We Care Online's December Tuition Reimbursement Winner

M. Torres-Hernandez

It's a great end to 2013 for M. Torres-Hernandez! She is the lucky winner of We Care Online's CNA Tuition Reimbursement drawing for December. She'll be getting a check from us soon.  You could be next!

Students registered for a Nurse Aide course will automatically be placed in a monthly drawing to win reimbursement of their course tuition. The monthly drawings will choose one student in Kansas and one student in South Dakota to win a reimbursement.

If you want to know how to get in on this Click Here for more information.
Or go to our website Click Here.

Remember, before you can win, you have to register for a Nurse Aide course - See our course catalog Click Here.

Interviewing for that Healthcare Position? Be Ready.

Regardless of your experience or credentials, it’s important to prepare for the interview when applying for a job in the healthcare industry. Whether conducted in person or on the phone, the interview provides an ideal opportunity to present your qualifications, show how you can make a contribution, and learn more about the immediate position and the organization itself.


Being ready for an interview when the opportunity presents itself, might be one of the most vital and crucial moments of your professional life. But you will need to do some homework in order to accomplish those interview goals. The first step is to review your experience, education and training to see which elements might be most important to a recruiter. And since the interviewer will have already seen your resume, you should be prepared to expand on the key points.

Let’s start with the basics “tell us about yourself” this is one of the simplest and greatest opportunities for you to break the ice and show what you are all about. Usually this question is given to you.

For More and the Original Blog.

Learn what it takes to become a certified nurse assistant.

Marketers Zero in on Adult Child in Senior Living Sales

Senior living marketers are zeroing in on prospects’ children as a strategy to counteract delayed transitions into senior housing communities, noting a correlation between adult child involvement and quicker move-ins.

“Adult children getting more and more involved than they ever have at the residential level,” said Krista DiGeorge, regional marketing director at Asbury, a not-for-profit senior living organization, during a session at the 2013 LeadingAge Annual Meeting and Expo. “They’re realizing the impact on them to have Mom and Dad at home.”

With many seniors delaying a move, more adult children are serving as caregivers, Cathy Ritter, vice president of Marketing and Communications at Asbury, said during the session. But many of those adult children are in the “sandwich generation”—caring for elderly parents while still raising their own family—and they’re concerned about their parents’ safety.

For More and the Original Article.

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5 Ways You May be Unintentionally Holding Back Your Career

Ever feel like you must have accidentally skipped that class on how to navigate and grow your career? 
You wonder who really need to know that will either give you the right guidance, insights or referrals.  You want to be seen for your true capabilities, but can’t seem to figure out how.  You have at least one co-worker who is constantly critical and makes you tense.
Problem is, you didn’t skip any class.  It didn’t exist!

So you forged through these challenges, making mistakes, missteps, and having downright painful experiences.  You’ve made some progress but you still don’t feel confident handling situations and how to truly put yourself in the driver’s seat of your career.

For More and the Original Blog.

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Home Health Job Market Dominates Services

More than half of the approximately 8.4 million Americans who receive paid long-term care were using home health services, according to a first-of-its-kind report on senior care services and users.

The nation’s 12,200 home health agencies served about 4.7 million patients in 2011, the latest year when data was available, says the National Study of Long-Term Care Providers, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.

The report collected data from around 58,500 paid, regulated long-term care services providers in 2012 split into five categories—nursing homes, assisted living communities, home health agencies, hospice agencies, and adult day services centers—and includes information on provider capacity, staffing level, and services provided, along with a national profile of long-term care users.

More than 8 million Americans received services from 4,800 adult day services centers, 12,200 home health agencies, 3,700 hospices, 15,700 nursing homes, and 22,200 assisted living and residential care communities.

Of those, home health agencies served the largest population, followed by nursing homes with nearly 1.4 million residents and the more than 1.2 million patients who received hospice services.

For More and the Original Article.

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How to Make a Glove Christmas Tree

Nurses and nurse aides are creative individuals. You have to be to do the job. There’s no nurse around that hasn’t had to get creative to dress a wound properly, manage time effectively, or appease a seemingly inconsolable patient. Creativity is just the name of the game in nursing. Unfortunately, working holidays is also a big part of the nursing game. One holiday that many nurses find particularly difficult to work is on Christmas. So many nurses miss the time with their families and familiar traditions.

But there’s no reason to let working holiday’s completely bum you out. There are plenty of ways you can spruce up your work setting and making even create a few new holiday traditions, like perhaps a glove Christmas tree.

Picking Good Gloves

If you’re making this at work, you are likely going to use what they’ve got in stock. There are so many different kinds of gloves and some of them lend themselves better to this process than others. For example, I found that latex gloves are the only ones I could find on the shelf that would blow up like a balloon. Vinyl gloves would blow up, but not very large, and it was a real challenge to tie a knock in the cuff to hold he air in.

For more instructions and original article.

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Survival Tactics for Older Job Seekers

Age discrimination is a major reason older workers are struggling. In a 2013 survey by the AARP, 64 percent of adults 45 to 74 years old said they had seen some form of age discrimination, and 20 percent said they had been passed up for a job because of it. Proving you’ve been discriminated against is extremely difficult. “It becomes a lot of ‘he said/she said’ accusations,” says Gene Burnard, publisher of SeniorJobBank.org, a job search site for seniors. Worse, litigants may find themselves blacklisted from future jobs if prospective employers find out they filed a suit.

Rather than fight age discrimination, most seniors have no choice but to try and overcome it. The first hurdle is getting an interview when your resume may indicate you’ve been around the block a few times. Burnard recommends including only the years at your most recent jobs and placing more emphasis on skills than tenure. “Nobody’s interested in what you’ve done, but what you can do for them,” he says.

For more and original article.

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Celebrating the Holidays in an Interfaith Family

You grew up with memories of Santa Claus and Christmas trees, but your spouse spent the holidays lighting a menorah and playing dreidel. If yours is one of the thousands of interfaith families in the United States or elsewhere, chances are you've either tried to find ways to incorporate the best of both traditions into your own family or agreed as a family to choose one faith and follow its traditions.

The holidays tend to bring the religious choices you've made into sharp focus. As a result, some interfaith families find December especially stressful, while others have discovered ways to make it a joyous time. Even families with religious differences that are not exactly "interfaith" — a Catholic / Protestant couple, for example — find themselves dealing with thorny issues about what to do during holidays.


For the rest of this article.

Learn what it takes to be a restorative aide.

Safety Tips for Home Health Care Workers

Home nurses and aides are exposed to many of the dangers that hospital workers face -- from tuberculosis to needlestick injuries -- but are working in completely uncontrolled environments, Rhonda Berlin Jarrell, RN, a former home nurse who now works as an injury prevention consultant in Alexandria, Virginia says. As a result, nearly one in 20 home health workers has a job-related illness or injury every year -- a rate approaching that for construction workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

House calls
Back strain is by far the most common injury among home health workers. In 2007, among the 55,440 reported injuries that resulted in nurses, psychiatric and home health aides having to miss work, more than 21,000 involved back injuries. The risks are particularly high for health aides who have to lift patients from their beds, chairs, toilets, and bathtubs. Moving patients around in their home can be a challenge, and not just because of stairs and clutter, Jarrell says. Many patients don't have the equipment -- such as lifts and adjustable beds -- that can ease the burden on caregivers. And home workers, unlike hospital staff, can't just call a coworker down the hall for help with a particularly heavy load.

Home aides and nurses can protect their backs by encouraging patients and their family members to invest in lifts and adjustable beds. Even more important, Jarrell says, workers should learn the proper body mechanics for lifting, preferably through annual training sessions.

For more and original article

Learn what it takes to be a Home Health Aide.

Clever Christmas Party Ideas for Senior Living

12 Days of Christmas

Find clever ways to incorporate everything from a partridge in a pear tree to twelve drummers drumming. This may include displaying topiary trees with candy pears, serving three (roast) french hens, hanging five golden wreaths to represent the rings and dressing up your tables to look like giant drums.

Have an Aussie Christmas

Break away from the white Christmas and celebrate the season the way they do downunder - on a scorching summer's day.

Use an inflatable children's pool filled with ice to hold your drinks, and decorate a gum tree rather than the traditional evergreen. Put on a barbecue, meatpies or some freshly grilled fish, crack a few ginger ales and break out the ausse slang, mate. Decorations could include Australian flora and fauna, shells and white sand and sandals.


For more ideas and original article.

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Avoiding Extra Pounds During the Holidays

This is a hectic time of year.  We are all very busy working a full time job, part time job, managing the household, chauffeuring the kids to everyplace under the sun. The fall sports season is about to end, the winter sports season is gearing up. Holiday shopping is on your mind and you are behind schedule.  Your friends and family are beckoning you for visits,  your laundry is overflowing and you have to still figure out what to cook for dinner.

Does this sound familiar?  The holidays can be a stressful time of year.   There is so much stuff to do and the days don’t grant you extra hours to get it all done. The daylight turns to a night time sky earlier than you desire and you feel sleepy at 5 pm because of it.

On top of all of the above, it becomes difficult for many of us to eat healthy during the holiday season because we are always on the go and sometimes we make bad choices. Not to mention, we are perpetually surrounded by baked goods and delicious treats . . .

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Laughter Reduces Blood Sugar Levels

Laughter, it's said, is the best medicine. And there's lots of evidence that laughter does lots of good things for us.

It reduces pain and allows us to tolerate discomfort.

It reduces blood sugar levels, increasing glucose tolerance in diabetics and nondiabetics alike.

It improves your job performance, especially if your work depends on creativity and solving complex problems. Its role in intimate relationships is vastly underestimated and it really is the glue of good marriages. It synchronizes the brains of speaker and listener so that they are emotionally attuned.

Laughter establishes -- or restores -- a positive emotional climate and a sense of connection between two people, In fact, some researchers believe that the major function of laughter is to bring people together. And all the health benefits of laughter may simply result from the social support that laughter stimulates.

For More.

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How About Some Spending Money For The Holidays?

You may win a check for your tuition from We Care Online!

Wouldn't it be nice to sign up for a Nurse Aide course and get your money back?  We might just make that happen for you!  Beginning in December 2013, students registering for a Nurse Aide course will automatically be placed in a monthly drawing to win reimbursement of their course tuition. One student from Kansas and one student from South Dakota will win the drawing.

Yes, there are few rules that need to be met. But they are really simple rules.

• The student must be enrolled in a CNA class in Kansas or a NA class in South Dakota.
• The course must be PAID IN FULL.
• The student must have a passing grade for the course.

You will only be entered in the drawing when ALL OF THE
ABOVE apply.

And YES, facilities who register students could also be reimbursed.  Same rules apply.  

We are excited to start surprising some of our Nurse Aide students with this gift!  But remember, you can't get reimbursed unless you register and pay for your course.

Check out our website for more information on this great opportunity! Click Here

We also still have our Hardship Grant available for a few of our courses.  You can apply by Clicking Here.

We Care Online website: http://www.wecareonlineclasses.com/index.html

10 Ways to Make Yourself Indispensible to a Charge Nurse

Several factors can make a CNA or nurse aide truly valuable to the charge nurse.

1) BE AT WORK.
Really this can’t be repeated enough. Calling in at work does more damage to your reputation than most anything else short of abuse and/or neglect. In any industry, but particularly healthcare, nurses and aides are the single most important ingredient to continuity of good care. You know what happens when there are call ins- others have to pick up the slack. It’s not good. Be at work and call in only when you are TRULY so sick you cannot function as an aide. Let the nurses send you home if they so decide. The nurses will respect you so much more and keep you in high regard, if you come to work as scheduled.

2) BE AT WORK ON TIME.
Another issue that can’t be repeated enough. Nurses like having all the aides at work, ready to manage the units.

For More.

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How to Balance School and Work as an Adult

Many health care workers work while taking classes at community colleges to try to get ahead. For community college students, more than a quarter work greater than 35 hours weekly. Additionally, nearly one-quarter of college students have dependent children.

In some cases, the rigors of juggling work and school prove to be too much. Given the choice between income and education, and faced with fewer dollars to go around in terms of student loans, many students leave college before attaining a degree, choosing the immediate reward of a paycheck over the expected reward of a higher-paying job upon graduation.


For these nontraditional students, it’s imperative to strategize about how to balance work and school. Using the tips outlined below, you can do both, without either one suffering.

1. Take assignments with you. While I advocate for keeping work and school separate, I do think you can fit in your schoolwork at other times during the day. For instance, if you’re sitting at your daughter’s soccer practice or folding laundry, use the time to study.

For more tips.

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How to Multitask as a Nurse Aide

What is Multitasking?

At some settings, nursing assistants are expected to take care of more than six patients in each shift. This is where your multitasking skills come in handy. Basically, multitasking is a talent to organize and execute two different types of tasks all at one time.

Yes! It is a Skill

There are no findings that nurse aides are provided with training on multitasking during the training classes. Accomplishing different tasks at one go is difficult. It totally depends on your mental and physical capacity to react to different things with equal control and panache. You will accumulate these skills as you spend some time in your occupation.

However, trying to finish two different types of works concurrently may slow you down. It will also restrict your brain to act to its fullest since you are trying to hit two birds with one stone. You will be more in stress and become exhausted very soon. Above all, it will lead to frustration if the outcome is not as expected.

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Interested in starting your career in health care? Learn more about what it takes to become a Restorative Aide.

Home Health Named Best Partner in Reducing Hospital Readmissions

Partnering with home health care agencies is emerging as a new model of care and a core strategy in
preventing hospital readmissions, according to a new survey.

Home health partnerships were the number-one strategy that 73% of senior hospital leaders adopt to lower preventable readmissions, as noted in a survey conducted by HealthLeaders Media Intelligence Unit in collaboration with Amedisys.

Of the 106 senior leaders comprised of CEOs and physicians polled in the survey, 60% of hospitals said they already have selected home health care partners.

“Hospitals are seeing the benefit of collaborating with post-acute care partners in an effort to improve their patients’ health and prevent hospital readmissions  . . ."

For More.

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CNA's: Staying Healthy at Work

The work we CNA’s do is HARD; some say brutal. The stress we put upon ourselves while performing our duties takes a high toll on our bodies. We have to take care of ourselves. And I mean that- especially at work.

Some of the things I do to make sure I’m ready and physically able to do my job are pretty mainstream, or so I thought. Lately I’ve noticed newer aides not bothering to do simple things that can make such a difference.

1) The usual items we hear about are par for the course: Eat right, exercise and get plenty of sleep! Easier said then done in today’s busy world. Family, friends, commitments, kids’ games and activities all keep us, at times, TOO busy to care for ourselves.

2) We use our legs, arms and backs for the vast majority of the tasks we perform. It makes sense to stretch these muscles before we use them.

For More. 

For More about how to become a CNA.

Job Outlook for Home Health Aides

As the baby boomer generation age, a need for healthcare services, and workers to adequately weather this increasing demand will rise.

One such career is that of a home health aide, an individual who has the capacity to assist and aide and individual with a medical condition within the comfort of their own home. Any career that can exceed a growth rate of over 25% in a 10 year period can be said to be growing faster than the national average. With regards to the job outlook for home health aide careers, the numbers are closer to 50% in a 10 year period. Personal assistant and home aide careers are expected to see tremendous growth as well through to 2018, showing the increasing need for in home services.

For More.

Know someone interested in starting a career as a Home Health Aide?

Like your health care career, but want a change of scenery?

No one will argue that the health care field is a challenging career. But even with the challenge, there are sometimes when we get tired of doing the same thing day in and day out. The monotony of a demanding routine can become too much for us and we need a change.

Unfortunately, for many nurses and CNAs this is the time when they decide to leave the bedside and pursue different careers. However, there are so many diverse specialties in this field that you can get a breath of fresh air in your career while still practicing what you love. One of the more exciting career changes you can pursue is flight nursing.

What do flight nurses do?

Flight nurses (also known as aero-medical nurses) play a critical role in patient care in some of the most emergent situations possible. They provide life supporting care while a patient is transported from medical facility to medical facility or in some cases, from the scene of an accident to a trauma center.

A flight nurse will work alongside a flight paramedic to deliver advanced critical care.

For More and the Original Article.

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13 Ways to be a Better Co-Worker

1. Say a cheery “Hello!” in the morning. Do you plod into the office, eyes down, shoulders slumped, and immediately start work? If so, you’re likely to find that co-workers ignore you (at best) or avoid you (at worst). Get into the habit of smiling and greeting everyone as you arrive in the morning or begin your shift. It’s amazing how fast this little courtesy can thaw chilly workplace relations.


2. Learn the art of small talk. Ask your co-workers about their interests – their favorite music, films, books, hobbies. Showing a genuine interest in them will make them feel comfortable around you. Talk about your life outside the office when it’s appropriate. This will remind the people you work with that you’re a person first, not just an employee or employer.


3. Ask what they think. People love to be asked their opinion, so go out of your way to ask, “What do you think is missing from this report?” or “How do you think I should handle this situation with X?” Then give the advice-giver a sincere thank you, even if the ideas are less than helpful.

4. Avoid gossip. You don’t want anyone talking about you behind your back, so return the favor.

Read more: HERE.

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How to Pack a Great Lunch for Work

Packing a lunch isn't just for school kids. As adults, making sure we have healthy meals throughout
the day can help improve our health and save money.

Top 5 Reasons to Pack Your Lunch

1) It's cheaper than eating out

2) You'll have extra time to enjoy your lunch break. Driving to a restaurant or going to the cafeteria (if your workplace has one) takes time.

3) Well packed lunches will have fewer calories and fat

4) You'll curb impulsive eating. Hungry decisions are often directed toward higher calorie, sugar and fat choices.

5) Your lunch will have a variety of delicious foods

What to Pack?

Planning and packing meals ahead of time will ensure you get the proper nutrition for your body. There are several strategies you can use to make lunch preparations a little easier.

• Pack your dinner leftovers from the night before
• Purchase or prepare pre-cut fruit and vegetables and put them in containers at the beginning of the week to save time
• Reserve a drawer at your workpalce to keep lunch supplies such as reusable containers, baggies, drinking bottles and utensils in easy reach

For More Ideas.

Now that you have some ideas about eating healthier, why not advance your career as a Restorative Aide?

Secrets of Organized Families

In this increasingly hectic world, the phrase "organized families" can seem like a contradiction in terms. But you know they exist: They're the ones who show up at school on time each day, remember the Little League coach's birthday, and file their taxes in January. And though they make everyone else look bad, you secretly wish you were more like them, together and in control.

Why get organized? Because you can't afford not to, especially when you're juggling work, school, and competing schedules. To get you on the road to efficiency, we asked families and professional organizers to share their secrets, room by room.

First, a few ground rules:

Commit to change. "Deciding to get organized is like resolving to lose weight," says Lisa Sarasohn of the Los Angeles-based organizing service Hire Order. "Both require discipline, and neither happens overnight." Rather than searching for a quick fix – the equivalent of a fad diet – organized families commit to a lifestyle change. They see organization as a means to an end: a more fulfilling, less stressful family life.

Take it slow. Be realistic in your organizing efforts. After all, you can't tame years of household chaos in a single day.

For the rest of this original article.

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10 Traits of Well Respected CNAs

Becoming a certified nurse aide or CNA takes a special person. Employers are looking for the following qualities and having them can help you be very successful in your career:

1 Compassion: A compassionate CNA is valuable. She respects what her residents/patients are experiencing; she has a knack for knowing what to say, just when to say it too! She advocates for her patients/residents- she gives detailed reports and updates to the nurses on changes in condition.

2 Patience: This CNA does not allow her job demands to get in the way of resident care. She does not **do** the tasks for the residents in order to get it done quicker; she encourages her residents to take their time with tasks. This CNA does not rush her residents thru meals and toileting.


3  Work-oriented: The CNA who loves his job is evident to all. This aide rarely uses her cell phone while working; when this aide arrives at work, she is ready to work; she focuses on her assignment and residents; she has little time for small talk.


4 Enthusiasm: The CNA who is upbeat and positive is rare. He will have a “Let’s get this done” attitude with a smile. He will not let others’ emotions and negativity affect his day.


For the rest of this original article.

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Why More Employers are Hiring CMAs

Even before the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) adjusted the eligibility requirements for the CMA (AAMA) Certification/Recertification Examination to better meet the human resource needs of the health care environment, more employers of allied health personnel were preferring or even insisting that their medical assistants have the CMA (AAMA) credential. 

The CMA (AAMA) represents a medical assistant who has been credentialed by the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants. Understanding why employers are aggressively recruiting CMAs (AAMA) is of the utmost importance for a medical assistant’s entry into and advancement within the allied health work force.

First of all, the United States continues to be one of the most litigious nations in the world. Disputes that used to be settled by discussion and mediation are now being referred to attorneys and are ending up in courts of law.

For the original article.

Interested in becoming a CMA?

5 Things Employers Don't Want You to do at Work

Here are five strategies for you to implement today so you can stand out at work and be the best health care employee your employer wants to keep.

Don’t skip breaks. How often do you hear yourself or others boast, “I worked straight through lunch again today!” or, “I’ve worked here twenty years and I never have taken a break!” Often we are so busy taking care of others that we neglect to take care of ourselves. I still remember working with a bulging bladder, without breaks or meals. In spite of our demanding work schedules, our managers and leaders do not want us to neglect caring for our own bodies, minds and spirits. Take 15 minutes two to three times a shift to get away, sit down, breathe deeply, relax a bit, read something inspirational or whisper a prayer. I know your commitment to your patients makes this difficult but it’s important to your survival. Ask a teammate to back you up while you take a break, then return the favor.

For More Tips and the Original Article

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Pharmacy Techs Can be Leaders is Crime Preparedness

Pharmacy technicians work alongside pharmacists every day, and are often the team members who interact first with patients and customers. Located on the front lines of a pharmacy, technicians are likely to encounter a pharmacy theft or crime situation before anyone else on the pharmacy team.

Response to a crisis requires a team effort, and pharmacy technicians can take the lead to create action plans and promote safe environments in their workplaces. To prepare for pharmacy crime situations, technicians benefit from working with pharmacy managers, understanding their own roles in crisis response, making sure their pharmacy’s safety plan is clearly communicated to the pharmacy team, and connecting with local law enforcement agencies to develop procedures.

“Considering the prominent positions of pharmacy technicians on the front lines of pharmacies, PTCB recognizes the critical importance of preparation and training for the possible incident of a robbery,” said PTCB Executive Director and CEO Everett McAllister, MPA, RPh. “Communication and collaboration among pharmacists and technicians are the keys to maintaining safety in the pharmacy.” 

For More.

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How to Make Your Home Health Aid Job Search a Success

Before you begin searching for home health aide jobs, you must be prepared.

In addition to having your resume in order, you also need to be ready for the interview. The best way to prepare yourself for the interview is to practice. You can practice in front of mirror, with your spouse, or a friend. Have someone you trust and are comfortable with ask you sample interview questions. This will give you a chance to practice your responses in a safe environment. You want to present yourself as poised and calm in the interview — that will give employers confidence that you can handle the job.

As far as where to conduct your job search, there are a number of resources available to you including newspapers, online job sites, word of mouth, and even cold calling.

For Tips for Job Success.

Learn what it takes to become a Home Health Aide.

10 Foods and Drinks You Crave in the Fall

Anyone want to grill out at the barbeque? Go out for ice cream? Share some fruity, ice-cold white wine? Not so much, huh? These things are all top on our food and drink list when summer starts, but there is something about cooler weather and the arrival of fall that changes things.

We stop thinking about beach outings, and instead focus on which ski resorts may be opening early. It somehow seems easier to really get into work or school, instead of daydreaming about playing in the sun. Baseball games start to mean more as we get closer to the magic numbers, and football becomes the water cooler talk in offices across the country.

It also seems that we start to crave different foods. Is advertising taking its toll on our palates? Or, does the body crave things that are in season because fresh food is actually more nutritious than canned or processed options?

"Fresh produce is always better for you than canned, but possibly more importantly, fruits and vegetables hit peak flavor when that crop is in season," said Sara Berzofsky (M.Ed, M.S. Nutrition) of Newtritionalyou.com. "Fall is the season for apples, cranberries, and pumpkins. Thus, it is no surprise that we see more of these products both at the market and in advertising starting in September/October."

For More and the Original Article.

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Observation Skills for CNAs

First, make sure you understand the nursing process and how CNA’s fit in with it.
When we think about it, CNA’s are the eyes, ears, hands and nose of the nurses. We use these senses when providing care and with the right skill, we can assist the nurse with valuable patient information that may avert a serious problem. Things get confusing though when we make judgments about the things we’re seeing, feeling, smelling and hearing.

There are two types of observations:
Subjective and Objective

Objective observations are fact. They are measurable.
• Vital Signs
• Bruises
• Open areas and other skin conditions
• Blood in urine
• Urine output from a cath

Objective observations are reported in the same manner by many people. They are not biased and they do not rely on statements and guesswork.

For the second type of observation.

Learn more about becoming a Certified Nurse Aide.

When You Need More Help: Alzheimer's Care Options

When you care for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia at home — either theirs or yours — a time when you need more help will almost surely come. Though you may not know when, be prepared by knowing your options in advance.

• First, reach out to family members and friends for support. Asking for help from people you know can be more difficult than hiring professionals who are total strangers, but when you can’t be there, there is nothing like knowing your loved one is being cared for by someone you know and trust. Read How to… Delegate Elder Care Tasks for advice on asking for help.
• Research and access respite care, which essentially provides a break for the caregiver on a short-term basis. Respite care is now more readily available in senior living communities via short-term stays. 

For More and the Rest of the Article.

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Fun Games Can Improve Quality of Life

Games for seniors are very beneficial because they can improve a senior's quality of life. Wouldn't you agree?

Games and activities can bring people together in groups and enhance a sense of belonging and participation. When people share laughter through games together it can help to bond people that otherwise feel no personal connection.

Laughter has its own benefit but games can also help improve memory, dexterity, reduce stress and remove a sense of isolation. All because they threw some bean bags together or beat their own high score or finished a puzzle.

Here are some games to keep in mind for the seniors in your care. Some are more suited to the elderly with some independence. Others are better suited to low functioning seniors and seniors with vision impairment, arthritis and dementia challenges.

Brain Games and Mind Games
Brain games for seniors are obviously good for exercising the mind and sharpening awareness skills.

For More and the Original Article. 

Learn what it takes to become an Activities Director.

Discovering Benefits of Good Caregiver Support Group

When I was a practicing psychotherapist, I often referred patients to support groups, but was selective about whom to send. Support groups aren’t for everyone; they take a certain amount of “breaking in” and require commitment to be beneficial. I also issued a caveat – you won’t like every group; find one that fits for you and keep going back.

An article on AARP.org, written by a psychologist, addressed what makes an excellent caregiver support group and overcoming resistance to attending. Reporting on “one of the best caregiver support groups” he’d ever visited, he observed trust, support, connection and freedom to talk openly about feelings. This long-running support group was for caregivers of those with dementia.
What caregivers don’t realize until they experience a healthy support group is other attendees speak their language. Many people believe no one could possibly understand. The article emphasizes a support group is a safe place to “talk shop” – share strategies, help each other and compare similar caregiver experiences, especially those that are emotionally difficult.

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Unspoken Rules of Nursing Culture That Can Hurt Your Career

When Shelli was a new scrub nurse with only six months experience, she failed to anticipate that the surgeon would need a particular scalpel. Immediately, her preceptor deftly slapped the correct blade into the impatient surgeon’s outstretched hand with a glare in Shelli’s direction. The surgeon said nothing, but a look of disappointment briefly flashed across his face. At that moment, Shelli learned that if she was not on top of the surgeon’s needs, she would end up feeling embarrassed and looking incompetent. Shelli did not find the r​ules of the nursing culture in her orientation manual.

We learn these unspoken rules of the nursing culture very quickly in order to survive. We know which physician not to ever call in the middle of the night, which nurse talks about us behind our back when we ask a question, and whether we should even bother to write up an incident report or approach a coworker with a concern we have about ‘their' patient. This knowledge is vital to our survival because it determines whether or not we will be accepted by the group.

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When Shelli was a new scrub nurse with only six months experience, she failed to anticipate that the surgeon would need a particular scalpel. Immediately, her preceptor deftly slapped the correct blade into the impatient surgeon’s outstretched hand with a glare in Shelli’s direction. The surgeon said nothing, but a look of disappointment briefly flashed across his face. At that moment, Shelli learned that if she was not on top of the surgeon’s needs, she would end up feeling embarrassed and looking incompetent. Shelli did not find the r​ules of the nursing culture in her orientation manual. 

We learn these unspoken rules of the nursing culture very quickly in order to survive. We know which physician not to ever call in the middle of the night, which nurse talks about us behind our back when we ask a question, and whether we should even bother to write up an incident report or approach a coworker with a concern we have about ‘their' patient. This knowledge is vital to our survival because it determines whether or not we will be accepted by the group. 

- See more at: http://www.nursetogether.com/nurses-heal-thyself-a-culture-of-silence#sthash.3jF6pZwu.dpuf

Wellness Program Triples New Residents at Senior Community

A wellness initiative called the Vitality Program has not only focused needed attention on seniors’ highest health risk factors, it has tripled the sales of a Florida senior living community. As reported on SeniorHousingNews.com, North Florida Retirement Village, Inc. in Gainesville, Florida has had a big jump in occupancy and resident retention rates after weathering a downward track due to the shaky economy.

Through overall expansion and diversity, the company saw improved numbers, but community director Jim Antonucci gives most of the credit to the Vitality Program.
The program starts by giving residents a “vitality score” of 0 to 48, using criteria such as health issues, impairments, activities of daily living and life satisfaction scores. After receiving their scores, residents have customized recommendations for improving their health by using community resources.

Nurses on campus are accessible around the clock and home health aides and physical therapists are able to do evaluations in seniors’ homes. The Vitality Program is free to Village residents and to date, more than 97 percent of the 700 residents have taken the Vitality Assessment.

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Dressing to Impress: How this Impacts your Career

Taking the time to look your absolute best for your job can create short term and long term benefits for your life.


People who dress professionally and maintain their appearance project confidence, leadership, intelligence and a healthy degree of attractiveness in the eyes of any beholder. Not only are these theories supported by anecdotal evidence but by studies.

Dr. Frank Bernieri, an associate professor of psychology at Oregon State University, recently conducted just such a study in which he probed employers about the traits they deem most favorable of prospective applicants. Conservative, polished dress and a well groomed appearance was at the top of the list. Dr. Bernieri also found most employers make a decision in an interview about an applicant’s rightness for the job within 10-30 seconds of a first meeting.

This means you have literally the amount of time it takes your future boss to blink once or twice to impress them. And even after you get the job, ensuring your message of gravitas, integrity and efficiency remains strong is tantamount to staying crisp, coiffed, cuffed, clean—impeccably turned out at all times when on on the job.

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A Cure for Dementia?

Advances in genetics and pharmaceuticals could lead to a cure for dementia by 2020, according to United Kingdom Secretary of Health Jeremy Hunt.

“Finding drugs that can halt or cure dementia may seem a distant prospect now but there are drugs companies that think they will have a cure for dementia by 2020,” Hunt said at the recent Local Government Association conference in Manchester, according to The Telegraph.

The United Kingdom's Alzheimer's Society expanded on Hunt's remarks commenting: “Studies we're funding show that drugs which are already licensed for other conditions may also treat dementia. If these are successful, we could have them doubling as treatments for dementia within 10 years.”
More than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, and the Alzheimer's Association foresees the number increasing to about 13.8 million by 2050.

As more of the population develops dementia and a cure remains elusive, providing effective care for residents with dementia becomes even more important. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services held a webinar Wednesday to discuss the reduction of antipsychotics among residents with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia. Facilities have achieved a 4% reduction in off-label use of antipsychotics among residents with dementia, but CMS is still aiming for a 15% average reduction.

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Who to Know When You Are a Caregiver

When you’re a caregiver, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and feel as if you’re the only one who can do the care giving work. You may also feel that a doctor is the only one to whom you can direct your questions, but you find yourself having more questions than the doctor has time to answer, or more problems for which he/she has a solution.

Consider these helpful professionals — outside of a doctor’s office — when you need assistance, expertise or guidance along your caregiving way:

Occupational therapists: Occupational therapists are all about routines. According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), OTs “help people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations).”

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90-Year-Olds Today Sharper than Previous Generation

A large Danish study of nonagenarians finds that people born in 1915 not only lived longer than those born a decade earlier, but they also retained a higher level of both their cognitive and physical abilities.

To address the concerns of future care needs for the “Silver Tsunami,” a team of Danish researchers investigated the health status of seniors over the age of 90.  Using the Danish Civil Register System, the team identified all nonagenarians living in Denmark at the time that they were conducting their surveys. 

Two groups of nonagenarians were given cognitive and physical assessments. The first cohort included a total of 2,262 nonagenarians born in 1905. This cohort was assessed in 1998 when they were ages 92 to 93. The second group consisted of 1,584 seniors born in 1915, and were assessed in 2010 when they were ages 94 to 95. 

The 1915 cohort scored notably better on the cognitive test than the 1905 group, with a significantly higher proportion of participants achieving perfect scores (23 percent vs. 13 percent). The researchers also found that the odds of living to age 93 were 28 percent higher in the 1915 cohort than in the 1905 cohort, and the chance of reaching 95 years was 32 percent higher in 1915 cohort. 

The two groups recorded similar results in the physical performance exams, but the 1915 cohort scored significantly higher on tests measuring ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL).

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8 Alternative Foods for Nurses

Nurses, have you tried to lose weight but found yourself craving the food you’re avoiding and sabotaging your diet? It could be that your food choices are largely to blame for your poor nursing wellness.  

Eating certain foods can actually stimulate the appetite. So, which foods can cause cravings and should you avoid when you’re trying to lose weight? The answer is manufactured foods that have been stripped of nutrients and fiber. Look for 100% whole wheat on every flour product you purchase. Try eating foods closer to the earth, not foods that have been totally refined and redefined before coming to you in the store. 

Be assured that your cravings for high-starch foods will diminish over time. It is not uncommon to hear people comment that they don’t crave these foods after as little as two weeks.

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