Why Become a Nurse?

Nursing is a rewarding career that can make you really feel good about yourself and the work you’re doing – work that you can do in a variety of locations (some that you might never guess). Although the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there are more than 2.9 million nurses in the United States, there is still a shortage. If you are considering becoming a nurse, your job prospects look pretty good. First, though, see if nursing is the right career for you.

The Importance of Nurses

According to the United States Department of Labor, nurses make up the largest group of healthcare workers in the country. They are vitally important for patient care and to the doctors they work with. They are the most trusted healthcare workers and are the heart and soul of the healthcare world.

The Nurse’s Role

A nurse is so much more than the person who checks your vitals and gives you your annual flu shot. The profession is ideal for someone who enjoys diversity because of the number of roles the nurse takes on. The primary role of a nurse is to advocate and care for patients, supporting them throughout their days, in health and in illness. In addition, a nurse also serves as a teacher, caregiver, critical thinker, administrator and wellness coach.

Where a Nurse Can Work

Besides working in hospitals, clinics and physicians’ offices, nurses can practice their profession in other environments:

• Schools
• Nursing homes and assisted living facilities
• Research facilities
• Military bases
• Zoos
• National parks and theme parks
• Sports centers
• Cruise ships
• Airports

The field offers flexibility and even opportunities to travel the world. Travel nurses, for example, go where they are needed to manage clinics, treat patients and educate local staff. Their assignments change every eight to 13 weeks. Flight nurses handle pre-hospital care, usually going to sites of natural disasters or emergencies, and they accompany patients on helicopters and propeller aircraft.

The Skills Needed to Become a Registered Nurse and the Duties Nurses Perform

Registered nurses need to learn a number of skills to perform their day-to-day duties, which include:

• Administering medicine intravenously
• Applying dressings and bandages
• Drawing blood
• Moving patients carefully and positioning them in hospital beds
• Helping diagnose diseases and injuries
• Planning treatment and recovery
• Recording patients’ symptoms and medical histories
• Measuring and reading vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure and pulse rate
• Operating medical equipment

In addition to the technical skills nurses learn in school, they need to have interpersonal skills to deal with patients:

• Listening to patient questions and concerns
• Compassion
• Inner strength to deal with day-to-day stress, difficult patients and outcomes
• Emotional maturity
• Problem solving
• Critical thinking
• Self-confidence
• Endurance for working long hours

The Core Values of Nursing

According to The Journal of Professional Nursing, there are five core values of nursing – the professional standards of ethics nurses need to follow and live up to every day so that they can advocate and properly care for their patients:

• Human dignity to respect patients’ privacy, dignity and personal rights no matter what
• Integrity to always remain ethical and take responsibility for their actions
• Autonomy to be confident about making sound decisions
• Altruism to treat and care for patients without thought of personal reward or compensation
• Social justice to care for patients fairly, regardless of their race, gender, personal values, ethnicity or background

The Benefits of Nursing as a Career Choice

Doing a job that is meaningful and rewarding can make a difference in your career satisfaction. A nursing degree can provide that satisfaction. You’ll understand what a gift good health is and how to treasure each moment of life. You can take pride in the comfort, peace and care you give their patients, and know that you can make a difference in their lives. Some other benefits of nursing help you directly, such as:

• Schedule flexibility to work the hours that meet the needs of you and your family
• Diverse work location options in hospitals, clinics, doctors’ offices, schools and more
• Certifications and opportunities to continue your education
• The opportunity to specialize in a particular field, such as neo-natal, pediatrics, geriatrics, oncology, trauma, etc.
• Benefit packages that may include health and life insurance, disability insurance, paid sick leave, vacation time, etc.
• Good salaries – the median salary is $70,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics

The Northwestern College Nursing Program

You can prepare for a career as a Registered Nurse (RN) with an Associate in Applied Science degree from Northwestern College’s Violet L. Schumacher School of Nursing. The curriculum is designed with the demands of the healthcare industry in mind. You’ll learn via the classroom and with a hands-on approach in simulation labs and clinical practice. Once you earn your degree – in approximately two years – you’ll be able to hit the ground running and practice nursing, an in-demand career.

For more information about how to prepare for a career as an RN, contact Northwestern College.

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Northwestern College Conducts June 2018 Nursing Pinning Ceremony for Graduates

Chicago Tribune’s TribLocal – Daily Southtown Edition
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/community/chi-ugc-article-northwestern-college-conducts-june-2018-nursi-2018-06-27-story.html

The Palos Patch
https://patch.com/illinois/palos/northwestern-college-conducts-june-2018-nursing-pinning-ceremony

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Northwestern College’s May 2018 Healthcare Career Fair draws its biggest turnout!

Northwestern College’s May 2018 Healthcare Career Fair draws its biggest turnout! Read more below

Chicago Tribune’s TribLocal – Daily Southtown Edition

The Patch – Palos Edition

Career Education Review

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Northwestern College is hosting a Healthcare Career Fair on Thursday, May 24

Northwestern College is hosting a Healthcare Career Fair on Thursday, May 24. Learn more here!

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Faculty Spotlight: Gladys Nieves, Assistant Professor/Dental Assistant Instructor

 In the 20-plus years Gladys Nieves has worked as a dental assistant, she has witnessed the evolution of the dental industry. She has seen it go from the “dinosaur” era of paper records and unsterilized equipment to the digital record keeping and stiff regulations of today’s world. Nieves, an assistant professor and dental assistant instructor at Northwestern College, has done it all – which is a real bonus for her students.

How she went from dental assistant to assistant professor

“I have so much under my belt,” Nieves says. “I’ve worked with pediatric dentists. I’ve worked with the best surgeon. I worked in a hospital setting.” After teaching at another college for five years, it closed. She returned to the field and managed a dental office for two years. “It was important for me to go back and see all the digital stuff and how it’s working now,” she says. “It just refreshed everything for me and took me to a better level.” She trained new assistants at her office – something she said prepared her for teaching once again. When an opportunity to teach at Northwestern came up, she jumped on it. “When I went in for my interview and I started telling them what I know and the people I know, they said, ‘You know what? Let’s get you a classroom.’ I never thought that would happen.”

How the dental field has changed

The biggest noticeable industry change has been with regulations. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) was passed to ensure the privacy and security of patients’ healthcare information. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) standards have improved. “Back in the day, they [dental assistants] were so afraid to sterilize their doctor’s drills because they thought they would break off and need to be replaced,” Nieves says. “Having such standards … having it nice and sterile for the patient makes everybody safe and the environment safe.” Other changes include the way they take X-rays and radiation dosage. “It just gets better and better – the X-rays, the pictures,” she says.   

What she teaches her students

At Northwestern College, dental assistant students learn what they need to work in any type of dental office. “We

teach them here how to chart in a computer setting and also in an old-school paper setting,” she says, “if they get a dentist who still loves his paper charts.”  They learn different types of cavities, teeth names and numbers, surfaces, and how to take specific X-rays (depending on whether the patient is in the office because of a dental emergency or routine exam). She says students also learn how to be professional and answer the phones correctly. Nieves has them practice sending emails to cancel or fill appointments. “If the email doesn’t make sense, I correct them so it looks more professional,” Nieves says. “It’s really important for dental assistants to know that.”

How doing an externship helps students

Besides regular classroom study, dental assistant students are required to complete a 120-hour externship in a real dental office. In school, students work on each other as practice. The externship is different. “They need that hands-on experience to see how a real patient reacts with X-rays or a mold in the mouth, so they learn that they have to be gentle about it,” she explains. “Their friends are going to be a little more lenient on them, but the patients are going to be afraid.” Although students are not paid by the host dentist, they are qualifying for graduation. “We let them know – you have to shine in your externship; you have to treat this like it’s your job,” she says. “It’s their incentive to hurry up and finish those hours because they can graduate and get hired. It’s a win-win situation.”

What makes Northwestern College special

“Northwestern College has a beautiful state-of-the-art facility, and a lot of these new doctors – they’re getting that,” Nieves says. “They’re going top-notch with their stuff because they want to impress the patients who come in and are competitive with other new doctors.” Students at Northwestern work in that type of environment, but the comprehensive program prepares them to be able to work in any dental facility. “We touch upon every dental aspect, and then their last term we touch on every specialty there is.” Additionally, Nieves says the students develop strong camaraderie with their classmates. “They help each other out. It’s very important for them to look out for each other as dental assistants. Why don’t you come here? It’s really nice.” Nieves says that in many cases, students end up working for the dentist they externed for. “They train them the way they want them, so they wind up keeping them,” she says. “That’s a foot in the door for the student.”

What the prospects look like for dental assistants

Nieves says dental assistants are more in demand than are dental hygienists because of their varied responsibilities. A dental hygienist cleans teeth and can administer anesthesia. “If they can hire a doctor to clean teeth and do everything, they’ll hire a doctor,” she says. “There’s less chance of employment for dental hygienists.” On the other hand, dental assistants do the bulk of the work. They set up the instruments a doctor needs for any given procedure, take molds for custom impressions of teeth and for creating special appliances, take X-rays and set up bleaching trays. “They need to know the instruments, the functions, the setups,” she explains. “If a doctor’s doing a filling, they need to know what type of filling and what instruments they need for it.” Nieves says that in a typical dentist’s office, they might need three or four dental assistants. In large offices, that number could go up to 15. “I used to work at the hospital, and I’d see 15, 20 assistants and there would be one to two dental hygienists.”

 What she likes best about teaching

“I love it when students succeed. They love this program,” she says. As students “get” the program, they begin talking a dental language, Nieves says, is built in the dental community. “We talk about a specific tooth that has a decay on it, and it’s a big deal. Oh, tooth number three has an occlusal decay. Only we know what that means.” She says she loves when they catch on. “That’s what I love about it – when I see them speaking to me the way I know, my language of dental talk. Welcome to my world!”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for dental assistants is expected to grow by 19 percent from 2016 to 2026 – much faster than the average for other occupations. If you think your future career could be as a dental assistant, contact Northwestern College today.

 

 

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Faculty Spotlight: Christopher Wheat, Program Director of Health Information Management

Christopher Wheat had originally planned on becoming a physician when he entered the University of Chicago as an undergraduate. Fortunately for Northwestern College, he changed his plans. The multi-degreed, multi-awarded Wheat is now Program Director of the college’s new Health Information Management program. How he went from there to here is a fascinating story.

When life pulls you in an unexpected direction

Wheat received his bachelor’s in biological sciences with a specialization in neuroscience from U of C. “At one point, I considered becoming a psychiatrist,” Wheat reflects. “Life, of course, pulled me in a different direction, and in my last year of college I was performing research at the U of C children’s hospital, Wyler’s [now known as Comer Children’s], working in the developmental neurobiology laboratory.” He liked research, so decided to stick with it for another year after graduation. He transferred to UIC’s (University of Illinois at Chicago) Department of Physiology and Biophysics, where he performed research on genetic knockout mice, studying different myosin isoform physiological traits. His contract expired about the time of the shaky political climate in 2004-2006, when many of the sciences were defunded.

How making a necessary change affected plans

“The positions that I normally had and was qualified for with a bachelor’s from the University of Chicago were no longer within my reach,” he says. Research positions seemed to be open only to those who had PhDs. Wheat thought he might need to shift his career goals. “At that point, I wasn’t really interested in medicine per se, but I still loved science,” he says. While searching the Internet for jobs and career alternatives, he saw something intriguing, yet unfamiliar to him: health information technology (HIT). As he learned more about HIT, he followed the path to Northwestern College in 2008.

When starting from scratch is a good thing

Although Wheat was armed with a degree from a prestigious university, he knew it wasn’t enough. “I wanted a firm foundation, a firm footing in a profession instead of just getting a post-graduate certificate,” he says. He signed up for Northwestern College’s associate’s program in HIT. He completed the program, received his RHIT (Registered Health Information Technician) certification and began looking for work. Wheat’s predecessor at NC received a copy of his exam results and was so impressed that he asked him to start teaching new graduates the exam review class. He worked part-time for six months as an adjunct faculty member. “After getting rave reviews,” he says, “I was extended an offer of full-time faculty, full-time instructor.” He decided that if he planned to teach, he should continue his own education.

How adding more credentials improves chances

In the fall of 2014, Wheat began a master’s program in HIM (Health Information Management) at the College of St. Scholastica. During the next two years, he certified in CCS-P (Certified Coding Specialist – Physician-based), CCS (Certified Coding Specialist) and RHIA (Registered Health Information Administrator). “I officially elevated my RHIT certificate, which is the two-year certification to the four-year administrator.” Wheat completed his first master’s last August in Health Information Management, but that wasn’t enough for him. He started a second master’s in Health Informatics that he will complete in August of this year.

When closing one door opens others

As luck would have it, in 2015 Wheat’s predecessor at Northwestern College decided he wanted to get back into the field, and he tendered his resignation. Wheat assumed the role of program director and department chair at that time. In addition management of the certificate and degree programs, he continues to teach and this quarter is teaching Coding I and the 120-hour practical course for associate’s-degree students; which is the culmination of their two-year academic career. Aside from his Northwestern College commitment, Wheat is active in area professional associations, including CAHIMA (Chicago Area Health Information Management Association) and ILHIMA (Illinois Health Information Management Association). “In 2015, I was awarded the Outstanding New Professional Award by ILHIMA and decided to run for a board seat.,” he says. “I’m currently serving my second year as Director of Education on the board of ILHIMA. I’m finishing up the term this year, and am currently running for President of ILHIMA.”

What he sees as his personal goals

Wheat wants to make the Northwestern College HIM program the premier HIM program of the Midwest. “I put my blood, sweat and tears into constantly improving the curriculum with the help of amazing faculty,” he says. “I really love the students.” With his open-door policy, Wheat encourages students to come to him any time they have issues or questions. “I hate for a student to struggle in silence,” he continues. “I remember when I first went to college at the U of C where our motto literally was ‘where fun comes to die.’ I never want a student to feel that way.” He’s well on his way to achieving his goal, partially due to NC’s many benefits – especially the small class size. “With Northwestern College being a relatively small college, students can get that one-on-one interaction and help that they need.” In addition to the personal approach that is part of classroom instruction, Wheat believes the school’s tutoring options from peers, professionals and instructors; structure of coursework; easily accessible location; and online options are all benefits of the educational programs offered at Northwestern College.

Getting into Health Information Management was a wise decision for Christopher Wheat. If you think Northwestern College’s new bachelor’s program in Health Information Management is right for you, apply now.

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How Unscrupulous Physicians in Illinois Profit from Misuse of Medical Coding and Billing

Although physicians are not required to swear the original Hippocratic Oath, written in 500 BCE and detailing a moral code of contact, they do vow similar sentiments. The modern version essentially states to “do no harm” and also consider patients’ social and financial well-being when treating them. Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous physicians out there who abuse their position for personal financial gains. In Illinois, the lax medical regulations have made it possible for even disgraced doctors to line their pockets at the expense of their patients.

Growth of the home healthcare industry

In 2016, the industry added 35,000 jobs per month on average – many of them in home healthcare – to cope with an aging population. Many disabled people or elderly individuals who want to avoid having to go to nursing homes or hospitals rely on the services home healthcare can provide. It is a profitable business that in Illinois only requires a $25 licensing fee – and no criminal background check. With a surge in new home healthcare companies, the state’s public health regulators are unprepared to keep up and issue licenses without properly vetting applicants. 

The prevalence of fraud and misrepresentation

Many of these home healthcare companies operate in the best interests of their patients. However, fraud is prevalent throughout the industry, putting patients’ lives at risk. Corrupt physicians – some whom have lost their malpractice insurance, hospital privileges and professional standing – have infiltrated the industry with disregard for patient care, motivated by greed and personal gain. By misusing and inflating medical coding and billing, unethical doctors and home healthcare agencies scam patients, “robbing” taxpayer-financed programs. They may falsify patient medical histories and diagnoses; order unwarranted procedures, therapies and tests; and prescribe unnecessary or addictive drugs.

How the scamming works

In most areas of medicine, physician referrals are required to qualify for insurance coverage. However, Medicare permits home health agencies to take on patients before they are certified for care – something that happens often in Chicago. Once the agencies or the doctors on their payrolls falsely certify that patients are home-bound and require skilled nursing care, Medicare pays them – and they profit. They rake in the money as long as no one reports otherwise. There are “patient brokers” unprepared to keep up and issue licenses without properly vetting applicants.

The prevalence of fraud and misrepresentation

Many of these home healthcare companies operate in the best interests of their patients. However, fraud is prevalent throughout the industry, putting patients’ lives at risk. Corrupt physicians – some whom have lost their malpractice insurance, hospital privileges and professional standing – have infiltrated the industry with disregard for patient care, motivated by greed and personal gain. By misusing and inflating medical coding and billing, unethical doctors and home healthcare agencies scam patients, “robbing” taxpayer-financed programs. They may falsify patient medical histories and diagnoses; order unwarranted procedures, therapies and tests; and prescribe unnecessary or addictive drugs.

How the scamming works

In most areas of medicine, physician referrals are required to qualify for insurance coverage. However, Medicare permits home health agencies to take on patients before they are certified for care – something that happens often in Chicago. Once the agencies or the doctors on their payrolls falsely certify that patients are home-bound and require skilled nursing care, Medicare pays them – and they profit. They rake in the money as long as no one reports otherwise. There are “patient brokers” for fraudulent agencies who actively solicit potential elderly victims in stores, food pantries, churches and even at bus stops, and they receive illegal kickbacks for their efforts. According to the Chicago Tribune, at least 15 Chicago-area doctors have been charged with or convicted of paying or accepting kickbacks in the last seven years. An overworked system is partially to blame for the healthcare fraud that Illinois faces, and a return to ethics is called for.

Taking an ethical stand

Northwestern College, in addition to providing excellent education, strives to instill the importance of ethics to its students. Regulations regarding licensing and certification in the healthcare industry require that everyone employed in the field has the proper training and qualifications. Northwestern College supplies students with the required skills necessary for employment in hospitals, clinics, private practice and more. In addition to providing practical training and education, NC encourages personal growth and ethical behavior that lead to continued opportunities and success throughout your career.

Northwestern College’s broad range of healthcare programs

The healthcare industry is facing many challenges this year because of policy changes, new players and health crises, among others. This has also led to tremendous growth and the need for more healthcare professionals.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in healthcare occupations is expected to grow 18 percent by 2026 – adding about 2.3 million jobs. The School of Health Sciences at Northwestern College offers several programs that can have you in an entry-level position in the healthcare industry in two years or less. Flexible schedules and affordable payment plans are available to accommodate students’ lifestyles and responsibilities.

Choose a course of study at Northwestern College and become a:

• Coding specialist: Medical coding is essential to the healthcare industry. Medical coding is necessary for reimbursement, tracking and clinical decision support. Coding also aids in detecting fraud and abuse.
• Medical assistant: Work with doctors, helping to perform a variety of clinical and administrative duties that are essential to the smooth operation of a doctor’s office, hospital or medical clinic.
• Health information technician: Help maintain vital patient information and records, making it portable and easily sharable among medical professionals while keeping it protected and secure.
• Radiologic technician: Learn to use x-ray radiation to perform procedures for use in the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, diseases and injuries.
• Dental assistant: Work alongside dentists performing an assortment of duties, from taking x-rays and readying dental tools, to scheduling patient appointments and keeping records.At the Violet L. Schumacher School of Nursing at Northwestern College, train to become a nurse – the foundation of every healthcare organization. Patients will trust you for their hands-on care and will look to you as a liaison between them and the rest of the healthcare community.With all of the Northwestern College programs, your curriculum is a blend of hands-on experience and traditional classroom learning. It’s a well-rounded education that gives you a firsthand look at what to expect when you are in the workforce.To get an education you can be proud of and an in-demand career position to aspire to, contact Northwestern College today.

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