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Posts from the ‘Careers’ Category

Apr 18

De-stress During OT Month

Relaxed_LOccupational therapists help individuals in all life stages by playing a vital role in the outcome of their care and recovery. Through occupational engagement, these healthcare professionals promote the health and wellness of those who are affected by injury, illness, or disease.

Like many healthcare careers, an occupational therapist can at times find themselves in a fast-paced and changeable environment. The same applies to those who hold positions as travel therapists. An Occupational Therapist (OT) who is a traveler can experience the same high demands as those who are working in a permanent setting, but may not have a local emotional support structure to help them weather the storm.

If you or a loved one is a traveling OT, then you know firsthand how important it is to take time for yourself to de-stress during those difficult days that keep you on the run. As April is National Occupational Therapy Month, make it a point to sit-back, relax, and spend a little extra time focusing on yourself.  Here are a few simple techniques that can help you de-stress.  Read More

Jan 21

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Activity Professionals Week

Activity_L jpgActivity professionals are individuals who are responsible for establishing activity programs that meet the social, physical, cognitive, and emotional needs of residents under their care. These dedicated individuals provide a variety of services that help enrich the lives of seniors through community involvement, mental stimulation, and support for the physical and mental well-being of patients and residents.

In 2013, Activity Professionals Week is celebrated from January 20 to 26. During this special week, we recognize activity professionals everywhere and their contribution to residents’ quality of life in long-term care facilities.

“The Activity Department is the lifeline of a skilled nursing facility that helps set the tone, spirit, and attitude within a facility,” said Terry Edwards, Activity Director at Golden LivingCenter – Greenville. “As an activity professional, we are responsible for developing a successful activity program that improves and encourages a greater quality of life for residents through original and engaging activities.”

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Aug 6

Wisconsin travel therapy jobs hit the spot

For the adventurous travel therapist, a 13-week assignment in Wisconsin offers a state full of varied and interesting sites. From romantic cabins with cliff-side seclusion to sandy beaches to urban hot spots with exciting nightlife, Wisconsin offers a full range of fun activities and beautiful scenery, to boot.

Physical therapists, physical therapy assistants and speech-language pathologists are high-demand positions in Wisconsin right now. Three of the hottest areas for these jobs are Marshfield, Richland Center and Niagara. These opportunities include completion bonuses, sometimes up to $5,000, and many 360 Healthcare Staffing employees enjoy their Wisconsin experience so much that they “re-book” and stay for two or three more rotations.

360 Healthcare Staffing also offers temporary-to-permanent placements in Wisconsin, giving each employee an opportunity to “try out” a location before committing to a permanent placement.

So let’s take a closer look at this state and what makes it great.

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Jul 25

The Golden State offers golden opportunities for travel therapists

For occupational therapists and physical therapists, travel therapy in California is an exciting proposition. These are hot positions in high demand, particularly in the Fresno, Merced, Madera, Sanger, Bakersfield and Shafter areas, fantastic locations between Los Angeles and the Bay area.

These locations often offer completion bonuses, sometimes up to $15,000, after a 13-week assignment. Pay is quite competitive, and at 360 Healthcare Staffing, we also offer temporary-to-permanent placements in California. Essentially, it is a 13-week “try out” for an assignment before committing to a permanent position.

Here’s more about these cities with positions in high demand:

Fresno: This is the largest metropolitan city in Central California’s San Joaquin Valley with half a million people, and Fresno County is the top agricultural producer in the nation. The area has gorgeous weather year-round and, like the other cities listed here, easy access to Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon national parks.

From the Fresno Art Museum to the Philharmonic, the arts calendar is full. The city attracts world-renown headline entertainers from Andrea Bocelli to Bon Jovi. And, it’s pedestrian-friendly: A 2011 study by Walk Score ranked Fresno the 26th most walkable of the fifty largest U.S. cities.

Merced: With more than 80,000 people, Merced is located in the Central Valley of California, about 110 miles southeast of San Francisco and 310 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The city offers a wide variety of attractions, historical sites, shopping and dining opportunities for the traveling therapist. The city is particularly proud of its arts and culture, from galleries at their Multicultural Center to live performances at Playhouse Merced. Be sure to check out the Big Valley Arts & Culture Festival, Central Valley Blues Festival and MERCO Cycling Classic.

Madera: Also located in the picturesque San Joaquin Valley, Madera has more than 61,000 residents and draws visitors from around the world. The area has a colorful history and heritage reflected in events like the Sierra Arts Trail, Coarsegold Peddlers Fair, Indian Fair Days and Madera Wine Trail Weekends.

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Jun 20

Sunshine and fun: travel therapy in Florida

For occupational and physical therapists interested in fun in the sun, Florida is hot, hot, hot. The Sunshine State is one of only nine U.S. states that doesn’t charge a state income tax, and it has the longest coastline in the contiguous United States, about 1,350 miles of sandy beaches and sunshine. Sounds like paradise for your occupational therapy or physical therapy practice.

From the whooping crane to the West Indian manatee, Florida offers exciting wildlife, too. Florida is the fourth most populous and the eighth most densely populated of the 50 states. The state capital is Tallahassee, the largest city is Jacksonville and the Miami metropolitan area is the largest metropolitan area in the southeastern U.S.

See all of this during a 13-week assignment in one of our in-demand areas. These include:

  • Fort Myers
  • Tampa Bay: including all of Pinellas and Hillsborough counties
  • Sarasota/Bradenton/Venice
  • Springhill/Brooksville
  • Central Florida: especially Winter Haven, Eustis and Titusville

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Jun 19

Physical therapy helps osteoporosis after a fall

Every year in the U.S., there are about 1.5 million osteoporosis-related fractures—many people may not even know they have the disease until a fracture occurs. It can be a difficult experience, both in terms of physical recovery and emotionally coping with the fear of future movement that could cause another fracture.

Physical therapists can help with both areas of recovery. Physical recovery measures depend on the kind of fracture, the severity of the fracture and whether surgery will be needed. Physical therapists have the tools to assist the patient in regaining movement and function to live life more fully.

To cope with the emotional aspect, physical therapists can help patients identify safe ways to move so that they don’t have to be in fear of day-to-day activities and can feel confident about their abilities.

The most common osteoporosis-related fractures happen to the wrist, spine and hipbones. Wrist or forearm fractures tend to happen more in people in their 50s and 60s. Spine fractures tend to happen in older patients. Hip fractures are the most complex because they often require the most care such as hospitalization, surgery and rehab. Many fractures necessitate a stay at a short-term care facility, like a Golden LivingCenter. Most fractures can be helped through physical therapy.

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Jun 14

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The heart of your skilled nursing facility

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) are “at the heart of caring” in a skilled nursing facility. They help patients and residents with a variety of daily activities and the facility staff with various duties. At Golden Living, we want to thank all nursing assistants for their dedication during National Nursing Assistants’ Week, June 14-21.

At Golden Living, CNAs are a vital part of the services we offer across the country in our LivingCenters and through AseraCare, our home health and hospice company. They are such an important part of what we do that Golden Living has developed a specialized pre-certified nursing assistant program. Not many educational programs are open FREE to the community or require no previous work experience, but that’s what is unique about this program.

The CNAs that pursue and complete this program compassionately perform this special job at our Golden LivingCenters, AseraCare and other skilled nursing providers.

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Jun 11

Make way for the hospitalists

In the world of medicine, there’s a new kid on the block who’s making a difference in hospitals and patient care. Hospitalists, who are physicians who specialize in the practice of hospital medicine, are gaining popularity. From a two-year-old’s ear infection to the cancer pain of a 90-year-old, a hospitalist is ready and trained for these illnesses and everything in between.

The term “hospitalist” was first coined in 1996 by co-authors, Robert Wachter and Lee Goldman in a New England Journal of Medicine article. This medical specialty has grown since that time to include scores of men and women, many of whom are board-certified in internal medicine, general pediatrics or family practice. They undergo the same training as other doctors, including medical school, residency training and board certification examination. The only difference is that they have chosen to practice in a hospital as opposed to a private setting.

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May 23

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Tablet technology is transforming speech-language pathology

When tablet computers first arrived on the scene a few years ago, few could have predicted their usefulness to speech-language pathologists. But tablets—like the Apple iPad, Blackberry Playbook, Google Android, Kindle Fire and HP Touchpad—are transforming the way these therapists practice every day. They’ve raised the bar on usability and function.

First, they’re fun. A tablet motivates patients to keep on practicing, even when exercises become repetitious. Clients want to use the tablet, and a motivated client is an improving client. The versatility of tablets allows a speech-language pathologist to use them with people who have a wide range of diagnoses and needs.

Second, they’re portable. Generally, they weigh from half a pound to two pounds, so a therapist can easily pack his or her tablet in a shoulder bag and take it from client to client. Speech-language pathologists who required a lot of materials on a large cart can now just bring this one device.

Third, they’re affordable. Even Apple’s iPad, which is one of the more expensive tablets, starts at $499, and applications or apps are often under $50 each. For a technology that can be used with every patient, this is cost efficient.

Finally, there are dozens of useful apps available for therapists. Here are a few of our favorites.

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May 7

Celebrating National Nurses Week

National Nurses WeekAs a registered nurse, I hold the nursing profession near and dear to my heart. So it is with great joy that I congratulate the 2.7 million registered nurses practicing in the United States during National Nurses Week. Nursing is our nation’s largest healthcare profession, and these men and women meet the diverse and emerging healthcare needs of our population in a wide range of settings.

We celebrate National Nurses Week May 6-12, ending on Florence Nightingale’s birthday. During this week, we recognize the indispensable role that nurses play in the safety and quality care of millions of people every year.

This profession is set to see growth for several reasons. First, the American population is getting older. By 2030, the U.S. Administration on Aging reports that there will be about 72.1 million persons age 65 and older, more than twice the number in 2000. Second, medical technology is continuing to improve and develop life-sustaining advancements.

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