It serves all four branches of the military and Public Health Service. Uniformed students receive their usual pay and benefits. Medical students have a seven year obligation to serve after graduation. Only military nurses are accepted in the post-graduate nursing programs for Master’s degree or PhD completion. Some civilians who are employed by the federal government may be eligible for admission and receive their full salary while attending.

The university specializes in the extraordinary requirements of deployed troops. For that reason the school is year-round and the medical education contains an added 7700 hours of military needs training. Other programs are available with an emphasis on research into uniquely military clinical findings (post-traumatic stress, etc.). In 2006 a new program was initiated studying radiation biology.

For information about the opportunities, see them on-line

Want to go to the medical or graduate school of your choice? If it is in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, clinical psychology or nurse anesthesia there’s a scholarship waiting for you.

The most extensive scholarship plan is the F. Edward Hebert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program. Not only is this a free ride for tuition, but also comes with a monthly stipend, books, non-expendable equipment, and promotions. To qualify, students must have already be enrolled or received a letter of acceptance from a program in the United States or Puerto Rico, qualify for commissioned officer status in the Army Reserve, be a United States citizen, and maintain full-time student. What you owe them is full-time status and dedicated effort to get good grades, 45 days active duty for training, commission as a second lieutenant and its obligations post-graduation. Your first year of training after school is performed on active duty at an Army medical center.

To start the application procedure you will need the following:

• Letter of Acceptance to a Professional School (Four year scholarships only)
• Dean’s Letter stating that you are currently enrolled in the Medical School and are in good standing with a projected graduation date (For 2nd, 3rd & 4th year medical students).
• 3 to 6 Letters of Recommendation (You must provide your Army Counselor/Recruiter with the names, address and telephone number of these individuals). Committee Letter can count as all three (3) for 4 year scholarships only
• Copy of MCAT / DAT / VCAT / OAT / GRE results (which ever applies)
• Proof of Birth / Citizenship: Copy of Birth Certificate / Passport / Naturalization Cert.
• Official Transcripts from ALL Undergraduate and Graduate Schools attending or have attended.

A physical examination is also required. Your free physical exam will be provided.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: To get started now contact your Army Health Care Recruiter

Know what you’re doing. Clearly, good grades and board scores are important to the selection committee; reality is, the competition is fierce and those numbers are unlikely to separate you from a competitive field. More than that, confidence in your knowledge and skill is essential, as well as knowing what you need to learn. Your letters of recommendation should come from someone who knows you well and can make reference to your unique assets and skills with authority. Ideally the candidate should have a letter from someone inside the specialty they are applying to. Obviously, the best choice would be the chair of the department you are applying to; unless that person does not know you. It is of greater value to ask for a letter of recommendation from someone who can be authentic in their recommendation.

Personal statement. When crafting your personal statement it is important to consider that members of the selection committee read hundreds of these. Make yours stand out with a memorable patient story that has helped direct your career choice. Make it interesting and memorable. Using stock answers such as “I have always wanted to be a pediatrician …” is unoriginal and appears inauthentic.

Remember that you are interviewing. You are vying for a position that hundreds of applicants are after. While humor has its place in medicine and patient care, now is the time to remain professional and astute. Have good questions ready, they are expecting them and utilize them to learn about you and who you are through your thoughts. Be professional in demeanor. If a dinner is hosted, refrain from excessive alcohol. Dress appropriately. For more interview tips look here – http://www.rushu.rush.edu/studentlife/career/medint.html

The extra mile. Be courteous and professional with the staff that arranges the interviews. Typically, these people assist the program director in running the residency. Leaving a good impression with them may not help your cause, but being rude and uncooperative with them is likely to hinder your chances. Follow up with notes of thanks to these people who make things work, as they are looked upon with great admiration by the selection committee.

Obviously, the groundwork for your residency application begins deep in the years of medical school. Going the extra mile in preparation for your application and interview process may help give you a voice in helping to determine your placement. Check out http://www.residencysite.com/HTML/ for more tips on a successful residency application and interview.

In 1874 a physician grew wary of the treatments rendered and lack of success with most medications. Dr. Andrew Taylor Still founded a school that paralleled the teachings of medicine and added the concept of holistic health. He determined nutrition played a large part in the maintenance of well being; the body has the potential for healing itself, and the musculoskeletal system plays a role in good health. The best way, perhaps, to put the differences succinctly, is to say medicine tends to treat the individual ailments while osteopathy treats the entire being.

Perhaps the biggest difference though, is the osteopath’s use of Osteo Manipulative Treatment (OMT). It is literally using the physician’s hands to move muscle and joint by stretching, pressure, and resistance to relieve pain, increase mobility, and promote healing. The American Osteopathic Association credits this modality with relief of:

• asthma
• sinus disorder
• carpal tunnel syndrome
• migraines
• menstrual pain
• other

Although there are a considerable number of osteopaths that become board certified surgeons, more than 65% of osteopaths practice general or family medicine. Osteopathic patients are said to have reduced need for surgery (due to the benefits of OMT). It is a rapidly growing profession, given the recent surge of interest in natural remedies and holistic health.

The findings of OMT, by the way, are not to be disdained as self-promotion. The highly respected New England Journal has published results demonstrating the efficacy of OMT in several conditions.

And how does this differ from the chiropractor? The osteopath goes through four years of undergraduate, the same number of years for medical school, and three to six years in a post-graduate residency program, with a strong medical education. Chiropractors need take similar undergraduate courses in biology and the sciences, often completing a degree program, attend a four or five year program of chiropractics that specialize in spinal manipulation. They are known for their attention to ailments of the neck and spine, but address most skeletal injuries and illness that do not require surgery. Chiropractic care is similar to some forms of OMT and physical therapy.

Which is best between the three professions? From a patient perspective it depends on their needs and beliefs. Actually, the same holds true for those exploring the professions as a career. All are equally as difficult to obtain acceptance in American schools. Course curriculums are no easier in any of the three. All professions require state licensure and national certification exams. Allopathic and osteopathic physicians receive similar insurance reimbursements; chiropractics are less so. As a bit of trivia, it was not until the sixties that chiropractics were accepted as a licensed profession in all the states. Their educational requirements and training have come a long way since the days Dr. Palmer started his school in Davenport, Iowa. There are still naysayers regarding spinal manipulation as a valid treatment. However, there are critics of medicine and osteopathic as well.

Make up your mind by exploring the national associations that represent the professions. Read the negatives, as well as positives: no profession is perfect or pure. It will always be a matter of opinion.

Osteopathics

Chiropractics

There are a number of fundamentals shared by almost everyone who wants to be involved in the health industry: from EKG technician to the physician who does stereotactic radiosurgery. All such occupations involve taking care of the human body in one way or another: and this means being capable of handling the emotional as well as physical aspects of treatment.

Here are eight concrete things you can do while in high school to get ready for a college education and career in health.

1. Become well versed in English so that peers and patients can communicate with you in a common language.It will be far easier to read, write, and interpret reports if you are familiar with the terms.

2.With the growing Hispanic population, it is advisable to speak Spanish in order to learn what their needs are and to give instructions if need be. Knowing a language is far superior to having an interpreter.

3. Take biology class seriously. Learn where the organs lie, what their functions are, and the basics of what happens when organs fail. There’s a lot to be had when studying other animals too. Biology may be the single most important subject you will ever study because it lays the groundwork for advanced studies.

4. Anyone that will be handling medication or chemicals cannot avoid taking chemistry class. Yes, it can be tough: but learn the basics now and you’ll understand when your college professor discusses why a free radical can change the structure and application of a treatment modality.

5. Have a working relationship with numbers. Just about everything in health care is dependant on measurements of one kind or another, figuring out distance, dosages, BMI, ratios and times will depend on it. Become independent of calculators so you will be able to determine the data in lieu of a malfunctioning machine.

6. Volunteer you time or get a part-time job in a hospital or nursing home. Healthcare is a profession where patient contact is demanded in more than 90% of the vocations. You had better learn if you have the personality to work with the sick, elderly, children, intransigent, and families of all the aforementioned. If you intend on working in a profession that reports to others, can you take direction? Will you abide by sometimes frustrating and nonsensical institutional rules? Get to know yourself and if the perceived status of your chosen endeavor is one worth having.

7. Attend career days, often held at hospitals. Speak to individuals who are already in the field you may enter. Ask them about what they like and dislike regarding the job; and if they would do it again.

8. Go to the websites of professional societies. There you will find the issues that involve members, news about legislation and pertinent information to help make your career decision.

Below is a table published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which outlines the fields in healthcare with the biggest growth potential. We suggest you visit their site.

Financial influences in your decision should include housing costs, utility bills, urban versus rural living, and whether you want to ski or play golf. Of course you could do both in a place like New Mexico for most of the year; but the cost will be a lower wage: but living expenses will be lower.  If you live in New York City, you may only be able to afford a one-room walk-up.The training required for those choosing cardiovascular, is two to four years. Technicians and Technologist take similar courses in the first year, then go on to specialized areas. Technologists can qualify to take the national certification exam and generally earn a bachelor’s degree.That being said, it’s time to discuss the breadth of occupations within the healthcare industry.

We can start with the cardiovascular technician. These professionals are often involved with performing electro cardiograms, assist at catheterizations, manage lung capacity tests, pulmonary functions, and other tasks. Nationwide there is expected to be a 33% increase in need for trained technicians over the next 10 years.

Audiologists are employed in a variety of settings: schools, hospitals, private practice. They diagnose, prevent and treat auditory ailments of all ages: infants through geriatrics. This is not only for hearing deficits, but also balance impairments, industrial programs, rehabilitation and research. The mean salary is $57,100. Know exactly what goes on in the profession by visiting the American Academy of Audiologists website .

Dental Hygienists clean and examine teeth, educate on oral health care, make impressions from casts, charts findings, use technology, x-rays, and computers. Education is specialized and requires a four year degree. Salaries are in the area of $62,800. To learn more about the profession see the site of the American Dental Hygienist Association

Medical Sonographers receive a mean national wage of $57,200. They have diverse opportunities to specialize, and are currently in great demand. The technicians utilize sonography to visualize organs, generally eliminating the need for exploratory surgery, in conjunction with other diagnostic tools. Sonographers are usually part of the larger radiology department and are seen as playing a vital role in patient diagnosis. Training is two years in length with schools sometimes located within or associated with hospitals. For information see the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Emergency Medical Technicians have come a long way from the days when training consisted of having a first aid card and driver’s license. The mean salary of $27,100 does not include the advanced training of paramedics. EMT is required to advance to paramedic. Also of interest is the growth expected in the occupation. The mean rate is 27%; meaning there are areas of significantly higher expectations. EMTs are first responders to illness and accidents, trained to provide assistance at critical times. The job is highly stressful but great for adrenalin rushes. A downside of the job can be burn-out, depending on the town or city where located. Training takes less than one year. To learn more about educational and training opportunities, go to the NAEMT site

Ashford University (Clinton, Iowa)
Ashford University prides itself on offering one of the lowest tuition costs for a private school in the Midwest, while still providing low student-teacher ratios. The college has about 4,000 students who have the option of attending classes on campus or participating in an online program. Ashford’s health education options include Bachelor’s Degrees in Biology, Clinical Cytotechnology, Clinical Laboratory Science, Health Care Administration, Health Science, Health Science Administration, Natural Science, and Nuclear Medicine Technology. http://www.ashford.edu/home/

Eagle Gate College (Utah)
Eagle Gate College has campuses in Salt Lake City, Layton, and Murray, as well as an online program. The college offers Diploma and Associate’s programs that take about 12-18 months to complete. Some of the health programs include Medical Assisting, Dental Assisting, Professional Massage and Bodywork, Personal Fitness Training, Pharmacy Tech, and Medical Insurance Billing and Coding. http://www.eaglegatecollege.edu/index.php

Miller-Motte Technical College (Southeast US)
MMTC offers a variety of programs, from Certificates (Therapeutic Massage) and Diplomas (Professional Massage Therapist, Medical Office Assistant) to Associate’s (Surgical Technology, Medical Assisting, Massage Therapy, Dental Assisting) and Bachelor’s Degrees (Allied Health Management). They have seven campuses in Tennessee, North and South Carolina, and Virginia. http://www.miller-motte.com/

Sanford-Brown College (Multiple Locations)
Sanford-Brown College has campuses across the country, including several colleges in the St. Louis, Milwaukee, and Cleveland areas, as well as 15 institutes in Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Texas. They offer Diplomas and Associate’s Degrees in areas including Massage Therapy, Cardiovascular Technology, Medical and Dental Assisting, Surgical Technology, and more. http://www.sanford-brown.edu/sbi/index.asp

National Holistic Institute (California)
Massage Therapy school NHI has five campuses throughout California. The one-year program includes working at the NHI Student Clinic and NHI’s externship program, where students have hundreds of locations to choose from. NHI also has strong partnerships with spas, clubs, and hotels throughout the world, giving graduates an advantage in landing their dream jobs. http://www.nhi.edu/

Walden University (Online University)
Since 1970, DC-based Walden University has catered to working professionals from around the world. Today, Walden has more than 270,000 students enrolled at 58 campuses in 16 countries. The School of Health Sciences offers both a Masters and PhD in Public Health, with specializations including epidemiology and health management and policy. The School of Social Service offers a PhD in Human Services, with specializations ranging from clinical social work to criminal justice to social policy planning. http://www.waldenu.edu/c/home.htm

Liberty University (Lynchburg, Virginia)
Reputably the largest evangelical university in the world, Liberty University offers Bachelor’s Degrees in Athletic Training, Exercise Science and Fitness, Health Promotion, and Kinesiology. Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. has helped the school grow rapidly since its founding in 1970, with a student body of 10,000 and rising. http://www.liberty.edu/

Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, Maryland)
One of the top universities in the US, Johns Hopkins is considered a leader in many areas, including health and medicine. The School of Medicine is widely regarded as one of the best medical schools and biomedical research institutes in the world. They also have a School of Nursing, and The Bloomberg School of Public Health, which is the first and largest public health school in the world. http://www.jhu.edu/

Stanford University (Stanford, California)
Stanford is the oldest continuously running medical school in the western United States, and one of the top medical research institutions in the country. The school offers 12 medical concentrations, and all classes are graded pass/fail, with no honors programs, in an attempt to encourage cooperation among students. http://med.stanford.edu/

Vanderbilt University (Nashville, Tennessee)
Not only is the Vanderbilt School of Medicine one of the top medical schools in the country, it is also affiliated with several of the top hospitals in the country. Some of these units include psychiatry, oncology, sports medicine, and more. After FedEx, Vanderbilt is the largest private employer in the state of Tennessee. http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/medschool/

However, statistics from the US Medical Licensing Exam, less than 42% of Americans studying abroad pass step 1 of the test, because there are cultural issues. Few will want to discuss the realities, but it is important to know what the social climate is if venturing to any country other than Canada. This was pointed out with a recent article about a school in Sweden: but could have been almost anywhere.

Those familiar with medical research have been given one more mystery to examine as the Karolinska Institute of Sweden, the highly regarded research center and medical school, struggled with an obscurity of another character. It seems one of the applicants who met all the rigorous requirements of admission, was also a convicted felon: a murderer to be exact. The 31 year old completed his pre-medical coursework while incarcerated for shooting an anti-neo Nazi protester. They obviously lacked one standard found in most North American institutions of similar repute: high character or are their moral values determined differently than our?

The issue was resolved when the applicant was rejected based on having falsified his high school academic record (he used a false name).

Believe it or not, there was controversy until the discovery of his secondary school activities. The fact that he had been in prison for a decade carried no weight with the admissions committee; he was said to have paid his debt to society. If ten years is enough payment for taking a life in Sweden, then one can understand why they put so little value on such a man becoming a healer. However, the circumstances of the murder would seem to have been lost in the rhetoric.

This crime was not one of a lover’s rage, accidental or incidental death due to events: he shot a man who protested the neo Nazi movement. The victim was defending the rights of minorities, gays, Jews, Muslims, Gypsies, etc. to live life without some brown belt minded, intellectually challenged bigots trying to rid the planet of them!

There are schools in other countries which cater to Americans, and teach in English. You will, however, need to learn the language in order to communicate and diagnose the locals when beginning hospital clerkships and rounds. Learning about their traditions will go far in garnering respect. The stability of the country should not be taken cavalierly. These days being an American is not a pass that can protect young visitors from a crime pr being accused of one. Before making the decision to study away from the USA, seriously think about your values, those of the host country, whether your culture will be accepted or if it need be suppressed: and is that what you can live with. Know what you’re getting into before deciding on being a guest in another country for four years of your life. For more information on studying abroad, check out this site.

Twenty years ago nursing students were recognized as being young, eager ‘new recruits’, in fact, relative ‘virgins’ to employment, least of all a career.

To become a nurse was something to be proud of, a vocation, and lifelong commitment to the caring profession. These people were innocent and impressionable and would be perfect candidates to join the healthcare profession.

To enter into a career choice that was renowned for paying a low wage, have high expectations for the student to embark on gruelling study, along with juggling awkward shift patterns and unsocial hours, was a vocation that these keen new-starters accepted without question

In the early nineties, nursing in the United Kingdom was taken by storm, by the introduction of a new innovation in nurse training. ‘Project 2000’ aimed to take the student away from bedpans and the sluice room, and instead place them in university classrooms, studying from behind a desk, as opposed to learning at the patients bedside.

The aim of this new-age approach to nurse training was to encourage nurses to think, and act as a direct result of evidence based practice, and also to be able to substantiate actions and reflect on nursing practice.

And so, a new breed of ‘super nurse’ was created. The course itself received bad press and was wholly unwelcome, the ‘traditional’ nurses were made to feel that their years of dedication to their chosen profession were no longer adequate, and that in order to raise their professional profile, they would be required to enter into a phase of learning once again, in order to raise the standard of their hard earned qualification.

In more recent years, nurses have accepted the reasoning behind the academic style of nurse training. It is now clear that to have letters after ones name that suggest such high academic status, allows nurses to demand such things as higher levels of pay, and equally important, greater respect, and upward mobility among the ranks.

There has been a significant shift in the expectation of the ‘registered nurse’ from that of twenty years ago, and hands-on nursing roles are being designated to healthcare assistants with no nursing qualification.

Due to the academic prowess of nurses today, they strive to achieve management positions, which are usually non-clinical. This allows them to avoid the less pleasant, patient focused care, and removes further from retaining essential practical nursing skills.

The dedication to patient care appears to be a distant memory, and fading fast, as Britain’s breed of ‘traditional nurses’ retire, or simply leave the profession in many cases as a result of disappointment, disillusionment, and general lack of dedication toward an institution they were once so proud to be part of.

It is unlikely that the institution of nursing will ever revert back to its former ‘roots’.

The age of the academic nurse that strives to collect letters after their name, as opposed to letters of thanks from grateful patients, really is here to stay.