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How to Deal With Some Common Injuries of Kids

Dec 14, 2022

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Accidents and injuries can happen anywhere, including at home, school, the playground, and on the road. Although all parents are super cautious to avoid unwanted accidents, accidents still occur. It is, therefore, crucial to be ready for such medical emergencies, especially if you are a parent.

You will undoubtedly run into a circumstance where your child gets a cut or a minor burn at some point. Therefore, parenting requires essential knowledge about first aid and CPR for children. Here is a list of typical injuries parents experience around the world.

Cuts and scrapes

Common wounds like cuts and scrapes can occur at any time. First, wash your hands with soap before touching the wound. Then, apply a clean cloth or gauze gently to the injury.

Avoid using excessive pressure because doing so could increase wound pain. Instead, continue applying pressure for a while. Clean the wound once the bleeding stops. Wash the nearby skin with soap and water while being gentle. To completely dry the area, lightly press it with a clean cloth, such as a towel.

Apply an antibiotic ointment to clean the wound, prevent infection, and reduce scarring. Then apply gauze or a bandage to the injury. When changing the dressing, keep an eye out for wound infections.

Burns

Despite their discomfort, specific procedures can frequently be used to swiftly and effectively treat these kinds of burns. First, hold the burned area under cool, flowing water right away. Additionally, keeping the burn in cool water will help lessen potential swelling. After washing your burn, use a clean, soft cloth to pat the area dry gently.

Next, dab the burn with petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointment. These will aid in preventing infection after a burn. After the burn has been treated, wrap it with sterile gauze or a bandage and change the dressing daily.

Burns can occasionally form fluid-filled blisters as they heal. Holding the blister under flowing water will help clean it if it spontaneously ruptures.

Injury from water and drowning

Although swimming in a lake, pool, or ocean is a terrific form of exercise, water-related accidents can be fatal. Unfortunately, even proficient swimmers may get injuries in and near water-related activities like diving, water sports, and boating.

Adult supervision is the most effective strategy to avoid drowning accidents in the pool or open water. When your children are near or in the pool, remain within arm’s reach. Furthermore, learning the fundamentals of CPR and First Aid is always a good idea. You and your family will feel comfortable on any vacation armed with this potentially life-saving information.

Allergic response

Be alert for hives, swelling of the cheeks or lips, coughing or clearing of the throat, and, in rare cases, vomiting, diarrhea, or dizziness, whether your kid has been exposed to a known allergy or something new. If an EpiPen is available, adhere to the doctor’s suggested course of action. Consult a doctor if your symptoms are severe or continue.

Splinter

Wash the area with soap and water. Pull the splinter out slowly using a pair of tweezers cleaned with rubbing alcohol. Rewash your skin.

Tooth Damage

Both a chipped tooth and permanent dental injury necessitate a trip to the dentist or an emergency room. Place the tooth back into the socket as you travel, and use a fresh cloth or paper towel to hold it. If your child cannot keep the tooth in place, place it in a sealable container with milk or saliva until you get to your dentist.

Nosebleed

With a clean rag placed under the nostrils, gently forward-lean your child’s head. For up to 15 minutes, apply pressure or a firm pinch to the nasal bone. Please don’t put a tissue in their nostril; wait many hours before blowing their nose. You must see a doctor if an injury causes the nosebleed.

Sunburn

Apply cold compresses, use aloe vera gel, and take ibuprofen if the symptoms are pain and redness. Avoid petroleum-based creams, which might spread illness. Visit a professional if necessary, especially if the symptoms are severe.

Bone fracture

Medical attention is required if you can see the bone poking through the skin. If not, keep an eye out for any pain, swelling, or even nausea in your youngster. These might indicate that their bone is shattered. Also, make your child comfortable and avoid moving the injured part.

Eye damage

Gently opening the eye and cleansing it with saline solution or tap water might be helpful for injuries brought on by exposure to anything. You should seek medical attention if a chemical has affected your eye and the skin around it.

Effects Of Steroid 17-Methyltestosterone Powder On Sex Reversal In Fish Tilapia Aquaculture

Nov 24, 2022

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What Is 17-Methyltestosterone Powder?

17- Methyltestosterone powder is a synthetic anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) and progestogen. It is a methylated derivative of testosterone and is also known as methyltestosterone. It is used as a male sex hormone supplement. Methyltestosterone treats hypogonadism in males, delayed puberty in males, and breast cancer in females. People are widely using it as a performance-enhancing drug (PED). It is often used to treat low testosterone levels in men. It can also be used to improve body composition and increase muscle mass.

17-Methyltestosterone powder is a potent anabolic steroid. It is used to gain muscle mass and strength in athletes. 17-Methyltestosterone Powder can be injected, but it is also available in a pill or tablet form. Depending on the manufacturer’s preference, the Powder comes in either red or white. 17-Methyltestosterone Powder has been around since the 1950s and has been a popular steroid today because it offers many benefits to those who use it responsibly. By using this steroid properly, you will experience unmatched gains in strength and size. The starting dose is 10 mg to 20 mg per day for men. Women typically start with 5 mg to 10 mg per day. Methyltestosterone should not be used for more than 12 weeks.

17-Methyltestosterone Powder can stimulate the growth of male characteristics and sex organs in female animals, but in high doses, it can also cause masculinisation of female animals. 17-Methyltestosterone Powder can promote the growth of male sexual organs and secondary sexual characteristics in female animals and can also promote the growth of female sexual organs and promote the development of sexual features.

Effects Of 17-Methyltestosterone Powder On Sex Reversal In Tilapia Aquaculture

17-Methyltestosterone is a synthetic anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) and derivative of testosterone. It is used in aquaculture to sex-reversed tilapia, making them male. This results in all-male tilapia populations, which grow faster and are more resistant to disease than mixed-sex populations. 17-Methyltestosterone powder also causes some masculinisation in female tilapia, resulting in fish with smaller ovaries and less egg production.

In tilapia aquaculture, using 17-methyltestosterone (MT) to reverse the sex of fish is familiar. The study aimed to investigate MT’s effects on the sex reversal of tilapia. Sixty fish were randomly divided into three groups: a control group, a group treated with MT, and a group treated with MT and progestin. The fish were treated with MT at ten mg/L for ten days. The fish in the MT and the MT+P groups were treated with MT for ten days and then with progestin for an additional ten days. The expression of the gene was analysed using real-time PCR. The results showed that the mRNA levels of cyp19a1a and 17?-HSD3 were significantly increased in the MT group compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The mRNA level of 17?-HSD2 was boosted considerably in the MT+P group compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The mRNA level of amh was decreased significantly in the MT group compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The mRNA level of sox9 was increased dramatically in the MT group.

17-Methyltestosterone Powder Manufacturer AASraw is the leading 17-Methyltestosterone powder manufacturer, HGH and related products. AASraw was built in 2009 and has served the industry for over a decade. The company has been providing quality products for fitness and anti-ageing purposes to the global market, focusing on the US, Europe and Asia. AASraw is committed to providing our customers with high-quality products and services. We are proud to offer a wide range of products backed by our team of experts. Our products are manufactured in our state-of-the-art facility in China and are subject to stringent quality control measures. Their products are also third-party tested to ensure they meet the highest quality and safety standards.

Getting ready for your first hair transplant consultation? Ask these questions

Nov 18, 2022

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It's natural to have plenty of questions if you're considering a hair transplant because it's a procedure that could change your quality of life. The road to a successful procedure starts with asking your doctor the right questions and receiving honest and transparent answers, so you know what to expect.

You probably know that hair transplant procedures are pretty popular these days due to the introduction of FUE. However, it's crucial to talk to the surgeon before the operation to find answers to the questions you have in mind and share with them your expectations and concerns.

Here is a list of questions to ask your surgeon before committing to the procedure.

Are you experienced in this procedure?

Doctors gain experience every time they perform a procedure, and you don't want to be one of the patients the surgeon learns on. An experienced surgeon must perform the procedure to obtain the best possible outcome. Therefore, ask the doctor how many successful surgeries they completed or how long they have performed hair transplant.�

Am I a suitable candidate for a hair transplant?

Suppose you decide to have a hair transplant in Turkey, you must ensure you're a good candidate for the procedure before going overseas for the surgery. Your doctor should evaluate your condition and tell you if hair transplant is the best treatment for your issue or if they recommend another solution. Factors such as your hair, pre-existing health issues, and age determine your suitability. If you're not an ideal candidate for a hair transplant, the doctor could recommend an alternative therapy to slow down hair loss or regain some of the hairs you lost.

What should I do before the surgery?

Depending on the kind of procedure the surgeon recommends, you might have to undertake preoperative preparation. Your doctor might tell you not to use your usual hair product for a couple of days before the surgery or switch to specialist hair care products.

What should I expect after the operation?

It's best to discuss with the doctor the process awaiting for you after the procedure to prepare mentally. The surgeon should tell you what medications to use, what diet to adopt, how to wash your hair, and what the best sleeping position is to prevent side effects. Some hair transplant clinics assign a consultant to follow your hair evolution periodically for a year to ensure that everything goes as expected.

Do I need further operations in the future?

Hair transplant specialists state that patients should clearly understand how long it takes to achieve the desired results. Some cases require multiple procedures, and it's important to discuss the length of the treatment with your doctor during your first consultation. Also, it's essential to remember that hair transplant doesn't prevent hair loss, and you might deal with thinning hair in another area. After assessing your scalp, the doctor can tell you how many procedures are required to get the desired effects and the potential hair loss you should expect in the future. Don't leave the consult until you're satisfied with the answers you get. And remember, there's no such thing as enough research, so learn everything about the procedure before heading to the clinic.

What Will mRNA Vaccine Production Look Like Post-COVID? Scientists at CDMO Samsung Biologics Discuss

Nov 9, 2022

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The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced the world to the potential of mRNA vaccines. Prior to the pandemic, research into mRNA vaccines had been progressing for decades, but the global health crisis accelerated research and development as the biopharmaceutical community recognized that mRNA's editability and manufacturing scalability made it an ideal fit for combating the virus. Now, successful mRNA vaccine production has been achieved on an international scale and the industry is looking to build on this success to develop the next generation of innovative biologic medicines.

Scientists and executives at Samsung Biologics, one of the world's largest contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs), hope that the company can play a central role in mRNA vaccine production's evolution in the wake of the pandemic. While COVID-19 continues to be a primary focus of mRNA technology as the pandemic persists, the success of mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 applications has opened the door for research and development into mRNA vaccine production for other applications post-COVID.

MRNA technologies are now frequently being used in abundance as drugs in clinical trials, targeting well-known diseases, including cancers, further highlighting the benefits of CDMOs adapting to their production,� said Samsung Biologics chief business officer and Executive Vice President James Park in a recent article for the European Biopharmaceutical Review. Therapies in development include drugs for cancers (ovarian, lymphomas, melanomas, glioblastomas), ischemic heart disease, rare diseases (caused by Zika virus, Chikungunya virus), and other more common diseases (e.g., HIV).�

Adapting to mRNA Vaccine Production

Alongside these developments in mRNA technology, manufacturers are learning lessons from the pandemic and adapting their mRNA vaccine production strategies and capabilities to accommodate demand for mRNA manufacturing and development at large scales.

For Samsung Biologics, this has meant developing an end-to-end mRNA vaccine production suite, which can handle drug substance and drug product services at a single facility.

Samsung Biologics provided aseptic fill/finish services for Moderna's COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in 2021, transferring Moderna's mRNA drug substance to vials while ensuring vaccines were uncontaminated and stored at the appropriate temperature. It also handled labeling and packaging of the vaccines at its facilities in Songdo, South Korea.

The CDMO has now expanded these capabilities. While it can still provide aseptic fill/finish services and labeling and packaging, the new suite enables it to produce the active mRNA drug substance at the same facility, reducing the risk of degradation that can occur from transporting mRNA and improving manufacturing timelines.

Adapting its facilities to produce mRNA has involved developing capabilities to linearize circular plasmid DNA (pDNA), transcribe it to a purified mRNA molecule, and produce lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) used to coat mRNA molecules and ensure stability. It also utilizes advanced cold-chain storage capabilities and performs stability testing via a dedicated modeling, simulation, analysis and test laboratory.

Samsung Biologics' mRNA vaccine production suite is designed for a variety of scales and needs, explained head of manufacturing and Executive Vice President Pierre Catignol and lead scientist of mRNA manufacturing Huisub Lim in a recent Q&A.

More than 150 clinical trials currently are in development at various stages of the life cycle. Samsung Biologics combines our expertise and experience with a broad equipment library to cater to clients' differing volume needs. Most Samsung Biologics clients are developers starting at the discovery and preclinical stage. They require existing knowledge to prove their system in terms of [data science] life cycle. Accordingly, some clients require end-to-end service, while others want a contract limited to pDNA development or the LNP process.�

The Potential of mRNA

While COVID-19 applications have been the focus of mRNA vaccine production up to this point, the same benefits that make mRNA an effective option to combat the pandemic give it the potential to succeed across other applications. These benefits include safety, precise targeting and editability, and cost-efficient rapid scaling of production.

Unlike traditional vaccines, which infect the body with a small portion of a virus to stimulate an immune response, mRNA vaccines are noninfectious; they work by instructing the body's cells to produce disease-fighting proteins. Because the efficacy of mRNA vaccines relies on the coding of these instructions rather than on growing a virus in living cells, they can be easily edited to adapt to mutating viruses or to precisely target diseases such as cancers. And the production of mRNA vaccines can be rapidly scaled, thanks to the accelerated timeline of this in vitro (outside of a living cell or organism) approach to vaccine development.

These benefits mean that mRNA can be an effective tool to combat a variety of fast-evolving viruses, as well as a tool to provide targeted vaccines for individualized cancer treatments. In fact, a recent Nature report estimated that the total market for mRNA-based personalized cancer vaccines will reach $7 billion to $10 billion by 2035.

In addition to the direct potential of mRNA, the downstream effects of developing mRNA vaccine production capabilities could reach other areas of biologic medicine, as Lim explained in a recent biopharmaceutical industry roundtable.

Despite the difficulties associated with supporting the manufacturing of this relatively new and unfamiliar technology, some CDMOs rose to the challenge and embraced the learning curve. They balanced the needs of these new projects with those ongoing by expanding their facilities and capabilities. As a result, these CDMOs are now better placed than ever to support emerging technologies, including cell and gene therapies (C&GTs). Their experience pivoting to accommodate new processes and optimize them will go hand in hand with their increased capacity to smoothly scale C&GT manufacturing and development to commercial sizes in future.�

The broader biologics market continues to grow, with an estimated compound annual growth rate of 8.4% by 2028. mRNA vaccine production looks to play a significant role in this growth, and not just in the area of COVID-19 applications. And the growth of the biologics market comes as pharmaceutical companies are increasingly turning to CDMOs and a distributed manufacturing model. According to the experts at Samsung Biologics, expanding mRNA vaccine production capabilities is the appropriate response to these trends.

Common Medication Errors that Cause Injuries to Patients

Nov 8, 2022

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Doctors and hospitals prescribe and administer medications for many important reasons. Whether you are controlling your blood pressure, managing diabetes, fighting infections, or anything else, medication will likely be a part of your treatment plan. When medical professionals are dealing with many types of medication on a regular basis, the opportunity exists for serious errors to occur.

Medication errors can cause serious harm to patients, including life-threatening complications. If you suffered harm because of a medical mistake, you should discuss your legal rights with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.

Prescription Errors

Doctors write prescriptions on a daily basis, as well as give out sample drugs they receive from pharmaceutical companies. Before a physician ever prescribes or hands out medication, they should:

Review your medical history for any potential risks or side effects
Inquire about any known drug allergies
Inquire about the medication you are currently taking, including over-the-counter products and dietary supplements, to identify any possible adverse drug reactions
Ensure the prescription is properly filled out, including the right patient name, medication name, and dosage instructions
When a doctor fails to properly take the above steps in every case, errors can occur. Patients can have allergic or adverse reactions, they might take the wrong medication or the wrong dosage, and much more.

Hospital Errors

Most patients who are admitted to the hospital receive medication at regular intervals. Nurses and staff members are tasked with keeping track of every pill administered and accurately updating charts to make sure that the next staff on duty knows what medication was given and needs to be given.

Unfortunately, working in a hospital can be stressful and hectic, and there can be many situations that distract nurses from the task at hand. This can lead to a failure to notate medication or other interruptions in patient care. Some medication errors that can happen in hospitals include:

Failing to give the necessary medication
Giving the wrong medication to the wrong patient
Double-dosing a patient

If a patient misses the medication they need, it can have devastating effects if they are already in serious condition. Receiving the wrong medication altogether not only deprives them of their necessary medication but also puts them at risk of adverse reactions to the wrong drugs. Receiving a double dose of certain medications can result in an overdose when it comes to certain drugs. If you sustained preventable injuries or complications due to hospital medication errors, you might have important legal rights to financial recovery, and you should speak with a skilled medical malpractice lawyer immediately.

Inside an Tele ICU

Oct 19, 2022

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Until you've actually been in an ICU that uses electronic ICU or eICU technology, you probably aren't going to understand exactly what it can do for both staff members and patients. But, physicians and nurses who are already working in one can give you an idea of what it's like. There's a reason why more hospitals are adding tele ICU services to their ICUs and it's because it's shown not only to improve patient outcomes (which is the main benefit), but also to alleviate staffing and budgetary shortages. Here's a glimpse into what is most likely the ICU of the future.

An Extra Set of Eyes

Intensive care patients require round-the-clock care, which can be challenging for hospitals that are already short on employees. Finding an ICU intensivist who will work the night shift at a rural hospital, for example, can be next to impossible. But with remote ICU technology, a licensed ICU intensivist is always a video call away, whether it's 12:00 p.m. or 12:00 a.m. and all times in between.

Essentially, an eICU system allows patients' vitals and other medical information to be monitored all the time, even if the in-patient care team is not available to monitor it. The remote care team acts like an air traffic controller, keeping watch over real-time medical data on the sickest patients in the hospital so any change in their status can be immediately addressed.

Remote Equipment is Available in Every ICU Room

A medical unit that is set up for remote monitoring has a computer, monitor, camera, and microphone in every ICU room. This is a definite requirement because the in-person care team must be able to access the equipment the moment it's needed. The equipment can't be shared throughout the ICU because if it's in use for one patient, it has to also be available for other patients who might need it at the same time.

The equipment in each room is turned off by default so that the patient doesn't feel like their privacy is in jeopardy. The only time the equipment is in use is when the in-person care team activates it and is using it for a consultation or communication with the remote team. In many cases, the equipment faces the wall when it's not in use, just for added patient peace of mind. Patients and their family members can also use the equipment with the assistance of the in-person care team to talk to the remote physician and ask any questions they might have.

Improved Safety Equals Improved Patient Outcomes

Due to the fact that someone is always monitoring ICU patients in a tele ICU, the safety of those patients is greatly improved. This is because any change in a patient's status is immediately related to the in-person care team so they can respond appropriately in the shortest amount of time possible. If a patient tries to get out of bed, for example, the monitoring physician can alert a member of the in-person care team to go to the patient's room and make sure they are safe.

Conclusion
Remote ICUs are the wave of the future, especially as their benefits become more apparent over time. Early adopters are already realizing fantastic returns and other hospitals are sure to jump on board when they see these results.

Top 3 Negative After-Effects of Leading a Sedentary Lifestyle

Oct 17, 2022

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An average person spends their day commuting, working, shopping, and relaxing back home. It is surprising to figure out that the sitting hours of a person on one day is something around 12 hours. That also equates to almost half a day sitting. Well, this might or might not shock you, considering what comes next.

Sitting at a place is not about wasting time. After all, you are doing something when sitting, but does it count when talking about the human body? Well, definitely not. In fact, such a lifestyle is considered to be a sedentary lifestyle.

A sedentary way of leading a life can be costly as it brings too many health issues. These can be countered, however, just by moving from time to time. Regardless, what you are about to read in this article is the top five negative after-effects of such a lifestyle.

1. You Burn Negligible Calories in a Day

Low-energy activities like sitting or lying down do not require any significant amount of energy. Therefore, they are extremely bad at burning down calories. The numbers are pretty negligible because by sitting or lying down, a person is also putting a limitation on the calories their body can burn via NEAT.

NEAT, or Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis, is a low-level energy-burning process. To lose calories, the body does not always need to hit the gym or do activities like swimming or dancing. Even just by standing and walking, calories can be reduced.

But, when you lie down or sit, that does not count.

2. More the Sitting Time, More Weight Gained

This should not seem like big news – the more you spend sitting in a day, the more weight you gain. That’s because sitting or lying down burns negligible calories. So, sitting around a place for more extended hours is enough to make a person gain weight. In even worse scenarios, this can lead to obesity.

In simpler words, the more sedentary an individual’s lifestyle is, the greater the chances of gaining fat and becoming obese. Surveys have found that most obese people sit more than any regular person for an additional two hours. It means they are out of significant movement for 14 hours every day.

3. Welcomes Chronic Diseases Onboard

A sedentary way of living can be the harbinger of more than 30 chronic diseases. The worst ones on the list are definitely type-2 Diabetes and heart diseases. Especially those who do not spend a considerable amount of time walking a minimum of 1500 steps daily and instead spend it sitting or lying down are more prone to welcoming chronic diseases onboard.

The reason behind this is simple. One needs to ensure that the calorie intake is countered by some sort of activity to become resistant to the disease. The more inactive the person is, the greater their chances of falling prey to such diseases.

Final Thoughts

Incorporating some movement in a day will battle against the long list of hazards a sedentary lifestyle brings. However, one needs to understand that 1-2 hours of gym, yoga or walking might not completely erase the adverse effects of sitting or lying down for 11-12 hours daily. Well, all you need to do is cut inactivity from your life to contribute to a healthy lifestyle. Besides that, ensure that the body gets at least 1-3 hours of strenuous activity daily.

What is the Role of a Nurse Educator?

Aug 26, 2022

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While it's safe to assume that many nurses have incredible passion for the crucial work they do, there's always going to be a need for education and training. Nurse educators are specialists in their own right. In addition to helping to ensure nursing staff have strong core knowledge of how to treat and care for patients, they also ensure they know who to turn to when in need of mentorship.

Nurse educators are essential in the healthcare system as they teach, inspire and guide new nurses, helping them to become the next generation of lifesavers in our country. Yet very few of us actually know what being a nurse educator involves.

So, let's look at what nurse educators are, their primary roles and why they are so essential to us today � more so than ever.

What is a nurse educator?

A nurse educator may seem like a simple term to understand. However, they're more than just teachers. A nurse educator also works as a nurse, dedicating their time to their patients and teaching other nurses.

They teach new nurses both in practical and educational areas � that is to say, nurse educators can be found in both universities and in hospitals, offering on-the-job training.

As such, a qualified nurse educator needs to be specialized in more than just basic healthcare practice. The best nurse educators support medical staff during often intensive working periods and through high-stress scenarios. As such, if it's a line of work you're interested in, learning soft skills for nurse educators is a must.

You'll need to learn how to communicate effectively with your pupils and how to support nurses from all backgrounds on what can be varied and highly challenging career paths. Nurse educators should dedicate time to learning what their charges need, focusing on how to support them in the years ahead.

What is the role of a nurse educator?

Despite the job title, it's safe to say that nurse educators do far more than just teaching other nurses, though this is naturally core to the position.

They are also considered administrators, lab instructors, course developers, researchers, mentors and coaches. This means it's a position that requires multiple hats � and a genuine passion for wearing them all!

Educators need to work with the other nurses and collaborate with their students to prepare them for hospital life. Every nurse knows that healthcare centers thrive on teamwork. You must work well with other people and coordinate situations to ensure that each patient gets the care they need.

Nurse educators also need to be role models for their students. They are there to guide students and show them what an exemplary nurse looks like. This means being the best that they can be, day in and day out, no matter the circumstances.�

They are also required to monitor their students very closely. No matter the size of the group, for each student to benefit from the system, they need to get specialized feedback regarding their performance, test results and more. This will help to ensure that each student works on the areas that need improvement, making them better prepared for work within the healthcare system.

As researchers, nurse educators are also required to work as patient advocates while other nurses work on clinical research around them. Nurse educators can answer certain questions and provide protection for their patients where others cannot.

With regard to other nurses, nurse educators can also help to guide them through transitional periods regarding patient care, new methods, new research, etc.

Finally, nurse educators are there to encourage their students and provide better environments for prospective nurses. It is partly their job to ensure that the nurses are looked after and have the tools they need to succeed.

In that sense, they help to reduce turnover rates significantly, thus better ensuring the success of their hospital as well as the general healthcare system.

How do you become a nurse educator?

To excel in this role, you must have an advanced degree. Most nurse educators either have a master's degree or a doctoral degree.

Universities usually employ educators, but certain hospitals also employ specialists to teach their new staff. They will also keep members of nursing teams informed about new healthcare practices and patient needs.

In a hospital, nurse educators are there to prepare students for a life within the hospital. This work is usually carried out in unison with their duties as a nurse themselves.

In many ways, this role can be more challenging, especially if you teach a large group of nurses.

However, it can also be more beneficial in that it allows students to learn in the best environment, watching things happen in real time.

Crucially, people become nurse educators because they love to see the difference that nurses make in a patient's life. It can be a stressful position, but it's one that is highly rewarding across years of hard work and dedicated practice.

Conclusion

Becoming a nurse is a long and challenging journey but a rewarding one. Without hard-working educators, they can only get so far!

As you can see, nurse educators have more than just one main role. Though much of what they do is behind the scenes, their duties in the industry cannot be undervalued. Nurse educators have proven to have extremely beneficial effects on the healthcare industry, helping to strengthen the nursing workforce and training a new generation of nurses. In summary, the general role of a nurse educator is to teach and prepare a new generation of nurses and healthcare practitioners. In this industry, you never stop learning and growing, and thanks to nurse educators, our hard-working nurses have people to turn to for advice and guidance as and when they need it the most.

Climbing into nursing leadership: 6 things you need to do to succeed

Aug 13, 2022

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Being in a nursing leadership position is both exciting and challenging. To begin with, as a leader in nursing, you will receive more benefits, such as higher pay and have more control over your schedule.

However, transitioning to a nursing leadership role can be challenging because you need to show your ability to do more than care for patients and follow procedures. As a leader, it’s up to you to lead your team towards excellence and ensure everyone on your staff feels valued and supported.

If you’re looking to enter nursing leadership, you’re probably wondering what it takes to become a leader. Read on to learn more about what you need to do to ensure that you successfully climb into nursing leadership as quickly as possible.

Gain relevant higher education

The first step in climbing the nursing leadership ladder is attaining a higher education. Nurses must earn an Associate’s, Bachelor’s or Master’s degree before moving on to positions of more responsibility.

To gain a competitive edge, undergraduate students should aim for graduate programs focusing on healthcare management and leadership. If you want to learn as you continue your job, consider enrolling in DNP nursing leadership courses online to make yourself more qualified for advancement.

It’s also essential to ensure a nationally recognized accrediting agency accredits any graduate program to advance through the ranks of nursing administration. Accreditation ensures you receive a quality education that prepares you for the real world.

Leverage mentorship programs

As a nursing student or professional, you should take advantage of every opportunity to get ahead. One way to do this is by leveraging mentorship programs.

The best way to utilize mentorship opportunities is to seek them out proactively. Take the initiative and find out who’s on your unit or who could help you advance at your company.

By finding a mentor in nursing leadership, you can learn the ropes and better position yourself for success. If you don’t have anyone within your organization available to mentor you, find someone outside your organization with an extensive career in nursing leadership.

You can also develop a mentoring program with one or more coworkers. Talk with people about their experiences, how they got where they are now and what advice they have for you.

You may take notes during these conversations to reflect on the insights later. That way, when it comes time to interview for that next job, you will already know the challenges, expectations, rewards and other vital details.

Utilize networking opportunities

Networking refers to connecting with people with the same interests, values and goals that you have. When you network, you’re more likely to get a referral from someone who knows someone in an area that can help advance your career.

Remember, networking takes time and effort on your part. It’s not just about finding a friend or colleague who knows someone who can help.

You need to go out and seek these people out by asking around about what their contacts might be able to offer you. An excellent way to start networking is by joining professional organizations for nurses.

There are many of these groups, and they cover a variety of specialties, such as pediatric nursing, cardiac care, administration and gerontology. Most offer regional events where you can meet local professionals working in your field.

Familiarize yourself with the operational aspects

In any organization, leadership roles require more than just an individual’s expertise in their field. Influential leaders must have a high level of knowledge about how the company or organization operates daily.

They must understand who the players are and how they fit in with other departments. Additionally, they need to know each department’s skills and abilities, so they can best deploy them to get the job done.

However, many nurses don’t consider this operational aspect to be a part of their qualifications. You might assume that because you are an expert in your field, you already know all about the inner workings of healthcare organizations.

However, you require not only an understanding of their specialty but also the ability to navigate all the various aspects that make up today’s healthcare organizations.

Develop essential leadership skills

To be an effective leader, you first need to develop essential skills. These skills include problem-solving, decision-making, critical thinking, communication and time management.

Leadership skills help nursing leaders work through problems that may arise in the workplace. For instance, effective leadership means identifying improvement opportunities and implementing changes to achieve organizational goals.

As a nurse manager, it is crucial to have sound judgment when dealing with staff members who may have different opinions on how best to handle situations. Communicating verbally and non-verbally will give employees the confidence they need in their leader’s commands.

You can develop these skills by taking courses, attending workshops or simply doing your research.

Embrace continuous learning

One of the most important things you can do to set yourself up for success as a nursing leader is to embrace continuous learning. In today’s ever-changing healthcare landscape, it’s more important than ever for nurses to be lifelong learners.

That means developing a thirst for knowledge and always looking for opportunities to learn from others. Learning new skills and constantly expanding your knowledge base will make you an invaluable asset to any team.

It will also ensure that you’re always able to keep up with the latest technology in health care. Continuous learning will prepare you for whatever challenges come your way, enabling you to mentor and support other nurses on your team.

For example, you might enroll in courses, read leadership skills books, attend conferences or ask your supervisor for guidance. Regardless of your approach, keep your mind open to new ideas that could help improve your skills and prepare you for future challenges.

Final thoughts

Achieving a leadership position in nursing takes time, energy and the ability to motivate and inspire those around you. To be successful, start by taking on more work responsibilities, volunteering for leadership roles and networking with other nurses.

Additionally, get involved in your community, continue your education and stay current on the latest healthcare news. Remember that leadership is about service, so always put your team first.

How working in mental health differs from general healthcare

Aug 4, 2022

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If you’re trying to decide between a career in general healthcare or one in mental health, it may help to look at some of the challenges and differences between the two. However, don’t be deterred, because a career in mental health can be just as rewarding as it is challenging.

The challenges

Some of the challenges you face can also double as reasons to become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. If you lack any of the necessary qualifications, you can study these through Marymount University. Their online learning means gaining a qualification can fit around your other commitments.

Understanding something you cannot see

Because working in mental health is more about the mind than the body, this often means having to understand something you cannot see.

Yet many of the symptoms are displayed in physical ways. Working in mental health means looking for and diagnosing the symptoms, but instead of taking blood tests to find illnesses or scans for broken bones, the challenge of finding the problem often lies in talking to your patient and gaining their trust. While working in general healthcare, the health problems you come across in that field seem more tangible. This does not mean mental health problems are any less serious, so it is important to have a strong understanding of the unseen problems which patients experience.

Despite being unseen, they can manifest in other ways.

These ways can include a loss of interest in activities they previously enjoyed, a drastic change in emotions, problems interacting with others, unexplained weight loss, or a change in sleeping patterns where there is no other explanation. This isn't a concrete list, and these will not be immediately obvious. Your patient won't always see the link or may fail to mention these problems.

Sometimes, your patient will have seen a doctor to be tested for physical problems before seeking a diagnosis for a mental health condition.

Knowing how to talk to people

The way you talk to patients can also differ from general healthcare. Often you will need to set aside more time and find a space to talk without distractions. They may also want to share their feelings or concerns, but other patients may need a little coaxing. It is important to help them feel like they are not being forced to share.

Unlike diseases such as cancer, or problems that can be x-rayed such as broken bones, there isn’t always a straightforward fix or a fix which will suit everyone. Although these physical problems can have their own complications where the treatment doesn't always work, the progress or deterioration can be monitored more accurately. When you are working with people whose mind is the cause of the problem, it's more challenging to monitor. Everyone feels and reacts differently. Therefore, it helps to not second-guess their feelings.

Instead, you may achieve more if you keep your questions open-ended, asking them how they feel about different self-care methods rather than insisting on a single treatment. Listen to what they tell you before responding. This is more of a two-way process than simply diagnosing someone with a physical health condition. Although those patients can still need reassurance, this can differ from the encouragement and support you need to provide for those with a mental health issue. There can be a lot more talking and listening involved.

Getting patients to open up

As mental health problems are often something which cannot be seen, patients can feel self-conscious about opening up. There is also stigma attached to mental health issues, despite various campaigns shining a light on this subject and progress being made in the field of treatment.

As a mental health practitioner, it would be your job to reassure patients. It’s important to let them know that nothing they say will sound silly or trivial, and it’s likely that you have heard it before. This can help them feel able to talk and less isolated.

You may find that it takes several sessions with the patient before they let their guard down. So, while it’s important not to make them feel like they must talk about uncomfortable subjects, it’s just as crucial to ensure they know you and other professionals are there if they need to talk. This can make all the difference to them.

Finding ways to coax patients out of their comfort zones

You also need to find ways to coax patients out of their comfort zones. If you compare working in mental health to working in general healthcare, you may find that patients you see as a general healthcare practitioner are more likely to take health advice. For example, if you prescribe a course of treatment for a rash on an arm, then the rash disappears within a couple of weeks, your patient can see the positive results. However, the patients you see while working in mental health cannot monitor these symptoms in the same way. This makes it difficult for them to see whether the treatment you prescribe is having positive results.

Sometimes you may need to coax a patient out of their comfort zone by gently explaining how your suggestions and treatment can help them. If their mental health issues have caused them to reduce social interactions, it can be more difficult for them to get back out into the world. So, you will have to work together and agree on smaller steps to start with, to help your patient feel more comfortable.

This can be a challenge, because if you've previously worked in general healthcare, you could be more accustomed to prescribing treatment to tackle the problem directly or referring patients to a specialist where an operation, a specific course of treatment, or a set number of sessions can cure or improve their condition. Seeing an improvement with some patients who have mental health conditions often takes more time and requires higher levels of patience. The result can feel more rewarding, however.

Distinguishing between different conditions

Another challenge can be distinguishing between different mental health conditions. The symptoms of some of these can be similar and overlap. Some patients can have multiple mental health problems too. As such, the medication and treatment you prescribe must take all of that into account.

Even narrowing down the specific condition your patient has comes with challenges. There are several different types of anxiety disorders, including OCD, various phobias, and panic attacks. Then they are eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.

PTSD is another condition you may come across more frequently than you would expect. Many people associate this with soldiers and war experiences, but this isn’t always the case. People can experience PTSD after certain traumatic events in their life which are unrelated to war.

All of these are just the tip of the iceberg and there are many more mental health conditions, which are all complex, and each patient you see will be unique. Although your qualifications will prepare you for this, it is very rare that you will treat two patients who have the exact same symptoms and behave in the same way.

This means you must constantly think about what may be best for each patient based on their specific symptoms and their own unique way of coping. For many mental health practitioners, this at least keeps the job varied and interesting for them. Although it may be a challenge, it’s also something which draws them into the profession.

Other differences

There are several other differences between working in mental health and general healthcare.

Focusing on the mind more than the body

Of course, one of the major differences which we’ve briefly mentioned is that mental health focuses more on the mind than the body. However, this doesn’t mean that the two won't overlap. Conditions such as anorexia or bulimia, although classed as mental health issues, can have a detrimental effect on the patient’s body. To treat them in a way which encourages them to eat and regain weight after a dramatic loss, you need to help them resolve the root problems.

Furthermore, when dealing with patients who have anxiety or depression, exercise might help. A lack of exercise can often make problems feel worse. So, although this isn’t a cure as such, it can often alleviate symptoms. Because depression and anxiety can cause your patients to withdraw from social events and spend more time alone, this can lead to physical problems if they don’t get enough exercise or time outdoors.

As a mental health practitioner, your focus is on the mental health of your patients but, as you can see, this often overlaps with physical health. Your experience in general healthcare can prepare you in some ways for the transition to becoming a mental health practitioner.

Sometimes you may become more invested in your patients

Some patients under your care may have lifelong conditions. This means that you, as a mental health nurse, must focus on how to manage rather than cure a condition. It is rewarding to see them thrive and live their lives in the best way possible. However, it can also be challenging for those who have worked in general healthcare and associate positive results with a cure.

For those patients whose condition you can only manage but not cure, you will often see them regularly. It is natural to become more invested in them professionally. You will share in their experiences and help them to navigate the ups and downs of their specific medical condition.

You might also help them deal with any physical health conditions they experience. Although you won’t be their primary practitioner for these, you will often support them through the changes in ways their general health practitioner either cannot or does not have the time to do.

This means you get to know your patients better than you might if you were working in general healthcare. It can make it difficult to switch off at the end of your working day too. Equally, when you do make progress or see small successes, these feel more rewarding and give you something to feel proud of.

Is it worth switching to a career in mental health?

Although there are various challenges to working as a mental health nurse, it can be a rewarding career. If you are already accustomed to working in general healthcare, you will understand that the challenges make the role what it is. Overcoming these and seeing positive results is just one of the many things which makes your job feel rewarding.

Likewise, when switching your career to focus on mental health, it is easy to find this just as rewarding. You can make a positive change in patients' lives, helping them feel listened to, and to validate their thoughts and feelings. You also get to be part of the positive change in removing the stigma from mental health. While things have progressed and it is no longer the taboo subject it used to be, you get to be part of the ongoing change and improvement.

Your role will also be varied, dealing with individuals and groups of people, encouraging them to open up and contribute to discussions.

The switch to mental health also widens your options. You can choose to work in a variety of settings, from behavioural health clinics to mental health hospitals. You will also help to fill the demand for mental health nurses. There are so many patients on waiting lists, so by choosing this as a career, you can help some of them sooner rather than later. During your career working in general healthcare, you may have treated patients who have been waiting for a while, but some patients with mental health problems do experience excessively long waiting times. There could be several reasons for this, including mental health being taken less seriously than physical health. Yet, as we’ve already mentioned, mental and physical health can often overlap. That’s why it’s crucial to treat both. By switching from general health care to mental health care, you can help become part of this positive change.

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