A Nursing Assistant's Online Journal

It has been a norm in the United States and other developed countries that once a person becomes old or is incapable for taking care of himself due to mental or physical problems, the family will immediately send him to nursing homes – a type of facility that provide long term care for elderly beings. It is housed with experienced therapists, caregivers, and other nursing staffs who will provide continuous nursing care or 24-hour supervision to less active or frail elderly people.  

With the great number of people being sent in nursing facility every year, I can say that caregiving or nursing aide will always be one of the careers where you can find employment, even in a slow economy. So for those who have a dedication of helping others but do not have enough money to obtain a degree in medicine, caregiving is an ideal option.

I’ve worked as a resident caregiver in one of the private institutions based in Georgia before I become a nursing assistant. And based on my experiences, I can say that caring someone who badly needs your help is really overwhelming and fulfilling to the heart. The salary is not bad especially for someone who has no working experience yet as it ranges from $8.91-$12.70 per hour.  Working beyond your schedule is also paid fairly. Moreover, if your client comes from a well-off or generous family; expect to receive a higher bonus especially if they are impressed with the service you provide to their loved ones.  

Just like any other professions, there are also some qualifications required for caregiving jobs. The applicant should be at least 18 years of age and possesses that caring personality. It is also important for a caregiver applicant to have a license since he or she is expected to promote a healthy living for adult by assisting in their activities of daily living such as eating, bathing, toileting, shopping, cooking, cleaning the house and managing schedules appointments. Helping in taking the medicines and monitoring the vital signs of elders depending on the recommendation of their attending physician is likewise included in the day-to-day tasks of a caregiver. When taking the vital signs, some procedures will require the use of basic hospital medical equipment like thermometer and sphygmomanometer thus, it is necessary for a caregiver to be adept in using such instruments.  Furthermore, the ability of a caregiver to speak English clearly and record plan updates are essential. 

I have already worked in facilities wherein most of the patients are in chronic health condition. From that, I can say the benefits of healthcare insurance to these ill individuals are undeniable. The difference on hospitalization expenses for patients with health insurance is absolutely amplified compared to those who have none. Patients with no health insurance are expected to pay all the services provided to them, from the medical or surgical instruments used to the medicines to the doctor’s fee and other miscellaneous fees.

But for the past few months, U.S. President Barrack Obama’s Health Care Act has been the talk of the town. The adjustments and added provisions on the House and Bills that have been passed by the Congressional Democrats are among the top reasons that make this health care law controversial. One of the adjustments made is the provision that mandates every American to buy health insurance by 2014 and failure to do so means paying for a penalty.

The opponents of Obama administration regarding the said issue is requesting to repeal the law because they believe that this Health Care Act violates a fundamental right of the citizens. They added that the Congress has no right to require individuals to enter a marketplace and purchase a particular product or goods.

In your opinion, do you think this Affordable Health Care Act of President Obama is beneficial to everyone?

Monitoring your blood pressure regularly provides a number of benefits. First, it lets you make early diagnosis of abnormal blood pressure level.   From the BP monitoring result, you and your doctor are able to determine what is the best care or treatment for your condition. Another advantage of checking your blood pressure is that it makes you become more responsible at the same time boosts your self-control. Being at risk of hypotension or hypertension likewise enables you learn how to avoid those things that will aggravate your condition. And with that, you gain a stronger sense of responsibility. Moreover, maintaining your BP reading within normal level definitely reduces your healthcare expenditure.  

Checking your BP level is not possible without the aid of a blood pressure device called sphygmomanometer. It is one of the most important medical instruments that should always be found in every home. The sphygmomanometers, just like any other hospital and home medical instruments, have also undergone series of improvements. The first type of BP monitoring device was invented by Samuel Siegfried Karl Ritter von Basch and this instrument is universally known as mercury sphygmomanometer. After this, a BP device with manometer or an aneroid sphygmomanometer is then discovered. When electronic devices become popular, digital or electronic blood pressure devices are also introduced in the market.  This latter version of sphygmomanometer is offered with manual or automatic inflation.

Although more innovative and user-friendly blood pressure devices are now offered in the market, many healthcare professionals, including myself, still prefer to use mercury sphygmomanometer for some reasons. First of all, this medical instrument cannot be decalibrated so you do not have to clean or repair it regularly. In terms of reliability, you can expect that this type of blood pressure device will always give you a consistently accurate result. Additionally, the mercury sphygmomanometer is cheaper than the modern styles.