Nurse Practitioner

Becoming Integral in US Health Care

Nurse Practitioners are APRNs who have additional responsibilities for administering patient care than RNs. NPs can prescribe medication, examine patients, diagnose illnesses, and provide treatment, much like physicians do. In fact, nurse practitioners have what’s referred to as “full practice authority” in 20 states, meaning that they do not have to work under the supervision of a doctor. In the remaining states, however, while NPs still have more authority than RNs, they must have a medical doctor sign on certain patient care decisions.

Nevertheless, nurse practitioners are increasingly becoming integral to medical teams as more and more hospitals and healthcare facilities are utilizing their expertise. Their experience as working nurses gives them a unique approach to patient care, while their advanced studies qualify them to take on additional duties that are usually left to physicians. In fact, as reported by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), it’s estimated that NPs can provide 80-90 percent of the care that primary care physicians offer.

Nursing is a fairly stable industry already, but becoming an NP can give you even more job security. KFF reports that the need for primary care is expected to rise over the next five years because of the aging population and other factors, and NPs are poised to meet this increasing demand, especially in underserved areas. Without nurse practitioners, there could end up being a shortage of highly skilled medical professionals since there simply won’t be enough doctors to go around.

In fact, during the decade of 2014-2024, the BLS projects that nurse practitioner jobs will increase by 35 percent, which is much faster than most occupations. On top of that excellent job forecast, NPs also out-earn RNs by over $30,000 (median salary for registered nurses was $66,640 in May 2014, says the BLS). And, compared to an LPN’s annual wages of $42,490, becoming an NP will more than double your earnings.

What’s more is that even after you become an NP, additional specializations can drive salary up higher still, and invite even more career opportunities.

Twelve Best Cities to Visit in Europe this Summer

See How They Rank

Twelve Best Cities to Visit in Europe this Summer
Longest Gain for Your Travel Buck


Twelve best cities to visit in Europe this summer. The new trends in Europe will surprise you. Get the best buck for your dime is the way to go, off course the major metropolises are charming, overlooked locales, Europe is brimming with cities everyone should visit. But where does a penny-pinching, adventure-seeking twenty something even begin when it comes to traveling Europe?

The big players — London, Paris, Amsterdam — are great. Those should be on everyone’s bucket list. For millennials, these 20 cities offer delicious street food, hip hostels, cozy cafes and many glimpses into new cultures.

And there’s a bonus — these beautiful cities are even worth visiting if you’re not exactly in your 20s anymore. List from top includes:

1. Riga, Latvia
2. Berlin, Germany
3. Copenhagen, Denmark
4. Stockholm, Sweden
5. Budapest, Hungary
6. Fira, Greece
7. Oslo, Norway
8. Lisbon, Portugal
9. Dublin, Ireland
10. Rotterdan, Netherland
11. Glasgow, UK
12. Florence, Italy

Bon Voyage - Brought to you by Healthcare800.com - Find a Healthcare doctor on healthcare800.com

7 Top States For Registered Nurses Salary

Get The Facts

1. California
Median RN Salary: $100,460

Median Hourly: $48.30

Number of RNs in California: 274,650

Nursing Jobs: View 2,484 of the best paying nursing job opportunities in California now.


2. Hawaii
Median RN Salary: $91,020

Median Hourly: $43.76

Number of RNs in Hawaii: 11,300



3. Oregon
Median RN Salary: $88,010

Median Hourly: $42.32

Number of RNs in Oregon: 35,220

Nursing Jobs: Advance your career in Oregon. See 357 open nursing positions now.



4. Alaska
Median RN Salary: $85,300

Median Hourly: $40.01

Number of RNs in Alaska: 5,570

Nursing Jobs: Advance your career in Alaska. See 215 open nursing positions now.

5. Massachusetts
Median RN Salary: $84,410

Median Hourly: $40.58

Number of RNs in Massachusetts: 20,250

Nursing Jobs: Massachusetts needs nurses like you. Apply now to 779 open nursing jobs.



6. Nevada
Median RN Salary: $83,940

Median Hourly: $40.36

Number of RNs in Nevada: 20,250

Nursing Jobs: There are 179 open nursing jobs in Nevada. Apply now.



7. New York
Median RN Salary: $80,380

Median Hourly: $38.65

Number of RNs in New York: 180,730

Nursing Jobs: View 650 of the best paying nursing job opportunities in New York now.

Seven Most Beautiful

And Extreme Places on Earth

1. Antarctica (Credit: visitworldplaces.com)


Antarctica is on average the coldest, windiest, driest, and highest of the 7 continents. This desert continent is, however, home to millions of penguins of different species.



2. Victoria Falls that border Zambia and Zimbabwe is the largest waterfall in the world by total area. The falls transport an astonishing 1,088 cubic meters per second of water down an ~350-foot cliff.


3. Kauai, Hawaii owns the medal of the rainiest place on earth, allowing for a tropical paradise. Hike, swim, bike, and dive.


4. Bora Bora, French Polynesia (Credit: St. Regis Bora Bora)

Bora Bora is an island that once was a volcano, which has subsequently subsided and formed a barrier reef. The reef ecosystem allows for pristine clear blue water and reefs limit waves, providing a protected sanctuary.


5. Amazon River, Brazil (Credit: Dailybackgrounds.com)

The Amazon River is the artery for the largest rainforest in the world. It is the largest river in the world by discharge and one of the largest by length. The surrounding rainforest represents over half of the world's remaining rainforest.

6. Neuschwanstein, a nineteenth-century castle in southern Germany is the inspiration for Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle. This German retreat is visited regularly during summer months as a symbol of refuge and peace.


7. Bison of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Yellowstone National Park is the oldest national park in the US and likely the world. Drive through the park and encounter an array of wildlife 10's of feet away from you.

18 Practical Yes Questions You Need Answered

When Selecting A Nursing Home For a Loved One

1. Is the facility Medicare, Medicaid certified?

• Yes

2. Are the care planning meetings held at times that are easy

for residents and their family members to attend?

• Yes

3. Do the hallways have handrails?

• Yes

4. Do rooms and bathrooms have grab bars and call buttons?

• Yes

5. Does the facility have a fresh smell?

• Yes

6. Are residents clean and well groomed?

• Yes

7. Do staff members interact well with residents?

• Yes

8. Does the staff respond quickly to calls for help?

. Yes

9. Is there fresh water available in the rooms?

. Yes

10. Are the residents offered choices of food at mealtimes?

• Yes

11. Are the residents who need assistance eating or drinking

receiving it?

• Yes

12. Are there nutritious snacks available throughout the day

and evening?

• Yes

13. Is the facility an easy place for family and friends to visit?

• Yes

14. Does the nursing home have outdoor areas for residents and help for

residents who want to spend time outside?

• Yes

15. Are the residents allowed to make choices about daily routine

. Yes

16. Are the residents allowed to have personal articles and furniture in

their rooms?

• Yes

17. Is the staff friendly, considerate and helpful?

• Yes

18. Does the facility have a friendly, home-like environment?
• Yes

Facts About The Incidence of Skin Cancer Among Americans

Things American Academy of Dermatology Want You to Know

Skin cancer
Incidence rates
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States.
Current estimates are that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.

It is estimated that nearly 9,500 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with skin cancer every day.5-7
Researchers estimate that 5.4 million cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, were treated in 3.3 million people in the United States in 2012.
The overall incidence of BCC increased by 145 percent between 1976-1984 and 2000-2010, and the overall incidence of SCC increased 263 percent over that same period.

Women had the greatest increase in incidence rates for both types of NMSC
NMSC incidence rates are increasing in people younger than 40.8
More than 1 million Americans are living with melanoma.
It is estimated that 161,790 new cases of melanoma, 74,680 noninvasive (in situ) and 87,110 invasive, will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2017.6-7
Invasive melanoma is projected to be the fifth most common cancer for men (52,170 cases) and the sixth most common cancer for women (34,940 cases) in 2017.

Melanoma rates in the United States doubled from 1982 to 2011.1
Caucasians and men older than 50 have a higher risk of developing melanoma than the general population.
The incidence in men ages 80 and older is three times higher than women of the same age.
The annual incidence rate of melanoma in non-Hispanic Caucasians is 26 per 100,000, compared to 5 per 100,000 in Hispanics and 1 per 100,000 in African-Americans.

In people of color, melanoma is often diagnosed at later stages, when the disease is more advanced.
Before age 50, melanoma incidence rates are higher in women than in men, but by age 65, rates are twice as high in men.

Melanoma in Caucasian women younger than 44 has increased 6.1 percent annually, which may reflect recent trends in indoor tanning.10
Melanoma is the second most common form of cancer in females age 15-29.12
Melanoma incidence is increasing faster in females age 15-29 than in males of the same age group.

Risk Factor For Skin Cancer

Things You Need to Know Before Summer Exposure

Risk factors
Exposure to natural and artificial ultraviolet light is a risk factor for all types of skin cancer.6
Avoiding this risk factor alone could prevent more than 5 million cases of skin cancer every year.6
Research indicates that UV light from the sun and tanning beds can both cause melanoma and increase the risk of a benign mole progressing to melanoma.16
Increasing intermittent sun exposure in childhood and during one’s lifetime is associated with an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and melanoma.17
Even one blistering sunburn during childhood or adolescence can nearly double a person's chance of developing melanoma.18
Experiencing five or more blistering sunburns between ages 15 and 20 increases one’s melanoma risk by 80 percent and nonmelanoma skin cancer risk by 68 percent.19
In 2010, new research found that daily sunscreen use cut the incidence of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, in half.20
People older than 65 may experience melanoma more frequently because of UV exposure they've received over the course of their lives.21
Higher melanoma rates among men may be due in part to lower rates of sun protection. 1,22
Exposure to tanning beds increases the risk of melanoma, especially in women 45 and younger.23-24
Researchers estimate that indoor tanning may cause upwards of 400,000 cases of skin cancer in the U.S. each year.25-26
In females 15 to 29 years old, the torso/trunk is the most common location for developing melanoma, which may be due to high-risk tanning behaviors.27
Higher melanoma rates among young females compared to young males may be due in part to widespread use of indoor tanning among females.1
Risk factors for all types of skin cancer include skin that burns easily; blond or red hair; a history of excessive sun exposure, including sunburns; tanning bed use; immune system-suppressing diseases or treatments; and a history of skin cancer.6
People with more than 50 moles, atypical moles, or large moles are at an increased risk of developing melanoma, as are those with light skin and freckles, and those with a personal or family history of melanoma.6, 28
Melanoma survivors have an approximately nine-fold increased risk of developing another melanoma compared to the general population.29
Men and women with a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer are at a higher risk of developing melanoma than people without a nonmelanoma skin cancer history.30
Women with a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer are at a higher risk of developing leukemia, breast, kidney and lung cancers, and men with a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer are at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. 30
Prevention and detection
Because exposure to UV light is the most preventable risk factor for all skin cancers,6 the American Academy of Dermatology encourages everyone to protect their skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays by seeking shade, wearing protective clothing and using a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor of 30 or higher.
Because severe sunburns during childhood may increase one’s risk of melanoma, children should be especially protected from the sun.6
People should not use tanning beds or sun lamps, which are sources of artificial UV radiation that may cause skin cancer.
Skin cancer warning signs include changes in size, shape or color of a mole or other skin lesion, the appearance of a new growth on the skin, or a sore that doesn't heal. If you notice any spots on your skin that are different from the others, or anything changing, itching or bleeding, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends that you make an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist.
The American Academy of Dermatology encourages everyone to perform skin self-exams to check for signs of skin cancer and get a skin exam from a doctor. A dermatologist can make individual recommendations as to how often a person needs these exams based on risk factors, including skin type, history of sun exposure and family history.
Individuals with a history of melanoma should have a full-body exam by a board-certified dermatologist at least annually and perform regular self-exams to check for new and changing moles.31