Top 10 Health Tips for Christmas

1. Plan Christmas activities ahead of time to avoid tension and stress.

2. Watch out for changes in temperature. Children and the elderly may become susceptible to cough, colds, and fever.

3. Prepare well-balanced Noche Buena and Media Noche meals. Make sure that vegetables and fruits are on the table together with the traditional ham and queso de bola.

4. Eat a heart-healthy diet.

5. Drink plenty of fluids.

6. Get enough sleep.

7. Avoid crowded areas where bacterial diseases multiply and spread easily.

8. Use environment- friendly Christmas decorations that are not fire hazards.

9. Buy toys with no pointed or sharp edges. Do not give small children toys that can cause choking.

10. Do not use fireworks and firecackers during the holidays or use them responsibly.

Emergency Flood Kits

EMERGENCY FLOOD KITS

You, your family or co-workers should prepare for disaster before it occurs. Part of your preparedness strategy should be assembling a Emergency Flood kit. Once a flood arrives, you won't have time to go shopping or gather your supplies. Place items you will need during an evacuation in an easy to carry waterproof container or place items in plastic bags, garbage bags etc

Water and Food

You can put water in misc plastic containers such as soft drink bottles or old milk containers. A person needs at least two quarts of water each day or even more with physical activity.

• Keep a three day supply of water and non-perishable food for each person
• One gallon of water per person per day for food preparation and sanitation.

Your food should not require refrigeration, preparation or cooking. If you need to heat food, pack some sterno. Select food items that are not bulky or heavy.

Some examples of food in your Flood Emergency Kit:

• Military type rations
• Ready-to-eat meals, meats, fruits and vegetables 
• Canned juices, milk, soup
• Sugar, salt and pepper 
• Peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars and trail mix 
• Vitamins 
• Baby food or any special diet food if required
• Snacks, instant coffee and or tea bags 

First Aid Kit

• Assemble a first aid kit for your home, work and one for each car.
• Assortment of adhesive bandages
• Sterile gauze pads assortment  and adhesive tape
• Scissors and Tweezers and needle
• Moistened towelettes
• Antiseptic
• Cleansing soap or equivalent
• Latex gloves
• Prescription medication
• Aspirin or pain reliever 
• Anti-diarrhea medication 
• Antacid 

Tools and Misc Supplies

• Mess kits, or paper cups, plates and plastic utensils
• Emergency preparedness manual
• Battery-operated radio and extra batteries
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Cash or traveler's checks, change
• Non electric can opener, utility knife
• Small Fire extinguisher, TYPE ABC 
• Tent
• Duct Tape
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Aluminum foil
• Plastic storage containers
• Signal flare
• Paper, pencil
• Needles, thread
• Shut-off wrench and pliers, to turn off household gas and water
• Whistle
• Area Maps

Sanitation Supplies

• Toilet paper and towelettes
• Soap or liquid detergent
• Your personal hygiene items
• Plastic bucket with tight lid
• Disinfectant
• Household chlorine bleach
• Change of clothing (warm)
• Emergency blankets, or sleeping bags
• Waterproof boots
• Hat and gloves
• Rain gear
• Thermal underwear

For persons with special needs, such as infants and elderly or disabled persons.

Infants (probably the normal things already in your baby bag)

• Formula
• Diapers
• Bottles
• Powdered milk
• Prescription Medications

Adults

• Prescription Medications
• Denture and vision supplies

Source: http://www.washingtonsandbag.com/

Flood Safety

Ondoy Tradegy (Philippines) Sept 2009

BEFORE THE FLOOD: Find out how often your location is likely to be flooded. Know the flood warning system in your community and be sure your family knows it. Keep informed of daily weather condition. Designate an evacuation area for the family and livestock. Assign family members instructions and responsibilities according to an evacuation plan. Keep a stock of food which requires little cooking and refrigeration; electric power may be interrupted. Keep a transistorized radio and flashlight with spare batteries, emergency cooking       equipment, candies, matches and first aid kit handy in case of emergency. Store supplies and other household effects above expected flood water level. Securely anchor weak dwellings and items.

WHEN WARNED OF FLOOD: Watch for rapidly rising flood waters. Listen to your radio for emergency instructions. If you find it necessary to evacuate, move to a safe area before access is cut off by flood waters. Store drinking water in containers, water service may be interrupted. Move household belongings to upper levels. Get livestock to higher ground. Turn off electricity at the main switch in the building before evacuating and also lock your house.

DURING THE FLOOD: Avoid areas subject to sudden flooding. Do not attempt to cross rivers of flowing streams where water is above the knee. Beware of water-covered roads and bridges. Avoid unnecessary exposure to the elements. Do not go swimming or boating in swollen rivers. Eat only well-cooked food. Protect leftovers against contamination. Drink clean or preferably boiled water ONLY.

AFTER THE FLOOD: Re-enter the dwellings with caution using flashlights, not lanterns or torchers. Flammables              may be inside. Be alert for fire hazards like broken wires. Do not eat food and drink water until they have been checked for flood water contamination. Report broken utility lines (electricity, water, gas and telephone) to appropriate agencies authorities. Do not turn on the main switch or use appliances and other equipment until they have been checked by a competent electrician. Consult health authorities for immunization requirements. Do not go in disaster areas. Your presence might hamper rescue and other emergency operations. Source: http://kidlat.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/genmet/floods/safety_rules.html

10 Sure Fire Techniques To Memorize Anything!

1. Don’t Let Yourself Be Disturbed

“close the door, turn off…”
You can’t memorize something if your mind is directed towards something else, concentration is essential!

2. Learn Mnemonics

Mnemonics is a type of memory aid that basically helps a person memorize data. The more information that needs to be remembered, the more complex the mnemonic becomes. The most common type of mnemonics in school are those that rhyme…

3. Thirty days hath September…
Rhyme mnemonics are often used in school, why? Because they work! It’s an excellent way of remember lists (like all the months) but it can be used in other ways as well. In fourteen hundred ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue is a famous rhyme mnemonic used in schools, so start rhyming and less whining! (I am so lame BTW)

4. Form A Silly Sentence

What’s a silly sentence you ask? To clarify this, let us say we would want to memorize 3 Swedish Cities (starting from the biggest); Stockholm, Göteborg and Malmö. The initiating letters are SGM and a possible silly sentence could be:Simon Greeted Me

5. Abbreviations Make Life Easier

Don’t you agree? We love to say UN, US etc. instead of The United Nations, The United States Of America (what made you chose such a long word, makes it hard on us foreigners by the way…). Here is an excellent article, written by an expert on the subject

6. Do It Like The Talk Show Hosts

All TV-show hosts use small flashcards to help them remember the content of the show, this is proven method to bring back memories swiftly. I recommend you use a small software called Cue Card, there’s a free version hosted right here on the site.

7. Gimmicks = Bad?

For some odd reason, this word seems to radiate negative emotions, probably because gimmicks are used so extensivley in advertisements. Anyhow, the use of word games or tricks can help you process information. Try it and buy it!

8. Mind Maps – Find Your Thoughts

I’m a huge fan of mind mapping, and I recommend you to use mind maps as often as possible. I’ve already covered how mind mapping is done so I won’t go into that again. Here’s a free mind mapping software by the way, hope you enjoy it!

9. Association – The Biggest Secret

It’s really a shame that I didn’t put this in the beginning of the article, I’m sorry I forgot. Associatin is basically the art of linking a piece of information to something else. What’s the first thing that hits your mind when I say the word SUMMER?

Did you think about heat, ice cream, vacation, swimming or anything related to those activities? We think about heat because we relate this word to the term summer, it comes naturally without any real effort.

This is perhaps the biggest memory secret around, learn how to associate the information you want to remember with some piece of information that you won’t forget. It works like a charm, I promise!

10. Always Explore New Methods

Source: http://www.study-habits.com

Top 5 College Student Stressors

Let’s face it; college is a stressful time of life for many. Many more students have to worry about finances themselves, and oftentimes parents can contribute to student stress. This doesn’t even take into account stresses of homework, relationships, and generally navigating life as an adult.


TOP FIVE STRESSORS


5. Relationships

This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has been to college. Many relationships are started (and ended) throughout college years. Those who are in relationships have to deal with the stresses of arguments, seeing someone too much, seeing someone not enough, and those pesky long-distance relationships. Those who aren’t in relationships have to deal with the stresses of dating, awkward moments at parties, and the classic unrequited love. If you don’t think it’s stressful for a woman getting ready for a party, or for a guy getting ready to ask someone out, you must be living under a rock, or be the coolest person ever. In any case, college students get stressed when it comes to relationships.

4. Roommate / Housemate Conflicts

We’ve all heard the horror stories of the dreadful roommate. Unfortunately, these stories often turn out to be true. College students are forced to live with people who may have different values, beliefs, schedules, and habits than they do. There’s nothing worse than having to sleep in the same room as someone you’d normally hate or never talk to. Clean freaks that get stuck with the slob roommate will naturally be stressed out. Light sleepers who are stuck with the snoring roommate (myself included) will get less sleep and have increased stress as a result. Non-drinkers who get stuck with the party-crazy roommate will have a whole slew of issues to deal with.


3. Time Management

Now more than ever, students are very involved with their universities. Students go to athletic events, parties, and class; they are members of clubs and teams; many rush for fraternities and sororities; and most students have jobs of some kind. Time is a huge stressor for many students. So many students lose sleep or feel as if they just don’t have enough time to accomplish what they need to accomplish. Managing time can be quite stressful for anyone as busy as the modern day college student.


2. Academics

This shouldn’t be surprising to any student or parent. The fact remains that more and more students are entering college. College students at universities across the country are entering school with higher GPAs /GWAs and test scores than ever before. This has lead to increased competition in the classroom. Parents are putting intense pressure on their children to do well in college in order to obtain well-paying jobs after graduation. Additionally, students still have to balance all of their other activities while managing a seemingly ever-increasing course load. This leads to quite a bit of stress. Factor in students who have academic requirements for scholarships, clubs, jobs, or teams, and you have one big ball of stress in the form of academics.


1. Finances

At first I was surprised to see finances this high on the list. However, after consideration, it makes perfect sense. More and more students have to pay for college on their own, or with little assistance from their parents. Even those who have college paid for still have to deal with the expenses of books, food, and entertainment (let’s not forget that beer and liquor aren’t cheap). I see countless students studying for hours on end attempting to keep their GPA/GWA high enough to maintain their scholarships. Credit cards are extremely easy to come by for many students. An astonishing amount of college students are also getting into debt through credit cards and loans. Learning how to live on one’s own and navigate today’s complicated financial news and tips is stressful,, add in everything else college students have to worry about and it’s no wonder some students would rather drop out and get a job rather than continue.


Source: http://www.collegeandfinance.com

20 Foods that will Increase your Studying Effectiveness

Here’s some food for thought: what you eat can affect how well you study. It’s true; a diet rich in essential fatty acids, fruits and vegetables does wonders for your brain power. Don’t worry, pizza counts, as long as you make it whole grain and top it with lots of colorful vegetables and cheese. Check out our list of 20 foods that can help you boost memory and study more effectively.

Fish for good health…
1. Fish: Herring, salmon, tuna, mackerel, halibut, anchovies, sardines and other cold-water fish are your best source of Omega-3 fatty acids, the primary components of the brain, retina and other nerve tissue. Studies have shown that Omega-3 fatty acids boost energy, enhance learning ability, improve problem-solving skills, and boost memory power and enhance communication between brain cells.

Show some soy power…
2. Soy: Foods made from whole, organic soybeans like soy milk and tofu are rich in choline, lecithin and isoflavones. Choline has been proven to positively impact brain development in addition to slowing memory loss, lecithin helps in preventing deposits of plaque in the brain, and isoflavones help improve cognitive function, category fluency, logical memory, spatial cognition and memory recall.

Reap the fruits…
3. Colorful and citrus fruits: Fill your platter with all the colors of the rainbow and a few more, and you’re guaranteed to improve your brain power. Avocados are especially potent in increasing blood flow to the brain because of their mono-unsaturated fat content. Other beneficial fruits that have a positive impact on your brain and help you recall information quickly include cantaloupes, watermelon, tomatoes, plums, pineapples, oranges, apples, grapes, kiwifruits, peaches and cherries.

Berry, berry good…
4. Berries: Blueberries are known for improving motor skills and learning capacity while strawberries are rich in fisetin, a flavenoid that improves memory recall. Elderberries, blackberries and raspberries have other brain power boosting benefits through their antioxidant content.

Go green…
5. Cruciferous and leafy green vegetables: Your mother had a good reason for forcing you to eat your broccoli. Cabbages, kale, turnips, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, collard greens, cauliflowers, radishes, spinach, mustard green and water cress all help retain memory. Other vegetables that are good in boosting brain power are onions, red peppers, lettuce, carrots, asparagus, okra, mushrooms, broccoli and sprouts.

Chalk it up to chocolate…
6. Chocolate: Chocolate is not only delicious, it’s also beneficial to your brain and can help enhance your mood. Natural stimulants boost the production of endorphins that improve focus and concentration. Milk chocolate has been shown to improve verbal and visual memory and boost impulse control and reaction time. Dark chocolate is rich in flavanols that boost blood supply to the brain and help improve cognitive skills.

Go nuts…
7. Nuts: Rich in Vitamins E and B6, folate, Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, and antioxidants, these small food items boost your brain power and improve your mood. The whole nutty family of cashews, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, peanuts, Brazil nuts and pecans brings some benefit to your brain.

Sow the seeds of wisdom…
8. Seeds: Flaxseeds are a rich source of memory-boosting Omega-3 fatty acids. Roasted pumpkin seeds contain relaxing tryptophan and dry sunflower seeds offer thiamine, a form of Vitamin B that improves memory and cognitive functions.

Gain from grains…
9. Whole grains: The best brain stimulating foods are like financial news and information, they help the mind grow. Grains like whole wheat, wheat germ and bran that contain a high percentage of folate. Oatmeal, brown rice, whole-grain breads and cereals, barley and popcorn boost your blood flow to the brain. Wholegrain breads and cereals contain Vitamin B6 while wheat germ is rich in memory-improving thiamine.

No pea brains here…
10. Pulses and beans: The brain is fueled by glucose, and as it does not produce its own, the supply has to be kept steady from other sources. Rich in antioxidants, iron and other nutrients, beans help stabilize blood sugar levels. Peas, lentils, green beans, lima beans, black beans, kidney beans, and a variety of legumes help energize the brain.

A sage choice...
11. Sage: Whether used as a herb in your food or taken as a supplement in the form of oils and tablets, this member of the mint family has been known to boost levels of the chemical that helps transmit messages to and from the brain. Sage helps in the break down of the enzyme acetylcholine that is needed for the brain to function properly.

Currying brain favor…
12. Curry: This spicy Eastern delicacy is good for your brain because of a key ingredient, turmeric. The chemical curcumin which is abundant in turmeric helps remove plaque from the brain.

Brewing brain cells…
13. Tea: This wonder beverage, when freshly brewed, has been proven to improve memory and focus as well as combat mental fatigue. Green tea is your best bet to good relax mentally and keep your wits sharpened because of the catechines it contains. Black tea, while not as potent as green tea, also works well as a brain enhancer.

Egg those memory functions on…
14. Eggs: A rich source of Vitamin B and lecithin, eggs are good providers of EFAs (essential fatty acids) to the brain. The yolk is especially rich in choline, a basic building block of brain cells that helps improve memory.

Milk the goodness…
15. Calcium-rich foods: Yogurt, cheese, milk and other foods rich in calcium help in improving the function of nerves. Studies have proved that tyrosine, the amino acid in yogurt, is responsible for the production of the neurotransmitters dopamine and noradrenalin. In short, yogurt helps improve alertness and memory.

Beef up your brain cells…
16. Iron-rich foods: A deficiency in iron has been proven to be the most common cause for poor concentration, decreasing intelligence and slow thinking processes. Iron is essential to supplying the brain with the oxygen it needs to continue normal activity. Red meats and liver are the best sources of dietary iron.

Sweeten the process…
17. Carbohydrate-rich foods: When eaten without protein or fat, carbohydrates provide a soothing effect to the brain. The glucose from the carbs provides the fuel the brain needs to energize you. Avoid refined carbohydrates like white bread, pastries and pasta though, as they cause lethargy. Instead, stick to starches and sugars in the form of grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables.

Super supplements…
18. Supplemental herbs: Gingko biloba is one well-known supplement that improves mental clarity, alertness and memory. It stimulates blood flow to the brain by dilating blood vessels and increasing the supply of oxygen. It also destroys free radicals that are detrimental to brain cells. Others, though not as popular, are equally effective. Rhodiola rosea is a root that is used in the treatment of poor attention span, tiredness and decreased memory capacity. Herbalgram helps renovate oxygen-deprived cells while Panax ginseng has memory enhancing effects.

Oil those brain cells…
19. Organic and plant oils: Get things moving in your brain with memory-boosting essential fatty acids. These EFAs can be found in oils such as olive, walnut and flaxseed.

Irrigate your brain…
20. Water: Nearly three fourths of the brain is water, which makes this life-giving liquid an essential component for the smooth functioning of the brain. When dehydration occurs, the brain releases the hormone cortisol which shrinks dendrites, the branches in the brain that store information. This leads to a decrease in memory power. Cortisol also produces adrenaline which affects mental and cognitive functions. Make sure you drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to keep your brain active and quick.

Source: http://www.onlineuniversitylowdown.com

10 Ways To Simplify Your Nursing School Life

1. Stick to the plan. Track all projects, deadlines, exams and other activities relating to work and/or school in a personal planner or a pocketbook calendar.
2. Take notes. Place notes in outline format with headers, subheads and bullet points. Add items your lecturer refers to in the book.
3. Create flashcards. A quick and easy way to quiz yourself right up until test day. Use flashcards for making a file of diseases/conditions and their treatments, listing signs and symptoms, diagnostic tests and interventions.
4. Tape record. This is especially handy on "test review" days when instructors share what material is likely to appear on the exam. Remember to check with your instructor first!
5. Compare notes. It's possible that your classmates have information you didn't catch and vice-versa.
6. Use the textbook to your advantage. Outline each chapter, write down questions about concepts you don't understand and refer to other resources for extra help (i.e. the Internet, nursing journals, NCLEX review materials, etc.).
7. Stay informed. Attending class is important. You never know if a question asked by a fellow classmate or a piece of information not found in the book might be found on the next exam.
8. Ask questions. Get answers to questions raised in your book, ideas you're unclear on from lectures or clarify your notes.
9. Stay in touch with your instructor. Visit during office hours, send an e-mail, talk by phone and sit in the front row during class whenever possible.
10. Be exam prepared. Find out what the exam will cover and the exam format. Review points emphasized in class, questions in your study guides, past quizzes and end of chapter review sections.

Source: www.nursezone.com

Study Tips

Studying Alone

If studying alone sounds boring, difficult or lonely, think again. The advantage of studying on your own is that you can do it on your own time without having to plan around the schedules of others.
These are some tips for studying alone:

1. Decide what to study. This means figuring out what you'll study, for how long and how many chapters, pages, problems or case studies you want to complete. Once you've set your "schedule," stick to it.
2. Complete difficult tasks first. If you're a procrastinator, start with something simple and/or interesting to get you motivated and on task.
3. Give yourself a break. Study for 50 minutes and then give yourself a 10 minute break. The break is a good time to stretch, relax or have a snack.
4. Change scenery. Often, locking yourself up in your dorm or apartment makes it more difficult to study, especially if you're studying in a room that's less than neat. Get out and study at a coffee shop, the library or the park. You're likely to concentrate better and get more done.
5. Getting tired or bored? Put down what you're doing and start on a different task or subject.
6. Stop studying when you're no longer being productive.
7. Keep your schedule practical, flexible and realistic. Make time for socializing, studying and sleeping. If you're someone with lots of time, develop good organizational skills. For those with an already busy schedule, re-establish your priorities so that you aren't trying to do too much in too little time.
8. Repetition, repetition, repetition. It's true that practice makes perfect-read your notes several times over until you remember the important points.
9. Get plenty of sleep. Pulling an all-nighter won't help you if you're mind turns to gelatin by the time you arrive for the exam. Instead, study until your usual bedtime, then plan to rise earlier than usual the next morning for last minute reviewing. You'll find that your mind will be fresher and ready for testing. And don't overcaffeinenate!

Studying in Groups

Don't forget, two heads are better than one. If you're not feeling too confident about a class or find it easier to learn by discussing study material, you may want join a study group. It's a great way to share ideas and teach each other, but it can also be unproductive if discussion departs from organic chemistry to who's dating whom. Here are some tips for getting the most out of your study group sessions:

1. Three's Company. The ideal size of a study group is three. The smaller your study group, the more it will help you and members be more efficient, thorough and productive. This also places each member in the leader position.
2. Set goals. Each person should walk into a study session with a list of questions or goals to accomplish for that session. This will help keep the group on target and from wavering off the subject.
3. Group effort. Assign a portion of each chapter or assignment to a member of your group. From there, make up study questions for your portion and distribute copies to the others. And voila, you have your own practice exam.
4. No substitutions. Group study is not a substitute for individual learning and understanding. The key to learning is not the actual answer but the process of critical thinking.

Source: www.nursezone.com

Top 10 Summer Health Risks

Summer is a great time to be outside and enjoy the weather. But summer activities bring additional risks to your health. Be sure to be safe this summer by knowing these top 10 summer health risks. A little bit of prevention can keep your summer safe.

1. Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. Over one million people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year. If caught early, skin cancer is usually treated easily. Skin cancer is more common in people who:

have spent lots of time in the sun or have been sunburned.
have fair skin, hair and eyes.
have a family member who has had skin cancer.
are over the age 50.

2. Heat Stroke
Heat stroke is a serious medical condition that can be life threatening. In heat stroke, the body's core temperature rises. Much like a fever, extremely high body temperatures can lead to permanent damage. Some signs of heat stroke include:

confusion
short, rapid breathing
stopping sweating
a fast pulse

3. Food Poisoning
Summer time is full of picnics, and picnics bring food out into the open where it can stay warm too long. Avoid an outbreak of food poisoning this summer by following simple guidelines about food safety and food handling. Common sense will prevent you and your friends and families from coming down with a food-borne illness.

4. Eye Damage
UV rays in sunlight can damage your eyes. If you are out in the sunlight in the summertime, be sure to wear sunglasses that filter out UV light. Otherwise, your sunglasses are opening up your pupils by making things darker, which actually lets in more UV rays, not less. Be sure your sunglasses filter out 100 percent of UV light and be sure to wear them, especially around water, which can reflect a tremendous about of light to your eyes.

5. Driving Accidents (driver fatigue, defensive driving, etc.)
Driving accidents are the number one killer for young people. Avoid summer car accidents by:

never drinking and driving
keeping summer road trips to a reasonable length
never driving after midnight

6. Drowning
Each over 3,000 people drown in pool-related accidents. More than 650 drown in boating accidents. For each child under 14 that drowns, another five suffer from near drowning. Prevent these summer tragedies through supervision, proper pool safety and enforcing rules around the water.

7. Dehydration
Dehydration can happen quickly in the summer heat. Be sure that you have water handy whenever you will be in the heat for a long time. Don't forget about children too - they may not ask for water. Be sure to take frequent water breaks during the kids' summer activities.

8. Bug Bites
Bug bites can be annoying and itchy. They can also be serious if they bring an infectious disease like West Nile or Lyme disease. Prevent bug bites and infection this summer by avoiding buggy situations, using a good bug repellent and wearing long pants and sleeves when in buggy areas.

9. Unsafe Sex
Summer brings thoughts of romance and new love interests. While the spontaneity of a summer romance is exhilarating, the risks of a sexually transmitted infection, including HIV, are very real. Before engaging in any summer fling, know how you will protect yourself.

10. Fireworks Injury
Each year, almost 10,000 people are injured by fireworks so severely that they must go to the emergency room. Avoid these serious injuries by leaving fireworks to the professionals. If you insist on doing fireworks in your own backyard, use common sense safety, understand what each firework does and keep children at a safe distance.

Source: Mark Stibich, Ph.D.,

Holy Week 2014: History, Information, Prayers, Resources, Traditions, & More

Holy Week is the last week of Lent before Easter, beginning on Palm Sunday and ending on Holy Saturday. In an older nomenclature, Holy Week is the second Sunday of Passiontide (Passiontide begins on the fifth Sunday of Lent). Holy Week is the part of the Church Year where Jesus' final moments are commemorated. The final three days of Holy week are part of the Paschal Triduum. Holy Week consists of the following events, which have their own Church

Year.

How To Write A Nursing Resume

Recent labor studies have predicted that nursing positions will continue to grow faster than the national average for at least the next five years. Though this trend is good news for nurses on the job market, it does not diminish the fact that competition will remain tough for the most desirable nursing positions. Nurses need to pay close attention to the presentation of their credentials, as detailed in their resume, in order to ensure that they can compete in the tough medical profession.

To write a solid resume tailored specifically to the nursing profession, consider the following guidelines:

Highlight your Educational and Licensure Qualifications
In addition to including the details of your nursing degree (school name, when you graduated, your degree), you should mention any academic honors, grants, scholarships, or fellowships awarded during the course of your studies.
If you are an experienced nurse, you may wish to make reference to any completed clinical rotations in this section. This tactic is especially beneficial if one or more of these rotations is in line with your current career objective.

If you are a newer nursing graduate or have limited nursing experience, a list of related courses and clinical rotations will provide detail of your medical knowledge to prospective employers. Graduates who completed their degree with an impressive grade point average should highlight this fact by including their GPA in the Educational section of their resume.

All nurses who have completed the process to get licensed will need to provide details of their license(s) in this section. Include the state(s) in which you are licensed and the date that your license went in effect. Since your employer will ask for a copy of your license once you are made an offer, you do not include your licensing number on your resume.

Emphasize your Nursing Expertise and Key Skills
A quick 10-second scan of your resume should reveal important keywords that summarize your nursing experience and give managers an overview of your qualifications. The most effective way to do this is to incorporate a section of your resume dedicated to nursing expertise and key skills. Include a bulleted list of your nursing specializations (such as pediatrics, cardiology, oncology) and any pertinent nursing skills, such as JCAHO standards/compliance or medication administration, that will enhance your resume presentation.

If you have several years of nursing experience, it may beneficial to list your years of experience in each area.

Entry-level nurses and nurses with limited experience should also include this section in their resume, highlighting those areas and schools acquired from schooling, clinical rotations, and nursing mentorships.

Detail Your Nursing Experience
Since most manager hire nurses based on their previous experience in (or knowledge of if you are a new nurse) a particular area of nursing, employers need to know the details of your nursing experience.

If you are an experienced nurse, you should detail your specialization, the type of facility you work in (acute care, outpatient, rehabilitation), and your average caseload for each of your previous employers.

If you are an entry-level nurse just out of school or a nurse with limited work experience, you should detail any clinical rotations, mentorships, or other unpaid work you were involved in during your schooling.

Demonstrate You’re a Top Performer
Employers love to hire top performers. Your resume will be more memorable and better received if you can detail specific contributions you made to each of your previous employers. What have you done that was above and beyond your basic responsibilities? How have you helped make a positive impact on your patients and their families, your co-workers, your employer, or even your community?

Consider your possible involvement in:
o Committees or review boards
o Patient or family health education
o Mentorship programs
o Training of coworkers on advanced topics of interest to nursing
o The launch of a new facility or program
o Community health screens
o Outside education

The more details you can provide about your involvement in the medical community and your accomplishments, the better job you will do at impressing your value as a team member to potential employers.

Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Laura Adams

Travel Safety Tips

Traveling to unfamiliar destinations can bring to you the sort of troubles you do not want to experience while on the road namely: robbery, rape, or murder. Tourists often fall prey to perpetrators because they do not prepare properly before embarking on a trip. Let's examine some things you should do to prevent your travels from becoming a tragedy:

1. Never list your home address on the luggage tag. If on business, put the company's address on the tag; if visiting friends you can list their address. Use covered luggage tags as well.

2. Stay with your luggage until the luggage is checked. If you must put your bag down, keep one foot on the handle.

3. Carry important papers with you; NEVER check anything that you simply cannot afford to lose. Photocopy your passport, driver's license and credit cards.

4. Bring a small flashlight. You never know when you'll suddenly be "in the dark" and find yourself in unfamiliar surroundings. At night, keep your flashlight by your bed.

5. Make sure that your prescription medicines are filled properly and labeled accurately. In some countries certain prescription medicines are forbidden.

6. Never wear anything that projects affluence. No gold chains, expensive watches and rings, luggage, or other paraphernalia should be in easy view. Better yet: leave your jewelry at home.

7. If possible travel with only one or two credit cards.

8. Women particularly should never accept a drink from a stranger. Keep an eye on your drink at all times.

9. Vary your schedule; try not to come and go at the same time everyday.

10. Only stay in a hotel that uses cards to open room doors and make sure your room has a peephole and a deadbolt lock. Secure the chain and secure the door by pushing a rubber stop under it.

11. Stay in a room near a stairwell. Never take the elevator if a fire or smoke is detected. Always stay in a hotel where the doors enter the hallway and not directly from the outside.

12. Do not wear name tags in public.

13. Do not use unmarked taxi cabs.

14. Sit behind the driver so you can see him, but he cannot see you.

15. Pay the driver upon arriving at your destination and while you are still sitting in the vehicle.

16. If you must rent a car, rent only from a reputable company. Any operating problems that occur could signal sabotage.

17. Be aware of 'staged' car accidents meant to catch you off card.

18. Back into your parking spaces to facilitate a quick exit.

19. Park only in well lit and well traveled areas.

20. If your cell phone does not work outside of the country, consider renting one that does for the duration of your trip.

21. If detained for whatever reason by an official, ask for identification. If in doubt, tell them that you want to see his superior. Keep your emotions in check.

22. If traveling with children, bring along an updated photograph of each child in the event that you become separated from them.

23. Write your child's name and your hotel number on each card; include a close friend's or relative's contact information on the card. Give a card to each child which they will carry with them as long as you are away. Destroy once home.

24. Discuss with your family what they would do in event of an emergency while away from home, e.g. whom to call, how to contact emergency personnel, etc.

25. Do not discuss travel plans, your room number or any other personal information in public within earshot of strangers.

26. Bring along a basic first aid kit with bandages, iodine, mosquito repellant, sunscreen, alcohol packets, dramamine, pepto bismol, diarrhea medicine, etc.

27. Familiarize yourself with train and bus schedules before traveling. Have an alternate plan in place in the event your transportation plans change.

28. Do not flash your passport in public. Discreetly show important documents to officials only.

29. Consider purchasing portable alarms that emit a loud sound.

30. Watch for scams on the street. Children working with adults are notorious as pickpockets.

31. Never flash your money in public. Exchange funds with reputable and recognized exchangers only.

32. Have tips ready in advance for service personnel.

33. Consider renting an escort [security] service if traveling in areas where crime is high.

The key to safe traveling in any area is situational awareness. Distractions because of luggage, children, hotel personnel, strangers, etc. can put you at risk. Know your surroundings and stay in control of every situation.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

10 Ways To Relieve Stress

If you experience stress often, it can cause major upsets in your life if you don't developing coping mechanisms to help relieve it.While some stress can be motivating, such as deadlines for projects, too much stress can make your life miserable as you wonder whether you'll be able to handle it.Although some stress is unavoidable, such as that produced by other people or unexpected situations, developing ways to deal with it can help you feel less anxious and learn to make decisions in a calmer manner.Here are 10 ways you can relieve the stress in your life.

1. Identify stressors.

Many people feel totally stressed; some of the emotional symptoms of stress are anxiety, fear, mental pain, frustration, anger, and hopelessness.Focusing on the sources of stress can help you develop ways to better cope with it.Writing down a list of the things that cause you stress is a good first step to reducing stressors.The act of writing down a stressor forces you to acknowledge it as a problem; while some problems cannot be easily resolved, others can be easily removed by focusing on solutions.For instance, if your 6-year old child constantly makes you late several mornings a week because she can't decide what to wear, spending 30 minutes each Sunday afternoon with her selecting outfits for the coming week will help you to start off the morning with much less stress.

2. Set priorities.

Some people feel stressed because they have just too many things going on in their lives.Since everyone has a limit of only 24 hours in a day, sometimes you will have to say "no" to some of the demands on your time. Deciding what is most important to you and your family, and then making those things your priorities, will help you to decide which stressful things can be eliminated.For instance, if you want your family to eat healthy meals but find that cooking every night after work is becoming stressful, find some healthy takeout food or see if your spouse or older children want to share the cooking duties.Doing everything yourself can often inhibit creativity in others who would be happy to share in new household or workplace duties.Deciding in advance what you can and cannot do in a time period allows you to delegate responsibilities to others and feel more in control of your time.

3. Learn to control reactions.

People differ in how they react to stress in their lives.Reactions are really the key to dealing with stress; if you are constantly overreacting to small stressors, your body is already taxed when more serious problems come along.Learning to deal with minor irritations at work and at home in a more relaxed manner can help you save your energy for major troubles.Visualize different problems that you face and think of various reactions you could have and what the results would be.For instance, if a co-worker is not doing his part of the project you're both working on to your satisfaction, visualize yourself screaming and telling him how incompetent he is, ignoring his incompetence, showing him an easier and more efficient way to accomplish his goal, and pretending his work is okay and then redoing it yourself at the last minute.As you visualize the different results, you will probably find that some solutions would lead to continued stress, or even make new problems.Learning to deal with other people in a more relaxed manner is essential to controlling stress in your life.

4. Learn to let go.

Some problems that cause endless stress are often not really that important.By identifying problems that cause you stress, you will be able to let go of the minor irritations that are bothering you.If you feel you always have to be in total control of your life, you are bound to experience stress as things happen that you can't control.If your life has become tied to a strict timetable, try letting go of just 5 or 10 minutes of each day to do nothing.Step outside and look at the trees and flowers, feel the sun on your face, listen to the sounds around you, and just relax.

5. Exercise.

Stress can cause serious physical problems in your body.Often people who don't show strong reactions internalize stress, which can lead to hypertension, indigestion, insomnia, headaches, or other ailments.Keeping your body in good physical shape is important even if you're not under stress, and in stressful situations it's even more important to be healthy.Exercising can be a great stress reliever; running on a treadmill, joining a yoga class, swimming laps, or cycling with friends are all good for your body and can take your mind off stress.

6. Watch your diet.

In stressful situations it's often easy to skip breakfast, grab whatever's most available for lunch and keep going with coffee and sugary snacks.This wrecks havoc on your body, as your blood sugar and energy go up and down all day.Plan your diet in advance to allow for small meals frequently, such as cheese, fruit, veggies, and whole grains, and try to avoid excessive caffeine, sugar, and alcohol.Eat breakfast, keep healthy snacks in your desk drawer at work, and eat frequently.When your blood sugar is low, your attention span suffers, so don't go all day without eating; that just adds to your stress and when you're starving it's easy to make unhealthy choices.

7. Laugh.

If you don't see anything funny about your life, you need a good laugh.Laughing is good for the body and the soul, and humor can help relieve stress.Watch funny movies, read comic strips, or look up some jokes on the internet.Some hospitals have now included "laugh rooms" where patients with serious illnesses can relieve some of the tension by watching funny films and laughing, which actually causes a chemical reaction to occur in the brain.Humor is a good way to relieve stress.

8. Pet your pet.

Dogs, cats, and other animals can be great stress relievers.Petting a purring cat, throwing a ball for your dog to retrieve, or going on a jaunt atop your favorite horse can make you feel calm and peaceful.Pets can be comforts to those who have stressful lives; coming home and finding a loyal pet waiting for you is reassuring and allows you to unwind in the company of a totallynonjudgmental friend.If your building doesn't allow pets, walk a friend's dog or volunteer at an animal shelter, or just go watch the fish swim around at the pet store.

9. Get a hobby.

Many people who have stressful lives find hobbies relaxing.Having a hobby allows you to change focus and forget about problems that are causing stress in your life.Whether you like fishing, knitting, photography, or woodworking, a hobby can relieve stress and let you have something to which you can look forward.If you're facing a lot of stress, taking up a hobby that you enjoy can help you unwind at the end of the day.

10. Sleep.

Not getting enough sleep can lead to stress, as you will feel groggy and unfocused the next day after tossing and turning all night.As insomnia can be a symptom of too much stress in your life, getting enough sleep is very important if you want to relieve it.Most people need at least 7 or 8 hours of sleep each night to function properly the next day; if you get more or less your performance can suffer.Deep sleep is especially important, and if you wake up frequently this can be impaired; if you can't seem to get to sleep on your own, your doctor may be able to help you with this problem.

Some problems that cause endless stress are often not really that important.By identifying problems that cause you stress, you will be able to let go of the minor irritations that are bothering you.If you feel you always have to be in total control of your life, you are bound to experience stress as things happen that you can't control.If your life has become tied to a strict timetable, try letting go of just 5 or 10 minutes of each day to do nothing.Step outside and look at the trees and flowers, feel the sun on your face, listen to the sounds around you, and just relax.

Source: www.essortment.com/10-ways-relieve-stress-15972.html