t-cell's Blog

Re: WHO: Swine flu originating in Mexico could develop into a pandemic

H1N1 update

Seasonal flu may hit Europe after H1N1: experts

Excerpts:

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – The H1N1 pandemic flu virus could kill up to 40,000 people across Europe and be followed by seasonal flu waves that could kill the same number, European health experts said on Friday.

The Sweden-based European Center for Disease Prevention and Control said epidemics of H1N1, known as swine flu, were now affecting almost all countries in the European Union but it could not predict how intense the peaks would be.

What was certain, it said, was that the pandemic would continue to kill thousands and put many patients into intensive care as the northern hemisphere's winter sets in.

*Read full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20091106/hl_nm/us_flu_europe_1

Re: How to apply for the Visa Screen certificate for the first-time

Admin's note:

Just bumping this thread to facilitate new members applying for the visa screen certificate for the 1st time to post under here instead as this is the appropriate thread for 1st time applicants.

Thanks.

Re: CGFNS VisaScreen Renewal Questions

Admins' note:

Closing this thread temporarily for new comments to help divert new members who are applying for the Visa Screen for the first time to instead post on the correct thread.

Thank you for understanding.

Re: CGFNS VisaScreen Renewal Questions

ADMINS' NOTE

Hello everyone and new members.  Just reminding everyone that this particular thread is solely for questions about Visa Screen Renewals as the title of the thread indicates, so as not to go off-topic pls. limit questions posted on this thread about Visa Screen Renewal questions.

Any questions about applying for the visa screen certification for the first time, pls. go on this specific thread:  http://foreign-nurse.lefora.com/2009/02/27/visa-screening/page1/#post7008201 and post your questions there.

It is also advisable to back-read the thread firs and downloading and reading the instructions for the application packet.

Thank you for understanding.

P.S. Clickable shortcut links can also be found on our sidebar on the right and the thread about applying for the Visa Screen for the first time entitled 'How to apply for the Visa Screen certificate for the first-time' can be found there as well.

Re: CGFNS VisaScreen Renewal Questions

oh, so i can just send them $10 for the copy of test results and they will send the copy to CGFNS/ICHP? but how about the request for validation/license for visa screen form, will they fill it out with no additional charge? or i have to pay for it? m really sorry for having lots of questions, m just making sure.

-someone19

As I said, only one service will suffice and doing both is unnecessary. 

If you choose to do the $10 service, you do not need to do the 'request for validation/license' anymore. No need to send them that form anymore and just write a Request Letter for the 'copy of test results'.

Hope that clarifies everything.  Try to forget what you've read from the internet that you need to do both.  I'll say to you blantly that it is wrong.

So, to answer your question, yes.  Once you request for the $10 'copy of test results' that is all you need.  they will send 1 copy to where you instruct them to send it and as mentioned you can even instruct them to send it to other addresses you indicate in your letter such as your own address so that you can also have a copy for yourself.  Each copy is $10 and you can request for them to send as many copies as you want and instruct them to send it to multiple addresses as long as you indicate all the detailed mailing address and you pay for each copy.

Re: CGFNS VisaScreen Renewal Questions

which is which? $60 and the verification form or all that is said above and $70? hope any1 could help.

-someone19

Both the $60 verification service and the $10 copy of test result are accepted by CGFNS/ICHP. You only need to choose one.   Doing both is only going to be redundant.

Majority choose to just request CA BRN for the $10 copy of test results and it has always been accepted by CGFNS/ICHP.  A few choose to do the $60 because it is the safest thing to do. 

If you choose to do the $10 service, you only have to send a formal Request Letter (there are no forms for this, so a letter is needed) to CA BRN that a copy of test results be sent to CGFNS/ICHP as a requirement for the visa screen and enclose a $10 bank draft.  You may also choose to instruct CA BRN to send you a copy as well w/c I recommend doing as that serves as another proof of having passed the NCLEX via CA BRN.  This also has your digital picture taken before the exam on the letter. 

It will be $10 per copy and you can make out a single bank draft for the total fees.  Don't forget to include in your request letter an accurate mailing address of the places where you want those copies of test results be sent.

The tale of two health care reforms

In an ironic twist of events, in less than 24 hours that the American Medical Association (AMA) and AARP (American Association of Retired Person) took their stand of endorsing the House version of the Health Care Reform - the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) in charge of unbiasly analyzing the different versions put forth thrashed the Republican's 11th hour version of Health Care Reform saying that it will not cover as much people as compared to the Democrat version.  What's more stunning is not only does the Democrat version cover more people (36 million more vs. a measly 3 million more for the GOP version), the Dem version will actually decrease the budget deficit by $104 billion as compared to just $68 billion via the GOP version.  In short, the Dem version (even though not perfect - no plan is! ) is far, far more a superior plan compared to the GOP plan. 

It's ironic because we can actually see things forking out from these series of events that had unfolded.  One gaining more momentum, while the other loosing steam.

Congressional Budget Office Thrashes Republican Health-Care Plan

Excerpts:

Republicans are learning an unpleasant lesson this morning: The only thing worse than having no health-care reform plan is releasing a bad one, getting thrashed by CBO and making the House Democrats look good in comparison

This is a major embarrassment for the Republicans. It's one thing to keep your cards close to your chest. Republicans are in the minority, after all, and their plan stands no chance of passage. It's another to lay them out on the table and show everyone that you have no hand, and aren't even totally sure how to play the game. The Democratic plan isn't perfect, but in comparison, it's looking astonishingly good.

*Read full article: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2009/11/congressional_budget_office_th.html

AMA, AARP back House health care bill

Excerpts:

Washington (CNN) -- The push to overhaul health care received a major boost Thursday as the American Medical Association and AARP endorsed legislation drafted by top House Democrats.
The AARP, the nation's largest organization of older Americans, is a nonpartisan group that advocates for people 50 and older. The AMA, historically an opponent of health care reform, is considered one the nation's most influential doctors' advocacy groups.

"I want to thank both organizations again for their support, and I urge Congress to listen to AARP, listen to the AMA and pass this reform for hundreds of millions of Americans who will benefit from it," President Obama said at the White House.

The backing of those two groups comes as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, oversees final changes to the $1.1 trillion health care bill. The measure likely will come to a final vote Saturday.

*Read full article: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/11/05/health.care/index.html

*AARP Endorses House Health Care Reform Bil:

*AMA supports House bills to make health reform a reality:
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/health-system-reform/ama-supports-house-bills.shtml

Re: CGFNS VisaScreen Renewal Questions

Admin's note:

Hi everyone and new members.  I would just like to suggest to try back-reading first on this thread starting from page 1 as some frequently asked questions may have already been asked and answered there.  If your query has not been previously been answered or discussed before, pls. don't hesitate to ask.

Re: CGFNS VisaScreen Renewal Questions

Hi, I would like to ask about the best thing to do regarding Visa Screen, I am here in the Philippines. I took my NCLEX Exam last Sep 2009 for the the state of Vermont, and I'm planning to take IELTS this December, I'm just worried because I've learned that there is expiration of 2 yrs for IELTS.  But my teacher told me, that I can apply for Visa Screen after taking IELTS so it will not expire, is it true?  is it necessary to take CGFNS to obtain Visa Screen? or NCLEX + IELTS to obtain Visa Screen is okay already? since there is retrogression, I know it will take time for us to go in the US, so I am hoping I can get VIsa Screen, is it true that it is valid for 5 years? 
I hope you can help me with this issue. Thanks in advance! :)

-chiechies

Hi and welcome to foreign-nurse.lefora.com

What your teacher told you is both correct and incorrect.  Let me explain further.

Once you submit your IELTS as part of the requirements for the visa screening and you've been granted the visa screen certificate you don't have to renew the IELTS anymore after 2 years BUT until only as long as the visa screen certificate is still valid.  The Visa Screen certificate is good for 5 years until you will be asked to renew it again.  It will only be at this time that you need to renew your IELTS again as part of the req't for the visa screen renewal is to give them a new IELTS results.  You still have to renew your IELTS once the Visa screen certificate expires after 5 years.

In short, the visa screen certificate has effectively extended the usual 2 years expiration that other institutions asks.  Note that this is only true for the visa screen certification. 

If you are going to use your IELTS for other purposes besides the Visa Screen Certificate, such as going to another country such as UK or Australia they will usually only accept IELTS results that are not more than 2 years.

Re: CGFNS VisaScreen Renewal Questions

i have a question about the renewal process. i recently passed theNCLEX RN exam, and already passed the IELTS exam last april 2009. Now,m planning to apply for CGFNS visa screen certificate but my concern isabout the renewal process. in my NCLEX letter, they are asking for aSSN number but then i dont have 1, and they said they will destroy myfile if i cant provide it in 3 years time. my question is, my NCLEXexam will probably expire 3 years from now, and if apply for CGFNS visascreen certification, it'll expire 5 years, but by the time i wouldrenew my VSC, would they still need my NCLEX exam? coz it will expirein 3 years. or they wont be asking for my NCLEX passing letter anymore,since i already have my VSC? as proof i passed NCLEX.Hope u could helpme.=)

-someone19

Hi and welcome to the forum.

1) In general, the NCLEX exam per se exam does not expire.  It is the individual licenses that expires w/c only needed to be renewed just like licenses in the Philippines are only needed to be renewed w/o taking the NLE again.

2) You forgot to tell what State you are talking about because each State has it's own policies and regulations when it comes to giving and maintaining licenses but I will venture to guess that it is California you are talking about since they are the only one w/c has that set-up you've mentioned

3) There are no problems w/ CA BRN.  You can ask for 1 year extensions via e-mail when the 3 year initial deadline is nearing expiration.  Pls. refer to this thread for more details:  http://foreign-nurse.lefora.com/2009/10/30/what-to-do-if-your-ca-nclex-pass-letter-candidate-/page1/

4) When renewing the visa screen certificate, CGFNS/ICHP will not anymore ask for you to send proof of passing the NCLEX.  Note that the req't for the visa screen cert. states proof of passing either NCLEX or the CGFNS exam and not an active license per se so CA's NCLEX pass letter serves that purpose as many of us already did so w/ no problems.

5) The only thing CGFNS/ICHP will ask again is for us to re-take when renewing the visa screen is the IELTS exam.  That is all.  All others, they already have a record such as your transcripts, proof passing NCLEX (licence for those States giving out licenses or NCLEX pass letter in the case of CA). 

So, don't worry about your NCLEX pass letter w/ CA.  We have known people who have asked for yearly extensions from CA BRN after the original 3 year deadline lapsed.  For more details, refer the link I gave above and the link I gave there for a more detailed explanation for anything regarding California.

Your NCLEX pass letter w/ CA is safe as long as you do your duty and ask for the yearly extensions 4-6 months before actual expiration and as mentioned, asking for the extension is very quick, easy and no fees involved. 

Re: WHO: Swine flu originating in Mexico could develop into a pandemic

H1N1 update

Countries around Ukraine are tightening their borders as a pre-caution until WHO finishes their investigations but one things is for sure already and that is majority of flu cases are already being presumed to be caused by H1N1 by WHO.

Swine Flu Scare Tightens Borders Around Ukraine

Russia and Slovakia tightened their borders with Ukraine on Tuesday as the World Health Organization began investigating a suspected swine flu outbreak.

The death toll from flu has climbed to 71 since the outbreak struck last week in the western city of Ternopil, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said.

Blood tests have yet to determine how many of these deaths were from the new and aggressive H1N1 strain. But the WHO said in a statement on Tuesday that most flu cases in Ukraine can be assumed to be H1N1, "as the pandemic virus has rapidly become the dominant influenza strain worldwide."

As a precaution, schools and universities across the country will remain closed this week, and officials urged people in western Ukraine to travel only when necessary and stay away from public places.

*Read full article: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=8983984

Re: WHO: Swine flu originating in Mexico could develop into a pandemic

H1N1 update

A long day and long lines at Glendale swine flu clinic
About 2,500 waited for vaccinations, with some having lined up in the early morning hours. The crowds at county clinics are common as the insured have been unable to get shots from private doctors.

Excerpts:

By 3 a.m. Tuesday, the line for H1N1 flu vaccines was forming outside the Glendale Civic Auditorium. By the time the doors opened 6 1/2 hours later, city officials said about 2,500 were waiting.

Long lines at public flu clinics -- initially intended to primarily serve the uninsured -- are now commonplace nationwide as doses of the vaccine remain scarce. Many clinics report seeing large numbers of people who have insurance but have been unable to get H1N1 vaccines from private doctors, who say they have either already run out or have yet to get any.

The line at the Glendale clinic, the first to be held in that city since Los Angeles County received doses late last month, was the longest yet, county Department of Public Health officials said. And the stakes were high, with just 2,400 doses on site when the doors opened.

"I never expected this," said Anne Benavides, 63, of La Crescenta, who has asthma and came to get the vaccine for herself and her 4-year-old twin granddaughters. "People are scared -- just look."

Three people in line suffered dizziness and fatigue and had to be taken to a hospital, police said. A few became irate when they reached the front of the line only to be told that they did not qualify, but no one was arrested.

Gossip made its way through the crowd: reports of people cutting in line, that the clinic had run out of vaccine and that those waiting had come from as far as Tijuana. As the line grew, some people took it upon themselves to challenge whether others were eligible. Fire officials dubbed the inquisitors "line lawyers."

Re: WHO: Swine flu originating in Mexico could develop into a pandemic

H1N1 update

Swine flu not just a threat to young: study

Excerpts:

CHICAGO (Reuters) – Swine flu can cause severe disease in people of all ages and appears to pose a special threat to those who are obese, according to an analysis of H1N1 cases in California released on Tuesday.

"What our study shows was that once you were hospitalized, if you were elderly you have a higher risk of dying," Dr. Janice Louie of the California Department of Public Health in Richmond, whose study appears in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the study matches the CDC's own observations -- that H1N1 affects all age groups, including people over 65.

"One of the perceptions we've been trying to dispel is that this is a mild disease," she said in a telephone interview.

"This can be very severe. In this paper, 30 percent of patients required intensive care." Overall, 11 percent of people who were hospitalized died, but among people 50 and older, 18 to 20 percent died.

*Read full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20091103/hl_nm/us_flu_risk

Re: WHO: Swine flu originating in Mexico could develop into a pandemic

H1N1 update

Saudi Arabia starts mass flu vaccinations

Saudi Arabia is to begin a wide-ranging vaccination campaign against the Mexican flu. It has received an initial batch of 11 million flu vaccines.

In the run-up to the haj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, hundreds of thousands of people are to be compulsorily vaccinated against the A(H1N1) virus. These will be mainly pilgrims and those helping with the pilgrimage. Residents of Mecca and Medina – respectively, the birth and burial place of the prophet Muhammad - can also choose to be vaccinated.

Re: CGFNS VisaScreen Renewal Questions

Hi
t-cell /nurseidol
I had re-taken my IELTS exam recently to renew my visascreen certificate.I have scored overall band of 6.5 with speaking 7.0 (academic module).Is this enough for visa screen certificate renewal?? OR we need to score 6.5 in every module(i.e listening,reading ,writing etc)
  Please advise me!

-pertune03

Yes, you've met the minimum passing requirements w/c is an over-all band score of 6.5 and a score of 7.0 on speaking.  You don't need a score of 6.5 on every module and only the speaking test is required to have the absolute min. score of 7.0.

CONGRATS !!

Re: WHO: Swine flu originating in Mexico could develop into a pandemic

H1N1 update

Breaking news from Germany !

Germany confirms that the 2nd wave is actively underway in their country as expected to come in autumn/fall.

New German swine flu cases double in two days

Excerpts:

The number of new swine flu cases has doubled in the last two days, national disease control and prevention agency the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reported on Monday.

More than 3,000 new cases of the H1N1 virus have been confirmed in the last week, President of the national disease control and prevention agency, Jörg Hacker, said on Monday in Berlin, confirming fears that a wave of infections would arrive in the country this autumn.

*Read full article: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20091102-22975.html
*Related article from reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-SwineFlu/idUSTRE5A12SE20091102

How the H1N1 pandemic may further boost chances of a health care reform get passed

Just like when the now concluded US recession was starting to be felt hard during last year's US presidential campaign period between Pres. Obama and Sen. McCain that boosted then Sen. Obama's presidential bid, the current H1N1 pandemic seems to be also boosting the chances of finally passing a health care reform bill as it further highlights the bad side of private insurances.  

What's the cost of being in ICU for 1 month and what it means exhausting your lifetime cap ?

Maybe Pres. Obama, the WH and the Dems should collaborate with Mastercard and borrow their "Priceless" ad slogan in one of their ad campaigns for their final push for passing HC reform.   
The commercial should come out something like this: 

Use of ECMO and other life-saving devices: $300,000
Payment for doctors, nurses and other hospital staff for 1 month stay: $200,000
1 month ICU stay:  $1,000,000
Total bill: $1,500,000
No lifetime caps:  priceless
Being covered even with a "pre-existing" condition: priceless
Saving your love ones from financial crisis after a health crisis: priceless
Saving a life:  priceless

Something like that. 
I think everyone gets the general idea.   P.S.  If this idea gets used.  I want some credit.

H1N1 Families Face Financial Challenges
Update: Parents of Children Who Were Seriously Sick Tackle Massive Hospital Bills and Possible Insurance Caps

Excerpts:

(CBS)  After six weeks in intensive care, Lateasha Howard has apparently beaten H1N1.

But Carolyn Howard has no idea what saving her daughter's life will cost.

"Are you expecting to see a big bill at the end?" asked CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann.

"Hopefully not," Howard said. "Praying and hoping that I don't see one."

A machine called an ECMO is the big expense. It's a lifeline for the heart and lungs and requires two nurses in the room, around-the-clock.

"Staffing, training, equipment - very quickly you're going to be running into the hundreds of thousands of dollars," said Cole Eslyn the CEO of OU Medical Center.

Lateasha Howard's hospital charges? $1.2 million - and rising.

Tony's bill? Almost $900,000.

And that's just the hospital.

"That doesn't include the doctors or nurses, or the CT or the plastic surgeons that came into the room," Hugh Estlinbaum said. "The list is long."

Hospitals usually negotiate much lower settlements. But unlike many insurance plans, the Estlinbaums have a lifetime cap on expenses: $1.5 million. Tony's hospital stay and continuing rehabilitation could top that.

"I don't know how we're going to do these medical bills," Hugh Estlinbaum said. "I have no idea."

Every insurance plan's lifetime cap varies. But in extreme H1N1 cases, with sky-high medical bills, a child who once had a severe flu might have trouble getting health insurance ever again.

Congress is now considering three major bills to overhaul American health care. All three would eliminate lifetime caps.

"I can't put a price tag on what he is worth," Lizzy Estlinbaum said. "There is no price tag on what he is worth."

So the Estlinbaums could soon face a new crisis. Not medical - financial.

*Read full article: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/29/eveningnews/main5453206.shtml

Oasis of the Seas - The new modern day Titanic just sailed off from Finland to Florida

The Oasis of the Seas is said to be at least 5x bigger than the Titanic and 40% bigger than the next modern day biggest cruise ship.  Amazing !!

Re: WHO: Swine flu originating in Mexico could develop into a pandemic

H1N1 update

Video from Ukraine about the current epidemic flu situation (tentatively attributed to the H1N1 virus): http://www.euronews.net/2009/11/01/ukraine-urged-to-stay-calm-as-swine-flu-fear-spreads/

Re: WHO: Swine flu originating in Mexico could develop into a pandemic

H1N1 update

Panic in Ukraine continues, Presidential decree states it is threatening national security !!
Stay tuned in this thread for more breaking news on what's happening in Ukraine and other parts of the world.

Epidemic situation in Ukraine threatens national security, 53 people die of cold and flu

Excerpts:

KIEV, November 1 (Itar-Tass) - The epidemic situation in Ukraine “has assumed a threatening and unpredictable nature and is a threat to national security”, says a decree of October 31 by President Viktor Yushchenko, published on Sunday. The decree enacts a decision of the National Security and Defence Council on measures to fight the new flu (A/N1N1).

Incidentally, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary and Romania sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine to fight the flu epidemic, reported the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry on Sunday.

Fifty-three people, including a child and two pregnant women, have died of cold and flu in Ukraine, the Health Ministry said.

In all, the country’s cold and flu rate amounts to 185,000, including 9,400 cases of flu. The number of A/H1N1 flu cases is unknown.

The situation is the worst in the Lvov region, where about 70,000 people have cold and flu. The cold and flu rate is also high in the Ternopol, Ivano-Frankovsk and Chernovtsy regions.

Four doctors died of flu in Ukraine’s Ternopol and Lvov regions, Health Minister Vasily Knyazevich said at the Sunday meeting of the operative headquarters for the prevention and treatment of A/H1N1 flu.

Re: What to do if your CA NCLEX Pass Letter (Candidate Report) is due to Expire

This is very helpful.Thank you very much.My NCLEX pass letter for CA will expire on September 2010.A lot of my friends told me to email the CA board as early as January but they could not give me the exact email add where I could send my email.
Thank you again and God bless!!!

-tjnurse

Hello, tjnurse.  If you want a direct access to the person who actually handles giving out the 1 year extensions try this e-mail:

Lisa_Chan@dca.ca.gov

From our experience, although using the other e-mail add. is fine, they almost always refer you to Ms. Lisa Chan anyway as she is the one in charge of this specific task and she answers very promptly.  Usually within 1-2 working days.  Also, Ms. Lisa Chan would oftentimes advice to only ask for the 1 year extension 4-6 months before the original NCLEX pass letter actually expires. Anything earlier, she usually foregoes giving out extensions and advice to ask again 4-6 moths before actual expiration specially if she is busy.  If it so happens that she is not busy, she may sometimes choose to give out the extensions even if you still have more than 6 moths 'till expiration.

Our experience using the other e-mail add. (brn_licensing@dca.gov) usually results in weeks and sometimes months of waiting just for a reply.

P.S.  To everyone, for more details pls kindly refer to the links found in our sticky thread:
http://foreign-nurse.lefora.com/2009/09/23/how-to-apply-to-the-different-us-state-board-of-nu/page1/ and click the link to the specific board you are interested in and skim through the pages and look for the specific information you are looking for.  If it is not there, make a post on that thread and simply ask. 

We highly recommend doing some back-reading as most often times we have already discussed it extensively before. Some previous discussions may even answer some of your questions that you may just be thinking of.

Re: Going to Canada

Also, I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that the requirements, rules, polices for each province of Canada would be different from one another.  This is the same way that each US State has their own rules, policies and requirements when applying in the US.

So, those who have applied in one province of Canada should always keep this fact in mind so that you don't assume that things would be the same for people applying in another province and therefore give out advices that may only confuse applicants some more rather than make it clearer for them. 

For applicants, keep this fact in mind as well so that you give more weight to those giving advice that has personal knowledge or experience in applying on a specific province rather than those from people giving advice that has applied from a different province.

Sometimes, the requirements, rules, polices and leniency of the different Boards may be night and day from one province to another.

Re: WHO: Swine flu originating in Mexico could develop into a pandemic

H1N1 update

Philadelphia declares a public health emergency

Excerpts:

Philadelphia declared a public health emergency yesterday, an administrative action that mainly gives hospital emergency rooms more flexibility in dealing with increasing numbers of swine flu patients, most of whom are not seriously ill.

Visits to ERs in the city are up about 25 percent over this time last year, officials said, a statistic that combines far greater increases at pediatric hospitals with lesser increases at acute-care facilities.

Mayor Nutter's declaration, a week after President Obama made a similar announcement for the nation, allows city hospitals to use alternative spaces, permits easier transfer of patients between facilities, and waives certain requirements on bed limits and length of stay.

*Read full article: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/20091031_Phila__declares_swine_flu_emergency.html

Nursing homes are looking for workers

Nursing homes are looking for workers

Excerpts:

"It's going to be a growing field," she said Thursday. "Everyone is living older. Now you have people who are living into their 80s, 90s and 100s.

"With baby boomers entering their 60s, the health-care industry is expected to produce 3 million new jobs by 2016, with many coming in long-term care.

"We have lots of people who you don't even see their family," said Deb Evans, assistant director of nursing at Golden Living Center. "So you become their family."

The long-term care industry offers an array of career choices, including marketing, human resources, nursing and culinary arts, for various skill levels, according to Dorothy Henry, executive director of the Indiana Health Care Foundation.

*Read full article: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009910300355

Re: WHO: Swine flu originating in Mexico could develop into a pandemic

H1N1 update

Sask health union calls for more respiratory therapists to cope with H1N1 flu

Excerpts:

SASKATOON - The Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan is urging the province to act quickly to ensure there are enough health-care workers to deal with H1N1 flu.
The association is concerned there won't be enough respiratory therapists if severely ill H1N1 patients need to be placed on ventilators.

*Read full article: http://www.mjtimes.sk.ca/News/Canada_-_World/2009-10-27/article-153028/Sask_health_union_calls_for_more_respiratory_therapists_to_cope_with_H1N1_flu/1