Nursing Trends Tips

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What is holistic medicine and how does it affect nurses?

Holistic Medicine's Rise In Popularity

Holistic medicine is an alternative to drugs and surgical procedures, and many people are shunning traditional health care and turning to holistic care. Because many people are interested in holistic and alternative remedies, as a nurse it is important to be well-versed in these kinds of topics.

South University Online offers courses in alternative and complementary therapies with their RN to BSN completion degree. When working on your BSN, you will learn about effective holistic and complimentary therapies so you can better serve your patients.

   
How does the current trend for employers to help their employees out with weight management affect nurses?

The Rise in Obesity And Its Effect On Health Care

Obesity is one of the biggest health concerns for Americans today. To try to combat this epidemic, many employers and health insurance providers are offering programs to help people maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle.

Through weight management programs, weight loss information websites, and nurse hotlines, employers and others are trying to encourage people to make healthy lifestyle choices and reduce their risk of obesity. By reducing the risk of obesity, they are also reducing more serious health care problems like heart disease and diabetes.

You will discuss the obesity trend when studying for your BSN or MSN at South University Online. You can find out ways you can become involved in the fight against obesity in America, like in the teaching and administering of weight management programs or in helping to maintain weight management websites.

   
How does the current trend for employers to help their employees out with weight management affect nurses?

Obesity And Health Care

Because obesity is one of the number one health problems affecting Americans today, many employers are working to help their employees maintain a healthy weight. By offering weight management programs, websites with weight management information, and nurse hotlines, employers are trying to encourage their employees to make healthy lifestyle choices and reduce their risk of obesity.

Because an obese person has more heath care concerns than one of a normal weight, employers see the need to help their employees out. Nurses are often needed in the teaching and administering of weight management programs, to help write information for weight management websites, and to staff nurse hotlines.

If you have an interest in preventing obesity in America, getting involved in weight management wellness programs may be a good way to help.

   
How is an increase in health and wellness programs affecting RNs?

Corporate Wellness Programs

Many corporations are beginning to offer, as part of their health care packages, health and wellness programs. These programs center around topics like nutrition, weight management, and disease management, and offer services like flu shots and nurse hotlines.

Nurses are often needed to staff these programs. When studying for your BSN or MSN at South University Online, keep in mind that a “nontraditional” nursing career at a health insurance company or corporation may be a good option for you if you have an interest in lifestyle management, well baby care, nutrition, disease management, or other similar issues.

   
How is the current increase in seniors’ looking to the web affecting nurses?

Health Care Information on the Web

The World Wide Web has become an important resource for health care information for many people. Surprisingly, one group of people who are increasingly turning to the web for health care information is senior citizens.

As many as 5.5 million seniors currently look to the web for health care information. Because so many seniors are using the web as a health care resource, it is critical that updated and accurate information be available online to assist them in their research.

When you become an RN or you complete your MSN at South University Online, you can get involved in this trend by helping companies to develop and maintain senior-friendly websites with health issue specific to their age group.

   
How does the trend of switching patients more quickly to nursing homes affect nurses?

Nursing Homes and Long-Term-Care Patients

According to statistics, long term care patients are being released from the hospital quicker than ten years ago. Usually when these patients are released, they are taken into a nursing home or similar facility. Because the average stay in the hospital is decreasing for long term care patients and they are moving more quickly to nursing homes, nurses may see a shift in the need for nurses who specialize in long term care.

Where once more nurses were working in hospitals with long term care patients, they now may be more needed in nursing homes. As a nurse, understanding where patients are located will help you figure out where the jobs are located. Nurse's aides and LPN/LVNs are often needed in nursing homes, and an increased need in nursing home care will mean more jobs for them.

   
How is the current increase in seniors’ looking to the web affecting nurses?

Web Information And Health Care

With the explosion of the internet and the increase in people's access to it, many people are now getting heath care information online. One group of people who are increasingly turning to the web are senior citizens. Experts estimate that 5.5 million seniors are currently looking to the web to get their health care information, and eight times as many future seniors (aged 45 to 65) are also turning to the web.

Senior's increased use of the web will cause a demand for health care information to be available on the web for them. Nurses can get involved in this trend by helping companies to develop and maintain senior-friendly websites with health issue specific to their age group. It is essential to their health that seniors get accurate and understandable information on the web.

   
What is concierge medicine?

The Rise In “Concierge Medicine”

What experts call concierge medicine is an increasing trend in U.S. health care. “Concierge medicine” is an elitist approach to health care, where well-to-do people can opt to spend more money on doctors' services such as consultations, house calls, and intermediation with specialists.

Some experts believe this trend in “concierge medicine” is a good thing, indicative of free market growth and a capitalist society. It will get away from doctors assuming that third parties (such as insurance companies) pay for medical treatment, and put more responsibility on individual patients.

Nurses may benefit from this new style of medicine with increased salaries and more flexibility to decide what kinds of patients they want to see.

   
How do emerging issues in health care trends affect nurses?

Monitoring Emerging Health Care Issues

In an attempt to keep on top of heath care trends in America, the following topics are currently being closely studied for better measurement and reporting:

  • Cancer prevention methods such as mammography, colonoscopy, and cervical cancer screenings
  • Diabetes and obesity management
  • Asthma treatment
  • Depression identification and management

When studying for your MSN or BSN at South University Online, you will learn about how to study and report on these kinds of health care trends. Keeping on top of the cutting edge trends in America will help you to be more marketable to potential employers, and will also allow you to take better care of your patients.

   
How does the increased use of antidepressants affect RNs?

The Increased Use of Antidepressants

If the numerous TV commercials don't make it clear, Americans are being prescribed and are taking antidepressant medication in greater amounts than ever before. The increase in antidepressants occurred in the 1990s, with the development of a new class of antidepressant drugs called SSRI. Examples of these drugs are Zoloft, Paxil, and Prozac.

These drugs are considered safer and have less side effects than other kinds of antidepressants, such as tricyclic and MAOI antidepressants. Because RNs are often involved in the administering, dosing, and maintenance of patient's drug care, it is important for registered nurses to be aware of these trends in increased antidepressants to keep patients' health care as effective as possible.

   
What is holistic medicine and how does it affect nurses?

The Growing Popularity of Holistic Medicine

Many patients are turning more to the healing powers of holistic medicine. Holistic medicine is an alternative to drugs and surgical procedures, and can be anything from taking herbal supplements to changing your diet to going to a healing session in Tibet.

Because more patients are turning to holistic medicine, many nurses must be informed about this type of treatment. Many RN to BSN programs and MSN programs offer courses on holistic and alternative therapies, and some nurses may choose to specialize in these kinds of treatments.

   
How does the increase in Hospice usage affect nurses?

Increase In Usage of Hospice Care

In the last ten years, America has seen an increase in the use of Hospice care for ill white patients, and also an increase in the discharge rate for patients. For African-American patients, however, there has been less growth in the use of Hospice care, although the mortality rate from cancer for African-Americans is estimated at 33% higher than for white Americans.

While earning your RN degree or MSN degree, it is important to be aware of trends such as these, because racial and economic trends are important factors to take into consideration when administering health care facilities.

Many MSN programs now offer courses focusing on community heath care to help make you aware of different health care issues facing the community and different racial groups. This trend is also notable because due to the increase of white patients using Hospice care, there may be an increased need for nurse's aides, LPN/LVNs, and RNs to work in Hospice facilities.

   
How do emerging issues in health care trends affect nurses?

Emerging Issues In Health Care Trends

There are several health care issues that have been greenlighted to be studied more closely. Physicians and physician advocacy groups are interested in improving the measurement and reporting of the following up and coming trends in health care:

• Cancer prevention methods such as mammography, colonoscopy, and cervical cancer screenings

• Diabetes management

• Asthma treatment

• Depression identification and management Nurses have an opportunity to get involved in the reporting and management measures that are happening now in these topics.

If you have a specialty or interest in any of these areas and have excellent research and reporting skills, you may consider getting involved.

   
How does the trend of switching patients more quickly to nursing homes affect nurses?

Issues With Long-Term-Care Patients

One trend in the health care industry right now is the quick discharge of long-term care patients from hospitals. When these patients are discharged, they are usually taken to a nursing home or other long-term care facility; this increased discharge rate has therefore caused a shift in the location of long-term care patients. This shift in patient population could also cause a shift in the placement of nurses in different facilities than before.

As a nurse, understanding where patients are located will help you figure out where nurses are needed. While studying for your BSN or MSN at South University Online, you will discuss health-care trends such as shifts in patient location and the reasons behind these shifts.

   
How does the shortage of nurses affect the nursing profession?

The Nursing Shortage

Currently, there is a critical shortage of nurses in America in all parts of the health care field.

Because RNs are leaving the field of nursing to enter other careers and many other RNs are retiring, there are simply not as many nurses today as there used to be. Financial constraints also have contributed to the lack of nurses, as well as a stressful work environment. Because of the shortage of nurses, however, many hospitals and other health care facilities are offering very competitive compensation and excellent benefits for those in the nursing field.

The shortage of nurses also has caused a shortage of nursing educators. South University Online's online BSN to RN and MSN programs eliminate some of the overhead necessary with a traditional nursing education by offering their programs via the web.

   
How does the increased use of antidepressants affect RNs?

The Rise in Antidepressant Usage

Doctors are prescribing antidepressant medication today more than ever before.

Antidepressant usage started to rise in the 1990s, when a new antidepressant class of drugs came on the market called SSRIs. Zoloft, Paxil, and Prozac, some of the most well-known antidepressants, fall into this category. SSRIs are usually considered safer and have fewer side effects than traditional tricyclic and MAOI antidepressants.

Once you have completed your schooling at South University Online in either your BSN or MSN, you may have a job where you will be involved in the administering, dosing, and maintenance of patient's drug care. Therefore, it is important to be aware of trends in medications such as antidepressants stay “in the know” for your patients.

   
Why are there now so many more RN online degrees?

RN Online Degrees and Their Increase in Popularity

There are now more RN online degrees, like those available at South University Online, than ever before. Because there is a shortage of nurses in America, many schools are opting to offer online courses to try to cut down on the overhead they have to provide.

South University offers online programs to make studying for an RN or a BSB easier and more flexible. Online programs still require clinical requirements, which still must be completed in a face-to-face situation at a medical facility. South University allows you to complete your clinical requirement at a medical facility convenient to you.

To illustrate the increase in online programs, South University has just added an online MSN program for registered nurses to complete their next step in their nursing education.

   
How is an increase in health and wellness programs affecting RNs?

Rising Interest In Health And Wellness Programs

Right now, there is an increased interest in the general public in America in health and wellness programs. These types of programs teach topics like nutrition, healthy lifestyle, disease management, and provide assistance like flu shots and nurse hotlines. These programs are offered by everyone from employers to health insurance companies to hospitals. As such, nurses are often needed to staff these programs.

If you have an interest in healthy lifestyle management, well baby care, nutrition, or disease management, you may want to consider working for a wellness program at a hospital or corporation. You can also earn continuing education credits in specific areas to help train you to work with these kinds of programs.

   
How do the increased number of malpractice suits affect nurses?

The Increased Number of Malpractice Suits

In our litigious society, the number of malpractice suits against physicians, particularly OB/GYNs and anesthesiologists, have skyrocketed in the past decade. Because of these suits, physicians are required to pay increased insurance premiums, and some potential physicians have been scared away from going into medicine.

While malpractice suits are usually aimed at physicians, nurses are not immune. RNs and other certified nurses need to be aware of the trend in malpractice suits that doctors are facing. This trend could lead to a decreased need for nurses in doctor's offices (because they are not willing to pay the salary, due to their insurance premiums) and increased responsibilities in hospitals, to alleviate the physician shortage.

   
What is concierge medicine?

The “Concierge Medicine” Trend

“Concierge medicine” is a trend in U.S. health care. An elitist approach to heath care, “concierge medicine” allows people with adequate funds to have quicker access to doctor's services like consultations and house calls. It also allows people to pay more and therefore make appoints with specialists and other hard-to-see health care providers.

While the ethics of concierge medicine are debatable, it is an important trend to be aware of as you study for your BSN or MSN at South University Online. You may even benefit from this new style of medicine through increased salaries.

   
How does the increase in Hospice usage affect nurses?

Increased Hospice Care

South University Online's MSN program offers courses focusing on community heath care to help make you aware of different issues facing the various populations, which will help you be a more effective health care administrator.

One example of a community healthcare issue is the decrease in the use of Hospice care among ill African-Americans, while the use of Hospice care by whites has been growing. Even though the cancer mortality rate is an estimated 33% higher for African-Americans, they are less likely to take advantage of Hospice care than whites.

   
Why are there now so many more RN online degrees?

The Explosion of RN Online Degrees

Because of both the shortage of nurses in America and the explosion of online technology, there are now more RN online degrees than ever before. In the hopes of encouraging people to get into nursing, schools are offering exclusively online programs to make studying for an RN or other nursing certification easier and more flexible.

The only hurdle to online RN programs is the clinical requirement, which still must be completed in a face-to-face situation at a medical facility. With the shortage of nurses not ending anytime soon, and the greater leaps in technology available every year, the number of online nursing programs will probably continue to grow and attract more and more students.

   
How do the increased number of malpractice suits affect nurses?

Malpractice Suits on the Rise

One unfortunate trend that affects people in the medical profession today is the increased number of malpractice suits against physicians, particularly OB/GYNs and anesthesiologists.

Because these suits are more prevalent today than ever before, physicians are having to pay increased insurance premiums to protect themselves from lawsuits. Because of the increased overhead of the insurance, many people who potentially would have gone into medicine have stayed away.

Not surprisingly, RNs are not immune to the fallout from higher insurance premiums and the liability associated with malpractice suits. The higher overhead for physicians could lead to a decreased need for nurses in doctor's offices. It could also lead to increased responsibilities in hospitals to alleviate the physician shortage.

When studying for your RN degree at South University Online, you will discuss issues facing medical professionals to prepare you as well as possible for your future career.

   
How does the shortage of nurses affect the nursing profession?

The Critical Shortage of Nurses

One of the biggest trends facing nurses today is the critical shortage of nurses in America. Experts say that the shortage is a result of many factors, including RNs leaving to enter other fields, a dissipating workforce, and financial constraints. Many RNs are growing older and retiring, and others are leaving the profession because of the stressful work environment they face.

Because of the shortage of nurses, there is also a shortage of nursing educators, making schools more selective in who they admit for RN programs. There are benefits to the nursing shortage, however, if you are an RN; because hospitals and other facilities are working harder to attract and retain nurses, they are offering more competitive salaries and benefits than ever before.

   
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