New York Nurse News

New York Nurse News: Health Seminar in Poughkeepsie

2007-03-12T17:15:00.000-07:00

Albert Caccarile is having a health seminar in Poughkeepsie, NY on March 24, 2007. The seminar will focus on the latest scientific advancements in the field of complementary alternative medicine. For those of you who are interested the seminar is from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and admission is free. For more information contact Louise Gerard at (845)518-2364 or visit their website by clicking on the picture above.

New York Healthcare Fight

2007-03-08T10:04:00.000-08:00

It looks like New York State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno has weighed in on the healthcare debate. So what side did he weigh in on? According to the Albany Times Union, "he opposes Governor Eliot Spitzer's proposed freeze on the cost-of-living increase for Medicaid payments and extension of the hospital tax." Stay tuned for more on this debate.

2007 Honoree of Jewish-American Hall of Fame: Lillian Wald

2007-03-05T05:43:00.000-08:00

I was recently sent an e-mail about Lillian Wald being named the 2007 Jewish-American Hall of Fame honoree. Ms. Wald was a Jewish-American Rochester, New York native who is regarded as the founder of "Visiting Nursing" in the U.S. and Canada. She attended New York Hospital's School of Nursing. According to an article on Nurse.com, Ms. Wald has been referred to as the "Jewish Florence Nightingale." Read more about Ms. Wald and view the limited edition medals featuring Ms. Wald by clicking on the picture to the left.

Police Officer Saved By His Badge

2007-03-01T05:42:00.000-08:00

This story is not necessarily medical related, but I thought it should get a mention. A police officer in Queens was attacked last night by a drunk wielding a knife. The drunk stabbed at the officers heart and made contact. Fortunately, over the officer's heart was his police badge which shattered the knife upon contact. The drunk was then subdued and the officer escaped with only a minor cut on his hand. That according to an article in the New York Daily News.

Nurse's Aide Nabbed for Elderly Abuse

2007-02-28T08:30:00.000-08:00

An article in the Staten Island Advance shows what can happen when a caregiver just doesn't care. According to the article, a nurse's aide at Golden Gate Rehabilitation and Health Care Center twice dropped a 67 year old patient with Parkinson's Disease and Dementia. The aide was moving the elderly patient into another room without assistance (contrary to facility rules). The aide is charged with endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person in the second degree, and willful violation of the public health law.

The aide was caught on camera which led to the arrest.

New York Nurse: A Sea of Tranquility?

2007-02-27T09:02:00.000-08:00

Well maybe not a Sea of Tranquility, but at the Albany Medical Center there is at least a Room of Tranquility. According to the Albany Times Union, the Center has spent $15,000 on a feng shui breakroom complete with full body massage chairs, blue painted walls sprayed with aromatic oils, an illuminated salt lamp representing fire, plants and 350 pounds of rock symbolizing earth. A stark contrast to what you see in shows like "E.R."

Maybe this will become a trend. We could sure use a little Tranquility at our hospital.

"Docs Day for Kids"

2007-02-26T06:04:00.000-08:00

Check out this article I found in The Buffalo News about doctors seving up suds to help babies born prematurely or with other health problems. According to the article, doctors and other medical professionals from the Catholic Health System became bartenders for a day at the Buffalo Brew Pub in Amherst, New York. The money earned through tips went to help fund the neonatal intensive care unit at Sisters Hospital.

Apparently the doctors have been doing this every year for the past 13 years. The article attributes the beginning of this tradition to a Dr. Andrew M. Gage. According to the article Dr. Gage was killed in a motorcycle accident in 2005. This year's organizers anticipated earning more than $22,000.

Would this be considered "drinking responsibly?"

Health Care: Yoga for the Elderly

2007-02-22T09:14:00.000-08:00

The Visiting Nurse Service of New York is all about caring for Senior Citizens. According to an article in the New York Daily News, the VNS runs an Adult Day Care Center for Seniors. The Center offers, among other things, yoga classes, free door-to-door transportation, computer classes, art and music therapy. There is a yoga class for Seniors with Alzheimer's as well as for the wheelchair-bound.

New York Nurse: Blood Needed

2007-02-21T07:01:00.000-08:00

To my knowledge there are no vampires in New York State. But that does not diminish the state's need for blood. According to the Poughkeepsie Journal, the cold weather has caused a number of blood drives to be cancelled. The drives were needed to keep up the state's supply of blood used for medical procedures. The New York Blood Center has a need for all blood types. You can call 1-800-933-2566 to get more information on donating blood today.

Med Students and Nursing Students Training Together?

2007-02-20T08:41:00.000-08:00

Med students and nursing students training together? An interesting concept indeed. And at the University of Rochester that concept has found its way to fruition. This according to an article written in the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. After reading the article I have concluded that someone at UR has a good dose of something I like to call "Common Sense." Although the term "Common Sense" gives the impression it is something that everyone already knows, it has been my experience that such is not the case. At least that seems to be the situation with UR's new med student/nursing student training.

Observed in the article is the fact that med students and nursing students are usually trained separately. However, when the graduate and enter the working environment they are often thrust into working side by side with each other. So why not train them in the same way they will be working after they graduate? UR answers that question "Why not." The article details a simulated heart attack victim in a hospital requiring the assistance of a med student and a nursing student. Probably not a stretch from what the two students will face once they graduate.

Good job UR. Way to think outside of the box.

Boy Shot in the Face at an E.R. in Syracuse

2007-02-19T08:52:00.000-08:00

If you think shows like "E.R." overly exaggerate what goes on in emergency rooms across the country an article in the Syracuse Post-Standard might just change your mind. According to the article, a 14 year old boy shot another teenage boy in the face after chasing him to the entrance of MedCentral/Mansfield Hospital's emergency room. The shooter was caught and arrested while the victim was taken to Columbus Children's Hospital in critical condition.

How's that for a script "E.R."?

Albany, New York LPN Feeds Addiction With Nursing Home Meds

2007-02-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

Thanks to lax med monitoring procedures at the Albany County Nursing Home, Soynette S. Somerville, a licensed practical nurse, was able to steal prescription drugs from the nursing home over a period of several months. That according to an Albany Times Union article. According to the article, the med thefts were detected when the nursing home tried to order a new round of Lortab (a drug containing a highly addictive painkiller) from a local drug company.

The drug company questioned the nursing home on why the prescription was being refilled. The questioning led to an investigation which led to Ms. Somerville's arrest for med theft.

Thumbs down for the nursing home for not picking up on the med theft sooner. Thumbs up for the drug company for questioning the request for a med refill. Who says drug company's care more about money than patients? Well, that may be an overstatement but good for the drug company anyway.

New York Nurse News: Salaries Rising

2007-02-16T07:11:00.000-08:00

Check out this article in the Long Island Press about new incentives for nursing professionals in Suffolk County. In summary, the article says that Suffolk County want to entice Public Health Nurses, Registered Nurses, Jail Medical Attendants and Licensed Nurse Practitioners to get an "advanced educational degree" which will be offered at a local community college. Upon completion, they will receive an increase in pay and other incentives to continue their educations.

The article says that Suffolk County has received a $378,000 grant to help health care workers advance to Licensed Practical Nurses.

Nurse News: Nurse Raised in Foster Care Gets Valentine's Treat

2007-02-15T04:51:00.000-08:00

I found this heartwarming story about a 21 year old female nursing student who was raised in foster care. According to The Buffalo News, Harriet Ndagire, a nursing student at the University of Buffalo, was raised in the Buffalo, New York foster care system. Because of her age, she is now ineligible for the foster care system and, like many other orphans and foster care children, is now faced with making the transition from youth to adulthood.

That is where the Orphan Foundation comes in. Started by a former foster child, the Orphan Foundation was set up to help in the transition. With the approach of Valentine's Day, the Orphan Foundation sent out candy, cards and hand knitted scarfs to many of the areas orphans. Ms. Ndagire received her package as she passed the mid-way point of her junior year. In the package was a card reading, among other things, "I wish you well in your studies." The package and card let Ms. Ndagire know "that there are people who care..."

New York Nurse News: Will Brooklyn's Victory Memorial Hospital Be Shut Down

2007-02-14T05:22:00.000-08:00

Brooklyn's Victory Memorial Hospital is a "117-year-old not-for-profit facility that served nearly 200,000 people last year." That according to an article in the New York Daily News titled "Hospital's long road to Victory." Despite the length of time the Hospital has been around (or maybe because of it) and the number of people helped last year, authorities are considering shutting the Hospital down.

According to the article, the New York State Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century recently conducted a study into the Hospital's profitability. The study found that the Hospital is "serving too few patients" and "losing cash." On the other side of the coin, the Hospital has 1,200 employees, including 402 doctors and delivered 1,600-1,800 babies in 2007.

A quick read through the article leaves the impression that whether the Hospital remains open or closes will come down to whether the economists or the humanitarians prevail on their respective arguments. Sometimes the decision that makes the best economic sense can be detrimental to a community's morale.

Nurse News: A Niagara Falls Memorial ER Nurse Battles Cancer

2007-02-13T15:56:00.001-08:00

How would you feel if you found out you had cancer tumors in your liver, spleen and pancreas? The term "thankful" doesn't immediately come to my mind. But thanks to the knowledge she has gained during her thirty year nursing career, some wonderful friends and an optimistic attitude, that is how Norma Kudela describes her experience with cancer. This according to an article in The Buffalo News titled "Benefits aids nurse battling cancer."

I love articles like this one. According to the article, when Mrs. Kudela's daughter, Heather Kobrin, found out her mother had cancer she felt helpless. Instead of resting on her laurels, though, Mrs. Kobrin organized an auction benefit for her mother resulting in hundreds of people donating to her mother's cause. The show of support has inspired Mrs. Kudela.

Nurse News: Nurses Honored for Vietnam Military Service

2007-02-10T16:21:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard of the Foundation of New York State Nurses' Center for Nursing History in Guilderland? Recently that Foundation honored two female military nurses for their service in Vietnam. This according to an article in the Albany Times Union titled "Combat zone nurses' legacy is honored." The two nurses honored were Retired Maj. Helen A. Vartigian and Lt. Col. Frances Liberty who died in 2004, according to the article.

The two nurses were honored with a portrait depicting them in their jungle fatigues in Vietnam.

New York Nurse News: Healthcare Reform in NY

2007-01-27T15:26:00.000-08:00

It looks like Governor Eliot Spitzer is "chesting up" to the healthcare industry in NY. Check out this A.P. article on Gov. Spitzer's plan to revamp healthcare in NY. In essence, the article states that Gov. Spitzer has vowed "to reform the system with lawmakers and the health lobby, or over them."

Based on my experience with healthcare in New York City, I suspect he will have to go "over them."

Medical News: 70 Million American Adults Suffer from Heart Disease

2007-01-24T09:43:00.000-08:00

February is National Heart Health Month. Not a bad idea for a country with 70 million adults who suffer from heart disease. That according to an article in the Putnam County News and Recorder. In accord with National Heart Health Month, the Hudson Valley Hospital Center is offering free day and evening classes to educate the community about the risks of heart disease. There are classes ranging from topics such as risk factors to dieting to exercise to medications.

Nursing Jobs New York Style

2007-01-22T05:16:00.000-08:00

Quick, name the city in the United States that offers nurses the most career opportunities. If you guessed New York City, you hit the nail on the head. In 2005, there were nearly 70,000 jobs for skilled nurses in New York City. But there's more to the demographic than just numbers. When it comes to nursing jobs, New York is number one in more ways than one.
Salaries
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean salary for a registered nurse nationally is $52,810. In New York, 72% of all registered nurses are earning more than $55,000 annually. The average salary for a registered nurse in New York is $64,000 as compared to the national average of $49,840. (all statistics from BLS). A licensed practical nurse can count on a salary in the $30,000-$45,000 range. New York is the single top market for nursing jobs across the country.
Flexibility
Registered and licensed nurses have incredible flexibility in work schedules and types of jobs. Nursing jobs in New York offer a wide range of opportunities that can fit nearly anyone who enjoys working with and helping people. There are nursing jobs available at prestigious teaching hospitals and universities, at inner city clinics, at upscale doctor's offices and in schools or with the health department. A New York nurse might specialize in obstetrics or dermatology, in pediatrics or oncology or in any one of myriad other specialties. Nowhere else in the world is there such a wide variety of nursing jobs available.
Scheduling is every bit as flexible. As hospital and other medical facility administrators try to cope with the shortage of nurses (predicted to hit 800,000 by 2020); they've started offering schedules that fit anyone's way of life. It's not unusual for a nurse to work three twelve hour shifts in a week and have four days off, or work just weekend nights - for a premium salary.
Career Options
New York has a lot to offer nurses in the way of career opportunities and continuing education. The state is home to some of the best teaching hospitals in the world. Nurses who are ready to move on will find it easy to make a lateral move to a different type of nursing, or to climb the career ladder in nearly any nursing specialty field imaginable. Here are just a few 'non-traditional' New York nursing jobs.
Community Health Nurse
Not all nurses work in hospitals and nursing homes. Community health nursing jobs in New York include on site nursing in transitional residences, or home visit nurses who help people stay in their homes rather than ending up in a nursing home or institution. Working in community health can include being part of ground-breaking research, combating an unexpected epidemic or teaching new young mothers how to care for their babies in their own homes.
Policy Makers
For nurses who want to make a difference on a wide scale, there are many nursing jobs that include opportunities to help make policy. Nurses are integral team members at insurance companies, in government and on hospital boards. As a consultant to city and town councils, nurses help ensure that patient and family needs are met when the big companies make policies that affect nursing and medical care.
Occupational Health Nursing
More and more large businesses are including an on site nurse on their payroll. Occupational health nurses may work for a single company, doing preventive and assessment nursing, or work for a clinic or rehabilitation facility helping patients recover from sports and work-related injuries, or learn to live with limitations caused by their medical conditions. New York is at the forefront of many trends in nursing, and a nurse who chooses to specialize in occupational health will find many nursing jobs in New York.
Teaching Specialties
Nurse educators are very much in demand in any large city, and New York is no exception. Whether teaching nursing in a formal nursing school or delivering continuing education in the form of in-services and specialty courses, there's a place for a nurse with a talent for passing on knowledge to others.
In short, New York has a little of everything for those interested in pursuing a nursing career. From rural nursing to inner city health, there are thousands of open nursing jobs in New York.
About the Author: Rita Henry is a contributing editor for Nursing Job Finder, the leading job and resource site for the Nursing Industry. Interested in receiving only the hottest Nursing job listings weekly for free? To learn more visit Nursing Job Finder or click on the ads at the top of this page.

The Results are in at HVCC

2006-12-22T09:49:00.000-08:00

Congratulations goes to Hudson Valley Community College for the performance of its students in several national certification exams. According to an article in the Albany Times Union, HVCC students outperformed most of the nation in the National Dental Hygiene Board Exam (100% passed), National Board for Respiratory Care Entry-Level Exam (100% passed), National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (91% passed), American Registry of Radiologic Technologists Exam (96% passed) and the National EMT-Paramedic Exam (98% passed).

Read the article to see a comparison of HVCC students versus the national averages. The results are impressive.

Get Your Nursing License In New York Today

2006-10-03T11:28:00.000-07:00

As in every state, it takes more than just a set of nursing scrubs to practice nursing in the State of New York. You must also be licensed. If you are considering a career in nursing in New York State this post may be helpful to you. I thought I would outline the general requirements for practicing in this post. Here goes.

To practice nursing in New York State, you must have be either a "Registered Professional Nurse" (RN) or "Licensed Practical Nurse" (LPN).

Become a Registered Nurse in New York State
To be licensed as a RN in New York State you must (1) be of good moral character; (2) be at least eighteen (18) years old; (3) have the requisite education and degree(s); (4) complete coursework or training in the identification and reporting of child abuse offered by a New York State approved provider; (5) pass the New York State licensing examination; and (6) submit an application for licensure, along with the appropriate fee, to the Office of the Professions.

-OR-

Become a Licensed Practical Nurse in New York State
To be licensed as a LPN in New York State you must (1) be of good moral character; (2) be at least seventeen (17) years old; (3) have a high school diploma or its equivalent; (4) have the requisite education and degree(s); (5) pass the New York State licensing examination; and (6) submit an application for licensure, along with the appropriate fee, to the Office of the Professions.

Specific Licensing Requirements
You can find the specific licensing requirements at Title 8, Article 139, Sections 6905 and 6906 of New York State Education Law and Part 64 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education.

Fees
The fee for licensure is $135 and for a limited permit (travel nursing) is $35. You can mail your application and fee to: NYS Education Department, Office of the Professions, PO Box 22063, Albany, NY 12201

Jobs-A-Plenty for Nurses in New York City

2006-09-27T13:44:00.000-07:00

There are more than 8 million people living in and around New York City and all of them will need a nurse at some point in their lives. With the city's large transient population, New York nursing jobs abound.

Why Work In New York?
New York is a great place for a nurse to work. In Manhattan there are over fifty hospitals offering the finest medical care available with some of the highest recovery and lowest patient mortality rates in the world. These top notch facilities want to maintain their reputation, and are willing to pay higher salaries and offer better benefits to keep high quality nurses there. The tradeoff is longer hours and more stress, versus the small community jobs where hours are usually better and the nurse-patient ratio is generally lower.

Among large US cities, New York holds the top spot in terms of nursing job vacancies available. So, if you are a registered nurse you are guaranteed a lucrative New York nursing job. If you would like to live and work in New York City there is a bright and secure nursing career waiting for you there.

If you're considering relocating to New York City to work there temporarily, consider being a travel nurse. You can read another one of my articles on becoming a travel nurse in New York by visiting my other blog at Travel Nursing Jobs.

New York Nurse News: Exploited Filipino Nurses

2006-09-06T14:34:00.000-07:00

Check out this article on the Exploitation of Filipino Nurses in New York City. The article contains a transcript of Representative Mayong Aguja, an Akbayan member of the Filipino House of Representatives, addressing the Filipino House.

An apt summary of the article is that nurses educated and trained in the Phillipines have been unable to earn a living in the Phillipines. The nurses have taken jobs with international travel nurse agencies promising higher pay, better working conditions and more benefits in the United States (more specifically, New York City). Once the nurses arrived in NYC they were unpleasantly surprised to find things not as they had been promised.

Upon arrival, the nurses were informed that they would be working at facilities other than those originally promised, that health care benefits had been changed (for the worse) and that they would be paid from a third-party (of whom the nurses knew nothing about).

New York Nursing References

2006-09-01T07:27:00.000-07:00

REFERENCES:
New York State Board of Nursing

New York State Nurses Association

National League for Nursing.

HOSPITALS:
Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City

UNIVERSITIES:
SUNY New Paltz: Department of Nursing

New York University College of Nursing

Columbia University School of Nursing

UB School of Nursing

State University of New York

Nursing Students' Association of New York State