HospitalDreamJobs.com has previously highlighted the current strong demand for health care related jobs and the continued growth expected for several more years. This is good news for those already in the field looking to advance their careers but also for anyone hoping to change careers or for students with eyes on a healthcare-related degree.

For many people, making time to attend classes at a college prohibits them from getting an advanced degree from a reputable college. In today’s world, online courses are not only becoming the norm but also widely regarded and respected. However, with the plethora of online programs available it can be easy to choose the wrong one and end up with a “degree” that will get you nowhere in your pursuit of a career in healthcare.

TopMastersinHealthcare.com recently compiled a list of what it saw as the Top 10 best online Master’s in Health Administration programs available for 2012. Each college is considered to provide a strong and marketable MHA degree that will provide you with the best opportunity for an administrative career in the health care field. The following are the best online schools to get an MHA degree:

1. University of North Carolina
2. George Washington University
3. St. Joseph’s University
4. Ohio University
5. Grand Canyon University
6. University of Phoenix
7. Capella University
8. Colorado Technical University
9. Marylhurst University
10. Ashford University

Click here to read more about each university, the tuition and what helps each to stand out from the rest.

If you are a nurse or a nursing student looking to further your education past a bachelor’s there are a number of online masters programs in nursing. BestNursingMasters.com compiled what it felt were the top 10 online masters programs in the country.

1. Ball State University
2. Benedictine University
3. Drexel University
4. Georgetown University
5. Gonzaga University
6. Jacksonville University
7. Johns Hopkins’ School of Nursing
8. Loyola University
9. Saint Xavier
10. University of Cincinnati

Click here to read about each university, the tuition and other features that make these institutions stand out from the rest.

Once you are armed with your degree, check with HospitalDreamJobs.com for the best available careers in hospital health administration, nursing or any job in the health care industry. HospitalDreamJobs.com is updated weekly and compiles all the available health care jobs nationwide onto one website.

There is perhaps nothing nobler than serving your country. And for many of the men and women of the armed forces that nobility stretches even further when they combine it with a healthcare career. Navy nurses work in some of the most dynamic environments while helping the men and women fighting for our freedom and their families.

A Navy nurse career provides unrivaled experience and skills that are transferable anywhere allowing you to choose from the best nursing jobs available in civilian life. Additionally, the Navy offers excellent scholarship opportunities so spending years paying off your debts from graduate school won’t be a factor in your decision to pursue a healthcare career.

Navy nurses get ample opportunity to focus their career on a variety of nursing specialties including:

• Critical Care
• Education
• Emergency Trauma
• Manpower System Analysis
• Maternal/Infant
• Medical/Surgical
• Neonatal Intensive Care
• Nurse Anesthetist
• Nurse Midwife
• Nurse Practitioner
  • Family
  • Pediatric
  • Psychiatric
  • Women’s Health
  • Pediatrics
  • Perioperative
  • Psychiatric
  • Public Health
  • Research
  • Training Management

Navy nurses also see the world. There are more than 250 Navy and medical facilities around the world including places like Japan, Germany, Guam and of course the United States. You may be called to work at one of the National Naval Medical Centers in Bethesda, Maryland, Portsmouth, Virginia and San Diego, California or provide medical support to deployed troops aboard one of two dedicated hospital ships: The USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy.

If choosing the Navy to kick start your career in nursing looks viable there are additional perks worth considering. The Navy covers up to $180,000 of your education and students have no military/training obligation until after graduation. Current nursing students who qualify for the Nurse Candidate Program get an initial grant of $10,000 plus a stipend of $1,000 per month for up to two years.

Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 41, pass a full medical exam and be willing to serve a minimum of three years active duty among other requirements. Click here for more information on how to be a nurse in the Navy.

If you’re looking into a healthcare career then you’ve come to the right place. Hospital Dream Jobs is your source for the latest news and trends affecting the healthcare industry and we also periodically give you tips and insight into finding that perfect job. If you’re in the process of going to school or looking into a career change and wondering whether a job in healthcare is right for you, it’s always best to make a list of pros and cons and ask yourself the right questions.

In an article posted on explorehealthcareers.org, six questions are posted which we think, based on your answers, are good indicators of whether you should continue your pursuit of being a doctor, nurse, physician’s assistant or whatever health career you may be looking into. Check them out below.

1. Do you like to deal with people?

In some sectors, it’s all about people. Nurses, pediatricians and occupational therapists need to have what is commonly referred to as a “warm bedside manner.” If interacting daily with people, and sometimes very sick people, does not appeal to you, a career in healthcare isn’t over, you just might prefer being in the medical lab, working in pathology or even medical illustration.

1. Are you comfortable with science?

If high school chemistry was more or less a foreign language that you barely escaped with a C-, then perhaps taking college level courses of the same fare is not the best idea. Most health careers require you to be a strong science student and some require intensive work in chemistry, physics and biology, just to name a few.

1. Are you prepared to keep up with developments in your field?

Getting a diploma doesn’t mean that your education and studies are over. Most health professionals need continuing education credits and to really stay up on the fast paced changes in the medical world, you’ll need to study and learn throughout your whole career.

1. Are you comfortable in a health care setting?

If you have your sights set on working in a hospital or doctor’s office, then you’ll need to be prepared to deal with sick and dying people. If dealing with patients is not your thing, then you might want to turn your attention to pharmacies, laboratories, and medical libraries just to name a few.

1. Are you a team player?

Successful patient care requires a team working and communicating together. If you prefer working alone or don’t like being managed or managing then you might have difficulty finding your niche in healthcare.

1. What lifestyle do you envision?

If you thrive on long days and high stress, life and death decisions, then a career in the emergency room might be for you. If you’d rather have set hours with a work life balance, there are other careers in healthcare that will suit you. Carefully study the hours and demands of whatever position you are looking into, if it’s something you might have a hard time embracing then perhaps your focus should fit more with what you can live with.

And whatever career you decide on, always check out Hospital Dream Jobs for that dream career in whatever health profession you choose.

Social Networking is certainly the current and perhaps best way to land your next job or inquire about new careers. To capitalize on this current trend, the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) has launched GoDental. a new interactive multimedia web resource to enhance the dental education experience.

Interested in a Dental career? GoDental’s mission is to help students navigate their way through the experience of becoming a dentist by providing information directly from dental professionals. GoDental goes straight to the source in finding the latest and greatest trends and information on the world of dentistry through interactive media including:

• DentNetworks – an interactive forum that allows students to engage with peers, dental students and others about applying to dental school, what it means to be a dental student and what a career in dentistry offers.
• Blogistry – which allows GoDental members to read and comment about current news and issues affecting the dental community. Blogs, written by dental professionals and students, cover everything from tips on applying to dental school and how to finance a dental education to perspectives on current news and viewpoints.
• DenTube – an online channel with videos on current events, what dental school is like and tips for successfully completing an application to dental school.

There is even a section for future students, whether in high school or college, that provides information and resources on career options, preparing for dental school and even dental school curriculum.

“ADEA is excited to offer students, prospective students, residents and fellows the opportunity to come together under an inventive combination of multimedia, forums and community development,” said ADEA President Leo E. Rouse, D.D.S.

GoDental membership is free and members can even follow GoDental on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Go to www.godental.org for more information and to sign up.

The American Dental Education Association is the voice of dental education. Its members include all U.S. and Canadian dental schools and many allied and postdoctoral dental education programs, corporations, faculty, and students. The mission of ADEA is to lead individuals and institutions of the dental education community to address contemporary issues influencing education, research, and the delivery of oral health care for the health of the public.

Hospital Dream Jobs provides not only resources to your next job in health care but also news and insight on today’s latest trends and the information you need to get your career started.

Jobs held by Physician Assistants have reached record highs according to the latest figures released by the American Academy of Physician Assistants. The group’s 2010 survey findings show a 100 percent increase during the last 10 years with more than 30 percent of PAs practicing in primary care. There are now more than 83,000 practicing PAs in the United States.

“The Physician Assistant profession is growing rapidly and it is key to expanding access to quality healthcare for millions of Americans”, said Robert Wooten, president of the AAPA. “PAs are the only healthcare providers educated and credentialed with a primary care focus, providing a strong foundation for any specialty in which they may choose to practice.”

According to the AAPA website, PAs perform a wide variety of duties including conducting physical exams, diagnosing of and treating illness, ordering and interpreting tests, counseling on preventative care, assisting in surgery and prescribing medication. PAs can be licensed to practice and prescribe in all states. New York and California were tops in the nation as far as the number of PAs holding jobs. Rhode Island, South Dakota and Missouri were tops in salary increases with a nine percent increase in 2010 from the year before compared to an overall 2.8 percent increase for the entire profession.

The AAPA survey also showed that:

1. 40 percent of PAs had been in their current primary specialty for at least six years.
2. Two-thirds expressed satisfaction with their career.
3. Nearly two-thirds of all PAs are women.
4. PAs work in private practices and clinics, hospitals, HMOs and in federal government agencies including the military.

Just last month Oregon passed the Physician Assistant Practice Modernization Act which streamlines the licensure process in that state and deleted old language that required a PA’s scope of practice and supervision requirements to be determined by the medical board. Oregon’s Governor is a former emergency room physician. And a few weeks prior to Oregon’s action, Vermont also passed several improvements to their PA Practice Act.

“Physician-PA teams are extremely effective in the clinical setting and it’s great news to see (the Oregon) model in action in advocacy,” Wooten said.

There are more than 150 PA education programs in the United States which typically last between 24-32 months. They also require a four-year degree and some healthcare experience prior to admission. The median salary is $90,000 a year and the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the number of PA jobs will increase by 27 percent between 2006 and 2016.

Hospital Dream Jobs is your source for finding healthcare jobs including careers as a Physician Assistant. If you are interested in the PA profession check here often for more information as well as job postings.

Your job search, especially if it’s been years since you’ve been looking, likely has a frustrating element that dampens any motivation you have for “getting out there” and searching for a career. Your resume it seems is sent into cyberspace never to be seen, or heard from, again. Literally.

You are not alone when it comes to expecting some sort of phone call or even any type of correspondence to let you know where you stand. And you are not alone when you hear nothing for weeks and sometimes when you hear nothing…ever. There are a number of reasons for this. Some have nothing to do with you and some may have everything to do with you. An article posted on a popular job search site breaks down this new phenomenon in job searching and provides some hints on how to overcome it.

The company is not into you.

Yes you may qualify but someone else more closely matches what they were looking for. This is one of the tightest job markets ever so employers can usually get exactly the type of candidate they want.

They like you-they just haven’t come across your resume.

Companies are inundated with applications, so much so, they don’t even have time to send acknowledgement letters. Some companies spend months looking through resumes for one open position. So, while you may want the job today it may take months before you even get an interview.

Did you follow directions?

One way companies siphon through resumes is to see if the applicant followed directions. Did you respond exactly the way the company asked you to? Did you tailor your resume to show you have the experience and qualifications that are required? Additionally, don’t expect success if you are using a shotgun approach by sending the same letter to dozens of companies.

Is the job you applied for appropriate for you?

If you’re not right for the job, whether it’s because you are over qualified, under qualified or just plain wrong for the job, don’t expect the company to find a spot for you on their roster. Read the job description carefully and make sure you are a fit.

Your application materials could use some work.

Did you send a cover letter? Does your resume show you’re the right person for the job? Did you remember to spell check everything prior to submitting? Mistakes and coming across as having no idea what the position is for won’t result in a call back.

The job is gone.

Sometimes companies realize they don’t need the position anymore or budget cuts end up axing the position which means they no longer need you. In some cases, companies will collect resumes for a job they plan to open sometime in the future.

This is not a comprehensive list by any means but if you are not receiving responses, there are some steps that you can take:

1. Call. Try and track down the hiring manager for the position you applied for and see if you’re even in the running.
2. Don’t be a pest. If you did get an interview, send your “thank you” letter and wait a week to call. You can even send an email or two but no more; you’ll just come across as desperate.
3. Reread the job posting. A second or even third read may reveal some tidbits that do indeed disqualify you as a viable candidate.
4. Review your resume. Ask others what they think of it and if it needs tweaking.
5. Network even more. The best chance for you in the healthcare field, especially in this job climate, is to network your way in.

There was a time when alternative medicine was frowned upon in this country and the idea of using herbs, acupuncture, yoga and even massage was dismissed as archaic or scientifically irrelevant. But a recent study not only debunks that idea, but it also shows healthcare providers are using the services for themselves more than you might think.

Three out of four U.S. healthcare workers use alternative or complementary medicine for their own health needs. The survey of more than 14,300 working adults 18 years and older included 1,300 healthcare providers and covered 36 different alternative therapies including body manipulation, mind-body and biological-based therapies and energy-healing treatments. The report was published this month in the journal Health Services Research.

“No one has really done this sort of analysis before, so when I saw our results I was authentically surprised,” said Lori Knutson, co-author of the study who is also executive director of the Penny George Institute for Health and Healing with the Allina Health System in Minneapolis.

Knutson added that she was pleasantly surprised because the findings mean that U.S. healthcare workers recognize the need for alternative methods to improving health. Doctors and nurses were twice as likely as non-clinical healthcare workers to try alternative therapy. Additionally, they were three times more likely to have “self-treated” using complimentary/alternative approaches than their nonclinical counterparts.

The results of the study which collected data in 2007 showed 76 percent of healthcare workers had used alternative medicine in the previous year compared to 63 percent of people working in non-healthcare fields. According to the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine about 38 percent of Americans currently use complimentary or alternative medicine.

“In general, Western culture has believed that complimentary services and techniques aren’t as well-researched and evidence-based as conventional medicine,” Knutson said. “But that is certainly no longer the case…What I hope comes from this insight into practitioner use of complimentary options is an opening up of the conversation between providers and patients about the use and potential of alternative medicine.”

The reasons cited by healthcare workers for looking into alternative therapies were similar to reasons seen elsewhere. The three most prevalent concerns were back, neck and joint pain. When diets, vitamins, minerals and/or herbal supplements were excluded from the study, healthcare workers still outpaced non-health workers to have tried an alternative medicine or service over the prior year – 41 percent to 31 percent.

Judy Blatman, a spokeswoman for the Council for Responsible Nutrition which represents the supplements industry, said the results are not surprising and they in fact are consistent with the group’s own research. She too is encouraged by the fact that healthcare providers are seeking these alternative treatments out.

“We find that often patients feel uncomfortable talking to their providers about non-traditional disciplines for fear of being discounted,” Blatman said. “So this should put everyone more at ease.

Healthcare reforms continue to make headlines, and those of you in the nursing field have an opportunity to ensure that your voice is heard in the ongoing debate. The Scholar in Residence Program at the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies provides a yearlong leadership opportunity in health policy. The application deadline is August 8, 2011.

The program is designed as an immersion experience to facilitate nurse leaders engaging in a prominent role in health policy development at the national level and to increase their interaction with other health fellows and scholars. Prior attendees report many doors opening to new opportunities and since the program offers a chance to step outside the hospital, nurses see new and different perspectives.

Among the criteria required to be considered for the scholarship program, applicants need to be a current member of the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) and be in agreement with the health care policies of the IOM and AAN. The IOM was established in 1970 as the health arm of the National Academy of Science and provides information to decision makers, who can then change regulation or policy, and to other groups who are able to change behavior. The AAN serves the public and the nursing profession by advancing health policy and practice through the generation, synthesis, and dissemination of nursing knowledge.

Those accepted as scholars will direct a self-initiated study with policy consequences that builds on a current IOM initiative. An annual stipend of $75,000 is included and scholars will be provided with an office at IOM. An intensive two-month orientation in federal health policy formation will be included as part of the program.

To be successful in the program, applicants should have an understanding of the importance of networking within the health policy community, including identifying opportunities for nurse-leader engagement and communication of those interactions and opportunities to sponsors.  As a scholar you will have direct interaction with staff who work for the AAN and the American Nurses Association and the American Nurses Foundation – all who support the IOM on this program.

During the program, applicants can expect to be involved in a number of projects including writing policy-oriented papers in a chosen area of study to be submitted for refereed publication within six months of completion of the scholarship program. Other areas of involvement include providing testimony, participating in IOM workshops and engaging with other nurses on policy-related websites. A report to the AAN, ANA and ANF Boards of activities and accomplishments must be filed within 60 days of completing the program.

For additional information on this unique opportunity to take your leadership skills to the next level click here.

Take a deep breath. What I’m about to talk about strikes fear in the heart of the most courageous men and women. A fear so strong Jerry Seinfeld once joked that people would rather be in the casket than give the eulogy. Public speaking! But ask anyone who has conquered this fear and they will tell you without hesitation and even with a little joy– they love it! And you can too.

As a healthcare professional you may be asked to speak at a board meeting, seminar, conference or workshop-and possibly in front of a very large audience. When that day comes, if you are like many of us, you will pass many nervous days and nights. Or you can conquer that fear and enjoy the moment. Remember, all eyes are on you because you’re the expert!

There are many tactics one can use to stop the butterflies (though even the most experienced speakers will tell you the butterflies never truly go away – so take heart!) and one of those I’d recommend is to join Toastmasters or take a Dale Carnegie course. Everyone has joined for the same reason you will – to get over their fear of public speaking. Positive affirmations and reassurances are the only thing you’ll hear even if you stumble, mumble and fumble. You will also get very positive, constructive feedback that is designed to help you the next time out.

Consider the following tips:

1. Think about your favorite music group, ball team or restaurant. Someone asks you about it and you immediately know statistics, facts and figures. Why? Because you’ve taken the time to investigate a topic that’s important to you. The same goes for public speaking about your professional expertise. You’re not going to get up in front of people to discuss something you know nothing about, right? So, do your homework, prepare for possible questions and know your stuff! You’ll breeze through the moment and people will look at you with new respect.
2. Practice makes perfect! You didn’t just spend 20 minutes talking about your favorite hobby for the first time did you? No, over time, you naturally practiced your “speech” if you will, and now it flows out flawlessly. When you have a professional speech to give, by all means, practice, practice, practice, in front of the mirror, your spouse, your friends and colleagues, even in front of your kids (if you can deliver a speech to wiggling, giggling children you can deliver a speech to anyone).
3. On the day of your speech, forego bringing the entire text but rather key words or phrases to help you remember your main points. This will allow you to speak conversationally rather than reading from the page. And keep this in mind, if you leave something out, the audience will never know.
4. One other thing. You may feel the need to tell people you’re nervous as a way to “protect” yourself in case things don’t go as smoothly as you hoped. Don’t! It’s natural to be nervous but if you tell people they will focus on whether or not your nerves are getting the best of you rather than listening to the message you are trying to convey.
5. Finally, know that once you begin speaking, if you are focused on your subject and feel confident in your knowledge, the nerves will likely disappear. In fact, you may even find you enjoy it and may be invited back to speak again! Public speaking engagements are a wonderful way to reinvigorate your love for your profession as you share your expertise and will be a great addition to your resume.

None of us remember the days when blood-letting was a common prescription for a host of problems, but we sure have read about it. We may laugh at such folly but at one point in time that was considered modern medicine. As you know medicine changes rapidly and for those in the medical field, embracing those changes and moving forward is a must.

A new approach to patient care is on the horizon, and for those just starting out they may get the first taste of it in med school, but those already in the trenches may be required to reconsider what we’ve been doing for 10, 20, even 30 years. Interprofessional Healthcare is a new approach which brings healthcare professionals from a variety of disciplines together. It is a significant change to the current method but is also one that could define the 21^st Century.

Whether we want to admit it or not, many of us in the healthcare field have established professional boundaries we do not want crossed. Our patient is our patient. But the reality is, your patient may need the expertise of someone who has more knowledge than you. And with Interprofessional Healthcare, those fences we have put up will need to come down for the good of the patient.

For those starting out, learning the Interprofessional Healthcare approach will be much easier because universities are beginning to work it into their curriculum. Once these young professionals start seeing patients, working hand-in-hand and side-by-side with other healthcare providers will be as easy and seamless as allowing a nurse to check pulses and blood pressure.

In a report issued in late 2010 called the Lancet Commission, 20 professional and academic leaders detailed 10 reforms that are necessary in order to overcome the current fragmentation and many other problems the healthcare world is facing. One of those reforms was promoting interprofessional education designed to enhance collaborative and non-hierarchical relationships in effective teams. Read this report here. You can also read the Framework for action on interprofessional education and collaborative practice on the World Health Organization’s website.

The bottom line is that it’s better for the patient when a team of healthcare professionals have mutual respect for one another, and effectively communicate, collaborate and coordinate patient care. It is widely known that a variety of health conditions come from a variety of causes, and a variety of body systems and structures can be affected. And healthcare professionals must work together to provide the best possible care for the patient.

As university programs work to incorporate this new approach, established professionals can keep their eyes open for seminars and workshops. And hospital and clinic administrators may consider holding training sessions that will encourage their staff members to work together in this way. Don’t get me wrong, there are many healthcare providers who do collaborate with their peers when treating patients, but a team approach is not necessarily the norm across the board.

Becoming versed in this new approach to healthcare will not only be a boon to your patients, but will be a great addition to your professional credentials!