An Occupational Therapy Career That Flies through the Air with the Greatest of Ease

Get the Facts on “Trapeze Therapy”, Invented by an OT

Autistic patients receiving occupational therapy to treat spectrum disorders are nothing new in the OT field, but one groundbreaking treatment is certainly new to the scene: trapeze therapy. It’s being practiced in Athens, Georgia at the Canopy Repertory Company, where the ceilings are as high as the potential for young autistic patients to enhance their balance, coordination, flexibility and endurance.

Developed by Carlynn Kenna, a licensed occupational therapist who has danced with Canopy for the last decade, trapeze therapy is designed to bridge the developmental gap for children (from birth to age 18) with special needs. And it’s not just autism that can be treated with aerial arts, it’s also proven ideal for patients with ADD or ADHD, gross or fine motor delays or spatial integration issues—all things that occupational therapists work with every day. By clicking the Athens Dispatch link, a 7-year-old patient is seen in the midst of receiving trapeze therapy; she works all her core muscles, strengthens her back and has fun at the same time.

The general consensus among young patients receiving this therapy is that they are happier, more confident and vocal as a result of it. Patients must be referred, as with any occupational therapy, by a physician’s written order. Once that’s done, health insurance may likely pick up the tab. Trapeze therapy is joining the fray of innovative new treatments, ideal for OTs with clients who are willing to try new approaches with their child’s best interest at heart.

While trapeze therapy is not yet available outside of Georgia, it may catch on in other rehab jobs soon. The National Association for Sport and Physical Education states that developing children require 3 to 4 hours per day of active rough and tumble pay to achieve adequate stimulation to the vestibular, proprioceptive and tactile sensory systems—trapeze therapy accomplishes these goals, so it’s no surprise to see Home therapy trapeze systems at Autism-Products.com.

50 States Staffing Follows Industry Trends that Lead to Job Surges for OTs

Autism Insurance Reform is helping occupational therapists deliver the highest quality healthcare to patients who need it the most, and is a trend worth following, as the demand for OTs surge between now and 2020. Our therapy jobs are flexible, nationwide and deigned to meet the needs of more Americans, as more regions swell, not just with senior-aged patients who require therapy, but with patients of all ages, entitled to healthcare as the Affordable Healthcare Act gets underway. To be part of these positive and revolutionary experiences in healthcare, we encourage you to call 1-800-996-2206 or apply online today!

Healthcare Professionals Can Better Prepare for Hurricane Season with This Checklist!

Healthcare professionals in nursing and therapy jobs near low-lying coastal areas may be subject to an active hurricane season this year, beginning on June 1st and lasting through November 30th.  Part of every travel nurse’s hurricane plan should be checking with your Unit Manager or Director; you’ll need to see what your department’s guidelines are in the event of a hurricane. If you are scheduled to come in, you won’t need to bring in any of the items listed here, but it’ll bring peace of mind to know you’re well stocked at home, before heading to the hospital.

Grocery Checklist

Travel nurses needn’t feel as though they have to buy hundreds of dollars-worth of supplies all at once. Begin now, bit by bit, over the next several weeks. The following is an example of what WEEK 1 of hurricane shopping might look like:

  • Buy water: A gallon of water per day, for every person in the household; make sure there’s enough to help reconstitute instant foods.
  • Buy a large jar of Peanut Butter: It’s a great source of protein, with a fat and hurricane season shopping list calorie content that, while not as ideal for normal conditions, sustains your energy level when resources are scarce.  Add a package of whole wheat crackers; the brand Wasa gets a thumbs up on a Healthy Careers’ tips for brown bagging it.
  • Buy fish: Canned tuna makes the most sense; you can also get it in a sealable pouch. Sardines are also a great choice. This is the easiest and perhaps healthiest meat group choice in the event of an emergency—lots of healthy omega fats!
  • Buy soup: Adding at least 1 can of soup to your cart in the weeks that you are stockpiling non-perishables is a great idea. Soups with lentils or other legumes satisfy the vegetable category on your hurricane checklist.
  • Buy matches: Look for matches in a waterproof container and consider throwing in a big package of votives or other inexpensive candles.
  • Buy Canned Fruit: Cling peaches are a great choice—very big pieces of fruit go a long way. Look for a BOGO sale!
  • Buy Powdered Milk: Other choices that satisfy the dairy category, here, are pudding to go and Laughing Cow wheels of cheese.
  • Buy 1 package of paper plates: They make your life easier when you have to make peanut butter and crackers, etc.

50 States Staffing Urges You to Keep Safe and Dry

Broward County’s Hurricane Kit Shopping Guide provides complete lists for up to 8 weeks of shopping and preparing. Florida travel nurses and therapists recognize Broward County as Hurricane Headquarters of the United States, and gives excellent tips for anyone living in hurricane prone areas. 50 States Staffing is extending our help and hope to you in the event of a storm, whether it’s a mild tropical one or a category storm that requires extra planning. Feel free to call your consultant (1-800-996-2206) to learn more about your hospital’s Hurricane plan, as well as check in to let us know you are A-OK.

Registered Nurses Are the Driving Force behind Quality Improvement in Hospitals

Find Out Why, and What You Can Do to Stay on Top 

Nurses set the stage for quality improvement by creating the right kinds of activities that get everyone involved in the healthcare experience, with the end goal of bettering patient outcomes and their quality of life after discharge. The effort requires registered nurses to be team leaders, engaging the entire healthcare team and patients alike in communicating well and making the most from that feedback. Quality improvement is possible for every hospital, skilled nursing facility and outpatient center, but it takes a village as they say—not

nurse and quality improvement in hospitals

to mention a great nursing staff!

R.N.s who help their healthcare employer achieve quality improvement work in positions that range from case manager jobs to travel nursing jobs on the floor of the ER; they walk the floors of award winning departments featured in the 2012-2013 Honor Roll of Best Hospitals, and it’s not surprising to the American Nursing Association that R.N.s deliver this caliber of excellence. For 2013, ANA made the theme of National Nurses Week, “Delivering Quality and Innovation in Patient Care”, and touch on the highlights of superior nursing.

National Nurses Week Reminds R.N.s of Ways They Can Deliver on the Promise of Quality Improvement Year Round

Good nurses already know that being an innovator and thinking outside the box helps patients, but what are some of the other ways National Nurses Week (NNW) illuminates for R.N.s, the finer points of quality improvement?

  • Be a Care Coordinator: In its media kit, NNW stresses how important it is to learn all you can about care coordination. It not only helps educate patients across the board on health issues, resulting in making better decisions about their care, but cuts costs for insurance companies and healthcare employers, too. Talk about quality improvement!
  • Stay on top of Industry Trends Regarding Health Reform: In today’s healthcare landscape, nurses must be prepared to adapt to the Affordable Healthcare Act and the changes it will have on Medicare. Their evolving role means that nurses have become the key caregivers in hospitals, and can significantly influence quality of care there; they can, essentially, make or break a healthcare employer’s reputation for excellence.
  • Know Everything There is to Know about Your Competitors: In keeping with what the American Association of Nursing stresses in its NNW media, every R.N. is encouraged to familiarize themselves with the National Data Base of Nursing Quality Indicatorsor (NDNQI) to see how their hospital measures up.

50 States Staffing Offers a Gentle Reminder about Where We Stand on Quality Improvement

Lastly, remember this: In order for a healthcare employer to receive accreditation from The Joint Commission, it must report core quality measures; these include initiatives in myocardial infraction, heart failure, ventilator associated pneumonia, surgical care improvement, children’s asthma and pregnancy. 50 States Staffing is proud to be Joint Commissioned Certified. That means we staff at America’s best hospitals, headlining Top 5 lists for nursing specialties all over the country. Call 1-800-996-2206 or apply online to find out how you can raise quality improvement in your present and future nursing jobs.

5 Travel Nurse States with Hot Memorial Day Events

The last Monday of the month is fast approaching, as healthcare professionals across the USA prepare to take part in Memorial Day events happening Friday through Monday, May 24 – 27, 2013. The following are just a few travel nursing states out of 50, with a lot going on. See if any of these events are near you!

  • Arizona travel nurses can find a wide range of fun Memorial Day activities. There’s memorial day holiday a Salute to Service Barbecue in Glendale, and symphonies all over greater Phoenix, one of the most noted being the Memorial Day Concert at Arizona State University. If you’re closer to Tucson and a fan of the Old West, look for Wyatt Earp Days held in Tombstone every Memorial Day weekend.
  • California travel nurses can work on their tans and music appreciation during this packed weekend. There’s the traditional Memorial Day ceremony at the new Redondo Beach Veterans Memorial, and in Southern California, the 10th Annual Memorial Day Yacht Party in Marina Del Rey, close to Los Angeles nursing jobs.
  • Florida travel nurses can travel the coastline in search of fun Memorial Day events. Start in the south near Miami nursing jobs, and see if you can’t make the “Best of the best” concert in Bayfront Park. Travel further north in the Sunshine State for the Margarita Ball at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in downtown Tampa; there’s also the annual sunset music festival at the Raymond James Stadium—home of the Tampa Bay Bucs!
  • Texas travel nurses will love the Fredericksburg Crawfish Festival, held every Memorial Day weekend. There’s all the Louisiana-styled music and food you can eat, with some Texas favorites, too. If you’re too far from Fredericksburg to make it, try the Kerrville Folk Festival instead. It’s the longest running event of its kind in North America, featuring more than 100 artists. You can even camp onsite!
  • Washington travel nurses can see and do a lot in the Evergreen State, especially over Memorial Day weekend. Seattle is still offering its international film festival through June. There’s a yacht party at the Islander Yacht Club (also in Seattle) and outdoor presentation of Narnia at the Kitsap Forest Theater in Bremerton.

50 States Staffing Wishes All Our Health Professionals a Happy and Safe Memorial Day!

Though there was only time to touch on a handful of events, our staffing agency wishes all our R.N.s and therapists a wonderful long weekend. There are not only great travel nurse and therapy jobs in all 50 U.S. states, but fun to be had in all its cities from coast to coast. We hope you get a chance to show your patriotism, put your hand to your heart, and join the nation in wishing everyone a great kickoff to summer!

Footnote: Vetfriends.com is a great place to find a patriotic event near you, and was used to cite events in California and Florida. For a complete look at other sources used in this article, check out event links for New York, Phoenix and Texas. And don’t forget Memorial Day fun for Washington travel nurses in Seattle

The “USA Best Hospitals 2012 – 2013 Honor Roll” Is Out!

See If Your Healthcare Employer Made the Grade

With thousands seeking healthcare services and surgical procedures every day, the decision of which medical center to use is not taken lightly; this makes the U.S. News and World Report annual rankings of best hospitals in America an important tool for consumers and healthcare professionals alike.

Now in its 23rd year, the USA Best Hospitals List has released its Honor Roll for 2012 – 2013 with a big surprise for R.N.s in Massachusetts nursing jobs.  The number 1 hospital in the nation has always been Johns Hopkins; this year, the spot belongs to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.2012-2013 USA Best Hospitals

U.S. News identifies the top hospitals in hundreds of regions, including all the major metropolitan areas by sifting through 5,000 hospitals nationwide. Once healthcare professionals get a look at the list of best hospitals, they will no doubt notice that the New York metro area is home to quite a few of the top 20 facilities to make the grade. To view which specialties these top hospitals are being recognized for, be sure to click on U.S. News Hospital Rankings.

Registered Nurses and Therapists Working in These Cities Get an “A+”

Peruse this list of exciting cities—all of which feature hospitals that made this year’s honor roll, and see what allied health and travel nurse jobs they have to offer.

  • Boston, Massachusetts: Ear Nose and Throat, Diabetes & Endocrinology earn top ranking at Massachusetts General.
  • Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins still ranks at the tippy top of the Honor Roll, with a distinction for cancer treatment, gastroentology and Urology, to name a few.
  • Rochester, Minnesota: Cardiology & Heart Surgery, as well as Orthopedics, Urology and Gynecology are the top ranked in the nation at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
  • Los Angeles, California: Geriatrics get top billing at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
  • St. Louis, Missouri: Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University is ranked nationally in 15 adult specialties.
  • Cornell, New York: New York-Presbyterian University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell in New York, NY is ranked nationally in 14 adult and 9 pediatric specialties
  • Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC is ranked nationally in 13 adult and 10 pediatric specialties
  • Ann Arbor, Michigan: University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers in Ann Arbor, MI is ranked nationally in 14 adult and 10 pediatric specialties.
  • Indianapolis, Indiana: Indiana University Health in Indianapolis, IN is ranked nationally in 11 adult and 10 pediatric specialties.
  • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA is ranked nationally in 13 adult specialties

50 States Staffing is proud to work with Those Who Consistently Make the Honor Roll

Registered nurses and therapists know their patients choose hospitals based on two things: location and their specific needs. Patients want to be treated in the best medical facilities in the USA and healthcare professionals want to work there—if not for the prestige and edge it gives their resumes, then for the peace of mind in knowing their patients are receiving the highest quality of care. We offer high paying and rewarding therapy and nursing careers in all 50 states, in cities on that have seen a high concentration of award winning hospitals this year. Start your exciting travel nurse or therapist career when you call 1-800-996-2206 or apply online.

National Nurses Week Is an Opportunity to Think about Florence Nightingale’s Legacy

What Does It Mean for Your Nursing Career?  

The founder of modern medicine, Florence Nightingale would be turning 193 this month.statue of Florence Nightingale - National Nurse Week Her birthday is celebrated in nursing throughout the United States, as R.N.s are honored and recognized during National Nurses Week, beginning on May 6 and running through May 12. The American Nurses Association (ANA) has announced this year’s theme as “Delivering Quality and Innovation in Patient Care”, a feat registered nurses have always done and will continue to do—only with noted improvements as healthcare reform gets underway and more Americans than ever before seek medical treatment.

By spring of 2020, when the bicentennial of Ms. Nightingale’s birth comes around, the BLS predicts that nursing careers will be the top occupation in terms of job growth. BLS also predicts a massive nursing shortage, but being aware of that now, primes R.N.s both aspiring and practicing, to take the necessary steps in their education, training and professional choices.

ANA is a good place to start in promoting awareness for who your peers are and what they do. In addition to a media kit that provides template letters to send to your legislators and community organizers, and other ideas in promoting nursing, there is the Florence Nightingale pledge, written when she was living. The pledge resonates today.

It reminds us that, more than likely, a peer you encountered on the nursing career path was an amazing teacher, one who taught you not just the basic and technical skills you needed to know, but how to bring these skills to patients on a humanitarian level, in a highly organized way that let you comfort and educate patients of any age or background.  National Nurses Week is an opportunity to be cognizant of that person or moment that taught you how to see patients as individuals, and get to the root of their real problems and find the right solutions.

While every nurse knows that Florence Nightingale said “The very first requirement in a hospital is that it should do the sick no harm,” there are still more quotes worth reminding nurses about during this special week for healthcare professionals. She also said, “I attribute my success to this. I never gave or took any excuse.” The projected nursing shortage, changes to Medicare and the aging baby boomer population outpacing R.N.s on hand, are no excuse to stop now.

50 States Staffing Is a Leader in Forwarding Nursing Careers. No excuses.

Nurses want many of the same things: a job that can be done in any state, in a part-time or full-time capacity—or maybe with overtime. R.N.s want flexibility, leading to exciting travel nurse jobs or more permanent ones, and they can find that kind of lifestyle at an experienced healthcare staffing agency. If you are looking for a career that lets you establish yourself as a role model, not just for a moment but for a lifetime, call 1-800-996-2206 or apply online.

When Nightingale added “How very little can be done in the spirit of fear” she was talking about R.N.s who make a real difference in patients’ lives because they understand that sentiment so well. Happy National Nurse’s Week to all the R.N.s out there; stay fearless and strong!

*BLS statistics and other percentages in nursing job growth came from a media relations fact sheet at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing

A Case for Nicotine-Free Healthcare Jobs

Get Information on Nevada Nursing Jobs and States Affected by New Legislation on Smoking

Choosing to smoke cigarettes will always be a personal preference, but for healthcare professionals inclined to smoke, it’s a choice that may cost them nursing jobs. More hospitals are ascribing to a culture of wellness that encourages nicotine free hiring. To date, 19 states in the U.S. have passed laws that prevent smokers from being hired in healthcare facilities and organizations; the most recent state to contemplate joining the fray is Nevada.

Nevada smoking law for nursesWith support from a Nevada based healthcare company, Republican Senator, Joe Hardy is making headway in passing Bill 87; the amendment would repeal the law that makes it illegal for a healthcare employer to discriminate against applicants who use chemical products outside of work—even if use of tobacco, for example, does not affect job performance. If this anti-smoking legislation is successful, healthcare employers in Nevada, after June 30th, will screen applicants for nicotine; those who test positive will not be hired.

While the concept of smoke free environments is contentious among those who value smoker’s rights, it’s hardly new. In 2007, Cleveland Clinic of both Ohio and Florida, stopped hiring smokers, and led the way in introducing a nationwide movement that culminated in the Great American Smokeout. The Center for Disease Control has posted statistics that speak to the positives behind these kinds of efforts. Tobacco use is responsible for approximately 440,000 deaths in the United States each year — about one death out of every five.  Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke costs the nation $193 billion in health bills and lost productivity. Efforts to reduce these grim numbers are really working, with the CDC reporting a significant drop in smokers: in 1965, 42.4% of the U.S. population smoked; now the figure is down to 19.3%.

Work in Travel Nurse Jobs that Perpetuate a Culture of Wellness

Looking for healthy careers? Call 1-800-996-2206 or apply online today. And don’t let the healthcare trend of nicotine screenings discourage you if you’re looking to kick the habit. While anti-smoking legislation would allow hospitals, nursing homes, and home health jobs to factor your smoking into whether or not you get the job, many healthcare employers allow you to reapply after six months, nicotine-free.  It’s worth the sacrifice—not just for your health and the health and morale of those around you, but for the positive impact your choices make on quality healthcare!

Footnote: Information about Bill 87 was taken from an article about a Proposed law in Nevada. The Center for Disease Control statistics can be found by clicking the following CDC link.

Travel Nurses Are Sure to Enjoy the Luck ‘O the Irish at Local Events

St. Patrick’s Day Info, Plus Irish Comfort Food If You Stay In

Chances are, if you’re living a travel nurse lifestyle, you feel pretty lucky already—but there’s the luck o’ the Irish to add to your good fortune this weekend, as you head into the city and discover its charms on St. Patrick’s Day. With nursing and therapy jobs in all 50 U.S. states, members of 50 States Staffing are sure to be close to their pick in parades, parties and other Emerald Isle events—so put on your green and get ready to enjoy yourself. We’ve also got a few ideas on celebrating a cozy St. Pat’s at home!

Attention New York, Boston and New Orleans travel nurses: This year St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Sunday, so the largest parades in the country (the ones on this list!) are all on Saturday, March 16th!

  • Big Apple: If New York nurses can get anywhere near St. Patrick’s cathedral this Saturday around 11am, they’ll be able to see the parade make its way to the Metropolitan Museum of Art where it finishes around 5.
  • Bean Town: Sponsored by the Allied War Veteran’s Council and concentrated in the part of Boston made famous by its “Southie Hangouts”, this is something Massachusetts nurses won’t want to miss—but if they can’t get there, take heart. It’s on national TV!
  • Big Easy: Most of New Orleans’ block parties and big parades are on Saturday, but for late-comers, there’s the Irish-Italian Parade in Metairie on March 24th.
  • Philly: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has one of the largest Irish-American populations in the U.S., and already held its legendary parade on March 10th, but an encore performance will be broadcast on TV this Sunday.

While these are the biggies, there’s SO MUCH fun to be had in lots of other favorite travel nurse destinations. Just click on this link to see St. Patrick’s Day Parades and Events for 2013 in all 50 U.S. states!

Staying in? Every Travel Nurse Could Use a Little Irish Comfort Food to Soothe the Soul  

It’s a perfect night for healthy recipes with Irish flair. Check in at Healthy Careers to learn how to whip up a fresh loaf of Irish Brown Soda Bread that creates an amazing sandwich, when followed up with the recipe for Irish Salmon with Tangy Horseradish Sauce. Since you have to have buttermilk on hand to bake the bread—a simple recipe that requires no kneading—you may as well add it to your Irish Steel Cut Oats for a traditional Irish porridge; this Ireland made oatmeal is purportedly the best in the world and available at virtually every grocer! Irish coffee, Irish tea. Kiss me, I’m Irish. It’s a fun refrain for this colorful holiday, and one that 50 States Staffing hopes is full of joy for you!

What Medical Surgical RNs Should Know About ACLS Certification

Advanced Cardiac Life Support training is on every healthcare employer’s wish list—especially when hospitals evaluate critical care and Med/Surg job candidates. The more certifications a med/surg registered nurse has, the easier it is to place him or her; and that’s a story with a happy ending, considering that ACLS training increases a cardiac patient’s survival rate by over 6% when ACLS is used, rather than conventional CPR.

8 Vital Things Regarding ACLS Training

These are several things to consider about ACLS training for R.N.s and therapists in the process of certification or re-certification.

  • ACLS certification builds on what is learned in BLS (basic life support) training. Therefore, you must first master BLS (Basic Life Support) training before getting started.
  • Current ACLS Skills reflect key changes set by AHA: the 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care.
  • ACLS Certification requires approximately 10-12 hours to complete, including skills practice and skills testing. Renewal Course requires approximately 5-6 hours, including skills practice and skills testing.
  • Additional Certifications: If you work in a family practice or emergency department where patients of all ages are seen, certification in both ACLS and PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) certification may be required.
  • It’s possible to get ACLS certified and re-certified online; in addition to ACLS, many healthcare staffing agencies encourage members of their team to look to the American Heart Association (AHA) when it’s time to re-certify. The AHA has made it easier to maintain your certifications by making the re-certification class only 1 day, IF you re-certify before your current card expires.
  • ACLS Most Basic Skills include airway management, effective chest compressions, use of a bag-mask device and use of an (AED).
  • ACLS Early Management Skills: include recognition and early management of respiratory and cardiac arrest, and early management of peri-arrest conditions, acute coronary syndromes and stroke.
  • ACLS is highly beneficial for critical care nurses because it helps them more effectively communicate as a member and leader of their resuscitation teams

50 States Staffing Fosters an Environment of Patient Safety and Higher Quality of Care

In healthcare, it’s essential that nurses and allied healthcare workers continue to broaden and deepen their knowledge; this is especially true when it comes to skills that improve patient safety, and stay in-line with Medicare initiatives set by recent healthcare reform.

Getting certified in ACLS shows motivation and the willingness to expand one’s expertise in their field, and comes highly recommended for recent nursing graduates looking to catch the eye of potential employers. Call 1-800-996-2206 or apply online today to find openings in nursing and therapy jobs in America’s best hospitals, where first responders, critical care and med/surg nurses continue to raise the bar for what’s possible in medicine.

Footnote: Information used in this blog post was gleaned from the American Heart Association and Health Education Solutions.

The 2012/2013 Flu Season is November through March!

What Registered Nurses Need to Know

If you’re a registered nurse and reporting to work in a hospital or clinic every day, then you know how busy this year’s flu season is keeping you and your fellow staff.  With any luck, the majority of R.N.s have already been vaccinated during National Influenza Vaccination Week, the first week of December, 2012. But since the United States is currently experiencing the peak in people coming down with flu symptoms and will continue to see numbers of infections surge through February, everyone—especially healthcare professionals—is being urged to take precautions and help others keep from getting the flu this year.

Nurse’s Notes: You can pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

According to the CDC, adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick. Children may pass the virus for longer than 7 days. Symptoms start 1 to 4 days after the virus enters the body. Some persons can be infected with the flu virus but have no symptoms. During this time, those persons may still spread the virus to others, so keep these key precautionary measures in mind.

  • Stay away from sick people and stay home if sick.
  • Wash hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub.
  • Thoroughly wash linens, eating utensils, and dishes belonging to those who are sick; do not share them!
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work and school, especially if someone is ill.

What Nurses Can Tell Concerned Patients

Advise patients seeking the flu vaccine on their options. They can get the flu shot or nasal spray and may be offered the regular, high dose or intradermal flu shot. The flu shot is recommended for anyone over 6 months in age.

  • The intradermal shot is approved for people between the ages of 18 and 64.
  • The high dose flu shot is given to elderly patients 65 and older.
  • Nasal sprays are administered to people age 2 to 49, and are not recommended for pregnant women.

Find A Flu Shot Near You!

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is calling this the worst flu season in 10 years, and recorded a big spike in the baseline for office visits for influenza-like-illness in the U.S. this year.  In fact, Boston has declared a Public Health Emergency and seen its major hospitals swamped. Massachusetts is one of the 41 states battling widespread influenza right now. The good news is, that based on early testing of flu specimens, the composition of the 2012-2013 seasonal influenza vaccine is a 98 percent match for the flu viruses now circulating: Influenza A (H3N2), 2009 influenza A (H1N1), and influenza B viruses have all been identified; a flu shot is still everyone’s best weapon in staying healthy! Click on the flu shot health map to find a flu shot near you—and stay healthy and wealthy in your pick of travel nurse jobs this year!

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