Forensic Nursing
Recognized by the American Nurses Association, forensic nursing is among the newest specialties in the nursing field. The most basic explanation of the field is that forensic nurses work with law enforcement to assist in investigation violent crimes like accidental death, assault, or abuse. Forensic nurses also collect and preserve evidence from suspects or victims of these crimes to be used in criminal court cases.
Forensic nursing careers is a field that needs a lot of people. Crime takes place all over the world, every day. Even when one suspect is put in prison there will always be another one. This means that there are a lot of areas for forensic nurses to work. These titles include Correctional Nursing Specialist, Forensic Gerontology Specialist, Forensic Death Investigator, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, Legal Nurse Consultant, Forensic Psychiatric Nurse, and many others.
By far the largest sub-specialty in forensic nursing is those working with sexual assault victims. While this may be the largest sub-specialty death investigation, legal consulting, and forensic psychiatric nursing are also growing in demand and popularity.
The job of a forensic nurse jumps into action as soon as a sexual assault takes place. If is the responsibility of the forensic nurse to take pictures, gather evidence, and preserve that evidence so that a suspect can be caught and put on trial. They also provide comfort to the victim and try to ascertain details of the crime so that the police can solve the crime more easily. Forensic nurses also run tests on the evidence they collect, like making DNA comparisons.
Forensic nurses who go into death investigation typically assist the medical examiner or pathologist in determining a cause of death for the victim. A lot of times this forensic nurse may also be the coroner and can handle all the jobs by themselves.
For those going into forensic psychiatric nursing, you will mostly be working with convicted criminals or suspects to a crime. You job as the forensic nurse is to examine the suspect and determine if they are psychologically fit to stand trial. Or you may perform similar examinations on released or paroled convicts so that they can find work.
Forensic nurses working in tissue and organ donation will mostly be documenting the actual donations. For example, making sure the paperwork is correct and that the donations are being handled properly.
The process for becoming a forensic nurse starts with being a registered nurse, since this is a requirement. Then you can enroll in a specialty program that will teach you all the areas of forensic nursing that you need to know. After completing the training you can gain some experience by working with a highly skilled and training forensic nurse. While passing the certification exam is not required for forensic nurses, it is highly recommended and lends further credibility to your training.
Subscribe to the comments for this postHealth Care Careers and Finding One For You
As the United States continued to debate health care, it is became clear that at some point the country will have an additional 25 million patients that will need medical care. Obviously, physicians will be in great demand and health care workers will be stretched to the limits. Couple these facts with an unemployment rate near 10% and it is easy to understand that the opportunities in health care careers are and will be significant.
Choosing a health-care career does not necessarily mean you will become a physician or a registered nurse. There are many business administration opportunities in health care that people fail to recognize. Working as an accountant in a Fortune 500 company would easily transfer them to a health administration.
Many times training or retraining opportunities in health care involves a year or less of education. For example, a person can enroll in a program and a year later work as a nuclear technician. The starting median salary for such a position is near $60,000 a year.
For those persons who wish to completely change their career path and enter into the medical field, becoming a nurse will always be a popular option. As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, more reliance on support staff such as nurses and technicians will continue to unfold.
Again this means more opportunities for employment for those people who are ambitious and pursue a career with passion. Working in health care is not just a job. If you have a passion for helping people and making an impact on their lives and the lives of their family, a health-care career might just be the answer.
There are many programs whose prerequisites can be accomplished through online classes. This is a great opportunity for those transitioning from the traditional job market to a health-care career. Depending on your present skill set your education may be complete in a matter of months, such as learning how to become a medical assistant
The job security and pay schedule for health-care workers compares favorably to other professions. One thing that we know for certain, people become ill and will always have a need for health-care, physicians, nurses and support staff. That single fact ensures job security no matter the prevailing economic conditions.
Perhaps on of the most popular choices in regards to health care careers are careers in nursing. Nursing careers offer many opportunities for individuals who are willing to dedicate themselves to an education. One main advantage to a career in nursing is the flexibility and freedom of movement to the various areas and positions available. Nursing programs are available from entry level to master’s degrees. Most people enroll in BSN programs, however associate programs exist as well.
Visiting a Nursing Career Fair
A career fair (also sometimes referred to as a job fair) is a way for employers and prospective employees to meet and connect with one another. Both sides can accomplish their own ends through a career fair. The employers can meet future candidates for work while the individuals attending the fair can learn more about what each employee has to offer. It is a win-win situation for everyone concerned and there you can consider all your nursing career options.
A nursing career fair provides a person who is either studying for a nurse or presently seeking employment the opportunity to meet a number of employers under the same roof. There will be booths set up by hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, pharmaceutical companies and so on. The key is to find eligible candidate for the jobs that are available at various medical settings. Your job as a career seeker is to be as qualified and skilled as possible and to be excellent at what you do. The employers at these job fairs are looking for the biggest and the brightest talents.
Come to the job fair prepared. In other words have an up-to-date resume and know everything that is on it. If you get some interviews thanks to the job fair you need to know your resume by heart. You should not need to consult your own resume in order to answer questions about your education and past job experience.
Bring a number of copies of your resume with you. Make sure it is professionally presented and is free of any grammatical or typographical errors. It also will work in your favor if your contact information is clearly visible and if you have included a list of references.
Be well aware of what your experience is as well as the skills you presently have that can support you in finding a job. For example, if you have worked in the emergency room of a hospital this can work in your favor and should increase your chances of receiving a job offer (or many job offers!).
As you are handing out your résumé to prospective employers make sure you keep a concise list of the companies you have given your resume to. You will need this list of contacts to follow up with at a later date. You must be proactive in your search for a nursing job after all.
Most nursing career fairs are announced a number of weeks in advance of the event. Check online for information of such. Many job fairs are posted over the web at online communities, forums and mailing lists. You should also check flyers posted on bulletin boards in hospitals, clinics, community centers and the like. Your local newspaper may also be a source for information about the job fair.
Become a Medical Assistant
If you are contemplating studying to how to become a medical assistant then you are looking at a career option with a great deal of potential! Medical assistants are in tremendous demand. In fact it is estimated that as many as 200,000 medical assistants will be needed throughout the United States by the year 2016. This is one of the fastest growing of all occupations across the country. In the next eight years the projected employment for workers in this field of the healthcare industry is predicted to be 565,000.
What Does a Medical Assistant Do?
A medical assistant (MA) is an individual who performs a variety of both administrative and clinical tasks for doctors and nurses. The tasks can vary depending upon the type of medical setting the MA is employed in, as well as the location, size and type of practice. The vast majority of medical assistants work in physicians’ offices while some are also employed in hospitals.
The medical assistant position is a versatile job choice as the individual can choose any number of medical environments which with to seek employment. This makes it a popular choice for those interested in pursuing a career in the medical sector.
Education for Medical Assistants
If you wish to study to become a medical assistant then you can enroll in an accredited school and complete a two year associate’s degree. Another option to consider is to find a school that offers a one year certificate program. Some of the courses that you will be required to complete in order to graduate include math, science, medical terminology, medical billing and first aid.
Once you have completed your schooling you then need to become certified in order to work as a medical assistant. MA’s can sign up to take their certification examination that will allow them to become a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA). The American Association of Medical Assistants offers the course for certification three times a year. Once certification has been obtained it must be renewed every five years.
It is important to note that there are some employers who will hire medical assistants who do not have their certification. However in most instances, CMA’s have a better pick of jobs than do MA’s.
Medical Assistant Duties
As a medical assistant you could be asked to do any number of things in the run of a work day. The life of a medical assistant is anything but boring as you never know what task you will be asked to perform next! MA’s may be asked to check in patients, take vital signs or give shots to patients. Medical record keeping such as filing and updating charts is often a part of a medical assistant’s job as is doing medical billing and insurance coding.
Most medical assistants work approximately 40 hours a week. The work week is generally daytime hours, Monday through Friday. However some MA’s may find themselves employed in an office that is open one or two evening a week or on weekends.
The average salary for a medical assistant ranges from $22,000 a year, up to $30,000. There is not a great deal of upward mobility in this profession unless you are willing to continue your education and training further.
Become a Surgical Technician
A surgical technician is a very important member of the operating team. The primary duty of the surgical tech is to assist the surgeon throughout surgery with anything he or she needs. While surgeons get the credit for performing successful surgeries, it is the competence of the surgical technician that plays an essential role as well.
Surgical technicians need to have minds that think as swiftly as possible. They also need to be able to be cool under pressure and they need to not get queasy at the sight of blood. This job is one that requires an individual to work well under pressure as it is a fast paced and ever changing environment.
Duties of a Surgical Technician
These valuable members of the OR team will be required to prep and sterilize the operating room before a surgery takes place. They will also be responsible for transporting patients to and from the operating room and handing instruments to the surgeon during the surgical procedure. Surgical techs are often responsible for counting equipment and tools such as sponges and needles. They are also the ones who prepare an individual for surgery. They wash, shave and disinfect the area to be operated on.
Surgical techs are also given the very important responsibility of retracting the tissues of a patient and then suturing the incisions before taking the patient to the recovery room.
Contamination is always a concern for a patient who is about to have surgery which is yet another reason why the role of the surgical technician is so vital. The surgical tech is responsible for making sure that the operating room is sterilized before the patient is brought in.
Demand for surgical technicians (also sometimes referred to as surgical technologists) is very high. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, the demand is expected to increase tremendously from now until the year 2014.
It is important to be aware however that the road to training to become a surgical technician is not easy. The same goes for doing the job once training has been completed. This occupation is not for the faint of heart. Surgical technicians require a great deal of training to do the job right. They also require dedication and perseverance to do the job to the best of their ability. Despite all of this, this type of position in the medical field brings plenty of rewards with it.
At the present time, for every surgical technician who is willing to work hard and commit themselves to their duties, there are five surgical tech job openings for others. Another excellent point to note about surgical techs is that their pay continues to increase. To use a clear cut example, the median income of a surgical tech is as much as $4,000 higher as of 2007 than it was in 2004.
Education for Surgical Technicians
In order to study to become a surgical technician you need to have earned your high school diploma or your GED. In high school you should have completed courses in biology, chemistry, health and mathematics.
Training programs for surgical technicians are offered by universities and colleges, as well as vocational schools, hospitals and even the military. An associate program will take you approximately two years to complete. There are some certificate and diploma programs that could take as little as nine months to complete. However in order to go this route for your training you would need to have at least seven years of healthcare experience under your belt. You would also still be required to undergo a two year internship before you could become certified.
Become a Nurse
As our population continues to age, so does the need for qualified nurses. At the present time there is a shortage of nurses and nursing educators which makes it an excellent career choice for those who are nurturing and like to help others. Although nursing can be a very challenging and demanding occupation with long hours, it comes with its own rewards.
The nursing industry boosts job stability because it is such a growing industry that is in need of qualified and compassionate people. If this is an industry that appeals to you then it is important to make a plan, set a time line and research your nursing careers options.
Preparation is Key
In order to attend nursing school you first must obtain your high school diploma or your GED. If you are presently still in high school then you will need to take courses with a concentration in math and science including algebra, biology, chemistry and physics. You will also need to obtain your credits in English. The better grades you make overall, the better off you will be in terms of getting into the nursing school of your choice. Be aware that studying for a nursing degree is very rigorous and that is why you must demonstrate that you can handle an intensive level of academic work.
Do You Have a Nurse’s Personality Traits?
Besides good grades and your grade point average, programs that accept those interested in becoming nurses are looking for individuals of a certain temperament. There are certain personality traits that exemplify the profession such as compassion, the ability to think for yourself, a pleasant demeanor, common sense and the ability to handle an abundance of stress. Most nursing programs also deem it necessary for applicants to pass an entrance examination. This exam measures both your aptitude and your potential for success in the program.
RN or LPN- Which is for You?
In the United States there are two different types of nursing designations. The one that is most well known is the RN or Registered Nurse. There is another one however, which is the Licensed Practical Nurse, or is simply known as LPN. In some states LPN’s are called Licensed Vocational Nurses or LVN’s.
Becoming an RN is the more advanced of the two and it requires a longer period of study. To become a Registered Nurse generally takes anywhere from two to four years of intensive study.
Three Different Routes to Becoming a Nurse
If you wish to obtain a registered nursing degree, then there are three different ways to go about it. First, you could enroll in a community college and study for a traditional Bachelor of Science degree in nursing which would take you four years to complete. It would be best to search a list of nursing schools .
Secondly, you could attend either a community college or technical college and work towards an Associate’s degree in nursing which would take you anywhere from two to three years to finish.
The third and final option is to obtain the necessary training by way of a hospital diploma plan where you would work in a hospital and learn directly from other nurses and nursing educators. You would also be required to take college classes at a local community college in subjects unrelated to the nursing trade.
The first two options are by far the most common and most popular for those interested in entering the nursing profession. The third option was once very common but has since become much less so.
Become A Physician Assistant
Becoming a physician assistant (or physician’s assistant) is exactly as the name states- you would be working under the supervision of a licensed physician. A physician assistant (PA) gets to practice medicine in this capacity. You will perform the same duties as a physician, except for some of the more complex and advanced cases.
In general most physician assistants have four years of work experience in the healthcare field before they become a PA. It is important to be aware that a physician assistant is not the same as a medical assistant. The latter is more of an administrative position. Medical assistants perform routine clinical tasks, as well as clerical duties while physician assistants assist doctors with the medical concerns of their patients.
Duties of a Physician Assistant
As a PA you will be required to perform these typical duties on a regular basis:
· Examine and treat patients
· Take down information about the medical history of patients
· Treat minor injuries
· Prescribe medication
· Order, as well as analyze x-rays and laboratory tests
Physician assistants are sometimes made responsible for supervising medical staff as well as ordering supplies. They may also be asked to take on some managerial duties as required.
PA’s are invaluable in the medial profession. They can provide an incredibly valuable resource to emergency care facilities, primary care physicians, and internists. This is an up and coming profession that is expected to become more and more in demand in the coming years. Physician assistants are paid less than doctors but this makes it possible for more patients who might not be able to receive care to receive it at a lower cost.
Do You Have What it Takes to be a PA?
In order to become a physician assistant you need to possess both good communication skills, as well as an exceptional ability to reason. You must also have a strong desire to be of service to those in need.
This is an excellent career choice for those who qualify for it. Here are some pertinent tips to bear in mind if you wish to become a physician assistant:
· During your undergraduate training, obtain a grade of 3.0 or higher
· It is recommended that you study for a bachelor’s degree in the sciences. Biology or chemistry are two of your best options
· Seek out an individual already in the PA field to mentor you
· Choose an area within the field that interests you the most and seriously consider choosing a specialty
· During the summer months, intern at a doctor’s office or at a hospital
· Prepare as much as possible to take the PANCE examination. Do so by studying and then taking the self-assessment test
At the present time there are in excess of 50,000 physician assistants who are practicing medicine in a variety of healthcare venues throughout the United States.
PA programs can be awarded by way of associate degrees and certificates, as well as bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees. The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) deems it a necessity for all programs for physician assistants to offer degrees at the graduate level.
Work Opportunities for PA’s
The work options for a person who learns how become a physician assistant are many. These skilled individuals can work in practically any area of the medical field that they choose. More than 50 percent work in primary care medicine while an estimated 20 percent work in surgery or a subspecialty of such.
Here are some options for work opportunities:
· Private practice offices / clinics (56 percent)
· Hospitals (32 percent)
· Public health clinics
· Schools
· Temporary help agencies
· Home healthcare agencies
· Prisons
· U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Job Opportunities In Health Careers
Health Careers are one of today’s most dynamic and fastest growing fields, with a wide range of opportunities and challenges For many people the thought of health careers means becoming a nurse, becoming a physician assistant or a doctor. It is true all of those health careers are challenging, demanding and very lucrative, for example an MRI Technician salary, but health careers and jobs offer so much more.
There really is unlimited opportunity for motivated persons. In today’s economic climate the health careers industry offers security and demand for career minded people. Many people faced with career changes are finding health careers the ideal industry to be retrained and hired.
Health careers are readily available to those who put the time in to get a proper education. Education is a key factor for a successful professional life, and education is particularly important for aspiring healthcare professionals
Skill sets often easily transfer into the health care industry and minimal training is required. . If you can be an administrator in a business setting you surely can do the same job in health care.
For those looking to enter the health care industry many online classes are available in almost every field to begin your training. Once training is complete job placement assistance is available form most institutions. Job titles, position descriptions, and salary ranges of recent public health graduates will vary greatly based on their course of study and interests. Here is a short list of some of the opportunities that exist.
- · Medical Transcriptionists
· Surgical technologists
· Physical therapists
· Medical assistants
· Nursing aides
· Dental assistants
· Physician assistants
· Registered nurse