LPN to RN Blog

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It is a short transition from becoming a paramedic to becoming an RN, although many people will dispute this statement.  Paramedics are trained to work in specific fields that are much different than RNs, but this still gives you a taste of what the health care industry is like, and how quickly you must think on your feet.  Paramedics are usually the first on the scene for many emergencies and therefore must be accustomed to scenes of gore, while RNs are typically involved more with patient care after the fact.

Becoming a paramedic involves passing your EMT exams and training yourself to become used to uncomfortable scenes.  This amount of training goes a long way in preparing you for a lifelong career in the health industry, whether you want to become a nurse or a doctor.  This type of training is vastly instrumental in securing your taste for the medical field.  After a few years of paramedic work, many workers typically are more interested in exploring different medical alternatives, which is why there are now so many paramedic to RN bridge programs that help close the gap in knowledge between the two programs.

Paramedic to RN bridge programs help students transition to becoming an RN without involving years of study, years that many of us do not have.  These programs allow students to take the knowledge they have learned in the paramedic field, and apply this to classes toward becoming an RN.  As a paramedic, you typically do not have as much time as traditional nursing students may have, which is why many of the paramedic to RN bridge programs cater to your schedule and are beginning to be offered online.  These programs save years of time in the schooling process and can expedite the transition to becoming an RN.

The biggest thing to consider when enrolling in these programs is the amount of knowledge you have gained since becoming a paramedic.  If  you do not feel secure in your own field, then you should consider enrolling in strictly nursing school, bypassing the paramedic to RN bridge program.  However, if you have a strong background, this program is very beneficial toward expediting the process.  While the two fields are related, it is important to keep in mind that they involve many different procedures and many different types of situations.  Paramedics do not have to worry about catering to the same patient more than thirty minutes after an incident; nurses, on the other hand, are required to check on their patients round the clock (depending on the type of nurse of course).  This transition may be difficult for some students, but taking the proper classes and training yourself for this work will make the transition much smoother.
 

It is no surprise that nursing in an in-demand industry. Not only are people trying to find their way into it, many nursing professionals are trying to qualify for more demanding jobs so that they can move up within it. When it comes to advancement opportunities that will lead to larger job roles and larger paychecks, the key is education.

A Licensed Practical Nurse is one who has completed a State-approved training program in practical nursing, from a technical school, hospital, vocational school, community college, university, or junior college. Those who are licensed have also passed the NCLEX-PN, which covers a variety of client needs. Mostly generalist, when it comes to all areas of health care, LPNs provide basic bedside care for patients. Because of their limited education, they must work under the supervision of a registered nurse or a physician. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wages of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in May 2008 were $39,030. Taking into consideration salary, as well as the limitations on an LPN’s role, it’s not surprising that some LPNs choose to advance in their careers by enrolling in LPN to RN training programs.

A Registered Nurse is one who has earned a bachelor’s of science in nursing, an associate degree in nursing, or a nursing diploma. These types of programs are typically offered at colleges, universities, community colleges, junior colleges, or hospitals. After graduating from one of these programs they must pass the NCLEX-RN, in order to obtain a nursing license. RN’s treat and educate patients about medical conditions, along with routine duties like recording medical histories, performing diagnostic tests, analyzing results, administering treatment, and helping with patient follow-up. According to Salary.com, the median expected salary for the average RN staff nurse ranges from $58,414 to $70,620, but that can differ depending on experience, location, and specialty. Nurses who really want to advance in their field continue their nursing education on a higher level.

An Advanced Practice Nurse is one who has earned at least a master’s degree in nursing. They choose to become one of four types of APNs, clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, nurse-midwives, and nurse practitioners. These types of nurses have the freedom to work more independently, collaborate with other physicians, provide primary care services, and most have the ability to prescribe medicine. According to PayScale, an APN with one to four years of experience can earn a median salary of $96,725, but annual salaries can differ according to specialty and experience.

Before you can officially begin your nursing career, you must take the NCLEX-RN, otherwise known at the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse. Nursing students only have three chances to pass the NCLEX-RN, but typically passing rates are positive. According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 88.42 percent of the students educated in the United States who took the NCLEX-RN passed it the first time they took it in 2009. To ace the NCLEX-RN, you are going to want to know about its format, content, and questions.

To ensure the safety of the public, those who want to practice nursing are required to pass the NCLEX-RN. Both created and administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, the exam assesses the skills, abilities, and knowledge that are necessary to safely and effectively practice nursing at the entry-level. The NCLEX-RN appears in a CAT format, known as computerized adaptive testing. This method of testing takes into consideration the way that the test taker has answered previous questions in order to select future questions, making it so that an examinee who answers a difficult question correctly is then presented with a more difficult question. But, one who answers a difficult question incorrectly is then presented with a simpler question.

The NCLEX-RN contains content over the categories of patient needs including safe and effective care environment, health promotion and maintenance, psychosocial integrity, and physiological integrity. Within the safe and effective care environment category, topics appear that concern infection control and management of care. The health promotion and maintenance category contains content about growth and development through the life span and prevention and early detection of disease. The category of psychosocial integrity involves the issues of coping and adaption, and psychosocial adaption. The exam concludes with the physiological integrity category, which addresses basic care and comfort, reduction of risk potential, physiological adaption, and pharmacological and parenteral therapies.

The majority of questions on the exam appear in a multiple choice answer format, but some may ask broader questions which cannot be answered through multiple choice. These types of questions might require examinees to look a picture of a body part and identify a particular area of it that is relevant to the question. Others may require that you make a mathematical calculation and input an answer about a question related to medication dosage. And there may be some questions that pertain to medical or nursing procedures and will ask you to arrange actions in the correct order. To accurately answer questions to their best ability, examinees must apply their knowledge and use cognitive abilities, such as memorization, recalling, analysis, and application.

In college, your classes are more spread out so that you have fewer places to be each day, but your work load is a lot heavier. But with all that extra baggage comes library books, textbooks, planners, notebooks, papers, folders, portfolios, and other crap that weighs you down and can even cause your body serious damage and injury. No matter how fit or big you are, lugging around a backpack that’s about to burst can affect your posture, give you back or neck problems, and even darken your mood, if you’re constantly reminded of how much work you have to do. Unlike high school, though, you don’t have a locker to stash books between classes, and even if your school is pretty small, you may not have time to dash back and forth between your dorm or even your car to switch out your bag’s hefty contents.

The most effective way to lighten your load is to first streamline all your supplies and books and then organize your class and study schedule so that you’re not packing more than you need each day. To minimize the amount of stuff you have, use an expandable notebook or folder for all your class paperwork, and even your extracurricular papers, if there’s a separate section for that. A 5-subject notebook or a binder with dividers that have pockets can help tremendously. If you think your notes will fill up a single notebook or divider too quickly, than use two: one for your Monday/Wednesday/Friday courses, and one for your Tuesday/Thursday classes. If it’s Tuesday, though, and you want to fit in a little studying for a Wednesday exam, you won’t want to bring both binders with you. Instead, keep the expandable folder or notebook for study guides and important print-outs or copies that you want to keep with you, every day. After the test is over, you can file the papers back in your binder and fill the everyday folder with more updated study materials.

As for books, only bring the ones you know you absolutely have to have for class or to study. If you have reading to do, bring the lightest books with you and leave the heavier ones for reading in your room or for when you can go back to make a swap. Another trick for lightening your load is to make photo copies or copy downloads, web pages, and other research. onto a disk drive.

Licensed professional nurses (LPNs), sometimes called licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), are essential to many health care settings, particularly nursing homes, physician’s offices and home health care. However, in today’s economy, many health care centers are cutting back on LPN positions, there is less LPN job turnover, and job openings for LPNs can be exceedingly difficult to find. If you are an LPN who loves working with patients and helping them achieve optimum health, than you may want to look into becoming a registered nurse (RN).

First of all, RNs earn more money on average than LPNs. The average annual salary of an LPN as of May 2008 was $39,030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Compare that to the average annual salary of an RN, which sits at $62,450. Even the low end of the RN pay scale is typically higher than the average salary of an LPN. While money should never be the primary motivator for such a career move, it is certainly nothing to sniff at, especially if you already know for certain that you enjoy treating and working with patients.

Secondly, RNs have more opportunities for specialization than LPNs do. Many board certifications in nursing can only be attained after completing an accredited nursing program and becoming licensed as a registered nurse. You will also have more mobility as a nurse, as the job options for RNs are more diverse. RNs can venture into social work, teaching, nonprofit work and other areas that require them to maintain an RN license. For LPNs, entering into these niche nursing professions is much more difficult.

RNs also have a larger scope of practice than an LPN. This means RNs are authorized to perform more types of interventions for patients than LPNs are. If you wish to provide more comprehensive health care to your patients, then becoming a registered nurse is the way to go.

Another reason it’s a good idea to become an RN is because of the wide availability of LPN-to-RN programs. There are tons of higher education programs designed with you in mind. These programs are designed for students with real-world LPN experience and can greatly accelerate your pace of becoming an RN, particularly an RN prepared at the associate level. Even better news is that many of these LPN-to-RN programs offer all or most of their courses online, with clinical rotations taking place in a hospital setting.

If you want higher pay, greater mobility, a wider scope of practice and more opportunities for advancement, making the move from LPN to RN is the best choice you can make.

Going back to school is both relieving and stressful for most parents of school or college aged children. From buying backpacks and new clothes to making transportation arrangements and paying tuition, parents try to make every necessary preparation for their child before that first day back to school. One thing many parents over look is an annual physical or check up for their students. Making appointments with primary care physicians, dentists, vision and hearing experts are essential to keeping your child happy and healthy at the start of a new school year.

All students, regardless of their age, should receive an annual checkup, and right before school is a great time to schedule one. There are many benefits to making a quick stop by the doctor’s office. First, a great deal of students participate in school sports activities and will need to have a doctor authorized release form completed prior to try outs. This form can be completed following a routine physical examination. Also, it is important to review a student’s immunization records. Sometimes school districts can change their immunization requirements for enrolled students. Making certain student have the most current vaccinations and immunizations can be critical in keeping them safe and healthy at school.

The annual checkup is also a great time for parents and physicians to discuss students’ general growth and development, learning disability concerns or past injuries. Ensuring kids are growing at the proper levels and not suffering from past ailments is important to future development. Also, routine checkups like these can help parents and physicians monitor and screen for any behavioral or emotional problems, like ADHD or depression. And for those students that suffer from severe food allergies or other conditions, parents should request emergency medical treatments from the doctor for the schools to keep on hand should a problem arise. Vision and hearing test are an important part of going back to school. Testing a student’s aptitude in these areas can often help experts detect and prevent any problems or ailments early. Also, poor vision and hearing can make students complacent and anxious in the classroom, have low self esteem and lessen their ability to learn.

So while parents and students are buying new school clothes, backpacks and supplies, they should also be visiting their primary care physician, and vision and hearing experts for routing, annual checkups. These visits can help students remain healthy all school year long.

Education is expensive, and the way things are heading, it is set to become even more pricey in the coming years.  As a result, many students are searching for alternate routes in order to save money in earning a degree.  Online education has managed to make this possible by allowing working students to take classes at their leisure and earn a degree in the same time or less that traditional college classes would require.  LPN to RN programs have joined in on the online education bandwagon and now offer classes to students as an alternative to enrolling in nursing school to become a registered nurse.  These programs have expanded throughout the nation, as more nurses have been able to earn their registration through online programs.

Alabama is no different from any other state and now offers many online programs to students of its public universities.  While many of the major state schools do not yet offer LPN to RN programs through distance learning classes, there are still many options to choose from, many of which save the student time and money.  LPNs already have a lot to deal with, between work and family in most cases, which is why online LPN to RN programs have become such a welcome relief to these students.  Besides saving students thousands of dollars, these programs allow students to earn their registration in half the time without the commute to school every day. 

The recession has indicated to many people the importance of earning an education, or furthering the one they currently hold.  Nursing degrees are no different in comparison to other educational endeavors, as there are many levels of nursing school.  Online programs in Alabama now offer students the opportunity to earn anywhere from an associates to doctoral degree in nursing, indicating a drastic shift in both pay and responsibility.  Online LPN to RN programs are only the beginning for many nursing students, as the opportunities are nearly endless for promotion within the health care industry.  The University of Alabama offers many continuing education programs in nursing, allowing students to pick and choose the program that is best suited for them.

The recession does not mean that students have to give up on their hopes and dreams, but instead has indicated that we all need to try a little harder to earn a quality education.  Online education has overcome many hurdles in the process and has allowed students around the nation to become highly education without the burden of expensive student loans or an inconvenient schedule.  Online LPN to RN programs are one step in the process of nursing degrees and have opened many doors to the possibilities of online nursing programs. 

These blogs will give pre-med students the upper hand on medical knowledge, current events and health care answers. Recognized as a vital learning tool for pre-med students and patients alike, medical blogs are a must-read for education and entertainment. Whether you are applying to medical school, already enrolled or just have an affinity for medicine, these blogs will further your interest, make you laugh often and maybe even prompt you to write a blog of your own!

Student Blogs

All pre-med students have been in your shoes. They had to take the MCAT, apply to medical schools and make the grades to graduate. Reading helpful tips, residency stories and the ups and downs of med school will give you a better understanding of what to expect during those grueling, yet rewarding years.

1. PreM.D.. This blog is student-run and filled with informative tips and intriguing articles that cover many medical topics.
2. Student Doctor Network. Students can share in their med school acceptances, give advice to others or discuss health-related news bits.
3. Pre Med Journey. A pre-med student, who goes by the alias Sam, designed this blog to share tips, reviews and stories of his own experiences working at an ER.
4. Vitum Medicinus. Follow this 24-year-old pre-med student in Canada, as he gives candid accounts of his school experiences and posts intriguing articles.
5. A(n)nals Of An Idle Mind. Get a taste of med school reality with this student’s blog about the most interesting medical books, funny school stories and her love for pediatrics.
6. Scrub Notes. This medical school graduate blogs about residency tips for pre-med students, as well as funny patient encounters.
7. Anatomy Notes. This med student blogs about all things anatomy, hence the title, and shares what he has learned in school thus far.
8. Ah Yes, Medical School.The Fake Doctor, a resident physician, blogs about everything from debunking medical myths to crazy patients.
9. Medical Students. Browse through numerous blogs that discuss student’s concerns: medical school finances, textbooks and MCAT scores.
10. The Long Road to Medical School. Read this self-proclaimed "Old MD Girl’s" blog that records her pre-med school experiences at 29 years old, and gives hope for late twenty-somethings to pursue medicine.
11. Med School Student. "Adventures in Medical School" is filled with intriguing accounts of hospital procedures, patient interactions and her own daily routines.
12. An American Medic in Britain. This American blogger shares his medical school experiences while in Britain.
13. Of Ditziness and Med School. This peppy student makes medical school sound, well, super fun! She uses hot pink text, lots of exclamation points and an enthusiastic tone in her blogs about her patients and hospital experiences.
14. Future Doc.This blogger aims to supply other pre-med students with important tools and advice for medical school.
15. ScienceRoll. Created by a tech savvy medical student, this blog features information about the first medical web 2.0 guide and how it will be integrated into medical school lessons.
16. Medical Educator. Test your knowledge with simulated medical exams and read entertaining blogs written by med students.
17. Med-Source. A one-stop blog that gives med students access to research sites and articles that will answer their questions and ease their worries.
18. Online Community for Medical Students. This is a community of medical student blogs with information on essay topics, research and medical technology.
19. The Rumors Were True. An American medical student in the Caribbean talks about med school rejections and the truths of studying medicine abroad.
20. PANDA BEAR, MD. Read through this med student’s pre-clinical years and residency experiences.
21. Med School Hell. Although this medical school graduate decided not to go forward with medicine, he does provide useful information to those in doubt and who are considering different career paths, as well as those who are happy in med school and just want to read what Hoover has to say.

Doctor Blogs

Doctors have taken blogging by the horns and made it much more than medical directories, but rather an opportunity to share patient stories, give advice and express their strongest opinions about anything and everything. While many like to remain anonymous or use pseudonyms, others are just as proud to be identified as themselves. It’s educational and intriguing all wrapped into one.

22. KevinMD.com. Voted the best medical blog in 2008, KevinMD.com provides insight on medical issues and informs readers about important, and often misunderstood, current medical information.
23. Anonymous Doc. This anonymous doc shares his true feelings about patient-doctor relationships and his not so glamorous hospital experiences.
24. Don’t Become a Doctor. This doctor’s blog has a satirical take on being a doctor with his brutally honest and not always well-received posts, such as "There is no cure," "Hate me" and "The doctor is OUT."
25. NHS Blog Doctor. Get the low-down on British medicine and politics from this family physician’s diary.
26. All Scrubbed Up. Read educational articles and clever posts by doctors on this South African blog.
27. DB’s Medical Rants. Dr. Robert Centor shares his medical opinions with newsy and interesting essays.
28. Notes from Dr. RW. This Arkansas doctor blogs about recent health issues and new medical findings.
29. GruntDoc. Read newsy, health-related articles and see what this ex-battalion surgeon from the Marines has to say.
30. Made a Difference. Christopher Coppola, a pediatric surgeon in Iraq, writes a captivating blog about his experiences in the military.
31. Scalpel or Sword?. This ER doctor posts intriguing stories from his work and sometimes asks what readers would do if they were in his shoes.
32. EM Physician. Bold and sometimes combined with graphic, medical pictures, this blog is a must-read for behind the scenes information.
33. Movin’ Meat: A Plea. This blog is another account of the excitement and frustrations of an ER doctor at work.
34. DocNotes. This blog covers health, technology and all things related to family medicine.
35. The Examining Room. This family physician writes about a wide range of health topics and experiences, including witnessing a seizure, how texting interrupts teenagers’ ability to talk to the doctor and exercising to lose weight.
36. Quackwatch. Doctors blog about medical misconceptions to help patients spot quackery and health fraud scams in order to educate themselves.
37. Aggravated DocSurg. This "Aggravated Surgeon" has a lot to say about surgery complications and problems with the healthcare industry.
38. The Doctor Blogger. Dr. Rima Bishara blogs about the daily routines and obstacles of a doctor.
39. Dr. Wes. Dr. Westby Fisher shares his views on medicine, health studies and his practice.
40. Retired Doc’s Thoughts. See what this retired doctor thinks about health care bills, clinical trials and everything in between.
41. White Coat’s Call Room. Follow the detailed accounts of this emergency physician’s malpractice trial.
42. M.D.O.D.. A few physicians blog about life in the ER and issues within the healthcare system.

Professor Blogs

Professors are at the forefront of medical research, technology and education. So, why not learn from them? Educators’ blogs often address issues like confidentiality, ethics and skepticism for their pre-med students, which many say is for their own good.

43. California Medicine Man. This assistant professor at UCLA School of Medicine blogs about medical issues and occasionally throws in his two cents about politics.
44. Sufficient Scruples. A graduate student going for his PhD started this blog about healthcare issues and ethics in medicine.
45. Global Bioethics Blog. This professor of bioethics blogs about strengthening bioethics and health research in African nations.
46. Women’s Bioethics Blog. Scholars and public policy experts analyze the bioethical issues facing women.
47. Lost in Translation. Read about early phase clinical trials and genetic studies from this bioethics professor.
48. Clinical Cases and Images. This blog is loaded with images and in-depth information on clinical cases to educate students and non-students alike.
49. Froedtert. This academic medical center physician shares medical stories and interesting patient encounters.
50. Dr. Geoff’s MedBlog. Dr. Geoff blogs about breaking medical news and all things health-related.
51. Super Dok. This family physician and professor talks medicine and motherhood in this super blog.
52. Dr. Thompson’s Blog. As a long-time practicing pediatrician and assistant clinical professor, Dr. Thompson gives readers information for "navigating today’s dysfunctional medical system" and focuses on child and family medical issues.
53. Renegade Neurologist. This blog centers on the relationship between neurological disorders and diet, while touching on general health topics too.
54. Revolution Health. This professor of clinical family and preventative medicine is also a men’s health expert who covers general and specific health topics for men.
55. Stress Management. This renowned professor of oncology has narrowed his focus to studying stress — what is does to your health and how to prevent it.
56. Terra Sigillata. This PhD researcher and educator aims to keep an open mind and a healthy dose of skepticism toward natural and conventional medicine, as seen in his articles.
57. Health Care Organizational Ethics. This clinical professor blogs about the importance of ethical organizations (i.e. HMOs, group practices and third parties) and ethical health care.
58. The Physician Executive. Learn about the business of medicine and its effect on overall health care.
59. Docinthemachine. Dr. Steven Palter, an Ob/Gyn, is focused on technology developments that will advance medicine, especially in surgical tools and procedures.
60. Hooked: Ethics, Medicine, and Pharma. This blog touches on the pharmaceutical industry and its role in health care and ethics.
61. BrainBlog. This neuropsychologist and professor blogs about the brain and human behavior.
62. Mind Hacks. These brainy bloggers offer tricks to understanding what’s going on in your head and overall neurological health.

Hospital Blogs

Pre-med students will work at a hospital at one time or another and it’s best to be prepared for the expected and unexpected when that time comes. These blogs serve as educational tools and medical newsfeeds about the life of a hospitalist, patient and even CEO.

63. Wachter’s World. Robert Wachter blogs about hospitalists, hospital policies and patient care.
64. A Happy Hospitalist. This enthusiastic hospitalist blogs about his experiences at the hospital and other medical issues.
65. Internal Medicine Doctor. A hospitalist who writes about current events, patient etiquette and random medical stories.
66. The Hospitalist Refugee. Read about the ups and the downs of being a hospitalist.
67. Running a Hospital. This CEO of a Boston hospital blogs about medicine, health insurance and what’s going on in his workplace.
68. Hospital Impact. Dedicated to making hospitals run more efficiently, this blog covers hospital’s impact, leadership and medical news.
69. Nick Jacobs. In this successful blogger’s site, you’ll read Nick Jacob’s explanation of why hospitals are the way they are.
70. Society of Hospital Medicine. Get the latest news on hospital medicine and read about featured hospitalists.
71. HCPlive. Read articles about hospital medicine and the latest technology being used in hospitals today.
72. Today’s Hospitalist. Find up-to-date articles on hospital medicine and current medical events on this blog.
73. EMedConcepts. Learn about hospital based medical practices and hospital leadership on this emerging blog.
74. Craig Hospital Blog. Read inspirational stories of patients who were admitted to this Colorado hospital.
75. On the Wards. Search the list of best hospitals in America, read about hospital caretaking and an inhospitable hospital.
76. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Get information on this newsy blog that keeps up on the latest patient care, research and education.
77. UTMB Newsroom. Stay connected with The University of Texas Medical Branch’s blog that covers news, medical education and interviews with experts.
78. Riverside. Follow Riverside Health System’s breaking news updates, read a hospital executive’s position on the healthcare reform and check out their clinical trials.
79. Sutter Medical Center. Read about the trials and tribulations of building a new hospital during the economic recession.
80. Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Get news updates, read about hospital medicine and policies from this top ranked hospital according to U.S. News & World Report.

Health and Miscellaneous Blogs

Many blogs cover a wide range of topics, such as health care, medical news and health policies. These are useful tools for understanding the intricacies of the healthcare industry.

81. WSJ. The Wall Street Journal’s blogs cover a variety of news and investigations on health and business.
82. Effect Measure. This blog encourages public health discussions and disagreements, along with providing health education to its readers.
83. Medical Products Insight. Read this blogger’s articles on a variety of issues in the healthcare industry and politics role in medicine.
84. Respectful Insolence. This blog covers up-to-date news about the health industry with clever articles and YouTube videos as references.
85. Science-Based Medicine. View articles about the relationship between science and medicine and see what medical myths these bloggers are debunking.
86. White Coat Underground. Read about "absurd" medical claims, alternative medicine and American healthcare values on PalMD’s blog.
87. Denialism. Read these bloggers’ pieces on denial and how it affects public understanding of medicine.
88. Discover Magazine. Browse through hundreds of informative and well-researched articles about all things health related.
89. Health Policy and Communications. Information about the current debate on healthcare reform and breaking news updates can be found on this Health Policy and Communications blog.
90. General Health. This blog gives patients a chance to moan about their illnesses and health experts a chance to offer medical advice and information.
91. Dr. Weil. This doc shares his medical philosophies and writes about western and eastern medicine.
92. Code of Ethics. Founded on the healthcare code of ethics, this blog ensures reliable information from its bloggers who write about a wide variety of health topics.
93. Placebo Journal. An extension to its magazine, Placebo Journal, this blog covers health issues, medical controversies and current events.
94. InsureBlog. Inspired by government policies and current healthcare issues, this blog touches on insurance principles, problems and solutions.
95. Premed Blog. This blogs posts information on MCAT procedures, admission tips and keeps you up-to-date on medical school news.
96. Health Careers. Andrea Santiago, a medical recruiter, blogs about important issues, such as finding medical jobs, handling student loans and debt and current healthcare debates.
97. Sporula. This blogger explores the bizarre, yet intriguing mysteries of biology and medicine "one spore at a time."
98. Medical Futility. This law professor focuses on medical ineffectiveness by the means of legislative, judicial and political analysis.
99. HealthLawProf Blog. See how medicine and law coincide from pharmaceutical companies and doctors’ relationships to stem cell guidelines.

Your heart is one of the most important organs in your body, and also one of the organs whose health you can most positively influence. Luckily, you do not actually have to do much at all to keep your heart ticking for decades to come. Good heart health and heart disease prevention can be achieved simply.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. In 2006, heart disease caused approximately 631,636 deaths, according to the most recent information available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That figure is a whopping 26 percent of all deaths for that year, which is a scary statistic to consider. Heart disease typically manifests itself in the form of coronary heart disease, which is by far the most common type of heart disease. Arrhythmia, high blood pressure, and cholesterol issues are also symptoms of heart disease and can increase a person’s risk of heart attacks and failure. In general, heart disease is the condition where a person’s cardiac vessels are narrowed due to inflammation or plaque buildup, which can greatly reduce blood flow to the heart, putting a strain on the heart muscles. But you can prevent you and your loved ones from ever developing heart disease by following a few simple lifestyle tips.

Diet plays an important part in maintaining heart health. A healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein is essential in keeping your entire body functioning optimally, and this includes your heart. Be sure to get a variety of foods into your daily diet and to cut down on sugary, fatty, and overly salty foods. These foods can increase your chances of developing heart disease because too much of these foods can cause your arteries to become encrusted in cholesterol or increase your blood pressure.

Regular exercise is important for heart health as well. Your heart is a muscle, and just like any other muscle, to keep it strong, you need to exercise it. This means participating in cardio workouts several times each week. When your heart becomes stronger, it will need to do less work to pump the same amount of blood, which greatly reduces heart strain.

Your heart works hard for you to keep you going day after day. Luckily, you only need to eat right and stay active to keep your heart working for you, which means that staying heart healthy and heart disease-free can be done simply.

After a few hours at the office, you may feel your eyes begin to lose focus. A cup of coffee may help, or a snack from the company vending machine. But one of the best ways to reduce eyestrain is to rest your eyes. Not by sleeping, but by simply taking a break from staring at the computer screen, which should be welcome enough relief from the rigors of updating patient medical information.

Your eyes are delicate organs. There are many components inside of your eyes that allow for you to see, such as the cornea, sclera, choroid, iris, and retina. All of these things work together to take in light and send specific light information to your brain that allows for you to translate that information into vision. In fact, your eyes function very similarly to camera lenses to provide you with a constant stream of visual feedback. Being such sensitive instruments, it is not shocking to learn that your eyes need proper care. Luckily, for the most part, you do not need to do much to care for your eyes other than remove the occasional irritant that wanders its way into it. After all, your body already lubricates and washes your eyes every few seconds with tears and blinking action. What you do need to do, however, is to give your eyes a break every few hours, especially if you work for extended periods of time in low light, in front of a computer, or buried in books.

Eyestrain happens when your eyes become tired from looking too intently at certain things. This is typically caused by too much time in front of a television, computer, book, or low light, where your eyes must work harder to register what is in front of them. Eyestrain symptoms include sore eyes, blurred or double vision, headaches, and sensitivity to light. Though eyestrain is not a serious problem, it can be a pain to deal with. To reduce the symptoms of eyestrain so that you may carry on with your work without incident, make it a point to get up from your desk every few hours to walk around and get a change of scenery away from the computer monitor. In addition, check your monitor to see if you have a computer glare problem. The more glare, the more strain your eyes will feel. Consider getting an anti-glare shield for your monitor to alleviate this problem. Go see an eye doctor if your eyestrain problem does not go away after taking regular breaks and reducing glare. You may be in need of a new eyeglass prescription.