While tips such as locking your personal belongings in your car or locker while at class and/or work, never walking alone and staying off your cell phone while walking so you are not distracted, may keep you safe in a personal safety situation, would you know what to do if your school or place of employment fell victim to an attack like those seen last week in Illinois or last April at Virginia Tech?

Being aware of your surroundings is key. We are generaly aware of what our surroundings should look like at any given time. Use your instincts, if something feels wrong it probably is. Make note of it and then take further action, such as reporting suspicious findings to police, hospital security or campus safety. There are almost always “red flags” that are recognized as such too late.

Know the building that you work in or attend class in. Knowing how to get to your floor or classroom and to the restroom or cafeteria is not enough. It is imperative that you know how to escape in case of emergency and you can not do that efficiently (or even at all) if you do not know your building. Make note of all exits, stair wells, and hallways so you could make a quick exit if the need arose.

Hospitals are unique in that they are a place where people can be significantly compromised in health, mental capacity and emotional stability, leading to the greater vulnerability of those who work there. Every workplace (every floor) should have an emergency plan that details procedures for dealing with security issues. The safety plan should include measures for dealing with distraught patients and/or family members, violent co-workers or other potentially volatile situations. Each plan should include a “safe room” for employees to retreat to, information on how to contact hospital security and police as well as a method for alerting other co-workers of impending danger.

Kelly points out that you can have safety, or you can have convenience, but you can never have both. Safety and security take effort and we have to be willing to do our part in keeping ourselves safe.; even if that entails a measure of inconvenience.

Sadly, attacks like those suffered at Northern Illinois University and Virginia Tech are likely to continue. Knowing what you should do in a volatile situation can save your life. Be aware, use common sense and remember that safety is not necessarily convenient; it is however, essential. Learn more about safety on campus at safetyoncampus.org.

Know what you’re doing. Clearly, good grades and board scores are important to the selection committee; reality is, the competition is fierce and those numbers are unlikely to separate you from a competitive field. More than that, confidence in your knowledge and skill is essential, as well as knowing what you need to learn. Your letters of recommendation should come from someone who knows you well and can make reference to your unique assets and skills with authority. Ideally the candidate should have a letter from someone inside the specialty they are applying to. Obviously, the best choice would be the chair of the department you are applying to; unless that person does not know you. It is of greater value to ask for a letter of recommendation from someone who can be authentic in their recommendation.

Personal statement. When crafting your personal statement it is important to consider that members of the selection committee read hundreds of these. Make yours stand out with a memorable patient story that has helped direct your career choice. Make it interesting and memorable. Using stock answers such as “I have always wanted to be a pediatrician …” is unoriginal and appears inauthentic.

Remember that you are interviewing. You are vying for a position that hundreds of applicants are after. While humor has its place in medicine and patient care, now is the time to remain professional and astute. Have good questions ready, they are expecting them and utilize them to learn about you and who you are through your thoughts. Be professional in demeanor. If a dinner is hosted, refrain from excessive alcohol. Dress appropriately. For more interview tips look here – http://www.rushu.rush.edu/studentlife/career/medint.html

The extra mile. Be courteous and professional with the staff that arranges the interviews. Typically, these people assist the program director in running the residency. Leaving a good impression with them may not help your cause, but being rude and uncooperative with them is likely to hinder your chances. Follow up with notes of thanks to these people who make things work, as they are looked upon with great admiration by the selection committee.

Obviously, the groundwork for your residency application begins deep in the years of medical school. Going the extra mile in preparation for your application and interview process may help give you a voice in helping to determine your placement. Check out http://www.residencysite.com/HTML/ for more tips on a successful residency application and interview.

There are a number of fundamentals shared by almost everyone who wants to be involved in the health industry: from EKG technician to the physician who does stereotactic radiosurgery. All such occupations involve taking care of the human body in one way or another: and this means being capable of handling the emotional as well as physical aspects of treatment.

Here are eight concrete things you can do while in high school to get ready for a college education and career in health.

1. Become well versed in English so that peers and patients can communicate with you in a common language.It will be far easier to read, write, and interpret reports if you are familiar with the terms.

2.With the growing Hispanic population, it is advisable to speak Spanish in order to learn what their needs are and to give instructions if need be. Knowing a language is far superior to having an interpreter.

3. Take biology class seriously. Learn where the organs lie, what their functions are, and the basics of what happens when organs fail. There’s a lot to be had when studying other animals too. Biology may be the single most important subject you will ever study because it lays the groundwork for advanced studies.

4. Anyone that will be handling medication or chemicals cannot avoid taking chemistry class. Yes, it can be tough: but learn the basics now and you’ll understand when your college professor discusses why a free radical can change the structure and application of a treatment modality.

5. Have a working relationship with numbers. Just about everything in health care is dependant on measurements of one kind or another, figuring out distance, dosages, BMI, ratios and times will depend on it. Become independent of calculators so you will be able to determine the data in lieu of a malfunctioning machine.

6. Volunteer you time or get a part-time job in a hospital or nursing home. Healthcare is a profession where patient contact is demanded in more than 90% of the vocations. You had better learn if you have the personality to work with the sick, elderly, children, intransigent, and families of all the aforementioned. If you intend on working in a profession that reports to others, can you take direction? Will you abide by sometimes frustrating and nonsensical institutional rules? Get to know yourself and if the perceived status of your chosen endeavor is one worth having.

7. Attend career days, often held at hospitals. Speak to individuals who are already in the field you may enter. Ask them about what they like and dislike regarding the job; and if they would do it again.

8. Go to the websites of professional societies. There you will find the issues that involve members, news about legislation and pertinent information to help make your career decision.

Below is a table published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which outlines the fields in healthcare with the biggest growth potential. We suggest you visit their site.

Financial influences in your decision should include housing costs, utility bills, urban versus rural living, and whether you want to ski or play golf. Of course you could do both in a place like New Mexico for most of the year; but the cost will be a lower wage: but living expenses will be lower.  If you live in New York City, you may only be able to afford a one-room walk-up.The training required for those choosing cardiovascular, is two to four years. Technicians and Technologist take similar courses in the first year, then go on to specialized areas. Technologists can qualify to take the national certification exam and generally earn a bachelor’s degree.That being said, it’s time to discuss the breadth of occupations within the healthcare industry.

We can start with the cardiovascular technician. These professionals are often involved with performing electro cardiograms, assist at catheterizations, manage lung capacity tests, pulmonary functions, and other tasks. Nationwide there is expected to be a 33% increase in need for trained technicians over the next 10 years.

Audiologists are employed in a variety of settings: schools, hospitals, private practice. They diagnose, prevent and treat auditory ailments of all ages: infants through geriatrics. This is not only for hearing deficits, but also balance impairments, industrial programs, rehabilitation and research. The mean salary is $57,100. Know exactly what goes on in the profession by visiting the American Academy of Audiologists website .

Dental Hygienists clean and examine teeth, educate on oral health care, make impressions from casts, charts findings, use technology, x-rays, and computers. Education is specialized and requires a four year degree. Salaries are in the area of $62,800. To learn more about the profession see the site of the American Dental Hygienist Association

Medical Sonographers receive a mean national wage of $57,200. They have diverse opportunities to specialize, and are currently in great demand. The technicians utilize sonography to visualize organs, generally eliminating the need for exploratory surgery, in conjunction with other diagnostic tools. Sonographers are usually part of the larger radiology department and are seen as playing a vital role in patient diagnosis. Training is two years in length with schools sometimes located within or associated with hospitals. For information see the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Emergency Medical Technicians have come a long way from the days when training consisted of having a first aid card and driver’s license. The mean salary of $27,100 does not include the advanced training of paramedics. EMT is required to advance to paramedic. Also of interest is the growth expected in the occupation. The mean rate is 27%; meaning there are areas of significantly higher expectations. EMTs are first responders to illness and accidents, trained to provide assistance at critical times. The job is highly stressful but great for adrenalin rushes. A downside of the job can be burn-out, depending on the town or city where located. Training takes less than one year. To learn more about educational and training opportunities, go to the NAEMT site

However, statistics from the US Medical Licensing Exam, less than 42% of Americans studying abroad pass step 1 of the test, because there are cultural issues. Few will want to discuss the realities, but it is important to know what the social climate is if venturing to any country other than Canada. This was pointed out with a recent article about a school in Sweden: but could have been almost anywhere.

Those familiar with medical research have been given one more mystery to examine as the Karolinska Institute of Sweden, the highly regarded research center and medical school, struggled with an obscurity of another character. It seems one of the applicants who met all the rigorous requirements of admission, was also a convicted felon: a murderer to be exact. The 31 year old completed his pre-medical coursework while incarcerated for shooting an anti-neo Nazi protester. They obviously lacked one standard found in most North American institutions of similar repute: high character or are their moral values determined differently than our?

The issue was resolved when the applicant was rejected based on having falsified his high school academic record (he used a false name).

Believe it or not, there was controversy until the discovery of his secondary school activities. The fact that he had been in prison for a decade carried no weight with the admissions committee; he was said to have paid his debt to society. If ten years is enough payment for taking a life in Sweden, then one can understand why they put so little value on such a man becoming a healer. However, the circumstances of the murder would seem to have been lost in the rhetoric.

This crime was not one of a lover’s rage, accidental or incidental death due to events: he shot a man who protested the neo Nazi movement. The victim was defending the rights of minorities, gays, Jews, Muslims, Gypsies, etc. to live life without some brown belt minded, intellectually challenged bigots trying to rid the planet of them!

There are schools in other countries which cater to Americans, and teach in English. You will, however, need to learn the language in order to communicate and diagnose the locals when beginning hospital clerkships and rounds. Learning about their traditions will go far in garnering respect. The stability of the country should not be taken cavalierly. These days being an American is not a pass that can protect young visitors from a crime pr being accused of one. Before making the decision to study away from the USA, seriously think about your values, those of the host country, whether your culture will be accepted or if it need be suppressed: and is that what you can live with. Know what you’re getting into before deciding on being a guest in another country for four years of your life. For more information on studying abroad, check out this site.

Twenty years ago nursing students were recognized as being young, eager ‘new recruits’, in fact, relative ‘virgins’ to employment, least of all a career.

To become a nurse was something to be proud of, a vocation, and lifelong commitment to the caring profession. These people were innocent and impressionable and would be perfect candidates to join the healthcare profession.

To enter into a career choice that was renowned for paying a low wage, have high expectations for the student to embark on gruelling study, along with juggling awkward shift patterns and unsocial hours, was a vocation that these keen new-starters accepted without question

In the early nineties, nursing in the United Kingdom was taken by storm, by the introduction of a new innovation in nurse training. ‘Project 2000’ aimed to take the student away from bedpans and the sluice room, and instead place them in university classrooms, studying from behind a desk, as opposed to learning at the patients bedside.

The aim of this new-age approach to nurse training was to encourage nurses to think, and act as a direct result of evidence based practice, and also to be able to substantiate actions and reflect on nursing practice.

And so, a new breed of ‘super nurse’ was created. The course itself received bad press and was wholly unwelcome, the ‘traditional’ nurses were made to feel that their years of dedication to their chosen profession were no longer adequate, and that in order to raise their professional profile, they would be required to enter into a phase of learning once again, in order to raise the standard of their hard earned qualification.

In more recent years, nurses have accepted the reasoning behind the academic style of nurse training. It is now clear that to have letters after ones name that suggest such high academic status, allows nurses to demand such things as higher levels of pay, and equally important, greater respect, and upward mobility among the ranks.

There has been a significant shift in the expectation of the ‘registered nurse’ from that of twenty years ago, and hands-on nursing roles are being designated to healthcare assistants with no nursing qualification.

Due to the academic prowess of nurses today, they strive to achieve management positions, which are usually non-clinical. This allows them to avoid the less pleasant, patient focused care, and removes further from retaining essential practical nursing skills.

The dedication to patient care appears to be a distant memory, and fading fast, as Britain’s breed of ‘traditional nurses’ retire, or simply leave the profession in many cases as a result of disappointment, disillusionment, and general lack of dedication toward an institution they were once so proud to be part of.

It is unlikely that the institution of nursing will ever revert back to its former ‘roots’.

The age of the academic nurse that strives to collect letters after their name, as opposed to letters of thanks from grateful patients, really is here to stay.

The best piece of advice I can give anyone who wants to become a nurse or any professional within the healthcare sector is to fully educate yourself on how to get there. The main key in all of this is to get into a career that is some-what closely related to the one that you want. Great “stepping stones” or entry-level positions to obtain experience are by working as a nurse or medical technician. One of the wonderful benefits of acquiring this experience is the opportunity to work along with nurses and physicians to learn the trade. It’s certainly a good thing to learn as much as you can about the field and go to school for that profession of interest.

Although getting accepted to any nursing program can be a rigorous task, luckily some programs will love the fact that a person does have some prior experience within the healthcare field. Sometimes your experience can be substituted for a required course that’s needed in the program. When it comes to selecting the right nursing school, there are a few programs to be aware of and to consider. The three program options are Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Associate Science in Nursing (ASN) and the Bachelor Science in Nursing (BSN). The LPN route usually takes about a year to complete, the ASN program can be completed within two to three years and the BSN is a four-year program.

Taking your first two years of college will increase your changes of being accepted. Most nursing and medical schools grant admission to those who have the required science, math and English courses completed by the school’s application deadline. These courses are often Anatomy and Physiology, Statistics, Nutrition and Chemistry/Biology with labs. If you can, I would recommend taking the required courses for admission as soon as possible. The fastest way of getting all of the required courses out of the way is by completing them online. I was able to complete about two courses in about four to six weeks than the average whole semester. A good thing to look into is The College-Level Examination Program or CLEP examinations where if you know enough about a subject, you will just go to your nearest testing site and take that examination for a college credit. Since the first two years of college is solely based on general education courses, it’s the fastest and cheapest way to complete them in a timely manner.

Making great grades in all courses is critical. The majority of nursing programs will rate their applicants based on many factors including the applicant’s overall grade point average in health- related courses, healthcare experience and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation or CPR certification. In addition to the above requirements, life experiences, the number of courses completed and scores from nursing entrance examinations can all be taken into consideration.

Once you have completed your program, you will be on your way to a wonderful career in nursing!