Parsnips are a great addition to any vegetable dish.
Chopped root vegetables such as carrots, potatoes and parsnips add color, texture and rich flavor to any stew. The parsnip is a hardy plant with a long, slender taproot that can reach up to a foot in length. Skin color varies among different types of parsnip, but the inner flesh is a consistent creamy white. Though it is available year round, October and May are its peak production months. Like other root vegetables, the parsnip is simple to clean and prepare for use. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Instructions
1. Wash your parsnips thoroughly under a cool running faucet. Rub away any dirt or stuck-on leaves using a plastic bristled scrub brush.
2. Lay the parsnips on your cutting board and align the heads of the vegetables, where the foliage protrudes. Place the blade of your dicing knife just below the head of the parsnips and apply firm downward pressure to remove the foliage.
3. Cut the narrow end of the taproot away from the parsnip. As a general rule, cut the taproot when it reaches about a 1/2 inch in width.
4. Square the parsnip by shearing away the circular outsides of the vegetable with your dicing knife. The edges need not be perfectly straight.
5. Start from one side of the squared parsnip and begin cutting thin sections, also called planks, from the vegetable. Continue until the entire vegetable is cut into planks.
6. Stack the planks and cut into thinner strips if desired. To dice the parsnips, align the blade so that it is perpendicular to the thinner strips. Make repetitive cuts along the length of the strips until the entire parsnip is diced.
Tags: dicing knife, root vegetables, thinner strips, until entire, your dicing
Top performers generally command higher salaries; however, if they are new to your organization, you don't yet have knowledge of just how well they will perform. Granted, techniques that recruiters and hiring managers use glean useful information from candidates about past performance but there's no way to tell how their skills and performance will transfer to your organization. Therefore, it's prudent to negotiate starting salaries based not on past performance but on the promise of successful performance and on your organization's established compensation and benefits structure.
Instructions
1. Obtain compensation data from your company's files. Generate an employee census report; sort the data by position or occupation, start date and salary. Review historical data about current employees' salary increases and former employees' salaries and increases. For example, if your company routinely gives cost of living increases or salary increases based on performance ratings, this information should become part of the information you assemble to start your starting salary negotiations. Obtain a copy of your organization's compensation budget figures and projections.
2. Access online resources to research compensation data for comparable positions. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes data on thousands of occupations. You can set parameters for your search on salary and wage data according to geographic region. Sites such as Salary.com and Glassdoor.com also have salary information. Be sure the salary information you obtain from non-governmental or unofficial sources is reliable. Compensation and benefits consulting firms typically publish annual salary surveys you can use to support your recommendation for a starting salary.
3. Review the job description for the position that's the subject of your negotiations. Obtain copies of the prospective employee's application documents, including her resume, salary history and other materials that will help you justify the company's position on a starting salary. Schedule a meeting with the prospective employee. Inform her that the purpose of your meeting is to negotiate her starting salary. In all likelihood, she will bring materials she believes are useful to salary negotiations.
4. Engage in a friendly conversation with the prospective employee. Inform him of the starting salary for the position you consider acceptable. Don't start with a salary amount that's lower than the rate at which you would typically start employees in the same job. Just because you are negotiating the starting salary doesn't mean you should low-ball the candidate. In addition, if you offer a salary that's lower than the amount for similarly situated employees, you could expose the company to liability based on pay discrimination. Start with the salary amount you normally would for someone in the same job.
5. Jot down the prospective employee's counteroffers. Write down comments about preferred benefits such as health care, parking, stock options, income protection vehicles and other perks. Compare his list of desired benefits and compare them to any concessions you're willing to consider. Entertain only negotiation amounts that are reasonable and amounts that are close to the base salary for that position. If required, suggest slight increases based on mutual agreement to demonstrate strong performance and concessions the prospective employee is willing to consider regarding company benefits.
6. Initiate two-way dialogue about factors that impact future salary increases, such as performance appraisals, salary adjustments based on temporary and acting leadership roles, differential pay for shift work or work that requires flexibility and on-call status. Explain the reason why salary differentials can increase the employee's pay. Describe the compensation and benefits structure concerning employee tenure, incentives for special assignments and the company's practices concerning regular wage increases.
An X-ray technician is a professional who performs diagnostic testing, using radioactive energy to take pictures of the interior anatomical structures of patients. The average starting pay for X-ray technicians varies based upon their education, any certifications they have in the field, and where they live.
Average Range
In December 2009, the average hourly wage for X-ray technicians with less than one year of experience ranged from $11 to $19.47, according to Payscale.com. Based on a 40-hour work week, that translates to roughly $22,880 to $40,497 per year.
Education
X-ray technicians with Associates of Applied Science degrees earned the highest average starting pay rates at $17.90 in December 2009, reports Payscale.com. Community and junior colleges offer Associates of Applied Science degree programs for X-ray technicians, which typically require two years of study to complete.
Certification
X-ray technicians who held mammography radiology technologist certifications from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) earned the highest average starting wages at $24.03 per hour, while those with ARRT computerized tomography certification received above average starting wages as well at $20.03 per hour, according to December 2009 reporting on Payscale.com. Both certifications require technicians to pass a series of written examinations offered by the AART.
Geography
In December 2009, average starting pay rates for X-ray technicians were highest in the state of New York at $23.99 per hour, according to Payscale.com. Other high paying states for X-ray technicians include Illinois, Michigan and California.
Employers
As of December 2009, non-profit organizations and hospitals paid the highest average hourly starting rates for X-ray technicians at $17.00 and $16.71, according to Indeed.com.
Tags: X-ray technicians, average starting, December 2009, highest average, starting rates
A tumor is an abnormal mass of tissue that can be benign or malignant. Benign tumors can sometimes be ignored, reduced or removed. The growth of a tissue mass is the result of progressive multiplication of cell that serves no physiological function, such as a neoplasm. Many tumors are not made of cancer cells.
Types
A benign mixed tumor is the most common tumor of the parotid gland in adults which is located in and around the mouth and throat. A Warthin's Tumor (papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum) occurs most often in the tail end of the parotid gland of white, middle aged males. According to Robert L. Hatch, MD, a Warthin's tumor is the only benign tumor associated with smoking.
The most common benign neck tumor in children is the hemangioma. Hemangionas are tumors of the blood vessels and not life threatening. Richard J. Antaya, MD, claims this condition begins in the third trimester of gestation and in thirty percent of cases the tumor(s) are present at birth. The other seventy percent will appear in the first several weeks of life. The incidence of a hemangioma becoming malignant is extremely rare.
A lipoma is a common benign tumor of fat tissue that can occur anywhere on the body, most are under the skin. Benign nerve tumors, such as neurogibromas, schwannomas and neuromas occur most often in the upper arms and neck. Although these tumors begin as benign, they can become malignant. "See reference 3"
Discovery
In most cases, there are no symptoms when the mass is benign. Most commonly, a lump is discovered while washing, shaving or scratching an itch. A physical exam most often reveals a single mass that is solid, mobile and is not tender when pushed on.
Diagnosis
A CT scan is nearly 100 percent accurate in detecting a gland mass, but cannot distinguish between benign and malignant. It is mostly used to determine the size and extent of a tumor. An MRI provides a greater contrast than a CT scan, thus it is better at determining benign tumors. A thin needle aspiration is recommended for biopsy because an incision type biopsy commonly leads to spreading of benign tumors.
Treatment
Common treatment is a complete excision of the tumor with a margin of surrounding tissue along with facial nerve dissection, when necessary. Removal of the tumor is generally curative for all benign lesions.
Complications
Although some hemangiomas in children may disappear without treatment, in some cases, results of a hemangioma excision of the parotid tumor may require several grafts to repair soft tissue damage, depending on the size and location of the tumor. The most common complication is facial nerve damage.
Tags: most common, most often, benign malignant, Benign Neck, Benign Neck Tumors
Coordinating breathing and the forward pull is the most important skill in freestyle swimming. Done correctly, this technique improves speed and endurance, as you take a full, deep breath every third stroke. Concentration and coordination are required in the beginning, but with practice, the technique becomes second nature.
Instructions
1. Enter the shallow end of the swimming pool and face a wall. Hold on the wall with both hands and use a flotation aid to hold your legs up so that your body is flat in the water. Select an area without too much activity, so that you can focus.
2. Rotate your arms in the freestyle swimming stroke at moderate pace, keeping your head out the water and facing forward. With a flotation device, you can keep your legs still. Without one, kick your legs just enough to keep your body afloat.
3. Count three strokes and take a breath. Put your face in the water and blow out the air while moving your arms in the freestyle stroke while counting the stokes. At the third stroke, rotate your head so that your ear is flush with your upper arm.
4. Take a breath and return your face into the water, while still counting your strokes. At the third stroke, rotate your head so that your ear is flush with your upper arm. You should now be facing the opposite direction of the first breath.
5. Focus on your breathing pace and make sure you take a deep enough breath.
There should be no pause in forward motion when you turn your head while breathing.
6. Repeat these steps for 10 minutes and then let go of the wall and swim a length of front crawl, using the breathing on the pull stroke technique. Keep a steady pace and don't rush the intake breath. Make sure to take a full breath and blow it all out underwater.
Tags: your head, that your, third stroke, your legs, arms freestyle, flush with
Herniated discs, muscle strains and degenerating spine nerves can cause back pain. Significant weight gain and hormonal shifts can also contribute to the discomfort. Physicians and lay persons continue to create and find medications and therapies that will alleviate back pain. Lidoderm is a medicine provides relief from spinal and related muscle pain.
About Lidoderm
Lidoderm is an adhesive patch that contains 5% lidocaine. The medication gives users relief from back pain caused for a myriad of reasons including herpetic neuralgia (PHN). The drug is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for pain associated with PHN. Ingredients in the drug include gelatin, kaolin, dihydroxyaluminum aminoacetate, edetate, glycerin, sodium polyacrylate, D-sorbitol, tartaric acid, and urea. The FDA approved the usage of three Lidoderm patches within a span of 24-hours. The medicated patch works its way beneath epidermal and dermal layers of the user's skin. Because the medication penetrates the skin, Lidoderm patches should only be applied to areas of your skin that have no breaks or cuts.
Back Pain Causes
Back pain can strike people of all ages, cultures and walks of life. You might begin to experience back pain as you age, if you gain a significant amount of weight, become pregnant, do a lot of heavy lifting, smoke, fail to give yourself regular exercise or as a result of other pre-existing illnesses like arthritis, endometriosis or fibromyalgia. Genetics can cause back pain directly related to disc disease. The discomfort can be mild or sharp and can start suddenly or increase in severity over time. Many people begin to feel pain in their back when they reach their late 30s or 40s. Poor diet can prevent your back from receiving adequate nutrients to keep the discs in your back strong. Prolonged stress can cause your muscles to tighten or tense up which, over time, can cause significant discomfort.
Joint Pain
Lidoderm requires a written physician's prescription before you can use the medication. Your doctor might prescribe the drug for pain relief if you have shingles on your back or if you are experiencing joint back pain. The lidocaine patches numb the pain in your back and are applied over the affected area for 12 hour time periods. Lidoderm has low incidences of interfering with other medicines that users might be taking and is a non-narcotic drug.
Application
Examine the area of your back where you plan to apply the patch. Make sure that the area is clean and clear of bruises, blisters or cuts. Open the package. Take out three patches. You must remember to close the package because if the package is left open, the remaining patches might begin to dry out. If needed, cut the patches so that they are shaped to easily fit over the area you want to treat. After you peel the liner off the back of the patch, apply the patch to your skin. It's important to wash your hands after each application and to avoid reusing a patch.
Side Effects
As with many medications, Lidoderm can cause side effects. You might experience burning, redness or swelling on the part of your skin where you applied the patch. These are considered mild side effects. More serious side effects include shallow or uneven breathing, nausea, dizziness, skin itching, hives or fainting. If you experience any side effects with the medication, remove and stop using the path. Contact your physician.
Tags: your back, back pain, side effects, your skin, About Lidoderm
The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body. It is located in the heel, where the heel and the calf bone connect, and is named after a Greek mythological character Achilles whose only spot of vulnerability was in his heel. The Achilles tendon can withstand up to 1,000 pounds of force, but it is still the most frequently ruptured tendon in the body.
Heel Pain
When you walk, the heel is the first part of the foot to touch the ground, so it sustains a great deal of pressure. Every mile a person walks puts approximately 60 tons of stress on the foot. Excess amounts of stress, caused by over-exertion or other improper athletic behavior, can cause pain in the Achilles heel. Typically, resting to minimize the stress will resolve the problem of pain in the Achilles tendon, but there are two common conditions that require intervention by a physician: tendinitis (which is the most common Achilles heel problem) and Retrocalcaneal Bursitis.
Achilles Tendonitis
Tendinitis is the most common cause of Achilles heel pain. It is typically the result of a rapid increase in speed of running or length of running. It may also occur if you begin to run without properly warming up and stretching the tendon, or if you run up an incline like stairs or a hill.
Symptoms of Achilles Tendonitis
Tendonitis has certain symptoms that distinguish it from other Achilles tendon injuries, such as a simple sprain or retrocalcaneal brusitis. Specific symptoms associated with tendonitis include a sluggish feeling in the leg, progressively worsening pain after exercise, bursts of pain during running or shortly after, tenderness between the Achilles tendon and heel bone, swelling or stiffness.
Retrocalcaneal Bursitis
Retrocalcaneal bursitis is another common cause of Achilles tendon pain. Retrocalcaneal bursitis occurs when there is inflammation in the spot between the Achilles tendon and the heel bone. This inflammation can result from wearing improperly fitting shoes that cut into the heel, or by running too frequently. Left untreated, the pain associated with Retrocalcaneal bursitis becomes progressively worse and eventually skin on the back of the heel will become thick, swollen and red. Eventually, a tender bump or bone spur might develop, and wearing normal shoes may become impossible.
Treatment
Achilles tendon pain, caused by a sprain or one of the specifically mentioned conditions, can be treated both surgically and non-surgically. Typically, rest and pain medications (NSAIDs- over the counter anti-inflammatory medications) are the first method of treatment for Achilles tendon pain. Special shoes or shoe inserts may be recommended as well, along with bandages or support devices to support the tendon. Surgery is a last resort for the treatment of retrocalcaneal bursitis and tendonitis.
Attaining an insurance adjuster license in the state of Alabama is quite easy compared to other licensing procedures a claims adjuster will come across. Applicants are not required to take a pre-licensing exam or commit to any continuing education programs. Although there are a few requirements, they are flexible and operate on a broad scale.
Instructions
1. Meet the prerequisites. In order to apply for your insurance adjuster license in the state of Alabama you must meet certain requirements. The first requirement is to be at least 19 years old. The next requirement you must meet is to have a sufficient amount of experience. As indicated by the Alabama Department of Insurance, this means you are a full-time salaried employee of a licensed adjuster, a graduate of a recognized law school, or you have experience or special education or training in the handling of loss claims under insurance contracts of sufficient duration and reasonable extent to make you competent to fulfill the responsibilities of an adjuster.
2. Fill out and submit the application. There are different application processes for resident and non-residents. Applications and information is available online at the Alabama Department of Insurance website. Residents will have to fill out the Alabama Adjuster Application form, which is called AL-90. When submitting your application, you will need to pay a fee of $100.
3. Maintain your license. Once you have obtained your licensed it is very important to maintain it. You will have to renew your license once a year. This includes filling out a renewal application and submitting it with an $80 renewal fee.
Tags: adjuster license, adjuster license state, Alabama Department, Alabama Department Insurance, Alabama Insurance, Alabama Insurance Adjuster, Become Alabama
The imprinted T-shirt industry is a multibillion dollar industry. Almost everyone wears T-shirts and other imprinted garments. With a keen eye on the bottom line and attention to detail, it is not difficult to turn a profit in the T-shirt printing business.
Instructions
1. Determine which type of printing you want to do. T-shirts are traditionally printed with screen printing. In recent years, digital imaging has become a popular method for printing T-shirts. Which technology will you use in your shop? Screen printing is good for one- and two-color prints and for multicolor prints on long runs. Digital imaging is good for full color short runs.
2. It is possible to purchase an ink-jet printer for less than $100. With this, some T-shirt transfer paper and some blank T-shirts you will be set up to create a run of T-shirts. Likewise, many art supply stores can sell basic screen printing kits for $100 or less. However, to create professional quality work, it is best to use professional tools. Consult the website Screen Printers for basic information about all things screen printing. They also sell direct-to-garment digital imaging printers, which cost close to $20,000. The more direct line to a profitable business is to set up a screen printing shop with a manual T-shirt press. One outstanding supplier is Midwest Sign. A complete screen printing shop can be set up for under $10,000. It is also possible to set up a screen print shop with basic or homemade equipment.
3. Create a business plan. Who is your target market? If you live in a university town, you may choose to focus your sales and marketing efforts on the university community. Do you live in a tourist destination? You may focus your sales efforts on selling to retailers catering to tourists. Perhaps you are aiming at schools, summer camps or some combination of target markets. Spread the word about your new business with various marketing techniques, including online listings. Create business support materials such as brochures, cards, price lists and a website.
4. Develop a price structure. Research the cost of blank T-shirts from several wholesalers. Consult with other T-shirt printers and collect sample quotes to familiarize yourself with prices. Each job will consist of the blank shirt cost, the markup on the blank shirt and a printing price. Calculate an hourly shop rate. Most T-shirt printing shops need to pull $50 to $100 profit (before fixed costs) per production hour to be profitable. Know your fixed costs such as rent, electricity and loans to determine your monthly bottom line. Determine your terms of business, such as requiring a 50-percent down payment and the rest upon delivery, with credit terms of net payment due in 30 days to credit-worthy clients.
5. Set up shop. Determine your square footage, plumbing and electrical needs. Rent your space and set up your equipment. Test your equipment on sample jobs before running a commercial job.
Healthcare professionals who work with MRI machines must have the proper training.
Healthcare professionals who work with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines must have the proper training, certification and licensure to do so. According to the MRI Institute and Consulting, Inc., an MRI technologist earns between $40,000 and $60,000 a year, as of 2010. MRI machine training, however, does require a bit of planning and work.
High School
If you are interested in working with MRI machines, you don't have to wait to finish high school to get started with your training. Taking biology, chemistry, anatomy, science, physics, psychology and other related courses offered by your high school is excellent preparation for a career as an MRI technologist. Also, some community colleges and universities offer bridge programs that allow high school students to take college level courses. Taking advantage of those programs whenever possible is also good preparation.
Junior College
To have an associate degree to work with MRI machines is not a requirement. However, having an associate degree in radiological technology gives you enough training to advance quickly within the field. A lot of MRI technologists, or radiological technologists, must have associate's degrees or higher to get promotions and higher wages.
Certification
An alternative to getting an associate degree in radiological technology is getting certified in MRI or radiological technology. Unlike community college programs, most technical school or trade school certification programs are only 12-month programs. Though these programs can potentially get you into an entry-level position working with MRI machines, you will probably need further education if you want to advance in the career.
Licensure
Many states require healthcare professionals working on MRI machines to have the proper licensure or state certification. Getting a license and/or certification doesn't necessarily require any level of educational training. However, to get the licenses you have to pass a standardized examination, and having the proper training will help you successfully complete the test.
Coursework
Students enrolled in an MRI or radiological technology program at a trade school, technical school, community college or junior college take courses such as biology, anatomy, psychology and other science courses. However, a student enrolled in a radiology or MRI technology program also has to take courses such as patient care, medical terminology, pathology, fluoroscopic equipment and radiology.
Tags: radiological technology, with machines, associate degree, have proper, must have, proper training
Checking into a hospital can be a stressful time. It's your job to alleviate that.
A hospital patient access representative works to streamline the process of checking patients into a hospital. A patient access representative should be able to handle several tasks at the same time, adhere to strict guidelines and stay calm in stressful situations. Becoming a hospital patient access representative is not difficult if you meet the criteria.
Instructions
1. Make sure the job fits. If you're a calm, compassionate person, working as a patient access representative may be a good fit. You're one of the first faces a person in crisis will see as he enters the hospital and will be the first person he works with as he checks in. The job involves a variety of tasks, and every case is slightly different.
2. Earn your diploma. To be eligible to be hired as a patient access representative you must possess a minimum of a high school education. Employers sometimes seek candidates with some college training. Among the previous experience that may help you land a job are work in a doctor's office and knowledge of insurance practices.
3. Prepare for the job. As a patient access representative you will be the person who performs pre-certification, indicating who is going to pay for the hospital visit. This can be a stressful situation for a patient who simply wants to be seen by a physician and for a family who is concerned about the patient. In the midst of their anxiety you must gather the information you need pertaining to the patient's identification, condition and insurance or credit card information. In the meantime, the hospital may ask you to assist with other tasks like answering the phone and assisting with scheduling.
4. Make sure the income is in keeping with the expectations of the job. You can expect to be paid in the $12-to-$13-an-hour range as a patient access representative. If you work full time, this hourly wage translates to between $24,960 and $27,040 a year. In addition, full-time hospital workers routinely receive health and dental benefits, life insurance, vision care, long-term disability insurance, educational assistance and a retirement plan. Some patient access representatives are able to choose whether they wish to work part time or full time. Check the benefits available at your hospital, as some offer pro-rated benefits to part-time employees.
5. Check job boards. Patient representative jobs are posted on hospital websites as well as online job boards. If you wish to work for a particular hospital, check their website first. You can widen your search by moving on to other job boards if there's nothing currently available at the hospital of your choice.
6. Follow the application steps requested by the hospital. They will ask for a resume and want to know about any experiences you have that might make you a good fit for the job, including any former jobs that would indicate that you work well with people, can organize several things at once and can easily adjust to the hospital's way of doing things. If you're a good fit, you might hear from them for an interview.
For the first 50 years of radiology, X-ray technology was the only technology available. X-rays are still used today due to their speediness and low costs, but there are now a variety of different imaging techniques available. As a result, radiology technicians are no longer restricted to only operating X-ray machines, and can obtain additional certifications to work with various advanced imaging technologies.
Diagnostic X-rays
The most common field for radiology technicians involves taking basic diagnostic X-rays. X-rays are used in almost all fields of medicine to examine bones, teeth, body cavities and possible foreign objects in the body.
Sonography
Sonographers use high-frequency ultrasound to capture images of the human body's interior. Ultrasound imaging is primarily found in obstetrics and gynecology, but it is also frequently used for abdominal, cardiac and cardiovascular imaging.
Fluoroscopy
A fluoroscopy is a live motion, constant X-ray that continuously displays the interior of the body. It's mostly used to examine the digestive system and help position surgical devices such as pacemakers or guidewires.
Advanced Soft Tissue Imaging
Both computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provide highly detailed two-dimensional and three-dimensional images of the various tissues in the human body. Both produce images of cross-sections of the body, but MRIs use a powerful magnetic field instead of radiation to take these images.
Nuclear Medicine
Techs in nuclear medicine administer radioactive isotopes to patients and trace their effects in the body to examine organ system function. One such imaging technique is a positron emission tomography (PET) scan, which produces a three-dimensional image of organ function by tracing the gamma rays emitted from the administered isotopes (radionuclides).
Mammography
Mammograms are specific X-rays taken of the breast tissues, usually used to diagnose breast cancer.
Laboratory technicians carry out important medical tests for patients and doctors.
Laboratory technicians are responsible for performing many medical tests. These tests include taking blood samples and preparing specimens for microscopic examination. Some laboratory technicians specialize in a specific field such as phlebotomy while others choose to work as general laboratory technicians. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth is anticipated to remain excellent. If you are thinking of entering this growing field, you will need to complete specific educational requirements.
Instructions
1. Graduate from high school. While in high school, you should take classes heavily weighted towards the sciences. Take at least a year each of biology, chemistry and physics as well as at least two years of math. If possible, take advanced placement courses. Advanced placement courses offer students the right to earn college credits while still in high school. Many colleges accept AP courses thus shortening the time you need to spend completing a degree.
2. Research laboratory technician programs. Programs vary by state, duration and time taken for completion. You can take a general program that offers training as a laboratory technician. You may also take a specific program that focuses on single area of laboratory technical work such as drawing blood. You should know in advance all the details of the program such as graduation rates, the expected time to complete all coursework and the percentage of graduates who find work in the clinical technology field. School officials should also tell you upfront about any fees that are required.
3. Take required classes. Laboratory technician certification programs take roughly a year to fifteen months complete. During this time you will study basic laboratory techniques and learn certain medical procedures such as drawing blood and using a microscope. Take careful notes and spend as much time as you can getting actual clinical experience working with medical equipment.
4. Complete clinical training requirements. In addition to formal classroom instruction, many laboratory technician certification programs require students to have a certain number of hours of hands on training performing medical procedures such as inserting a needle into a vein and preparing someone's arm for venipuncture.
5. Pass licensing exams. After you graduate from a laboratory technician program you must be licensed in many states to apply for employment. Licensure consists of demonstrating that you have passed all classes, spent the required hours in clinical training and have passed an examination. Examinations for laboratory technicians vary depending on your specialty. For example, if you have chosen to specialize in phlebotomy you will need to pass the exam on phlebotomy procedures. You can take more than one exam and get more than license.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the swiftest killer cancers. Many patients live just a few weeks or even as little as a month following diagnosis. Money--for patient support, community outreach, education and, most important, for research--would help, but what can you do? According to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (see website, below), you can do quite a bit, including organizing a charity walk in your town. If you or someone you love has been affected by pancreatic cancer, a charity walk where non-walkers pledge a certain amount of money if the walkers complete the route could help future victims of disease and heal the loved ones left behind at the same time.
Instructions
1. Check with your local Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) affiliate. Check the website below to find the PanCAN affiliate group nearest to you. It may have all you need to start your own walk: sponsors, volunteer forms, pledge forms, bank account for the funds collected, etc.
2. Get permission. Check with city hall and see what kind of permits you need for the walk. If you are planning on having any sort of information fair, speakers, food vendors or entertainment at the conclusion of the walk, you may need special permits for police or EMT personnel, port-a-johns, etc. It's best to get your paperwork in order early in the planning process.
3. Get signatures on a petition. At the final destination of the walk, have volunteers with clipboards collecting signatures on a petition to your U.S. representative asking him or her to co-sponsor the Eshoo/Brown-Waite Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act.
4. Get sponsors. Canvass local businesses and solicit donations in goods, services or money. You will need posters, sign-up sheets for volunteers, pledge sheets printed, bottled water for your walkers on the day of the walk, etc.
5. Alert the media. Tell the local TV and radio stations. Call the newspaper and place an ad, then try to get media coverage the day of the walk. Have your sponsors place posters prominently in their businesses, and have them encourage their merchant neighbors to do the same. Never turn down an interview or a chance to promote the walk. At every interview, talk about PanCAN's no-cost patient services and upcoming PanCAN events in your area.
6. Find a spokesperson. If you feel you are not the appropriate spokesperson for the walk, for whatever reason, find one -- preferably someone with pancreatic cancer (if he or she feels up to it) or someone who recently lost a loved one to the disease. If you can't find someone personally affected by pancreatic cancer, consider asking a local television or other media personality to be your spokesperson.
Tags: Pancreatic Cancer, Action Network, affected pancreatic, affected pancreatic cancer, Cancer Action, Cancer Action Network, charity walk
UD is most commonly an abbreviation for a term used on prescriptions.
UD is an initialism. An initialism is an abbreviation formed from the initials of words in a phrase to create something that is shorter and easier to remember. Unlike acronyms, initialisms are generally not pronounced as a word, but rather as the letters that form the initialism. There are over 55 different meanings for the initialism UD. If you see an initialism and are unsure of what it means, using the words around it, or the context of what you are reading, could give you an idea.
Ut Dictum
The most common meaning in medical terminology for the initialism UD is ut dictum. Ut dictum is from the Latin, meaning "as directed." UD is commonly written on prescriptions, telling the pharmacist the prescription for an individual should be take as directed. In addition to being written on prescriptions, a doctor may also write UD on patient charts or notes.
Urethral Dilatation
A common initialism in medical terminology for UD is urethral dilatation. The initialism is written as both UD and U/D. Urethral dilatation is commonly performed by urologists, but can be preformed by other doctors. It involves placing graduated dilators inside the urethra to expand or enlarge the urethra tube. The procedure is mainly used to allow urine to flow easier or as treatment for chronic urinary tract infections. Urethral dilatation is more commonly preformed on males, because females have a longer urethra, causing greater risk of scarring or infection.
Urban Disease
A common initialism in medical terminology for UD is Urban Disease. Urban disease is a term that is rarely used in the medical field, but the term may still be present in old medical files and research. An urban disease is a disease caused by the chemicals or other substances present in a given environment. The substances are normally drugs, food additives, pesticides and industrial products. If the population of an entire town, neighborhood or other area was falling ill, based on the misuse of a pesticide, the doctor would determine that the inhabitants were suffering from an urban disease, a condition primarily restricted within their community. However, doctors today provide a much more thorough diagnosis and the term is rarely used.
Ultra-Diagnostics
A common initialism in medical terminology for UD is Ultra-Diagnostics. Ultra-Diagnostics is a diagnostic medical company that is developing new ultrasound technologies and new products to assist with diagnosis of conditions of the brain. The new products are being developed with the hopes that they will enhance the quality of the images currently being obtained from diagnostic tests and reduce the cost for patient care when diagnostic tests are required.
Ulcerative Dermatosis
A common initialism in medical terminology in the care of animals for UD is ulcerative dermatosis. Ulcerative dermatosis is an infectious disease of sheep, felines and certain breeds of dogs that is thought to be caused by a virus. The disease is characterized by crusted ulcers in the skin of the animals, normally located on their face, feet and genitalia.
Tags: common initialism, common initialism medical, initialism medical, initialism medical terminology, medical terminology
Environmentally minded Girl Scouts may choose a community clean up project.
The Girl Scout Silver Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout Cadette can earn. Girl Scout Cadettes are 6th, 7th or 8th grade Girl Scouts and they can earn the Silver Award through a volunteer project in their community. Their volunteer project should be sustainable and designed to continue after they earn their award. Girl Scout Cadettes choose projects according to their interests and the needs they perceive in their community.
Environmental Project Ideas
Girl Scout Cadettes who are concerned about the environment can choose a volunteer project that helps their community act locally to solve global environmental concerns. Planning, organizing and scheduling an annual park, beach or highway cleanup is a simple project with a big impact. A more involved project would involve working with community and government leaders to implement a community recycling program or to install recycling receptacles in local parks or schools.
Educational Project Ideas
Cadettes with a passion for education can choose a project that benefits local children or schools. They may choose a project that directly works with children, such as setting up and staffing a story hour at a local library or organizing a tutoring program for elementary school children. Or they can support education by organizing a book drive and book distribution program for children or running a fundraiser for a local school.
Health Issues Project Ideas
Cadettes who are concerned about health issues ranging from availability of health care to disease awareness can choose a project that keeps the community healthier. They may work with a local hospital or clinic in its junior volunteer program (or help organize one if it does not already exist), raise money for a local hospital or disease research or organize an awareness event complete with educational materials and a fundraising component like a 5K run or walk.
Presentations are enhanced with visual aids that emphasize key points and illustrate concepts. Common visual aids include slides, computer presentations, overhead transparencies, flip charts, posters and samples. Once your speech is prepared, visual aids can be made to support sections in your presentation. Computer presentations provide versatility, showing key points and pictures as slides to large and small audiences. Other common visual aids are generally effective when used in smaller group settings. Overhead transparencies provide a useful tool for demonstration and for writing down information for your audience to see in real time. Flip charts provide a more casual visual aid that supports interaction among the audience and note-taking that is not as obtrusive as an overhead projector and screen. All visual aids should serve a supporting role in your presentation so that they don't detract from the speech or distract the audience from focusing on the speaker.
Instructions
Slides
1. Launch your presentation application (for example, PowerPoint) and create a new presentation by selecting "New" under "File" in the top menu bar.
2. Type the title of your presentation. Insert a new slide by selecting "New slide" under "Insert" in your top menu bar. Most presentation applications will automatically insert a slide with a different format containing fields for a title and bulleted copy. Type your slide title in the top field, and then type key points in the bottom section.
3. Insert another new slide by selecting "New slide" under "Insert," and then select "Layout" under "Format." Choose your desired format from the thumbnails in the list, such as a picture with a slide title. Click the "Apply" button. Type the slide title in the top field, and click the bottom field to open a dialog box to select your picture or photo file. Click the "Insert" button.
4. Insert more slides, type slide titles and copy, and insert graphics to build your presentation (i.e., repeat steps 2 and 3 as necessary). Select "Save" under "File" in the top menu bar. Type the name of your presentation, and select the destination location. Click the "Save" button.
5. Change the design theme of your presentation by selecting "Slide design" under "Format" in the top menu bar. Select a design theme from the list of thumbnails. Click the box next to "Apply to all slides," then click the "Apply" button. Select "Save" under "File" in the top menu bar. Select "View show" under "Slide Show" in your top menu bar to preview how the presentation flows and will be displayed. Make revisions and adjustments as desired.
Overheads
6. Type supportive materials---such as diagrams, bulleted text and worksheets---on the computer. Compile files of graphics and pictures electronically, or print them out.
7. Organize the supportive materials according to your presentation flow, either electronically or by arranging printouts.
8. Photocopy the materials on transparencies or print the electronic files using transparencies compatible with your printer. Insert blank paper between each transparency.
9. Recheck the sequence of transparencies according to your presentation. Number each transparency page in one corner, such as the top right, for easy identification.
Flip Charts
10. Write the title of your presentation in large letters on the first page of your flip chart or pad. Flip the page up and over to expose the next page (do not tear the page off).
11. Write the title or emphasis on the page, such as "Topics for Today" or "Brainstorming Ideas." Paste pictures or charts, or draw a blank template for an interactive exercise or discussion, as desired, making sure to leave room for writing. Flip the page up and over to expose the next page (do not tear the page off).
12. Repeat the preparation of flip-chart pages as needed (see step 2), making sure to leave enough room for writing and keeping each flip-chart page focused on one idea or exercise.
Tags: your presentation, visual aids, File menu, slide title, under File
The film look is not something that most digital cameras can pull off just out of the box. This distinctive look was created originally to conserve on the expenses of film by lowering the frame rate in order to fit more frames within less film, and has stuck around to define big budget, professional films for decades. Although most cameras don't film in 24 fps (normal studio film rate), camera tricks together with some help from After Effects in post-production can make any video ready for red carpet exposure.
Instructions
Achieving the Film Look While Filming
1. Set the camera on the tripod. One of the things that distinguishes film is how steady it usually is.
2. Look for the "Frame Rate" adjuster within your computer's menu or on the camera. Switch this to 24 frames. Switch the Shutter Speed to 1/48. Also zoom onto your subject as close as possible, then open up the iris. This should blur out the background around your subject, and create a shallow depth of field for great closeups.
3. Adjust the white balance before filming in order to make sure the film isn't too white or blown out. Hold the white paper in front of the camera and zoom in on it. Find the "White Balance" manual adjustment button and hold this down until the white balance has been adjusted to this white paper. Zoom out, and the image should be better.
Achieving the Film Look in After Effects Noise & Grain > Add Grain." Change the Intensity and Size to "0.5" by double-clicking the number values next to the word. Adding this grain to video allows the video to seem more film like.
Specialized Film Look Projects
7. Go to "Effect > Tint." Leave the settings as is to create an old black and white look that can be perfect to create old film looks.
8. Go to "Animation > Browse Presets." Go to the "Image - Creative" folder. Here you can choose from different presets that can tint the video certain colors that have been used within film for many years.
9. Go to "File > Export > QuickTime Movie." Press "OK."
Tags: After Effects, Achieving Film, Achieving Film Look, Film Look, white paper, your subject
Ultrasound technicians, otherwise known as diagnostic medical sonographers, use ultrasound technology to identify and analyze conditions of organs, identify potential issues and are most commonly seen in obstetric settings. Florida has more ultrasound technicians than any other state, and there are at least 25 ultrasound technician schools in the state. ATI College of Health and Sanford-Brown Institute are among the top programs in the country, according to the website UltrasoundTechnicianSchools.org.
Central Florida Institute
With locations in Tampa and Orlando, the Ultrasound Technologist Training program at Central Florida Institute teaches students take and record patient histories, use an ultrasound to provide diagnostic data to a physician and analyze the ultrasound findings. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, and students who complete the program are trained in specialized areas such as abdominal sonography, neurosonography and obstetric-gynecological sonography. Upon completion, students receive an associate of applied science degree.
Central Florida Institute, Inc.
6000 Cinderlane Pkwy.
Orlando, FL 32810
407-253-5354
cfinstitute.com
Dade Medical Institute
The Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound program at Dade Medical Institute in Miami focuses on teaching students to identify organs and systems, including the reproductive system. Students also learn to use appropriate imaging techniques for different medical situations. After students complete the associate's degree program and finish one year of field experience, they can take the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers exam. Passing the exam allows students to register in their preferred ultrasound field, such as radiology, obstetrics and gynecology or in a hospital setting.
Dade Medical Institute -- Miami
3721-1 NW 7th St.
Miami, FL 33126
305-644-1171
dademedicalinstitute.com
ATI College of Health
ATI College of Health, the Miami location of the ATI Career Training Center, offers a Diagnostic Ultrasound Technology program. The coursework teaches students not only obstetrics sonography, but also touches on cardiovascular and thoracic sonography, as well as abdomen and general sonography.
ATI Career Training Center
1525 NW 167th St.
Miami, FL 33169
888-209-8264
aticareertraining.edu
Sanford-Brown Institute
Students enrolling in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at the Sanford-Brown Institute will learn use ultrasound technology to diagnose and analyze problems with the abdomen, reproductive system, prostate, heart and blood vessels. Studying pathophysiology and anatomy of organs give students hands-on experience as an ultrasound technician. Students who complete the program receive an associate of applied science degree. This program is only offered at one of Sanford-Brown's four Florida locations: Fort Lauderdale.
Sanford-Brown Institute -- Fort Lauderdale
1201 W. Cypress Creek Rd.
Fort Lauderdale , FL 33309
888-742-0333
Sanfordbrown.edu
Tags: Sanford-Brown Institute, Central Florida, Central Florida Institute, College Health, Dade Medical
Tree density is calculated by formulating weight in grams per cubic centimeter of wood.
Analyzing tree density can serve great ecological and scientific function. The tools used to accumulate this knowledge are generally uncomplicated and minimize any ensuing damage done to tree specimens.
Equipment
Analysts use an array of equipment to test for wood density. The first is a wood auger to remove a sample. Water baths are used to bring the wood sample to a desired moisture level in the first phase of testing. Ventilated ovens are used to supply the drying effect that will remove moisture after water immersion.
Steps
John K. Francis with the U.S. Forestry Service espouses four steps in determining or testing tree density. The sample is taken from the tree, placed in water to observe the increase in liquid volume. After this, the wood is thoroughly dried and the two resulting figures--water displacement and end weight--compared
Significance
One of the benefits of using an auger is that it is minimally invasive with regard to the integrity of the tree. These methods make testing less harmful and calculations can be done with the smallest possible amount of tree material. That data can then be extrapolated to indicate the health and density of other trees within the same proximity.
There are two ways to obtain an outdoor billboard in Chicago. The first, and likely the easiest, is to purchase an existing billboard. If you want to erect a new billboard in the city limits, you must follow the guidelines in the Municipal Code of Chicago, section 13-32-030. The application process is entirely online.
Instructions
1. Determine if there are any zoning restrictions in place for the site of the proposed billboard by checking the Municipal Code of Chicago. For example, school areas restrict the advertisement of products such as tobacco and alcohol. Some areas restrict the use of digital or illuminated billboards.
2. Open the City of Chicago website. Look for the label "I Want To..." and click the link under it that says "Apply For."
3. Scroll to the link called "Permit for Business ID and Advertising Signs" and click it.
4. Click the "Get Started Online" button. The application fee for an off-site advertising sign is $500, which must be paid by credit card. You will be charged another fee if the city approves your application. Permit fees are scaled according to the size of the billboard and can be found in the Municipal Code of Chicago, Table 13-32-310(E).
Tags: Code Chicago, Municipal Code, Municipal Code Chicago, areas restrict
Making your own quilted pot holders is a way of saving money, as well as customizing your kitchenware. With only a basic knowledge of sewing, you can make a quilted pot holder for personal use, or to sell at a fundraiser. Adding a breast cancer ribbon will show your support for a worthwhile cause, and will make your pot holder more personalized. Your quilted pot holder can be as complex and detailed as you desire.
Instructions
1. Measure out two squares of fabric for the cover of the pot holder. Cut the squares 1 inch wider and 1 inch higher than you want the pot holder to be. For example, if you want the pot holder to be 6 inches by 6 inches, cut out two 7-inch square pieces of fabric.
2. Cut out a piece of quilt batting which is exactly the dimensions that you wish the pot holder to be.
3. Lay the two pieces of fabric face down next to each other, so that the back of the material is facing up. Pull 1/2 inch of fabric from each together and sew. Fold the fabric so that the front of the fabric is facing outwards on both sides and pin the edges together. Turn the potholder inside out and sew two of the remaining three edges together, so you are left with a pocket of fabric. Turn the fabric pocket right side out again. Insert the quilt batting into the pocket and sew the fourth edge together.
4. Attach the pink ribbon to the fabric. The breast cancer ribbon is a looped piece of pink fabric, with the two ends hanging loose. Place a stitch in the loop to hold the ribbon in place. Sew the two loose ends of the ribbon to a corner of the pot holder so the loop can be used to hang the pot holder up. If you wish to attach the pink ribbon to the middle of the pot holder, it will not lay flat, but you can sew down the edges to minimize the raised patch.
5. Quilt the potholder by sewing a top-stitch or running stitch across the material. The space between the running stitch can be narrow or thick, depending on your personal preference.
Tags: quilted holder, breast cancer ribbon, cancer ribbon, edges together, pieces fabric, pink ribbon, quilt batting
Make your own insect spray at home with natural ingredients.
Instead of purchasing commercial insect sprays that contain poisons and chemicals, you can make your own at home with all natural ingredients. Many commercial insect sprays can potentially irritate your skin and cause harm to the environment. Insect sprays help to repel insects from our skin and plants to protect them. Once you make your own natural insect spray, you will help the environment and protect your skin and plants from insects. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Plant Insect Spray
1. Place cheesecloth over a bowl.
2. Mince eight garlic cloves and one yellow onion. Place the garlic and onion in the food processor and puree them to make a paste.
3. Place the pureed onion and garlic over the cheesecloth. Keep the juice that remains in the bowl and discard the pulp.
4. Pour in 1 qt. of water. Stir to mix the water and pureed onion and garlic juices.
5. Add 2 tbsp. of cayenne pepper to the mixture. Allow it to stand for four hours.
6. Add 2 tbsp. of dish soap and pour into a spray bottle. Shake the bottle to mix the ingredients.
7. Spray your plants in the morning. Spray at the base of the plants, and saturate the undersides of the leaves.
Skin Insect Spray
8. Place a funnel on top of a spray bottle.
9. Pour in 1 cup of 190 proof grain alcohol.
10. Add the essential oils. Add 1 tsp. of lemon essential oil, ½ tsp. of lemon balm citronella essential oil and 1 tsp. of rosemary essential oil.
11. Place the nozzle on the spray bottle.
12. Shake the bottle to mix the ingredients. Spray them directly onto the skin.
The job description of a business owner can include hiring employees or overseeing an important advertising campaign.
Business owners are entrepreneurs who start a business as a sole proprietor, with a partner or as a corporation. The business owner's job description will vary greatly depending on the type of business structure and the industry in which he is involved. Still, the typical business owner's job description is usually quite extensive.
Significance
The job description of a business owner often entails acquiring financing or investing for the business to commence her venture. Additional investments may be required at times to acquire large equipment or to expand the operations of her business. Sole business owners or partners are fully responsible for any debt or losses that a business incurs.
Identification
The job description of a business owner also includes hiring qualified employees and getting employees properly training, according to the article "'Business Owner' is a Title, Not a Job Description." Initial training may include an orientation to introduce new employees to existing partners or employees. Business owners must also process tax information and I-9 forms on employees. Sometimes, a business owner's job description may involve writing a company manual on various policies, health benefits and the corporate culture of the organization.
Function
A business owner of a small business may be involved in keeping the books, recording revenue from any sales and keeping track of all expenses and profits. The job description of a business owner will usually involve coordinating payments of sales taxes as well as federal and state income taxes on a quarterly or semiannual basis. Other functions can include developing business plans, writing brochures and direct mail packages, or coordinating various advertising like radio, television or magazine ads.
Effects
Early on, much of the success of a business is contingent upon the business owner's ability to sell or acquire clients or customers. Thus, selling is often a vital part of the business owner's job description. Business owners need to fully understand their industry, the key competitors, all products and the changing demands of the consumer or business customer.
Considerations
The job description of a business owner also requires making sure the business operates within the parameters of the law. Business owners often hire lawyers or legal advisers who ensure the legality of all operations or company acquisitions.
Salary and Job Outlook
The salary of a business owner can vary greatly, depending on the number of years he has been in business. Some business owners pay themselves less so they can invest more in their business. Others make six-figure incomes. The job outlook for business owners is favorable, provided the individual or partners have enough capital or can get financing for the business.
Tags: business owner, business owner, business owner description, owner description, description business, description business owner, business owner also
Bilateral tinnitus is a medical condition that presents as sound in both ears without any external stimuli. Bilateral tinnitus comes from Latin terms meaning two-side ringing. However, tinnitus of the ears is not only ringing; it can be a variety of other noises that come from internal sources. Bilateral tinnitus is a fairly common medical problem and is often fairly easy to treat.
Identification
Tinnitus sounds like a ringing, buzzing, thumping, roaring or clicking in the ears. Bilateral tinnitus occurs when these symptoms are present on both sides. The volume varies from person to person and may even vary by time of day.
Features
Bilateral tinnitus is likely to be less serious than unilateral tinnitus. Causes of bilateral tinnitus include loud noises and aspirin toxicity, while unilateral tinnitus could indicate an aneurysm or tumor.
Types
There are two types of tinnitus: objective tinnitus and subjective tinnitus. Objective tinnitus indicates that the doctor can hear the clicking or other noise with the stethoscope. This indicates a structural problem, a foreign object in the ear or fluid in the ear. The doctor cannot hear anything through the stethoscope or other diagnostic tools when the patient has subjective tinnitus.
Frequency
Roughly 40 million people in the United States suffer from tinnitus. Ten million of these cases are severe tinnitus. Bilateral tinnitus makes up a large number of these cases, since it is far more frequent than unilateral tinnitus. Tinnitus is most common in the 40 to 70 year old age group. It is more common in men than women.
Prevention/Solution
Tinnitus is very common in individuals who have exposure to loud noises on a regular basis. To lower that risk, individuals around loud noises should wear protective ear equipment to reduce the noise exposure to their ears. With objective tinnitus, the treatment is fairly straightforward. The doctor works to remove the foreign object, lower the fluid level or correct the structural problems. Subjective tinnitus is extremely hard to treat. Some treatment options include masking, restraining and electrical stimulation.
Considerations
Bilateral tinnitus can make life miserable. The loud noises occur constantly and interfere with a person's hearing in general by muffling outside noises. Tinnitus is not just annoying; it affects quality of life as well. Severe tinnitus interferes with work, sleep and hearing.
Warning
Although bilateral tinnitus is not likely to be due to serious underlying health problems, it warrants a trip to the doctor. In rare cases, it can be a serious and life-threatening problem that presents first as bilateral tinnitus.
Every woman 18 and older should have an annual pap smear if she is sexually active. A pap smear is a screening aid to test for cancer or abnormalities. Once the pap smear is complete, you will get results (normal or abnormal) in a short amount of time. If results were normal, the doctor didn't see any abnormalities of your cervix cells. If the results were abnormal, it means that the doctor found something that was not normal but this doesn't always mean you have cancer.
Abnormal Pap Smear
There can be many reasons for an abnormal pap smear and the culprit is frequently an infection or inflammation. Other reasons could be a yeast infection, present-day sexual activity, herpes, vaginal products or even trichomonas, an infection of the vagina. A majority of the time, an abnormal pap smear is caused by HPV, human papilloma virus, also known as genital warts. Cancer is sometimes the reasoning behind an abnormal pap smear but not always.
Classifications of a Pap Smear
Class 1 is a normal pap smear and no treatment is needed. Class 2 is atypical, which means it could be caused by infection or inflammation in which you might need to have another pap smear or a colposcopy. Class 3 is considered low grade, pre-cancerous or dysplasia in which you will have to receive a colposcopy to help determine further treatment. Class 4 is high grade dysplasia and a colposcopy is advised and sometimes a Cone biopsy is also advised. Class 5 means cancer and you will have to have a colposcopy to help determine how severe the cancer is to know what further treatment is required.
Colposcopy
Colposcopy is a tool that helps find the abnormalities in pap smears. It examines the cervix and luckily is normally painless and pretty simple, lasting no longer than 15 minutes typically. You will undergo similar procedures as with a pap smear except the doctor will apply a topical aid to your cervix so that light will not pass through. Your doctor will then look at your cervix focusing on any area that light doesn't go through.
Abnormal Pap Smear During Pregnancy
It is still common to have an abnormal pap smear while you are pregnant. Colposcopy can still be used while you are pregnant but any procedures involving treatment will be put on hold until you have had the baby. Your baby is not at harm if you do in fact have an abnormal pap smear and most times when the baby is born it will wash away any of the cervical cells that were abnormal.
Normal Pap Smear
There are things you can do to help ensure you have accurate and normal pap smear results. Do not have sexual intercourse at least one day prior to your pap smear. Do not use any topical creams on the vagina or medications and do not douche at least three days prior to your pap smear. Try to set your pap smear appointment so that it falls two weeks after your first day of your last menstrual cycle.
Tags: your cervix, your smear, abnormal smear, abnormal smear, colposcopy help, colposcopy help determine, doctor will
Breast cancer is cancer that starts in the tissue of the breast. Many women who are diagnosed with breast cancer are incredibly sensitive to the hormone estrogen, which is found in higher quantities is women. Basically, this means that estrogen causes their breast cancer tumor to grow. This type of breast cancer is called estrogen receptor positive cancer (ER positive cancer). Another common type of beast cancer is referred to as HER-2-positive, which involves the lack of a specific genes that help to grow, divide and repair themselves. Chemotherapy treatments that help to increase the survival rate of breast cancer patients usually involves a combination of drugs taken orally or injected directly into the patient's veins. This process is completed in cycles over a period of months or a year as determined by the type of drugs being taken.
The Facts
According to the American Cancer Society, 269,800 women died of a cancer-related illness in 2008. Fifteen percent of those deaths were attributed to breast cancer. After increasing for five years beginning in 1994, breast cancer diagnosis rates in women decreased by 2.2 percent each year from 1999 to 2005. The American Cancer Society believes that this was due in part to a slight decline in mammography utilization and to less use of hormone replacement therapy. Over the course of a lifetime, 1 in 8 women will reportedly be diagnosed with breast cancer and the odds of beating the cancer greatly depend on early diagnosis and treatment. Higher rates of breast cancer survival have been reported in recent years. This is because treatment has improved, and the average tumor is smaller in size. Getting regular mammograms increases the chance of early breast cancer detection, which can also lead to earlier treatment when the tumors are smaller.
Types
There are two main types of breast cancer: Ductal carcinoma, which begins in the ducts that transport milk from the breast to the nipple. Most women who get diagnosed with breast cancer have ductal carcinoma, though there is another type called lobular carcinoma. This type starts in parts of the breast called lobules, which is the area that produces milk. In some cases, breast cancer can start in other areas of the breast, though this is incredibly rare.
Effects
There are many side effects associated with various breast cancer treatments. For example, women who undergo chemotherapy are likely to experience bone loss, nerve damage in their hands and feet, hair loss, nausea, fatigue, anemia, diarrhea, and infections. If undergoing radiation for breast cancer, you're likely to experience chest pains, heart problems, lowered white blood cell counts, lung problems, and major skin irritation. According to the American Cancer Society, 1 out of every 8 women (12%) will develop some form of breast cancer and a estimated total of approximately 40,000 women will die from the disease in 2009. While these numbers may seem staggering, survival rates of breast cancer patients increases significantly with chemotherapy treatments.
Considerations
Though very controversial, there are holistic- or all natural- approaches to dealing with breast cancer. Some doctors believe that chemotherapy, radiation and other forms of conventional treatment do more harm than help. One such doctor is Dr. Ralph W. Moss - cancer consultant and author of "The Moss Reports" - suggests that cancer patients seek alternative treatment plans because he believes conventional cancer therapy is "toxic and dehumanizing."
Prevention/Solution
The type of treatment a woman receives for her breast cancer depends on a few factors. These include the type and stage of the cancer, whether or not her cancer is sensitive to specific hormones and whether the cancer overproduces a gene called HER2/neu. Generally speaking, breast cancer treatment can include the following: chemotherapy medicines, which kill cancer cells; radiation therapy, which destroys cancerous tissue; and surgery. The intention of the surgery is to remove all the cancerous tissue in the breast. Sometimes this requires a lumpectomy, which just removes the breast lump, or a mastectomy, which removes all or part of the breast. Though these types of treatment aren't as common, hormonal therapy and targeted therapy are also sometimes used. Hormonal therapy blocks the hormones that fuel cancer growth, while targeted therapy interferes with cancer cell growth and function. Most women diagnosed with breast cancer receive a combination of treatments. For women with stage I, II, or III breast cancer, the goal is to treat the cancer and prevent it from coming back. For women with stage IV cancer, the goal is to improve their quality of life and help them live longer. In most cases, however, stage IV breast cancer cannot be cured.
Survival Rates
Studies conducted by the American Cancer Society (in 2005) have shown that chemotherapy treatments have helped to increase the survival rate in breast cancer patients from 50% to 90% within the past 45 years. Furthermore, breast cancer deaths have dropped about 20% since 1991 due to advances in chemotherapy drugs, cancer prevention techniques and early detection.
Tags: breast cancer, breast cancer, breast cancer, with breast, with breast cancer, American Cancer, American Cancer Society
Having a child is one of the most exciting and stressful times of your life. Not only must you prepare for the baby's arrival, you also have to plot your financial future in terms of receiving disability pay while you are out. Receiving short-term disability pay does not occur automatically. It requires notifying your insurance carrier, estimating the dates you will be out and filing appropriate paperwork with your employer.
Instructions
1. Notify your employer and insurance carrier. Depending on your employer's policies, the human resources department may initiate your claim with the insurance carrier on your behalf.
2. File any required paperwork. Some insurance carriers do not require the filing of a paper or online claim for pregnancy, but others do. Make sure that you complete all of the necessary paperwork before your expected delivery date so any issues can be addressed and your pay will continue uninterrupted. You will need the following information to initiate a claim: Social Security Number, name of your employer, reason for your claim and expected date of delivery.
3. Watch for claim status paperwork in the mail. Claims for childbirth are generally approved; however, a glitch may occur and your claim may be denied. It is important to rectify this situation before you go on leave to ensure there are no issues with your pay.
4. Keep your employer and insurance carrier updated as your pregnancy progresses, especially as you get closer to your due date. Issues may arise, such as being required to work a modified schedule or being placed on bed rest earlier than anticipated. This could affect the date of the commencement of your disability payments.
5. Contact the insurer on the first day you are out of the office. This will ensure they initiate your disability claim. You will need to contact them again on the day you return to work. If it is your employer's policy to allow human resources to interact with the insurer, notify your representative at the same intervals.
Tags: your employer, insurance carrier, your claim, Apply Short, Apply Short Term, Disability Childbirth
You can save the life of a sick child by fundraising to help with medical expenses.
Caring for a severely ill child can be physically, emotionally and financially taxing for all those involved. Often, when children are faced with serious medical conditions, hospital and treatment costs can be unaffordable for families if health insurance is not available or willing to cover the cost. In certain situations, starting a fund raising group to rally the community to support the child and his or her family makes a big difference. Although it can be time consuming and the amount needed to be raised can be daunting, pulling together a group of people who want to help makes the effort worthwhile.
Instructions
1. Talk with the family first and let them know that you want to help by forming a fund raising group. Having the families involvement is critical to success as it will be important they share information on the child's medical condition. Although not always required, the family's presence will help with fundraising efforts. The family can also identify other dedicated people who will want to be a part of your group.
2. Coordinate a meeting for everyone who is interested and available to support with fundraising. Prepare an agenda that clearly defines the fundraising goals and timing. Allow the family members time during the meeting to express their gratitude and communicate the needs. Propose a few suggestions as to methods of fundraising and solicit ideas from others.
3. Assign administrative roles to those present and assign immediate tasks to begin fundraising efforts. Request donations of any amount from the group to kick off the fundraiser. Contributions from those who will be asking others for donations demonstrates their sincerity and willingness to give what they can in time and in money.
4. Schedule the next meeting with plans to meet frequently by phone or in person to ensure everyone stays on track to meet the fundraising goal. A consistent day, meeting time and location will help to keep attendance high.
5. Communicate frequently between meetings with individuals of the fundraising group to see how they are progressing and whether they need support collecting money. Communication by phone, email and in person on an ongoing basis helps to get everyone motivated and encouraged. Frequent communications from the child and their family will also help to remind your group as to the importance and urgency of the fundraising efforts.
6. Communicate with others who give that your group is looking for more people to help fundraise. More participants helping with fundraising efforts can help you reach the goal faster.
Tags: fundraising efforts, with fundraising, your group, fund raising, fund raising group
A certificate of deposit is a savings document that allows the owner, known as the "bearer," to receive interest, according to Investopedia. CDs, which banks can issue for any amount, have fixed interest rates, as well as maturity dates, which are usually one month to five years in the future, according to Investopedia. You can use a simple online CD calculation tool to figure out how much interest your investment will be worth upon maturity.
Instructions
1. Go to an online CD calculator website, such as Bank Rate, Bankaholic or CSG Network. Gather the following information: your CD's fixed interest rate, the months it will take for your CD to mature and your original deposit amount.
2. Type your CD amount, months until maturity and fixed interest rate into the appropriate fields on the calculator. Adjust the "compounded" bar to daily, weekly, monthly or annually, depending on how often your CD's interest is compounded.
3. Click "Submit." The calculator will show the dollar amount your CD will be worth upon maturity. Additionally, the calculator will show your CD's annual yearly percentage, which is how much interest it will earn per year.
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Assessing the patient the same way every time ensures accuracy.
The basic assessment all nurses are taught is the head-to-toe assessment. There are many advantages to this approach to assessing patients, and not many disadvantages. It keeps a nurse organized, ensures a thorough exam, is sequential and is easy on the patient. Some nurses may chafe at the rigidity of the technique, but by doing it the same way every single time, a nurse can be sure that she will perform perfect assessments every time. That means she won't miss anything. That means patients will be safe.
Thorough
Conducting a head-to-toe assessment ensures that a nurse is thorough in her assessment of the patient. By starting at the head and working her way down to the feet, she makes sure that she does not miss any of the major body systems. This type of assessment means that a nurse is checking all systems for abnormalities and is less likely to miss any problems the patient may have.
Sequential
The head-to-toe assessment follows a logical sequence. It starts at the head and neck, moves on to the chest, then to the abdomen. It is easy to remember and makes sense for a nurse who is just starting out. The assessment is also second nature for those who have been nurses for years. Its chain of thinking makes sense and can keep a nurse on track, so that she does not forget any of the important parts of her assessment.
Decreases Position Change
The patient does not have to make very many position changes with the head-to-toe assessment. This can be of vital importance when dealing with critical patients or working on patients who are very sick. It would not be advantageous for a nurse to jump all around and ask the patient to turn over five times, when she could ask them to do it once. This way, the nurse concentrates on one area and then moves on to the next.
Organized
This form of assessment helps a nurse stay organized and to not forget things in her assessment. It helps her to not miss important data and even helps her with writing her notes. If a nurse writes down assessment data in a head-to-toe fashion, she will not forget to document anything. Head-to-toe assessment is like a portable file cabinet. The technique helps a nurse keep things organized in her head and to organize her flow sheets efficiently.
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You can study radiology at a school in the Pittsburgh area.
Radiology refers to the application of imaging technologies, such as x-rays, computed tomography (CT), ultrasound and medical resonance imaging (MRI), in the diagnosis and treatment of various medical conditions and injuries. According to the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, there are two accredited schools in the city of Pittsburgh. There are also training programs in the nearby cities of New Kensington and Washington and the outlying suburban borough of Monroeville.
Sanford-Brown Institute
In addition to multiple locations throughout the United States, the Sanford-Brown Institute offers an associate of specialized technology degree program with a major in radiography at its Pittsburgh campus. This program consists of classroom lectures, imaging laboratory coursework and supervised training in a clinical setting. Course topics include body structure and function, digital image production and analysis, radiographic pathology, radiologic physics, radiographic procedures and techniques, radiobiology and imaging modalities.
Sanford-Brown Institute
421 7th Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
888-270-6333
sanfordbrown.edu
UPMC Health Systems
The Department of Radiology at UPMC Health Systems offers several fellowship and four-year resident training programs in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Health Sciences. A number of subspecialties are available, including neuroradiology, nuclear medicine, abdominal and thoracic imaging, vascular and interventional radiology, musculoskeletal imaging and neuroradiology. Clinical rotations are available at more than 30 hospitals and clinics throughout western Pennsylvania.
UPMC Health Systems
School of Radiography
200 Lothrop St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2582
800-533-8762
upmc.com
Community College of Allegheny County
Located about 15 miles east of Pittsburgh in Monroeville, the Community College of Allegheny County offers an associate in science degree in radiologic technology. This program consists of four academic semesters and two summer sessions. Coursework includes anatomy and physiology, algebra, radiologic technology, physics, radiography and practical clinical applications.
Community College of Allegheny County
Boyce Campus
595 Beatty Road
Monroeville, PA 15146-1396
724-327-1327
ccac.edu
Penn State University at New Kensington
Located about 18 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, Penn State University at New Kensington offers a 24-month associate degree in radiological science that combines general, specialized and clinical training course requirements. Course topics include patient care, anatomy, radiation protection and biology, pathology, physiology, pharmacy and drug administration, radiation physics and clinical applications. Clinical education is conducted at Western Pennsylvania Hospital, Butler Memorial Hospital, Allegheny Imaging of McCandless and Allegheny General Hospital.
Penn State University at New Kensington
3550 Seventh Street Road
New Kensington, PA 15068-1765
nk.psu.edu
Washington Hospital
Located about 30 miles from Pittsburgh, the School of Radiologic Technology at Washington Hospital offers a 24-month training program. Students receive 800 hours of theoretical classroom instruction and over 2,500 hours of hands-on practical experience. Clinical rotations are completed in CT, MRI and similar specialty imaging areas both in the Radiology Department and at off-site facilities within a 30-mile radius of the hospital.
Washington Hospital
School of Radiologic Technology
155 Wilson Avenue
Washington, PA 15301
724-223-3326
washingtonhospital.org
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