NS Career

NS Career:Neuropsychologist

Day in the Life:The duties of a neuropsychologist vary depending on their specialties.Some work as only researchers while others study the healthy humans and animals with brain injuries or illnesses. They can also work at a clinical setting where they help assessing and diagnosing the patients. This can be done by observing specific symptoms and using sophisticated technology, such as brain scans. After the the diagnosis, they can recommend a course of treatment that can be therapy, medication, or surgery. 

Training:To become a neuropsychologist, it is usually required to have a 4 year bachelors degree in psychology,pre-med, biology, or neuroscience. However, most neuropsychologist don't secure a job until they have received more advanced degrees. Most neuropsychologist start their career with masters degree in neuropsychology  and pursue in other fields for a P.h.D. 

Salary: $77,500- $80,700

Reference:http://careersinpsychology.org/becoming-a-neuropsychologist/

NS Career

NS Career-Neuroscience Nurse

Day in Life: A neuroscience nurse helps patients that are suffering from a neurological pain. This can include injuries, such as head and spinal trauma from accidents, or illnesses, such as Parkinson’s disease, meningitis, encephalitis, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis.Neuroscience nurses also give assistance to people who had injuries or an event that affected their nervous system. 

Training:In order to become a neuroscience nurse, the applicant must be a registered nurse by receiving a nursing degree  or passing the NCLEX-RN. To be certified as a neuroscience nurse, the applicant must need at least 2 years of full experience with direct/indirect neuroscience nursing setting.

Average salary:$58,000 

Reference:http://nursewithoutborders.org/becoming-a-neuroscience-nurse/

Respiratory Disease

Respiratory Disease-Asthma

Causes:Scientists aren't sure what is the cause of asthma but believe it is a combination of genetics and environment. Some of the triggers of asthma is airborne allergens, respiratory infections, physical activity, cold air, and air pollutants. 

Symptoms: The most common symptoms of asthma are coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness,pain,or pressure. The early symptoms of asthma are  frequent coughs at night, losing breath easily, wheezing/coughing after exercise, decreases of lung functions, trouble sleeping, and signs of cold or allergies. 

Treatment:Some treatments for asthma are anti-inflammatory drugs like inhaled steroids and bronchodilators. Inhaled steroids reduce the swelling and mucus production in airways which prevents asthma attacks. Bronchodilators is a treatment since it relaxes the muscles that tightens the airway. 

Prognosis: Asthma usually last in a person's life.One study reported that 72% of men and 86% of women with asthma had symptoms 15 years after an initial diagnosis. Death is very uncommon from asthma and most death asthma are preventable.

References:http://www.webmd.com/asthma/default.htm

Respiratory Career

Respiratory Career: Respiratory Therapist

Day in Life: A respiratory therapist treat people who have trouble breathing. Their patients can range from infants to elderly people.They usually treat people with  bronchitis, asthma, , emphysema, suffered trauma, are born prematurely, and sleep disorders. They help people able to breathe more comfortable and more effectively. 

Training:Respiratory therapists need at least a associate's degree, but employers main only require a bachelors. Respiratory therapy programs include courses in human anatomy and physiology, chemistry, physics, microbiology, pharmacology, and mathematics.Respiratory therapists are licensed in all states but Alaska, and most license requirements require the therapist to pass an exam. 

Salary(median):$55,870 per year  $26.86 per hour

References:http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/respiratory-therapists.htm#tab-1

Cardiac Blood Resp Disease

Cardiac Blood Resp Disease-Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

COPD is a progressive disease that makes the person have a hard time breathing. Lungs are mainly affected by this disease. In the lungs, less air flows through the airways and will get worse and worse as time goes on. 

Symptoms:

• An ongoing cough or a cough that produces a lot of mucus (often called "smoker's cough")
• Shortness of breath, especially with physical activity.
• Wheezing (a whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe)
• Chest tightness.

Treatment: 

• quit smoking
• avoid secondhand smoking
• Bronchodilators
• surgery 

Causes: COPD is usually caused by smoking. The tobacco smoke irritates the airways and breaks the stretchy fibers in the lungs. Secondhand smoking can also cause this disease followed by breathing in air pollution or chemicals over long period of time.

References:http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/copd

Cardiac/Blood/Resp Career

Cardiac/Blood/Resp Career

Job: A perfusionist has a vital role during heart surgery. A perfusionist operates a heart-lung machine, which is an artificial blood pump, which propels oxygenated blood to the patient’s tissues while the surgeon operates on the heart.  The perfusionist maintains the patient's demands while the surgery is happening and also is in charge of giving the drug that stops the heart.The perfusionist measures various blood and other parameters to identify appropriate mechanical, pharmacological and thermal manipulation to maintain a physiological state.For this to happen, the perfusionist must have knowledge of the machinery around him/her and familiarity with the respiratory and circulatory system. 

Training: To be a perfusionist, it is required to have a 4-year degree  and have courses in biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology. Other courses involving specialized training that is required for certification. 

Salary : average salary for a perfusionist is 110,000 a year

References:http://explorehealthcareers.org/en/Career/141/Perfusionist#Tab=Resources

career-optometrist

Day In Life:A normal day of a optometrists usually consist of providing  specialized care to their patients. Optometrists give eye tests to their patients and analyze the results. They diagnose eyesight problems which can be nearsightedness, farsightedness, or eye diseases. Optometrists also can prescribe glasses or contacts to patients who require eye assistance. They can also prescribe medications and treatments such as vision therapy or low-vision rehabilitation.Many optometrists own their own practice and usually spend a lot of time on general business activities like hiring employees and marketing their business. They can also be working as post secondary teachers or work as a consultant in the eye care industry.

Training:To become an optometrists, it is required to have a Doctor of Optometry. Applicants also need at least 3 years of post secondary education, including course works in biology, chemistry, English, math, or physics. Majority of the applicants have received a bachelor's degree before applying to the program. The program takes 4 years to complete and is required to pass a Optometry Admission Test before entering. All states require an optometrists to be licensed in order to open up their own place.

Salary:The median annual wage for optometrists was $97,820 in May 2012.

Reference: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/optometrists.htm#tab-1