AllHealthcare

If you like teaching children but don't want to manage an entire classroom, working as a school-based speech-language pathologist (SLP) might be a good career alternative. Unlike classroom teachers, school SLPs typically work one-on-one or in small groups, helping children overcome communication or swallowing disorders. About half the country's 96,000 SLPs work in schools, according to the US Bureau of Labor ...

For millions of people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), other smoking-related illnesses and some sleep disorders, the simple act of breathing can become a life-or-death struggle. Respiratory therapists (RTs) help provide immediate care, ongoing rehabilitation and patient education so patients can live as normally as possible. [page] h4. RTs, Please, for Asthma For asthmatics in an acute phase, RTs ...

For geriatric social workers, helping seniors navigate the perils of aging and maximize their quality of life provides deep satisfaction. Through direct counseling or by marshalling resources, these professionals empower the growing ranks of older Americans to live their later years to the fullest. "Because of changing demographics and the booming older population, [geriatric] social work is one of the fastest-growing ...

Without even listening too closely, occupational therapist assistants (OTAs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs) should be able to hear opportunity knocking. "There is a huge opportunity in almost every profession that deals with the aging population due to the sheer numbers of that group," says Sandy Markwood, CEO of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, an umbrella organization that ...

h4. Bill Schwingen, 51: Executive Director About the employer: The Gardens at Barry Road is an 86-unit, not-for-profit assisted living community in Kansas City. It is operated by Bethesda Adult Communities, which is based in Colorado Springs, Colo. My role: I ensure our residents are provided excellent care and the services they expect from a premier provider of assisted living services. ...

h4. Janae Stockwell, 24: Occupational Therapist About the employer: Manor Care of Overland Park is a post-acute, long-term-care and assisted-living facility. My role: I collaborate with other professions to carry out a rehabilitation plan that will result in the patient returning to the highest possible level of functioning. How long have you been in this position? Since June. [widget:training_channel_occupational_therapist] [widget:1102] How ...

You're good at your job, but could you do it with tens of thousands of fans scrutinizing your every move? That's what professional sports teams' athletic trainers do every time they hit the field. "They need to make very logical, calculated judgments in an environment that may not be nice and quiet," says Larry Leverenz, PhD, clinical professor and director of ...

How do you help a 27-year-old reservist -- a carpenter in civilian life -- find a new career when he's lost an arm in Iraq? What services can help the World War II vet whose retirement check doesn't stretch far enough? It takes a vast array of knowledge and skills to answer such questions. The social workers who serve the nation's ...

With pharmacists already in short supply nationwide, a dearth of pharmacy professors threatens to deepen the pharmacy labor crisis and backfire on the needs of the marketplace. "The shortage of pharmacy faculty, now and in the future, represents a serious public health threat in the face of the rapidly growing consumer demand for prescription drugs," says Lucinda Maine, executive vice president ...

A trip to the medical imaging lab can stir up fear and concern in even the most well-informed patient. But what if the patient is a child? That's where pediatric radiologic technologists (RTs) step in, exercising a special set of patient-interaction skills that help them get the image they need. Because they deal with crying infants, antsy toddlers, or otherwise uncooperative ...

Salespeople's roles in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical-device industries are closely related, but there are some key differences in what each of the three types of sales jobs entails, as well as in the skills and personalities necessary to succeed. From differing levels of technical know-how to varying degrees of on-the-job autonomy, here's what to keep in mind before targeting one ...

h4. Nature of the Work Athletic trainers help prevent and treat injuries for people of all ages. Their clients include everyone from professional athletes to industrial workers. Recognized by the American Medical Association as allied health professionals, athletic trainers specialize in the prevention, assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries. Athletic trainers often are one of the first heath care providers ...

Sleuthing may not be part of a pharmacist's official job description, but most druggists call on their detective skills when they suspect a customer is abusing a prescription drug. Knowing the possible signs of addiction and how to respond to them will give pharmacists the best chance of helping customers who may be in trouble. h4. Telltale Signs Although it's wise ...

For experienced radiologic technologists (RTs) who crave upward mobility and an advanced clinical role, there's a new career path to explore: That of the radiologist assistant (RA). Recently created by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT), the American College of Radiology and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), this new role was designed to help address the shortage of ...

Entrepreneurial occupational therapists (OTs) are finding rich rewards by providing both rehabilitation and consulting services to assisted-living facilities and their residents. Assisted-living facilities occupy a niche between independent-living facilities and more-expensive skilled nursing homes, catering to people who are fairly independent but who need some assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) or who suffer dementia or incontinence. [widget:training_channel_occupational_therapist] [widget:1102] As ...

For many overweight and obese Americans, exercise is a real pain -- in the back or the knees or the ankles. Even simple actions such as walking or climbing stairs can cause discomfort. Excess weight stresses joints, affects proper movement and predisposes them to osteoarthritis, tendonitis, overuse injuries and a host of other health problems. Using various methods, physical therapists (PTs) ...

For second-career nurses, the transition from nursing school to working with real patients can range from somewhat uncomfortable to highly shocking. These rookies often have given up secure, well-established careers, only to discover on-the-job demands never mentioned in the textbooks. However, the right attitude can help you weather your first few months on the nursing unit. For those who overcome the ...

When it comes to opening doors and opening eyes, specialty certification lets employers, colleagues and patients know that a physical therapist (PT) possesses advanced clinical skills in a particular area. Board-certified therapists truly stand out from their peers, considering fewer than 10 percent of the roughly 63,000 members of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) have obtained this voluntary advanced credential. ...

When providing bedside care loses its luster, working in a nonclinical specialty can renew your love for nursing and draw on your clinical experience. The following positions exist at most healthcare institutions and are well-suited to experienced nurses. However, only a few such jobs may be available at a given facility. h4. Case Managers Case managers choreograph all aspects of patient ...

Whether you're a social worker, therapist, visiting nurse or another type of home healthcare practitioner, you will undoubtedly face an ethical dilemma at some point in your career. These quandaries can relate to a patient's safety, competency or confidentiality, reimbursement or a host of other issues that force home healthcare workers to act. Three home healthcare professionals shed light on issues ...