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How to Survive a Bad Team Leader

Larry Buhl | for Yahoo! HotJobs — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:30:00 -0700

For almost everyone, having a job means working on teams. But not all team leaders know how to create successful teams--by building consensus, setting agendas, meeting deadlines, encouraging good ideas, and so on. In fact, many team leaders are thrown into the role without training in any of these areas. If your leader seems to be less than fully competent, there are ways you can make the experience bearable, and even successful, without stepping on toes. Experts recommend the following:

Set a good example.

Maybe your leader isn't setting the most positive course for the team. But you should still be the kind of person you'd want to work with, experts say. Before you start casting stones at others, make sure your team behavior is exemplary. Are you on time for all meetings? Do you complete your action items? Do you leave your ego at the door? Do you respect other peoples' ideas and acknowledge their contributions? Do you attempt to build consensus?

Build camaraderie.

A team thrives on connections, according to Stephen Balzac, president of the organizational and management consulting firm 7 Steps Ahead. "Talk to people, and take the time to get to know your coworkers as people and find common interests," Balzac says. "It's the little things that hold the team together."

Balzac adds that looking for opportunities to praise other people will go a long way toward encouraging group cohesion. "Appreciation builds camaraderie," he explains. "For example, if you hear that a coworker's child just did really well in a soccer game or landed a big part in a school play, congratulate them."

Schmoozing and praising work, but gossip doesn't, experts say. Gossip kills group cohesion and it can come back to haunt you.

Sharpen your communication skills.

Non-verbal communication is just as important as what's being said, according to team-building training expert Bob Lancer. "Most communication goes on non-verbally, so you have to observe others closely to receive the messages they are sending you. From that skill, develop adaptability. In this context, adaptability means that you work on relating with the unique individuality of each person in ways that work for you, rather than against you."

Focus on issues, not personalities.

"Many people on teams will say, 'If I can get that guy to shut up and listen, everything will be fine,'" says business strategist and speaker AmyK Hutchens. "But they need to not focus on the perceived troublemaker. Rather, they should ask the group how to create better dialogue in meetings. That way, they direct their attention to the issues, not the person."

Lancer agrees. "One of the most essential keys to effective teamwork is disciplining yourself to respond to your teammates functionally, rather than personally. This means that instead of being judgmental about others, or interpreting others' performance in ways that cause you to feel offended, betrayed, or taken advantage of, you take responsibility for the effectiveness of your responses. Focus on how your responses are working for you, instead of focusing on what others are up to."

Ask questions.

Sometimes team members fall into the assumption that everyone is on the same page, when they're really not. As a result, deadlines aren't met, tasks slip, and some people feel burdened with what should be someone else's responsibilities.

If you're not the leader, you can help by asking questions, Hutchens says. "Ask, 'What are we doing? Why are we doing it? How do we accomplish it? And how do we know when we've succeeded? Ask questions that move the team forward. Don't just say, 'I have the answers.' Ideally the team should agree to five rules and a schedule, and deadlines and consequences for missing deadlines."

Know how to involve a supervisor.

If all of your efforts to prop up the group fail, you may need help. "This is especially true if rights and/or policies are being violated," says Cynthia E. Kazalia, placement specialist at New Directions Career Center in Ohio. She suggests that when you need to involve a supervisor, you ask for a private meeting time, have documentation ready, stick to the facts, refrain from character assassinations, and be specific about how you want him or her to fix the situation.

This article was originally published on Yahoo.HotJobs.com

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• 5 Job Skills That Can Hurt Your Career

• 6 Common Resume Questions Answered

• Making a Transition Job Work for You

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How to Handle Sticky Situations in Your Cover Letter

Kim Isaacs, Monster Resume Expert — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:30:00 -0700

Are you wondering how to deal with a sticky work history issue? Whether you were laid off from your last position, took time off to raise children or are looking to change careers, the cover letter is the perfect place to address potential red flags.

One caveat: Keep the explanation brief. Writing a cover letter is an exercise in selling yourself, so the tone should be upbeat and positive. Review these examples to get inspiration for explaining your sticky situation:

Layoff

Last month, ABC Co. made the difficult decision to dissolve its operations, so I am available for immediate employment. I am eager to continue my ______ career and was very excited when I learned about your job opportunity -- it’s a perfect match to my qualifications and career goals.

Long-Term Unemployment

Although I was a top producer for ABC Co., my position was eliminated during a major corporate restructuring. I have been searching for a position in the industry, but the economy has made positions in ______ very difficult to find. In the interim, I have been networking at industry events and keeping my skills fresh, but I am eager to resume my career in the ______ field.

Medical Leave

(Note: Don’t disclose medical information that could jeopardize your chance of landing a job -- disclosure is your personal choice.)

After taking time off to undergo back surgery, I left ABC Co. (on excellent terms) to focus on my recovery. As I regained my strength, I went to school part-time and received certifications in ______ and ______. Now fully recovered, I have been given an “excellent” bill of health by my doctor, and am highly motivated to return to the full-time workforce.

Next Page: Time Off Caring for an Ill Family Member →

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Time Off Caring for an Ill Family Member

In the last couple of years, I served as primary caregiver to my father, who was diagnosed with a terminal illness. During this difficult period, I kept my work skills updated by independently studying ______ and actively participating in industry news groups. At this time, I am available to return to work, and am confident that I would be an asset to your team.

Time Off Raising Children

After stepping away from the workforce to start a family, I am eager to resume my professional career now that my children are school-aged. I have kept my skills and connections current through active volunteer work, including leadership roles in school and charitable organizations.

Relocation

I plan to relocate to ______ to be closer to family, and your opening presents an excellent opportunity. I am available immediately for a telephone interview and can arrange to meet in person on short notice.

Career Change

Although successful in my ______ career, I have realized that the aspects of my work that I find the most rewarding are all in ______-related functions. I am currently pursuing a full-time position in this area, and am confident in my ability to excel in this field.

Next Page: Entrepreneur-to-Corporate Position →

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Entrepreneur-to-Corporate Position

After building a successful small business (where I grew revenues from zero to six figures in two years), I recently closed the operation to pursue my passion for the ______ field. Your opening is an excellent opportunity, and I look forward to speaking with you about how I can help expand your operation.

Job-Hopping

Although I have changed jobs more than I would have liked in the past few years, I am searching for a position where I can make a long-term commitment. If you agree that my credentials are an excellent fit to your needs, please feel free to call or email me to arrange a meeting.

Temp Experience

Most recently, I have contracted with ABC Agency and have completed a number of interesting assignments (detailed on the attached resume). While this work is rewarding, the short-term nature of temping does not let me provide the kind of enduring, value-added contributions I find to be most fulfilling as I could as a full-time team member.

Demoted

Budget cuts required me to take a ______ position in order to remain employed, but I am confident in my ability to step back up to a management position and hit the ground running. I would welcome the chance for an interview to discuss your goals and outline ways I can help you achieve them.

This article was originally published on Monster.com

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What to Do with Your 401k After a Layoff

Nancy Opiela, Monster Contributing Writer — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:29:00 -0700

If you're among the millions of people who have lost their jobs since the recession started in December 2007, you’re facing some daunting financial questions. One may be: What should I do with my 401k?

While raiding your 401k to pad your bank account during your time of transition may seem appealing, doing so could sabotage your chances of a financially secure retirement. Generally, if you tap your 401k account before age 59½, you’re subject both to ordinary income taxes and a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty.

However, if you lose your job and are 55 or older, most plans allow you to access your funds without an early withdrawal penalty, but you’ll still owe taxes and forfeit what could be decades more of tax-deferred growth.

Check with your 401k plan administrator to determine how to keep your retirement nest egg intact. Generally, you have three choices, each with pros and cons: You can leave your 401k plan with your former employer, roll over your account into an individual retirement account (IRA) or transfer your old 401k into a new company’s plan.

Next Page: Your Three Options →

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Option 1: Leave Your 401k Where It Is

Leaving your assets in your old company’s plan may be convenient, but it limits your investment choices. What’s more, if your account has more than $1,000 but less than $5,000, your ex-employer can transfer your assets into a Safe Harbor IRA with an investment company of their choosing. (If your account balance is less than $1,000, your employer can close your account and send you a check for the balance, withholding 20 percent for taxes.) Some plans also limit the number of transactions, assess extra service fees or restrict beneficiary options for terminated employees.

However, leaving your money in your 401k plan affords you superior creditor protection. Federal law prohibits creditors from attaching 401k accounts, a protection not afforded by most states to IRAs.

Option 2: Roll Your 401k over into an IRA

Rolling your 401k into an IRA affords you a wider universe of investment choices and greater control of your money. For example, you can withdraw cash, penalty-free, for a first-time home purchase or qualified education expenses. Transferring your old 401k plan to an IRA also can facilitate your ongoing investment management and record-keeping, but you give up the flexibility to take a loan from your account and creditor protection.

Note, too, that as of January 1, 2008, you can roll your 401k directly into a Roth IRA. With the Roth, once you pay your conversion taxes, all withdrawals are tax-free (including any growth from the market’s eventual rebound), provided you hold your Roth for at least five years and are at least 59½ years of age. Previously, you had to roll your 401k into a traditional IRA and then move that to a Roth IRA.

Next Page: Roll Over Your 401k ... →

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Option 3: Roll Over Your 401k into Your New Employer’s Plan

If you land another job right away, you may decide to roll over your 401k into your new employer’s plan. Again, you are limited in terms of investment choices but will enjoy the benefits of credit protection. You also can borrow from your account as long as you work for the employer.

What to Keep in Mind

The most important thing to remember when moving retirement money is to play by the rules. To avoid mistakes, rather than ask your company to send you a check for the 401k assets you plan to roll over, request a trustee-to-trustee transfer, also known as a direct transfer or a direct rollover. Why? Generally, when you take a distribution from a 401k plan to roll over, you must contribute it back into another IRA or other tax-deferred employer retirement plan within 60 days. If you don’t roll over the funds within 60 days, the IRS views it as a taxable and, depending on your age, possibly an early distribution.

Also, if you are issued a check, your employer must withhold 20 percent of your account balance for the IRS -- even if you indicate you will open a rollover IRA. So, in order to invest your entire account balance into your new IRA within the 60 days, you need to come up with that withheld 20 percent to supplement the funds you receive from your employer. Of course, if you invest the full amount into a tax-deferred account within 60 days, you'll get the 20 percent that was withheld back after you file your tax return.

Bottom line? Although losing your job creates financial stress, try not to panic and cash out your 401k. Ideally, your emergency fund or severance package can help you make ends meet while you're between jobs, allowing your 401k money to continue to grow on a tax-deferred basis for your retirement.

This article was originally published on Monster.com.

What Employers Want from Job References

Yahoo! HotJobs staff — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:29:00 -0700

A great resume and solid interview skills may place job seekers in the running for a position, but a new survey conducted by OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service, finds that the results of a reference check can really be what makes—or breaks—a job search. Hiring managers interviewed for the survey said they remove about 21 percent of candidates from consideration after speaking to their professional contacts.

Managers also were asked, "When speaking to an applicant's job references, what is the most important information you hope to receive?" Their responses:

• Description of past job duties and experience: 36 percent

• A view into the applicant's strengths and weaknesses: 31 percent

• Confirmation of job title and dates of employment: 11 percent

• Description of workplace accomplishments: 8 percent

• A sense of the applicant's preferred work culture: 7 percent

• Other/don't know: 7 percent

"When hiring managers narrow the field to a few potential candidates, the reference check often becomes the deciding factor," says OfficeTeam executive director Robert Hosking. "To distinguish themselves from the competition, job seekers should assemble a solid list of contacts who can persuasively communicate their qualifications and professional attributes."

OfficeTeam offers five tips for creating a reference list that works in your favor:

1. Choose wisely. Select people who can discuss your abilities and experience that directly relate to the position, not just those with the most impressive job titles. Offer a mix of contacts who can address different aspects of your background; for example, a former peer may be able to describe your interpersonal skills, while a past direct report can talk about your management style.

2. Check in beforehand. Always call potential references first to get their permission and evaluate their eagerness to talk to hiring managers. Be sure to give all references a copy of your resume, the job description, and the name of the person who will likely call.

3. Be prepared. Provide clear contact information for your references, including their names, titles, daytime phone numbers, and email addresses. Also, offer a brief explanation of the nature of your relationship with each individual. Consider supplying more references than are requested, so you won't miss out on the job offer if the hiring manager can't get in touch with one of your contacts.

4. Think outside the box. It's common for employers to seek out additional references for new hires—either online or through their own networks. Since you never know whom a hiring manager might reach out to, you should not only remain on good terms with your past supervisors and colleagues (if possible), but also be selective about who's in your online network, on sites such as LinkedIn.

5. Give thanks. Express your gratitude to people who agree to serve as references, even if they aren't contacted by employers. Keep them updated on your job-search progress and offer to return the favor by providing a recommendation should they need one.

This article was originally published on Yahoo.HotJobs.com

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8 Tips for Better Email Cover Letters

Larry Buhl | Yahoo! HotJobs — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:28:00 -0700

As the saying goes, you don't get a second chance to make a first impression. If you're doing a job search or resume submission via email, the first impression any employer will have is from your cover letter.

Some tips for creating successful email cover letters are the same as for paper cover letters: Be professional, with correct spelling and grammar, and -- very important -- do use them. Other tips pertain only to the electronic medium, and when disregarded, could ruin your chances before your foot is in the door.

Here's what you should you consider when crafting an email cover letter.

Don't Waste Your Subject Line

What you write in the subject line can determine whether your letter gets read, according to Lydia Ramsey, business etiquette expert and author of Manners That Sell. "Don't ever leave the subject line of your email blank and don't waste it by just inserting the job number," Ramsey says. "The subject line should be clear and specific to the job you're looking for." An example: "Bilingual CPA seeks account manager position."

Use Standard Cover Letter Protocol

Write your letter as the body of the email and include a salutation (use the receiver's actual name if you know it) and a standard closing. ("Sincerely" or "Warm regards" work well.) Leave blank lines between paragraphs, and use appropriate signature and closing lines. Include all the information in your signature line you would have on your business card, including snail mail address, phone number and email address. "Remember, your email address doesn't always automatically show up on the receiver's email program," Ramsey says.

Keep It Short and Dynamic

Managers and recruiters are busy. They want to get the gist of your pitch in 150 words or fewer. The first paragraph is crucial, according to Ramsey. "Hook the reader in the first paragraph by selling him or her your abilities," she says. "Use short paragraphs and short sentences to give a very brief bio on who you are and what you can do for them, and wrap it up in the second paragraph."

Keep It Simple

If you write a cover letter in a word-processing program, strip away all formatting and save the file as plain text. The ideal line length is 40 characters. Some email packages automatically do word wrap for you, so your cover letter doesn't arrive in fragments. If your program doesn't do this, go to FormatIt.com, drop in your text and the free service will format your email for you.

Don't get cute. Save emoticons, abbreviations, and wild colors and fonts for your nonprofessional emails. The same goes for humor. Chances are, the reader won't think it's funny, and may even find it irritating.

Be Specific

Don't respond to an ad for a copywriter when you're really a graphic designer, says Diana Qasabian, talent director at Syndicatebleu. "It may be the tight job market, but we've been receiving more and more letters responding to a specific job from candidates who are not at all qualified for it," she says.

"We look for specifics in email cover letters, which means skills and abilities," she adds. "Embellishment and fluff are not necessary. It's not necessary to write, 'I'm a hard worker.' That goes without saying."

Keywords Are Key

Because many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATSes) to find and screen candidates, skill-oriented keywords will boost your chance at being discovered, a recruiter at a large technology company says.

"ATS tools track keywords that identify skill sets," she says. "So even if you're not right for the job you're seeking, strong keywords improve the chance that your cover letter and resume will be retrieved in a future search or be selected for a more appropriate job."

Play by Their Rules

Take the time to learn the company guidelines for submitting resumes, and follow them. Many companies list these guidelines on their Web sites. Also, don't include attachments unless they are requested. Some companies block all emails with attachments to prevent viruses.

Check It Again

Thoroughly spell-check and proofread your email letter. And remember, your email software's spell-checker won't catch grammar mistakes. Send it to a friend first and ask him to check it for content and style. If all your friends are tapped out, or even if they aren't, test your email cover letter by emailing it to yourself, and put yourself in the mind-set of an employer when you read it.

This article was originally published on Monster.com.

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Why You Shouldn't Lie on Your Resume

Charles Purdy, Monster+Hot Jobs senior editor — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:28:00 -0700

Desperate times often call for desperate measures -- and in a brutal employment market, some job seekers may be tempted to falsify their work or education history in order to make themselves more attractive to potential employers.

HireRight.com, a provider of on-demand employment background screening, recently found that 34 percent of job applicants lie on resumes. And when Yahoo! HotJobs recently asked people whether they'd ever lied in a job interview, 41 percent said yes.

But job seekers who stretch the truth are playing an ever-riskier game, according to Dennis Nason, CEO of the recruiting firm Nason & Nason. "Background checks are much easier now," he says. "It's all pretty open on the Internet." And many companies and recruiters now employ background-check providers who specialize in sniffing out untruths.

The Gray Area Between Fact and Fiction

Almost all career experts advise job seekers to customize their resumes to individual jobs they apply for. So where's the line between self-promotion and falsehood? Some experts say it can be hard to define. Tim McIntyre, president and CEO of The Executive Search Group explains, "The dictionary says that 'embellish' means 'to make beautiful,' which is when a candidate is great at self-promotion. The difference between that and a damaging lie varies by industry and profession."

For instance, financial executives are subject to more-intense scrutiny than many people going into entry-level positions that don't involve money.

But at any point in your career, stretching the truth is risky -- especially on official job applications. Brad Karsh, president and founder of JobBound, doesn't see a gray area at all: "Any uncovered fib is liable to severely damage your reputation in the workplace."

Next Page: Just the Facts →

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Just the Facts

According to Forbes.com, some of the most common resume lies are about education, employment dates, job titles and technical skills. And these are the same resume areas that, if you fudge them, can cause problems -- the Internet has made it much easier to verify a person's claims about education, for instance.

And Nason notes that firms like his are sleuthing far beyond a candidate's given references to corroborate his claims -- for instance, finding and contacting the candidate's former colleagues via LinkedIn.

Career expert Liz Ryan says, "People think that they can make up and embellish details about companies that have been sold or gone out of business. But LinkedIn, Facebook, and our wide-ranging networks will put a quick stop to most efforts to change history in our favor."

Truth or Consequences

And even if false credentials get you the job, those untruths may come back to haunt you.

"You're subject to immediate dismissal if it turns out you misrepresented something," says Nason.

If your company is acquired, for instance, the acquirer's HR department may perform an audit of its new employees. Or your background may be checked when you apply for a promotion. Former Notre Dame football coach George O'Leary and celebrity chef Robert Irvine are just two of the people who made news when false background information cost them high-profile jobs.

Next Page: Keeping It Real →

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Keeping It Real

Career experts have practical advice on how to truthfully deal with some of the problems that may cause people to lie -- follow it, and you'll be able to sleep more easily at night.

• Gaps of Unemployment: Just because you weren't getting paid for something doesn't mean you weren't being productive and gaining skills. If you volunteered or worked on your own projects, say, you should speak to those things on your resume, in a cover letter or in an interview.

• Misrepresentative Titles: "Job seekers need to lay claim to projects and results that may not have been in their formal job descriptions," says Ryan. "Here's an example. An office manager I know took on HR in her company after the HR coordinator left. The office manager's title was never changed, but she took on responsibility for payroll, benefits and so on. She put all of that on her resume, and changed her title to 'Office Manager (with HR responsibilities).' That's a perfectly good way for her to brand herself, because she hasn't changed the title to something her old employer wouldn't recognize or support."

• Past Salaries: Ryan also has advice on how to deal with discussing a past salary you feel was too low. She notes that you should arm yourself with information about the salary you should be earning. For more salary-related information, see Monster's Salary Tools.

• Skills: If you're tempted to lie about having a technical skill, for instance, the right thing to do is clear: Gain that skill by enrolling in a class (or committing to learning it on your own). Then you'll be able to truthfully explain to potential employers that you're working on getting up-to-speed in that area.

This article was originally published on Monster.com.

Hospitals Work to Address Nursing Shortage in Texas

The Dallas Morning News — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 11:23:00 -0700

July 13 - The state is facing a shortage of 71,000 nurses by 2020 as demand continues to outpace supply, the Texas Department of State Health Services says.

Tens of thousands of qualified applicants have been turned away from nursing schools for at least five years because there aren't enough teachers to conduct classes or enough clinical sites where students can get hands-on experience.

Across the country, experts predict a shortage of more than 260,000 nurses by 2025. If the shortage is not addressed, the lack of trained caregivers threatens to flat-line the government's health care overhaul law, of which many provisions, such as widespread coverage of the uninsured, start in 2014.

The number of nurses in the country is projected to begin decreasing after this year, according a report from PricewaterhouseCoopers, a tax and business consulting firm.

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Many nurses are expected to retire just as baby boomers begin turning 65 and need more health care. The average age of a nurse faculty member in Texas is 54. Almost 57 percent of all nursing faculty will reach age 65 within seven years, according to the Texas Nurses Association.

In Texas, one solution is to create more nurses in its own backyard rather than import them from elsewhere.

The state tripled its appropriations for nursing education. The Legislature appropriated $14.7 million for the 2008-09 biennium but provided $49.7 million for the current biennium.

Texas business leaders, through regional chambers of commerce, worked with the health sector to create a pay-for-performance plan. Nursing schools were put in one of two categories: high producers and low producers. High producers are receiving $20.5 million over two years; lower producers are receiving $9.5 million as a prod to improve.

This fund allocation attracted national attention and made Texas a feature of a May report, "Charting Nursing's Future," from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Locally, some hospital systems are offering tuition reimbursement for people to become nurses.

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For seven years, Arlington-based Texas Health Resources, the largest hospital system in North Texas, has teamed with El Centro Community College to generate nurses.

What's unique about Texas Health's program at El Centro is that it's designed for current employees who've been eyeing a career in nursing. "You could be a kitchen worker and become a nurse," said Candy Baptist, director of clinical education at Texas Health.

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Texas Health's registered nurses earn an average of $68,245 a year. That average does not assume any specific years of experience, and it does not include shift differentials or pay upgrades for additional certifications.

The program started with 13 students in 2003. Since then, 270 nurses, who have completed prerequisites, have graduated with an associate's degree and taken a certification exam to work as registered nurses. Class sizes have grown to 40 students each and as of last Wednesday, there was a waiting list of 13 people.

Tuition and books cost $15,000 for two years, which Texas Health pays in exchange for a promise to work as a nurse for one of the company's 13 hospitals in North Texas.

The hospital system also offers a program for the public through the University of Texas at Arlington in which it pays for schooling in exchange for work upon graduation. The first class, 10 students, graduated in August. Twenty-eight students are currently enrolled.

With the push to bring in more nurses, one worry is a glut of young, inexperienced people at patients' bedsides.

"Too much of an imbalance is always a concern," said Joan Clark, chief nursing executive at Texas Health.
Yet she doubts demographics will go that route anytime soon because of the weak economy. Many older nurses have delayed retirement, and some are working longer to make up the lost salaries of laid-off spouses, Clark said.

"It's kind of tipped the balance," she said. "We actually have less of a capability to bring in new nurses."
A couple of years ago, Texas Health's nurse vacancy rate was 5 percent. Today it's 2 percent, Clark said.

"It's a blip of improvement," said Clair Jordan, executive director of the Texas Nurses Association. She expects demand to return soon.

"Some of the attributes of nursing, like 12-hour shifts, make it hard to work after age 65," Jordan said.

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To see more of The Dallas Morning News, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.dallasnews.com.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

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Nurse Injects Dose of Reality On 'Boston Med'

Boston Herald — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 16:13:00 -0700

July 08 - Sassy nurses get the last laugh on such fictional medical shows as "Scrubs" and "Nurse Jackie."

In real life, the job isn't fun and games. Amanda Grabowski, an emergency room nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital, hopes to humanize the profession as part of "Boston Med," tonight at 10 on WCVB (Ch. 5).

"What I want (viewers) to take away is that we are human. We make mistakes. We work in such a high-stress, high-emotion environment. If you take everything seriously, you will go nuts. I want people to take away what nursing is all about," Grabowski, 29, told the Herald during a telephone interview last week.

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"I thought it was an exciting opportunity to show nursing because not many shows do," said the Salem State College graduate.

Grabowski's "story line" on the unscripted docudrama started in last week's episode. The Lynn native stood out for taking charge and keeping order in MGH's fast-paced ER.

"You have to think on your toes. If a patient passes away, you have to be able to move on to the next patient because they just don't stop coming," said Grabowski, who lives in Billerica.

Each week Grabowski and fellow MGH staffers hit the Greatest Bar near North Station to watch the show. The program has helped foster camaraderie among the hospital's various departments.

As an ER nurse, Grabowski said she didn't have time to worry about how she would come off on camera.

"The patients we see are so critically ill, we don't focus on the cameras," she said.

Tonight's episode highlights an awkward moment for Grabowski.

After the single 20-something remarks on the lack of dating options at work, a handsome resident asks her out on camera.

"I worked with him for a couple years," Grabowski said.

"I feel like the nurses have a more flexible social life than the doctors do. If you need a night off or day off, there is always someone to switch with you. Your social life does become who you work with," she said.

Was his offer sincere or was he just seizing an opportunity to tease the no-nonsense nurse?

"I don't know. It's hard. We were buds before," she said.

The resident has since moved on to North Shore Medical Center in Salem, attending doctors in emergency medicine.

When pressed for details of their potential romance, Grabowski kept mum. "I have to say, you have to watch the show."

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To see more of the Boston Herald or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.bostonherald.com.

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Minnesota Nurses Agree to a July 6th Strike Date

Associated Press/AP Online — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:26:00 -0700

MINNEAPOLIS - Thousands of Minnesota nurses say they will go on strike July 6 if they can't reach an agreement with 14 Minneapolis-St. Paul hospitals before then.

The Minnesota Nurses Association says it filed a required 10-day notice Friday after negotiations a day earlier produced no settlement.

The biggest issue is staffing. The nurses are seeking fixed nurse-patient ratios, which hospitals say would be too expensive and wouldn't necessarily make patients safer.

The nurses have already staged a 24-hour walkout earlier this month.

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Nurse Practioners in Britain as Good at Detecting Breast Cancer in Patients as Surgeons

United Press International — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 16:51:00 -0700

Specially trained nurse practitioners and surgeons were found to detect breast abnormalities at similar rates, researchers in Wales reported.

Researchers at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Wales -- which treats nearly 300 women with breast cancer a year - asked a specially trained nurse practitioner and consultant surgeon to do breast assessments.

"This study aimed to test the theory that trained nurse practitioners can perform an important role in assessing new patients in breast cancer clinics to ensure that they are seen as quickly as possible," lead author Gary Osborn said in a statement.

Osborn and colleagues had 126 women - who came to symptomatic breast disease clinic over a 13-month period - examined by the nurse practitioner and the surgeon.

The study, published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing, said 37 discrete lumps were discovered in 35 of the women, with the consultant surgeon missing two breast cysts and the nurse practitioner missing one. Both the surgeon and nurse recorded the same results in 34 of the 37 assessments, giving an agreement rate of 92 percent. Nine of the women had breast cancer, the study said.

Osborn suggested nurse practitioners could help ensure no delays in assessment and diagnosis in light of doctor shortages.

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© YellowBrix, Inc. Copyright 1997-2009

Defusing the 5 Trickiest Workplace Situations

Jeff Hindenach | AllHealthcare — Thu, 27 May 2010 09:58:00 -0700

The workplace can be a political minefield. While you may all work as a team, you're all most concerned with your own job, right? How your bosses see you can determine a raise, a promotion — or even if you keep your job. Navigating office politics is not an easy task, but avoiding potentially negative situations should be your first priority.

If you find yourself trapped in one of these situations, you need to know how to best defuse it with minimal damage to your professional reputation. Here are some tips on how to get out of five of the most common workplace minefields.

In the Middle of an Office Argument

Whether a coworker is ranting at you about his boss or you get caught right in the middle of a shouting match, the best thing to do is keep your mouth shut. Taking sides in a situation like this can only lead to trouble. If a coworker is just venting to you, be empathetic but don’t agree with them. You never know who is going to be promoted, and you don’t want to be on the bad side of your new boss. Similarly, if an argument is raging around you, resist the temptation to join. In office inter-personal battles, nobody wins.

Assigned a Project You Don’t Know How to Do

You never want to tell your boss that you can’t perform a task, but if she assigns you something outside of your working knowledge, what are your options? Depending on how tight the deadline is, you probably have time to do some research. Pull from as many sources as possible so you at least have an idea of how to the task correctly. If you can’t find any experts on the subject, suck it up and resort to asking a coworker for help. Just make sure they are reliable and won’t rat you out. You have the resources to complete any task inside you, you just need to not panic and keep a calm head.

Next Page: You’re in Trouble for Messing Up

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You’re in Trouble for Messing Up

When you make a mistake at work, you may feel incompetent or not worthy of the position. But try to remember that everyone makes mistakes, especially on the job. Trying to cover up those errors only makes things worse. When you make a mistake, own up to it right away. Apologize to your boss and calmly explain what happened and how you will learn from it. Not only does it show maturity, it makes you look responsible, honest, and open to learning new things.

Bordering on Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is never ok in the workplace, but what about those situations when you aren’t sure yourself if a situation is really harassment or not? The best thing to do is to talk calmly with the person who's bothering you and ask them to stop the behavior that is making you uncomfortable. If it continues, talk to your supervisor. If they do nothing, or if the harasser is your supervisor, it’s time to go to HR. It may be an uncomfortable situation, but it’s better than being harassed day in and day out.

Someone Is Trash Talking About You to Everyone

With the incredible stress levels in some workplaces, emotions can easily run high. Words fly and sometimes we say things we don’t mean. But a tense situation doesn’t need to escalate into an all-out war. When you feel insulted, don’t get upset! Calmly approach the person who is trash talking you and ask them politely to talk through the problem. If they refuse, explain that trash talking is a form of workplace harassment, and if you can’t work it out, you’ll have to approach HR about the situation. Be as diplomatic as possible — there's no need to upset your coworker even more.

The office can be a difficult environment to navigate, but as long as you keep calm and stay diplomatic, you should be able to defuse any uncomfortable situation.

5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Quit

Jeff Hindenach | AllHealthcare — Wed, 12 May 2010 12:53:00 -0700

It’s always exhilarating to quit a job you hate. You think of all the perfect ways to tell your boss to shove it — but have you thought about the consequences? Do you know what you’re going to do after the big event? Are you prepared to just leave your job?

Pause before you take any action. Go ahead and take a deep breath. Close your eyes. Sit for an hour or so and think about these issues before you storm into your boss’ office to quit.

NEXT | What’s My Next Step? >>

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What’s My Next Step?

If you have a job lined up: If you already have another job lined up, this question is pretty easy to answer. You just need to figure out how much notice to give and how long you’ll take off before starting the next job. Make the transition as seamless as possible.

If you don’t have a job: But if you do not have another job, you need to have a clear plan of what to do after you are unemployed. Look into how to apply for unemployment. Have a goal in mind and set out a timeline to achieve that goal, whether it be finding another job, freelancing, or going back to school. Make sure the timeline takes into account all the details about deadlines, expenses, and other minor details. Thinking about the details will help you make a more informed decision.

NEXT | Am I Burning any Bridges? >>

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Am I Burning any Bridges?

If you have a job lined up: Even if you have another job waiting in the wings, when or how you’re leaving could have some adverse effects. Be sure to give the required two weeks notice. If your employer asks for you to stay longer, tell them you’ll consider it, even if you are sure you can’t. And regardless of how much you hated the job, never cause a scene when you're actually leaving. Be diplomatic and show them that you still care about the company's success.

If you don’t have a job: Your employer will expect you to stay as long as they need you, as you have nowhere else to go. Prepare a legitimate excuse as to why you can’t stay longer, such as starting a part-time job or freelancing. Again, be respectful and give a diplomatic excuse for leaving, such as you’re looking to go in a different direction. No matter how horrible they are, your bosses remain be your references for later jobs.

NEXT | Do You Have Enough Money to Live on? >>

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Do You Have Enough Money to Live on?

If you have a job lined up: You’ll need to make sure you have enough money to live on during any time you’re taking off, plus the time before you get your first paycheck at your next job — which could be as long as a month in some companies. Map it out before you decide on a start date, as it’s poor form to change your start date after plans are finalized.

If you don’t have a job: If you’re quitting without another job waiting, you will need to figure out every little financial detail of your life. You don’t know for sure how long you’ll be unemployed, no matter how marketable you are. Cut out all the extras in your life, put your student loans on hold, and cut your debt payments down as soon as possible.

NEXT | How Will This Look to Future Employers? >>

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How Will This Look to Future Employers?

If you have a job lined up: Leaving your job doesn’t just affect the present. It can haunt your resume for the rest of your career. Are you leaving during a difficult time that will harm the company? Have you been there for less than a year? Are you leaving a high-profile position for something less important? These are all questions that could come up in job interviews later.

If you don’t have a job: This is a big question, considering you are leaving a good, full-time position to basically be unemployed. Think about your reasoning for leaving and how you can spin that in future interviews without bad-mouthing your current employer. If you can’t think of a good, solid reason, it might be better to tough it out until something better comes along.

NEXT | Does This Fit into My Long-Term Plan? >>

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Does This Fit into My Long-Term Plan?

If you have a job lined up: Sure, you are frustrated with your job, but does leaving hurt your long-term career plans? Take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Is there a position at your company that you’d be happier in? How can you get from where you are to that position? Is it worth sticking it out? Leaving always seems like the best answer short-term, but with a bit of hard work, you could end up in a better place by staying.

If you have a job: A gap in your employment could definitely have adverse effects on your long-term career. If you are determined to walk away from your job into unemployment, make sure that you are using your extra time to advance your skills and experience in your field. Too much downtime without any experience gained will raise major red flags with future employers.

If you have the answers to all these questions, then you are in a good position to leave. Just make sure you are polite and diplomatic when leaving, and be respectful of your former employer. You never know when one of your old coworkers could be your new boss!

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"Babies" Movie Examines Prenatal Care Around the World

PRNewswire — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 15:54:00 -0700

NEW YORK, April 28- USNewswire - Babies, a new movie to be released by Focus Features across the country on Friday, May 7, Mother's Day weekend, simultaneously follows four babies around the world -- from birth to first steps. The children are, respectively, in order of on-screen introduction: Ponijao, who lives with her family near Opuwo, Namibia; Bayarjargal, who resides with his family in Mongolia, near Bayanchandmani; Mari, who lives with her family in Tokyo, Japan; and Hattie, who resides with her family in the United States, in San Francisco. Babies joyfully captures on film the earliest stages of the journey of humanity that are at once unique and universal to us all.

"The celebration of babies is a timeless tradition in any culture," said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes. "And this film provides a perfect rationale for why the March of Dimes works so hard each and every day to fund research, education and advocacy programs that help give every baby a healthy start in life. We're the champions for babies, and this movie shows us why they are so important to our lives."

Babies is a proud supporter of March for Babies, the March of Dimes signature fundraiser that occurs this spring in more than 900 communities all across the United States. This year, more than 7 million people will participate in March for Babies. The event's fundraising goal is $100 million. Since 1970, it has raised $1.8 billion to support research and other programs in local communities, enabling more moms to have healthy, full-term pregnancies. To find out more about March for Babies, visit marchforbabies.org.

Focus Features CEO James Schamus said, "All of us at Focus could not be more pleased that our film will play a role in support of March for Babies. It's a perfect match -- a movie about the common humanity and love that unite us all, and one of the world's great charities that works so hard to make sure that every baby can find his or her place in the world."

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

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Originally published by March of Dimes.

Why Japan Needs More Foreign Travel Nurses

Yomiuri Shimbun — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:09:00 -0700

Apr. 26- Given the serious shortage of medical and nursing care workers and nurses, lifting certain restrictions so qualified foreigners in these fields can apply their skills in this country is an obvious solution.

In its fourth basic immigration control policy plan compiled late last month, the Justice Ministry stated it would reexamine the mandatory limit on the length of time foreign nurses and dentists can work in Japan when they hold residential status.

Even if non-Japanese qualify to work as a nurse or dentist after passing state exams, they are not permitted to work here for more than seven years and six years, respectively. A four-year limit is imposed on public health nurses and midwives.

Many foreigners with such qualifications desire to continue working in Japan beyond the set limits. Their aspirations are rightful in view of the fact that they have passed national exams and conquered the Japanese language barrier.

The limits on working years for non-Japanese were mostly probably introduced out of concern that Japanese might be deprived of working opportunities. The restrictions have been criticized as excessive for years. The time limit for foreign doctors was dropped four years ago.

The ministry plans to revise relevant ordinances to abolish time restrictions on all remaining medical professions, including nurses. This is a necessary corrective step. We want the ministry to accelerate its work on revising these ordinances.

The ministry's fourth basic immigration control plan incorporates a policy to study accepting foreigners in the nursing care field on condition they graduate from universities in Japan and pass state exams.

The population of elderly people requiring nursing care is growing at an ever-quickening pace. The nation has about 1.24 million nursing care workers today; estimates suggest the nation will need almost double that number in 2025.

Meanwhile, many Japanese who have earned qualifications as care workers then opt to work in another field. The physical and emotional demands of a career in nursing care, combined with the low pay, often are too much to bear.

To alleviate the manpower shortage in nursing care, the first step is to improve the working environment for Japanese. However, there is a limit to just how quickly the ranks of Japanese nursing care workers can be increased. Because of this, opening the door to foreign nursing care givers is the right decision.

More help also should be extended to the people from Indonesia and the Philippines whom Japan has been accepting as candidates to work as certified nurses and care workers based on economic partnership agreements with the two countries.

National exams for nurses and nursing care workers are dotted with difficult kanji. Last month, 254 foreigners took the exam for nurses, but only three passed.

Indonesian and Philippine examinees have acquired licenses and expertise as nurses and nursing care workers in their home countries. Considering that the pass rate for Japanese examinees stands at nearly 90 percent, the extremely low success rate for foreign examinees can be most probably be attributed to the kanji barrier.

The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry is reexamining the content of national tests. The revisions include replacing difficult terms with easier ones, such as "jokuso" with "tokozure" to mean bedsores.

We welcome this move. But the ministry should go a step further and print katakana readings alongside kanji and allow examinees to use dictionaries in their exams.

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Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

Researchers Find More American Women May Be Obese Than Thought

United Press International — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:10:00 -0700

One-half of white women and more than two-thirds of Hispanic women in the United States may be obese by an international standard, researchers said.

Lead author Dr. Mahbubur Rahman of the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston said current U.S. National Institutes of Health body mass index values may not account for ethnic differences, and almost half of the reproductive-age women found "not obese" by these guidelines would be considered obese by World Health Organization standards -- in which obesity is defined by percentage of body fat, a more accurate measure, but more costly to achieve.

The study, scheduled to be published in the May issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology, suggested a single BMI value may not be appropriate for a diverse population and may cause women at risk to be overlooked.

"It is especially important to accurately assess obesity in reproductive-age women, as they are more likely to be obese than similarly aged men," Rahman said in a statement. "These women are at risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other obesity-related health conditions and may forgo or be overlooked for needed tests and treatments."

The researchers recommend that women whose BMI is between 25 and 29.9 kg/m2 be alerted to get counseling to reduce their body weight and avoid obesity.

Officials Warn Syphilis Can Help Spread HIV

Houston Chronicle — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:09:00 -0700

Apr. 23- In the midst of a county-wide syphilis epidemic, local public health officials are launching a campaign to make people more aware of the connection between the centuries-old disease and HIV/AIDS.

Despite a dip in the number of new syphilis cases reported in Harris County in the last two years, 2009's 317 cases represent a 359 percent increase since 1999, the first year after the county stopped getting a prevention grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Harris County hasn't seen so much syphilis in 60 years," said Dr. Robert Andrade, an infectious disease specialist at Baylor College of Medicine and Thomas Street Health Center. "Sadly, there's little awareness of the problem."

Andrade worries that health care providers aren't screening at-risk populations for the sometimes hidden sores that can act as portals for the transmission of the HIV virus. In addition, he notes that some HIV patients not using condoms are spreading syphilis, which is known as the "great imitator" because its symptoms are similar to those of other diseases.

The awareness campaign starts on Friday with a symposium for health care providers near the Texas Medical Center. The symposium, sponsored by the Harris County Hospital District, marks the first time local public officials have linked HIV/AIDS and syphilis.

The speakers will include experts on the Treponema pallidum bacterium genome, the Harris County areas and populations most affected by the epidemic and syphilis and HIV co-infection. One speaker is coming from San Francisco, which, despite a recent spike in syphilis cases, ranks behind Houston in the number of reported cases.

After reporting the nation's second-most cases in 2007 -- 443 -- Houston improved to eighth-most in 2009. The 2007 figure represented a 425 percent increase since 1999, when Houston reported 69 cases.

Experts say syphilis outbreaks happen in cycles, attributing previous periods of activity to the sexual revolution of the 1960s, gay liberation of the 1970s and increased use of crack cocaine in 1980s. Numbers typically decline following public awareness campaigns.

In 2007, the city of Houston launched a syphilis awareness campaign that featured advertising, extended clinic hours, deployment of mobile units, even free hip hop concert tickets for people turning out to be screened for syphilis and HIV/AIDS. The campaign is credited with the decline in syphilis cases in 2008 and 2009.

Michael Ross, a professor of public health at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, said one big factor in the syphilis epidemic of the last 10 years is gay men using the Internet to look for partners.

"HIV-positive men will hook up with other HIV-positive men and HIV-negative men will hook up with other HIV-negative men, both groups thinking that they're safe," said Ross, who will speak at the symposium. "But they don't realize they're often spreading syphilis or other STDs."

Ross noted syphilis increases the chances of acquiring the HIV virus fivefold. He also noted that the sores that facilitate transmission are often internal, such as inside the genitals.

Forty percent of Houston's syphilis population are co-infected with AIDS, and the overall numbers comprise mostly minorities, particularly blacks. If caught, it is easily treatable with antibiotics, so much so that when penicillin was shown to kill it during World War II, '50s-era public health officials were optimistic the disease could be eliminated.

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Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

A service of YellowBrix, Inc.

Families Join Fight Against Premature Births

The Tribune (Seymour, Ind.) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 11:15:00 -0700

Apr. 19--Rachel Johnson rounded the corner from Airport Road onto Stadium Drive Saturday morning with her March for Babies team members by her side and a sea of people walking for the same cause behind her on her journey.

Johnson was one of about 300 people who participated in the March for Babies in Seymour.

Wearing a blue T-shirt that read "Bryce and Jackson's Buddies," Johnson said her son, Jackson, 2, was born 10 weeks premature. Bryce, 4, the son of her fellow teacher at Brownstown Elementary School, Jennifer Peak, was born seven weeks premature.

"Both boys are full of energy and are doing great," Johnson said.

Johnson said looking back now at the time when her son was born she wonders how she got through it.

"Initial support from family and friends pushes you through," she said.

Now, she said they want to support others who are in the situation they have been through.

"We want to help those now who are facing challenges with premature babies," Johnson said.

Johnson was surrounded by family, friends, students from Brownstown Elementary and staff members Saturday morning as she made the walk.

"We have great support at our elementary school," Johnson said. She said the school raised $2,000 for March of Dimes this year.

Kimberly Jewell, senior community director for the Indiana Chapter of March of Dimes, said the March for Babies becomes an annual tradition for many families.

"Many families, and even companies, participate each year, and each year it seems like we have new family teams that just in the last six months to a year had a child born prematurely in their family, perhaps a birth defect," she said. "It's very personal to a lot of our family teams and even to our corporations it's a great cause and a great mission."

Jewell said for each dollar raised during the March for Babies, 77 cents goes toward research. The total raised at the walk in Seymour on Saturday was not available.

"Really when we talk about saving babies, we are saving the future. That's our future leaders. I think everyone can get behind that and get behind saving babies," Jewell said.

As "Celebration" played over the loudspeaker, Kathy Nelson cheered on the walkers as they passed through the gate to leave the track for the four-mile route.

"Have fun out there," Nelson said as walkers passed her. A cheerleader for those walking, Nelson said her family believes in the March of Dimes.

"She spent eight weeks at IU," Nelson said of her daughter, Erin, 8, who was born in August 2001 at 32 weeks, or eight weeks early.

"We brought her home around her original due date," Nelson said. "It's a scary situation, having a baby born at 32 weeks."

Now, mother and daughter are doing what they can to help other families in that situation.

"Anything we can do to help so other families don't have to go through that," Nelson, who is a committee member for Saturday's walk, said. The Nelsons were on the SIHO Insurance team. They have been involved with the March of Dimes for the past six years.

Full of energy Saturday morning, Erin said she hopes to continue to participate in the March for Babies as she grows up and thinks that participating is important "'cause I was a baby that was born early."

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To see more of The Tribune or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.tribtown.com/.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

Do We Need More Transparency in Our Healthcare Pricing?

GOOD Magazine — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 11:42:00 -0700

Doctor and HelloHealth founder Jay Parkinson explains why we don't know what it costs to take care of our bodies, and how that might change.

We know how much we're going to pay for almost everything in America, except health care. We can scan a barcode at Barnes and Noble and see how much Amazon charges for the same item. But say we're uninsured in America and we need a hernia repair, one of the most common procedures performed by surgeons. Why won't they tell us how much it will cost ahead of time?

The simple answer is the cash paying patient isn't the main customer of the sickness industry. Since 90 percent of sickcare is based on pre-negotiated prices between doctors and insurance companies, it's in their best interest to keep prices secret so they can negotiate more strategically. While this is great for them, it's a frustrating pain for the uninsured, cash-paying patient looking for a little transparency. But as today's version of co-pay health insurance becomes increasingly more expensive, more and more people are going to be asked to spend, say, the first $5,000 out of their own pockets on sickcare. Consumers are going to start demanding transparency. Over the next decade, we'll start seeing a whole new consumer-friendly ecosystem evolve to meet the demands of this changing market. We're starting to see it already. Here are a few examples:

* Change:Healthcare: They're like BillShrink for medical bills. They help you save money on medical bills, prescription medications, and the like. If your doctor prescribes you a medication, they'll tell you if there's a low cost generic equivalent or where to get that medication for the lowest price in your neighborhood.

* Minute Clinic: If you have one of the illnesses they can treat, they'll tell you exactly what to expect and how much you'll spend.

* CarePractice: If you live in San Francisco, you're lucky enough to experience a growing number of savvy young physicians who realize that an insurance-free practice is the best way to provide affordable health care. Since a doctor's practice typically has about 65 to 70 percent overhead—mostly due to staff required for insurance billing—eliminating insurance allows a practice to function with much less overhead and, therefore, lower fees. Qliance in Seattle is another example.

* Target: If your doctor prescribes a generic medication, it's highly likely that Target offers it for $4 a month.

* MyMedLab: If you need or want a test, head to MyMedLab and order it for yourself. Head down to a testing center and they will perform the test. Log in to MyMedLab and you'll see your results. STD University is similar and also available for all of your STD testing needs.

* Bumrungrad: Say you're uninsured and you need a hip replacement. You'll spend a cool $70,000 here in the United States. But if you would like to spend a fraction of that, you can travel to Bangkok where you can have an Apple Store-like healthcare experience for a fraction of the cost.

Although these aren't perfect solutions, they're surely better than nothing. Good luck out there.

Jay Parkinson, MD, MPH launched the online healthcare service, HelloHealth, in 2008. More recently he co-founded the design and consulting firm, The Future Well, to design services and products that create health and happiness.

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Is Hand Soap Dangerous?

GOOD Magazine — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 16:48:00 -0700

You probably don't want to know, because chances are good that it contains something kind of awful called triclosan. Triclosan is an antibacterial/antifungal that is so widely used that it is found in the urine of 75 percent of the population according to the CDC, and has also been found in human breast milk. This despite there being truckloads of scientific data that says it is not safe for human and environmental exposure.

Triclosan has been fingered in the proliferation of drug-resistant bacteria, it's a human allergen, and it's a known and potent hormone disruptor capable of wreaking havon on animal and plant life—as well as human bodies. It can mess with thyroid function and reproductive hormones, which is bad news for all of us.

The good news is, concern about it is mounting, and The Washington Post reported yesterday that the FDA—which generally doesn't seem to like to get in the way when it comes to personal care products—might be doing something about it. Meanwhile, environmentalists, activists, and state policymakers are trying to get the FDA and EPA to ban it from market in instances where it isn't absolutely necessary (such as by surgeons scrubbing in—which was its original intended use).

In the meantime, you can keep yourself away from the stuff by checking ingredient lists and using simple soaps and hot water to wash your hands.

The Human Body as a Subway Map?

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 16:56:00 -0700

What if the systems of the human body were depicted as a subway map? It would look something like this amazing map by illustrator Sam Loman.

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Defusing the 5 Trickiest Workplace Situations

In the Middle of an Office Argument

Assigned a Project You Don’t Know How to Do

Next Page: You’re in Trouble for Messing Up

You’re in Trouble for Messing Up

Bordering on Sexual Harassment

Someone Is Trash Talking About You to Everyone

5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Quit

"Babies" Movie Examines Prenatal Care Around the World

Why Japan Needs More Foreign Travel Nurses

Researchers Find More American Women May Be Obese Than Thought

Officials Warn Syphilis Can Help Spread HIV

Families Join Fight Against Premature Births

Do We Need More Transparency in Our Healthcare Pricing?

Is Hand Soap Dangerous?

The Human Body as a Subway Map?

See the entire map, body, system here. Are You Good to Your Body? Take the Quiz!

See the entire map, body, system here.

Are You Good to Your Body? Take the Quiz!