Good evening Students, Faculty, and Staff. Across our campuses, we have had the opportunity to speak to most of you directly over the last 48 hours. We wanted to post an update knowing that we’ve likely missed some as we’ve circulated throughout our campuses. We continue to watch as the situation surrounding COVID-19 evolves and we continue to prepare for the likely scenario that our classes will need to move to a virtual format very soon. Our faculty and staff have been involved in many hours of training and planning toward the possibility of the current scenario. We have been in contact with our state agencies, accrediting bodies, and the Department of Education and believe we are very well positioned to be able to transition to a virtual format at this point. We will provide a follow-up update again tomorrow, Friday 13, 2020.
Students – All students should now have access to Gwinnett’s Learning Management System (LMS), Canvas. The url to access is http://gwinnettcollege.instructure.com/ or you can access the link directly from our website under About Us > Canvas Login across the top. We have been building out the content within our courses and have begun adding you to your classes. In Sarasota, we plan to transition from the LMS programs we’ve been using over to Canvas as we begin our next month’s classes. Additionally, through Canvas, we have the opportunity to hold virtual lectures with your instructors through the Conferences feature within Canvas. When you login, please make yourselves comfortable with that feature. We plan to you use this feature a lot.
Most importantly, we are aware of the various school and college closings and will continue to follow the COVID-19 situation very closely. Please continue to be safe. If you experience symptoms such as a fever or dry cough, please do not come on campus but reach out to your campus for guidance. Please also notify us before coming onto campus if you have traveled out of the country, on a cruise ship, or to any known hot zones.
While the entire situation is difficult, it will ultimately pass and we will be able to get the entirety of our focus back onto pursuing your new career.
We are aware that Orange County decided late on Friday, March 13th to suspend classes until March 30th. We have been preparing and are prepared to transition our courses to a virtual format, however, we are waiting for guidance from the Florida CIE giving us approval to make that transition on a temporary basis. We have been in communication with the CIE and hope to receive that guidance very soon. Until then, we do plan to hold class on Monday on campus. We will be in classes with updates on Monday and will be available to make sure you are all also prepared for when the courses transition to the virtual format. We are also aware that those of you with school-aged children may have conflicts with class. Please communicate with the campus during this time. We plan to work with students during this time.
Atlanta Campuses (Lilburn, Sandy Springs, and Marietta) and Raleigh Campus
We have continued to monitor the COVID-19 outbreak closely and have been in communication with our various agencies in an attempt to be sure we make the best decisions possible on behalf of our students, faculty, and staff. As you are all likely aware, most of the Atlanta area public schools have now made the decision to either suspend classes or transition to a virtual environment beginning next week. Additionally, Wake County Public schools made the decision to cancel classes until at least March 27th in the Raleigh area. Our Atlanta and Raleigh campuses will begin the official transition next week. That transition will proceed as follows:
Monday, March 16, 2020 and Tuesday, March 17, 2020
– Classes will be held on campus. While normal course material will be
covered, instructors and staff will also devote time to ensure that students
are comfortable accessing course material on our learning management system,
Canvas. They will explain and demonstrate videoconferencing during this
time.
Wednesday, March 18, 2020 and Thursday, March 19, 2020
– There will be no class sessions on these days. Instructors will report
to campus during normal class times and will be available to students to help
troubleshoot any remaining issues you may be having.
Monday, March 23, 2020 and moving forward –
Classes will be conducted in our virtual environment AND instructor lecture
will occur during its normally scheduled time. Updates and information
pertaining to the class will be communicated through the class in Canvas.
Our plan and our hope is that we are able to quickly return to holding classes on campus. We will communicate additional plans as we receive additional information. For now, we anticipate that the Spring quarter will begin on campus and as scheduled on April 13, 2020 (April 4th for Sandy Springs) although we will certainly be prepared to begin the term in a virtual environment if necessary. Our faculty and staff will report as normal during this time so we do not foresee any interruption in our student services.
Regulatory Notes:
For Georgia students, we have two outstanding items in terms
our ability to offer coursework via distance education.
Georgia Board of Massage Therapy – At present, the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy rules do not allow for ANY coursework to be offered in a format that is not “face-to-face”and “at the physical location.†We have spoken to the board and they have indicated that any temporary relief would have to come from the Governor’s office and that they cannot make any allowances. Earlier this week, we submitted requests to the Governor’s office as well as the Lieutenant Governor’s office. As of the writing of this notice, we have received no response. We will continue to move forward in providing material online for massage classes but if the Board and Governor’s office are unable to help, we will simply need to make-up those hours in class when we are able to reconvene. Staff will be in class on Monday to provide additional details as it relates to clinic hours, graduation, and certification.
Veterans’ Administration – To this point, veterans would not be able to receive full benefits if attending distance education courses. We received guidance from the Department of Veterans Affairs just after lunch that they are meeting on this and that we should have updated guidance by Wednesday. Should the rule remain as it is, we will provide the opportunity to our veteran students to attend these classes on campus during this time.
Licensed practical nurses work in a wide range of settings, but among the most rewarding is the maternity ward. Also known as labor and delivery units, maternity wards are busy, but the work is exciting. LPNs with an interest in both maternal and child health can use their role for the benefit of both mothers and their newborns. It’s more than a career, it’s a mission.
What
is a Maternity Ward?
A
maternity ward is a hospital unit where women give birth to their children.
There, mothers and newborns receive care from a team of professionals from
admission to discharge. The goals are to promote safe deliveries, manage
complications and optimize care for new families.
What
Do LPNs Do in a Maternity Ward?
An LPNs role in a maternity ward begins with helping families through labor. It’s an unpredictable process that can last from a few hours to a few days, and it can be either simple or complicated. Labor is similar for all women, occurring in three stages, yet no two labors are exactly alike.
Care
consists of both physical and emotional support, and new mothers may seek care
as soon as they begin experiencing early contractions. Lasting from a few hours
to 30 or more, this is the most prolonged phase of labor. It progresses from
mild contractions until the cervix is completely dilated at 10 centimeters, and
the woman is ready to push.
As the
process moves along, pain and anxiety increase. During that time, maternity
ward nurses offer encouragement and reassurance, keeping the family informed of
progress while monitoring the physical condition of the mother and fetus and
preparing for birth.
Responsibilities
for an LPN include:
Welcoming
the mother and family into a delivery room
Promoting
physical comfort by assisting with activity and therapeutic position changes
Checking
maternal vital signs, such as blood pressure, for indications of complications
Recording
the frequency, duration and severity of contractions
Monitoring
pain and offering control measures per the birth plan
Informing
the obstetrician or midwife about progress and unexpected symptoms
Keeping
the delivery area clean
Starting
an intravenous line for medication or fluids
Preparing
instruments for the birth
Assisting
perineal relaxation techniques or episiotomies
Measuring
fluid intake and output
Administering
medications and blood transfusions
During the
second stage of labor, pushing through birth, maternity ward nurses:
Support
the mother and family emotionally
Help
with pain control using medications and breathing techniques
Monitor
for fetal distress
Act
in the event of complications
Assist
with the delivery of the child
The third
stage of labor begins after the child is born and includes delivery of the
placenta and care for the newborn, including:
Collecting
cord blood
Cleaning
the skin and suctioning fluid secretions from the nose and mouth
Weighing
and measuring the child
Conducting
APGAR periodic assessments of heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, reflexes and
color
Providing
a clean, warm and safe environment
Encouraging
the first breastfeeding
Recording
vital statistics
Documenting
the nursing care provided during labor and delivery
Unless
there are complications, both the mother and child are moved to a room together
after delivery. There, nurses assume responsibility for the well-being of both
mother and child by:
Watching
for uterine hemorrhage or infection
Monitoring
episiotomies
Administering
analgesics and other medications
Assisting
with lactation
Keeping
the physician informed of changes in the mother’s condition
Assessing
for risk of post-partum depression
Assisting
with post-natal treatments for the newborn
Offering
nutrition guidance
Cord
and circumcision care
Scheduling
aftercare care visits for the woman and child
Family bonding is critical during this time. Maternity wards that were once cold and sterile are now home-like, and partners and siblings may room-in. Families take on the role and tasks associated with newborn care, such as bathing and dressing, while LPNs assist with cord care and lactation.
New
mothers have many questions after the birth of a child. LPNs are their go-to
source for information for a broad array of topics such as:
Newborn
nutrition
Lactation
issues
Circumcision
Elimination
patterns
Immunizations
Environmental
needs
Child
safety
Well-care
schedule
Today, maternity wards offer full-service care, so no newborn falls through the cracks. Recognizing that a mother is a child’s primary caregiver, nurses also help women get back on their feet as soon as possible. Some women suffer few health effects from labor and delivery; others can experience complications from mild to severe. Common issues include:
Fatigue
Anxiety
Episiotomy
pain
Anemia
associated with blood loss during delivery
Depression
linked to post-partum hormonal changes
And
because women are giving birth later and have higher incidences of chronic
disease, LPNs are increasingly involved in preventive care education.
What
Does it Take to Work on a Maternity Ward?
Maternity
ward nurses have a unique role, and beyond professional competence, soft skills
like compassion, communication skills, a nonjudgmental attitude, critical
thinking skills, emotional stability, team management skills, team spirit,
confidence and flexibility are important.
Skill #1:Compassion
Compassion
is the desire to alleviate the suffering of others. Childbirth is an enriching
experience for most families, but it can be a stressful time for those with
physical and emotional challenges. Healthy births are the norm, but there is
always the risk of complications for both mother and child. The role of
maternity ward LPNs is to put themselves in the shoes of their patients and
tackle sensitive issues with both clinical proficiency and compassion.
Skill #2: Communication Skills
No other nursing specialty requires caring for two lives simultaneously. As frontline healthcare providers, maternity ward LPNs guard the physiological health of both mother and child, reporting changes to providers while also acting as a liaison between the family and the healthcare team. New parents want to be informed every step of the way, and the questions they ask can be complicated. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are critical to this role.
Skill #3: A Nonjudgmental Attitude
Giving
birth is usually a joyful time in a woman’s life, but it’s also fraught with
change. New mothers depend on maternity LPNs for guidance and emotional support.
However, maternal health and child-rearing are sensitive issues, and families
may make unconventional health decisions that make LPNs feel uncomfortable. As
long as ideas present no danger to the mother or child, LPNs must offer
guidance without judgment.
Skill #4: Critical Thinking Skills
Critical
thinking is the ability to look at facts and come to sensible conclusions. It’s
a vital skill that helps LPNs prioritize tasks and make quick, accurate
clinical judgments. In a maternity ward, it’s how an LPN decides that an
expectant mother with heavy vaginal bleeding needs to see the doctor before a
woman with indigestion. Critical thinking isn’t a process that comes naturally
to everyone, but it’s a skill that can be learned and nurtured with experience.
Skill #5: Emotional Stability
Crises are
common in a maternity ward, and to function effectively, LPNs need to be
emotionally stable. The labor and delivery process can be stressful, and after
giving birth, physical exhaustion and hormonal changes take their toll. For
some women, it’s a blissful time, but for others, it’s filled with anxiety,
pain and fear that can manifest as negative behavior. Emotional stability helps
maternity ward LPNs stay level-headed during emergencies and guide new mothers
through challenging times.
Skill #6: Time Management Skills
Maternity
wards are busy. Except for cesarean sections, labor and delivery rarely happen
on schedule. Two days of downtime may be followed by around-the-clock
deliveries. LPNs must then care for two patients at a time with different needs
while being prepared for the unexpected. The pace can be stressful some days
but being able to make the most of every minute keeps it from becoming
overwhelming.
Skill #7: Team Spirit
Maternity care is collaborative, requiring input from the family plus a diverse team of health professionals, including doctors and nurses as well as midwives, lactation consultants, nutritionists, doulas and others. Everyone has a role to play while working toward a common goal, and outcomes are best when everyone is willing to work together. As the liaisons between the mother and family and their healthcare providers, team spirit is especially important for LPNs.
Skill #8: Confidence
Childbirth
is a normal physiological process. In a maternity ward, doctors try to make it
less medical by not hovering over patients as they might do in acute care
settings. LPNs tend to bear more responsibility for monitoring, and therefore,
they need to be self-starters with the confidence necessary to take charge of
the process.
As professionals, they’re responsible for their practice, and it’s a nurse’s role to set goals for their patients and create plans of care. It’s a responsible role.
Skill #9: Flexibility
The maternity ward never sleeps. Mothers and newborns need care around the clock, and women may arrive in labor at any time, shifts don’t always go as planned. Managing work-life balance is important to avoid stress, but there are times when new patients exceed the number of LPNs scheduled, and employers expect nurses to be flexible.
Nursing is
among the few careers where there are opportunities available to fit every
lifestyle, but flexibility is essential when working in a maternity ward.
Final
Thoughts
LPNs
everywhere make a difference in the lives of the people they serve, but nowhere
do they make a more significant impact than on a maternity ward. From
celebrating the moment of birth to giving new families the best possible start
in life, maternity ward LPNs are the gatekeepers of mother and child health.
It’s an unforgettable ride and an awesome responsibility.
Did learning about the role of an LPN working in a maternity ward interest you? The Practical Nursing programat 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.
Dear Staff and Students of Gwinnett College, Gwinnett Institute, and Meridian College,
The leadership team at the College is closely monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak via the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), the Florida Department of Health (FDH), the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The virus and protocols around it are changing quickly, and we are working to mitigate any impact on our students and staff.
According to the CDC, this virus is very limited (104 known cases on March 3, 2020) in the United States, and the immediate health risk from coronavirus remains low. However, as global cases rise and the virus continues to spread in more and more countries, the risk for a pandemic is elevated and more likely to occur.
We ask all students and staff who have a fever, symptoms of a respiratory infection, or have been exposed to a person with a coronavirus, the flu or any other communicable disease to speak with your Campus Director. We will be posting signs in our offices, asking screening questions, and following CDC recommendations for screening and management of patients. If you are at all concerned you may have a serious infectious disease, your best course of action is to seek care at your primary care physician’s office or local hospital’s emergency department.
Please remember that the best way to prevent the spread of communicable disease is cleanliness and hand washing. There is still quite a bit of influenza activity in the US which is still more likely to cause serious illness than the coronavirus. If you have not yet received a flu shot, it is not too late and is still being recommended by the CDC.
Again, this is an evolving situation, and we will be closely monitoring it and providing our students and staff with updates as well as posting on our website. We are doing everything we can to keep our students and staff healthy.
What is the Coronavirus?
A virus that causes diseases of varying severities, ranging from the common cold to serious respiratory disease
How does it spread?
Between people who are in close contact (within 6 feet)
Cough or sneeze droplets
Touching your eyes, nose, or face with hands after touching an object containing the virus
What are the symptoms?
Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath
Severe Illness
How do you protect yourself?
Avoid close contact with people who are sick
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, scrub thoroughly under nails and between fingers, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol
It is important to keep children home from school when
they are ill. If you child has any of the
following symptoms please keep them home from school: temperature, coughing,
committing, diarrhea, and rash not yet diagnosed by a physician, red or pink
itchy eye, and/or drainage from eye, and any contagious illness such as
chickenpox, strep throat or flu.
Faculty and Staff,
In order to maintain the safety and reduce the spread of
germs within your respective Campus, the Administration is asking for
assistance in the following;
Encourage the ongoing use of the restrooms to
wash hands and encourage correct handwashing techniques (see following page
titled CDC – Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives).
Encourage the use of hand sanitizers located in
various locations throughout each campus if students are unable to wash hands.
If students are unable to come to class due to respiratory
illness, students must document these circumstances through letters from their
physicians. These letters should state dates of classes missed and when the
student is allowed to return to the Campus.
If students have missed due to a respiratory illness, allow
the students the opportunity to provide their work to you in a way that will
give credit for work. Examples of this are scanning and emailing digital
homework, taking pictures of homework and emailing them to you at your official
Gwinnett College/Meridian College email addresses, or other ways that you deem
to be acceptable in your professional opinions. You must remind students that
if no documentation of a respiratory illness (see above paragraph) is provided,
these items will not be accepted for a grade. If students are presenting signs
of respiratory illness, please send the student home as quickly as possible.
Many of our campuses already use online portals or learning management
systems to interact outside of normal class hours with their students. We have begun to move to formalize this across
all our campuses and will have conversations with each campus to ensure we are
able to continue to deliver material to our students through potential
interruptions. We are already working with campus directors and will
communicate additional information on this in the coming days.
Last, please help sanitize the classroom. This should happen
after last class for the day students as well as the last class for the night
students. Bottles of cleaning solution will be provided. If the cleaning
solution is empty, then fill the bottles by following the directions on the
bottle of water:solution. All frequently touched surfaces shall be cleaned,
including classroom tables, workstations, counters, and doorknobs.
To Our Students,
If you have a respiratory illness, we encourage you to stay
home so as not to further spread the disease. You will need to monitor your
days missed, and if attendance-based withdrawals become realistic for you, we
will work with you as long as you are able to provide documentation from a
physician, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner who have the abilities
to diagnose respiratory illnesses. Stay in contact, via phone or email, with
your campus to ensure that assignments can be completed and turned in for
credit as expeditiously as possible.
Please continue to wash your hands, whether at the Campus,
at home, or when in public, as per the guidelines from the CDC on the following
page. Within the coming week, the College will provide to you small, portable
bottles of hand sanitizer to keep with you. These will be able to be refilled,
so please buy larger bottles to keep at home and refill when needed.
As always, if you have a question or need help, call!
CDC
Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives
Washing your hands is easy, and it’s one of the most
effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. Clean hands can stop germs from
spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community—from
your home and workplace to childcare facilities and hospitals.
Follow these five steps every time.
Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday”song from beginning to end twice.
Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
How to use hand sanitizer
Apply the gel product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount).
Rub your hands together.
Rub the gel over all the surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry. This should take around 20 seconds.
By 2035, more than 78 million Americans will be over the age
of 65, according to the Social
Security Administration. Born after World War II, this so-called Baby Boom
generation will soon need more nursing care than the system can provide.
Healthcare has changed drastically in the last two decades, and as nurses take
on more responsible roles, they’re in higher demand. Today, settings from
schools and hospitals to rehabilitation facilities and public health
departments all need more nurses, but nowhere is the shortage more evident than
in home care.
Why is There a Nursing Shortage?
Birthrates in American rose steeply between 1946 and 1964.
World War II was over, the economy was booming, and couples finally felt secure
starting families. Now, the children of this generation are getting ready to
retire, and for healthcare, that’s a double-edged sword.
Not only is the medical system experiencing an influx of new
consumers, but among those retiring are nurses, many in the current nursing
labor pool may be lost to attrition in the next five years. It’s a perfect
storm for a shortage.
Why is the Shortage Affecting
Home Care?
While nearly all sectors of the healthcare industry are
growing, the benefits of home health are making it a leading specialty. The
Baby Boomers would rather receive care at home, and services provided outside
of institutions are proving to be far more cost-effective. It’s a win-win.
But home care is one area of nursing that traditionally
suffers more than most because it’s unique. It’s rare for new graduates to get
jobs in homes until they’ve had experience in acute care settings, but once
they’ve been in one place long enough to learn the ropes, they’re incentivized
to stay, and that means fewer nurses are available.
Thankfully, today’s nursing programs are recognizing the
shift in demand toward home services, and they’re tailoring their curriculum to
match. It’s the perfect time to get into home care.
What Do Home Care Nurses Do?
Home care nurses simply provide medical care to patients in
their residences, either limited or long-term. Some home care nurses, for
example, visit patients after they’ve had surgery to ensure they’re healing
well and get follow-up care. Others manage patients with chronic disease who
might otherwise need a nursing home. Their responsibilities include health
assessments, medical management, personal care, and psychosocial support.
Health Assessments
Home care nurses are a doctor’s eyes and ears. They take
vital signs, perform physical assessments, and report changes in condition to
the physician. They then work with the patient and family to coordinate efforts
and implement the plan of care.
Medical Management
Patients receiving home care are considered medically
stable, but they need many of the same treatments as those in hospitals and
nursing facilities including:
Wound care
Pain management
Therapeutic exercise
Chronic disease education
Medication administration include IVs and tube feedings
Nutrition counseling
Medical equipment management
Safety monitoring
Nurses work independently, but they’re also as part of a
team that may include physicians, therapists, social workers, dietitians, and
home care aides. In fact, they often serve as the gateway for involvement by
other medical professionals when they follow up on a patient’s needs.
Because more than 133 million Americans now have chronic
diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, according to the National
Health Council, long-term medical management at home is a growing
necessity. Nurses have the perfect skill set for helping stable patients with
the day-to-day tasks that keep them healthy, such as monitoring their blood
sugar and taking their medications properly.
Personal Care
Studies show that patients readmitted to hospitals shortly
after discharge share a common experience, they have difficulty taking care of
themselves. Many are exhausted and in pain, and their health declines because
they can’t keep up with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and cooking.
Home care nursing addresses those issues.
Nurses directly assist in limited circumstances but will
more often use their medical know-how to create and supervise a plan of care
that family caregivers and paraprofessional staff, such as home care aides, can
follow when helping patients with these tasks. It’s an integral part of
recovery for patients recovering from a short-term illness. For seniors with
long-term needs, it can be the difference between living at home or a nursing
home.
Psychosocial Support
Good health depends on managing every factor that
contributes to a patient’s well-being, whether it be physical, emotional,
financial or social. For example, a senior who could otherwise live safely at
home might have to go into a nursing facility if they can no longer cook or
afford nutritious food. Home care nurses understand that, and they would work
to find a permanent home-based solution such as transportation assistance or
low-cost meal deliveries.
Similarly, for patients burdened with loneliness, they can
provide immediate companionship and emotional support while searching for
long-term solutions such as peer groups and social visit volunteers. Maternity
home nurses play an essential role in monitoring for post-partum depression and
at-risk infant care, while hospice home nurses provide emotional and spiritual
support for patients and families. The ways in which home nursing can improve
the overall quality of healthcare are virtually endless.
Benefits of Home Care
Nursing
Home nursing benefits both patients and the healthcare
system. How?
It’s Safer
Falls and injuries in the hospital are caused, in part, by
having to navigate unfamiliar surroundings while ill. Anyone over the age of 55
is vulnerable to temporal confusion when they’re sick, so unless being away
from home is necessary, patients are safe at home.
Medical facilities care for the sickest among us. Despite
their best efforts, they’re home to some of the most virulent organisms on
Earth — many of which are treatment-resistant. When stable patients are
released to their homes within 72 hours, the rate of facility-acquired
infections decreases significantly.
It Promotes Independence
The longer someone is confined to a hospital or nursing
facility, the harder it is for them to maintain their independence. Someone,
usually a family member or friend, takes over day-to-day activities such as
paying bills, and it becomes harder for patients to remain involved.
When care is delivered where day-to-day activities occur,
patients, especially seniors, are more likely to take an active role in
decision-making.
It Enhances Healing
Research suggests patients heal better in their homes. Why?
In addition to factors such as lowering the risk for infections, people report
being more comfortable, so they’re able to sleep and eat better while
benefiting from more frequent visits from family and friends.
It Costs Less
As seniors live longer, managing their money becomes
increasingly more important. Home nursing care can cost much less than care
provided in nursing facilities or assisted living centers. Patients can also
save thousands every day they receive care at home instead of in the hospital.
It also reduces costly readmissions. Analyses show the risk
of readmission is highest after discharge because patients are weak and may
have unanswered questions. Return rates are consistently lower when home care
nurses follow up in person within the first few days.
Skills for Home Care
Nurses
There are many skills that a home care nurse must possess to
be successful. They include communication skills, confidence, initiative,
open-mindedness, critical thinking, and time management skills.
Communication Skills
Home care nurses are responsible for communicating with
patients, families and associated physicians. It requires the ability to read,
write and speak with authority as well as proficiency with electronic
communication.
Confidence
Nurses working in facilities have immediate back up when
they need it. In a private home, support is available by phone, but it takes
longer, and it’s not hands-on. Nurses need to be professionally competent in
any setting but working in private homes requires they be relaxed and confident
about their abilities.
Initiative
Home care nurses are like case managers. They’re responsible
not only for their patient’s physical health but also for managing other
factors that affect their well-being. From housing and financial needs to
nutrition and transportation, home care nurses have to look at the big picture
and initiate interventions when necessary.
Open-mindedness
Patients come from all walks of life. They have different
worldviews and beliefs about healthcare that may not always align with their
doctor’s recommendations.
Within the walls of an institution, policies and procedures
help insulate nurses from making value judgments to a certain degree, but in
private homes, patients want care that’s more closely aligned with their
beliefs. Home care nurses are called to be open-minded.
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is the ability to look at data objectively
and make sound, evidence-based decisions. It’s what tells a home care nurse
that a patient’s lack of transportation is more than an inconvenience, it can
affect their ability to do even the most basic activities such as shopping for
food.
Home care nurses have a broad scope of practice and are
involved in many aspects of patients’ lives. Critical thinking skills allow
them to assess complicated situations and make the logical connections
necessary to solve problems.
Time Management Skills
Working in private homes can seem relaxing compared to
racing around a busy orthopedic unit, but it’s just an illusion. Hospital
patients are all in one place. Home care nurses need to plan visits around the
patients’ schedules and allow for both travel and follow-up time. Time
management skills are a must.
Final Thoughts
Home care is rewarding because it supports patients where
they want to be. But as a career path, it’s also the fastest-growing sector of
the healthcare industry and is projected to add up to third of a million jobs
by 2028, according to the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics. It’s a great time for students interested in
nursing to get involved.
Did learning about the
shortage in home care nursing interest you? The Associate of Science in Nursing degree program at Gwinnett College provides training to
prepare college graduates to enter the nursing profession as a registered
nurse. Classroom theory, challenging assignments, skill labs,
simulations, and clinical experiences help to prepare college graduates for an
entry-level nursing position.
Upon successful
completion of the program and demonstrated nursing competence, the college
graduates will be eligible to apply to take the NCLEX-RN licensure
examination.* Upon graduation and licensure, college graduates will
be eligible to seek employment in hospitals, clinics, private duty, urgent and
acute care centers, and various other medical or business facilities requiring
the services of registered nurses.
*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 RN at Gwinnett College.
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.
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
programat 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.
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.
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
programat 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.
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:
Performs as a Campus/Campus Support professional in creating and delivering unique, memorable, extraordinary and personal student experiences.
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.
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
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.
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.
Collaborates with financial services office to ensure the student’s financial concerns are understood and addressed throughout the entire admissions process.
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.
Completes all necessary admissions paperwork and documents required information in CampusVue/Lead Manager and on activity reports in a timely and accurate manner.
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.
Attends all admissions meetings and training sessions.
Utilizes effective time management skills in order to make efficient use of work hours.
Always conducts self in a professional and positive manner, modeling Gwinnett values at all times.
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
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.
