PRN JOBS – Career Benefits & drawbacks

What is a PRN Job?

PRN nurses are licensed and qualified professionals who have chosen to work in a hospital’s pool of on-call staff or for an agency that offers temporary medical staffing solutions. They consent to work for a number of hours a month and may work nearly full-time if they are employed by an agency.

To being, let us first understand what PRN stands for, it is a Latin phrase “pro re nata” which means “as the situation demands.” Therefore, if your job is PRN, it means you only work when there is a need, or when they need you. Working as a PRN, it is difficult to plan your life or your expenses, unless you’re the one who decides when and how often to work, but there are also some added benefits to work as a PRN.

How does it works

In the hospital, working pool or per diem is similar to working PRN. As the hospital can not be closed when people call in sick, most hospitals have back up of nurses, technicians and other ancillary personnel, who can be asked to join when their regular staff gets sick or goes on a vacation.
A PRN job typically demands a commitment for a certain number of hours per months, usually you won’t have a problem getting the hours you need, but you’ll have to be available with a specific number of weekend or holiday hours.

As a PRN nurse you can get the opportunity to deal with a variety of patients and in a variety of areas, here are some of the advantages and disadvantages involved:

Advantages of PRN Jobs

·         As far as the benefits linked with paid time off or sick time, you probably can't expect either of them when you are working as a PRN.

·         Another benefit of working as a PRN is that you do not have to beg or plead for a day-off.

·         PRN nurses simply do not accept work when they don’t want to

·         You can manage your work-life balance as per your convenience.

·         You can take complete flexibility of working hours and availability.

·         As a PRN you usually earn more than you would make working in a full-time position.

·         You can explore different opportunities, work more than one hospital.

·         Less Pressure involved

·         Having fewer work hours implies that you can focus on other important areas of your life.

Disadvantages of PRN Jobs disadvantage

Although there are very few disadvantages of taking up a PRN Job, they are; 

·         Lack of a consistent salary

·         You may have to work nights, holidays or weekends

·         No job security. No benefits like paid time off days, insurance and retirement.

Here 3 tips that can help you restore your energy and excitement to continue working as a PRN

for an extended period of time in your career. They are,

1.      Be organized

2.      Set boundaries

3.      Choose shifts that are right for you

PRN JOBS – Career Benefits & Drawbacks by Health Care on Scribd

What is The Role of Primary Care Physician?

Just as you take care of your personal belonging such as cars, electronics, etc. you also need someone to take preventive care of your health. Just because, you do not feel the need for routine checkup, it does not mean everything's going fine with your body. Your primary care physician will recommend you some blood test and health screening to ensure best indicators of your overall health. A Primary Care Provider (PCP) is your point person for a health tune-up.

general health physicians or nurse practitioners help us take care of the basic health, centering our wellness and prevention when required. They are our primary healthcare partner in case of any emergency. They focus on our overall health, ensuring necessary screenings and risk assessments and also helps find the way you through medical specialists.

Types of primary care physician

There are different types of general practitioner that will be described as a primary care physician - typically Family Practice, Internal Medicine or General Practice. There are also doctors who focus on children, called Pediatricians, who will serve as the primary care physician for your child.

 Family Practice – These doctors are able to treat patients of all ages, from newborns to the elderly.  They are generalists who have completed a family practice residency and are board-certified and eligible to practice. They treat a wide variety of conditions, and often treat ailments you’d usually see a specialist for, such as sports injuries or some women’s health requirements.
 Internists - They provide care for adults of all ages and for a number of different problems.
Pediatricians - Their specialty includes the care includes care of newborns, infants, children, and adolescents.
Nurse practitioners (NPs) - Nurse practitioners or physician assistants (PAs) go through a different training and certification process than doctors. They may be your key contact in some practices as consult with physicians.
Geriatricians –They often provide care for older adults with complex health condition related to aging. They are well-informed in family medicine or internal medication.
Obstetricians / Gynecologists – They serve as primary care providers for women, particularly those of childbearing age.

What does a primary care physician do?

A primary care physician provides a wide range of care. He/she would try developing healthy personal relationship with the patients and their family, facilitating their health and wellness.
It is advisable to visit a primary care physician for regular checkup and preventive screenings and tests that can help the onset of chronic diseases.

Your primary care physician will:

·         Ensure you get suggested medical screenings and health risk tests

·         Offer preventive care and teach healthy lifestyle choices

·         Estimates the urgency of your health problems and directs you to the best place for care.

·         Help you get referrals to medical specialists when necessary

What is the Role of Primary Care Physician by Health Care on Scribd

Things you should know before visiting your OBGYN?

Let us first understand, what is OBGYN?

An OBGYN or obstetrician-gynecologist is a physician who provides expert medical and surgical care to women and has particular expertise in pregnancy, childbirth, and disorders of the reproductive system. The female body experiences several biological changes, including, menstruation, childbirth and menopause.

What is obstetrics?

Obstetrics or obstetrician is the branch of health science related to medical and surgical care before, during, and after a woman gives birth. Obstetrics focuses on caring and maintaining a woman’s overall health during maternity. This includes: pregnancy, labor, childbirth, and the postpartum period.

What is gynecology?

Gynecology or gynecologist is the branch of health science that focuses on women’s body and their reproductive organ. It includes the diagnosing, treatment, and care of women’s genital system. This includes the: vagina, uterus, ovaries, and Fallopian tubes

An OBGYNs will provide care for all of this and more. Since an OBGYN deals with such personal and sensitive health issues, the thought of seeing one, especially for the first time may sound troublesome for some women. One may get uneasy or embarrassed at having a doctor seeing the most private parts of your body, or discuss about the most intimate issues.
Some OB-GYNs offer an extensive range of general health services similar to your general physician. While some focus on the medical care of the female reproductive system.

Read on to find out what you need to know before seeing an OBGYN.

·         Make sure you are comfortable and openly discuss the topic with your doctor.
Being nervous is normal, but ensure that you are comfortable with your doctor while asking or discussing anything.

·         You can ask about anything, sex, periods or whatever you want to know about your reproductive health.

·         Before you go for your first visit to the gynecologist, you should know as much as you can about the medical history of other females in your family.

·         You don’t need to wax or shave before your appointment, simply be clean using vaginal hygiene.

·         Be prepared for all the answer all the question rightly and truthfully, without any discomfort

·         Its ok, to reschedule your appointment if you have your periods.

·         Try avoiding sex within 24 hours of your appointment. Sexual activity could irritate the tissue of the vagina and affect your Pap test results.

·         After listening you, your OBGYN will probably ask you some general questions about your personal and family health history

·         The appointment will usually start with a general health checkup. The nurse will weight you and take your blood pressure.

·         By the end of the session, if you have any doubts ask.

Why is it important to visit your OBGYN regularly?

Regular OBGYN visits serve three main purposes:

Information - You can get exact information and confidential replies to any queries you may have concerning sex, sexuality, your changing body, and menstruation.

Prevention - You can learn effective ways to prevent unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, and tips to lead healthy lifestyles.

Treatment - For irregular or missed periods, pain, or other reproductive problems, after examination your doctor will offer you with appropriate treatment.

Things You Should Know Before Visiting Your OBGYN by Health Care on Scribd

Know everything about strep throat

Strep throat is a contagious bacterial infection that causes inflammation and pain in the throat. It is also referred as Streptococcal pharyngitis or streptococcal sore throat; it is a common condition only ever caused by Streptococcus bacteria. Strep throat can affect both adults as well as children. However, it is more common among children between ages 5 to 15 years. Sneezing and coughing can spread the infection from one person to another.

Streptococcal bacteria are extremely contagious and can spread through airborne droplets when a sick person sneezes or coughs. Most of the sore throats are caused by viruses, most commonly a cold or flu virus. A viral sore throat will typically get better by itself, and has a low probability of complications.

Symptoms of strep throat

The severity of strep throat may differ from person-to-person. Some people experience mild symptoms like a sore throat, whereas other people have more severe symptoms including fever and difficulty swallowing. The common symptoms of strep throat include:

·         A sore, red throat with white patches

·         A sudden fever, especially if it’s 101˚f or higher

·         Chills

·         Swollen and tender glands (lymph) on the sides of the neck

·         Trouble swallowing

·         Tonsils are painful and/or swollen

·         A loss of appetite

·         Body aches

·         General discomfort, feeling ill or uneasy

·         Swollen lymph nodes in the neck

·         Headache, nausea and vomiting

The symptoms of strep throat typically develop within five days of exposure to the bacteria.

Complications

Potential complications if it is left untreated strep throat can cause serious health condition such as, sinus infection (sinusitis), ear infection (otitis media) , meningitis, pneumonia, kidney disease, rheumatic fever and heart. Of these, rheumatic fever, kidney disease and heart are of most concern.

Diagnosis

The health care specialist will examine the patient and look for signs of strep throat or throat infection. At the initial stage it is impossible to understand, whether it is caused due to bacteria or some infection. As some viral infection, may show a worst sign than a cause by streptococcal bacteria.

Your doctor may advise you to do one or more of the following tests to find out the actual cause:

·         Throat culture

·         Rapid antigen test

·         Rapid DNA test

Treatment

1.    Antibiotics

If you’re diagnosed with strep throat, your doctor will prescribe you an antibiotic to treat the infection.

·         Antibiotics are only used when the throat infection is severe

·         Penicillin and amoxicillin are the most common medications given for a strep infection.

·         It’s important that you finish your antibiotic treatment course to kill the infection completely.

·         Stopping the treatment or medication course in between can trigger a relapse.

2.    Surgery

Tonsillectomy - if somebody, usually has tonsillitis (infection of the tonsils) then the doctor may suggest taking them out surgically (having a tonsillectomy).

3.    Alternative Remedies

There are a number of at-home care remedies to improve the symptoms of strep throat. They are:

·         drinking warm liquids

·         Cool drinks and cool soft foods may help to numb the throat

·         turning on a cool-mist humidifier

·         taking over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen

·         sucking on throat lozenges

·         gargling the mixture of 1/2 teaspoon of salt to 1 cup of water

·         avoiding foods or drinks that are very hot, they may cause irritation may reduce swelling and alleviate pain

Prevention

However, it is nearly impossible to prevent strep throats that are caused by bacteria or viral infections. Here are some preventive measures that you can consider to reduce the frequency of strep throat and probably help prevent further complications.

·         Follow a rich and a well-balanced diet to boost the immune system

·         Regular exercise helps the immune system.

·         Lack of sleep weakens your immune system.

·         Quit smoking

·         Wash your hands regularly; it is an effective way of preventing most infections.

·         Cover the mouth when coughing - this protects other people.

·         Isolate personal items

Know Everything About Strep Throat by Health Care on Scribd

What are different orthopedic conditions?

Orthopedic is the medical field of treatment of the musculoskeletal. The musculoskeletal system includes; bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, cartilage, tendons, and nerves. Orthopedic physicians treat everybody irrespective of your age. Generally continual pain, rheumatic conditions, musculoskeletal injuries and arthritis, each is part of the big umbrella orthopedics.

Well, there are a number of general orthopedics and other specialized doctors in specific portions of the anatomy or certain disease. Many a time, the person keeps on wondering if he/she must visit a general healthcare specialist or see an orthopedic specialist.

At any given point of time in your life, if you experience anything concerned with muscles, ligament and joints you must consider visiting an orthopedic. Common orthopedic disorders are; injuries, ailments, or diseases that lead to cause knee problems, whiplash (injury to the neck), dislocated shoulder, foot pain, torn cartilages, and fibromyalgia (pertaining to arthritis). However, these are only a few of the known orthopedic disorders, there are as many treatments for orthopedic disorders as there are problems and injuries in the muscles, ligaments and joints.

Common Orthopedic condition

There is a wide range of orthopedic problems in human; hence it is impossible to list down all of them. However, there are a few common disorders and you will probably experience one or several of them at some point of time in your life.

Here are the common orthopedic conditions;

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury - An Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury is the over-stretching or tearing of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee. A tear may be partial or complete. ACL is one of the key ligaments that help stabilize your knee joint. It connects your thighbone (femur) to your shinbone (tibia). It's most likely to torn during sports that involve sudden stops and changes in direction — such as soccer, basketball, volleyball, and tennis. A tear in the ACL can lead the knee to lose its stability and feel like it is unable to support the body's weight.

Bursitis - Bursitis and tendinitis are common conditions characterized by painful inflammation around the muscles and bones, and most often occurring in the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, or ankle. A bursa is a small, fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between a bone and other moving parts, such as muscles, tendons, or skin. It commonly occurs when a bursa becomes inflamed. People get bursitis by overusing a joint or due to an injury. An individual suffering from bursitis will experience stiffness of joints, swelling, and pain.

Meniscus injuries - The meniscus is the cartilage in the knee that acts as a shock absorber and stabilizer. A wedge-shaped, rubbery cushion in the form of the letter “C”, the menisci helps transfer body-weight evenly across the knee joint. Damage to the meniscus often happens during a ligament tear. A torn meniscus commonly causes pain, swelling and stiffness.

Arthritis - Even though the term "arthritis" means joint inflammation, it is used to describe around 200 rheumatic diseases and conditions that affect joints, the tissues that surround the joint and other connective tissues. Ageing, injuries, overuse or infection are some of the common reasons causing Arthritis.  Osteoarthritis is a commonly occurring condition in arthritis, it occurs when the cartilage is slowly destroyed. Arthritis may lead to become a chronic disease.

Fracture - A fracture can be described as a partial or complete break in the bone. Even though there are different causes and types of fractures some of the common symptoms includes, swelling and bruising. It is most likely to happen because of car accidents, falls, ports injuries, low bone density and osteoporosis (weakening of the bones). Overuse or stress can also lead to cause stress fractures, which are very small cracks or hairline fracture in the bone.

Osteoporosis - Osteoporosis is a bone disease that, as it progresses, becomes more severe, causing bones to become fragile and brittle. Under such conditions your bones become fragile and break easily, especially the bones in the hip, spine, and wrist. Osteoporosis can develop over time with no symptoms until a fracture occurs or tests show low bone mineral density. This usually occurs due to ageing or lack of calcium intake.

There are some of the common orthopedic conditions suffered by the people. These health conditions show huge impact on our lives and thus it is important to take appropriate preventive measures to protect our body from any harm.

What Are Different Orthopedic Conditions by Health Care on Scribd

Spine problems – Causes, Symptoms and Prevention

Spine pain or back pain is a very common complaint. Even though it may be painful and uncomfortable, it isn’t usually serious. Under common circumstances spine problems often appear if there is any discomfort in your spinal joints, spinal muscles, spinal discs and spinal nerves.

It is significantly more common among adults aged between 35 to 55 years. Spine problem can be further divided into, lower back or upper back. The lower back is commonly linked to the bony lumbar spine, lower back muscles, ligaments around the spine and discs, discs between the vertebrae, spinal cord and nerves, and pelvic internal organs, the skin around the lumbar area and abdomen. On the other hand the upper back may be due to disorders of the aorta, spine inflammation, and tumors in the chest. In many cases, it is impossible to find the main cause for the spine problem.

When a cause is found, common clarifications included are;

·         Stress or severe back pain injury

·         Fracture

·         Back strain

·         Heavy exertion

·         Overload of back muscles due to obesity

·         Unusual back pain –lifting heavy objects or pregnancy

·         Diseases or injury involving backbone (vertebrae)

·         Bone-thinning disease osteoporosis

·         Degenerative arthritis - wear & tear of the muscles

·         Spinal nerve disorder - Protruding disk (a fibrous cushion between vertebrae) or spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)

·         Kidney stones or a kidney infection (pyelonephritis)

·         Other rarer conditions include:

·         Inflammatory arthritis - Ankylosing spondylitis

·         A spinal tumor or a cancer spread to the spine from elsewhere in the body

·         Infection in the disk space, bone (osteomyelitis), abdomen, pelvis or bloodstream

Symptoms

o   Back sprain or strain

o   Fibromyalgia - group of common rheumatoid (pertaining to arthritis) disorders characterized by achy pain, tenderness, and stiffness of muscles

o   Degenerative arthritis of the spine – stiffness and trouble bending over usually develops over years.

o   Inflammatory arthritis – includes pain in the lower back, morning stiffness in the back, neck, chest, and hips.

o   Osteoporosis – thinned, weakened bones that fracture easily, common in postmenopausal women.

o   Cancer in the spinal bones or nearby structures – Constant Back pain, numbness, weakening or tingling of the legs. Spreads across spinal nerves that control the bladder and bowel, there may be bowel or bladder incontinence (loss of control).

o   Protruding disk - severe pain in the lower back, the pain gets worse while bending or twisting.

o   Spinal stenosis – Pain, numbness and weakness affecting back and legs, these symptoms may get worse when you are standing or walking for too long.

o   Pyelonephritis – kidney infection causing severe pain beneath the ribs in the back.

Diagnosis

After confirming your symptoms and medical history, your doctor will examine your back muscles and spine and will ask you to move in a certain ways or direction to check for pain, numbness, stiffness, abnormal reflexes, muscle tenderness or weakness. He may recommend you to do one or more of the following tests:

o   X-rays of your back

o   Blood test

o   Urine tests

o   Spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

o   Computed tomography (CT) scans

o   Nerve conduction studies and electromyography to determine whether nerves, muscles or both may be injured

o   Bone scans, especially if you have a previous history of cancer

Preventive measure for spinal care

You can prevent some form of spinal problem by strengthening your back with exercise and avoiding activities that may lead to serious spinal injury. Here are some simple preventive measures that may help you prevent spinal injury.

o   Maintaining good body posture

o   By making simple changes in your sleeping postures can relieve the strain of back pain.

o   Regularly exercising

o   Abdominal crunches (to strengthen your abdominal muscles)

o   Walking and swimming are also effective ways to strengthen your lower back.

o   Remember to lift objects from a squatting position, pass on the object weight equally on your hips & legs to avoid cramps or twists.

o   Avoiding standing or sitting for too long.

o   Choose your footwear wisely, ensure they are comfortable.

o   Make sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D daily.

o   Woman with menopause should consult with doctor for osteoporosis and medications that can help them to prevent or reverse it.

There are a number of treatments available and most episodes of spinal pain are not so serious and can be anticipated to be treated with time and simple lifestyle modifications. Unlike the other serious condition that requires appropriate care and treatment are to be treated with professional help.

Spine Problems – Causes, Symptoms and Prevention by Health Care on Scribd

Celebrities Who Underwent Breast Reduction Surgery for Beauty & Health Reasons

Breast reduction or “reduction mammaplasty” removes the excess breast fats, glandular tissue and skin to achieve the desired breast size in proportion with your body & body type and to lessen the discomfort linked with an overly sized breast.  This procedure has the dual benefit of improving your breast appearance while eliminating the physical and emotional burden of having an overly large breast. It also helps in controlling other physical symptoms such as; neck pain, back pain, etc. Men with conditions such as gynecomastia (in which male breasts are abnormally large) may also consider this surgery.

However, lot of women these days desire for larger breasts. But, there are a number of celebrities having large breasts and are not really grateful about it. These celebrities have undergone breast reduction surgeries.

Read on to find out the famous celebs you don’t know have undergone the breast reduction surgery.

1.         Drew Barrymore

While most celebrities think, “the bigger the better”, that wasn’t the case for Drew Barrymore. She underwent a breast reduction surgery in 1992. She says, “I really love my body and the way it is right now. There are something very awkward about women and their breast because men look at them so much. When they’re huge, you become very self-conscious. Your back hurts. You find that whatever you wear, you look heavy in & it’s uncomfortable.”

2.         Mimi Rogers

Mimi Rogers decided to undergo a breast reduction surgery, as she was sick of men staring at her. She also adds, “Before I had the surgery, men were talking to my chest the entire time, but I couldn’t blame them. When I walked into a room, my breasts were always several steps ahead of me.”

3.         Loni Anderson

She had her breast reduction surgery in 1995, when she was a 34DD. She described her early development and subsequent decision to have a breast reduction surgery saying, “When I was 14, my measurements were 37D-20-32. Now I feel more in proportion at 36-24-36 instead of outrage.”

4.         Ariel Winter

The “Modern Family” star recently made a big reveal. She chooses to come forward and explained her decision for having a breast reduction surgery. The 17-year-old beauty says, “It started to hurt so bad that I couldn’t take the pain. I got it for myself. I can’t even really put it into words about how amazing it feels to really feel right.”

5.         Patricia Heaton

Popular American actress and model, Patricia Heaton, gave herself a mommy makeover. After having four beautiful kids, Heaton decided it was time to treat herself. To which she added, “My breasts were having down to here from breastfeeding those babies, and my nipples were like platters. I wanted to fit into the gowns that I finally got to wear. ”

6.         Soleil Moon Frye

Child actress Soleil Moon Frye decoded to undergo a life changing surgery at the age of 15-years. She had a breast reduction surgery to reduce her 38-DD chest. Soleil Moon Frye says, “I am just loving myself right now. I’m finally free to be the teenager that I am.

7.         Queen Latifah

In 2003, Queen Latifah underwent a surgery for a breast reduction procedure. In spite of narrowing down her chest, she maintained her curvy and feminine figure. She underwent this procedure because she was starting to see some detrimental effects (both cosmetic as well as physical pain). She went from a chest measurement of 45 to a more manageable 36.

Celebrities Who Underwent Breast Reduction Surgery for Beauty & Health Reasons by Health Care on Scribd