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Answers to the Would You Pass the HOBET? Quiz

AllHealthcare — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:18:00 -0800

AllHealthcare created the Would You Pass the HOBET? quiz to test how well-prepared you are. Here are the answers!

h4. Don't cheat! If you haven't taken the Would You Pass the HOBET? quiz yet, go take it first!

See answers on the next page...

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1) During the first 5 days a hospital is open, the number of patients triples each day. If the hospital opened on Tuesday with 345 patients, how many patients were there on Friday?

345

1,035

1,725

3,105

9,315 - Correct answer!

2) What is the measure of angle B if angle A measures 135*?

40*

45* - Correct answer!

50*

135*

225*

3) What is 35% of a number if 12 is 15% of that number?

5

12

28 - Correct answer!

33

62

4) In the first paragraph the author claims:

Depression only hurts the person who is depressed

Depression is not a major problem in the United States

Depression is a treatable illness - Correct answer!

Depression does not necessarily interfere with one's everyday life

5) The primary focus of this passage is:

To convince a person who is depressed to seek treatment.

To argue for treating depression.

To describe to the general public the different types of depression. - Correct answer!

A complex argument as to why depression exists in America.

6) In the final paragraph, the author claims:

Dysthymia is the most severe type of depression.

Bipolor Disorder is extremely common among those who are depressed.

Mania is often just as destructive as depression. - Correct answer!

Manic-Depressive Disorder always comes up suddenly.

7) Lethargic : Energy ::

Despondent : Melancholy

Mellow : Wrath - Correct answer!

Leisurely : Relaxation

Notorious : Infamy

8) Choose the word that is spelled incorrectly:

Acquit - Correct answer!

Conscientious

Cemetary - Correct answer!

License

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9) Ubiquitous most nearly means:

Excessively easy

Widely present - Correct answer!

Not present at all

Forbidden

Acutely aware

10) Choose the sentence with the misspelled word. If there are no errors, choose "No Mistakes."

The nurse arrived at the hospital; however, she was late for her shift.

After running two miles, Janet was out of breath.

After getting a low score, Dan's confidense was low. - Correct answer!

No mistakes.

11) What kind of motion can be described as either negative or positive?

Circular motion

Zig-zag motion

Motion in a straight line - Correct answer!

Rotation

12) After an exam, your professor approaches you and says he saw you cheat off another student's test. You know for a fact that you did not cheat, yet the professor insists you did. How do you react?

Admit to the wrong-doing even though you did not cheat.

Adamantly insist that you did not cheat. Raise your voice in order to get the point across.

Ask politely if you can retake the exam in order to prove that you did not cheat. - Correct answer!

Storm out of the classroom in a fit of rage.

13) While working in a hospital, a patient of yours passes away. There was nothing you could do to save him, yet his family insists you are to blame. How do you react?

Respectfully ask that they allow you to get your supervising physician or RN so that he/she may explain the situation. - Correct answer!

Tell them, "He was going to die anyway. Why does it matter?"

Agree with them, even though you aren't to blame.

Ignore them and hope they will just go away.

14) You’re a health care student who is working full-time while going to school at night and taking care of a family. The day of an important exam, your daughter wakes up with a 104* temperature. You spouse is currently out of town, and instinct tells you to take her to the hospital. However, you’ve used up all your sick days at work and you are afraid to miss the exam. What do you do?

Take your daughter to the ER and worry about explaining things later

Call work and explain the situation. Ask if the day can count as Paid Time Off or a personal health day. If possible, call co-workers to see if anyone can cover. Call professor and ask for an extension on the exam while explaining the importance of taking - Correct answer!

Try to bring your sick daughter to work with you and take her to the hospital on your lunch break. Try to find a sitter for test night.

Do nothing. You can’t afford to miss work or this test. 104* isn’t that high, right?

15) Which is the function of mitochondria?

I. Produce energy
II. Convert nutrients into energy via the electron transport system.
III. Break larger molecules into smaller ones.

I only

II only

III only

I and II only - Correct answer!

II and III only

I and III only

None of the above.

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16) Which of the following is not a noble gas?

Helium (He)

Argon (Ar)

Xenon (Xe)

Chlorine (Cl) - Correct answer!

17) You have orders to give a patient 20mg of medicine. The medication is stored 4mg per 5-ml dose. How many milliliters will need to be given?

15ml

20ml

25ml - Correct answer!

30ml

35ml

18) Which is the highest level in the hierarchy of living things?

Family

Class

Kingdom

Species - Correct answer!

Genus

19) What is the square of 25/9?

5/3

3/5

7 58/81 - Correct answer!

15/2

20) You are told to record a patient’s temperature in Celsius, but the thermometer reads Fahrenheit. The patient’s temperature is 100.7* F. What is the temperature in Celsius?

32* C

36.5* C

38.2* C - Correct answer!

43.7* C

Thanks for taking AllHealthcare''s Would You Pass the HOBET? quiz and we hope you learned something!

Should You Go Back to School During a Recession?

Jacob Milner | Monster Contributing Writer — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:34:00 -0700

Two Laid-Off Workers Rethink Careers, Rediscover Passions by Heading Back to Class

On the heels of more than 10 years as a professional journalist, Heather Lalley has found herself back in class.

After taking a buyout from The Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington, then moving to Chicago to work as a freelance writer for a year, Lalley decided it was time to go back to school -- this time to become a classically trained baker.

In April 2009, Lalley, 33, took a major step toward pursuing the career she has always dreamed about by enrolling in a two-year bread-making and pastry program at the Washburne Culinary Institute.

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“Freelancing was not something I saw myself doing for the long term,” says Lalley, who has baked bread on her own for years. “When I started thinking about what else I wanted to do, I settled on baking and realized that in order to do that, I’d need to go back to school.”

Recession Prompting Career Reconsiderations

In the current recession economy, millions of laid-off workers nationwide are also rethinking their career choices, leading many to go back to school.

Why? To acquire a new skill set, for one, as well as to constructively wait out the economic downturn. The challenges? Coming to terms with the reality of changing careers and recognizing that starting anew can, at times, feel pretty overwhelming.

“It’s never too late to learn something new,” says Marci Alboher, author of One Person/Multiple Careers: A New Model for Work/Life Success. “Besides, for many people, going back to school is a chance to pursue the career they always hoped they had tried for in the first place.”

Numbers reflect this trend. According to a March 2009 survey conducted by the League for Innovation in the Community College and the Campus Computing Project, 28 percent of the 120 responding community colleges reported enrollment increases of more than 10 percent from January 2008 to January 2009. Anecdotal evidence from four-year schools reveals similar trends.

Mitch Weisburgh, vice president of Academic Business Advisors, a consulting firm specializing in the higher-education market, says that in general, higher- and continuing-education enrollments skyrocket during a sagging economy.

“When people get laid off, the first thing they think about is acquiring additional skills, and the first place they want to go is back to school,” he says. “For many people, the current climate presents them with no options but to figure out what’s next, expand their horizons and start over on something entirely new.”

Coming Up with the Tuition

The government is offering support for workers who want to retrain. The $787 billion stimulus bill signed in February 2009 by President Obama includes $1.7 billion for adult employment services, including training.

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Many state budgets include similar funding. Through its No Worker Left Behind program, Michigan, which posted the country’s highest jobless rate -- 15.2 percent -- in June 2009, offers unemployed and underemployed adults up to $5,000 per year for two years of retraining at a community college. Full-time college students and recent high school graduates are excluded.

Still, the overwhelming majority of returning students are paying their own way. Such was the case for Charles Villano III of Mission Beach, California. In July 2008, after a year of unemployment, Villano decided to go back to school for a graduate certificate in marketing to add to his MBA in finance.

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Villano, 37, who previously worked as a manger in the pharmaceutical industry, said some of the cost of his continuing education was defrayed by the fact that he went back to his MBA alma mater, the University of San Diego. As a returning student, courses cost $1,100 per unit, as opposed to $3,300 for new students. Still, Villano had to borrow money from his parents.

“Whatever it ultimately costs me, the return trip is worthwhile, because I’m learning what I want to learn on my own terms,” he says. “At a time like this, with the economy doing badly just about everywhere, any money you can reinvest in your own skill development is going to be money well-spent.”

Budding baker Lalley agrees. Lalley, who aspires to open her own bakery when she graduates, found some scholarships at FastWeb.com, a Monster company, and applied for others through national nonprofit food organizations such as the James Beard Foundation.

She also planned to work out a quid-pro-quo arrangement through which she could receive reduced tuition for doing some marketing for the cooking school itself.

“If you have a useful skill that can work to your advantage as you seek training for a second career, use it,” says Lalley, who blogs about her experiences at flourgrrrl.blogspot.com. “Just because your old job isn’t necessarily relevant to the new one doesn’t mean you can’t leverage that experience to get ahead.”

Work-to-School Transition Tips

It’s not easy making the transition from full-time worker to full-time student. Here are some tips from Lalley and Villano:

• Establish a Goal: Ask yourself what you want to do next. Research the degrees or certificates that will make achieving that goal easier.

• Look for Creative Ways to Pay: Paying for retraining can be challenging, but not impossible. Check out scholarships, but also see if you can leverage a skill the school needs into reduced tuition.

• Don’t Let Fear Stop You: Yes, it’s scary to start over and go back to school. But don’t let fear force you into giving up and doing something you don’t want to do.

• Keep Networking: You never know when a contact (or a contact’s contact) might lead to a job interview and, eventually, a job. Cultivate both online and offline professional networks while in school.

This article originally appeared on Monster Career Advice.

Answers to the Mental Illness IQ and Mental Illness Resources

AllHealthcare — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:04:00 -0700

AllHealthcare brought you the What's Your Mental Illness IQ? quiz to test your knowlege of mental illness facts in the workplace and beyond. Here are the answers to that quiz as well as some links to mental illness resources.

h4. Don't cheat! If you haven't taken the Mental Illness IQ quiz yet, go take it first!

See answers on the next page...

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What can cause mental illness?

The environment

Substance abuse

Genetics

All of the above — Correct answer

From WebMd: “What are the causes of mental illness? Although the exact cause of most mental illnesses is not known, it is becoming clear through research that many of these conditions are caused by a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors.”

Are mental illnesses covered under the ADA?

Yes, always

Yes, in some situations — Correct answer

Very occasionally

Never

More information about mental illness rights under the ADA can be found here.

If you have to do certain rituals, you might have:

Obsessive-compulsive disorder — Correct answer

Schizophrenia

Generalized anxiety disorder

Social phobia

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by recurring unwanted thoughts and repetitive behavior. Learn more about it here.

Bipolar disorder used to be called:

Manic depression — Correct answer

Split personality

Dissociative disorder

Panic disorder

Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme instability and mood swings. Learn more about it here.

Who gets bipolar disorder more often?

Men

Women

It’s about even — Correct answer

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Trichotillomania is:

The urge to eat excessively

The urge to pluck out your hair — Correct answer

The urge to gamble

The urge to shop

A type of impulse control disorder, causes people to find relief from anxiety or tension and a sense of pleasure from plucking out hair. Find out more about it here.

Which is not a mood disorder?

Major depressive disorder

Bipolar disorder

Alcoholism

Schizophrenia — Correct answer

Mood disorders are classified by the presence or absence of manic episodes. Learn more about them here.

Signs of mental illness include:

Confusion

Change in personality

Withdrawal

All of the above — Correct answer

Mental illness can present itself in several different ways arranged into problems with “thinking, feeling, socializing, functioning, problems at home’ and poor self-care.” Learn the major signs here.

ADHD stands for:

Alcohol Dependency and Hallucination Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder — Correct answer

Adult Dysphasia and Health Disorder

Contrary to popular belief, ADHD can present itself in children and adults. Learn more about ADHD and get support here.

Can alcohol abuse cause depression?

No

Yes — Correct answer

While some individuals who suffer from depression self-medicate with alcohol, increasing evidence shows that alcohol abuse can actually cause depression.

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Who are more likely to self-injure?

Middle- to upper-class women — Correct answer

Middle- to lower-class women

Middle- to upper-class men

Middle to lower-class men

However, self injury can strike anyone. You can get an overview of self injury here and there are resources to help you here.

Mental illness tends to surface:

In childhood or adolescence — Correct answer

In adulthood

You can learn a lot more about mental illness in childhood and adolescence here.

About how many people have panic disorders?

One in five

One in 10 — Correct answer

One in 50

One in 100

You can learn more about panic disorder, including signs and symptoms and possible treatment options, here.

As a cause of death for young people, suicide ranks:

First

Second

Third — Correct answer

Fourth

For help regarding suicide and young people, click here, and suicide prevention resources for the general population can be found here.

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This is just a sampling of the many, many resources available to people with mental illness and their families, coworkers, and friends. We urge you to take advantage of them.

National Alliance on Mental Illness

Basic overview of mental illness

Support for people with mental illness, their families, friends, and coworkers

Overview of mental illness in the workplace

Mental illness and the ADA

Mental illness and job performance

Mental illness and the family

Thank you for taking AllHealthcare's What's Your Mental Illness IQ? quiz and we hope you learned something!

Get into Radiologic Technology School

Lisette Hilton | Monster Contributing Writer — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:34:00 -0700

If you think that getting into a radiologic technology (RT) education program should be easy given the shortage of rad tech professionals, think again. The fact is that RT programs are turning away would-be students who don’t meet what is often the strict criteria for admission.

“It is not easy to get in,” says Jane Saball, a student at Bethesda Memorial Hospital’s radiography school in Boynton Beach, Florida. “These programs are not just looking for anybody. They’re looking for the cream of the crop.”

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Before she was accepted into her program, Saball, who is changing careers to RT, returned to college to earn specific credits. She also obtained some healthcare experience to strengthen her application. Saball is now on track to earn a certificate of completion in RT in 2008.

Application Levels Affected By Costs

For the 2006-2007 academic year, 95 people applied for just 12 openings at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s RT program, according to Connie Mitchell, MA, RT(R)(CT), the school’s radiography program director. For the 2007-2008 year, “we’re down just a bit but still had about 60 applicants,” says Mitchell, president of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT).

Bill May, MEd, RT(R), FASRT, program director at MedVance Institute in Cookeville, Tennessee, says the private programs are more expensive but tend to be easier to get into. At MedVance, about 60 percent of applicants are accepted, May reports.

“Most of the state-sponsored programs have [prerequisites], and since the tuition is much less, [application levels] are much higher,” he says. “At a community college last year, we had over 300 applicants and only accepted 19 students.”

Some programs accept students on a first-come, first-served basis, while others go by the point system for entry. At the University of Nebraska, for example, Mitchell awards applicants points based on their work toward completing prerequisites that include 35 credit hours of basic science, math and English. Interviews, written narratives, healthcare experience and other factors are also used to evaluate candidates.

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Wow the Admissions Committee

To boost your chances of getting accepted into an RT program, experts offer these tips:

Keep Up Your Grades: Educators look for high grade point averages -- especially in high school and college math and science courses. Mitchell looks for GPAs in the 3.2 to 3.6 range. For applicants to community or state-sponsored colleges, May says that “the only way students get accepted…is if they have from 12 to 26 semester hours of credit of specific general-education courses and have almost straight A’s in those courses.”

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Apply for the Right Reasons: Jan Clark, MEd, RT(R)(CV)(M)(QM), says educators are looking for people suited to healthcare. “In terms of interpersonal skills, it is that desire to help others,” says Clark, ASRT national education chapter delegate. “The students who tend not to do well are the ones that come to the programs for the wrong reasons [such as salary].”

Have Computer/Technology Skills: Since radiography is a technology-focused career, applicants should have a comfort level with technology, Clark says.

Hone Your Interview Skills: Many programs require applicants to interview with faculty. Before her interviews, Saball researched industry trends and the specific programs she was applying to. The preparation helped convey her interest, desire and ambition. Be prepared with questions for the program faculty, Mitchell says. For instance, you might ask about similarities or differences with other programs you’re considering.

Choose References Wisely: Mitchell recommends listing college professors, high school instructors and employers as references instead of friends or relatives.

Volunteer or Job-Shadow: Know what the profession has to offer and what your career goals are, Mitchell says. In addition to observing in a radiology department at a hospital, Saball volunteered at a hospital emergency room, which gave her the direct patient-care experience she needed to earn more points.

Apply to More Than One Program: Saball applied to three and was accepted to one.

Be Persistent: Besides submitting her completed applications on time, Saball followed up with schools to show initiative.

CE for Radiologic Technologists

Cindy Mehallow | Monster Contributing Writer — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:06:00 -0700

Continuing education's diverse formats, topics and sources are helping radiologic technologists (RTs) fulfill their educational requirements -- in a variety of budgets, schedules and learning styles.

Each year, roughly 15,000 new and renewed continuing-education (CE) activities become available to RTs, estimates Becky Kruse, former director of continuing education for the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT), which reviews approximately half of all the field's CE activities.

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Search Your Options

When looking for CE, start with your own professional association. Most provide CE as a member service. Some, such as the ASRT, track member CE activities and submit records to the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). As the national organization that certifies radiologic professionals, the ARRT issues CE requirements but doesn't provide education itself.

At the ASRT's Online Learning Center, you can purchase courses in formats ranging from text to video webcasts. Studying, taking tests and receiving certification is all done online. By visiting the ASRT's Online Store, you can select courses and order them by mail or phone.

Commercial educational publishers and nonprofits such as universities, hospitals, healthcare organizations and clinics also offer CE. For a glimpse of what's out there, search the Internet for "radiology education." Prepare to be overwhelmed.

Assured Approval

Once you've found the right CE option for you, determine whether it meets ARRT requirements. The ARRT currently designates nine radiologic associations as Recognized Continuing Education Evaluation Mechanisms (RCEEMs), which can deliver approved CE courses.

When reviewing a listing for a CE activity, look for a statement that the activity has been "Approved for Category A credit" by the ARRT or an RCEEM. If uncertain, contact the organization directly.

Online and Offline Study

Technology -- particularly the Internet -- has transformed training. "We're limited only by the bounds of our imagination," says Tom Kraker, MEd, RT(R), assistant executive director for the ARRT.

There's been an explosion of activity in Internet-based learning, Kraker says. Most online CE activities consist of stand-alone options similar in content to traditional home-study courses. Online courses are usually paperless, and some feature streaming video.

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The convenience of these on-demand courses is a big draw, says Richard Terrass, MEd, RT(R), director of the graduate program in medical imaging at the MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston. "Some of these courses generate the certificate immediately, printing it out if the user passes the post-test," he says. "That's good for procrastinators."

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Tried-and-true home-study courses, as well as directed readings from scholarly journals and official radiology association publications are offline options as time allows. CD-ROMs often represent updated, interactive versions of these CE standbys. Some offer enhanced graphics you can manipulate.

While effective, videotapes are losing popularity because of high production costs and healthcare professionals' preference for the interactivity of computer-based learning.

Phantom Patients

Some radiology equipment manufacturers have developed computer-operated interactive learning labs complete with phantom patients. In these simulated imaging centers, radiology professionals use imaging equipment to work through an entire scenario. As they move step-by-step through each procedure, a computer adjusts to and reports on the results of users' actions. The equipment does not emit radiation but otherwise works as it would in a radiology setting.

Pressing the Flesh

Nothing beats the human touch of association conferences, workshops, courses and lectures. "In-person learning is always valuable," Kraker says. "It's interactive, and you can ask questions."

Gatherings such as the ASRT's annual Radiation Therapy Conference have much to offer RTs. Held concurrently with the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology conference, the ASRT meeting offers healthcare professionals approved CE classes, plus intellectual stimulation, networking, a variety of conference topics and access to renowned specialists. In the exhibit halls, you can meet with leading vendors, recruiters and potential employers, which is impossible with home study.

With so many options available, it's easier than ever to meet CE requirements and stay current in your field. "Truly, in medicine, if you're not constantly learning, you're not providing the best care," Kruse says.

Answers to the Health Care Reform Debate IQ Quiz

AllHealthcare — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:25:00 -0700

AllHealthcare created the Health Care Reform Debate IQ quiz to test how much you know about the current debate about health care reform. Here's the answers!

h4. Don't cheat! If you haven't taken the Health Care Reform Debate IQ quiz yet, go take it first!

See answers on the next page...

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1) To be eligible for Medicaid, you have to be:

Under 18

Over 65

Low-income - Correct answer!

Disabled

2) The “public option” does not mean:

It’s just like Medicare

You have to participate - Correct answer!

The government runs it

The government pays for it

3) HELP stands for:

The Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Senate committee - Correct answer!

The Helping Elderly Life Plans Senate committee

The Healthcare Education Lobby Partnership

The House Education Learning Plan

4) The “doughnut hole” is the:

Medicare term for the obese

Amount your deductible doesn’t cover

People who pay more than $5,000/year for insurance

Gap in Medicare medication coverage - Correct answer!

5) Who’s paying the least for health care?

France

Belgium

United States

United Kingdom - Correct answer!

6) Health insurance cooperatives don’t:

Pay licensing fees to the federal government

Have to turn a profit - Correct answer!

Have to have over 10,000 members

Get governed by elected officials

7) Medical costs cause bankruptcy because people:

Owe over $25,000 in medical bills

Mortgage their homes to pay medical bills

Have chronic illness

All of the above - Correct answer!

8) What are some people calling “death panels”?

Advanced care planning consultations - Correct answer!

Anti-suicide hotlines

Suicide assistance programs

Cost-cutting committees

Thanks for taking AllHealthcare''s Health Care Reform Debate IQ quiz and we hope you learned something!

Mankind's 13 Deadliest Diseases

Adam Starr | AllHealthcare — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:02:00 -0700

Remember a few months ago when A/H1N1, i.e. “swine flu,” was going to wipe out all of humanity? Do you recall how every single time you turned on the T.V., a talking head would chatter nervously about how “Hamthrax” and “Snoutbreak” was about to really cook everyone’s bacon?

Fortunately, swine flu has largely oinked-out with nowhere near the destructiveness of its earliest prognosis. As far as outbreaks go, it was small and mostly non-lethal, but swine flu did have the potential to do significant damage, to become something bigger, to evolve into a pandemic. AllHealthcare decided to look into our pandemic past to discover clues to our most recent pig-plague scare.

So, what is a pandemic anyway? Pandemic is a Greek word (pan: all, demos: people) that means, “Widespread or general,” it describes an “epidemic that spreads over a large geographic area infecting a sizeable proportion of the population.” The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes a pandemic after these three conditions:

• Disease is infectious to humans

• Disease emerges that is new to a population

• Disease spreads quickly and sustainably between people

There have been victims of disease since the very beginning of human history; death was a natural and often early part of our ancestral past. If unwelcome, death was at least typical. But occasionally these diseases were so virulent and powerful that they threatened to eliminate entire peoples. These outbreaks were anything but typical. From the Bubonic Plague to HIV, mankind has struggled to understand, control, and eradicate these mass deaths. Where we have failed and they have won, we’ve witnessed a pandemic. AllHealthcare have compiled a list of history’s 13 worst pandemics to keep you healthily educated on our past. Read on, stay hygienic, and whatever you do—avoid these next 13 killers like the plague.

Diagnose the List >>

Healthcare Trivia: Test Your Medical Knowledge with These Fun Quizzes:

• Alphabet Soup: How Well Do You Know Your Healthcare Acronyms?

ACCS, CPR, HIPAA...The healthcare industry is full of acronyms that you may or may not be expected to know. Can you sort through your healthcare ABCs?

• Eye Spy Hospital

You work in the hospital everyday but can you tell the difference between a syringe and a stethoscope? Check out these extreme close-ups of some everyday hospital tools and see how many you can identify.

• Medical Symbols 101

Do you know the difference between a caduceus and the Cup of Hygieia? Or the Rx and the Staff of Asklepios? You may have worked in healthcare for a decade, but do you know where these historical symbols come from? Test yourself now.

• Test Your Health IQ

You might be a healthcare professional, but are you a health expert? Take this health quiz developed by the HHS to find out!

• When This You See: Test Your Healthcare Photo IQ

This is a fun quiz for you to test your biomedical photo IQ. Have you ever looked through the microscope? Identify these photos.

>> Related <<: Read about the Nation's First Drive-Through Pandemic Exercise

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Manage Your Healthcare Continuing Education Units

Peter Vogt | Monster Senior Contributing Writer — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:16:00 -0700

If you're like most healthcare professionals, you'll want to renew the licenses and certifications you worked so hard to attain. That typically means completing a certain number of continuing-education units (CEUs) every year or two (or three or four or five, depending on the requirements of the licensure and certification bodies in your state and profession).

If only fulfilling your CEU requirements were as easy to do, as it is to say.

You're far more likely to be motivated in your CEU activities if you're participating in educational programs that actually interest you.

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Invest a little time and energy in activities that are a bit off the beaten path for you. If there's a certain technique, procedure, approach or issue that has always intrigued you, earn some CEUs while you learn more about it.

Try to mix up the learning methods you use. Your options are no longer limited to in-person seminars or classes, or read-and-test correspondence courses. What are the online or distance-education options for obtaining CEUs in your discipline? You can find out by contacting professional organizations or your alma mater, or using an online resource like MonsterLearning.

Just be sure that any online or distance-ed course you take will count toward your CEU total for your particular licensure or certification body. If you're not sure, ask beforehand and get the answers in writing.

Continuing education doesn't have to be a useless hassle. Indeed, it can be the fulfilling learning experience the licensing and certification bodies intend it to be -- if you're willing to plan and persist as you pursue your CEUs.

More Resources >>

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More Education & Financial Aid Resources

• Advance Your Career with Healthcare Certifications

• Advance Your Education: Spotlight on Degrees

• 5 Top Hospitals That Will Pay for Your Education

• 3 Easy Steps to Finding a Health Care Scholarship

• Is Online for Real?

• Judging Online Schools

• The Online Option: What You Should Know

• 7 Great Study Habits and Time Management Tips

• Low on Cash for School? Find a Scholarship!

Answers to the Nutrition IQ Quiz

Thu, 14 May 2009 14:36:00 -0700

AllHealthcare created the Nutrition IQ quiz to test how much you know about eating right. We listened to your feedback and are providing the answers so you can learn from the quiz.

h4. Don't cheat! If you haven't taken the Nutrition IQ quiz yet, go take it first.

See answers on the next page...

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1) Skipping meals — a great way to diet?

Yes

No - Correct answer!

2) Which eggs are more nutritious?

Brown

White

They’re the same - Correct answer!

3) You need to drink exactly 8 glasses of water every day:

True

False - Correct answer!

4) Which is not a whole grain?

Popcorn

Wild rice

Pasta - Correct answer!

5) Which is the bad kind of fat?

Saturated - Correct answer!

Monounsaturated

Polyunsaturated

6) What has the most iron?

Shrimp

Liver - Correct answer!

Apricots

7) How much salt should you eat per day?
½ teaspoon
1 teaspoon - Correct answer!
1 tablespoon
2 tablespoons

8) A proper serving of protein is:

The size of my whole hand

The size of my palm - Correct answer!

The size of two fingers

9) And a serving of rice or pasta is:

The size of a tennis ball - Correct answer!

The size of a grapefruit

The size of my head

10) Which juice has the most antioxidants?

Orange

Tomato

Concord grape - Correct answer!

Cranberry

11) How much sugar is in a can of regular soda?

About a teaspoon

About three teaspoons

About nine teaspoons - Correct answer!

12) Obese people have a BMI of:

Over 20

Over 25

Over 30 - Correct answer!

Thanks for taking the Nutrition IQ quiz!

Quiz Results: How Well Do You Know Your Healthcare Acronyms?

Wed, 13 May 2009 11:45:00 -0700

You took the quiz, now find out how you did! Questions and answers are featured - the correct answers are in bold. Click to the next page to learn the answers...but don't cheat!

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1. HIPAA stands for:

• Health Insurers Placement Association of America

• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

• Health Indicators Profit Accessibility Act

• Health Information Professionals Accountability Act

2. ME stands for:

• Minor emergency

• Medical emergency

• Master of Emergencies

• Management emergency

3. ATD stands for:

• Ambulatory Treatment Device

• Administrative Teaching Director

• Academic Teaching Director

• Admission, Treatment, Discharge

4. CRNA stands for:

• Critical Registerd Nurse Assistant

• Clinical Resident of National Association

• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

• Code Recognition Neo-Natal Assistant

5. PAS stands for:

• Patient Accounting System

• Patient Administrative System

• Physician Administration Studies

• Physician Accounting System

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6. GME stands for:

• General Medical Education

• Graduate Medical Education

• Group Membership Electonrics

• Gross Medical Emergency

7. NICU stands for:

• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

• Nursing Intensive Care Unit

• National Idependent Clinic University

8. N.D. stands for:

• Neonatal Doctor

• Nursing Doctor

• Doctor of Nursing

• Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

9. UCC stands for:

• Urgent Critical Care

• Unique Care Center

• Urgent Care Center

• Undergraduate Care Center

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10. SDS stands for:

• Strategic Development System

• Same-Day Surgery

• School of Dietary Sciences

• System of Dentistry Schools

11. PRN stands for:

• Physician Referral Network

• Patient Referral Network

• Patment Registration Network

• Prospective Registrar Network

12. OPD stands for:

• Operating Programs Department

• Outpatient Department

• Occuapational Physician Department

• Office of Patient Development

13. RN stands for:

• Registered Nurse

• Restricted Nurse

• Request for Nurses

• Relative Nurse

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14. ICU stands for:

• International Care University

• Integrated Care Utilization

• Intensive Care Unit

• Intensive Clinical Use

15. CPX stands for:

• Center for Physical Exams

• Complete Physical Exam

• Critical Physical Exam

• Cautionary Physical Exam

16. FFS stands for:

• Fee-For-Service

• Fee-Free System

• Free Federal System

• Federal Faculty Society

17. TH stands for:

• Total Healthcare

• Tax-Free Hospital

• Tele-Hospital

• Teaching Hospital

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18. PA stands for:

• Practical Assistant

• Physician's Association

• Physician Assistant

• Patient Assembly

19. LOS stands for:

• Length of Stay

• Longevity of System

• Licensed Operating System

• Local Operating Suture

20. IVF stands for:

• Intensive Vascular Facility

• Indirect Ventrical Finances

• In Vitro Fertilization

• In Vitro Faculty

Turn Postgraduation Panic into Action

Peter Vogt, MonsterTRAK Career Coach — Wed, 13 May 2009 10:16:00 -0700

If the only thing you have planned for after graduation is panicking, you're not alone. But you'll be far better off if you transform your fear into the kind of action that will boost your chances of landing the job you really want. Start with these key activities:

Expand Your Industry-Specific Skills

"If you're keeping a part-time job to make ends meet while you search for something more permanent, volunteer for new projects or ask for more responsibility," says Kristen Lindsay, associate director of career services at the University of Toledo.

For example, if you're looking for a full-time job in human resources, try to get involved in the next round of hiring at your part-time company, Lindsay advises. Similarly, if you'd like to get into marketing, "volunteer to research cutting-edge marketing strategies in the industry, and propose a marketing campaign based on your research," she says.

"Continue to build your skills and your resume instead of passively waiting for the phone to ring," Lindsay says.

Identify and Market Your Transferable Skills

"It doesn't matter if your degree is in psychology, anthropology or liberal studies," says Jerry Houser, director of the Career Development Center at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena, California. "What does matter is knowing the skills you learned in college: critical thinking, writing, communicating and the like."

It's very easy, especially when you're already feeling down, to buy into the myth that you didn't learn anything in college that matters to a real-world employer. But when you start thinking about all of those group projects (teamwork) and presentations (verbal communication), or even your busy schedule (organization), you can't help but conclude that you picked up some important transferable skills that will look great on your resume.

"Any career counselor that breathes can help you identify those transferable skills that employers most want to see," Houser says. "It's actually an important thing for you to do."

Practice Interviewing

You can have the best grades, resume, experience and references, but if you can't present it all effectively in an interview, you won't get the job.

San Francisco State University career counselor Jim Wong once worked with a job seeker who'd had 80 interviews but no offers. "Was the applicant applying for the right types of positions suitable for their career goals and level of experience?" Wong asks. More importantly, he says, were the job seeker's interviewing skills subpar?

If you've gone zero for 80 in your interviews -- or even zero for five -- you probably could use some help. Take advantage of the resources your school's career center offers, such as mock interviewing, before you leave campus for good.

Watch for Special Postgraduation Opportunities

Employers are often eager participants in job fairs that cater to recent grads. Another event to check out: Monster's Keep America Working tour. Events like this are great opportunities to make contact with potential employers.

Tell Everyone You're Looking

"I encourage individuals to let everyone know they're job searching," says Lindsay. "Networking is critical, and that means networking with family, friends, former bosses and colleagues -- everyone. You never know who has a job lead to share.

Likewise, you never know which of these activities will turn Sunday's panic into the first Monday of your professional career. So try them all for best results.

Five Resume Tips for College Students

Kim Isaacs, Monster Resume Expert — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:15:00 -0700

You’re still in college, and the world of work can wait a few years. So who needs a resume?

You do. Armed with a well-constructed resume, you will be prepared for potential opportunities throughout your time in college. These include seasonal, part-time and temporary work, as well as assistantships, internships and fellowships. Another plus: You’ll be ready to update your resume when you’re looking for that first job after graduation.

So where do you start? Here are five tips for writing your first resume.

Start with a Qualifications Summary

Sue Campbell, a professional resume writer and president of 1st-Writer.com, says that a summary of your top qualifications is often more effective than an objective statement. This is particularly true if your career goal is undefined.

"I don't recommend writing a vague objective, because it will typically focus on what the job seeker wants, which is usually of no consequence to the person making the hiring decision,” says Robyn Feldberg, a certified career management coach and owner of Abundant Success Career Services. “Instead of an objective, I recommend that students format a profile section that clearly gives the reader a picture of the value they offer a potential employer.” Keep your summary brief -- a few hard-hitting sentences are perfect.

Give Education Top Billing

Typically, education is at the bottom of a resume, but students are often better served by moving their education toward the top.

"Without experience in the target field, education is often the most valuable information a student has to offer," explains Campbell. "The education section can move down in priority as the job seeker gains experience.”

According to Feldberg, "when formatting education, include the name of the college or university, its city and state, anticipated graduation date, extracurricular activities and courses related to your job target.” If your GPA is 3.0 or higher, you can include that too.

Describe Unrelated Jobs the Right Way

Many students have part-time, seasonal or temporary work experience that is unrelated to future career goals. You don't want to pack your document with irrelevant details, says Feldberg. On the other hand, prospective employers value candidates who demonstrate dependability and a strong work ethic, even if the experience is in a different industry.

Pull out the most important aspects of your work experience, advises Lorie Lebert, CEO of career management firm Resumes for Results and contributor to numerous resume books, including Best Resumes for College Students and New Grads. "Go into detail about projects you were involved in that show leadership, drive and determination," she says. Campbell suggests students extract the skills and achievements that are most relevant to employers' needs and leave out details that don't add value.

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Think Like an Employer - and Like a Job Seeker

If you're applying to jobs or internships, "look at your experience through two pairs of eyes: the potential employer's and your own," says Campbell.

Study job ads or internship announcements that interest you. "For example, if an ad states that communication skills are important, think about times when your communication skills came into play," Campbell says. "If you worked in any customer service-related position, you definitely used communication skills." You can emphasize these skills on your resume.

"Next, look at your experience through your own eyes," says Campbell. "What work did you enjoy? While these skills and experiences may not be directly relevant to the positions you're targeting, they're good indicators of areas where you're likely to excel in the future."

Pick the Right Resume Length and Format

"For most college students, a one-page resume is plenty," says Feldberg. But she adds that this isn't a hard-and-fast rule, particularly for students who have established a track record through internships or work experience. For these students, "a one-page resume would sell them short," she says, and it's OK to go to two pages.

Failed the NCLEX? Strategies to Put You Back on Track

Megan Malugani / Monster Contributing Writer — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:26:00 -0800

You've completed your nursing education but didn't pass the test that signifies you're ready to become a full-fledged nurse: The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). How do you bounce back after failing? Nurses who've been there, as well as experts, say it takes inspiration, dedication and diligence.

"Don't give up," advises Cheryl, a South Carolina RN who passed the NCLEX-RN in June 2005 on her second try. "You persisted until you graduated from nursing school, and you will also have to persist and apply yourself until you pass the state boards."

These tips will help you bounce back and recharge for your next try at the NCLEX:

h4. Realize You're Not Alone

"It's not necessarily something nurses talk about, but you might be surprised by how many people have failed [the NCLEX] once or even twice and gotten their careers on track anyway," says Donna Cardillo, RN, a Sea Girt, New Jersey-based career coach and author of Your First Year as a Nurse. In fact, about 14.5 percent of US-educated and 48 percent of internationally educated RN candidates failed the NCLEX-RN on their first attempt in 2007, according to statistics from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Also in 2007, about 12 percent of US-educated and 51 percent of internationally educated LPN/LVN candidates failed the NCLEX-PN on their first try.

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h4. Analyze Your Failure

Figuring out where you went wrong can help you avoid similar mistakes next time. Cheryl knew she was failing while at the computer taking the exam. "My stomach was in knots," she says. "I was miserable when I left."

Cheryl immediately recognized the cause of her difficulties: Because she had taken several years to complete her RN education while working as an LPN, she had learned some of the concepts she was expected to know long ago, and she didn't use them in her everyday practice.

Other reasons new graduates fail the NCLEX the first time include illness, lack of sleep, a family crisis, disorganized post-graduation study or being distracted in the test setting, according to Patricia S. Yoder-Wise, RN, EdD, a professor in the School of Nursing at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

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h4. Overcome Stumbling Blocks

Once you've assessed why you failed, think about what you need to do differently. Studying with NCLEX books and enrolling in a review course can increase your confidence about passing the exam the next time, Yoder-Wise says. Sample tests available online or at the library can help you become familiar with the test format and questions. Previous nursing instructors also may be able to help you study or recommend study aids. Some nursing schools may even pay for a review course.

Cheryl signed up at a review center, where the staff custom-designed a review plan based on the strengths and weaknesses her NCLEX results revealed. Cheryl committed herself to several months of on-site video instruction at the review center. She also studied independently every day. Cheryl found the review course's test-taking strategies particularly helpful. "It gave me my confidence back," she says. "I realized I really did know this stuff."

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h4. Expect Success

Overcoming an initial failure on the NCLEX is a testament to your character and the kind of nurse you'll be, says Rachael, another South Carolina RN. She passed the NCLEX-RN on her second attempt in 1988, and the fact that she took it twice has not adversely affected her nursing career. "You can't get stuck in depression or self-doubt if you fail the first time," Rachael says. "If you're going to wallow in this, then you would break down the first time a patient dies, and you wouldn't make it as a nurse anyway."

While failing the NCLEX embarrassed her at first, Rachael has no regrets, saying it means she can better relate to the struggling students she has trained and oriented through the years. She could even sympathize with a brother-in-law who failed the bar exam on his way to becoming a lawyer. "I can relate to some things that other people can't relate to," Rachael says.

College Class Online

Roxana Hadad / FastWeb — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 13:39:00 -0800

After you research your next car, book a flight and find a scholarship, why not do one more thing online -- earn a degree. Lots of busy people are trying out this new alternative to the traditional college career.

h4. All Kinds of Programs

The number of online education options has grown tremendously over the past several years. There are schools that focus exclusively on online education while more traditional institutions have added Internet programs to their mix.

Penn State's World Campus (www.worldcampus.psu.edu) enrolls over 6,500 registered students - 70 percent of whom do not live in Pennsylvania and 5 percent of whom do not even live in the United States. The World Campus programs offer the same courses and the same faculty as Penn State's traditional courses.

Other online courses are run through educational institutions that are completely Web-based. These programs usually charge a one-time administration fee that can sometimes run as low as $10. The courses you register for are either included in the fee, or you pay a low course fee. There are even some programs that offer a free trial course.

h4. Evaluating Programs

When choosing an online education course, it's important to know it can deliver the goods. Gary Miller, the Executive Director of Penn State's World Campus, suggests that you ask these questions when evaluating a program:

• Is it an accredited institution? A college that is accredited has had its educational program reviewed and credentialed by an independent association. Accreditation of an online program is important when you're looking for a job or applying to a school.

• Does it have a full-time faculty? Find out about the teachers and their backgrounds.

• What are students doing after graduation? Look for a college that has advanced students into good careers.
• Are the courses interactive? The classes should offer an interactive learning environment - not just course materials to be downloaded and tests to be taken online.

• How structured is the program? You want a program that is structured enough to motivate you, but not so structured that it limits your lifestyle.

• How timely is teacher feedback? Ask about the school's policy governing when teachers must answer your questions and give feedback on your assignments.

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h4. Check Out the Pros and Cons

Online learning may be right for you - but before you log on, consider the advantages and disadvantages to make sure it's what you want.

The greatest benefit of online education is its accessibility. You can go to class at any time of day from any computer in the world. "This is what makes it perfect for the busy, working individual," says Brian Mueller, chief executive officer at the University of Phoenix.

And some may find that the online format makes it easier to participate in class discussions. "It's a democratic environment - your ideas will be shared without anyone knowing what you look or sound like," Mueller says. You also don't have to wait for class time to ask your professor a question or propose an idea to your classmates. You can thoroughly develop your ideas and questions before you share them.

On the downside, online courses are always dependent on technology. You can't go to class if the server is down or your computer is on the blink.

Also, the anonymity of online participation has its own drawbacks. "Online classes don't develop your oral communication skills," Mueller says. You don't get the experience of standing up in front of your class to present your ideas, a skill that comes in handy when going out into the corporate world. You may also miss face-to-face in-class discussions and direct contact with your professor.

Online education opens doors for busy people who need a course schedule with flexibility. Log on and see what it's all about.

You’ve Been Flunk’d! Now What?

Chris Diehl / FastWeb — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 13:30:00 -0800

"Failure paves the way to success!" is the last thing you want to hear when you fail a class. A bad grade isn’t life or death, and maybe you can improve the situation.

Remember, every school has their own policies, so check with your college to find out its policy for failed classes and withdrawals.

h4. Situation 1: I feel an F coming. Help!

You don’t understand the material. You skipped classes. Whatever the reason, the withdrawal period has passed and you're drowning. What are your options?

• Talk to your professor: Ask about extra credit or rewrites to improve your grade. Show that you want to succeed and you may get more leeway at the end of the semester.

• Visit your school’s academic counseling office: Counseling offices offer assistance with time management, tutoring and test preparation.

• Ask about tutoring: If available, enroll immediately. It might be possible to catch up in your class after a few one-on-one sessions. Ask your classmates for assistance: Ask to review notes from a day you missed or for help on a concept that they understand and you do not.

If you were out sick, “don’t just go back to class,” says Joyce Stern, dean for student academic support and advising at Grinnell College. “Ask the professor for an appointment to meet in the office hours to review some material that [you] might have missed.”

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The problem won't solve itself. “[Students] need to be honest with themselves about the evidence that’s coming in,” says Stern. “Have they missed a lot of class? Was their first quiz an F, their first test an F? Are they starting to become afraid to go to class?” Muster the courage to talk to your professor, crack open that book and salvage what you can.

h4. Situation 2: I just failed. Can I wipe it off my record?

Dropping a class after the withdrawal deadline is difficult but possibly allowed if there's a legitimate reason. Usually the reason is an extreme personal or health issue like a lengthy hospital stay or death in the family. Remember, these exceptions are for very serious situations, and you will need to present your case to be excused from the class.

If you feel you were treated unfairly or the professor made a mistake, talk to your professor first, but again, be prepared to state your case. Asking for a grade change without backup will get you nowhere. “Don’t go in there and say, ‘Hey prof, you’ve really screwed up here!'" says Dr. Fiona Cowie, associate professor of philosophy at the California Institute of Technology. "You want to say, ‘I’m really upset about this, I thought I was doing really well in this class, would you mind going over it with me so that you can be sure that there’s not been some mistake?’”

“Avoid approaching professors in an adversarial spirit, [which] only has a tendency to put [them] on the defensive and makes them less likely to meet you halfway,” says Philip Bean, dean for academic affairs at Haverford College, via email. Before you elevate the issue to the department head, the registrar’s office, or the dean of the faculty, find out the proper protocol.

Some colleges offer more palatable options than taking the F. You might retake the failed class and have the new grade supplant the F in your GPA (though the F will probably remain on your transcript). While your school may offer other ways to minimize the damage to your GPA, the important thing is to research your options and decide on the best choice based on your college’s policy.

h4. Situation 3: OK, I messed up. How do I prevent this from happening again?

“To expunge a poor grade that has been correctly assigned would be to tell the world something that is not truthful,” says Bean. “Just as we expect other institutions and our students to be truthful with us, we feel obligated to be comparably truthful with the world.” If you received an F because you earned it, no reputable college is going to wipe that grade away. Ask yourself: Why did I fail?

• I didn’t manage my time well.

• I had no idea what the professor was talking about.

• I skipped a week of class.

• I didn’t do the homework.

• I thought I could ace the tests without studying.

“The hardest part of finding solutions is identifying the problems that caused the academic troubles,” says Stern. “Was it procrastination, avoidance of something they found too difficult, addiction to their computer games or the Internet? Students should look closely at which of their behaviors were most problematic for them, and then try to find ways to not fall into the same bad habits again.”

“The bottom line,” she says, “[is that] sometimes students just have to learn the hard way and figure things out for themselves. Ultimately, it's up to them to just do it.”

Essay Tips: 7 Tips on Writing an Effective Essay

Making It Count — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 13:26:00 -0800

Writing an essay often seems to be a dreaded task among students. Whether the essay is for a scholarship, a class, or maybe even a contest, many students often find the task overwhelming. While an essay is a large project, there are many steps a student can take that will help break down the task into manageable parts. Following this process is the easiest way to draft a successful essay, whatever its purpose might be.

According to Kathy Livingston’s Guide to Writing a Basic Essay, there are seven steps to writing a successful essay:

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h4. 1. Pick a topic.

You may have your topic assigned, or you may be given free reign to write on the subject of your choice. If you are given the topic, like you are for the Making It Count “Winning Characteristics” Scholarship, you should think about the type of paper that you want to produce. Should it be a general overview of the subject or a specific analysis? Narrow your focus if necessary.

If you have not been assigned a topic, you have a little more work to do. However, this opportunity also gives you the advantage to choose a subject that is interesting or relevant to you. First, define your purpose. Is your essay to inform or persuade?

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Once you have determined the purpose, you will need to do some research on topics that you find intriguing. Think about your life. What is it that interests you? Jot these subjects down.

Finally, evaluate your options. If your goal is to educate, choose a subject that you have already studied. If your goal is to persuade, choose a subject that you are passionate about. Whatever the mission of the essay, make sure that you are interested in your topic.

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h4. 2. Prepare an outline or diagram of your ideas.

In order to write a successful essay, you must organize your thoughts. By taking what’s already in your head and putting it to paper, you are able to see connections and links between ideas more clearly. This structure serves as a foundation for your paper. Use either an outline or a diagram to jot down your ideas and organize them.

To create a diagram, write your topic in the middle of your page. Draw three to five lines branching off from this topic and write down your main ideas at the ends of these lines. Draw more lines off these main ideas and include any thoughts you may have on these ideas.

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If you prefer to create an outline, write your topic at the top of the page. From there, begin to list your main ideas, leaving space under each one. In this space, make sure to list other smaller ideas that relate to each main idea. Doing this will allow you to see connections and will help you to write a more organized essay.

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h4. 3. Write your thesis statement.

Now that you have chosen a topic and sorted your ideas into relevant categories, you must create a thesis statement. Your thesis statement tells the reader the point of your essay. Look at your outline or diagram. What are the main ideas?

Your thesis statement will have two parts. The first part states the topic, and the second part states the point of the essay. For instance, if you were writing about Bill Clinton and his impact on the United States, an appropriate thesis statement would be, “Bill Clinton has impacted the future of our country through his two consecutive terms as United States President.”

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Another example of a thesis statement is this one for the “Winning Characteristics” Scholarship essay: “During my high school career, I have exhibited several of the “Winning Characteristics,” including Communication Skills, Leadership Skills and Organization Skills, through my involvement in Student Government, National Honor Society, and a part-time job at Macy’s Department Store.”

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h4. 4. Write the body.

The body of your essay argues, explains or describes your topic. Each main idea that you wrote in your diagram or outline will become a separate section within the body of your essay.

Each body paragraph will have the same basic structure. Begin by writing one of your main ideas as the introductory sentence. Next, write each of your supporting ideas in sentence format, but leave three or four lines in between each point to come back and give detailed examples to back up your position. Fill in these spaces with relative information that will help link smaller ideas together.

h4. 5. Write the introduction.

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Now that you have developed your thesis and the overall body of your essay, you must write an introduction. The introduction should attract the reader’s attention and show the focus of your essay.

Begin with an attention grabber. You can use shocking information, dialogue, a story, a quote, or a simple summary of your topic. Whichever angle you choose, make sure that it ties in with your thesis statement, which will be included as the last sentence of your introduction.

h4. 6. Write the conclusion.

The conclusion brings closure of the topic and sums up your overall ideas while providing a final perspective on your topic. Your conclusion should consist of three to five strong sentences. Simply review your main points and provide reinforcement of your thesis.

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h4. 7. Add the finishing touches.

After writing your conclusion, you might think that you have completed your essay. Wrong. Before you consider this a finished work, you must pay attention to all the small details.

Check the order of your paragraphs. Your strongest points should be the first and last paragraphs within the body, with the others falling in the middle. Also, make sure that your paragraph order makes sense. If your essay is describing a process, such as how to make a great chocolate cake, make sure that your paragraphs fall in the correct order.

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Review the instructions for your essay, if applicable. Many teachers and scholarship forms follow different formats, and you must double check instructions to ensure that your essay is in the desired format.

Finally, review what you have written. Reread your paper and check to see if it makes sense. Make sure that sentence flow is smooth and add phrases to help connect thoughts or ideas. Check your essay for grammar and spelling mistakes.

Congratulations! You have just written a great essay.

With Funds Tight, College Students Get Creative

Dan Macsai / BusinessWeek — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:27:00 -0800

After accepting admission to New York University for this past fall, Max Stephenson started searching for loans. Then living in rural Tewksbury, N.J., the 18-year-old had little savings, and his parents couldn't afford NYU's hefty tuition, which this year hovers around $50,000 when you include room and board.

The Stephensons met with several private lenders, since government aid was inadequate. But like many Americans in need, they couldn't borrow enough: Loans were either unavailable, or they came with double-digit interest rates. As his freshman year loomed, Stephenson was short $25,000.

Unfazed, he hatched a plan. He'd get 10,000 strangers to donate $2.50, $3.50, or whatever they could afford. To thank them, he'd send a piece of his graduation cap or gown. Within weeks, Stephenson's plea—which began as a mid-August e-mail to 250 acquaintances—had circled the globe: Donations poured in from the U.S, Nigeria, Spain, and many other countries. As of earlier this month, he has raised $11,000, more than enough to finance his first semester.

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A SEVERE DISRUPTION

Several years ago, such a quest might have seemed absurd. Not so today. As lenders cope with turmoil in the financial markets and fallout from the subprime mortgage crisis, the student loan industry is more precarious than ever. Daring and driven, a small but growing number of students, like Stephenson, have embraced creative financing. But it's not necessarily by choice.

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In the past year, conventional lenders have drastically reduced funding for student loans. The financial aid Web site FinAid.org reports that 168 have exited or suspended their participation in the federally-guaranteed student loan program (FFELP), which includes the popular Stafford and PLUS loans. Thirty-eight have also stopped offering private student loans.

FinAid publisher Mark Kantrowitz, who has been following the industry for two decades, says the student loan market is severely disrupted. "In years past, we've seen maybe one or two banks pull out of the FFELP," he says. "This is a lot worse."

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That's daunting news for college students, most of whom depend on loans to pay for school. In the U.S., two-thirds of four-year undergraduate students leave college with some debt, and the average among graduating seniors is more than $19,000, according to the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study. Demand is even greater among graduate students: Their average debt ranges from $27,000 to $114,000, according to FinAid.

GETTING CREATIVE

To seek out funds, some students have turned to peer-to-peer lending sites, such as GreenNote and Fynanz, which focus exclusively on making college loans. After creating an online profile, users can court a variety of financiers, including friends, family, and perfect strangers. According to Kantrowitz, however, peer-to-peer lending funds are limited. "Right now, they're just a drop in the bucket," he says. "But the idea is really interesting. In a decade, who knows what it could become?"

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In that vein, brothers Matt and Mike Kopko have just launched GradeFund, a Web site where needy students can solicit anyone—friends, relatives, coaches, strangers—to "sponsor" their grades. The better students score, the more tuition money they'll receive.

Matt Kopko explains the site is similar to those where, say, a person runs a marathon and solicits support for charity. "You get people to pledge toward a [charitable] goal, and everyone benefits."

Unlike GreenNote and Fynanz, GradeFund contributions are gifts, not loans, which makes the site especially attractive to cash-starved students. By earlier this month, almost 6,000 people had signed up, 20% of whom are donors, according to the Kopkos. And as student loan funds evaporate, they predict big growth.

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Michael Beck, a freshman at the University of Michigan who created one of GradeFund's first student profiles, says he was initially skeptical. After all, by skipping the site altogether, and just arranging a similar reward system with friends and family, he would avoid the 5% transaction fee (which the Kopkos charge to cover overhead costs and eventually make a profit). However, he says, a site like GradeFund makes the process more formal.

"Everything's spelled out in writing, and you can see all of your donations," he explains. "It's not just like, 'Hey, Mom, can you promise to give me money?'"

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NOT A SURE BET

Of course, creative financing can fail. Earlier this year, Brendan Baker, came up with a "ridiculous" plan to help raise the $90,000 he needed to attend the University of Oxford's Said Business School: His Web site, 3bucksforbrendan.com, sought $3 donations from 30,000 strangers.

Confidence notwithstanding, Baker could only raise $11,000—12% of his ultimate goal—and he had to forgo admission to Oxford. —I've been amazed and humbled by all the support,— Baker wrote on his Web site in September, before donating the money to two nonprofits: Engineers Without Borders and Medecins Sans Frontières. On his Web site, he blogs that he still plans to attend Oxford.

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To avoid a similar fate and cover his bases if his e-mail plea falls short, Max Stephenson registered with GradeFund, where he was recently named a site spokesperson. He also plans to get a summer job that offers more traditional income, he says.

And if he still falls short? He laughs. "I'll just think of something more creative."

Health-Care MBAs See Brighter Future

Dan Macsai / BusinessWeek — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:56:00 -0800

Looking to sidestep the gloomy job market? Consider getting an MBA in health management.

Recent findings from Moody's Investors Service indicate that President-elect Barack Obama's health-care proposals, if enacted, could galvanize the industry. The plans, which call for expanding the availability of health insurance and reducing health-care costs, could also increase demand for health-care management jobs.

"If more people have health insurance, more people can get non-emergency service and hospitals can better cover their costs," says Lisa Goldstein, a senior vice-president at Moody's who has analyzed the health-care industry for 18 years. "This is an attractive time for students to consider careers in health management."

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h4. A Renewed Enthusiasm

In the U.S., health care is a $2.26 trillion industry—comprising about 15.2% of the U.S. economy—and it continues to grow. According to the U.S. Health & Human Services Dept., the health share of gross domestic product is expected to reach 19.5% by 2017, up 4.3% from its current share. Larger hospitals, such as Northwestern Memorial in Chicago and Stanford Hospital in Stanford, Calif., individually have revenues exceeding $1 billion.

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Yet many argue the system is flawed. In his plan, Obama pinpoints several chief shortcomings: Health insurance premiums have doubled in the past eight years, rising nearly four times faster than wages. One-quarter of all medical spending goes to administrative and overhead costs. Roughly 100,000 Americans die every year from medical errors in hospitals. And more than 45 million Americans lack health insurance altogether.

In other words, "the demands on our health-care system and the demands for strong health-care management have never been greater," says Gary Mecklenburg, the former president and CEO of Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, the parent corporation of Northwestern Memorial.

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h4. Industry in Flux

Yet top business school students have typically flocked en masse to other industries. (In 2008, only 2% of Harvard Business School grads went into health-related industries.) Lured by "the megabucks of Wall Street," they ignored health-care management to pursue finance and consulting, says David Dranove, a professor of health-industry management at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management. As a result, he says, health-care providers recruited most of their talent from schools of public health.

Indeed demand for health-care MBAs outstrips supply, according to a report from the W.P. Carey School of Management at Arizona State University. As of earlier this year ASU said there were about 75 accredited programs in health management; virtually all of ASU health-care grads got jobs within three months of graduation.

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In recent months, however, Northwestern's Dranove has seen "a renewed enthusiasm" for health-care management. He says the number of Kellogg students interviewing for positions in the health-care industry has more than doubled since 2005. And health-care providers have embraced the attention: They're coming to campus for the school's first-ever Provider Day, during which they'll discuss career growth opportunities.

"Students used to say: 'I want to work for a big, prestigious corporation, not a hospital,'" says Dranove. "Now, they're starting to realize those two are one and the same."

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h4. A Stable Choice

Of course, Wall Street's downward spiral —and the resulting stream of corporate layoffs —likely hastened this change of heart. During times of economic turmoil, the health-care industry tends to thrive: It was one of the few fields to expand during the dot-com bust.

"There's not a lot of swing in health care," says Kristi Raube, the executive director of the University of California at Berkeley's graduate program in health management at the Haas School of Business . "It's like a steady growth engine."

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For business school students seeking job security, pursuing health-care management is "one of the most stable" career options, because people will always need care, says Mecklenburg. And right now, the industry is poised to expand: According to the Health & Human Services Dept., the health share of the GDP is expected to reach 19.5% by 2017, up 4.3% from its current share.

But as Inauguration Day looms, so do federal budget cuts. If they target Medicare and Medicaid—which comprise roughly 60% of the average hospital revenue base—health-care providers could be forced to downsize just as investment banks and automakers have, says Goldstein. "No industry is [recession-proof]," she says.

Advance Your Career with Healthcare Certifications

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:17:00 -0800

In today’s tight job market, competition for jobs and promotions is tougher than ever. Stand out in a crowd by getting one or more healthcare certifications. Whether you are a job-seeker or are looking to advance your career, healthcare certifications can give you the edge you need to get ahead.

Certifications are available for individuals who hold associate’s degrees or higher. Online courses are affordable, convenient, and fit easily into your busy schedule. Forget about taking time off work – online certifications mean you can make the most out of the time you have withough sacrificing your paycheck. Kaplan Continuing Education courses come in a wide range of specialized subjects, from medical billing to legal nurse consulting, and Kaplan’s dynamic professors offer real-world experience and career expertise.

Available Online Healthcare Certificates

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Case Management Certificate: A case management certificate as the power to take your career in a whole new direction. If you enjoy promoting quality of life and affordable health coverage for all, this certificate is for you. Case managers ensure that all healthcare needs are met for patients with severe injuries or illnesses. This growing specialty is found in all healthcare facilities, from nursing homes to managed care organizations.

Forensic Nursing Certificate: The exciting world of forensic nursing is perfect for any nurse who loves providing excellent care while solving problems. With a forensic nursing certificate, you can pursue a job in a coroner’s office, law enforcement agency, or specialized hospital treating assault victims. Forensic nurses are relied upon to give courtroom testimony, serve as expert witnesses, and work on criminal investigations.

Geriatric Care Management Certificate: Geriatric care managers assess, coordinate, and monitor the health of elderly clients and their families. Geriatric care management is becoming evermore important because of the aging Baby Boomer population. Job opportunities are expected to grow faster than average, especially in nursing homes and chronic care facilities.

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Legal Nurse Consulting Certificate: Combine your nursing education with legal knowledge to pursue a career as a legal nurse consultant. Legal nurse consultants work with attorneys and law enforcement officers in a variety of facilities, from courtrooms to hospitals.

Life Care Planning Certificate: A life care planning certificate prepares you for working with patients who have a chronic illness or disability. Life care planning analyzes the needs of the patient based on the Life Care Planning process. An aging population and new treatments for once-debilitating diseases makes this certificate pertinent and applicable.

Medical Billing Certificate: New developments in medical billing means it’s more important than ever to be fully aware of changes in process and procedure. Medical billers who have the latest knowledge will be the most in-demand at a variety of healthcare facilities. Certification shows potential employers that you have the education and experience to go above and beyond.

Medical Coding Certificate: With an aging population, the demand for medical coders is increasing. Certified medical coders have the best chances of getting hired because of their level of education and experience. Certification means taking your career to the next level.

Pharmacy Technician Certificate: A pharmacy technician certificate goes beyond on-the-job training or classroom lectures to bring you the latest in pharmacy tech training. Many employers prefer candidates who are certified because it means they have met or exceeded the expected level of knowledge required to be a successful pharmacy technician.

How We View Ourselves Affects How We View Our Environment, Which Affects How We Eat

Dr. Clyde Wilson — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:47:00 -0800

Eating an unhealthy diet is a high-risk behavior. It offers a dopamine reward-response, is addictive, and has inevitable drawbacks that literally outweigh the rewards. Unfortunately, wanting to eat healthy is not usually enough to actually achieve nutritional health. We live in an environment that makes it difficult to eat right. Whether it is us or what surrounds us that is the biggest factor in making us bigger is a matter open to debate, but a recent review of the literature provides us some insight:

• Our perception of healthy food availability affects how we eat more than actual availability

• Healthy food is more available than is often perceived, including in areas of lower economic status

• Our perception of our environment is affected by our psychological state and sense of self (e.g. depression and how healthy we perceive ourselves to be)

• Because social education on how to eat healthy has had only limited beneficial results, it may be more effective to address how we perceive of our environment (and ourselves)

• Children have healthier habits when they perceive their parents as being more strict and involved in general (which is a perception of their environment), not when parents are strict just with health habits

• Specific child-feeding practices by parents can also have negative effects, such as encouraging eating beyond satiety and using food as a reward

The authors of the review conclude that our social environment has a greater impact on how we eat than our physical environment (i.e. the availability of healthy foods), and that to succeed with improving the nutritional health of society we may need to shift from educating the public to a paradigm of health protection by the government. Such an approach has proven beneficial with the development of laws designed to protect us from infectious disease, unsafe driving, and second-hand smoke.

*Clyde’s Thoughts*: A health protection program would presumably include food labeling and advertising laws, as well as more restrictions as to where certain types of foods can be sold (e.g. in schools and hospitals). Perhaps a higher tax on foods that increase the disease and health-care cost burden on society would make sense as well. However, laws cannot be our only defense against toxic eating patterns. As is the case in the relatively ineffective drug war, there needs to be a reduction in demand for high-risk behavior and eating. We demonstrate our demand for healthy foods very simply by purchasing them. To understand what purchases to make, we have to understand what foods and what type of diets truly are healthy (as opposed to fad diets that masquerade as being healthy). This means that public nutrition education should always be one of the cornerstones of helping the public to eat healthier.

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When I travel in Europe and in North America, it is difficult to eat healthy no matter how hard I try because of both low availability of healthy food and because of social barriers. My friends and family like to eat unhealthy food, a lot of it, and late at night. It is an uphill battle to avoid the pattern of “Night-Time Eating Syndrome” when I want to spend time with them, even though I teach nutrition and am very motivated to follow my own healthy advice.

Working with and teaching many people over the years, as well as my experiences in my own life, have convinced me that knowing what is healthy is not enough. We do need a healthier environment to succeed as a society. That will require that the food industry continues to see increased demand for healthier foods, and that more protections are put in place by government. Nutrition education for the public is extremely helpful in terms of motivation, but our environment has to enable our will to act. In the meanwhile, we need tools to cope with an environment that is not always in our best interest. I am developing a set of such tools in writing my current book, but below are some simple guidelines you can put to immediate use.

*Clyde’s Advice*

1. Set up a healthy nutrition environment in your home. Just using your own common sense in the grocery store will go a long way (in fact most of the way) towards getting you to eat healthy.

2. When not at home, eat as healthy as you can by ordering using the same common sense you used with groceries, or bring healthy food and snacks with you. If you like unhealthy foods, pick a couple days each week when you splurge, but make healthy habits the norm so that splurging does not become a high-risk behavior.

3. Once you have done your best and have your food, enjoy it. Don’t worry if it did not end up being as healthy as you had hoped. Eat and be happy. Food is for enjoyment too, not just to provide for your body. If you want to continue to improve, go ahead and make more changes moving forward, but don’t take away from your enjoyment with guilt. Nutrition should support our lives, not dominate it.

*The Bottom Line*: Stop and think for a few moments every time you purchase, order, or grab some food. Those few moments will either help you make a better choice, or help you move towards such choices in the future. Those few moments a few times each day can make a huge difference in your quality of life and life span.

*Reference*: “Environmental determinants of healthy eating: in need of a theory and evidence.” Brug J et al., Proc Nutr Society 67 2008 307.

More Health and Nutrition Advice :

• What Your Natural Biology Is Saying About Weight Loss

• Attitude is a Main Predictor of Eating Habits

• Many Think Healthier Eating Will Only Help OTHER People

• How You Can Eat Healthy at Work and Home

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