churches or synagogues


• BRING this to their attention, and ask that a committee be formed. Have that committee arrange to go inside of nursing homes and into physical rehabilitation and care centers. Have them write and or call and ask for permission to bring visitors and programs inside of the facilities.


• Organize holiday concerts or programs that you can bring in during regular days, weekdays and weekends into any of these residences.


• Approach your local nursing homes and rehab centers and tell them that you want to help the residents become connected on the internet so they can contact their families which are usually in other states or countries.


• BRING as many visitors as you can bring in to visit these patients and residents, (Ask permission from relatives and then sign in at the security desk of the nursing home. Tell them what you are there for and they should lead you to where you are due).

Why You Would Want to Help:

Here is what we observed while visiting a physical rehabilitation and care center in the United States:

• Have you ever noticed that when the supervisors knew that visitors would be coming into the place, there seemed to be a 'mysterious' burst of extra employees and extra care and extra attention to residents while the visitors where inside the building. On ordinary days, when there usually was a lack of care or negligence due to lack of staff or missing staff or staff that just wasn't there or staff that was overworked -- that was the situation, but somehow , when the visitors were inside the building, there was an abundance (compared to regular days) of staff and everyone "seemed" to be attentive to residents and nicer to residents because they were putting on the "show' for the public.


• Have you ever noticed that once the visitors left the building (most visitors left even though there were many hours of visiting hours left , so one or two visitors remained), that the staff mysteriously got 'busy' somewhere else, and that is the time when residents were forced to wait one or two hours to be brought to the bathroom. If a resident needed a bathroom while a visitor is present, somehow that resident was able to get to the bathroom (while witnesses were there), but once all the visitors left -- the residents went back to having lack of care and to some possible negligence and or malpractice.


• One family member even overheard that one resident simply walked out of the rehabilitation center and the staff was not even aware that she was missing until she had gone miles from the place. No one noticed that this lady was missing! Imagine that? They were so busy doing other things, that they didn't have time to keep an eye out for a patient who obviously needed to be watched and cared for.


• Family members have told me that sometimes the staff made certain residents 'cry', that these residents were not crying when the visitors were there (there are witnesses when visitors come into these places). And no staff wants a resident crying or complaining while the visitors are present.


• Some have noticed that in some places, supervisors and administrators lie right to the faces of family. We noticed that most of the staff diligently covers up what happens as soon as they want to cover it up. We noticed many things that we cannot type here. But trust that it is all true.

If you visit and stay long enough inside some facilities, you will see that some facilities are guilty of lack of care -- at the minimum and guilty of more than that probably to this very day. Inside some nursing homes and inside some physical rehabilitation centers some residents are totally helpless and can not find anyone to complain to. effectively to (Even though the law provides avenues of complaints and even though the law provides departments and organizations that residents "CAN" complain to) Some of the residents are totally helpless and cannot safely and healthily make legitimate complaints about lack of care , so they remain there in their sad situation. The residents know that they have to stay there and that it is not easy or almost impossible to get out of there, so they are stuck with their complaints and stuck with their situations until visitors come to see them.

Help Save Lives and Help Change Lives Forever, try these:

• Ask your co-workers to form a team that will visit individual residents in places like these. Contact the caregivers and family members of the residents and tell them that you would like to begin visits to that nursing home and ask their permission to visit their family members who reside in those places.


• Ask your boss to begin a program where you work that will enable your workers to visit people inside of nursing homes.


• If you know Geraldo Rivera or if you know any other journalists or media people personally, ask them to help uncover the injustices that are happening on a daily basis throughout nursing homes in Staten Island, NY, and all along the east and west coast. Ask anyone you know that has finances or community backing to help you begin to organize groups of people that will legally go into nursing homes to visit people. Contact us if you need names of nursing homes that can use your help in saving lives.


• Advertise and seek out voluntary lawyers and legal professionals to help families deal with the red tape that some of the offending nursing homes and physical rehab centers dish out to families and residents who make legitimate complaints.


• IF you know anyone who does radio shows or tv shows, ask them for free time to talk about the abuse that happens inside of nursing homes, and ask them to put a call out to lawyers and to other professionals who will help to work for social change inside of nursing homes.


• ASK everyone you know to go and visit inside of nursing homes whenever and where ever possible. (always check with the families first and always obtain permission.


• Go through your community and ask all families who have people inside of these facilities if you have permission to write to these seniors. Donate stamps and envelopes to seniors and write back and forth to them. Keep them connected. This is extremely important. Ask the families if you can telephone these seniors or disabled individuals and then do that once you gain permission.


• If you are phoning someone at a nursing home and they never answer the pay phone, document that fully. Document how many times the phones ring and document how many hours or days or weeks it takes you to actually reach the resident.


• All of the above information will be quite helpful at Congressional and public hearings when they come up. You can save lives and you can change conditions. Please help in all these community projects.


• Write to us to share your ideas about what you or your organization are doing to help things get better. Share your information . You can help.

BY doing any and all of these things you will help change the conditions inside of nursing homes. Here's another way you can help. Be in contact with residents inside of these places. Reach out to isolated patients via email and via telephone calls. Contact is what changes things inside of nursing homes and inside of physical rehab and care centers. Contact someone today to begin your own project.

Here are people to contact:

1. Contact your Senator or your Congressman to ask for public hearings regarding the conditions inside of nursing homes and rehab centers. (When discussing the problems inside of nursing homes be sure to emphasize that you are speaking about physical rehabilitation and care centers also. These problems are not only restricted to nursing homes). When speaking of the issues, remember to use that wording "rehabilitation and care centers" or rehabilitation centers. This will make your investigations and reports more complete than if you just speak about nursing homes.


2. Contact any of your local community organizations and ask for help in changing conditions "behind the walls" of nursing homes. Go to your local community leaders and ask them where you can go to for help. Reach out to everyone you know in your neighborhood and ask for referrals. You will find the right person to help if you just keep asking as many people as you can ask.


3. Contact other families in your communities. Contact them through PTA meetings and contact them through business improvement meetings and contact them through various meetings that happen in your community. Once you contact them ask EVERYONE to participate in some way to help isolated nursing home residents. Ask some to write letters to Congress or to the Mayor. Ask others to contact patients' families and ask permission to visit. Ask the professionals, doctors, nurses and lawyers to come forth and say the truth about what happens behind the closed doors of those places. You can do it. You can help!


4. If you know a lawyer, or a professional worker, enlist them to help in this campaign against nursing home and physical rehabilitation centers abuses and malpractices.

Some simple ways you can help: First, Believe!

In order to help, you must believe. You will hear some incredible stories and they are true stories. You need to be able to listen to them and then to assure the patients or residents that you do believe what they are saying. This is some of the most valuable help that you can give someone -- first, believe. You can help by believing the resident. Once inside these places, when residents complain to their families about the mistreatment or lack of care, the first thing that some families respond with is 'disbelief" . After all, who would want to believe that PAID staff is not caring for their relatives. Who would want to believe that they put their relatives in a place that is possibly mistreating the relatives.

The best way you can help is believing the words of the residents when they complain that the nursing home staff is giving them lack of care or giving them abuse., believe them. Do not think that they are making up stories. Believe them. They are in no position to make up stories. They do not want to complain. They are afraid to complain about staff . So believe them. They feel safer complaining when you are there visiting them. So that's why they mention it to you. And then once you leave , they are left to stay there. So believe them. Take them at their word. That's how you can help. There are things happening inside of those centers that should not happen, yet they are there to witness it , and when you do not believe their words, when you doubt them, you take their hearts and dispose of them. So believe them. If someone is complaining to you about conditions inside of a facility, go and ask your Pastor, Priest or Rabbi how the community and how the church can help the residents. Please reach out to these people who need help. You can save a life today!

Handling the red tape of refusals:

• Diligently document times, dates, days, places and the people that you speak with. Put all your requests in writing to help document. For example, write a very friendly letter stating that you want to come in and entertain or be with residents as part of your community project or school project. Tell them when you would like to visit (and try to arrange these projects during times when there are no visiting hours). When the facility refuses to let you entertain the residents or visit with residents, later ask to do the same - visiting- during regular visiting hours.


• Document each and every request for each and every visit to each facility. Note the name and time and date of your request - and the name of the person that you speak with. Focus on one facility at a time. You can begin with those in the largest cities and work to those out in the country. We need help sending visitors into East Coast cities - those nursing homes that seem the hardest-hit. If there is any facility who refuses to cooperate , or any that seem to be hiding something, it would appear that those would be the ones needing the most help and the most visitors. (Connect with your lawyers and investigators in your own cities to see what kinds of help you can receive).Obtain permissions from any of the families and from any of the residents and patients that you wish to visit. And do this all year round. Visitors are needed every single day of the year, and especially on weekends.


• If you are in a position of political power, think about your own relatives who someday might wind up in a nursing home or rehab center. If you think you can avoid this malpractice by sending them to a good fancy home, you are mistaken. What affects one person affects all people. Please help spread the world.