William and Kate Soon to be Parents

by Alex A. Kecskes

If you’re an obstetrics nurse or aspire to be one, you’ve got to be envious of William and Kate’s OB nurse. He or she will be the first to see Kate's ultrasound, listen to her baby's heartbeat, and help bring her baby into the world.

Is Kate really expecting? The clues are unmistakable: Kate’s glowing countenance, a certain motherly look, a stomach rub, and her refusal to eat peanut paste (which may be harmful to pregnant women). Yes, the Duchess of Cambridge has a “bun in oven” and tabloids are abuzz with headlines confirming the good news.

The 29-year-old queen to be is about 6 weeks along. And not too soon for Queen Elizabeth II, who has been tossing out hint after hint about wanting a great-grandchild and an heir to the throne. Even before they tied the knot, it was made clear that raising a family was a duty expected of the royals.

The happy couple have been going through names for their first-born, whether they’re hoping for a boy or girl and plans for the nursery. Current preparations include three nursery sites: one in their current London residence, Nottingham Cottage, another in their home in Wales and a third in Kensington Palace.

Names being considered include Edward, Philip and Michael for a boy, and Alice or Rose for a girl. It’s been reported that William is hoping for a girl, since his father, Prince Charles, would like a granddaughter.

OB nurses help doctors in caring for pregnant women and in the delivery of babies. They typically work in the labor and delivery department of hospitals, health clinics or doctors' offices. Obstetrics nurses make up a team of caregivers who provide for the needs of infants and mothers.

For an added perspective, check out this video:

If you have any thoughts on pursuing an obstetrics career, feel free to share them in the comments section.

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. Please see more of his blogs and view additional job postings on Beyond.com.

Many States Suffer Severe Nursing Shortage

by Alex A. Kecskes

The country as a whole suffers from a shortage of registered nurses. But if you’re an experienced RN, your job skills and training are badly needed in some states more than others.

According to a recent Health Resources and Services Administration study, the national average of nurses (792 nurses per 100,000) fluctuates widely by state. For example, the District of Columbia has the highest number of registered nurses--2,236 registered nurses per 100,000 population. Next is New Hampshire, which has 1,321 nurses per 100,000. The states with the least nurses are Idaho, Nevada, California, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma. The state of California fared worst with only 603 nurses per 100,000, followed by Nevada with just 612 nurses per 100,000.

The World Health Organization recommends that any locality have a least 1000 nurses per 100,000 population. That said, there are a number of developing countries that are severely understaffed with just 10 nurses per 100,000 population.

If you’re a nurse or presently studying to become a nurse, you might consider moving to a state where nurses are desperately needed. Hospitals and healthcare centers in these underserved areas would more than likely offer far more attractive incentives for qualified applicants. Some of these employers might even offer lucrative relocation assistance and tuition reimbursement plans.

At Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles, for example, qualified nurses are being offered high pay, big incentives, and a generous relocation program. One nursing package includes a $10,000 sign-on bonus, $1,500 monthly housing allowance and a $5,000 relocation package.

For an added perspective, check out this video:

If you have any thoughts on the nursing shortage in your state, feel free to share them in the comments section.

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. Please see more of his blogs and view additional job postings on Beyond.com.

Want a Career in Bariatric Nursing? Get Certified

by Alex A. Kecskes

The growing numbers of Americans who have become dangerously obese has given rise to a proliferation of bariatric procedures. Assisting surgeons with these procedures are bariatric nurses, skilled professionals who will be in demand in this decade and the beyond.

If you want to join the ranks of bariatric nursing, you’ll need to go through the certification program for bariatric nurses administered by the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

If you’re already an RN with a valid license and you have at least two years of experience in caring for morbidly obese and bariatric surgery patients, you can take the Certified Bariatric Nurse (CBN) examination.

The week-long, computer-based testing program covers clinical management, multidisciplinary team collaboration, communication and outreach, and leadership in program administration. The program culminates with the CBN exam. Pass the exam and you can carry the CBN designation after your name for four years before you need to renew it.

The most common bariatric procedures include gastric bypass, adjustable gastric band and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. Many of these are minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures.

ASMBS is dedicated to advancing the quality of care and ethical treatment of the obese and those with obesity-related and metabolic diseases. It educates both consumers and health professionals about the dangers of obesity, as well as the risks and benefits of bariatric surgery. Their goal is to develop high quality standards and practices that lead to improved patient outcomes.

For an added perspective, check out this video:

If you have any thoughts on bariatric nursing, feel free to share them in the comments section.

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. Please see more of his blogs and view additional job postings on 12.

Getting that First Job in Healthcare

by Alex A. Kecskes

The bad news: The nation's unemployment rate remained stubbornly high at 9.1 percent. The good news: The healthcare sector added 29,700 jobs in August, and over 205,100 new jobs in the first eight months of 2011. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, hospitals added 7,700 new jobs in August, 11,000 new jobs in July, and 52,600 new jobs in 2011. The good news continues for doctors’ offices, which added 5,600 jobs in August and 30,600 new jobs in 2011.

If you’re considering a career in healthcare, things are not as dismal as they are often portrayed in the media. Yes, the competition is fierce for high-paying healthcare jobs, but there are things you can do to put the odds of landing a job in your favor.

Some suggestions:

Stay in School. If you’re in a regular college, finish that Associates or Bachelors Degree in nursing, physical therapy or pre-med. If you’re in a private college, hang in there and get your nursing or healthcare certificate.

Join Healthcare Organizations & Groups. These can help launch your healthcare career. Organizations like the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Organization offers support, advice, networking events and job finding strategies for women in healthcare. For nurses, there are a number of social networking sites you might consider joining. These include Nurse.com and Nurse Together, which offer advice, education and forums for nurses, nursing students and anyone considering a career in nursing.

Do Volunteer Work. If you have the time in your schedule, do some healthcare volunteer work to get real world experience. This is also good for networking and connecting with supervisors who may be able to help you land a full-time paid position. Check out sites like HealthCare Volunteer.

For an added perspective on volunteering, check out this video:

If you have any thoughts or suggestions about finding a job in healthcare, feel free to share them in the comments section.

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. Please see more of his blogs and view additional job postings on Beyond.com.