Monthly Archives: August 2023

What Is Home Health Nursing and How Can You Become a Home Health Nurse?

Home health nursing is a nursing specialty in which LVN or RN nurses provide comprehensive, one-on-one treatment to patients in their own homes instead of at a medical facility. They specifically treat the elderly, critically ill, disabled or those recovering from surgery, injuries or an accident. If you want a medical career where you get to provide personalized care to a few select patients in a more intimate environment, then becoming a home health nurse may be a great choice for you. To be a home health nurse, you need to be proficient in nursing assessments, wound care, medication management, therapeutic guidance and other clinical skills. You also must be able to make quick decisions and adapt to changing situations, especially since you won’t be working in close proximity to any colleagues. These are essential to ensure you provide safe and effective care while operating outside of the hospital or other typical medical settings. Excellent communication skills are also crucial. Home health nurses need to clearly explain treatment plans and build trust with patients and their families, showing understanding and compensation so they know you’ll be with them every step of the way. Yes, home health nurses can pursue advanced practice roles, such as becoming a clinical nurse specialist or a nurse practitioner, with further education and certification. The .

How Does Geriatric Care Differ From Other Healthcare Professions?

Geriatric care professionals are trained individuals who provide specialized care and support to the elderly population. They work in various facilities that cater to the unique needs of older adults, such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospices, home care agencies and hospitals. They provide in-home assistance, medical monitoring and companionship for seniors who wish to age in place. Unlike general nursing or other healthcare roles, geriatric care requires a deep understanding of the physiological, psychological and social changes that occur with aging specifically. Professionals in this field will focus on improving the health and well-being of older adults, acquiring specialized knowledge about diseases, conditions and syndromes prevalent among older patients. Those in geriatric benefit from a holistic approach to care that nurtures not just the physical health of older patients but also their mental, emotional and social well-being. The goal of geriatric care can be both interventional and preventative. Professionals in this field work hard to help older adults maintain their independence and functionality by proactively managing their health. Another contrast with other healthcare professions is patient interactions. While other nurses mostly have short-term relationships with patients, especially those in critical care settings, geriatric care nurses often form long-term relationships with patients, as many elderly individuals require ongoing support and comfort for chronic conditions as they reach the end of their lives. The average annual salary for a geriatric nurse is . While only a general nursing degree is required to work in geriatric care, specialized certifications or additional education in geriatric care can enhance your skills and career prospects. While nurses can receive specialized training for geriatric nursing, there are some innate personalities and temperament characteristics that make some nurses particularly well suited to geriatric care. These positions can feel tedious and may require a higher degree of constant vigilance compared to other types of nursing (especially in memory care settings or with patients who have a high fall risk or incontinence). Compassion and real empathy for the elderly can be extremely beneficial for nurses in these settings. The emotional and physical drain of these positions is one of the reasons geriatric nurses are on the higher end of the compensation spectrum for nursing. St. Louis College of Health Careers will thoroughly train you for a career in geriatric care as well as prepare you for a career in other healthcare settings. Our rigorous and insightful course offerings are designed to instill critical thinking and reasoning skills so you can provide personalized patient care in any environment. or call 866-529-2070 today to learn more about our programs and how you can open the doors to your desired career path today.

Which Program Is More Challenging, Nursing or Respiratory Therapy?

Nurses and respiratory therapists work together in critical care. Both professionals must be capable of rapid and informed decision-making, as they need to respond quickly to emergencies and make crucial decisions regarding the best course of action for the patient’s health. While they have similarities, nursing and respiratory therapy ultimately offer starkly different paths for prospective students, especially in their educational requirements. Education options for nurses, which range from – equips individuals with the skills to diagnose, treat and manage patients with respiratory conditions or those in active respiratory distress. Ultimately, both programs will be rigorous – with one offering a broad medical education and the other focused on a specific subset of patient care. Because many nurses care for a more general population of patients, they need to have a deep understanding of multiple medical specialties, be capable of filling a variety of roles in healthcare settings and be able to adapt quickly to changing situations. A patient’s life may depend on their nurse’s critical thinking skills, as nurses are relied upon to assess patients, identify any number of potential complications and implement appropriate interventions on a case-by-case basis. Many of the challenges of being a nurse also apply to respiratory therapists, but while nurses need to be knowledgeable of countless conditions, the latter needs to be an expert specifically in cardiopulmonary issues, particularly lung function. Respiratory therapists need to possess in-depth knowledge of the respiratory system, lung diseases and various treatment modalities. Understanding complex pulmonary conditions and staying updated on advancements in respiratory care is crucial to helping patients breathe. Respiratory therapists often work with critically ill patients who may require life-saving interventions, such as mechanical ventilation. The responsibility of managing ventilators and adjusting settings to optimize patient outcomes is a significant challenge because, if not done correctly, patients could easily lose their lives. A thorough education will prepare you for whichever medical career you choose. Start your educational journey today with a school that understands the necessity of a comprehensive yet flexible education. St. Louis College of Health Careers’ degrees are tailored to give students the expertise they need to diagnose a patient’s condition, plan and implement a treatment plan and evaluate the results. We’ll teach the skills and knowledge you need to pass relevant certification exams and enter your chosen profession. Call 866-529-2070 today to learn more about our course offerings and start your application.

Essential Skills Respiratory Therapists Should Possess

Respiratory therapists evaluate and treat a wide range of respiratory conditions, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and respiratory distress syndrome. They work closely with medical teams to develop and implement treatment plans, administer medications and operate medical equipment such as ventilators and oxygen therapy devices. You’ll need to obtain at least an in respiratory therapy for those seeking supervisory roles as respiratory therapists. Receiving credentials as a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) or Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) can broaden your job prospects and will make you a more attractive job candidate to many Missouri healthcare employers. You can also pursue certifications in specialized areas such as neonatal or pediatric care. The headliner in the respiratory therapist’s tool bag is undoubtedly the ventilator. Ventilators push air into the lungs of patients who are having difficulty breathing on their own. The need to adjust ventilators and monitor patients on ventilators for signs of distress makes respiratory therapists vital specialists in all types of critical care settings. Some liquid medicines are formulated to be converted into a mist that can be inhaled by patients. These medications are, unsurprisingly, designed to be administered directly into lungs, often for the treatment of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Respiratory therapists should be highly skilled in properly dosing and administering nebulizer treatments, as well as teaching patients how to properly use at-home versions of the treatment. Testing lung function is a basic early step in accurately diagnosing the respiratory issues of patients seeking care. Respiratory therapists perform these tests using PFT devices, which allow them to accurately measure a patient’s ability to breathe in and release air. Another tool, the plethysmograph, measures lung volume. Respiratory therapists operate these devices and interpret the results, providing a critical diagnostic link between the patient and the physician. Certain conditions lead to mucus build-up in the lungs. Devices such as percussors and vibrators are used to perform chest physiotherapy, helping to loosen and remove secretions from the respiratory tract. The therapist may also use postural drainage techniques, positioning the patient in specific ways to facilitate mucus removal. For patients unable to clear their airways, RTs use suction devices. These can be vital in emergency situations or post-operative care when patients might have excess secretions or foreign matter blocking their airways. These devices are used to monitor the concentration of gases (like carbon dioxide) in patients’ exhaled air and the oxygen saturation in the blood, respectively. By providing real-time data, they allow RTs to adjust treatments and respond to emergencies swiftly. In certain emergencies, maintaining an open airway is critical. Tools such as endotracheal tubes, laryngoscopes and bronchoscopes can be used to either establish an airway or to visualize and examine the bronchial passages.