The Importance of Continuing Education for Psychologists

Continuing education for psychologists is available in many forms and its importance cannot be overstated. Not only is it necessary in many states to renew the license to practice, it is of paramount importance for any mental health professional to stay current on the latest methods and research in his or her chosen field. As with any science, psychology isn't a static field. There are always new ideas being added and old ones being dismissed. It is a living, breathing body of knowledge and any therapist who ignores the new in favor of the old does so at not only their own peril, but that of their patients.
When it comes to state requirements for continuing education for psychologists, the differences are vast. It is important for any therapist to learn what the requirements are for their own license renewal and meet those requirements in ways that are acceptable. Some states may have specific subject areas they want their psychologists to become more familiar with. For instance, in Florida and some other states, the Department of Health demands that their licenses be updated with additional classes in domestic violence. Other states may have an emphasis on drug abuse or suicidal behavior.
In addition to various requirements, continuing education for psychologists takes a number of different forms. Online learning is more popular now than it ever has been in the past. Students can learn through e-courses, taking seminars from online video, and interact with others who are trying to assimilate the same material. Of course, not everyone is comfortable with online learning and there is still plenty of opportunity for those people to further their education as well. In person courses and seminars are held all the time in every state and there are DVDs and book-based courses for those who prefer working on their own.
The benefits of continuing education for psychologists, of course, goes beyond simply fulfilling requirements to renew a license. It is vital to the survival and growth of the field in general. You wouldn't purchase a piece of technology from the mid-70s and call it state of the art. While technology grows at a rapid pace, so do the sciences. In order to make sure you are providing your patients with the very best care and treatment possible, you have to be up on your field. That means reading the journals, attending seminars, and networking with your fellow psychotherapists. A well connected and informed therapist is a successful one.

Does Free Continuing Education For Nurses Exist?

People choose to go back to school for a variety of different reasons. Some of us want to finish a degree. Others want to explore other career options. Some simply wish to learn more about a subject that has always interested them. For nurses, however, the pursuit of continued education isn't optional. In most states, continuing education for nurses is mandated in order to maintain an active license.

But meeting your continued education requirement can be expensive, either for you or for your employer. Most programs, even home study and online courses, cost money. Free continuing education for nurses may be hard to come by... but it does exist. Taking advantage of these no-cost opportunities to meet their education requirements can help nurses keep their skills and knowledge up-to-date without incurring excessive costs.

Free continuing education for nurses isn't just important from a cost-cutting perspective; continued education for anyone working within the medical field is absolutely essential. With the medical field advancing at such a rapid rate, it is absolutely crucial that health care workers are aware of and trained in the most current methods of caring for patients. This is why so many states mandate a certain number of continuing education activities for nurses per year in order to continue practicing.

Most commonly, nurses fulfill their education requirements through programs offered by or paid for by their employers. Attendance at a nursing conference and the completion of academic courses are both examples, albeit costly, of the types of activities that can earn nurses their state-mandated continuing education units.

So what types of free continuing education for nurses may be available to you? First, check with your local hospital to see if they offer inexpensive or no-cost training programs for nurses. The demand for registered nurses is at an all time high-the U.S. Department of labor predicts the creation of 587,000 new jobs for RNs between 2006 and 2016, one of the highest rates of growth among all occupations. For this reason, medical facilities may be more willing to provide low-cost or free continuing education for nurses looking for employment.

There are also several online opportunities to obtain free or low-cost education units. These programs are especially advantageous for working nurses as they don't require you to take time away from work in order to complete your training. A surprisingly rich selection of material is available, from training in pain management to pediatrics to critical care. There are also directory services available to help you identify no-fee courses at just the click of a mouse.

While continuing education for nurses is certainly important, it doesn't have to be costly. With a little bit of effort you can find low-cost or free continuing education activities that will allow you to update and enhance your professional skills without adversely affecting your financial situation or placing an excessive burden on your employer.

Suffering From Bad Habits? Follow These Tips For Health

The numbers are tough to ignore. Six in ten American drink alcohol regularly, while only three in ten get regular exercise according to an annual study on health behaviors in the U.S. Ignore tips for health at your peril.

The report covers a range of both good and bad health habits of American adults - these include using alcohol, smoking, being active regularly, your body weight and the amount of sleep you get.

The study used data from the 2005-2007 National Health Interview Survey (known as NHIS for short), conducted each year by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics. The results are based on data collected from 79,096 interviews with American adults 18 years and older. The responses highlight differences between gender, ethnic and social groups when it comes to many common behaviors.

In terms of alcohol, rates of use have remained stable over the years. The latest survey found that...

- Men were more apt than women to drink (68% vs. 55%); women were more likely than men to abstain from alcohol (31% vs. 18%).

- Whites were more likely than any other groups (African-Americans, Asians, Native Americans, or Alaska Natives) to indulge in alcohol.

- And here's a surprise - the more educated a respondent, the more likely they were to drink. Seventy-four percent of those with a graduate degree were drinkers, compared to 44% of respondents who'd earned a high school diploma.

We all know how dangerous cigarette smoking is to the body, but many still struggle to quit. Since 1997 rates of cigarette smoking have gone down by a few percentage points, yet the CDC survey found that...

- One in five adults were smokers, but more than half (58.5%) had never smoked at all.

- Four in 10 smokers had tried to quit smoking in the last year.

- Adults with more education tended not to smoke.

- Respondents with a GED (General Education Development) were more likely than non-high school graduates and high school graduates to be smokers.

The amount of exercise Americans are getting has remained stable over the years, and the most recent survey results show that...

- About six in 10 adults took part in at least some leisure-time physical activity, while about three in 10 regularly did something physical.

- Adults with higher levels of education were more likely to be physically active.

- Men were more likely than women to be physically active.

When it comes to body weight, everyone knows that obesity rates have been rising steadily over the years. Carrying more weight than you should has serious consequences for the body. Here's what the survey found about body weight status...

- Six in 10 adults could be considered obese or overweight.

- Adults who were more educated were less likely to be obese.

- Four in 10 adults reported being a healthy weight.

- Men were more likely to be overweight (67.9% vs. 53%); but men and women were equally likely to be obese (25.7% vs. 25.0%).

Experts are quickly coming to recognize that getting enough quality sleep is super important to your overall health and well being. When it comes to sleep, the study found that...

- Six in 10 adults typically got 7 to 8 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period.

- Three in 10 adults averaged 6 hours of sleep, or less, each night.

- Those with higher levels of education were likely to sleep six hours (or less) a night.

- Men in the 25-44 age group were more likely than women to sleep 6 hours or less; but women over 65 (or older) were more likely to sleep less than 6 hours.

So... you see where we are. The survey is helpful in getting a picture of the health behaviors of Americans. It seems there are still a good many of us engaging in unhealthy habits, despite the best efforts of government and medical professionals trying to get the word out about the benefits to body and mind of following tips for health.

Online Continuing Education for Psychologists: Branches of Study

When it comes to online continuing education for psychologists, there is almost no limit to what is possible. With new advances in technology, learning has left the classroom and entered the world of cyberspace. Today, mental health professionals can take additional coursework throughout their career without ever leaving the comfort of their home office. Depending on what field of psychology you're interested in, you are almost certain to be able to find subjects that pertain to your practice and can help you achieve your professional goals. Although these classes, if they come from a reputable source, do offer academic accreditation, there are also many who can boast a genuine furtherance of knowledge as well. There are few subjects as broad as that of psychology, and most classes-whether online or offline-break down their coursework into the various branches of study.

One interesting branch of study is that of marriage and family therapy. Online continuing education for psychologists often includes at least hints from this branch, as so many therapists are called upon to address relationship issues. The family structure is a fragile one and many families come near the breaking point before they enlist the help of a counselor. The counselor in turn must be prepared to bring the family back from the brink using not only tried and true methods, but the latest advances in therapies. Only by keeping up with the latest research and science can a therapist be expected to provide the best service possible to their clients. In this regard, a webpage can be an even better resource than a textbook, as it is continually updated with new articles and information every day they become available.

Some online continuing education for psychologists is in the field of forensic psychology. This branch of the traditional field puts mental health professionals in the legal arena. Though it may have little in common with the trade of fictional forensic psychologist Alex Cross (from Along Came a Spider and other James Patterson novels and movies), it can be an exciting, rewarding field of study. This field has a lot of practical application potential and can result in rewarding and exciting knowledge that transcends simple criminal pursuit. Classes in this arena are designed to prep the professionals with more information about the treatment of patients, both criminal and noncriminal. Often, workers in this field are called upon to testify in court, whether it be for malpractice suits or criminal investigations and prosecutions.

Anyone interested in online continuing education for psychologists should look at their state's requirements and make sure their shore up those needed credits before anything else. Once this is taken care of, professionals can (and probably should) look to further their research into the field through their own means, as increased education can only mean a better understanding of the profession and of the science. Many find that easy Internet access to this wealth of reputable information increases their pursuit of knowledge for its own sake. Online courses are more available than ever before, giving students a wealth of opportunities from which to choose.

Using Social Networking Sites For Health Insurance

What is social Networking?

As paraphrased by the encyclopedia, social networking deals with the building of online communities. These online communities generally consist of individuals that share a common interest or activity and are interested in sharing that with others. Most social networks are web based and have several ways for individuals to interact.

Other forms of social networking have been around since personal computers began in the form of online bulletin boards (BBS's) and forums. The unique thing about social networks today is that a network an individual belongs to can be made public to others. In other words, one individual can link his or her associates with another that can expose and share his or her associates.

List of social networking sites for health insurance

The advent of true networks began with a site called Six Degrees in 1997. Based on the theory of six degrees of separation, it linked users in a way we are familiar with today. Other major sites of this type include: My Space starting in 2003; LinkedIn starting in 2003; You Tube starting in 2005; Face Book starting in 2005; and Twitter starting in 2006. Although none of these is specifically designed for health insurance, you can find health and health insurance related information discussed within them.

Advantages of social networking sites for health insurance

Health reform is taking place now and people have lots of questions. The focus, now, is on fighting over what policies and options should be. But, as an expert in the field for many years I can tell you that regardless of the type of health reform that ends up being law, consumers will need to take more responsibility for their own care. I support reform and believe only good can come of it. But, currently, consumers have no idea of the knowledge they will need to posses to help get good care. This can be a major advantage for social networks. Consumers can learn and educate themselves through the experience of others. The information can be shared almost instantly. It could also be a form of informal health exchanges. The possibilities could be endless.

Disadvantages of social networking sites for health insurance

The main problem with passing information through social networks is that it is vulnerable to rumor and misinformation. This is true with the internet in general. Currently, few real experts actively participate in many of these networks and misinformation is often left un-challenged. Without proper education and knowledge, networking about health could be more trouble than it is worth.