Keeping Track of X-Ray Exposures

by Alex A. Kecskes

If you're worried about getting too much radiation exposure during your medical exams, you might want to talk to your Medical Dosimetrist. They're the little-known but growing group of healthcare workers who calculate radiation doses. There's little room for error when it comes to radiation exposure. Too much can have a major impact on a patient's health.

A relatively new field, Medical Dosimetry only has a few thousand members covering the entire U.S. The increasing emphasis on early cancer detection has given rise to more x-ray procedures and its consequent emphasis on careful monitoring.

A typical Medical Dosimetrist develops radiation treatment plans and reviews patient cases with radiation oncologists, oncology nurses, medical physicists and radiation therapists. Using advanced 3-D computers, dosimetrists create treatment plans that focus higher doses of radiation to a tumor while reducing doses to sensitive nearby organs and tissues.

Most Medical Dosimetrists start out as radiation therapists/technologists. Others enter the profession through academia, as graduates of a one- to two-year dosimetry program. Still others enter by completing considerable on-the-job training. The challenge posed to dosimetrists is that the technology and treatment modalities are constantly evolving.

Medical Dosimetrists need not be licensed or certified. However, many Medical Dosimetrists voluntarily become certified through the Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board.

If you're a medical professional looking for a challenging career change, you might consider becoming a Medical Dosimetrist. They need rises every time a new cancer facility opens its doors.

For an additional perspective, check out this video:

For more information on health careers, visit http://www.healthcarejobsite.com/

Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients.

Tips For Managing Your Expectations This Holiday Season

The holidays can be a wonderful time of joy and family togetherness. But, they can also be one of the most stressful times of the year. From family conflicts, managing childrens' wish lists to handling the disappointments that come when plans go wrong, the holiday season can be a let down and lead to a feeling of emptiness for many people.

But there are some things that you can do to manage your holiday expectations and prevent the post-holiday blues. CBS recently published an article about this very thing, and they had some wonderful insights to share. Here is a summary of some of the ways that you can keep your sanity while enjoying the holiday season:

• Enjoy the moment – It is easy to get overwhelmed and want to do everything all at once. Keep your expectation rooted in reality and try to enjoy the moments of togetherness without feeling like you have to keep everyone entertained or provide an amazing holiday spread. Do what you can with what you have and keep in mind that it is the time you spend with the ones you love, not what you can give them, that matters the most.
  
  
• Create memories – The secret to a happy holiday season is not taking on more than you can handle. Rather than killing yourself tying to create a perfect holiday, why not try starting a family project or getting everyone involved in making holiday ornaments. Do things that create lasting holiday memories without breaking the bank or getting stressed.
  
  
• Set a budget – Set a budget ahead of time and stick to it. Keep in mind that others in your family may not be in the same financial situation as you, and for them, buying many presents might be a hardship. Some groups have even adopted the wonderful practice of drawing names and buying a present for that person. This can allow everyone to participate and have a great time without breaking the bank.
  
  
• Do a good deed – The holidays are about giving, and there is no better way to do that than giving to others. You can start a new holiday tradition by getting your family involved in giving to others. A neat idea is, instead of buying presents for the adults in your family, have each family group or family member do something to help others and talk about it on Christmas morning. It will challenge everyone to come up with something amazing.
  
  
• Ask for help – If you feel like you are always the one in charge, and the one who is left to take care of everything, try delegating. More than likely, your extended family would be more than willing to help, it is just that they aren't sure what they can do or how to help. This year, try making a list of things that need to be done and assigning them to family members. Not only will it lessen your load, but it will give them a chance to feel like they are participating as well.

Keeping sane during the holidays can be hard, but with a little bit of forethought, you can make your holiday brighter. Don't allow yourself to be suckered in by the commercials that tell you that the only way to make your loved ones happy is to purchase bigger and better things for them. If you keep your attention focused on the things that matter this season, yours is sure to be less stressful.

Are you looking for a job in the Philadelphia area? Be sure to visit PhillyJobs.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

Benefits of Nursing Seminars

by Alex A. Kecskes

The healthcare industry is constantly changing. To maintain your skills, knowledge, and to keep your license from lapsing, you need to continue your education. But going back to college can be time consuming, and online courses lack the personal interaction and thought-out presentation you need to properly absorb new material.

One popular solution has been the nursing seminar. These provide current information, personally presented by experts, in manageably short sessions. Some seminars may be offered at your hospital or medical center; others are conducted at local or regional conference centers, hotels or colleges.

However, unlike regular college classes, seminars tend to zero in on a specific topic or nursing area. They may introduce a new procedure, a breakthrough technology, new research findings, or new state or local guidelines for nursing. The advantage here is that you'll be getting the most current information, which college courses often lack.

The Q&A sessions at seminars can also be very helpful. Ideas can be brought up, solutions offered, and others challenged in the light of real world experience. Industry experts, physicians and experienced professionals can provide valuable feedback you can take back to your workplace. Smaller group seminars in a roundtable format generally allow you to get more questions answered.

Another benefit seminars offer is contacts and networking. You may run into supervisors and top-level managers who will acknowledge your presence and recognize your diligence in keeping your knowledge and skills current. Attend enough seminars and you'll develop contacts that may help you should you decide to move up in your career—or move out to a new hospital or medical center.

For an additional perspective, check out this sample seminar:

For more information on health careers, visit http://www.healthcarejobsite.com/

Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients.

5 Questions You Should Know the Answers To

Before you next job interview, make sure that you are prepared for anything that might come up. The interview process is becoming more competitive than ever, and you can no longer trust that showing up and doing your best is going to be enough. With so many people having been out of work for extended periods of time, you can be sure that no matter where you interview, there is going to be someone else who is just as skilled and experienced as you are. How you present yourself at an interview is going to be, for many employers, the make or break factor.

So, before you arrive at your next interview, here are 5 questions that you should already know the answers to:

1. Tell me about yourself – The interviewer isn't going to want to hear about where you went to elementary school, the ages of your children or you favorite color. They want to find out who you are as a person and as an employee. You should have a pre-planned answer to this question that includes the highlights of your education, your previous work experience and any interesting hobbies or interests.
   
   
2. Why should we hire you? – This question is, in my opinion, on of the hardest. As people, we are always encouraged not to brag and to be modest. Although you don't want to brag, this is also not the time to be humble. Tell the interviewer why you are the best candidate for the job. When faced with this question, stay calm and let them know what skills and talents you bring to the table and how you think they would benefit the company.
   
   
3. Where do you want to be in five years? – The right answer to this question is never “doing your job”. When an employer ask you this question, they are trying to determine if you are planning to use this job as a stepping stone in your career or if you are planning to stay employed with the company for a longer period of time.
   
   
4. Tell me a problem in your life and how you managed to solve it– The employer is looking to find out what sort of person you are. Before you go to the interview, you should think about specific instances in your life when you have been forced to be resourceful and creatively problem solve.
   
   
5. How do you deal with work related stress – An interviewer is trying to determine if you are someone who is likely to give up and walk out if you get frustrated during training, or if you are someone who can work through the difficulties of learning a new job. Tell them how you handle stress, even if you think it sounds silly. Spending time with friends on the weekends, working out at the gym or just letting it go and focusing on work are all good answers here.

Being prepared for an interview ahead of time in one of those things that I just can't stress enough. If you plan ahead, you won't find yourself staring across the desk at the interviewer (as I have before) and completely drawing a blank. If you worried that nerves will get the better of you, feel free to write down the key points of your answer on a notepad to bring with you.

What other questions do you think are important to employers? Let me know in the comments.

Are you looking for a job in the Philadelphia area? Be sure to visit PhillyJobs.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

Women Gaining Ground in Psychology Careers

by Alex A. Kecskes

According to the National Research Council, in 1970, 20 percent of PhD psychologists were women. In 2005, the last year for which data are available, nearly 72 percent of new PhD and PsyDs entering psychology were women. That same year, graduate enrollment in psychology, including master's degree candidates, were almost 75 percent female.

Part of this growth can be attributed to the rising demand for psychological services and the greater access today's women have in both training and job openings in psychology. Industry observers note a critical need for women psychologists to ensure that the pay and prestige afforded to psychologists continues to rise.

In the 1970s, some women were discouraged from pursuing PhD degrees for fear that they would start a family and abandon the program. Today, women have moved into some positions of power and find it easier to enter graduate programs while raising a family. Yet disparity remains. Women in psychology earn about 9 percent less than men on average and there are still fewer women in psychology subfields.

In institutions of higher learning, roughly a quarter of full professors in graduate psychology departments are women. In 2005, fewer than 38 percent of editors and associate editors of APA journals were women. In addition, of the APA's past 115 presidents, only 11 have been women.

Reasons for this disparity vary. Some industry observers suggest that structures and systems established decades ago still hamper women. That said, efforts are underway at some institutions to accommodate the specific needs of women bound for careers in psychology. In 2005, Princeton University introduced several family-friendly policies and programs for faculty. One policy grants an automatic one-year tenure clock extension for each child to assistant professors who become parents by birth or adoption.

The ultimate goal is to ensure that psychologists, regardless of gender, meet clients' needs. And that clients have the option of choosing the gender of psychologist they feel best meets their personal needs.

For an additional perspective, check out this video:

For more information on health careers, visit http://www.healthcarejobsite.com/

Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients.

5 things to be thakful for if you're unemployed

It’s Thanksgiving and with the unemployment rate holding steady at 9% there are certainly more than a few people out there wondering what in their current condition could constitute some sort of thanks. If you’re one of those folks maybe it’s time you remembered Disney’s Pollyanna staring Haley Mills. In the movie a young girl turns a town’s frown upside down with her optimistic disposition.

Despite being orphaned and then adopted by her aunt who turns out to be the town bully, Pollyanna insists on looking on the bright side. She plays “the glad game” whenever things seem difficult and encourages others to do the same. To play the game, one has to find the good in any situation no matter how horrible or disappointing it may seem at first. Pollyanna even finds a reason to be thankful when she mistakenly receives a set of crutches instead of a doll.

While it’s understandable to feel things are stacking up against you it’s important to make sure you don’t lose sight of the things that are working in your favor. Stewing in negativity never helped anyone so make sure you can look and see the silver linings. To start here are 5 things you can be grateful for if you’re unemployed this Thanksgiving.

1. The economy is recovering – It looks like it’s going to be a long slow process but at least it’s getting better instead of worse.
   


2. Better job search tools than ever before- With online databases, recruiting services, even public transportation, it’s much easier to look for a job than ever before.



3. Unemployment isn’t disability - Joblessness among people with disabilities is over 14% and even though the recession is healing the disability is not. When the opportunity arises you will be able to work again.



4. People do care - Whether it’s the church pantry for food or a clothes-swap program for an interview there are places that will help you out and hook you up.



5. You’re not alone, it’s not you, it’s everybody and everybody knows that. No one is looking down on you because you’re out of work. Lots of people know exactly how you feel.

No matter what, it could always be worse; at least you’re not the turkey. If you think about it I’m sure will find you are thankful for many more things that that. If you try to list at least 3 blessings everyday you’ll realize how rich and rewarding existence is even without a paycheck.

Are you looking for a job in the Philadelphia area? Check out PhillyJobs.

By Heather Fairchild - Heather is a multimedia developer, business owner and a work-from-home mom.

Lack of Ethnic Diversity in Healthcare Professions

by Alex A. Kecskes

The number of non-white Americans is projected to rise by 50 percent between 2000 and 2020. At the same time, the racial and ethnic diversity in the health professions seems to be falling behind.

Many groups, especially African Americans and Latinos are underrepresented in the nursing profession. Some studies suggest that the lack of diversity in nursing can be attributed to the lack of educational opportunities among ethnic groups.

Today's health care professions call for high levels of education, including college degrees. Since fewer members of minority groups finish high school and even fewer graduate from college, those able to pursue careers in nursing and other healthcare fields represent a declining number.

Another factor accounting for the disparity in minority entrants into healthcare professions is one of desire. Racial/ethnic minorities who enter college may be less likely than whites to earn nursing degrees. When it comes to female-dominated professions requiring a college degree, most minorities choose other career tracks—like teaching.

Suggestions for improving this imbalance vary. They include conducting personal interviews with students to answer questions and clarify any misconceptions. Offering scholarships and holding pre-admission meetings would also help applicants enter nursing programs. Another tactic is to provide high school students with nursing literature that clearly spells out how students can prepare for nursing education. Still another approach would draw high school students into nursing programs and hospitals via "open houses" and walkthroughs to give them a feel for healthcare careers. These efforts would be supplemented with counseling to prepare students for college.

For an additional perspective, check out this video:

For more information on health careers, visit http://www.healthcarejobsite.com/

Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients.

Should You Relocate for a Job?

Are you thinking about relocating for job-related reasons? Maybe you think that your chances of obtaining a more satisfying job are better in a completely different area of the country? Or perhaps it is your current employer that is transferring you to another location altogether?

Of course, relocating to an entirely new place is definitely not something that you should undertake lightly. For starters, some of the factors that you should consider include:

- The New Location’s Quality of Life

- Career Opportunities for Your Partner - if Applicable

- The Cost of Living in the New Location

- Whether Your Salary will Maintain or Change your Quality of Living

- How Well Your Children May Adapt to a New Environment - if Applicable

- The Quality of the Educational System

- Whether you will have Social Supports in the New Area

- The Costs, Efforts, and Time Involved with a Move

Fortunately, thanks to the Internet, you can easily research this information with ease. For instance, you can find important information that includes information on local real estate, rentals, educational facilities, amenities, cost of living, cultural attractions and so on.

Further, if you are thinking of moving to a new location, you should ensure that there is a demand for someone with your skill-set in the new desired location. You should also discover what people with your skills usually make with respect to salary in your new area.

Additionally, if you are being transferred to this new location by your current employer, you should consider whether this career move will advance your career on a personal level or permit you to engage in more satisfying work. Further, you want to ensure that this new position is a relatively stable one – after all, you do not want to make a major move and then get laid off just a few months down the road.

You should also determine whether or not your new work environment will be a more or less stressful one. Other important factors to consider include your commute to your place of work and whether your new work environment will be more formal or a less formal one.

In conclusion, while relocation for a career-related reason can be an exciting prospect, you should properly research this opportunity before making the actual move.

Ready to supercharge your job search? Visit PhillyJobs.com.


Larisa Redins is a full time writer and editor with degrees in both Arts and Biological Science. She writes about career issues and other topics for a variety of international websites, magazines, and businesses.

Survey Says: Bad News for Women and Minorities on Wall Street

The annual meeting of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association took place on November 8th. And just as the announcer was about to introduce the presenter of an award to Bank of America, nearly a third of the crowd promptly stood up and left. Why? Sifma, the industry's trade group, has been working very hard to encourage brokerage firms on Wall Street to grow out of their attachment to the all-white-male model. They've publicly announced their goals of the advancement of women and minorities and since 2002 have been handing out awards to its members that have best promoted diversity.

Back in 1999, Sifma began a bi-annual survey of its members to track how many women and minority employees there were at all levels. By 2007 they'd found that the number of women working in the industry declined to 42% from 43.5% (1999). Minorities, however, had increased to 21% from 11.5%. Both groups of employees were disproportionately found in jobs outside of the high-salaried executive and managing director positions.

A survey done in 2007 revealed that 76% of the industry's "non-exempt" staff (secretaries, clerks, etc.) was made up of females. Among "exempt" 69% male, 5% black, and 31% female.

Women are being hired at rates significantly below their current representation at almost every job level.

“All of the information about demographics in this executive report boils down to this,” the 2007 report continued. “From the associate level onward, representation of women and people of color decreases at each higher level in the organization.”

A definite sign of decline? There was no 2009 survey.

For information on health careers, visit http://www.healthcarejobsiteblog.com/

By: Bambi Blue

Bambi Blue is a freelance writer, editor, and codemonkey living in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She moonlights as a jazz musician, a social butterfly, and most apparently a weisenheimer. Loves to cook, hates to clean, and can easily be found on Twitter.

Steps to Re-Invent Yourself and Your Career- Part 2

Sometimes, you have to make some changes and re-invent yourself and your career or job search. It can be difficult to imagine yourself doing something different with your life, but making changes can bring new energy into your life and career.
In Part One of this series, we covered the first steps to bringing new energy and ideas into your life and career. Here are a few more:

• Get to know people who can help- Find out where you can meet people who are working in the industry you are interested in. Whatever your passion is, there are bound to be groups of people who share that interest. Find them and get to know them. They can be invaluable for helping you on your path.
  
  
• Get your family on board- Without the support of the ones we love and the ones who love us back, change is scary. Share your plans with your family and get them involved in the process. Just the simple act of talking about your plans can make them more real and you will need people who can keep you focused.
  
  
• Invest time and money into your dreams – Maybe you need to take a class or attend a workshop. Whatever it is that you need to do in order to get where you want to be, don't be afraid to invest both time and money into it. It can seem selfish to use resources on yourself when there are many other things you could do, but finding a way to realize your dreams and live a happier life is the best investment you could make.
  
  
• Be realistic about your expectations – It is unlikely that you will be happy every day, even if you had your dream job or your dream life. Life is hard and just when you solve your current problems, a whole new batch will crop up. There is no such thing as perfect, but you can be fulfilled most of the time. Living your passion can bring you happiness and a great sense of accomplishment, but there will still be days when you don't want to go to work, when it seems like you aren't getting anywhere and when life stress gets to you. The difference is, when you are doing what you love, it makes all of those things easier to deal with. But don't think that once you accomplish your goal, everything will be perfect. You will be setting yourself up for some disappointment.

If you are stuck in a rut, feeling burned out at work and wondering if this is all there is, it may be time to re-invent yourself and bring some new energy into your life. Remember, it is the journey that is important, not the destination.

Are you feeling like you are stuck? What have you done to re-energize your job search? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Are you looking for a job in the Philadelphia area? Be sure to check out PhillyJobs.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

Coffee Buzz Part One: Gotta Have It

Like one third of all workers I need my morning coffee or I feel useless the rest of the day. A recent study by Dunkin Doughnuts and CareerBuilder discovered coffee is keeping people going as they work late hours and longer shifts.

Younger employees ages 18-24 are especially fond of the brew and tend to treat themselves for a job well done with a cup of coffee. Most coffee drinkers have a second cup at least and they don’t have to go far to find it. Three out of four coffee connoisseurs travel less than a quarter mile to purchase their percolation of preference.

The survey also listed the top occupations of workers with the heaviest habits to be:

1. Nurses


2. Physicians


3. Hotel workers


4. Designers/architects


5. Financial/Insurance sales representatives


6. Food preparers


7. Engineers


8. Teachers


9. Marketing/Public relations professionals


10. Scientists


11. Machine operators


12. Government workers

Not surprisingly doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals rely most heavily on the pick-me-up perks of keeping their cups fresh. Because of this healthcare workers especially need to be aware of how much they are drinking and their routine is turning into a socially acceptable addiction.

I’ll admit it, “Hi, my name is Heather,” I’ve been addicted to coffee. If I missed my morning cup a couple of days I developed an all encompassing migraine. I’d get irritable and sluggish. I was having health problems I didn’t know where they were coming from but didn’t connect it with the coffee.

Some unsuspected side effects of over indulging in coffee can be:

• Increased stomach acid possibly leading to ulcers and acid reflux


• Diarrhea


• High blood pressure


• Aggravated diabetes


• Nervous system issues such as dizziness, restless legs, anxiety


• Susceptibility to cancer

While coffee is known to increase mental speed for tasks like typing and math, it actually decreases motor co-ordination making it more difficult to do things like write or drive. So the momentary rush of productivity might be compromising the quality of the overall effort.

If you think you might be addicted and coffee is compromising your health, follow up next week with some helpful hints to break the habit and healthy alternatives to being a java junkie.

Are you looking for a job in Healthcare? Be sure to visit HealthcareJobsite.

By Heather Fairchild - Heather is a multimedia developer, business owner and a work-from-home mom.

Steps to Re-Invent Yourself and Your Career- Part 1

A close friend of mine was telling me recently about a conversation she had with her mother-in-law. She was telling her about some of the changes she had been making lately in both her appearance and her life. My friend has recently been trying to change some things in order to become the person she wants to be and the changes are just part of the process. Her mother-in-law suggested that perhaps she was going through a mid-life crisis. Of course, only being in her early thirties, this suggestion was met with a great deal of laughter on my friend's part. The truth is, you don't have to wait for a mid-life crisis to re-invent yourself and jump start your life and career. Here are some ways that you can re-invent and recharge yourself, your career or your job search:

• Get to know yourself - Do a self assessment and get in touch with who you are. Determine your values, your goals and what is important to you. Think about what your passion is, what things you would do, even if they didn't earn you a dime. These are the things that make you who you are.
  
  
• Take stock of your skills - List the things that you are good at. All of the skills you have learned through school, on-the-job training, real life experiences or even volunteer work. There are things that you do better than most people, so those are the things you want to be sure to keep in mind.
  
  
• Do your homework - Research what types of things people with your skills and passion can do well. There may be a job that can capitalize on your abilities that ties in with the experience you have. Find out what you would need to do to be in a position to make a change. Will it require some more education? Would you need to expand your professional network? Whatever it is, if you look around and ask questions, you are sure to find the information.
  
  
• Start slow – Change can be scary and a little overwhelming. It is important to take baby steps at first if change is hard for you. Resist the urge to try to change everything at once, because it is a sure way to fail. Just choose a few things to change first. After that, it should become much easier. If you are thinking about a career change, consider doing some freelance work while keeping your current job or doing volunteer work on the weekends. This way you can try it out and learn a little more before jumping in.

If you are stuck in a rut, feeling burned out at work and wondering if this is all there is, it may be time to re-invent yourself and bring some new energy into your life. Remember, it is the journey that is important, not the destination. Stay tuned for Part 2 of this series, with more Steps to Re-Invent Yourself and Your Career.

Are you feeling like you are stuck? What have you done to re-energize your job search? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Are you looking for a job in the Philadelphia area? Be sure to check out PhillyJobs.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

Job Outlook Excellent for Dental Assistants

by Alex A. Kecskes

Even in these hard times, people need dental work. And while you may not have the time or money to become a dentist, you may want to look into becoming a dental assistant.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for dental assistants is expected to grow 36 percent to 2018--much faster than the average for all occupations.

There are a number of reasons for the rising demand in dental assistants: The growing U.S. population, more older people who need dental care, and the increased emphasis on preventative dental care for all ages. Another factor is that retiring dentists who have been working solo will give way to younger ones who like the idea of having an assistant to help them with set ups and scheduling. Today's dental technology is also more advanced, which means dentists will need tech-savvy assistants to help them with complex procedures and equipment.

While entry-level positions will be plentiful, some dentists will want to hire experienced assistants. If you want to enter this profession, you should complete a dental-assisting program and look into your State's requirements for dental assistants.

Standards for dental assistants vary by State. Certification is available through the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB), and is recognized or required in 20 States. Other organizations offer registration, most often at the State level. You can qualify to take the DANB certification examination by graduating from an accredited training program, or by working two years full-time or four years part-time as a dental assistant.

For an added perspective, check out this informative video:

For more information on health careers, visit http://www.healthcarejobsite.com/

Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients.

Flash Opera Surprises Shoppers

It’s a scene straight out of many Christmas movies. Busy customers checking off wish lists as they shop at the elegantly decorated Macy’s Department Store. The presence of the impossibly tall tree bespangled in brilliant blue lights presides from the balcony over the holiday traffic that has hit the sales floor below. Excitement is everywhere as people try on clothing, get a make-over, or snack on cider cookies with their children. Associates attend to everyone’s needs as the Wanamaker Organ pipes Christmas music over the dapper displays.

This particular store happens to be the Macy’s at Center City and on this particular Saturday it was right around lunch time when the organ began to play a little louder. Some people didn’t notice when the volume increased on the four-handed arrangement played by Peter Conte and Fred Haas. Some acted like they didn’t notice but customers were quickly aware something special was going on when 650 vocalists began singing the "Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's Messiah.

Unbeknownst to customers and many Macy employees, 28 groups from the Philadelphia region had secretly gathered a short time before at the old Wanamaker Building's Greek Hall. Organized by the Opera Company of Philadelphia they practiced the piece before slipping in with the public and performing flash mob style in a “random act of culture”.

The Opera Company posted a video of the happening on You Tube where it has received hundreds of thousands of hits and is accompanied by suggestions for dozens of multiple perspectives shot by participants and people in the crowd. This was the second event the company has staged, the first being a rendition of "Brindisi" from La Traviata at the Reading Terminal Market in April. "This isn't about audience development per se, it isn't about harnessing new technology per se – they are collateral benefits," said Opera Company of Philadelphia executive director David B. Devan. "What is at the heart of this is bringing joy into people's lives with the widest platform possible."

With a little planning and a $30,000 grant from the Knight Foundation’s Random Acts of Culture Program, there will be more fine art mobs popping up in the Philadelphia area between now and June. The details are under wraps but if you’re out and about when it happens next, feel free to sing along.

Ready to supercharge your job search? Visit PhillyJobs.com.

By Heather Fairchild - Heather is a multimedia developer, business owner and work-from-home mom.

Some Of the Top Jobs in Healthcare- There is Something for Everyone

There are many people who, while they are very interested in the healthcare field, just can't stand the site of blood and for whom the idea of several more years of training seem impossible. But, with healthcare being one of the few industries that is actually growing during this tough economic time, there are positions for all sorts of people.

It doesn't matter what part of the field you are interested in, there are still jobs that could be a good fit. Here are a few of the top jobs in the healthcare field.

1. Physician's Assistant- It generally takes about two years of training at an accredited school to qualify to be a Physician's Assistant. You do have to take a national licensing exam before you can go to work. Typically, a Physician's Assistant handles a small part of the patient's exam for the doctor. An assistant is the person who you first meet when you are waiting for the doctor. They take your history and ask you some basic questions so that everything will be in place when the doctor sees you.
   
   
2. Medical Records Technicians- This position requires at least an associate's degree with an emphasis in science and medicine. These people keep your medical records together and they are responsible for handling any x-rays, blood test results or other information the physician's office receives from other doctors and specialists and keeping the records all together.
   
   
3. Medical Transcription- To work in this field, you would need to have some sort of training in medical transcription. Typically, this training can happen at a community college, a career training center or even distance learning program. People who work in this field type out reports from the doctors in order to be placed in a patient's medical record. Doctors prefer to dictate their notes into a recorder and let the transcriptionist type and format the record of the visit and doctor's opinion.

There are so many ways that you can work in the healthcare field without having to get a medical degree or deal with blood, that there is sure to be something that would make excellent use of your particular skills and talents. Take a look.

Are you looking for a job in Healthcare? Be sure to visit HealthcareJobsite.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

Freelancing: Can you gig it?

In certain lines of work, one can manage to put together a living by stringing together assignments for various individual clients or companies. Writing is one of those lines. Just about every industry produces written materials, often distinguished more by quantity than quality, which makes good writers an in-demand item. And many good writers find freelancing - a term that comes to us from medieval times, when some knights unattached to a lord offered their services to anyone willing to pay for them - a highly satisfying way to make a living.

Most industries don't need a lot of writers most of the time, and probably need good ones even less often. That's where freelancers come in. A business may seek a freelance writer to handle a specific project, like a report, presentation or company history, or fill a temporary need. Hiring a freelancer saves the business overhead costs.

Freelancing isn't just for writers, either. These days, freelance and contract work abounds in a variety of fields, from office administration to software development. Sales, marketing, public relations, and almost anything having to do with technology are all fields where freelancers can flourish.

Freelancing has its attractions for the worker as well. Some of the chief ones are:

• the ability to set one's own work schedule and pace


• the ability to work at home or offsite


• the ability to pick and choose your work, especially once one is well known and established

There are also costs associated with freelancing. Among those:

• the need to continually find and land projects in many cases


• the lack of fringe benefits or unemployment insurance


• the need to function as your own accountant, bill collector, and tax accountant, if handling finances doesn't float your boat

But for millions of Americans, the attractions of freelancing are worth the costs. A number of websites make the job of finding freelance projects easier than it used to be; of these, Elance is one of the more freelancer-friendly, as it is set up to handle one of the most important issues freelancers face: getting paid promptly.

If the search for steady, full-time employment has proved less than satisfying for you, you might want to consider going the freelance work. But give it some thought before you jump in: It's not for everyone, but it might be for you.

Of course, if you really want something more dependable, you'll find it on PhillyJobs.com.

By Sandy Smith

Sandy Smith is an award-winning writer and editor who has spent most of his career in public relations and corporate communications. His work has appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia CityPaper, PGN, and a number of Web sites. Philly-area residents may also recognize him as "MarketStEl" of discussion-board fame. He has been a part of the great reserve army of freelance writers since January 2009 and is actively seeking opportunities wherever they may lie.

Humanoid Robots Double as Therapists, Playmates for Autistic Kids

by Alex A. Kecskes

Today, one in 110 children are diagnosed with autism. Regrettably, there simply aren't enough therapists to address their needs. So researchers at the University of Southern California are developing humanoid therapists to help these underserved children connect more socially with people.

The child-friendly humanoid robot—known as Bandit—doubles as therapist and playmate to kids with autism. Bandit can be programmed to perform simple facial expressions and movements. Plans are to empower the robot to make complex decisions in response to a child’s behavior. The goal is to draw socially detached kids into simple games, like Simon Says and, ultimately, to enable autistic children to engage in social activities with people.

Bandit sports two-wheels for mobility, large eyes to entice children, and is roughly the size of a child. Infrared sensors and cameras help guide Bandit's movements. Should a child back away, Bandit knows to stop moving and use a “come-here” gesture.

Researchers insist that Bandit is simply a "catalyst for social interaction.” Experiments with 15 autistic children, most between five and nine years old, revealed that the interactions kids had with Bandit averaged about five minutes. While these episodes aren't long enough to produce permanent behavioral changes, many children became more sociable, and more vocal in the presence of Bandit. This is supported by increasing evidence that autistic kids respond more naturally to machines than they do to people. Autism experts believe that robots, computers and electronic gadgets appeal to these children because, unlike people, the devices exhibit predictable behaviors.

For an added perspective, check out the video, Bandit

For more information on health careers, visit http://www.healthcarejobsiteblog.com/

Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients.

How to avoid wasting food: Is this still edible?

Mold. At the first sign of it I tend to throw food out… unless I convince myself that I feel bad for letting it mold (beause it was either expensive or delicious), in which case I put it back in the fridge and hope that magic food fairies will come and fix it so that I can eat it and get my money’s worth.

On fridge clean out day, I always cringe at the sight of the half-full garbage bag filled with spoiled and unwanted food. Am I wasting food items that don’t necessarily need to be wasted?

This article on Boing Boing caught my eye: When is it OK to eat moldy food?

The USDA (that’s the United States Department of Agriculture, not the United Square Dancers of America, of course) recently did a study on moldy foods and released the Safe Food Handling fact sheet.

Surprise, surprise — in the end they do recommend throwing out most moldy foods. But the advice within the chart for how to salvage other foods is great!

Generally I live by the “if it smells bad or feels slimey, I won’t eat it” rule but after reading the chart I’ll never eat a moldy dollop of sour cream again. (Bleh!)

Be sure to check it out for yourself, you scrape-it-off-the-top types.


By: Bambi Blue

Bambi Blue is a freelance writer, editor, and codemonkey living in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She moonlights as a jazz musician, a social butterfly, and most apparently a weisenheimer. Loves to cook, hates to clean, and can easily be found on Twitter.

Protect Your Online Privacy- Part 2

At the beginning of this series, we were talking about the importance of protecting your privacy and being thoughtful about what information you choose to share on social networking sites. It is interesting to note that Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and CEO of Facebook was recently embarrassed when some instant messages he sent to a friend were made public. I can't post them here, due to some questionable language, but in the messages he openly brags about how much information he has on people. When the other person asked him how he got all that information, he says that they "trust him" and he goes on to make a derogatory comment about how stupid the people are for trusting him with their information. I think that says a lot about how he feels about protecting the security and privacy of user's information.

There is this persistent illusion of trust that happens on the internet. There are a few things that you need to know about the companies you give your information to:

• They do not have your best interests in mind- Companies that collect and store your information aren't looking after you, they are trying to make money. When you connect to other sites with your Facebook or other social networking account, you are letting them follow you around and take notes.
  
  
• You are creating a record- It becomes easy to find out more about who someone is when they are connecting their shopping, web surfing, reading and video renting habits to one social networking site. This record then follows you around and could easily be misused. Things that don't seem like they are that important can be misused by someone who doesn't like you. It isn't hard to take some information and re-frame it in a way that make you look bad. And you would have no recourse.
  
  
• When you post information, you give away the rights to it- Take a look at Facebook's privacy policy and read through all 5,830 words. You will be shocked to find out that although the service is free, you have given Facebook the rights to all information you post, and pictures or other media you publish, the sites you connect with. All of it. Once you post it, you can delete it from your profile, but they still own it. Forever.

My point is this, be careful when you post information online. Social networking can be an invaluable business tool and a it can be a great way to interact with your friends. Just, don't let yourself be blinded by the shiny pages and easy to click buttons. Just like you wouldn't go up to a stranger in the supermarket and tell them your full name, give them your cell number, pictures of your kids, your address and tell them about your week long vacation and when you are leaving, you shouldn't do it online. Protect your privacy in the digital world just as diligently as you would in the face to face world.

Are you looking for a job in the Philadelphia area? Check out PhillyJobs.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

Shop smarter for Scrubs

How many sets of scrubs do you own? If you’re just starting out in the health care field, likely you have a few pairs that you wore to school. The longer you’ve been in and the more liberally the dress code’s been enforced, the larger the uniform section in your closet.

If this is the first job you’ve had you’ll want to start out with 2 sets ready to go and the money saved to purchase another one when you land your job. Different offices may require different kinds of scrubs. A pediatrician may feel that a conglomeration of colorful cartoon character clad employees adds an edge when dealing with children.

However the optometrist might prefer his staff to stick to navy blue to keep it professional. No point in shelling out the extra cash for a top with your favorite toon until you know you’ll actually be able to wear it to work. Nobody there would be able to see who it was anyway. Licensed character designs are often more expensive options over solids in general. Wait until you’ve gotten a pay check or two before you treat yourself.

If you find out you’ll be limited to one or two hues to choose from you won’t have wasted any money; sometimes the office might buy scrubs in bulk and offer you a discount. In larger health care settings there is the possibility of a service which provides uniforms and launders them for the company.

Likely you’ll be buying your own and you can spend a little or a lot depending on how you buy them. Here are some suggestions:

Nothing’s cheaper than free

• Check out the free section on Craigslist




• Ask someone who has worked in healthcare for hand me downs




• Sew your own from a set of sheets

Sniff out a bargain

• Thrift stores often have a selection of used scrubs, watch for stains or pilling and you can find some nice deals



• Check out church bazaars too, you’re more likely to find a selection there than running to different yard sales



• Shop at the close out stores, places like Big Lots or Ollie’s Bargain Outlet have brand new threads that are closer to second hand prices

Go in together

• Organize a swap meet where other healthcare workers can trade uniforms, any leftovers can be donated



• Talk to your co workers about buying scrubs in bulk be the one to organize it in your office and your new boss might notice the initiative you’re taking.
  

Are you looking for a job in Health Care? Take a look at HealthCareJobSite.

By Heather Fairchild

Protect Your Online Privacy- It's More Important Than You Think- Part 1

I have written many articles about social networking in order to build a larger professional network and also to help you find a new job. And it's true. Thoughtful and appropriate use of social networking sites can help you in your job search in many ways. But, it is also important to understand that even though it seems like you are posting information to share with your friends, you are posting it to share with the world.

Protecting your privacy while you are online is a cause that I am passionate about. I have written about it so much that I feel like I am the creepy old dude holding the sign that says “The End is Nigh”. Nevertheless, it is true. We protect our privacy during face to face interactions with all sorts of people, but carelessly disregard it when we use our mobile phones or connect to social media sites.

Information that you post to these sites is available to anyone who cares to look for it. This information, that we can all be so careless with, can damage our life, our careers and our families.

If you think that I am exaggerating or being overly cautious, take a look at OpenBook. Try searching for things like “my number is” and see how many people have their home phone numbers posted for the whole world to see. Not afraid yet? Try searching for “I'm going on vacation” followed by the name of your city. From there, it is just a Google search to find a telephone and address listing to determine which houses are going to be vacant. If you look just a little closer at the person's Facebook photos, you can probably even find pictures of their home's layout and the items they have inside. It is a full color catalog.

Of course, I am not encouraging you to rob people. I am trying to demonstrate how important it is to keep your personal information off of social networking sites. When you use these sites, it is important that you either keep it strictly business or keep it impersonal. If you want to share personal information or pictures of your kids with your friends, consider emailing them.

Protecting your information is crucial. To find out more, look for Part 2 of this series, which will give you the real truth about the companies you are trusting with your information.

Are you looking for a job in the Philadelphia area? Check out PhillyJobs.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

Changing Role of School Nurses

by Alex A. Kecskes

School nurses do more than dispense aspirin or slap Band-Aids on skinned knees. Among the many challenges they face is an epidemic of childhood obesity, which continues to threaten the health of children and adolescents.

School nurses must identify individual students at risk for obesity through careful BMI (Body Mass Index) screening and to develop intervention programs that promote healthful eating.

In addition, school nurses are tasked with implementing a number of programs in health instruction and to "enroll" both student and parent to achieve positive changes in health behavior. This may include changes in school lunch and breakfast programs as well as healthful snack options being offered at the school. It may also include programs during recess that promote healthful exercise to keep children active. Some specific steps taken by school nurses may include:

• Screen students for height, weight and BMI-for-age
• Use the CDC growth charts to record BMI-for-age
• Educate parents about BMI
• Maintain students’ confidentiality
• Counsel parents and students in health planning
• Provide resources for students, families and staff to promote nutrition and physical activity
• Encourage school boards to provide only nutritional foods for school meals and snacks
• Educate the PTO and other after school entities to discourage the serving of foods of limited nutritional value
• Discourage the marketing of poor nutritional value foods on school premises
• Provide health education materials to the school community to foster the concept of fitness and good nutrition
• Improve students' accessibility to fresh fruits and vegetables

For an added perspective, check out the video, The Life of a School Nurse? Busy.

On a personal note, I have noticed fewer candy bar and soft drink vending machines at schools in my neighborhood. Back when I went to school, vending machines dispensed apples, oranges, milk and orange juice.

For more information on health careers, visit http://www.healthcarejobsite.com/

Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients.

AmerisourceBergen profitable, stable and hiring

Drug distribution company AmerisourceBergen Corp. in Valley Forge, PA reported an 8.5 percent rise in the 4th quarter over last year’s numbers. Stocks are up 6 cents per share to 50 cents and revenue topped out at $19.72 billion from $18.72 billion. The steady demand of the pharmaceutical industry has kept the budget in tact at the Fortune 500 Company but they attribute this quarter’s growth to generic drugs and specialty pharmaceuticals and services.

As a result of the 2001 AmeriSource Health Corporation and Bergen Brunswig Corporation merger, AmerisourceBergen was formed. Currently, it has locations in United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

The company website lists as their mission:

To build shareholder value by delivering pharmaceutical and healthcare products, services and solutions in innovative and cost effective ways. We will realize this mission by setting the highest standards in service, reliability, safety and cost containment in our industry.

They handle about 20% of all of the pharmaceuticals sold and distributed throughout the US. With over 1 million square feet of packaging production capacity in the US and UK alone as well as offering healthcare providers and pharmaceutical manufacturers a variety of related services, AmerisourceBergen Corp employs over 10,000 associates. At present there are 45 current openings in Valley Forge and there are internships available.

Current and former employees appreciate the security in their jobs as the company continues to grow. They say benefits are good, vacation time is comparable and speak well of their coworkers capabilities. It seems one of the most popular perks is a well stocked break room where employees enjoy free soft drinks.

However, they warn that it is very old fashioned atmosphere and might not be a good fit for highly creative types. Multiple comments on Glassdoor.com mention running into the “this is the way we’ve always done it” when approaching management with innovative new ideas. They also feel it can be difficult to advance when promotions are filled before they are posted.

All in all though prospects look bright for AmerisourceBergen, its subsidiaries and employees as the new fiscal year begins. I’m sure they will be celebrating with lots of complimentary beverages!

Ready to supercharge your job search? Visit PhillyJobs.com.

By Heather Fairchild - Heather is a multimedia developer, business owner and work-from-home mom.

No More Toys For Happy Meals

So, for San Francisco residents, it is the end of an era. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors have recently voted to ban McDonald's Happy Meals, at least in the traditional form. The new ordinance will ban restaurants from offering toys along with meals that contain over 600 calories, and more that 35% of the calories coming from fat. Additionally, the meals must include a fruit or vegetable.

This new ordinance is especially problematic for McDonalds, because a typical Happy Meal (cheeseburger, small fries and a Sprite) contains about 640 calories. According to a spokesperson for McDonald”s:

"We are extremely disappointed with this decision," company spokeswoman Danya Proud said in a statement. "It's not what our customers want, nor is it something they asked for."

McDonald's is concerned because the type of meal that would be required in order to comply with the ordinance is not the sort of meal that most kids want or expect from a fast food restaurant. But to the city, that is the point. Their goal is to encourage healthy eating habits and to prevent rewarding children for bad habits.

While I can understand the intention behind such a ruling, I don't think that it is going to accomplish anything more that lessening children's joy. Most children I know would opt to forgo the toy in order to have their chicken nuggets and french fries. Many fast food restaurants have started offering healthier side options to replace the french fries in their kids meals , even though most kids still want the fries.

What do you think about this attempt to encourage healthier eating habits? Let me know in the comments.

Are you looking for a job in Health Care? Take a look at HealthCareJobSite.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

Unemployment Benefits Running out!

Well, the elections are over now and, depending upon your view, you are either very happy or very sad! However, if you are one of the millions still unemployed, you have to be terrified!

Now that the votes have been counted, the Republicans have the majority in the House. What does this mean? Well, the Republican’s platform on this particular election was that their goal was to cut the national budget deficit. They have already rejected several attempts at extending unemployment benefits past the 99 weeks that were already approved. For most of the unemployed, benefits will run out at the end of November!

Wow – that’s still almost a month away you are thinking. Why should we worry about it now? Well, actually, Congress does not return to the business at hand until November 15th. Then, of course, 10 days later (8 working days), we have the Thanksgiving holiday. When they return on the 29th that only gives them an additional two days to pass an extension for unemployment benefits. Only ten working days to resolve an issue that took them 51 days to resolve back in May. If an extension is not passed, millions of Americans could stop receiving support as early as 4 December.

Lloyd Cope of Gather.com asked the following questions: “Did the American electorate overwhelmingly vote against their own self interests in last week’s election?” “Would denying further unemployment benefits to millions of American increase the poverty rate in the US?” Both good questions!!!

As the newly elected officials wrap things up in their current positions and get ready to start their new positions, do you think that they are thinking about your dilemma? Not likely! But you can change that. You can make sure that the ONLY thing they are thinking about is extending your benefits. What can you do? Call your representative. Write to them. Email them. Contact them through social networks. Whatever it takes to get their attention and bring your situation right to the forefront.

There’s not much time so action is required TODAY if you hope to continue receiving your unemployment benefits! Although our President is doing everything he can to try to push through an extension for you, he can’t do it alone! It doesn’t matter what your political affiliations are. What matters is that we are all in this together! President Obama needs you to take action today to protect your interests tomorrow!!!!

Are you in danger of losing your benefits? Let me know in the comments section!

By: Nancy Anderson, Staff Writer