Author: vitawerks

Healthcare is constantly evolving. Shifting best practices, new technologies, and new medical discoveries requires healthcare professionals to stay on their toes and constantly learn. HCPs also need to keep their skills sharp at all times. In a field like healthcare, the most marginal mistakes can have massive consequences. To ensure that all HCPs are up-to-date and sharp, most states require HCPs to complete Continuing Education Units (CEUs), to renew their licenses. One CEU is equivalent to one contact hour, and each state has its contact hour requirements. 

Where can you get these contact hours? Just how many do you have to complete? This article will go over all this and more. 

What is Continuing Education? 

As was mentioned earlier, the medical field is constantly changing thanks to technological advancements and brand-new discoveries. Continuing Education Courses are made with the most up-to-date medical information, and are designed to keep HCPs informed and in-the-know, regarding the current state of healthcare. 

Different courses have different focuses. Some lectures are designed to test you on your academic medical knowledge. Other courses were made to help you hone and practice your clinical skills. Some lectures are even centered around more “soft” HCP skills like communication and leadership. When you complete a course, you earn “contact hours” for each hour spent. You will need a certain amount of “contact hours,” to renew your HCP license. 

Where can I find Continuing Education Courses? 

You can find CE Courses from a variety of providers and formats. CEUs can be found in nursing schools, healthcare associations, and/or peer-reviewed publications. Traditionally, these courses are held in person. Although the skills portions still have to be completed on-site, the academic lectures themselves can now be done remotely. A bevy of legitimate online CE Courses is available for HCPs across the country. 

How do I know if a Continuing Education Course is legitimate? 

Regardless of whether it is remote or on-site, you have to be sure that the CEUs are accredited. If the providers are not approved by your state’s Board of Nursing, then your contact hours will not be recognized when you apply for licensure renewal. Check on the site of the provider if they are accredited and recognized in your home state. If not, contact your state’s nursing board directly for a list of approved programs 

How many kinds of Continuing Education Courses are there? 

At the time of writing, Continuing Education Courses come in all kinds of formats. HCPs can still avail themselves of in-person conferences and academic lectures. With the dawn of remote learning, however, the list of options has begun to expand. Students can join online lectures and webinars. They can either join them live or watch an archive as a part of a self-paced learning scheme. On that note, entire self-study courses are provided, complete with the relevant course material which is conveniently archived. 

What are the Continuing Education requirements? 

As was mentioned earlier, different states have different CEU requirements. On top of contact hours, some states will require you to pick up specific kinds of Continuing Education Courses, as part of their renewal policy. 

As an example, we can look at the current RN CEU requirements, state by state. Not included are the states with no CEU requirements. 

Alabama: 24 contact hours every two years. Can include 12 hours of self-study courses.

Alaska: 30 contact hours every two years. 

Arkansas: 15 contact hours every two years.

California: 30 contact hours every two years. 

District of Columbia: 30 contact hours eerie two years. 3 hours on AIDS/HIV Training and 2 hours on cultural/LGBTQ+ sensitivity.

Delaware:  30 contact hours every two years. 3 hours on dealing with substance abuse. 

Florida: 24 contact hours every two years. 2 hours on the nursing laws of Florida and 2 hours on human trafficking.  

Georgia: 30 contact hours every two years. 

Hawaii: 30 contact hours every two years. 

Idaho: 15 contact hours every two years. 

Illinois:  20 contact hours every two years. 

Iowa: 36 contact hours every 3 years. 2 hours on addressing child abuse.

Kansas: 30 contact hours every 2 years.

Kentucky: 14 contact hours every year. One time 3-hour courses on domestic violence and 2 hours of HIV/AIDS lectures. 

Louisiana: 5 contact hours every year. 

Maryland: 30 contact hours every two years. 

Massachusetts: 15 contact hours every two years. 

Michigan: 25 contact hours every two years. 

Minnesota: 24 contact hours every two years. 

Mississippi: 20 contact hours every two years.

Montana: 24 contact hours every two years. 

Nebraska: 20 contact hours every two years. 

Nevada: 30 contact hours every two years. 2 hours on cultural competency, and a one-time 4-hour bioterrorism course. 

New Hampshire: 30 contact hours every year. 

New Jersey: 30 contact hours every two years. 1 hour on donating organ tissue. 

New Mexico: 30 contact hours every two years. 

New York: 2 contact hours on recognizing child abuse (every 3 years) and 3 hours on controlling infections (every 4 years.) 

North Carolina: 30 contact hours every two years. Can be reduced to 15 contact hours, if submitted with extra requirements. 

North Dakota: 12 contact hours every year.

Ohio: 24 hours every two years. 1 hour on Ohio’s nurse laws.

Oklahoma: 24 hours every two years.

Oregon:: 20 or 30 contact hours every two years, depending on how many practice hours you have logged. If 600 practice hours, the former. If 800, the latter. 2 hours on cultural competence. There is also a one-time 7 hour pain management course.

Pennsylvania: 30 contact hours every two years. 3-hours on recognizing and reporting child abuse. 

Rhode Island: 10 contact hours every two years. 3-hours on substance abuse. 

South Carolina: 30 contact hours every two years. 

Texas: 20 contact hours every two years. 2-hours on bioterrorism. 

Utah: 15 or 30 contact hours every two years, depending on how many practice hours you have logged. If 400 practice hours, the former. If 200, the latter. 

Virginia: 30 contact hours every two years OR teaching 30 contact hours. 

Washington: 45 contact hours every 3-years. 

West Virginia: 12 contact hours every year. Two hours on mental health and one hour on safe prescription and drug diversion training. 

Wyoming: 20 Contact Hours every two years. 

Keep in mind that CEU renewal requirements are always changing. Be sure to check the official Board of Nursing websites, or contact your local Board of Nursing directly, before you proceed with fulfilling your continuing education requirements. 

There is no doubt that healthcare work is immensely rewarding. Not only do healthcare professionals earn generous compensation, the work itself is personally fulfilling on a level that most jobs cannot compare. Nurses, nurse aides, doctors, and other staff have an opportunity to touch the lives of hundreds of patients in need of life saving care. All this comes at a cost, however, as HCP work is among the most demanding and stressful.

Healthcare workers deal with heavy expectations, high stakes, and loaded shifts on a regular basis. They can spend a combined 7 to 11 hours on their feet in one shift alone. If you are not careful, the physical and emotional stress can lead to anxiety, depression, and (worst case scenario) burnout. In the face of this, meditation has gained popularity among medical professionals, over the years. How effective is meditation, when it comes to daily workplace stress? And should you incorporate it into your daily routine?

What is meditation?

Meditation comes in different shapes and sizes. Some variants have deep religious or spiritual roots, while others are more secular in nature. Moving forward, this article will refer to the Transcendental Meditation variant. This form of meditation involves getting into a comfortable position and breathing from your diaphragm. From there you close your eyes, while repeating aloud a phrase or “mantra” to yourself. This is done for 15-20 minutes a day, every day. The idea is that this calms you down to a state of relaxation. From there, you think inwardly, and achieve a deeper level of self-consciousness. Although you are settled and calm, your mind is active and entering a “fourth state of consciousness.” For reference, the other three states consist of waking, sleeping, and dreaming.

Another popular form of meditation is mindfulness. At the beginning, you must clear your mind of all thoughts. You become consciously aware of your lived experience in the present moment, without being informed by prior attachments or worldly thoughts. Compared to Transcendental Meditation’s passive nature, mindfulness asks you to take a more proactive approach.

Where did meditation come from?

Transcendental meditation traces its roots back to the 1950s. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi taught meditation based on a number of traditional Indian practices. Despite this, this variant of meditation is viewed as divorced from traditional religious or spiritual connotations. Most commonly practiced forms of meditation take on a more secular angle, as practitioners learn these techniques for physical and mental health reasons. From that point onwards, meditation exploded in popularity. It has become a billion dollar industry with millions of practitioners, worldwide. Celebrities such as Martin Scorsese, Julia Fox, The Beatles, and Oprah Winfrey have observed meditation, and have celebrated its various benefits.

What are the benefits?

Numerous studies have shown that meditation provides a variety of tangible health benefits to its practitioners. Most famously, it allows you to lower your blood pressure levels in a safe and sustainable manner. Some organizations, like the American Heart Association, even want to integrate meditation into clinical practice. Along with lower blood pressure, practitioners can experience a reduction in depression, anxiety, and stress after some time. This does not completely do away with these conditions, but it helps with managing them.

Some even claim that meditation has changed their mindset for the better. Practitioners become emotionally more at peace with themselves, and grateful of the blessings they enjoy in life. With a clearer mind, their productivity and performance in the workplace shows marked improvements. They have an easier time thinking outside the box, and have more energy to focus on the task at hand.

Some of the studies regarding the benefits of meditation have been noted to have bias. That being said, mediation has been shown to have a tangible and positive effect on a practitioner’s mental and physical wellbeing. Its efficacy and the potency of the effects will vary, from person to person.

How can I start meditation?

To begin transcendental meditation, you need to find a certified instructor. There is a preliminary one hour lecture, followed by a one hour instruction period. Here, your instructor will try to find a “mantra” and approach fits the best for you. These sessions are one-on-one, and the instructor will adjust the course to suit your needs. Once you have found your mantra, and after three follow-up sessions, you will be able to practice meditation on your own schedule. Normally, it is done on a daily basis and twice a day. There are free instructionals and resources available to you online, but finding a certified instructor helps you ensure the best possible results.

It should be noted that these courses can be rather expensive. The price can range between $380 to $960.

Are there cheaper alternatives?

Not everyone will be able to afford close to $1000 for a meditation practice. If you want to save money, but you still want to enjoy the benefits of meditation, mindfulness is a worthwhile alternative. There are a host of different resources available online, with sites like the New York Times providing their own guides. You can also sign up with a number of courses, like Harvard’s mindfulness program, though this will cost you.

Why is mediation so useful for HCPs?

Healthcare work is extremely time consuming. 12 hour shifts and weekend shifts are extremely common in certain departments or facilities. Even when they get home, it is common for HCPs to be too tired to indulge in their hobbies or any recreational activities. Meditation, however, is a brief daily routine that does not take much time. As has been stated before, transcendental meditation is done twice a day, and 15 to 20 minutes each time.

HCPs can meditate before a shift, during their lunch break, and/or after their shift. It is not time or energy consuming in the slightest, and the potential health benefits are numerous. Mindfulness meditation can also be practiced while doing your daily routines, or practicing yoga. For stressed HCPs without much free time, meditation is the perfect fit for them.

Registered nursing has soared in demand over recent years. It is a profession that provides numerous avenues for personal growth, career advancement, and greater earning potential. With all this in mind, it is easy to see why interest in nursing schools and training programs has risen in recent years. However, a rise in interest has directly resulted in a rise in competition. More and more applicants are competing over a limited number of slots, at the best nursing programs in the country. Getting into a nursing school is a costly process that students invest a great deal of time, effort, and money towards. Fulfilling the bare minimum requirements will not do. To ensure that you get into the nursing school of your choice, you must be ready to go above and beyond.

Fulfill Base Educational Requirements

 Before sending any applications, hopeful nursing students have to complete the bare minimum educational requirements for nursing programs. Most entry-level programs require students to present either a General Education Degree (GED) or a high school diploma. Most nursing programs also have a minimum GPA (Grade Point Average) requirement, so you want to make sure you excel in your studies, even at an early age. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) classes typically have a 3.0 GPA minimum, while ADN lessons sit at around 2.0 to 2.75.

Some nursing schools will require you to take prerequisite high school classes, before they consider your application. High grades in Chemistry, English, Biology, Anatomy/Physiology, and Geometry will open a number of opportunities for you. Good grades in Advanced Placement (AP) classes will also catch the eye of college admissions offices. In a field like nursing, every advantage matters.

Ask Yourself Difficult Questions

As was mentioned earlier, nursing is not a profession that you enter at a whim. Attempting to enter nursing school requires much investment, preparation, and commitment. You need to be sure that this is the right path for you before you dive headfirst into submitting your university applications. At this stage, you must be ready to look within and ask difficult questions such as:

On multiple levels, pursuing a BSN is a huge investment. You should only commit to this path if you are 100% sure that you are absolutely ready. Before you put pen to paper, here are a couple of things to ponder on:

• Are you alright with the monetary cost?
  • From CNA to BSN, nursing programs are incredibly costly. Very few people can pay for the tuition fees upfront. To cover the costs, you may have to apply for financial aid, like a scholarship or loan. In theory, the high salaries of registered nursing work will allow you to cover these expenses over time. This only works if you are able to complete your nursing training, however.
• Can you handle the competition?
  • Each nursing program only has so many slots available for students. To maximize your career and enter the best schools, you have to devote time and effort to study for entrance exams and gather optional requirements that will help you stand out from the crowd.
• Are you prepared for the time commitment?
  • Most nursing programs will take two to four years, in order to complete. You have to be prepared to dedicate that time towards building the knowledge and developing the clinical skills necessary to excel in a healthcare setting.

Choose your Nursing Career Path

Once you have decided that nursing is the profession for you, you want to consider the career path you want to take. Nursing student hopefuls have a number of degree options available to them, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. The best choice for you will depend on your short-term plans and long-term career goals. High school graduates can typically choose from four different options:

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Licensed Practical Nursing/Licensed Vocational Nursing (LPN/LVN) degrees are popular options for entry-level nursing. These HCPs are typically entrusted with direct patient care duties under the supervision of Registered Nurses (RNs), which includes bathing and dressing patients, moving them from room to room, and assisting with other basic daily tasks. Although these programs are less expensive and quicker to finish (four to twelve weeks for the former, and one year for the latter.) Be aware that they are not as well compensated as their other counterparts. CNAs make $36,220 annually, on average, while LPNs will earn $55,860 within the same time span. Students must also be prepared for very physically demanding work.

In comparison, RNs take on more complex, clinical responsibilities. They assist with the creation and implementation of care plans, prepare patients for diagnostic tests, help with medical procedures in a more involved capacity, and more. This greater role is reflected by their compensation, as RNs earn $89,010 every year, on average. To become an RN, you have two degree options available to you: a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN). ADN degrees will take just two years to complete, while BSN programs are traditionally four years long. The shortened length also makes the Associate’s Degree a more affordable option, with regard to tuition. On the other hand, the BSN provides a number of key advantages over the ADN.

Healthcare facilities will prioritize BSN applicants over Associate’s Degree RNs, because of their more advanced training and education. There is proof that BSN nurses ensure better failure-to-rescue ratios and lower mortality rates, compared to ADN RNs.For this same reason, BSN RNs are compensated better in comparison. Finally, a BSN degree is the minimum educational requirement for Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Nurse Practitioner (NP) courses. If you plan to advance your career in the future, a BSN is far preferable.

Research, Research, Research

Once you have a clear understanding of your HCP career path, you can start looking for the best programs for you. You want to send multiple applications but do not do so indiscriminately. Do a sufficient amount of research, to ensure that the programs you are applying for are the right fit for you. Consider your location and budget constraints, while you are browsing through nursing program options. Keep them in mind when you look at a program’s length, tuition fee, and address. Be sure that the programs you choose are accredited by the State Board of Nursing, to make sure that any certification you acquire is officially recognized. Bodies like the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) are also reliable accrediting bodies, in most circumstances.

Finally, you want to make sure that the program will prepare you for success in the healthcare world. Look at the specializations they offer, the number of clinical rotations you will be asked to carry out, the reputation and success rate of former graduates, and the course material covered. Write a shortlist of programs that perfectly line up with your future plans and career goals. From there, you can look at application requirements, deadlines, and step-by-step instructions.

Prepare your Requirements

 When you apply for a nursing program, you must prepare to submit the required documentation. What is asked of you will depend on the school you apply to. For reference, most BSNs will ask you to present the following:

• High school or GED diploma
  • You will also be asked to provide official transcripts. If your program has a GPA requirement, this proves that you have met it.
• Letter of recommendation
  • Universities will typically ask for a faculty recommendation from at least two of your former teachers. Ask well in advance (about six weeks) of your application, so that you have your letter of recommendation on time.
• Prerequisite courses
  • The required classes you will be asked to take, before applying to nursing school, will depend on the level of your class. For lower-level programs, you will be asked to finish subjects like English, Math, Anatomy and more. Advanced programs could ask you to take Physiology or Microbiology. Be sure you meet the requirements of your desired program before you send any applications.
• Entrance test results
  • Nursing students will be asked to submit the results of their entrance exams before they are admitted. This can come in a myriad of formats: From the Standardized Admissions Test (SAT), to the ATI Test of Academic Skills (TEAS), and Kaplan Admissions Test. Research the scoring, content, and format of your test, to ensure that you are sufficiently prepared.
• Supplemental Essay
  • In some cases, you will be required to write an entrance essay or a documented statement of intent. Here, you will explain in written form why you have chosen healthcare as a profession and what drew you to the profession in the first place. Answer these essay questions with honesty.

Though technically optional, consider submitting proof of volunteer work if applicable. Volunteering in healthcare facilities lets you gain valuable work experience that shines in any nursing school application. It also demonstrates your commitment to helping and serving patients in need.

Once you have prepared all the necessary requirements and documentation, you can send your application to your universities or colleges of choice. Feel free to check through everything, to make sure that you are presenting accurate information.

Ace the Interview

Last but not least, you can expect a final admissions interview. This allows nursing programs to see if you are a fit with their organization’s standards, culture, and mission statement. To ensure a smooth interview process, you want to do a great deal of preparation beforehand. Research on the school, so you have a better idea of what they look for in students. With that knowledge, sell yourself confidently but honestly. Highlight the skills and qualities that you know you possess, and why they would be a good fit for what the school has to offer. Finally, you want to do research on common interview questions. This lets you practice and create responses in advance that are well-reasoned yet concise.

Nothing puts a damper on your mood quite like a heatwave. It is hard to stay focused and motivated when the sun is beating down on you and you are sweating over half of your body weight. Heatwaves in California are an especially unwieldy beast, as the Golden State seems to get hotter and hotter with each passing year. Just sitting there and taking it is not an option, unless you want to suffer an unnecessary heatstroke. Instead, it pays to fight back with these five essential techniques. With the right approach and mindset, anyone can beat the heat.

What are the Health Risks Posed by a Heat Wave?

Heat waves are not merely a comfort issue. Prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures can lead to a host of different health complications.

Heat strokes occur when your body cannot control its temperature, anymore. When you can no longer cool yourself down, your internal temperature can reach as high as 106° F. You start losing consciousness, you become confused and your speech is slurred.

If left untreated, heat strokes can lead to seizures and (worst case scenario) death. While you can recover in one to two days, it is possible to incur long-term organ damage that can take either months or a year to heal from.

High temperatures can also lead to further respiratory complications. Increasing temperatures correlate to rising ozone pollution on the ground level. If you already have asthma, pneumonia, lung cancer, or any other respiratory diseases, you have to be extra careful when you are dealing with heat waves.

The heat can also cause skin damage. As you expose yourself to the sun, your skin gets dried out and exposed to UV rays. The damage can add up, leading to wrinkles, acne, and an increased risk of skin cancer.

How can I Avoid Heat-Related Complications?

 With the right preparation, any of our healthcare heroes can beat the heat. Listed below are some tips on how to stay cool, without breaking the bank.

Drink Water Periodically

Staying hydrated is always important, but especially so following a huge heatwave warning. On top of regulating body temperature, water keeps organs functioning, staves off illnesses and infections and lubricates your joints to keep them spry and flexible.

Drinking water also keeps you energized and awake throughout the day, as opposed to being completely worn down and groggy. Conversely, not hydrating throughout the day will lead to further complications such as fever, diarrhoea, and excessive sweating. This may seem like a simple reminder, but it can be easy to forget to drink water periodically throughout the day, especially when you are busy with your HCP schedule.

Bringing a large jug of water and making it a habit to drink throughout the day is a great remedy for this. Though 8 cups of water is the “accepted” minimum, appropriate fluid intake depends on the person.

Consume Lighter Meals, Throughout the Day

Heavy, protein-packed dishes will stimulate your metabolism, which can lead to increased body heat. Oily and fatty meals like pizza or burgers also take more effort for the body to digest, which leads to a sense of sluggishness and heat. When heatwave news hits, it is recommended that you eat light and healthy meals throughout the day whenever possible. A nice salad or fruit bowl in the middle of a summer’s day may be just what you need to beat the heat.

Not only are they nutritious, but the high water content of many fruits and vegetables can help you stay hydrated throughout the day. Strawberries, cucumbers, onions, lettuce and apples are just a couple examples of ingredients with high water content. Stews and soups with high fluid content are also similarly helpful, in this regard. If you enjoy meat and are looking for good summer alternatives, grilled fish provides healthy fatty acids that come with a host of health benefits.

Steer Clear of Alcohol

Somewhat paradoxically, drinking alcohol is the last thing you want to do to stay hydrated. Alcohol is a diuretic that causes fluids to leave your body from your blood through the renal system (i.e. the kidneys, ureters and bladders).

If you drink excessively, you will get dehydrated at a quicker rate. Drinking with friends may be tempting in the middle of a heatwave in California, but you ideally want to either limit your intake or drink lots of water to compensate for the loss. It is important to note that caffeine has a similar diuretic effect but at a milder capacity. You need to drink at least 5 cups of brewed coffee before you see any significant fluid loss.

Protect your Skin

 As was mentioned earlier, heat waves can lead to significant skin damage. Use umbrellas or sun hats to avoid direct exposure to the sun, when you go outside.

Even if you are staying inside, you want to protect yourself from UV rays. Incorporate sunscreen into your skincare routine, and apply it religiously, every morning.

Let Air Circulate Throughout your House

When air circulates, the temperature goes down and polluting substances disperse and filter out of your home. You want to do your best to promote this kind of air circulation. On cool evenings or afternoons, open your doors and/or windows while turning on your fans. Box fans and ceiling fans can be used to get the air moving through these openings.

At peak hours, when the sun is up and temperatures are steadily climbing, close the windows, doors, curtains and blinds to keep your room cold. If you have an air conditioner and you can shoulder the cost, turning it on during some brutal heatwave weather is highly recommended.

 Make use of Essential Oils

These home remedies may be unorthodox for some, but they can be potent if used correctly. Certain essential oil blends have cooling properties like menthol, which activates the cold nerves of your skin. Orange oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil and vetiver oil are just a handful of prominent examples.

There are numerous ways you can apply these oils. For one, you can put them into your home diffuser, which will disperse the oils in your home area with no further input. If you use a body mist and you need to cool down while on the go, that is also a perfectly viable way to apply these natural substances.

Turn off your Electronics

Electronic devices like your computer generate heat, when you use them. This is normally negligible, but you can feel the difference in the middle of a heatwave. If you can help it, consider turning off electronic devices you are not using during the early-to–mid-afternoon. This will also save you money in the long run, since you are putting on your electricity expenditure.

Wear Proper Attire

Tight-fitting clothes or outfits made of heavy materials will trap heat. In the middle of a heat wave, you want to turn to lighter and more breathable outfits. Cotton, nylon/polyester, linen, and silk are a few examples of perfect clothing materials for the summer.

Cool off Directly

If all else fails, a splash of cold water may be what the doctor ordered. At home, HCPs can take a cold shower to beat the heat.

You can also take a damp washcloth, and wipe all of the hottest parts on your body. If you feel like going outside, a dip in the pool may be what you are looking for.

Modify your Exercise Routine

Even in a heatwave, you still want to do your best to stick to your exercise routine. That being said, you may want to make a few changes to your regimen, to account for the heat. Working out or taking walks in the evening, when it is cooler, is a good way to continue burning calories without risking a heat stroke. If possible, you can try working out indoors with the air conditioning on. You can do this at a gym, or with your own personal home exercise setup.

Swimming is another good workout to adopt, during the heatwave. You can continue with your regular intensity while keeping cool and remaining at a healthy internal temperature. Just be sure to put on sunscreen and stretch, before each swim.