What Vital Signs Does a Medical Assistant Check?

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Vital signs are essential measurements of a patient’s body function. Taken by a medical assistant or medical technician each time a patient sees their doctor, they give physicians important information to make the best clinical decisions. Readings help doctors diagnose disease, monitor the effects of therapy, and calculate dosages for high-risk medication. It’s a routine but critical task that requires both technical skill and accuracy.

What are Vital Signs?

Vital signs are a group of measurements that accurately reflect how well the body is functioning. They’re taken at every visit because trends and changes over time are as meaningful as single readings.

There are four primary vital signs: body temperature, heart rate, respirations and blood pressure. There are also three secondary measures that most doctors consider important: height, weight and peripheral oxygen saturation.

Vital Sign #1: Temperature

The average adult body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 37 degrees Celsius, but research shows that it can range between 97 and 99-degrees Fahrenheit, or 36.5 to 37.2degrees Celsius, and still be healthy. A high or low body temperature may reflect conditions from infections to thyroid disease.

Temperature can be measured using one of five methods including oral, rectal, axillary, aural or tympanic, and skin.

Oral Temperature

Oral thermometers have digital probes that obtain the temperature under the tongue. Today’s models have disposable covers for cleanliness, and clinical versions are accurate to a tenth of a degree. Older mercury thermometers are an environmental hazard and are no longer used. Before taking an oral temperature, a medical assistant should ensure patients didn’t drink hot or cold liquids in the waiting area because it can affect readings. The patient’s mouth should remain closed around the probe during the process for the most accurate results.

Rectal Temperature

Temperatures obtained rectally are among the most accurate, they range from 0.4-0.8 degrees higher than oral temperatures, but the method has fallen out of favor because it’s unpleasant and risky. Probes inserted in the rectum can damage delicate tissue and cause bleeding.

Axillary Temperature

Axillary temperatures are taken in the armpit. Readings average half a degree lower than comparable methods, and the process takes up to two minutes. However, for patients unable to keep a thermometer in their mouth, it’s a reasonable alternative.

Aural or Tympanic Temperature

Aural thermometers measure the temperature of the tympanic membrane, or eardrum, using infrared rays. Early versions were not highly accurate, but new models are. Precise readings, however, depend on technique. The probe must be properly positioned to seal off the ear canal. Measurements can be affected by ear wax and scarring from past infections.

Skin Temperature

Skin, or forehead thermometers, measure temperature at the temporal artery. Readings are quick, and the procedure is non-invasive. However, the method isn’t as accurate as others and is used more for screening purposes or comfort for children.

At home, basic skin thermometers come in the form of tape that changes colors when applied to the forehead. Accuracy is low and only gives a ballpark idea of actual temperature, but it can help parents decide if a child is sick enough to see the doctor. Handheld clinical models look like a tympanic thermometer with a large probe on the end that is applied to the skin in one or more locations.

Vital Sign #2: Heart Rate

The heart rate, or pulse, measures how many times the heart beats per minute. As the ventricles pump blood, arteries expand and contract, causing a pulsation in vessels closest to the skin’s surface. These arteries are accessible in places from the neck and groin to the temple and feet, but the radial artery at the wrist, just above the thumb, is the easiest to use.

The quickest way for a medical assistant or medical technician to take a heart rate is to measure the number of pulsations in the radial artery for 15 seconds and multiply the result by four to get the number of beats in 60 seconds. If the heart rate seems irregular, however, it should be assessed over a full minute.

Skipped beats and changes in the character of a patient’s pulse can indicate heart dysrhythmias, such as a trial fibrillation or supraventricular tachycardia. For patients diagnosed with irregular heart rhythms, taking a so-called apical pulse by listening to the heartbeat for a full 60 seconds with a stethoscope is better at detecting subtle inconsistencies than a radial pulse.

The normal heart rate for a healthy adult ranges from 60-100 beats per minute, but that can fluctuate with activity or illness. Infants may have normal heart rates as high at 180 beats per minute, while performance athletes can have pulses as low as 50 and still be healthy.

An abnormal heart rate can indicate a broad range of conditions from cardiac and thyroid disease to infection. It can also mean patients are having side effects to some types of high-risk medications.

Vital Sign #3: Respirations

The respiratory rate is the number of breaths taken per minute. It’s measured at rest by watching the chest rise and fall. To avoid unintentional changes in breathing patterns due to anxiety, checking respirations is something a medical assistant or medical technician does without telling the patient.

The normal adult respiratory rate is 12-16 breaths per minute. An increased rate could indicate a fever while a low rate in a patient with lung disease suggests carbon dioxide retention.

Vital Sign #4: Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against artery walls. It’s reported with two numbers, the “systolic”blood pressure, measured when the heart contracts over the “diastolic”blood pressure, measured when the heart relaxes.

Both readings are recorded as millimeters of mercury, or “mm Hg,” referring to the movement of a column of mercury in older blood pressure devices called sphygmomanometers. While these units are still in use today, most doctor’s offices have transitioned to electronic blood pressure devices.

Blood pressure is among the most important vital signs because it reflects how well the circulatory system is working. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is among the most significant risk factors for serious medical conditions, including heart disease, kidney failure and stroke. Low blood pressure could mean dehydration or a change in the heart’s pumping ability. Normal blood pressure is currently categorized at 120/80 or less while high blood pressure is divided into these four stages:

Stage 1

Patients with Stage 1, or prehypertension, consistently have blood pressure between 120/80-138/89. Single readings in this range are not usually concerning, however, when it becomes a trend, doctors know there’s an increased risk of disease, and they can take action. Changes in lifestyle, such as increased exercise and eating a healthy diet, are the most common recommendations. A medical assistant or medical technician is a doctor’s partner in patient education.

Stage 2

Stage 2, or mild hypertension, is defined as blood pressure of 140/90-149/99. It can reflect a number of physiological issues, but because it increases the risk of heart attack or stroke, doctors may prescribe small doses of anti-hypertensive medications.

For a medical assistant or medical technician, this makes taking accurate blood pressures at subsequent visits even more critical because readings show how well therapy is, or isn’t, working.

Stage 3

Patients with blood pressures from 150/100-159/109 have moderate hypertension, meaning they have an even higher risk of cardiovascular or renal complications, and require more aggressive treatment. Medical assistants or medical technicians can help patients with home monitoring programs by teaching them how to take accurate blood pressure readings at home.

Stage 4

Stage 4, or severe hypertension, is marked by a blood pressure of 160/110 or higher. A single reading this high is cause for concern, and consistent measurements in this range could signal a medical emergency.

Vital Sign #5: Height

Height is an important clinical indicator for two reasons. First, it’s used to calculate Body Mass Index or BMI. BMI is a screening tool used in place of less accurate weight tables to determine if a patient has a healthy body size. It’s also the basis on which doctors calculate the dosages for many high-risk medications.

A decrease in height can also indicate bone disease such as osteoporosis. Because it causes curvatures in the spine to deepen, it can cause some to lose as many as four inches in height. A bone density test is recommended for women aged 65 and older who lose more than an inch in a year.

Vital Sign #6: Weight

Weight is the second measurement in the BMI calculation, and it’s also used to determine drug dosages. More than height, however, even minor changes can have serious clinical significance. For example, a gain of just two pounds can cause respiratory symptoms in a patient with heart failure.

Height and weight are simple to take, but for a medical assistant or medical technician, using a consistent method is essential. Measuring patients with their shoes on at one visit but not at the next can suggest a change where none exists.

Vital Sign #7: Peripheral Oxygen Saturation

Peripheral oxygen saturation is the percentage of oxygen in tissues located away from the heart. It can tell doctors how well the lungs, heart and blood vessels are working.

It’s checked with a fingertip oximeter in a process known as pulse oximetry. The device uses light to detect how much of the body’s hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying component of blood, is saturated with oxygen. Readings of over 90-percent are ideal in most cases.

Pulse oximetry is not recognized as a vital sign in all practices. It’s easy to take, but not as simple to interpret as other vital signs. Some physicians believe it’s too complex to do regularly. Others, however, think it’s a good screening test that adds detail to the clinical picture. A medical assistant or medical technician may be asked to take it on every patient or just those with respiratory or cardiovascular disease. It’s non-invasive and virtually risk-free, but inaccurate readings are common without diligence. Cold fingers, for example, give a false low measurement.

Final Thoughts

Medical assistants or medical technicians are jacks-of-all-trades with many responsibilities, but few have the clinical significance of taking accurate vital signs. It’s a highly skilled and meaningful role.

Did learning about what vital signs a medical assistant or medical technician takes interest you? Ready to become a medical assistant? Gwinnett Colleges & Institute offers medical assisting courses to gain essential skills and training. The core curriculum focuses on the medical assisting skills and training you will need to seek entry-level employment in physicians’ offices, clinics, hospitals, and other medical settings needing the services of associates trained in both front and back office medical assisting skills. These medical assisting courses will be the first step in starting a rewarding career.

Geriatric Care: Nursing the Baby Boom Generation

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By 2030, the number of Baby Boomers aged 64 to 85 will top 64 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. For the first time in United States history, seniors will not only outnumber children but also the adult caregivers they’ll depend on as they age. Public health leaders are currently planning for the unprecedented increase in the demand for healthcare, and the good news is that there’s a solution on the horizon: geriatric nursing.

Who are the Baby Boomers?

More than 16 million soldiers came home after World War II, according to the National WWII Museum. America was thriving economically, and couples who delayed having children due to the war began to have families. The resulting increase in birthrates from 1947 to 1964 (one of the highest in history) created a new generation over 71 million strong. Known as the Baby Boomers, they’re the largest group of healthcare consumers in the nation, and their needs are expected to double in the next twenty years.

Who will care for this growing population of seniors? That’s the question keeping policy makers busy. Not only will the Baby Boomers need more nursing services, but the number of nurses in the labor force is shrinking. The average nurse is age 50 or older, meaning that about half will be retiring when they’re needed the most. In response, a new emphasis is growing on training geriatric nurses who can help seniors manage complex health issues wherever they may be.

What is Geriatric Care?

Geriatrics is the care of aging adults, it’s a branch of medicine that approaches the needs of the elderly at a holistic level. Seniors experience a wide range of physiological, psychological and socioeconomic changes as they age. Geriatrics recognizes that older adults can expect to maintain a high quality of life, only by managing the entire spectrum of vulnerabilities as these are inexorably linked.

As the Baby Boomers approach their golden years, they have many goals. They want to live safely in their homes while remaining healthy and independent for as long as possible. With the skyrocketing price of institutionalized healthcare, that’s a win-win ambition for both seniors and communities. It does, however, require a fundamental rethinking of how care is delivered to such a large population, and it’s one in which geriatric nurses play a critical role.

The Role of Geriatric Nurses

The elderly face a perfect storm of medical issues. Chronic disease, limited mobility and cognitive decline affect every aspect of their lives, from their physical health to their ability to take care of themselves. It’s the responsibility of geriatric nurses to manage the many common conditions that affect seniors’ health and independence.

Senior Health Concerns

Today’s aging adults were born later and are living longer than their parents, and with that comes a shift in the types of illnesses they have. Persons born in the early 1900s suffered more in their old age from the residual effects of poor nutrition and communicable diseases for which there was no treatment when they were young. The chief causes of death around 1900 were gastrointestinal infections, tuberculosis and pneumonia.

Baby Boomers are more likely to have chronic illnesses associated with advanced age and an affluent lifestyle, such as type-2 diabetes, arthritis, and cognitive impairment

Type-2 Diabetes

Type-2 diabetes occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin. It’s called a lifestyle disease because, with rare exceptions, it’s typically caused by factors like obesity, a poor diet and lack of exercise. In 1960, less than 1% of the US population had Type-2 diabetes, and today it’s 10% and growing.

Diabetes is a complex condition that, if not well-managed, results in serious complications, including:

  • Heart disease
  • Gastrointestinal disorders
  • Vision loss
  • Poor circulation
  • Wounds that don’t heal
  • Peripheral nephropathy

Management includes diet, exercise, blood sugar testing and high-risk medications such as insulin, but alone, seniors living in any setting struggle to control so many factors.

Geriatric nurses help by:

  • Assessing external issues that impact what seniors eat, such as limited mobility to cook and lack of transportation or financial resources with which to buy healthy food.
  • Collaborating with doctors on referrals for physical therapy or exercise programs and to simplify complicated medication regimens.
  • Working with seniors’ families to ensure they get the day-to-day support they need with activities of daily living.
  • Providing hands-on nursing care from bathing and grooming to blood testing and medication administration.

Arthritis

Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the elderly, it causes pain and impairs mobility, increasing the risk of falls and making it difficult for seniors to take care of themselves safely.

But with support, aging adults with arthritis can live at home successfully.

Geriatric nurses help by:

  • Recommending therapy and adaptive equipment to maximize physical function.
  • Exploring home safety modifications.
  • Identifying social activities that are less physically challenging.
  • Arranging for in-home personal care

Cognitive Impairment

Mild forms of cognitive impairment, such as forgetfulness, are not unusual in seniors. However, dementia and memory loss that affect the elderly are not normal, and their effects are devastating.

The path is different for everyone, and in its earliest stages, symptoms can be vague and go unnoticed. But when cognitive loss is combined with other factors from unsafe conditions at home to limited mobility, it makes it hazardous for seniors to live at home without supervision.

Geriatric nursing addresses the full scope of factors that contribute to accidents and loss of independence in these circumstances by:

  • Managing risk factors for falls and injuries, including one-on-one care.
  • Monitoring for sensory changes retiring adaptive aids as hearing aids and glasses.
  • Creating medication reminder systems.
  • Arranging transportation for medical appointments and shopping.
  • Offering assistance with personal care and financial needs.
  • Working with patients’ family and friends to build a support network.

Where Do Geriatric Nurses Work?

Geriatric LPNs can work anywhere seniors need them. They’re skills are a perfect match for medically stable patients who need long-term nursing management for chronic conditions. They work in home care, hospitals, nursing homes, residential care centers, and doctor’s offices.

Home Care

Geriatric nurses are playing an increasingly important role in both community-based nursing and at-home care. LPNs may work exclusively in private homes, providing supervision, transportation, personal assistance and disease management for seniors who need care but want to avoid moving into a nursing facility. Because the cost of home support is significantly less than the price of institutionalized care, it’s an affordable alternative.

Hospitals

Geriatric nurses working in hospitals have two distinct roles, to care for patients’ immediate physical needs and to troubleshoot issues that may prevent them from safely returning home.

In a hospital setting, LPNs work with a team of healthcare professionals from doctors to social workers to identify how best to approach not only their patients’ physical recovery but also their overall well-being and their needs for successful, long-term independence.

Nursing Homes and Residential Care Centers

More LPNs work in long-term care facilities than in any other setting. Once considered the places of last resort where seniors can go for around-the-clock care when they can no longer live at home, today’s nursing homes and residential care centers have come a long way.

Once, they had an institutional, dormitory-like atmosphere, but now, geriatric nurses help make them more like home by empowering residents physically, emotionally and socially.

In a nursing facility, geriatric nurses:

  • Bathe, dress and feed patients
  • Administer medications and treatments
  • Troubleshoot changes in condition
  • Create a private yet social atmosphere
  • Encourage interaction with peers
  • Work with families to meet resident needs
  • Advocate for patients’ preferences

In residential care centers, also known as assisted living facilities or senior care communities, clients need less hands-on and more social support.

Here, geriatric nurses still provide a low-level of physical support, but their role is mainly to:

  • Observe and report changes in condition
  • Cook meals
  • Assist with room cleaning and laundry
  • Maintain safe conditions
  • Give medications
  • Discourage social isolation
  • Take residents to doctor’s appointments, and shopping

With the right support, many of the elderly in residential care facilities can live safely while still enjoying a high level of autonomy.

Doctors’ Offices

Doctors’ offices are fast becoming hubs for community-based eldercare. Since primary care physicians are the medical professionals most able to identify long-term health concerns, they’re a seniors’ link to services.

As part of the healthcare team, geriatric nurses in private practices assist with assessing patients for needs and coordinating referrals for a wide range of services from in-home personal care to meal deliveries and transportation. It’s just one more way they help older adults, including baby boomers, protect their independence.

Final Thoughts

Baby Boomers are looking forward to better health and longevity in their retirement due to advances in medicine, but no one escapes the realities of aging. The growing number of seniors in the United States deserve the best healthcare possible, but time to plan is short. Wellness doesn’t happen by accident; it takes geriatric nurses to pave the way.

Did learning about geriatric nursing interest you? The Practical Nursing program at Gwinnett Institute provides training to prepare college graduates to enter the nursing profession as an LPN.  Classroom theory, challenging assignments, skill labs, simulations, and clinical experiences help to prepare college graduates for an entry-level nursing position. 

After graduating from the Nursing diploma program and successfully passing the NCLEX-PN licensure exam, nursing students will further their career to become a licensed practical nurse. There is an overall need for LPNs in response to the aging baby boomer population.

*While Gwinnett Institute provides test preparation and review assistance to college students, it cannot guarantee any college student will be able to take or pass any type of licensure exam.  College students must be mindful throughout their entire training program that licensure is a pre-requisite for employment as a nurse and to diligently prepare themselves to meet this important requirement.

Contact us today to learn more about becoming an LPN at Gwinnett Institute.

How to Become a Small Business Accountant

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Have you ever considered a career in accounting? If so, then this field has many rewarding opportunities for you. The accounting field is one of those industries that can offer a variety of career paths for your consideration. From taxation to cost accounting, auditing or general accounting, this field of study provides many career choices based on your core area of interest. Want to learn more? If so, below is additional information about the benefits of working as a small business accountant, the roles and responsibilities required, and what you can do to prepare for a career as an accountant.

The Benefits of Working as a Small Business Accountant

There are many benefits associated with working as a small business accountant. For example, this field offers both a specialized expertise focus, as well an opportunity to work in a wide array of industries. There are plenty of industries and businesses that solicit the help of accountants, including restaurants, healthcare organizations, non-profits, retailers and more. Many corporations and small businesses must maintain adequate financial records, so there’s always a need for a well-trained accountant. These small businesses and corporations must also adhere to federal and state regulations by reporting and paying monthly, quarterly or annual taxes, paying estimated taxes, collecting and paying payroll taxes, and other industry specific requirements. That’s where you come in. As a well-trained small business accountant, there will be a demand for your services at many small businesses.

What Does a Small Business Accountant Do?

Once you’ve acquired the skills and education needed to perform small business accounting services, you can either work for a small company, or work for yourself by starting your own accounting firm or implementing your accounting skills in a business that you already operate. The job of a small business accountant involves analysis, sorting, posting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, collections, reconciling the bank statements, creating financial reports and reporting, recording and paying tax liabilities and a combination of other tasks.

Analysis and Sorting

Before any accounting work can begin, the accountant is responsible for analyzing and sorting the daily financial activity. This includes analyzing physical or online receipts, invoices, bills, purchase orders and other financial documents. The accountant must first determine what each document is, and which accounts are associated with them. After analyzing each document, the accountant will need to sort them and place them in the proper categories. Having the proper training in advance will allow the small business accountant to determine if their daily financial documents consist of regular monthly expenses, capital expenditures, purchases associated with the cost of sales, general and administrative expenses, reimbursement expenses and so forth.

In addition to sorting through the financial documents that are associated with expenditures, they will also need to analyze the various sources of revenue that flows into the company and record the information accordingly. Most income received is associated with sales, but there are exceptions, such as credits, bank adjustments, interest and gains received from investment accounts or the sale of assets.

Posting

After a small business accountant has analyzed and sorted through all the financial documents received daily, they will enter the information into an accounting system, placed in the correct accounts. However, to do this adequately, they will need to ensure that the chart of accounts have been set up appropriately based on the industry that the small business accountant, their client or their employer operates in.

Although the chart of accounts may be set up before a small business accountant come on board, they will need to become familiar with it and make sure that it’s consistent with the industry as well as the typical activities that take place on a regular basis.

Having the right understanding of these fundamentals will allow the small business accountant to use this information to create the building blocks needed to perform additional accounting activities.

Accounts Payables

Accounts payables is another common task that a small business accountant would normally perform. They would be responsible for making sure that not only are the bills paid on time, but that any payment terms are fully taken advantage of. For example, invoice terms such as 2%/10, Net 30 can save the company money. What this term means is that the total invoice is due in 30 days, but if it’s paid within 10 days a 2% discount will be given.

Accounts payables consist of paying bills that are due regardless of the type of expenditure, such as loan repayments, ongoing monthly expenses, payments to independent contractors, and invoices associated with purchase orders used to fulfill sales orders.

Accounts Receivables

Small business accountants are often responsible for accounts receivables. This task involves invoicing customers, receiving and often making bank deposits for money received from customers for sales made.

Collections

Collections, another form of accounts receivable, is also a task that a small business accountant may take on. This task involves making an attempt to collect past due payments that have been sitting on the books for a significant period of time.

Reconciling the Bank Statements

Bank reconciliations are another common task that accountants perform on a monthly basis. Bank reconciliation is performed for each bank account that a company may have. This process involves comparing the bank activity to the activity that took place on the books and making any adjustments accordingly. Basically, the reconciliation would be between the activity that took place in the cash account and the corresponding bank account.

In addition to reconciling bank statements that are associated with cash accounts, there’s also the reconciliation of credit cards that must take place as well.

Creating Financial Reports and Reporting

Financial reporting is a very crucial part of accounting. In the first section we talked about analyzing and sorting daily financial records as well as posting that information into the accounting system– this process is the initial part of building financial reports.

The financial reports are very important because they will be needed by management at any given time. They are used to help management make important business decisions. For example, financial reports help managers decide on which bills to pay, who owes them money, and how much may be owed in payroll taxes, sales taxes, income taxes.

Financial reports also allow managers to identify various financial trends that take place either from month to month or from year to year. These patterns or trends also help managers make specific business decisions. For example, because of the financial reports that have been prepared, a business owner or manager may notice an increase in sales between October and December each year. Being armed with this information helps managers plan better. They may need to increase their inventory to fulfill more orders during this time period, purchase or lease new equipment or hire extra staff.

The main financial reports that accountants create consist of the income statement, the balance sheet and the statement of cash flow. However, there is a wide array of customized reports that may be requested as well.

A small business accountant would also take on the task of reporting. This consists of becoming aware of how daily financial activities impact the cash accounts, and other important elements and pointing it out to management. For example, if a company spent more money on marketing during a specific period, the small business accountant can observe how it impacts sales and the bottom line in general. The accountant can make recommendations based on whether the company earned a return on their investment as a result of spending more on marketing.

Another critical point that a small business accountant is responsible for as it relates to reporting is monitoring the cash account and any changes that create a negative cash flow. For example, if a company is generating sales but most of their customers pay on terms, say for 30, 60 or even 90 days after the sale is made, this can have a significant impact on the cash account. It’s important for the accountant to report this information to managers so they can make alternate decisions accordingly.

Recording and Paying Tax Liabilities

Many companies are responsible for paying a wide variety of taxes including sales taxes, income taxes, property taxes, and city taxes. It’s important for small business accountants to maintain their financial records so that business owners can estimate their tax liabilities.

In addition to maintaining a company‘s financial records, accountants are also responsible for paying estimated taxes to the IRS, which typically is required on a quarterly basis.

Combining Tasks

The combined tasks associated with working as a small business accountant are many. A variety of assignments need to be juggled and multiple deadlines need to be met. The best way to tackle this is to segment the workload into daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly or annual tasks.

Obtaining an Accounting Degree from a Vocational School

One of the best ways to acquire skills to become a small business accountant is to obtain an accounting degree from a vocational school. It offers all the fundamentals and accounting principles that are required to work as a successful accountant.

Skills Needed to become a Successful Small Business Accountant?

If you’ve developed an interest in becoming a small business accountant, you will need specialized skills that will prepare you to work in this capacity. However, you will need to have great attention to detail, communication skills, a basic understanding of college math, and basic business skills. Also, participating in an accounting externship program can significantly contribute to becoming a successful accountant.

Interested in learning more about small business accounting? The Accounting diploma program at Gwinnett College is designed to prepare college graduates to seek entry-level positions in the accounting and bookkeeping fields.  The college graduate may work as an accounts’ receivable or accounts payable clerk, bookkeeper, payroll clerk, accounting assistant or inventory control clerk.

The Gwinnett College accounting vocational diploma training programs trains college students to prepare financial statements and perform common accounting tasks with accounting computer applications. The computer applications include bookkeeping software, spreadsheets and databases. The accounting diploma training program covers fundamental accounting concepts, that include journalizing, posting, adjusting, closing, cost accounting, assets, liabilities, amortization, depreciation and tax liability. Also included in the courses are reconciliation of income statements, balance sheets, accounts receivable, accounts payable and general ledger.

Contact us to learn more about how you can become an accountant or bookkeeper today.

How LPNs can Look to RNs as Mentors

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All LPNs need a mentor, an experienced veteran to help guide them through the ever-evolving world of healthcare. While vocational school training teaches students everything they need to know to get started, no program can cover every possible skill and clinical challenge. A new LPN has a lot to learn, and who better to learn from than an RN?

What is a Mentor?

Mentors are veteran nurses who help newcomers to the field build on the skills they learned in school. They take new graduates under their wing and show them how to make connections with peers and tackle the tough issues in medicine that aren’t always black and white.

All experienced nurses were new once, and they understand the stress recent graduates go through. Not only do new LPNs have to learn the ropes of real-world clinical practice, but they also need to develop relationships with peers, and that can feel like an uphill battle in a busy healthcare setting.

Nurses have significant responsibility, and they’re expected to be professionally competent on day one. That heightens the pressure to acclimate to a new job quickly.

Why Choose an RN as a Mentor?

An RN and an LPN are both licensed professional nurses with similar job descriptions. They share many of the same clinical skills, and both participate in hands-on patient care. An RN has more training and takes a more active role in planning and overseeing care. In other words, an LPN is a front-line caregiver who collects data, and an RN has the knowledge to interpret it and make big-picture decisions.

In acute care settings, such as hospitals, LPNs are directly supervised by RNs. In long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes and assisted living centers, LPNs have more responsibility and may work independently with distance supervision. Because RN training is the next step in nursing education, an LPN can hone their skills by practicing with RN guidance. And since an experienced RN has seen many clinical issues that a new LPN hasn’t, they make an ideal mentor.

Mentors and Mentoring Programs

A mentoring relationship can be informal or formal. Informal relationships usually begin not long after hiring as new nurses make connections with existing staff who are open to answering questions. Since mentoring is a two-way street, new nurses should choose colleagues who are also willing to provide constructive feedback. Mentoring is more than on-the-job orientation.

Mentors can be supervisors, colleagues or friends, but they should be more professionally advanced than the mentee. Veteran LPNs can help new graduates learn the ins and outs of their practical responsibilities. Since mentoring relationships should encourage personal and professional growth, choosing an RN with greater knowledge and the wisdom of years on the job helps LPNs attain a broader focus.

In addition to informal mentors, structured mentoring programs offered by employers are increasingly popular. New LPNs may be partnered with experienced RNs for as long as 12 months depending on the complexity of their position.

In some settings, participation in a mentorship program is optional, in others, it’s required. The learning curve for a new LPN is steep, and employers want new hires to feel supported while they learn to work safely in a fast-paced environment.

Mentorships give new staff time to familiarize themselves with institutional policies and procedures, while gaining valuable clinical experience. RN mentors are well-established in their field, and they know through experience what new graduates have only seen in a classroom. The differences can be striking.

A structured mentorship may include rotations through a wide range of clinical departments from labor and delivery to orthopedics and intensive care. Mentors are usually volunteers chosen by administrators for their expertise and willingness to teach, very few positions are compensated.

Practicing side-by-side with an RN gives an LPN a better view of care planning in general, so they understand how what they do fits into the clinical picture. RNs have also had a more extensive range of opportunities to practice hands-on skills on difficult cases. They know the tricks of the trade and can help an LPN learn the nuances of complicated procedures from IV insertion to catheterization.

Finding the Right RN Mentor

As professionals, LPNs want a mentor who can guide them when they encounter new clinical situations. However, throughout their careers, LPNs will also need advice about ethical and personal issues that affect them in the workplace. Help with these is best sought from someone who’s walked a mile in the same shoes, and no one is in a better position to do that than a seasoned RN.

A mentoring relationship exists to help new LPNs:

  • Develop self-confidence
  • Hone critical thinking
  • Improve practical skills
  • Be more creative
  • Advance interpersonal relationships with peers
  • Understand different perspectives on healthcare issues
  • Grow professionally

Experienced RNs can do all of that and more, but finding the right mentor isn’t always easy. Sometimes, mentoring relationships develop without a clear catalyst, at other times, it takes more effort. Mentoring is a calling that not everyone shares, some nurses find it challenging to teach others. New LPNs in any setting can typically sense which RN may be a willing mentor. The fastest way to find a mentor is to ask.

What Characteristics Make an RN a Good Mentor?

A good mentor is experienced, available, committed, confident, honest and passionate.

Experienced

People are usually drawn to others based on their personality, but in a mentoring relationship, experience is what counts. The ideal mentor is one who has expertise in areas where the mentee is weak. As a nurse, an RN has the knowledge and skill to be a good role model in all areas of nursing practice, but those who are certified in an LPN’s areas of interest are especially valuable guides.

LPNs can further their careers by obtaining specialty certifications, and RNs have the know-how and connections to help them do that. For LPNs who are interested in higher education, there is no better mentor than an RN who can support them both at work and through another round of school.

Available

Mentoring takes time. An RN with many job responsibilities may not have the time it takes to properly commit as a mentor. While many of the most successful mentoring relationships rely solely on electronic communication, an LPN looking to develop clinical skills should choose a mentor they can work with hands-on.

Committed

Teaching others requires an emotional commitment that doesn’t come naturally to everyone. Unlike a friend, a mentor needs to challenge their mentee, and that’s not a role everyone is comfortable with. Mentoring can be a love-hate relationship that some RNs aren’t prepared for. LPNs should choose mentors who are committed and will push them out of their comfort zone and toward their maximum potential.

Confident

Without being brash or thinking they know it all, the best RNs are confident that sharing their experiences will help new nurses develop the right skills. An RN who doesn’t believe they have anything to offer is unlikely to have the insights necessary to be a mentor.

Honest

Both praise and constructive criticism are necessary for professional growth. RN mentors owe it to their LPN mentees to tell them what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. A pat on the back for a job well-done encourages LPNs to tackle new challenges but glossing over errors is a barrier to accomplishment. Honesty is the bedrock on which good mentoring relationships are built.

Passionate

Nursing is more than a job, it’s a career that continually evolves. Good mentors know the foundation of healthcare is learning, and they’re passionate about staying abreast of advancements in the field. They’re current on new developments and thrive on sharing that knowledge with new nurses. Being passionate is what drives mentors to take their teaching role seriously, and because most states require continuing education credits for RNs to renew their licenses, most are aware of learning opportunities for LPNs.

How to Be a Good Mentee

The mentor-mentee relationship should be mutual. A good mentee is open, responsible, respectful, and goal oriented.

Open

For a mentor to be helpful, the mentee must be open about their needs. New nurses may feel like they have something to prove, and they’re reluctant to ask questions or share experiences that put them in a bad light. But while mentors are called to be honest, mentees must be equally open to benefit from a learning relationship. Every experienced RN has had their share of failures, the best mentors are grown from them.

Responsible

Mentors are not supervisors; they offer one-on-one guidance on a peer level. As fellow professionals, mentees must take responsibility for their individual practice by being self-aware and asking for help when needed.

Mentees should first seek their own solutions to problems because when bringing them to a mentor, the more focused the questions, the more meaningful feedback will be. Because the purpose of a mentoring relationship is personal and professional growth, mentees should seek honest feedback and be accepting of constructive criticism without feeling hurt or being defensive.

Respectful

RN mentors put hours of unpaid personal time into helping LPNs, but they still have their job to do. Mentees should respect the sacrifices a mentor makes on their behalf by acknowledging their efforts and finding ways to reciprocate whenever possible.

Goal-oriented

The purpose of a mentoring relationship is to promote professional development. Mentoring relationships can help new nurses develop skills over time, but they stagnate without consistent action. LPN mentees should set new goals to work on with their RN mentors as soon as prior goals are met.

Final Thoughts

Mentoring spurs career development, inspires leadership skills and energizes peer relationships. For an LPN, finding an RN mentor is one way to reach their professional potential.

Did learning about how LPNs can look to RNs as mentors interest you? The Practical Nursing program at Gwinnett Institute provides training to prepare college graduates to enter the nursing profession as an LPN.  Classroom theory, challenging assignments, skill labs, simulations, and clinical experiences help to prepare college graduates for an entry-level nursing position. 

After graduating from the Nursing diploma program and successfully passing the NCLEX-PN licensure exam, nursing students will further their career to become a licensed practical nurse. There is an overall need for LPNs in response to the aging baby boomer population.

*While Gwinnett Institute provides test preparation and review assistance to college students, it cannot guarantee any college student will be able to take or pass any type of licensure exam.  College students must be mindful throughout their entire training program that licensure is a prerequisite for employment as a nurse and to diligently prepare themselves to meet this important requirement.

Contact us today to learn more about becoming an LPN at Gwinnett Institute.

Workforce Program Admissions Representative – Atlanta, GA – posted 11/18/2020

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Workforce Program Admissions Representative – Posted 11/18/2020

Submit resume in .pdf or Word format to ldavis@gwinnettcollege.edu

Candidate for this position must have working experience with Workforce Investment Act programs.

Job Summary

POSITION SCOPE:          

Responsible for conducting career planning sessions and presenting potential students with the information needed to make well-informed enrollment decisions.   Successful enrollment is accomplished by providing excellent customer service, listening to the needs and career aspirations of potential students, resolving all issues, concerns and questions related to enrollment, following the admissions process, policies and procedures and adhering to the highest ethical standards.

REPORTS DIRECT TO:  Director of Admissions or Campus Director

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Completion of Career Training/Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree preferred (or must be working towards or have relevant experience at a minimum)
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills
  • Customer service, consultation or recruiting experience
  • Attention to detail, sense of urgency and passion for making a difference in the lives of others
  • Able to work independently, yet within a strong team environment
  • Able to work a flexible schedule

FLSA STATUS:                 

Non-Exempt

ESSENTIAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:                                                                                                                                                   

  1. Performs as a Campus/Campus Support professional in creating and delivering unique, memorable, extraordinary and personal student experiences.
  2. Using inquiries furnished through advertising and personally developed leads (PDLs), calls potential students and arranges for them to visit the school.  Follows-up with inquiries to ensure a successful visit.
  3. Conducts career planning sessions and presents clear and accurate information on the career, curriculum, and employment opportunities.  Understands each potential student’s career goals, personal and professional interests and recommends programs to fit their goals and interests.   Completes all paperwork for the application/enrollment process, including entering complete and accurate student information into CampusVue or the Lead Management system
  4. Evaluates and resolves student questions, issues and problems related to the admissions process and ensures appropriate action is taken to the satisfaction of the student, Gwinnett, and/or regulatory agencies in compliance with policy, procedures, and legal requirements.
  5. Ensures potential students have all the information needed to make a well informed enrollment decision, including clarification and understanding of the students’ personal, monthly, financial commitment.
  6. Collaborates with financial services office to ensure the student’s financial concerns are understood and addressed throughout the entire admissions process.
  7. Follow-ups with enrolled students to ensure a successful orientation and educational experience.  Provides extraordinary personal attention to each prospective student to address questions or concerns before and after the first day of class.
  8. Completes all necessary admissions paperwork and documents required information in CampusVue/Lead Manager and on activity reports in a timely and accurate manner.
  9. Demonstrates regulatory excellence throughout all steps of the admissions process.  Maintains integrity and confidentiality of student information in all conversations and when processing or accessing student information.
  10. Attends all admissions meetings and training sessions.
  11. Utilizes effective time management skills in order to make efficient use of work hours.
  12. Always conducts self in a professional and positive manner, modeling Gwinnett values at all times.
  13. Performs other related duties as assigned by manager.

CORE COMPETENCIES INCLUDE:                                                                                                                                                  

  • Regulatory Excellence
  • A passion for education and making a positive difference in the lives of students
  • Strong communication and presentation skills
  • Sense of urgency
  • Customer service oriented
  • Attention to detail
  • Ability to resolve breakdowns and overcome obstacles
  • Results oriented

PERFORMANCE METRICS CATEGORIES INCLUDE:                                                                                                                

  • Student Survey Results (customer service)
  • Mystery Shopping Evaluations
  • Director/Peer Observations and Evaluations
  • Admissions Activities (phone calls, scheduled appointments, interviews conducted, follow-up activity completed)
  • Appropriate resolution of student questions, issues and problems related to the admissions process
  • Cash Pay Percentage
  • Work Accuracy/ Error Ratio
  • Attendance/Tardiness Record

ASSOCIATE UNDERSTANDING:                                                                                                                                                      

  • The Admissions Representative is a full time position working the hours required to meet job expectations.  Flexibility with work schedules is required, including evenings and weekends.
  • Employment with Gwinnett is “at will”and employment may be terminated at any time with or without cause or notice.
  • Scheduled and unscheduled performance reviews are given according to Company policies.
  • Light travel may be required.

 

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS/TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:                                                               

Gwinnett is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  The Company makes all selection and other employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.  In addition, the Company provides reasonable accommodations for applicants or associates with physical or mental disabilities in accordance with applicable law(s).  If an accommodation is required to apply for employment, or to perform the essential job functions of a position you seek, please contact Campus Support Human Resources so appropriate arrangements can be made.

The Aging Population: Nursing Geriatric Patients

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In 2016, the population of Americans over 65 years of age reached 50 million. By 2040, that number will rise to more than 83 million as scores of baby boomers reach retirement age, according to the Administration on Aging. Who will care for these vulnerable seniors? With primary care providers stretched to their limits, it’s the perfect mission for professional geriatric nurses.

Why are American Demographics Changing?

America’s changing demographics are a reflection of a steep increase in births following the end of World War II. Between 1946 and 1964, the United States experienced unprecedented economic growth. Couples felt secure starting families, and today, their children are known as the Baby Boomers. They’re the largest group of medical consumers in the country, and their needs are growing. State and federal spending on healthcare for people over 65 is expected to double in the next two decades.

What is geriatrics, and How Can Nurses Help?

Geriatrics is the study and care of aging adults. It focuses on the physical, emotional and social needs of the elderly, and it’s deeply rooted in preventive medicine.

Aging is not an illness, it’s a perfect storm of physiological and cognitive changes that increase a seniors’ susceptibility to disease and loss of independence. Unlike generations past when elder parents were cared for by their adult children, the Baby Boomers want to take care of themselves. It’s a concept called aging in place, and it has benefits for both patients and the healthcare system on the whole.

Today’s seniors want to:

  • Live comfortably and safely in their own homes
  • Remain active and independent
  • Manage their long-term healthcare expenses
  • Enjoy personalized, holistic care

But unlike young adults, seniors face a broader range of complicated medical issues, including:

  • Chronic disease
  • Impaired mobility
  • Higher rates of acute illness and injury
  • Sensory changes
  • Cognitive decline

These issues are not only threats to their health, but they also impact their ability to take care of themselves and live at home safely. For every senior who ends up in a nursing facility because of disease, there are others with equally complex illnesses who successfully age in place because they have a better support system.

How can geriatric nurses help? The focus of geriatric nursing is different than for other age groups. Emphasis shifts from curing disease so patients can return to a normal life, to managing illness and promoting independence. By intervening early in the lives of seniors, geriatric nurses create a safer living environment that supports well-being. Whether that’s in a facility or at home, geriatric nursing seeks to help aging adults live the best lives they can despite their challenges.

Where Do Geriatric Nurses Work?

From preventing disease and injury to advocating for safe housing and nutrition programs, geriatric nurses help seniors meet their needs wherever they may be.

Hospitals

Geriatric nurses in hospitals see patients mostly due to injury or for exacerbations of chronic disease. But in addition to tending to their physical health, nurses caring for the elderly must also consider patients’ long-term well-being. An otherwise healthy adult with a broken leg can still care for themselves at home with adaptive equipment. With crutches, they can cook, bathe, pay their bills and arrange for their medical aftercare. They can manage their own pain medication, and there’s not much risk of secondary injury or illness.

But a senior with a similar injury is at a much higher risk for developing complications. Perhaps their mobility was already limited, or they’re forgetful due to cognitive decline. Even with the right equipment, they may not have the physical strength or clarity of thought to avoid injury. They may struggle to fix meals or remember when to make a follow-up appointment with the doctor. Since pain and pain medications affect seniors differently, life-threatening adverse effects are possible.

In a hospital setting, nurses work with case managers and social workers to ensure their patient’s care continues at home by arranging for home health services or a temporary stay at a rehabilitation center.

Rehabilitation Facilities

Rehabilitation centers are places where seniors who are ready to leave the hospital, but who are not well enough to return home, can go for additional monitoring and therapy. Because most patients are stable, their care is a perfect match for the skills of LPNs.

In addition to administering medication and monitoring for changes in condition, geriatric LPNs help their patients work toward independence through education. They work in concert with therapists to promote healing and to give seniors the skills they need to be safe in their own homes.

Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Centers

More geriatric nurses work in long-term care than in any other setting. Seniors who are not safe to live alone or have medical needs that exceed what a home care nurse can provide can receive temporary or life-long care in centers explicitly designed for their age group.

Nursing homes and assisted living centers are institutions dedicated to helping them live to the fullest. Nurses take care of residents’ daily needs and support their social wellness through activities while empowering them to make their own decisions. Their foremost mission is to make the facility as home-like as possible.

Doctor’s Offices

An LPN working in a doctor’s office is ideally positioned to help seniors who want to age in place. They see them early in the course of illness and can intervene before complications snowball. Private practices are fast becoming hubs for senior care, initiating home nursing, therapy and social services when it becomes evident that seniors need assistance. So-called community case managers work with seniors, their families and interdisciplinary teams of medical professionals to ensure home support addresses all activities of daily living.

Hospices

Seniors with terminal illnesses may seek care through hospice. Built on a life-affirming, holistic philosophy, hospice emphasizes comfort when curative medical interventions become futile.

Geriatric hospice nurses care for their patients’ physical needs, managing their pain and assisting with activities of daily living, but they also provide social, emotional and spiritual care. As a patient advocate, a geriatric nurse supports the needs of terminally ill seniors and their grieving family members. Patients with tough-to-manage pain may receive hospice care in a hospital or nursing facility, but most services are provided at home.

Public Health

Managing seniors’ medical needs is paramount to both their health and to control medical expenditures nationwide. Public health departments recognize that as the Baby Boomers reach retirement age, most will lose their employer-based insurance coverage and transition to Medicare, America’s national health insurance program for those age 65 and older.

Controlling costs requires lowering the incidence of disease and injury, but it’s not easy. How do geriatric public health nurses help? It begins with programs that support seniors at home.

Safety, nutrition and transportation are top concerns. When the elderly can no longer drive, even simple activities such as cooking healthy meals and seeing the doctor can be a challenge. By seeking out seniors who can benefit from services such as Meals on Wheels and handicapped-accessible transportation, geriatric nurses improve their well-being and access to essential care.

As the population of seniors who have no immediate family members nearby to care for them, geriatric public health nurses are the medical community’s eyes on the ground. They visit homes to conduct safety assessments, and when a senior can’t get to care, they bring it to them. Mobile immunization initiatives, for example, bring vaccines for flu and pneumonia to senior centers and private homes, saving both lives and millions of dollars in unnecessary hospitalizations.

Home Care

Geriatric nurses may also work exclusively in private homes. While nursing assistants provide most personal care, LPNs manage medications and services that require professional assessment such as wound care or tube feeding. In most cases, the cost of supportive care at home is significantly less than comparable full-time care at a nursing home.

Tips for Interacting with Seniors

Research shows that seniors are more likely to act on medical advice when they trust their provider. Geriatric nurses can build trust by being respectful, recognizing sensory changes, supporting seniors’ autonomy, and keeping things simple.

Being Respectful

Seniors may have child-like needs, but they’re still adults who have paid their dues, they deserve respect. Nurses should avoid negative stereotypes suggesting elderly persons can’t be productive or are cognitively impaired. Instead, they should focus on the individual while still remaining generationally sensitive.

Recognizing Sensory Changes

Age-related changes in hearing and vision can affect how seniors communicate. Adaptive equipment such as hearing aids and eyeglasses can help. But because nurses have vital medical information to share, they should assess patients for sensory impairments and adapt their teaching methods as needed. A hearing-impaired patient, for example, may appreciate written material while a senior with poor eyesight may prefer verbal instructions or paperwork in large print. Well-informed patients trust their healthcare team.

Supporting Seniors’ Autonomy

Aging adults, including the Baby Boomers, hold generational world views that others may not understand. They can struggle to communicate with well-meaning doctors and family members who assume they can’t make sound decisions just because they disagree with their recommendations. As a patient advocate, a geriatric nurse engenders trust by supporting seniors’ right to make their own decisions whenever possible.

Keeping Things Simple

Seniors come from a simpler time. As people, they’re less introspective, and they don’t appreciate unnecessary complexity. Nurses can build trust by offering clear and simple medical information.

Final Thoughts

If the growing number of seniors who need care is a problem, then geriatric nurses are the solution. Their medical know-how and accessibility make them the ideal team members to bring older adults the advanced but holistic care they deserve.

Did learning about the aging population and nursing geriatric patients interest you? Are you ready to become a licensed practical nurse? Gwinnett Institute in Orlando offers a Practical Nursing diploma program that trains LPN students for positions delivering basic bedside care to patients.  The Practical Nursing diploma program provides the didactic and skills training needed to take the NCLEX-PN examination.*  

*While Gwinnett Institute provides test preparation and review assistance to college students, it cannot guarantee any college student will be able to take or pass any type of licensure exam.  College students must be mindful throughout their entire school training program that licensure is a required prerequisite for employment as a nurse and to diligently prepare themselves to meet this important requirement.

Contact us today to learn more about becoming a licensed practical nurse at Gwinnett College.

How to Become a Paralegal

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A career as a paralegal can be a very rewarding experience. While you will learn the ins and outs of the job through a diploma or degree program, you will continue to learn certain skills while working as a paralegal. Whether you work for a law office or another type of agency, you will be working under the supervision of an attorney, doing a lot of the work used in multiple cases.

What Does a Paralegal Do?

A day in the life of a paralegal can vary. For example, answering the phone and keeping files organized can make a paralegal feel like a secretary at times. Other days, you will be out of the office performing research or speaking with witnesses from varied socioeconomic backgrounds. You may even assist your lawyer in court.

What you will be doing is assisting the attorney in getting all the information needed to complete upcoming cases. Even though you may find yourself working alone a good portion of the time, you do work as a team. You will be working for an attorney, and everything you do will fall to the lawyer’s responsibility. Because the attorney is ultimately responsible for your work, it is important that you give your best for every task that you need to accomplish.

Not every paralegal will find themselves working in criminal law. There are many fields of law from which to choose. Some other fields of law that might interest you include:

  • Family law
  • Business law
  • Estate and probate law
  • Civil rights law
  • Labor law
  • Environmental law

While all work can be interesting, it helps to have a real desire to work as a paralegal. You should truly have an interest in the law, in helping others, and in seeing that justice is served.

The Law

You will spend hours researching case law. With an interest in the legal matters, you will tackle the cross-referencing and detailed searching that needs to be completed to get enough information for each case. The research that you do could make or break a case in a court of law.

Helping Others

A strong desire to help others is a necessity in becoming a paralegal. Although you may be a people person, sometimes you have to deal with people that are hard to work with. Whether the person is easy to get along with or not, you need to care enough to do your job effectively.

Justice

You should have a good moral compass and love to see justice served. Even if you feel that a person does not deserve to have a good case outcome, you need to believe in the laws and system enough to help your client get the justice that is offered.

What a Paralegal Does Not Do

A paralegal cannot accept clients or decide on client fees. As a paralegal, you cannot represent a client in court, or provide legal advice of any kind. Only a qualified attorney can complete these tasks.

How to Become a Paralegal

The quickest way to learn the information that you need to become a paralegal is by attending a vocational school. A diploma or degree program can be completed in a short amount of time. This paralegal program will provide you with the information that you need to successfully get started as a paralegal. You can also take this time to add to your skill set to prepare for a job once you complete the paralegal program.

Once you complete a vocational school program or perhaps while you are attending school, you can gain real work experience in the field. You can do this through an internship or by working in a law office as a legal secretary under the supervision of an attorney or a paralegal. Once you complete your training program, you may even find employment as a paralegal. Either way, you will want to get out there and find a job to gain more experience.

Skills and Qualities of a Good Paralegal

Although it takes a certain kind of person to fulfill all the duties required of a paralegal, it is good to know that many of these qualities are skills learned over time. Much of this can be learned with practice while the rest may be learned when you complete your paralegal program.

Communication

Written and verbal communication is important for a paralegal to succeed. You will need to know how to write letters and the legal documents, such as briefs, pleadings, and motions, that are a necessary part of your work. Knowing how to take detailed messages for the appropriate person in the office is also a must.

Attention to Detail

Your job as a paralegal focuses on the details. When you are performing research, you must be diligent because you do not want to miss that one point in the law or from previous cases that could make or break the results for your client. Documents, especially those filed with the court, must be precisely completed in the proper way to ensure acceptance. There is a certain way that each document must be worded and set up. Being a detail-oriented person is a must as a paralegal.

Organizational Skills

Organization can be key to getting through your workday. You must keep everything organized, from your own desk to the files for the attorneys. When your boss needs something, you must be able to access it quickly. There are many deadlines to meet when you work in the field of law, so time is of the essence.

Problem Solving

As you will be working independently for much of the time, it is imperative that you are adept at solving problems. You need to think quickly and rationally to avoid potential issues that could be detrimental to the cases. Problem solving ranges from keeping everything in the office running smoothly to dealing effectively with a non-compliant witness.

Attention to Deadlines

When it comes to cases, there are deadlines that must be adhered to. Being a paralegal is not like some other jobs that have a soft deadline or where you can complete your work by the end of the week. In many cases, you will have to have all of the information you need, and documents completed for submission to the court by a certain time. The court has a schedule that must be kept. If this work is not completed on time, a case can be lost.

Research Skills

Much of the time you spend as a paralegal will be on research. You will be looking at previous cases that are similar to what you are working on to see what the courts have ruled in the past. While this may seem clear cut, it is not always so easy. Sometimes, you will need to find a related case without cross-referencing other cases that are similar or even those that may not seem related at all. You may have to research through law books and files that are available at a law library.

Computer Savvy

You should know how to use a computer, a copier, a fax machine, a multi-line phone system, and any other equipment that will be required to complete your job properly. All documents will be completed on the computer and saved to the hard drive even if you have hard copies in the files. Although you may have access to a law library, much of your research will be done on the computer. You will need to know how to access databases and how to search for relevant cases.

Time Management

To keep yourself from having to work overtime to continue to meet your deadlines, it is important that you are able to manage your time effectively. Make sure you set aside time each day to check and respond to phone messages and emails

Interpersonal Skills

Whether you are speaking with someone over the phone or in person, it is imperative that you know how to deal with people from all walks of life. You will need comfortable with other attorneys that may come to speak with your boss regarding a mutual case, a judge in a case, your clients, and potential witnesses who may or may not be cooperative. Being a compassionate person helps but remember to always maintain an air of professionalism every time you speak with a client or a witness.

Have some or all of the skills that make a successful paralegal? Interested in becoming a paralegal or legal assistant? The Gwinnett Colleges & Institute diploma and degree programs in Paralegal Studies provide students with the theoretical and practical knowledge and the legal skills necessary to perform many paralegal functions including research, writing, investigation, and interviewing. Contact us today or complete the Request More Information form on the top of the page to take the next step towards your new career in the Paralegal Studies field.

The Definitive Guide to Swedish Massage

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Whether you are considering a profession as a massage therapist or simply interested in getting a massage, there is a lot to consider. There is a fair amount of overlap between many of the different methods. They also have very distinct differences that have to be navigated. There are a lot of different methods and techniques that all serve a different purpose. Trying to figure out what kind of massage therapist you want to be or what kind of spa to make an appointment can be stressful. It can be hard to know what to choose. Let’s take an in depth look at one of the most popular massage methods that is focused on stress relief, Swedish massage.

Swedish Massage Techniques and Methods

To understand the techniques and methods used during a Swedish massage a massage therapist should first understand the objective of a Swedish massage. This classic method of manual manipulation is meant to relax and rejuvenate, where other methods are more tailored to repair and rehabilitation. It utilizes gentler techniques to facilitate the release of muscle tension and help revitalize a client. The kinds of manual motions a massage therapist will see throughout this method are deep circular movements, long strokes, passive joint movements and kneading.

Deep Circular Motions: The deep circular motions are meant to help unknot areas of tension that are most often associated with stress. These circles can be small and concentrated or they can be large for a greater area of impact.

Long Strokes: Employing lengthening strokes with varying pressure on various muscle groups can help loosen muscles that have become stiff from stationary, sedentary work such as office or call center work. Tightening can often happen when the muscles aren’t stretched or engaged in enough exercise.

Passive Joint Movement: This kind of joint manipulation is different from aggressive joint movements because it is meant to be relaxing rather than rehabilitative. Passive manipulation of the joints is gentler than those used for combating and repairing injuries.

Kneading: The alternating pressures and varied pace of the kneading motion aid in relieving tension by loosening stiff areas. Kneading can be done with different parts of the hand and at different speeds to create a different effect on the muscles.

What to Expect with Swedish Massage?

If a client has never had or heard of a Swedish massage, they might be curious about what they could be in for. The exact details of their experience will depend on what spa they visit and who their massage therapist is. Let’s take a look at a few of the most common questions people have before getting their very first Swedish massage.

What area of the body does Swedish massage include?

Since this particular method of massage is focused on restrained movements relaxation, the anatomical focus can be nearly any area of the body with stress or tension. If a client just needs to relax in general, they may want to consider the option of a full body massage rather than having their massage therapist focus on a specific area. On the other hand, if a client has a specific area that is giving them trouble or causing them discomfort, they may want to request a massage focused on their trouble spots.

Will the body be sore or uncomfortable during or after?

Methods like deep tissue and other intense techniques can cause discomfort and even pain because they are attempting to undo knots quickly and repair the body in pretty significant ways. Swedish massage, however, is all about making the client feel good. Sometimes there can be some slight discomfort from various pressures that are applied, but a massage therapist will likely ask if the client prefer light, medium or heavy pressure before the appointment even begins and will ask periodically if they need any adjustment. A client’s relaxation and ultimate comfort are the priorities.

Do I have to be naked for a Swedish massage?

Absolutely not. No professional massage therapist should pressure a client to be more revealing than they are comfortable with. However, the massage therapist will need to have access to the areas they are going to be massaging, so if a client is getting a full body massage it is often helpful to remove their clothes. This might seem uncomfortable, but the massage therapist will cover them with a sheet and move the sheet as needed to access different areas of their body. They will probably ask a client to move from their back to their stomach (or vice versa) at some point during the massage, but all of that can be done beneath the sheet. A client can also ask for a focused massage, such as a neck and shoulder massage, that can help them relieve tension without removing their clothing. Regardless of a client’s specific appointment, most professional massage therapists will do what they can to work with a client if they have a specific modesty issue or are uncomfortable in some way.

What will the atmosphere be like during a Swedish massage?

The precise details of a client’s experience will depend on where they get their massage and who provides it for them. Some Swedish massages can include aromatherapy, relaxing lighting, and soft music or natural sounds such as a fountain or nature recording. The client may even have a choice in the kind of oil their massage therapist uses during the massage. The sights, smells and soothing sounds often add to the experience and serve to deepen the relaxing effects of the Swedish technique. The point of this method is to relax the client and elevate their mood by making them feel better both internally and externally. There are a lot of different things that contribute to their experience beyond the actual techniques being used.

Benefits of Swedish Massage

The most obvious benefit to receiving a Swedish massage is the relaxing effects it has. Relieving tension and decreasing physical stress are an incredibly important part of having a healthy and happy life. Although relaxation may be the primary focus in both the development and application of Swedish massage, it is far from the only benefit. Here are some of the other ways Swedish massage can have a positive impact on a client’s physical health.

Nerve Stimulation: The varied pressures utilized during these kinds of muscle manipulations stimulate the nerves in many different areas of the body. This kind of repetitive, intermittent pressure can stimulate nerves in a way that relieves certain kinds of chronic pain. It can also improve nerve health by unknotting muscles and unbinding those knotted nerves that cause discomfort and pain.

Increased Blood Flow: Circulation is crucial to overall health. A person’s blood flow is the transportation that sees in nutrients and removes waste and toxins. Manual manipulation can be good for strengthening and stimulating the blood vessels in the skin and muscles. Swedish massage stimulates the blood flow throughout many different areas of the body and promotes healthy circulation.

Lymph Drainage: Lymph drainage is something that occurs naturally during voluntary muscle movement. However, if a client does not regularly move their muscles, or do not move them often enough, there can be a build-up of toxins and a blockage of nutrients that begins to occur as a result of built up lymph fluids. Swedish massage can help combat that toxic build up and help cleanse your body.

Breaks Down Knots: Knots, also sometimes referred to as adhesions, can be worked out through massage. The location and severity of the knot will determine the best technique to use. The pressures and movements of Swedish massage warm up the muscles and gently break down some of these painful binding spots. Large adhesions may take several sessions to work out. Severe or extreme knots may require a more intense method of massage all together.

Increased Flexibility: When a client is relaxed, and their muscles are loosened up it makes sense that they would also see an increase in their flexibility and range of motion. Swedish massage can help a client feel more capable of certain stretches and exercises. Increasing your flexibility can help maintain healthy joints and can help prevent against joint and muscle injury.

Improved Overall Health: Cortisol is a hormone caused by stress that does serious damage to a person’s body. If there is a build-up of Cortisol, or it is introduced frequently, it can have destructive effects. It can lead to physical problems such as severe and sudden weight gain, cardiovascular issues, a weakened immune system and renal difficulties. The relaxation and total wellness focus of Swedish massage helps decrease the amount of cortisol in the body by combating and eliminating stress and helps to support overall health.

Did learning about Swedish massage interest you? Ready to become a massage therapist? Upon graduation, Massage Therapy Program students will receive diplomas and be qualified to seek entry-level positions as clinical, medical, or deep tissue massage therapists in wellness clinics and centers, spa environments including resorts and franchises, and self-employment.

Contact us to learn more about how you can become a massage therapist today.

Do Medical Assistants Draw Blood? Phlebotomy & Venipuncture Explained

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Medical assisting is a dynamic career with plenty of opportunities to specialize. From tackling administrative responsibilities to working in a lab, a medical assistant can do it all, or they can choose to focus on a single area of interest. Phlebotomy is one such specialty that may appeal to students with an aptitude for science and a love of hands-on patient care.

What is Phlebotomy?

Phlebotomy, also called venipuncture, is the art of drawing blood from veins using a needle and special collection vials. Samples help diagnose, monitor and treat disease, and they have significant clinical importance. So-called arterial sticks, or blood draws from deep arteries, are performed only by doctors, nurses or specially trained respiratory specialists and are not within a medical assistant’s scope of practice.

The Medical Assistant’s Role

Depending on the practice, phlebotomy may be a medical assistant’s sole occupation, or it may be only one part of their job. Regardless of how it fits in, the duties and the venipuncture process remain the same.

Review the Venipuncture Order

What goes on inside a patient’s body is often reflected by changes in the blood. As part of an examination, doctors may choose to investigate specific symptoms by ordering blood tests. In most cases, routine tests require only venipuncture. So, a medical assistant with phlebotomy training is the perfect person to take samples in an office setting.

When receiving an order, the medical assistant should review it for completeness and verify that the tests ordered match the diagnoses codes. A perceptive medical assistant can catch mistakes. It’s also critical to check test parameters before drawing blood. Some require a period of fasting or other criteria before venipuncture can be done.

Educate the Patient

Before performing venipuncture, medical assistants should first and foremost educate patients on the purpose of testing and how tests are performed. A phlebotomist in a hospital can’t always answer a patient’s questions about why a test was ordered. But the medical assistant who takes care of the patient’s other needs may have more insight. When it comes to venipuncture, a medical assistant is truly a doctor’s partner.

Obtain Consent

Like all medical treatments, venipuncture is performed only with the patient’s consent. Once the order has been reviewed, and the patient understands the purpose of the testing, the medical assistant is responsible for obtaining a signed consent for treatment. If the patient is a minor, consent is obtained from the parent or guardian. This is also the ideal time to clarify to whom the results may be released. Anxious patients will also want to know when and how they will receive results.

Performing the Venipuncture

There are strict rules to follow when taking blood samples. A standardized process improves quality control and ensures that blood is correctly drawn the first time, every time. Samples mishandled through a faulty technique may not be usable because the equipment that processes blood is carefully calibrated. Samples that don’t meet stringent criteria may be rejected, delaying treatment, and the patient may have to endure a second draw.

What Kind of Equipment Does a Medical Assistant Use for Venipuncture?

Tools of the trade include:

Gloves – universal precautions require considering most body fluids, including blood, as potentially contaminated. Anyone performing venipuncture must protect themselves with gloves.

Alcohol Pads– used to cleanse the area where the needle will be inserted. Whenever the outer layer of the skin is punctured, there’s potential for infection. Alcohol doesn’t sterilize skin, but it does help disinfect it when combined with a vigorous scrubbing motion.

Needles – come in all shapes and sizes to accommodate different veins. Their diameter is measured by gauge from 14 to 27. The larger the gauge, the smaller the needle is. Why so many choices? Because a medical assistant may need to draw to blood from patients of all ages. A 25 G needle, for example, is recommended for children. Most adults require a 20 or 22 G.

Needles are also measured by length. In an office setting, blood is most often drawn from the medial cubital vein at the bend of the elbow. But in some patients, the vein runs deeper than usual, and it can be difficult to reach with a standard one-inch needle. Phlebotomists choose the most appropriate needle length based on the size of the patient, the location of the vein and the angle of approach.

Vacuum Tubes – blood draws were once done with the same type of syringes used to give injections. Today, they’re done with specialized vacuum tubes. The phlebotomist screws the covered needle into a plastic needle holder. Once the needle is inserted into the patient’s vein, the vacuum tube is pressed onto the back of the rubber-coated needle. The strength of the vacuum alone pulls the blood out of the vein.

Tubes are color-coded because they contain different additives required for specific tests. Tube colors vary by brand, and how they’re used by different laboratories is consistent, but not standardized.

Tourniquets – the purpose of using a tourniquet for venipuncture is to confine blood to the extremity from which it will be drawn. It helps keep the vein full, making it easier to locate and giving it a firmer texture though which to insert the needle.

Gauze and Bandages – when the draw is complete, the site is compressed with gauze to stop any bleeding. A quick bandage is recommended to catch any remaining drops and to keep it off the patient’s clothing.

Expediting Results

Fast and accurate test results depend in large part on the medical assistant’s efficiency after the blood draw. Some physician’s offices may perform select blood tests, but most are processed and sent to outside labs via courier.

Tubes must be clearly and accurately labeled per the laboratory’s instructions, and samples must always be processed and stored as directed by the test catalog. Some need to be separated via centrifuge, while others must be kept refrigerated or shipped on ice. Even a small error can be cause for rejection.

Doctors do order blood tests for routine monitoring, but in many instances, the patient is unwell and waiting anxiously for results. Following procedures by the book is the fastest way to expedite results. If practice management software doesn’t keep track of result due dates, the medical assistant should keep a calendar and plan to follow-up with the lab as needed.

When results return, medical assistants are never responsible for their interpretation, but the doctor may ask them to call the patient to explain results and schedule follow-up care.

Common Blood Tests

Simple blood tests can diagnose a host of medical conditions including:

  • Anemia
  • Cancer
  • Diabetes
  • Autoimmune disorders
  • High Cholesterol
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Nutritional deficiencies
  • Heart, liver and kidney diseases
  • Infections

Blood samples are also used to establish a patient’s blood type so they can donate their own blood before surgery. And they’re also useful for monitoring medications that have specific therapeutic thresholds such as some blood thinners, anticonvulsants and antibiotics.

Skills for Venipuncture

A medical assistant performing venipuncture needs many of the same qualities that an administrative assistant does, but these skills are among the most helpful. These skills include empathy, critical thinking, manual dexterity, and attention to detail.

Empathy

Venipuncture isn’t major surgery, but for the patient afraid of needles, it feels like it is. An empathetic medical assistant understands that and takes the time to make the client as comfortable as possible during the procedure. Patients who have a history of fainting when blood is drawn should be carefully positioned for safety.

Critical Thinking

Venipuncture is a dynamic procedure that requires clinical judgment on the part of a medical assistant. From questioning an order that isn’t clear to troubleshooting how to best obtain a sample from a frail elderly patient with small, sunken veins, the process is never identical twice. Medical assistants should feel confident assessing patients for phlebotomy needs. And they should be equally comfortable asking for help or acknowledging if a draw is too difficult for their level of expertise.

Manual Dexterity

Using vacuum tubes to draw blood is mostly advantageous, but there are also challenges. Doctors often order more than one test at a time. So, to avoid having to puncture a vein several times, phlebotomists fill multiple tubes of different colors to match each test. This is made possible by the unique design of the tube and needle holder. But it does require a bit of manual dexterity to hold them firmly in place with one hand while removing and replacing tubes.

A slight change in position could withdraw the needle from the vein or force the point thorough it, stopping the flow of blood. At several points in the venipuncture process, the medical assistant will have each hand doing a different task.

Attention to Detail

Mistakes in medicine are not only costly, but they can also adversely impact a patient’s health. A simple error in labeling the date or time on some draws, for example, affect how the test is interpreted. Names that don’t match between the tube label and the test requisition are cause for immediate rejection. No medical assistant wants to ask a patient to come back for another blood draw because of an error, so attention to detail is a must.

Final Thoughts

As physicians seek to offer more in-house services for their patients’ convenience, medical assistants with venipuncture skills are in high demand. Training programs teach the basics, but with experience, medical assistants can pursue certifications that only add to their credentials and resume. For medical assisting students interested in working a lab, there’s no more exciting specialty than phlebotomy. It’s both an art and a science.

Did learning about a medical assistant’s role in venipuncture and phlebotomy interest you? Ready to become a medical assistant? Gwinnett Colleges & Institute offers medical assisting courses to gain essential skills and training. The core curriculum focuses on the medical assisting skills and training you will need to seek entry-level employment in physicians’ offices, clinics, hospitals, and other medical settings needing the services of associates trained in both front and back office medical assisting skills. These medical assisting courses will be the first step in starting a rewarding career.

How to Become an Office Administrator

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Finding the right career is something that many people take their time to get right. They want to do something that has meaning but also pays decently. They want to be challenged, but often don’t want to be so busy that they can barely think straight. When considering the various options that exist in the world, a person might consider becoming an office administrator.

This position is an integral part of making sure that different companies run smoothly and efficiently. Office administrators may have a variety of different tasks and duties that they have to conduct, so having the right skills is imperative.

What Does an Office Administrator Do?

An officer administrator is the center of the company. They are needed across a variety of different industries, from medical offices to insurance companies to real estate to engineering and everywhere in between. Some of the typical day-to-day activities that an office administrator might engage in include answering phones, making appointments, setting schedules, creating and maintaining a filing system, and entering data into a computer.

Depending on the company that a person works for, they might also have other duties that they take care of throughout their day that might include the following:

  • Greeting visitors
  • Directing visitors to appropriate offices or conference rooms
  • Responding to emails
  • Preparing documents
  • Coordinating project deliverables
  • Performing accounting tasks, which might include budget tracking and invoicing
  • Scheduling meetings or making travel arrangements for other employees

Work Environment

In general, a person will be in an office setting to fulfill their role as an office administrator. They may share a space with others who perform similar duties, or they may have their own space. They will more than likely have their own computer and phone. Depending on their job, the office administrator may have other equipment such as a copier or fax machine.

Skills Required to be an Office Administrator

There are many different skills that will be required to ensure a person is successful in their role as an office administrator. The following is a basic list that can apply to all industries. However, depending on what industry a person goes into, they may need some specific skills for that industry.

Organized

Being expected to do many different tasks throughout the day will require that an office administrator can stay organized and know where their items are. If they have things that need to be filed, those should have a certain place on their desk. If they are in charge of scheduling appointments, they should know what times are available and access that information quickly and easily.

Everyone is different when it comes to what they consider to be organized, but having this skill is a great way to ensure that a person will be successful as an office administrator. They will also be able to quickly and effectively grab information for others in the office if they request it.

Able to Multitask

An office administrator is expected to handle many different tasks and duties. Being able to handle more than one task at a time is a good skill to have, and it will ensure that an office administrator is able to accomplish their goals and get everything they need to take care of taken care of.

Able to Prioritize

In addition to having a lot of tasks that need completion throughout the day, an office administrator will need to determine which ones have priority over others. Being able to do this will ensure that things don’t slip through the cracks and everything gets taken care of in a timely fashion.

Flexibility

It’s more than possible that an office administrator’s priorities will change throughout the day. The report that may have been due at the end of the week could get pushed up or someone might need tickets to an emergency business meeting. By being flexible, an office administrator will be able to change their priorities without getting unduly stressed or anxious about the situation.

Typing Skills

Since some of an office administrator’s duties might be to take minutes or input data, having typing skills is a must. Many office programs are currently automated and having computer skills is also imperative for an office administrator.

People Skills

Being an office administrator means that a person is often the central contact for customers and employees within the company. They will interact with a lot of different people. The people skills an office administrator has should be for both in-person conversations and over the phone. Having people skills, and enjoying being around people, will ensure that an office administrator is successful at their job.

Accounting Knowledge

Depending on the type of duties expected, an office administrator may or may not need a lot of accounting knowledge. However, having some will increase an office administrators job options and give them an advantage over the competition. Having knowledge of accounting computer programs can also come in handy.

Work without Supervision

If an office administrator constantly needs to be told what to do and given tasks to complete throughout the day, then this might not be the best position for them. While an office administrator may receive certain tasks by coworkers or supervisors, they should also be able to keep themselves busy without being told what to do.

Ability to Use Various Office Equipment

In addition to using a computer, many office administrators require the use of copy machines, scanners, and fax machines. While this knowledge is learned on the job, it may give a person a better chance of standing out from the competition if they are equipped with these skills beforehand.

How to Become an Office Administrator

If being an office administrator sounds like the job you want to do, you will need to head down the path to accomplish that goal. There isn’t one way to get to become an office administrator, but there are some basic things you will need for the job.

Have the Right Hard Skills

Hard skills are those traits that a person will need to be successful no matter what industry they are working for. These include knowing how to write business correspondence, taking minutes, record management, filing systems, various computer applications, word processing, and email management.

Since every industry is different and may have their own process for how they want these tasks completed, it may be possible to learn these on the job. However, having a basic understanding and ability to perform these skills is beneficial.

Have the Right Soft Skills

When it comes to desirable soft skills to be successful as an office administrator, these include the ability to make decisions, being good at customer service, and having great communication skills, both written and verbal. There are many ways to acquire these skills and perfect them.

Who Can Become an Office Administrator?

The role of an office administrator is an important one, and they are often the central part of many companies. This position is great as an entry-level position, but it can also be ideal for individuals who are more experienced.

Anyone who exhibits the right skill sets and abilities has the opportunity to become an office administrator. However, since office administrators work in various industries, a person might decide they want to narrow down their choices to specific places.

Is There a Demand for Office Administrators?

Currently, there is a need for people who have office skills in a variety of different industries. Companies staff their offices with skilled individuals who can take on a variety of administrative tasks and keep the office running smoothly and efficiently.

Making the Decision

For many people, the role of an office administrator is incredibly appealing. It gives them a chance to use a variety of different skills, work in different industries, and interact with different people. The job requires specific skills but also general knowledge, so it’s something that anyone with a desire to do can be successful at.

Did learning about how to become an office administrator interest you? The Administrative Assisting diploma program is designed to train Gwinnett College students to seek entry-level positions in the office administration or secretarial field. The Administrative Assisting graduate may work as a secretary, receptionist, executive assistant, or administrative assistant.

Contact us to learn more about becoming an office administrator.