Pharmacovigilance and WHO

July 1st, 2010
Vikas S asked:




Pharmacovigilance has a huge role to play in ensuring drug safety and safety of patients.The WHO, which is the chief body of health works with the collaboration of Centre for International Drug Monitoring and promotes pharmacovigilance at country level.?

Pharmacovigilance is a science of drug reaction.?Its chief aim is to study the reaction of the drug on patients.It involves detection of ill effects of medicines on patients, assessment, research and prevention of adverse drug side effects on patients.World Health Organization defines it as “The science and activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects or possible drug-related problems.”The process is carried out either by pharmaceutical companies on their products or by government agencies on all medicinal products.

In monitoring safety of drugs, the WHO works with its collaborating center,Uppsala Monitoring Center (UMC) in Sweden.Their chief function is to manage an international database of ADR reports from national centers.Almost all national centers have electronic access to the database.On behalf of the WHO, the UMC has established standardized reporting of all National Centers and has facilitated communication between countries to promote speedy signal identifica.

At the national level, the manufacturers and regulatory bodies work in coordination with healthcare professionals to manufacture safe drugs and also to record incidents of adverse reactions of medicines on patients.The cyclic process of reporting, assessment, research and recording by international healthcare centers again follows.?

In the whole system,the World Health Organizations acts as the chief investigation body and quality assurance body which qualifies safe drugs in an attempt to ensure drug safety and patient safety across different countries.

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Swine Flu Risk Survival Tips You Need to Know

July 1st, 2010
Kirsten Whittaker asked:




If you’re like most of us, you know more than you ever wanted to about swine flu risk, or under the more scientific name the World Health Organization (WHO) has been using: Influenza A(H1N1). The name change is an effort to limit the confusion over any connection to pigs or pig products. Besides the unfortunate name, swine flu has no connection to pigs other than having some swine flu genetic sequences.

As of 12 May 2009, 30 countries have reported 5,251 cases of influenza A(H1N1). Mexico reports 2,059 lab confirmed human cases of infection, including 56 deaths. The United States reports 2,600 laboratory confirmed human cases, with three deaths. Canada reports 330 laboratory confirmed human cases and one death. Costa Rica reports eight laboratory confirmed human cases and one death.

Not surprisingly mixed messages on the risks of travel using mass transit have only added to the confusion and fear. Still the World Health Organization continues to make no restriction on travel of any kind, or suggest the closing of borders. Interesting that Continental Airlines, the largest U.S. air carrier to Mexico, is cutting back flights by 40%, but will still serve all 29 Mexican destinations.

The good news seems to be that the strain, while spreading widely. may not be as severe as first feared. Experts already know that this flu does not contain some of the genes that made the 1918 Spanish flu so deadly. However, in 1918 the first wave of sickness was relatively mild, the second was the dangerous, deadly one. No one can say that won’t happen this time as well.

Experts are convinced they will be able to create a vaccine for A(H1N1) and work is already underway.

The trouble is, vaccine making and distributing isn’t an exact science or a quick process, not to mention the calculated risk scientists take every year in choosing which strains of flu to protect against.

The earliest we’re likely to see any type of A(H1N1) vaccine is four to six months, this fall perhaps.

In the meantime, what can you do to keep yourself healthy?

Here are some common sense suggestions from the experts.

1. Wash your hands as much as possible.

This is the best thing you can do to stay healthy. Wash your hands with soap and water frequently, as the A(H1N1) flu is spread by the droplets from coughing or sneezing that are released into the air. When these get on your hands, everything you touch becomes a potential source of infection.

How you wash is key – most of us aren’t washing well enough or long enough – you’ll need to use the warmest water you can, lather up with soap and rub you fingers, palms, and even under your nails and up to your wrists for two choruses of “Happy Birthday”.

If you’re without soap and water, hand sanitizers serve very well and come in a variety of sizes.

When you wash is also super important.

Be sure to wash up before you eat or prepare food for others, after using the bathroom, or after using a tissue or your hands to cover up a sneeze or cough.

The virus droplets don’t seem to float in the air, but rather settle on objects you touch everyday smooth objects more than rough or porous ones.

It’s the common things we all handle like coins and bills, hand rails, door knobs and other household objects, as well as those essentials around the office like pens, staplers and phones that can harbor all manner of germs.

When taking care of someone who is ill, it’s a good idea to wash your hands more often, especially after direct contact with them or things they’ve used, including laundry.

2. Cover up when you cough or sneeze.

By using your shoulder, or the crook of your elbow to capture the droplets that come form a cough or sneeze you contain the infectious droplets. Wash your hands right away.

A surgical face mask can be an option that helps to keep your respiratory droplets to yourself. Still this isn’t a better option than washing your hands, and used improperly can do you more harm than good. Masks must be used according to the instructions and only for the length of time suggested by the manufacturer.

Face masks can be helpful if you are caring for another person who is ill.

3. If you’re sick, stay home.

Sure it’s hard to give in to feeling sick, especially in our got-to-be-everywhere, do-everything world, but this is exactly what experts suggest you do.

If you start developing flu-like symptoms – aches, fatigue, fever, coughing or sneezing – don’t push yourself to go to work.

Don’t try to tough it out either, as there are some treatments that can shorten the length and severity of your illness.

Call your doctor for advice or an appointment, especially if you’ve traveled to Mexico recently or have an underlying health condition.

You’ll also want to wash you hands often, dispose of tissues right away, and sleep alone.

Once you recover, air out your sleeping space and change your bedding, washing sheets, towels and pajamas in the hottest water possible.

4. Don’t touch your face.

This is the survival tip that’s the hardest to do as it’s such a natural impulse. Sometimes being aware of a need not to touch makes it even more difficult. Still, it’s super important to try to keep your hands away from these mucous membranes – eyes, nose and mouth – all direct routes to the bloodstream.

When you bring germs to your face you bypass the natural protective barrier, this route inside is direct and undefended.

While it’s not easy, by keeping your hands away from your face, you do yourself a big favor. By keeping your hands super clean, you’re likely to deliver as little infectious material as possible to this area when you do give into the impulse (or need) to touch your face.

5. Stay away from sick people.

Also, not easy to do, especially if you’re a parent (or spouse) of someone struggling with A(H1N1) flu, or you have a coworker who simply refuses to call in sick, even when they are.

Limit your time with this person as much as possible. Up your hand washing after whatever contact you do have. Use a face mask if you must be very close or the person is coughing or sneezing quite a bit.

Of course, common sense should tell you not to drink from this person’s cups, share utensils or use the phone of anyone with flu-like symptoms, a cough, fever or sneezing.

Encourage co-workers to go home (or stay home) if they aren’t feeling well. Remember that you can be contagious for a day before you feel ill… and up to seven days once the coughing, sneezing, fever and feeling miserable come on.

With such a rapidly changing situation, your best defense against A(H1N1) flu is to say informed – using World Health Organization or Centers for Disease Control resources.

Of course it’s scary to think that the microscopic organism behind swine flu risk can move at will across the world and send so many of us healthy, far-more-advanced creatures to our beds. It’s hard to imagine something so small can really be that powerful. But it can.

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Diabetes Associations

June 13th, 2010
Peter Lenkefi asked:




A person with diabetes needs to acquire the necessary education and knowledge about his condition in order to know how to avoid the onset of acute or chronic complications, and to be able to attack and swiftly remedy any problem. This way life can be enjoyable, healthy, productive, and happy and, above all, free of complications.

Diabetes associations are the perfect places where people with Diabetes and their families will be able to find all kinds of Diabetes related information and education that they need, from from the most basic and simple to the most complex and in-depth aspects concerning to this “Life condition”.

There are lots of leading nonprofit health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy. These associations are dedicated to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

To fulfill this mission they funds research, publishes scientific findings, provides information and other services to people with diabetes, their families, health professionals and the public. They also actively involved in advocating for scientific research and for the rights of people with diabetes. They usually provide consumer information on many diabetes-related topics—meal planning, exercise, complications of diabetes, nutrition, and more. They often work with municipal, provincial, territorial and federal governments and policy-makers to ensure they recognize diabetes as one of the most significant public health issues in World today, and take action to address it.

Some of the pioneer diabetic associations who are providing commendable contribution in the fight against diabetics are listed below.

AUSTRALIA
Diabetes Australia
517 Phipps Place
Deakin ACT 2600
Australia
Tel. 61-6-2835277
UNITED KINGDOM
British Diabetes Association
10 Queen Anne Street
London WIM OBD
Tel.44-71/323-1531

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
American Diabetes Association
1660 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Tel. 1-800-2323472 (USA only)
1-703-549-1500
SWEDEN
Swedish Diabetic Association
P.O. Box 1545
S 171 29 Solna
Tel. 46-8/629 85 80

Swedish Endocrine Society
c/o Adamson Dept. of Medicine
Danderyd Hospital
s-18288 Danderyd
Tel. 46-1/6556413

SWITZERLAND
Swiss Diabetes Association
Forchstrasse 95
CH-8032 Zurich
Tel.41-1/383 13 15

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How Accounting Software Can Reduce Operating Expenses For Healthcare Organizations

June 4th, 2010
Robert M. Callanan asked:




Technology is front and center for healthcare organizations in 2010. Especially prominent is the HITECH Act of 2009 and its substantial impact on finances, human resources, Medicare payments, and the technology requirements to support these areas. Increasing federal regulatory compliance, accompanied by a heavy burden of standards and mandates, can make it seem overwhelming to weigh all issues and needs regarding technology for healthcare organizations.

Every industry experiences periods of transformation around their IT infrastructure and the business automation that introduces new efficiencies. The healthcare industry is now in the midst of its makeover. Substantial investments and change have already been made in medical and patient technology; however, the same level of change has not been duplicated in the business infrastructure of many healthcare organizations.

With so many technology demands to consider around electronic health records and healthcare IT, why should finance executives in the healthcare industry scrutinize their accounting software in 2010?

There are four reasons why healthcare organizations should evaluate and implement better accounting software this year in order to establish seamless, automated business processes that connect front office to back office and give healthcare professionals more time and resources to devote to their mission – excellent care for patients:

1. Data Integration Across Systems Helps Deliver Affordable Healthcare

With integrated systems, technology increases efficiencies, maintains quality of care and is not simply a way to cut costs. A typical healthcare organization is bogged down by paper-based data collection and runs dozens of disconnected systems and a plethora of patient billing and records solutions. Good accounting software is able to integrate with these systems to bring the information into the back office. You also need to automate the flow of financial information across internal systems and health plans with insurance claims, including a range of government organizations.

High quality service must remain constant amidst continuously evolving technology, but finding ways to reduce the costs of quality care is also imperative. Accounting software that integrates with other systems can dramatically improve operational efficiencies, reduce administrative costs, and ultimately free up cash for better, more affordable patient care.

Providing high quality healthcare takes a unified team of doctors, nurses, specialists and clinicians. A healthcare organization’s technology platform should incorporate the same collaborative approach so all systems, including accounting software, work together and enable automated business processes that streamline the way information is created, collected, accessed and shared.

2. Improve Operating Efficiencies

Accounting staff in many healthcare organizations today are overburdened with increasing pressures from internal and external demands. As other areas of a healthcare organization or practice advance due to technology investments, the organization now expects quicker turnaround on requests and more financial information. Externally, many of the requirements from HIPPA, Sarbanes-Oxley, and HHS-GIO present challenges that are initially often overlooked for the finance team. Today, a top accounting system can help a small finance staff more efficiently address payroll/HR requests, automate expense reporting and purchase requisitions management, provide a paperless workflow around payables management, and much more.

Many healthcare organizations are only using accounting software as a tool to present their practice to external users for financing, tax returns, and owners, rather than as a system to help improve the quality of patient care, reduce costs, or to increase revenues.

A recent study by Ivans, Inc. concluded administrative inefficiency and redundant paperwork account for 18% of healthcare waste. The study also notes many healthcare facilities still operate with older technology infrastructures, and by updating these infrastructures and operating systems they will experience immediate benefits.[1]

In the same way improved efficiency in medical care drives down costs while maintaining excellent patient care, increased efficiency in your business software and operations enables you to provide improved levels of service to patients with fewer resources.

Today’s accounting software lets you do more with less, with a high and rapid return on your investment.

3. Increasing Need for Business Intelligence

The importance of solid business intelligence and the demand for predictive analytics will grow in healthcare over the next few years in order to respond to the needs to increase revenue, reduce costs and comply with industry regulations and standards.

A 2009 Gartner paper predicted, “Through 2012, more than 35 percent of the top 5,000 global companies will regularly fail to make insightful decisions about significant changes in their business and markets.”[2]

It’s not just about having an abundance of data. Good accounting software reveals relationships between data rather than merely making data more accessible. Your data should provide deeper insight to help you make better business decisions. When electronic health records become more pervasive, healthcare organizations will have the ability to do more complex analysis than ever before. Your accounting software should provide strong reporting features with the ability to report by locations, departments, physicians, and service lines.

4. Good Data Quality and Management Ensures Compliance

It is complex and costly for healthcare organizations to comply with government regulations, industry standards, or corporate quality. Powerful accounting software helps healthcare organizations reduce the cost of regulatory compliance, lessens the risk of compliance failure, and protects company assets. Your accounting system should provide strong financial controls and audit trails, as well as the reporting needed for monitoring critical business processes or company assets. A system with built-in business alerts also reports attempts to bypass internal control procedures.

Why 2010 is the Year for New Accounting Software

Your accounting and business software is at the heart of your organization’s success. Now is an excellent time to take a holistic approach with your software applications so they all integrate as seamlessly as possible and provide the detail-rich, sophisticated data and reporting features you need at the lowest cost.

A stable, scalable accounting platform that is the right solution for your organization quickly demonstrates return on investment, drastically reduces administrative expenses, and increases operational efficiencies. Most important, it enables you to invest necessary, crucial funds in the well being of your patients.


[1] IVANS Healthcare Provider Spot Survey: Healthcare Provider Opinions on Reform, Technology and Proposed Medicare Cuts, November 2009

[2] Gartner Business Intelligence Summit 2009, Analysts Discuss Business Intelligence Challenges and Opportunities, January 20-22, 2009, The Hague, Netherlands

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Deep massage relaxes and stimulates

May 30th, 2010
jamiehanson asked:




Massages are the best method by which one feels comfortable and fresh. Massage is a remedial touch on those parts of the body that are stressed and disturbed because of unhealthy lifestyle. Massages are excellent for every part of your body as it soothes you complete body and calms your mind. Massage heals your body and eradicates most of the inner problems that you might be suffering form a long time. While massaging you need to be careful with the massage strokes and the direction in which massaging is done as it actually affects your body to a great extent. Massages are of different types each having its own advantages. Deep massages are mostly preferred by most of the people now-a-days, as it helps to solve many of your health problems that might be deep rooted into your body from a very long time. Generally people opt for deep massages if they are suffering with some particular health problem. There is a complete session of deep massages where the complete session of massages is focused on healing that specific part of the body that is suffering from some illness from a long period. The advantages of deep massage are: – Improved body shape: Deep massages help people who are with feeble and lean shape. People with crooked back usually look stoop as a result their appearance harms their poise and hence they do not perform well in lives. A good deep massage will surely solve their problem as the tissues and muscles are massaged with special oils which help to get a perfect shape. The massage sessions are very effectual and help the body to realign in its original perfect shape. – Relieves pain: Deep massages work on tissues which activate blood circulation as a result the oxygen is circulated in all the parts of our body, this helps to soothe pain and you feel comfortable. People who suffer from constant pains in any part of body or if they are diagnosed with osteoporosis or carpal disorder feel great relief when they undergo deep massages. – Respite from muscular pains: People who suffer from constant stiff necks and strained shoulders, need a deep massage to help them relief from awful pain. The professional strokes given in specific direction usually helps them to relax their stressed muscles which in turn relax your complete body. – Additional advantages: After a deep massage it is suggested to take a hot water bath or sauna bath, this helps to decrease soreness that you might usually experience after a deep massage. Moreover, you should concentrate on your breathing while taking a massage, this assists your therapist to know the stressed muscles where he will work more in order to relax that specific area of your body. You will also experience some kind of firmness in your whole body and this is absolutely normal, in severe cases you might apply ice to calm down . This happens as your muscles start working for the betterment of your body with improved blood flow and expelling of waste from your body. So it will take some time for your body to adjust with a healthy and beneficial atmosphere. With such wonderful advantages of deep massage, you feel much better and stronger as your body is highly activated to provide energy to execute daily task without making you feel tired by the end of the day. Deep massage is indeed the finest way to activate your self with improved energy levels and feel comfortable, mentally and physically.



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Electronic Medical Records- Providing a Better Solution for Healthcare Organizations

May 27th, 2010
jamiehanson asked:




If you own or operate a healthcare facility, then you know three of the most important elements of operating smoothly are reducing paper records, improving efficiency, and reducing errors. With traditional medical record storage with paper charts, it can be difficult to blend these three elements into one harmonious, smoothly operating organization. However, with electronic medical records you can literally improve all three of these functions. Having records in electronic format can really save your healthcare organization a lot of time and paperwork. The less paperwork an organization has, the more smoothly it can operate. Electronic medical record software allows you to eliminate a vast majority of paper work, which leads to a more eco-friendly, smoother running organization. In addition to electronic medical records eliminating paperwork, this type of software also has the ability to improve efficiency within a healthcare organization. Being able to have medical records filed electronically eliminates the many headaches associated with traditional storage. No more sifting through mountains of folders to find one tiny piece of information. With electronic medical records a healthcare organization has access to patient records immediately and multiple users can be in the record at one time. As you can see, this will save time and drastically improve efficiency. One major problem that typically plagues healthcare organizations are errors in medical records, which is usually caused by a mis-transfer of information form healthcare provider to healthcare provider. When an organization has hundreds or even thousands of patients to deal with, it is very important that you have software available that can drastically reduce these errors. Electronic medical records allow you to reduce these errors, which is an important aspect of running an efficient facility. These are three of the key benefits associated with using electronic medical records for your healthcare organization. If you can reduce paper records, improve efficiency, and reduce human error then you have immediately eliminated three prominent problems that are often associated with healthcare facilities.



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Medical Practice Management Software- Why Billing and Claims are of Vital Importance

May 16th, 2010
jamiehanson asked:




Do you know one area of the health care industry that requires a vast amount of resources, yet could be handled with much more proficiency? It is the area of billings and claims with regards to electronic medical records. The fact of the matter is that many healthcare facilities are wasting thousands of dollars each and every year by trying to manually handle billing and claims issues. The amount of time and energy necessary to manage this area of a professional healthcare organization is overwhelming, and thus many departments of this kind perform inefficiently, despite their best efforts. The best way to circumvent this problem is to use medical practice management software to handle all of the issues that arise with billing and claims. Entire departments are created to take care of billing and claims, but what if your organization could save both time and money by using cutting edge EMR software? This is in essence the goal of medical practice management software. By integrating the software with billing and claims, you can save a vast amount of time, money, and countless other resources. The world is getting more technologically proficient by the day, and it is about time that billing and claims departments caught up with the times. There are three main points you will want to consider when trying to find practice management software that will integrate quickly and easily with billing and claims. After all, if the software does not perform these three functions , then it is largely useless. 1. Fewer rejections accompanied by prompt payments. Choose medical practice management software that audits applications. This will ensure that all claims are accurate, and thus reduce the number of denials significantly. A rejection means time and resources have been wasted, so fewer rejections mean that your health care facility will be operating more efficiently. By default, when you reduce the number of claims rejected, you speed up the payment process as well. 2. Claims processing. medical practice management software should save time and money with regards to claim processing. When you can submit your claim electronically, it reduces the amount of paperwork, this cutting costs on two different fronts (less paper, less man hours). This allows staff members to work on other tasks, and speeds up the payment process as well. 3. Rejections processing. It is important to note that when you integrate billing and claims with medical practice management software, rejections are significantly reduced, but not eliminated. Rejections still happen, thus rejection processing is important when handling electronic medical records. When a medical billing system is fully integrated with quality medical practice management software, it cuts costs and enhances performance and proficiency. Accuracy is greatly improved, claims are easier to trace, errors are reduced, and employees are happier!



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Where to Buy Health Insurance For Individuals

May 5th, 2010
Alan Lim asked:




We come across many people who wonder about the right place to buy health insurance plans that suit them best. There are various options available for such people for buying various health insurance for individuals plan. Most people buy health care insurance plans through agents. All the person is required to do is to call a local insurance agent and he will visit the person with various insurance plans with different cover charges.

You may also visit the local insurance company and get the details of different health insurance plans they are offering. But before approaching them, you should equip yourself with complete details about the type of health insurance plan that you are looking for and that comes within your budget. Some insurance plans cover comprehensive medical problems whereas some are for specific medical problems like for transplant of heart and kidney.

But to find the right insurance company, it will be advisable to undergo a thorough research. This searching can be done through the internet, through the assistance of friends, family, yellow pages and health organizations who can provide fruitful information about the right company. In addition, there are many online insurance companies available as well which negates the utility of local agents. You can directly approach them for your purchase of health insurance plan.

The search for insurance companies online is very easy but to find the reputed one with goodwill is quite difficult. To solve this problem, the help of search engine, reviews and articles can be taken to get the detailed knowledge of the companies. After short listing the right companies for health insurance for individuals plan, you can ask for their quotes. After comparing their quotes, the best policy with affordable rates can be selected.

After selection of the plan, you can get the details of premium you will have to pay and if the premium comes out to be higher, then you should find out the reasons which make them expensive. If you can get your medical reports from your physician showing excellent condition of your health, the chances of bargaining of the premium rate with the insurance company are higher. So, in this way, you can get the best insurance plan with maximum coverage that is going to help you in times of needs.

As now you know from where to buy the best health insurance for individuals, so simply get one today.

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Choosing Health Care Insurance – PPO Vs HMO

April 2nd, 2010
Gerri Shapiro asked:




If the Obama Health Care Reform plan goes through, your health care insurance choices are likely to change drastically. Whether these changes will be good or bad is yet to be determined. In the meantime, you have choices. Your first choice is Preferred Provider Organization vs Health Maintenance Organization (PPO vs HMO)?

Whether you are offered medical insurance through your employer or obtain coverage on your own, it is important to know the difference between PPO and HMO health insurance plans to make the best choice for you.

Deciding which is the better alternative will help you to make a fair comparison of not only health insurance rates but plan features too.

So what is HMO insurance and what is a PPO?
Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) is a type of managed care organization (MCO). The HMO has a network of providers including doctors, medical groups, labs and hospitals that contract with the organization to provide care for the insured members. By contracting with the organization, doctors and hospitals agree to follow specific HMO guidelines. The guidelines include a schedule of fees for services.

A primary distinguishing feature of an HMO is that members must select a Primary Care Physician (PCP) who basically manages the insured’s health care. The PCP is usually a general practitioner, family doctor or internist. With most HMOs, prior to seeing a specialist, the insured must receive a referral from their PCP. Unapproved visits will not be covered.
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)

A Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) is also an organization comprised of medical providers. Providers contract with the PPO to provide services at a reduced fee. The schedule of fees is negotiated between the organization and the providers. PPOs are paid by the insurance company for the use of their network.

PPOs generally offer coverage through in-network providers. You do, however, have the option to see an out-of-network physician but at a higher out of pocket cost.
PPO vs HMO – Major Differences

Following are the main differences between an HMO and a PPO:

* Premium – annual premiums for an HMO are usually lower than PPO plans.

* Flexibility – HMOs usually require visits to your primary physician before seeking care from any other physician/health care provider. PPOs offer greater flexibility with a larger provider network and the option to see out-of-network providers. Referrals and pre-approvals are not required with PPOs making them more convenient too.

* Cost structure & claim processing – the HMO cost structure is considered to be simpler than that of a PPO. PPOs often entail deductibles, co-pays and co-insurance. You may receive bills directly from the provider and claim processing is a bit more complicated. With an HMO, the insured is usually responsible for office visit copays without the necessity of submitting any claims.

Ultimately, I believe that the deciding factor comes down to the flexibility of a PPO or the simplicity of an HMO.

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Benefits of Earning a Bachelor’s Degree in the Field of Nursing

March 11th, 2010
Cynthia Andrews asked:




There are great benefits to those who hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing. However, for one reason or another many nurses don’t pursue additional credentials after receiving their registered nursing license.

The greatest benefit is the access to executive level positions within the healthcare industry. Your undergraduate education will equip you with the knowledge of how human, financial, and mechanical resources are used to provide a high level of care to patients. This type of knowledge is needed to understand what is involved in the day to day management of a hospital or similar healthcare organization.

It is an unwritten rule, but these types of positions are generally reserved for registered nurses who have obtained their bachelor’s degree in nursing; they are often seen as the best candidates for these positions. Their nursing experience gives them great insight to the medical needs of the hospital, while their bachelor’s degree curriculum provides all of the business skills needed. So much so, that some healthcare facilities prefer nurses with their bachelor’s degree in nursing over someone with just a RN license.

Nurses with a bachelor’s degree are prepared to work in practically all healthcare settings upon graduation. A nurse without a bachelor’s degree would need to obtain a certification within the specific specialty in order to work in these types of settings. Though nurses are in great demand, a bachelor’s degree will make you even more employable. This should give you the power to weigh job offers and options, which in this job market is remarkable.

The ease of finding employment makes a bachelor’s degree in nursing a transferable degree. You can freely move from state to state and country to country. Typically as a certified and/or registered nurse your license is administered by a state board, often requiring you to check with the state whenever you apply for a position after you have moved. This is to ensure you that there are no new licenses or certifications required and proof that you are practicing nursing in accordance to the rules of that particular state.

Nurses with their bachelor’s degree typically command a higher salary than registered nurses who don’t hold a degree. In many cases, their broad knowledge extends past general nursing, making these particular nurses the pick of the litter. A bachelor’s degree will also put you ahead of the growing trend in medicine. Many hospitals are starting to require a BSN as a minimum requirement. This a growing trend that has a leading number of registered nurses going back to school to obtain their bachelor’s degree in order to maintain their current positions.

Your bachelor’s degree will also allow you to be better prepared for the world as an entrepreneur. The bachelor’s curriculum will give you a broader range of knowledge in areas of finance and accounting, human resources, and general management. You will also take courses on social and cultural challenges facing the healthcare industry. These skills will help you be a better consultant, nurse case manager, or nurse writer.

Obtaining your bachelor’s degree can also allow you to expand your career for as long as you wish. Often times the physical demands of nursing can make it a difficult profession. With your bachelor’s degree you are able to switch gears and career tracks to a more professional styled position, one which is less physically demanding and with a more structured work week.

These days, gaining your bachelor’s degree in nursing is easier than it has been in the past, thanks to a mix of online and traditional schooling options. In many cases you will be able to continue working full time while you are pursuing your degree. You should be able to continue gaining experience and also be able to support yourself and or your family while going to school.

This degree is also a stepping stone for other advanced degrees. For some programs it is actually a prerequisite for the master’s degree in nursing. Although it may not be a requirement for gaining additional specialty certifications, your bachelor’s degree training will make the certification training come easier to you.

A Bachelor’s degree in nursing may seem like a big step for some registered nurses. It is quickly becoming more of a natural progression of a nursing career. The opportunity to expand your career and the flexibility to easily change locations are among the most popular benefits. In this economy the high salaries of nurses with their BSN is probably the greatest motivating factor for many who choose to pursue this degree. Despite these benefits, the healthcare industry is moving toward making a bachelor’s degree a requirement. Nursing is one of the few positions that are forecasted to be in great demand for years to come, why not ensure your survival in this exciting and ever expanding industry.



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