In addition to a strong job outlook and a broad range of education pathways, there are more reasons to enter this profession than not. Below you’ll find five more incentives that will surely motivate your decision to enroll in an LVN to RN program today.

• The Opportunity to Help Others: Nurses work with people who are sick or injured. Without them, doctors would not be able to see as many patients. A nurse is often the first person you see when you’re sick. Doctors rely on nurses to relay information and perform support tasks. If you love working with people and helping them feel better, you’ll find the nursing profession a very rewarding one.
• Learn About Cutting-Edge Technologies: Advancements in technology have created life-changing treatments for patients. Nurses and doctors are on the cutting edge of the latest medications and devices for pain, symptom relief, and prevention. You’ll learn how to use a range of medical equipment and be to troubleshoot any problems.
• Specialize in an Area of Nursing: Becoming an RN often allows you to specialize in a particular area of nursing such as family nursing, women’s health, oncology, and many other fields. If you’re passionate about one aspect of nursing, obtaining your RN license allows you to really focus on what you love.
• Prepare for an MSN Degree: Once you have your RN license, you’ll be in a better position to work towards your master’s degree. With a Master of Science in nursing, you’ll not only earn more money, but you’ll have more autonomy and decision-making authority. In fact, many doctors look to their nurses with a master’s degree to assist in diagnosing and treating patients.
• Transferable Job Skills: When you become an RN, you can work in a variety of settings, both demographically and geographically. That means you can work as a nurse abroad or in another state (depending on the state’s licensure requirements). Nurses can find work at hospitals, government agencies, community health centers, and a variety of other healthcare facilities.

Blogs and Sites for Live-In and Home Care Nurses

Live-in and home care nurses are always encountering new obstacles and dealing with concerned family members. There’s an art to being a live-in or home care nurse and these blogs and websites show you how to make the transition to working in someone’s home, while providing them with the stellar care they’re used to in a hospital or nursing home.

1. Family Care Giver Blog This is a must-read for care givers and live-in nurses. There’s nothing like getting help and support from fellow care givers. It is a stressful position and this blog provides you with other resources around the web to help your journey as a care giver.
2. The Caregiver’s Voice The independent voice for family and professional caregivers of adults with brain impairment or dementia caused by Alzheimer’s, stroke, related illness, or trauma. The Caregiver’s Voice brings hope and strength to caregivers through knowledge, support, and humor.
3. The Care Giver This blog is penned by a care giver caring for a 94 year old mother. The content can be heavy at times, but provides care giver with amazing support and stories from the front lines. For any live-in care giver or nurse dealing with an Alzheimer’s patient, this blog is packed with resources and information on the latest medical developments with the disease.
4. Hospice Foundation For care givers dealing with hospice patients, this site is an essential read. There’s information on being emotionally supportive for a family struggling with the idea of loss and how to consult patients so they make the most of the good times.
5. Care Diary This excellent blog speaks to care giver’s about safety precautions, mental health concerns and the importance of creating consistency in a patient’s life. Several professionals in the industry write posts regularly, which means you get multiple perspectives on care giver’s dealing with patients suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s.
6. Care Givingly Yours This blog is written by a spouse care giver coping with MS. It’s a touching blog that shows fellow care giver’s how to keep up a patient’s spirit when the going gets tough. It also discusses keeping a cool head and your patience when the circumstances seem overwhelming.
7. Doris Social Worker Penned by a social worker, this site isn’t about care giving, but it is the blog of a compassionate woman who has made serving others her career. Care givers and live-in nurses can learn a lot from this social worker’s blog when it comes to having an open mind and big heart when dealing with those in need.
8. My Wife Has MS At this blog, a husband chronicles his family’s struggles coping with a wife with MS. For care givers dealing with MS patients, this blog is packed with new studies and recent developments on the disease.
9. Family Care Giver Alliance For family members turned care givers, this blog is helpful in showing you what to expect when becoming the rock for an ill person. It also discusses important topics like taking care of yourself when you’re constantly taking care of someone else.
10. Compassion and Choices This blog focuses on those who have loved ones living with a terminal illness. While care givers may not always be related to patients, it’s still difficult to see someone struggling with a deteriorating quality of life. This site offers tips on keeping up morale for friends and family members, while being respectful of the patient’s wishes.
11. New Old Age This NY Times blog focuses on caring for the elderly. For family members who may not be able to handle being a care giver, the site also talks about nursing homes and interviewing professional care givers and nurses to care for your loved one.
12. Musings of a Cranky Care Giver This husband works as a care giver to his ill wife. Recently this blog has been wrapped up because the blogger find he doesn’t have to sit down to hash out his thoughts as a care giver anymore. It shows family members serving as care givers that things eventually become manageable, no matter how hectic they seem at times.
13. A Place to Scream Whether you’re a family member or a professional care giver or nurse, constantly tending to a sick person can be overwhelming. There’s immense pressure and emotional stress when you’re dealing with a sick patient day after day. This husband of a woman suffering from MS shows you it’s OK to let off the steam every now and then.
14. Middle Age Mania This dedicated wife works as a care giver to her husband who has MS. It’s a personal blog that gives care giver’s and live-in nurses a taste of the nuances that paint every day when caring for a patient or loved one.

Job Sites for Live-In Nurses and Home Care Givers

Online job hunting is the way to go when you’re a live-in nurse or home care giver. You don’t want to wait for patients to come to you. Instead, learn the power of the Internet and social networking to put your name and face out there, so those searching for a home care giver can come to you.

15. Caregiver List This site discusses the trends happening in the care giver industry, including where jobs are surging. Search the job list area and check out why turnover happens for those working as a live-in nurse. Plus, read up on tips on how to keep your patients feeling genuinely cared for, regardless of their condition.
16. Long Term Care Locators At this site, home care givers can scope out the job scene by region and see what folks are looking for from a live-in nurse. There’s also job postings from long term care agencies, which take care of the liability that comes with being a freelance care giver (which can be dangerous in some cases).
17. Premier Home Care Services See what areas of expertise those searching for home care givers are looking for. This is a home care agency providing services in Canada, but their rundown of what clients are looking for in a home care giver will help you put together your resume and brush up on skills that will get you hired.
18. Care Giver Jobs Search this site to find care giver positions in your area. This is an excellent resource for care givers who already know the ropes and simply need a way to post their area of expertise and look at job openings convenient to your location.
19. Home Instead Care Giver This site is conducted by an agency that trains home care givers. Learn what’s required by home care givers in varying states and discusses resources for caring for the elderly and Alzheimer’s patients.
20. Senior Helpers This blog talks about being a care giver to the elderly. Learn what’s involved in caring for an elderly patient. It isn’t all about bed pans and medicine; it’s often about companionship and helping the patient make the most of their quality of life.
21. Care Those in need of a care giver come to this site to search who’s available. This site goes beyond job hunting for home care givers and live-in nurses and also discusses opportunities for working with disabled children.
22. Gris World Special Care This home care giver agency shows you how to get through the process of becoming a home care giver. It talks about working with the disabled, as well as elderly patients. This site focuses on non-medical care giving tips.
23. Care Giver Career For those looking to go out on their own as a home care giver or live-in nurse, this site is a must-read. It helps you access the job market and allows you to post your resume for free, allowing employers to reach out to you if they find you’re a good fit.
24. Care Giver Needed At this site you can post your resume, peruse care giver jobs and learn how to grow your home care giver business. For live-in nurses and care givers who operate on a freelance basis, a site like this is integral to covering your bases and ensuring you’re putting safety first.
25. BrightStar Care This site caters to both care givers and RNs, CNAs, LPV/LPN. BrightStar is an agency that matches qualified care givers with families in their area. At this site you’re able to search job listings and also send in your resume in case BrightStar has a family you’ll fit in with.

Message Boards and Forums for Live-In and Home Care Nurses

There’s nothing like chatting with other live-in and home care nurses to get an idea of what to expect once you’re exclusive to one or a few clients. Learn how to negotiate prices, how to conduct taxes and take care of liabilities from these nurses in-the-know.

26. Care Givers Home Forums Care givers at this site chat about caring for the elderly. For family members living with an elderly parent, this message board is helpful for learning how to make your home more accessible for an elderly person who isn’t able to get around as easily as they once did.
27. My Parkinsons Forum Nurses and care givers dealing with patients struggling with Parkinson’s will appreciate this message board. Members talk about the progress of their loved ones and there’s also a forum for caring for children with PD.
28. HealthBoards – Care Givers Forum This site is a mix of professionals and family members turned care givers. Here, care givers vent and share their experiences, making it a great place for interacting with other care givers struggling with emotional frustrations.
29. Strength for Caring Care givers discuss caring for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, as well as keeping your spirits up during hard times. There’s also a forum for grieving, which is helpful since many care givers grow close to patients and must grieve the loss just like a family member.
30. Family Care Giving 101 Family care givers share their stories at this messageboard. This board talks about how to prepare yourself for the major responsibility of being a care giver, as well as what to do when you feel you’ve reached the end of your rope. It also talks about guilt, grieving and doing your best to keep your family member aware of their condition (when possible).
31. Empowering Caregivers This is arguably one of the most welcoming and knowledgeable online communities for care givers. It discusses everything from taking care of yourself in order to care effectively to how to explore alternative healing and spiritual inspiration with patients.
32. Heart and Stroke Patient Care Giver Forums This Canadian-based message board aims to provide readers with resources in British Columbia, but the thread are packed with information on how to prevent another heart attack from happening. The site is still developing, but worth stopping by for educating yourself on heart and stroke prevention.
33. Alzheimer’s Messageboards Register at this message board and you’ll have instant access to a plethora of information over working with Alzheimer’s patients. This forum delves into financial assistance, what family members can expect and how to have the patience to cope with an ill loved one.
34. On Top of Cancer Care Giver Care givers working with cancer patients will find this site helpful. It talks about how to recuperate from care giver’s burnout and tips for dealing with the anxieties and stress that come with being around a terminally ill patient.

Home care givers and live-in nurses can use the web as a tool to find new clients, land permanent positions with an agency or raise their business profile. It’s also imperative to read up on safety and liabilities when you’re working in someone’s home. For family members that become care givers due to a loved one falling ill, these blogs and websites will provide everything you need to know about the emotional responsibilities that come with the position. Whether you’re a live-in aide or nurse, it’s important to take care of yourself and get adequate rest so you can take care of your patient with ease.

Health and Fitness

1. Stay updated with latest health news: You can gain access to news as it happens, sometimes before mainstream media pushes the news to the street. Try Health News from @HealthHive to stay abreast of news from across the country and across the world. If you’re into alternative medicine, you can follow the Health Expert @WorldwideHealth out of the UK.
2. Learn about latest developments: You can find many experts on Twitter who will disseminate information about the latest updates in their fields. For instance, you can learn more about the juxtaposition between yoga and cancer through @YogaBear. Or, you can follow what the government is doing about HIV/AIDS at @AIDSgov.
3. Get fitness updates: If you are training for a triathlon from 5k to Ironman, you can follow @coachprs for tips on getting to that goal. You can get the latest news, information, tips on dieting and exercise and a healthy lifestyle from @FitnessJedi, or follow Mike Miller and his @yourhealthtips to get daily health tips and services.
4. Learn about daily or hourly exercises and programs: Are you bored at your desk? Follow Ron S. Doyle and his @twittercize to get fit, one tweet at a time…his hourly exercises take less than one minute each, and his humor is contagious. If you’re a trainer, you can follow AFAA Fitness and the Twitter feed at @affa_fit to learn more about their programs.
5. Get nutritional advice: If you ever wonder whether or not you are what you eat, then learn answers about that question from folks like @PulseonFitness for fitness and nutrition news and links or follow Vicki Berry and her @yournutrition. She is a wellness enthusiast, passionate about staying healthy.
6. Lose weight safely: An ex-health inspector, food scientist, cyclist and vegan offers health tips, recipes and ideas for health and weight loss at @lifelonghealth. Fred Bloem, MD, is a holistic physician who concentrates on a holistic approach to detoxification and weight loss at @drbloem, and you can follow Diana Herrington’s daily information about health, especially on gluten-free diets and nutrition, at @DancinginLife.

Diseases

7. Arthritis: You can follow a number of resources on arthritis at Twitter, including the Arthritis Foundation at @arthritis_org and Arthritis News on @ArthritisUpdate. Arthritis Today Magazine has a Twitter account at @ArthritisToday, and you can follow them to learn more from articles on arthritis pain relief, exercises, diets and more.
8. Obesity: Learn how to eat healthy through the nutrition and weight loss tweets listed above. Obesity tweets at @obesity_tweet brings news about obesity to over 16,000 followers and The Obesity Society at @ObesitySociety provides science-based understanding of the causes, consequences, prevention and treatment of obesity.
9. Cancer: Cancer is a hot topic on Twitter, and you can find dozens of tweets about this disease from Know Cancer (@know_cancer), American Cancer Society (@AmericanCancer) and CURE Magazine (@cure_magazine).
10. Flu: No matter the type of flu you’re interested in, Twitter holds a number of organizations and individuals who can share information and tips. Try @FluGov, a government site about flu, Bird Flu/Swine Flu at @birdflu or Pandemic Flu at @Pandemicflu global to learn more.
11. Heart Health: Learn more about how to protect your heart from disease and stroke with news, information and research from Heart Health at @HeartsHealth, or from American Heart News at @HeartNews. The American Heart Association also tweets at @foundersheart.
12. Alzheimer’s Disease: This disease has devastated entire families, and the cure is far from realized. Stay abreast of news, gain support and network with the following: Alzheimer’s Society (UK) at @alzheimerssoc, Alzheimer’s Association (Chicago) at @alzassociation and Alzheimer’s Reading Room at @ALZHEIMERSread.
13. Parkinson’s Disease: From caregivers to doctors, this disease is given airtime through Twitterers such as Parkinson’s Disease at @ParkinsonsUSA, MNT Parkinson’s News at @mnt_parkinsons and UMMC Parkinson’s at @UMMCParkinsons.
14. Rare Diseases: If you want to know more about rare diseases among adults and children, scope out the patient-driven Rare Diseases Europe at @eurordis or Rare Diseases at @CheckOrphan, a platform dedicated to people working with or affected by rare, orphan or neglected diseases.

Medicine

15. Tips and ideas: Eve if you don’t understand medicine, you can learn about its uses through tweets from tweeters such as A Disease A Day at @diseaseaday, Medscape at @Medscape or the Medpedia Project at @medpedia.
16. Learn from doctors: Many doctors have caught on to Twitter, and you can learn about medicine, healthy lifestyles, surgery and disease from tweeters such as Dr. Mehmet Oz at @DrOz or Michael Bermant, MD at @DrBermant.
17. Get updates from authorities: Receive tweets from authoritative journals such as BMU (British Medical Journal) at @bmj_latest or through institutions such as the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) at @FDA_Drug_Info. Some consider the Centers for Disease Control to be the ultimate authority — you can follow them at @CDCgov.
18. Learn how to care for patients at home: If you’re taking care of an elderly person or a sick person at home, you can pick up some tips from Twitter users such as Elder Care at @4eldercare or Senior Helpers at @SrHelpersNatl.
19. Stay on top of research and developments: A great number of medical research facilities use Twitter to pass on their news and insights. Some of the most popular resources include @NIHforHealth (National Institute of Health), @FDA_Drug_Info (Food and Drug Administration) and @NatureMedicine, a biomedical research journal devoted to publishing the latest advances in biomedical research for scientists and physicians.
20. Learn about alternative healing: If you want to learn about alternatives to traditional healing, try these experts: Chinese Medicine at @AsanteAcademy is Middlesex University’s Teaching Centre for Chinese Medicine and Natural Cures at @CuredbyNature collects information about home remedies from all over the globe.

You can also meet other nurses and health care professionals online. Professional organizations and nursing social communities can be a great way to connect with others. You can get support, and you can ask questions of your peers. If you are looking for some helpful web resources, here are 50 to consider:

General Reference Sites and Medical Libraries

Find information about general medical concerns, and nursing ideas. You can access a wealth of knowledge online through these resources. Brush up on items you already know, and learn something new.

1. PubMed: One of the best databases of medical information. Learn about clinical trials, access a great database, and even find journal articles.
2. eMedicine: This is the WebMD for professionals. Check it out, and find great information.
3. Welch Medical Library: From the Johns Hopkins University med school, this library is full of great references.
4. MedicalStudent.com: An amazing resource that can help any nurse. It includes textbooks.
5. Mayo Clinic: Get your information from one of the most trusted resources in the world. Great reference site full of solid info.
6. Health On the Net Foundation: Use this great resource to help you find information about different health and medical topics.
7. Healthline: Great reference information in a consumer friendly format.
8. Intute: Visit this U.K. reference site for great information on various medical subjects.
9. Medical Dictionary: This handy reference can provide you with what you need to keep up with the jargon used in health care settings.

Specialty Medical Reference

In addition to general sites, there are medical resources that are organized by specialty. If you are focusing on a specific area of nursing or health care, it can be useful to understand the issues related to your specialty.

10. Internet Mental Health: A great reference site for mental health nurses.
11. GeneralPediatrics.com: Get access to textbooks, journals, case studies and more related to pediatrics.
12. OBGYN.net: An excellent resource for those who want to be nurse midwives, or who work various areas of women’s health.
13. M.D. Anderson Cancer Center: A great reference and resource for cancer nurses.
14. Sci-Info-Pages: This is a site devoted to information on spinal cord injuries.
15. Clinical Neurophysiology on the Internet: Get specific information about neurophysiology. An interesting branch of medicine that you can learn more about.
16. ElderCare Online’s Medical Research Assistant: If you are in geriatrics, this is a great reference.
17. RxList: Use this resource to learn more about pharmacology, and what different drugs do.
18. Medication Information Library: Helpful resource that keeps you up to date on the latest information on medications.

Care Plans

If you are looking for sample care plans, or if you want help creating a care plan, the following web sites can be quite helpful. These sites include great information on creating care plans, as well as templates you can use to improve your own care plans.

19. CareScribble: Use this nursing care plan editor to create the best course of treatment for your patients.
20. NursingCrib: Perfect place to go to learn the basics of nursing, and find helpful hints on creating a nursing care plan.
21. Virtual Nurse: Information on how to write a nursing care plan. Step by step instructions.
22. Comprehensive Nursing Care Plans: An interactive nursing care site.
23. Careplans.com: Learn about building plans, and see some samples.
24. Transitional Care Planning: A great resource for those who want to put together a transitional care plan for patients.
25. eHow: Simple step-by-step instructions for creating a good care plan.

Case Studies and Journals

Get the latest information on treatments and new breakthroughs. You can get access to case studies, as well as to peer-reviewed journals. Make sure you know what’s happening in the world of medicine so that you can apply it as you work with your own patients.

26. Online Case Studies: Recent case studies that can be of use to just about anyone.
27. Case Studies in Science: Plenty of medical case studies that are peer-reviewed and full of helpful information.
28. Transcultural Nursing Case Studies: An interesting look at caring for those in different cultures. A very helpful resource in our shrinking world.
29. Clinical Nursing Case Studies: Links to different case studies. Great resource for real life examples of nursing.
30. Medical References: Great access to different reference materials and peer-reviewed journals.
31. Directory of Open Access Journals: Get access to open access journal articles on nursing.
32. The American Journal of Nursing: Get access to interesting articles about the latest advancements in nursing.
33. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing: Keep up with the latest issues in the nursing.

Profesional Nurse Organizations

If you are looking to make professional connections and get access to conferences and some other perks, you can visit the web sites of different professional organizations. Check with these organizations for career advancement opportunities, helpful nursing hints, and the latest headlines, nursing issues and more.

34. International Council of Nurses: Interact with nurses on an international level.
35. Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses: Connect with other med-surg nurses.
36. American Nurses Association: Connect with other nurses, and get helpful information and advice.
37. American Academy of Nurse Practitioners: If you are into advanced nursing practice, this society is for you.
38. American College of Nurse Midwives: Nurse midwives can get career support and more.
39. American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants: If you are looking for help from a legal consultant, or if you are one, this is a great resource.
40. American Assembly for Men in Nursing: Specifically aimed at male nurses.
41. American Forensic Nurses: An interesting organization for an interesting field in nursing.

Social Nurse Communities

Sometimes you just need to kick back and make social connections. Other times you may want to vent about the rigors of your job. Joining a nurse social community can help. You can ask questions, and find friends. These are great places to get practical tips that you can use every day, or meet other nurses.

42. Nurse.com: A great place for nurses to interact.
43. Nursing Community: Interact with other nurses, be an advocate, and keep up with news.
44. Ultimate Nurse: Plenty of nursing discussions, especially on travel nursing.
45. NurseTogether: Connect with other nurses from around the world.
46. NursingCenter: Great resources, and chances to chat with others.
47. allnurses.com: One of the most well-known social sites for nurses.
48. Nurse Uncut: Candid community for nurses.
49. Nurse Forum: Head over to NurseTV and connect with your nursing peers.
50. Nursing Voices: Share your story with friends from around the world.

General Reference

Helpful insights into general information that nurses often need to have. Get information from these books, and brush up on procedures and other health related items.

1. The Merck Manual: This medical reference is helpful for any nurse looking to find information on different diseases and treatments. Cost: $49.95
2. Obstetrics For Nurses: A great resource for you to learn more about obstetrics. Cost: Free
3. Fundamentals of Nursing: Get this helpful book for a reminder of the basics associated with nursing. Cost: $63.80
4. Moby’s Medical Encyclopedia: Get references for medicine, and helpful information on a variety of subjects. Cost: Free
5. Principles of Epidemiology: A great reference for learning about epidemiology, especially in public health. Cost: Free
6. The Clinical Medicine Consult: Looks at different medical conditions and includes useful information. Cost: $68.95
7. Medical Calculator Pocket: A great reference containing medical formulas. Cost: $16.95
8. Medical Abbreviations and Terminology: Get a good look at different abbreviations. Cost: $9.95
9. Bantam Medical Dictionary: A simple reference to medical terms. Cost: $7.50
10. Harrison’s Manual of Medicine: Helpful hints and easy reference. Cost: $59.95
11. Nursing and Physical Assessment Study Guide: Learn more about assessing patients. Cost: $19.99

Drugs

From drug reference to dosing, these ebooks can be quite helpful. Get access to drug information and hints with these ebooks.

12. ABX Guide: Johns Hopkins University offers this helpful guide to antibiotics. Cost: $24.95
13. Drug Calculations for Nurses: This ebook offers a helpful look at dosage calculations. Cost: Free
14. Drug Class Reviews: A look at the safety and effectiveness of different drugs. Cost: Free
15. Davis’s Drug Guide: Get helpful information on drugs, and guidance for name brand and generic drugs. Cost: $49.95
16. Clinician’s Pocket Drug Reference: A quick reference to different commonly used medications. Cost: $12.95
17. Nurse’s Pocket Drug Guide: A helpful reference aimed just at nurses. Cost: $12.95
18. Pharmacology Study Guide: Great look at drugs and other pharmacology related topics. Cost: $19.99
19. Chemistry and Physics for Nurse Anesthesia: A great reference for nurses involved with anesthesia. An interesting and enlightening read. Cost: $80.00
20. Drug Therapy Pocket: Helpful insights into different drug therapies. Cost: $16.95
21. Drug Education Library: This includes publications on different dangerous drugs, from alcohol to cocaine.

Anatomy

Study human anatomy and physiology. These are great ebooks for understanding how the human body works, helping you become a better nurse.

22. Human Anatomy and Physiology Study Guide: Helpful look at human anatomy. Cost: $9.99
23. Atlas of Human Anatomy: This is a cool book published in 1841, with great pictures of human anatomy. Cost: Free
24. Anatomy of the Human Body: The 1918 version of Gray’s famous book.
25. Heptology 2010: Learn more about the liver, gallbladder, pancreas and other related organs. A great look at how these organs work in the body. Cost: Free
26. Cardiology Explained: A simple and helpful book about cardiology. Straightforward and interesting. Cost: Free
27. The Brain From Top To Bottom: A great read from the Canadian Institute of Neurosciences.
28. Fitzpatrick’s Color Atlas and Synopsis of Clinical Dermatology: Learn more about the skin. Cost: $74.95
29. A Practical Physiology eBook: Helpful look at human physiology for your use. Cost: Free
30. Ganong’s Review of Medical Physiology: A great look at how the human body works. Cost: $64.95
31. Cliffs Quick Review – Anatomy and Physiology: Reference to help you quickly brush up on the human body. Cost: $9.99

Mental Health

Learn how to help those with mental health issues. These helpful ebooks can provide you with good references and useful insights.

32. Quick Reference to the DSM-IV-TR Diagnostic Criteria: Helpful information from the American Psychiatric Association. Cost: $35.00
33. Quick Reference to APA Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders: A helpful look at psychiatric disorders. Cost: $44.95
34. Introducing Mental Health: A useful primer on mental health. Cost: $39.95
35. Mental Health Context: The World Health Organization offers insights into mental health on a global scale. Cost: $18.00
36. The Parenting Aspergers Resource Guide: Nurses can get valuable insight about Aspergers from this book. Cost: $37.00
37. Women and Depression: Discovering Hope: A helpful guide about helping women through depression. Cost: Free
38. Understanding Children and Young People’s Mental Health: Helpful for young people. Cost: $44.99
39. Primary Care Mental Health: The basics of mental health care. Cost: $63.00
40. Mental Health Atlas: Another helpful mental health publication from the World Health Organization. Cost: $45.00

Patient Care

You can be a better nurse when you understand how to help your patients live healthier lives, and when you improve your manner.

41. Medical Spanish Pocket Plus: Nurses can benefit from knowing how to communicate with Spanish speaking patients about things that affect them. Cost: $24.95
42. Nursing notes the easy way: Learn how to write effective and useful nursing notes. Cost: $3.00
43. Clinical Wound Care and Skin Infections: Helpful look at caring for wound care. Cost: $12.95
44. Nutrition Study Guide: A great help to nurses who want to be able to counsel their patients about proper nutrition. Cost: $19.99
45. ABC of Nutrition: Guidelines on nutrition, as well as information on the benefits of good nutrition. Cost: $29.95
46. The Complete Nutrition Counter: Great information on different foods, and handy information on nutrients. Cost: $7.99
47. Nutrition Almanac: An easy reference covering the essentials of nutrition and its importance to the body. Cost: $19.95
48. 5-Factor Fitness: Nurses can benefit from learning from this fitness ebook. Helpful look at exercise. Cost: $12.99
49. Exercise Therapy: Helpful look at how physical activity can help improve health outcomes. Great for nurses looking to help their patients. Cost: $51.95
50. Exercise, Nutrition and the Older Woman: Great primer on exercise for seniors. A great help for nurses looking for insight. Cost: $109.95

The following individuals are listed in alphabetical order by surname.

1. Kristen Hedger Archbold, PhD, RN, is an assistant professor at the University of Arizona College of Nursing and an expert in the area of sleep disorders and sleep research. She recently received a five-year $2-million grant from the National Institutes of Health/National Heart Lung and Blood Institute to study the effects of a ventilator therapy on behavior and cognition in school-aged children who stop breathing during sleep, a condition called obstructive sleep apnea. This study is the first known to use a placebo or sham PAP ventilator, created by Kristen and her research team, in school-aged children and compare it to actual PAP.
2. Linda C. Baumann, PhD, APRN, BC, FAAN, is a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Nursing, and an expert on global health in developing countries, chronic disease management, health promotion of physical activity and healthy eating. She has conducted both experimental and descriptive studies of how a person’s beliefs about symptoms and illness influence health-related actions. Recent work focuses on health disparities of race/ethnicity and income in relationship to healthy lifestyle changes in diet and physical activity and she has expanded her research into Vietnam, where she is a member of the National Institute of Research Strategies for Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders Control.
3. Carlton G. Brown, PhD, RN, AOCN, is an assistant professor at the University of Delaware’s School of Nursing and the president of the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS). He uses the ONS platform to lobby for better legislation to assist patients and the nurses who care for them.Dr. Brown’s book, A Guide to Oncology Symptom Management, provides detailed coverage of symptoms and conditions affecting people with cancer. This summer, he received an Award of Excellence in the 22nd annual APEX Awards for Publication Excellence, sponsored by Writing That Works.
4. D. Anthony “Tony” Forrester, RN, PhD, ANEF, a professor at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Nursing in Newark and is clinical professor in the Department of Environmental Medicine at UMDNJ’s Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS). He is also Professor in Residence and Interdisciplinary Health Research Consultant at Morristown Memorial Hospital and an expert faculty member for the Nurse Faculty Mentored Leadership Development Program. His areas of expertise and specialization in nursing clinical practice are: adult emergency/trauma, critical care, and psychiatric/mental health nursing.
5. Mary Beth Happ, PhD, RN, FAAN, is a professor in the Acute and Tertiary Care Department at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Nursing, with secondary appointments in Critical Care Medicine, the Center for Bioethics and Health Law, and at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing (adjunct). Widely published in gerontology and critical care, Dr. Happ’s research is focused on developing and testing the “SPEACS” nurse training program, to improve communication with nonspeaking, critically ill patients. She received the 2010 Eastern Nursing Research Society John A. Hartford Geriatric Research Award for her significant contributions to nursing research directed toward the older adult population.
6. Kathryn Laughon, PhD, RN, is an associate professor of nursing at the University of Virginia and an expert in intimate partner violence and risk factors for intimate partner homicide and safety planning. In 2008, she was one of 15 junior faculty in the nation to receive an inaugural Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nurse Faculty Scholar award. Dr. Laughon currently is principle investigator on a National Institute of Mental Health-funded study to test an intervention for guardians of children orphaned by intimate partner homicide. She is also a forensic nurse examiner and conducts evidence collection and provides care to victims of sexual assault.
7. Courtney Lyder, ND, GNP, FAAN, was the first minority to earn tenure at Yale’s School of Nursing and the second youngest member inducted into the American Academy of Nursing. As the new dean of the UCLA School of Nursing, Lyder is the first African-American male to lead a U.S. nursing school, and one of fewer than 3 percent of U.S. deans under age 45. He is a nationally recognized expert on minority aging and served as a senior consultant to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where he has influenced federal regulations and policies related to elder care throughout the U.S.
8. Linda Sarna, DNSc, RN, FAAN, AOCN, is a professor at the UCLA School of Nursing and an expert on oncology nursing and tobacco control. She helped establish one of the nation’s first oncology nursing specialty programs at the UCLA School of Nursing more than 30 years ago, and recently was appointed to the school’s Lulu Wolf Hassenplug Endowed Chair in Nursing. As principal investigator for the Tobacco Free Nurses initiative, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Sarna led the first-ever nationwide program to help nurses quit smoking and to promote nursing involvement and leadership in tobacco control.
9. Mary Lou Sole, RN, PhD, CCRN, FAAN, a professor in UCF’s College of Nursing, also oversees the adult-gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist track for the new post-baccalaureate Doctor of Nursing Practice program. She is an expert in the area of airway management and mechanical ventilation, infection prevention in acute care, and critical care nursing. She also is the lead investigator on a National Institutes of Health nursing research grant related to airway management in critically ill patients. Her book, Introduction to Critical Care Nursing, currently in its fifth edition, was named the 2010 Book of the Year by the American Journal of Nursing.
10. Lin Zhan, RN, PhD, FAAN, is a professor and director of PhD Program in Nursing in the Department of Nursing, School of Health and Environment at UMass-Lowell. She is a Fellow of American Academy of Nursing and serves on the Academy’s Expert Panel on Aging. Her research focuses on quality of life for older adults and ethnic minorities. Her scholarly work is evident by funded research projects and publication in and research-based peer reviewed publications. In 2000, her book, Asian Voices: Asian and Asian American Health Educators Speak Out, received “”he Book of the Year” award by the American Journal of Nursing for outstanding professional development.

Technology is providing ways to make knowledge more accessible, whether it’s your own health records, or new ways to monitor your vitals. In the end, this makes patient interaction with health care professionals more effective and more meaningful. There are plenty of companies eager to help you learn more about your own health. Here are 25 Health 2.0 companies ready to help you keep on top of your health:

Electronic Health Records

These companies offer you access to your own health records, as well as helping you share them with members of your health team.

1. Practice Fusion: This web based electronic health records management system is meant for doctors, but it can also be helpful to you. You can get better access to your health records. This means that you can check for errors, and see what sorts of things have been noted about your health. It also helps doctors provide better information. This startup offers a meaningful way to use electronic health records to help you make better, more informed health decisions.
2. Google Health: Google is definitely working to get into the game when it comes to electronic health records. You can control your health information, update it and more form a central control center offered by Google. You can import your medical records, and keep tabs on your various conditions as well. A very convenient personal health records service that can be accessed from anywhere with the Internet. Google really is striving to be the one stop place for everything you need in your life.
3. Allscripts: This company offers access to electronic health records and practice management. Even though this startup aims at helping doctors with electronic health records, it can still help you learn more about your health. Being able to share your records amongst members of your health care team, as well as being able to check for accuracy, is a great help. You can more easily learn about your health when the information is in one place.
4. eClinicalWorks: Another electronic health records startup company aimed at medical practice, this system can be a great help. When your health care professional has quicker access to your records, and more uniform access, you have better information as well. If you want to learn more about your health, it can help to have a health care team that is well informed. This company is helpful, too, in providing information on using electronic health records in a meaningful way.
5. ClearHealth Inc.: You can learn more about your health when your health care professional makes use of this practice management system. Learn more about health in America, and what can be done about. When your health care professional is more up to date, so are you, and this startup company is providing helpful answers to a number of medical issues. Includes some great features that make it easier to access your health.
6. Microsoft HealthVault: Technology startup Microsoft has its own helpful way for you to manage your own health. HealthVault allows you to add in electronic health records, as well as keep track of other aspects of health care, including cost. You can set up a profile for your entire family, helping you manage everyone’s health care from one location. It’s a simple way to make sure that everything is in order, and to keep up with what’s going on with your own health. A useful tool.
7. MyPHR: You can create your own health record, and keep up with how things are going with your health. Import medical records, and update your medical information. Not only is this great for keeping track of your own health, but it can also help you organize information so that it is easily accessible by members of your health care team. There is no need to rely on someone else for your health information; you can have it on your own. A good way to keep up with the basics of your own health.
8. WebMD Health Manager: Create your own personal health record, and keep track of health changes. This respected medical web startup offers you the ability to track your own health, and keep up with what is going on in your health. Plus, you get access to the great tools offered by WebMD when it comes to your health.

Prevention, Care and Monitoring

Learn more about health behaviors, and what you can do to improve your own health. Plus, track your own health, and get access to superior primary care.

9. Ringful Health: This startup focuses on helping you learn all about your own health, and monitoring your own systems. You can use the interesting apps this company creates to help you keep track of pollen for allergies, asthma, and your heart. Also includes a pain manager. On top of that, Ringful offers useful apps that help you find out about medical costs and compare hospitals. A startup company providing a comprehensive range of helpful apps that can help you take charge of your health.
10. MDVIP: Join this network and get access to some of the best and brightest doctors and health care professionals. The idea is to help you get the best primary care and preventative medicine out there. This startup company goes “beyond concierge medical care” to help patients get exactly what they are looking for, and learn more about their own health. A way to track your health care outcomes and compare what has been happening in your health.
11. Access Health: If you are looking for primary, same day care in the San Francisco Bay Area, this startup company can help. You can enter what you need, and get access to transparent health care. You can get help quickly and get preventative medicine help with this startup. Prices are relatively transparent, and it is possible to get appointments seven days a week. This is one of the startups offering more personal and convenient health care.
12. Qliance: Preventative care is one of the main focuses of this health startup. It is patient centered, and offers same day appointments in the Seattle area. You can learn more about your health from helpful doctors, and cut out the insurance company. Pricing is transparent and affordable, and it is health care that is on demand. You pay a monthly membership, and then get access to what you need. It’s an innovative and consumer focused way of doing health care.
13. 1Life Healthcare: Another startup offering boutique medical care. If you live in New York City or San Francisco Bay Area, you can get access to high quality health care when you need it. There are a number of online health tools that can help you check symptoms and monitor your health and keep up with what is happening with your health. I great company that can help you keep on top of your health, and learn more about it.
14. DoubleCheckMD: This useful and helpful startup helps you check symptoms and interactions related to drugs. It mostly focuses on those who need to take multiple drugs. It’s a great tool to help you monitor your health, and to monitor your drug interactions. Pay attention to your symptoms, and this tool can help you figure out what could be causing complications. Or, better yet, provide warning before you take something that could interact badly.
15. MyMedLab: You can order your tests online, and then go to an approved lab to have your blood drawn. The results of the tests are then sent to you electronically. The lab tests are affordable, and they provide you with the ability to keep tabs on your own health easily.

Health Care Costs

In the name of transparency, some startups are offering you access to cost information for common procedures, as well as analysis on whether or not certain procedures are cost efficient.

16. Castlight Health: This startup company is devoted to providing you with the actual costs for medical care. The idea is to help you learn more about what different health care decisions will cost you, in order to help you learn more about the cost of your own health. It’s a very useful tool that can help you learn more about health costs and make better choices for yourself, and it can help you determine whether or not you are being offered a fair price.
17. Quicken Health: Learn more about medical expenses, and track your own expenses. It’s a helpful way to learn more about your health insurance plan, and keep track of expenses associated with your health care. Also lets you know your responsibility for expenses. It’s a great way to keep track of what you are doing, and how much it is costing you. Learn more about your own health — and what you pay to remain healthy.
18. Healthcare Blue Book: Learn more about fair prices for different health care and medical services. A great guide if you are interested in learning how much your health should cost. Includes hospital, doctor, lab and cosmetic medicine information. This is especially helpful when you are looking for something that your health insurance doesn’t cover. It can provide you with solid information about what things should cost, so that you can pay out of pocket.
19. New Choice Health: This startup also helps you figure out health care costs. Not only can you use it to compare costs and find fair rates for different procedures, but you can also get different quotes from difference providers. This is helpful when it comes to your own health outcomes. Learn how to save money on your health care, and make better decisions. You should know how much health care is going to cost you, and this startup makes the process a little more transparent.
20. Carol: Learn more about different services, and their costs. The idea behind this site is to package different health care services together, and work in volume. Puts packages together so that you can look at more affordable outcomes. An interesting company in the world of health care.

Health Care Grades

Not only can you learn more about your own health, but you can take charge of it. Find out how health care professionals rate, and share your own experiences in health care.

21. Vitals: Learn more about doctors, and how they perform. This site allows you to check up on your doctor. See information about how other patients rate your doctor, and also see what sort of rating his or her medical school had, and see the rating for the hospital your doctor uses. You can also find doctors in your area, helping you choose the doctor that best fits your idea of good care. It’s a great way to take charge of your health care, since you will learn about what you are getting.
22. RateMDs: Another rating service that helps you determine whether or not your doctor is up to snuff. You can share your own ratings for your doctor, or read what fellow patients are saying about your doctor. It’s a great way to learn — from other consumers — about the quality of health care you are receiving. If you aren’t satisfied, you can always use the site to look for someone who suits you better. A great resource for remaining solidly in charge.
23. HealthGrades: If you are interested in learning about what’s available to you in terms of health care, you can use this site. It includes a look at top hospitals, and offers ratings for more than 750,000 physicians. You can also get good information on nursing homes, and get reports almost instantly. A way to access specialists and hospitals as well as doctors. Learn more about your health, and take better charge of your health care.
24. Find a Doc: Compare different doctors, and leave reviews of your own doctors. A great way to be more informed of your health care options. So often we don’t realize what our choices are. Find a Doc is a startup that can help you get the quality health care you want. Includes and advanced search that includes specialties, so you can search according to your individual needs, rather than just relying on a random choice out of the phone book.
25. DrScore.com: If you are interested in promoting pay for performance in the health industry, DrScore.com can be a good place to participate. Learn more about what others are saying about your doctor, and share your own thoughts. A great way to make sure you are getting the best possible health care.

1. An Atlas of the Human Body: This is a great slideshow from The New York Times. It includes interesting pictures and slides from Dr. David L. Bassett and View-Master inventor William B. Gruber. Includes amazing images of dissected body parts, and even entire bodies, which had been left to science. Advanced preservation techniques are evident in some cases. You can see different aspects of the body, and get a feel of how it is constructed. Look at the placement of muscles, blood vessels and more. Includes up-close images of different bones and organs as well. A fascinating journey — especially since these images were taken in the 1960s.
2. Useless Body Parts: Not everything in your body has a useful function. Indeed, some muscles and bones are virtually useless. But we have them anyway. In some cases, there were uses for these parts before our current stage of evolution. However, the presence of some body parts continues to baffle scientists. This slideshow from CBS 13 details some of the useless body parts we have, as well as explain possible reasons that we have them, and — in some cases — which of our primate relatives still in the wild have these parts. An interesting look at how our body may not always be so perfectly constructed. Besides, it gives you a good idea of what you could do without if you had to.
3. Inside the Human Body: If you are interested in what your organs should look like healthy, and what they look like damaged, this is a great slide show. Dr. Mehmet Oz offers insight into what you look like on the inside. See what bad health habits can do to your body, especially fat. You can see for yourself what happens when you do not take proper care of your body, and you become sick, or if your body is clogged up by fat. Another interesting slide is the one that shows a healthy lung as opposed to a cancerous lung. A fascinating journey into the reality of what you could be doing to harm your own body. And possibly a reason to start living healthier right now.
4. Digestive Disease Myths Pictures Slideshow: Common Misconceptions: This is an amazing and engaging slideshow from MedicineNet. This shows your digestive system, and tackles myths that surround our understanding of what we put into our bodies. For instance, spicy foods don’t cause ulcers. Another myth is that you are supposed to have a bowel movement everyday in order to be considered “regular”. It’s an interesting look at some of the misconceptions that have grown up around the digestive system, and offers solid, medical information that you can use to make better decisions about what goes into your body, and not be put off by spurious information.
5. Assembling Bodies: BBC News offers an interesting tour of how we view the human body. This slide show is narrated by Anita Herle, a Senior Curator for Anthropology at the Museum of Archeology and Anthropology at Cambridge University in England. This slide show examines how people have viewed the body through time, and includes anatomical illustrations, painting, sculptures and other images showing how our understanding and concept of the body has evolved over time, from the most primitive cultures through modernity. You can follow our understanding of and interest in  the human body as it has developed, medically and culturally, over a period of centuries.
6. The Way We Work: This book by David Macauley is an beautifully illustrated journey into human anatomy. Meant for children, this book offers easy to understand information about the basics of how our bodies work. The accompanying slide show offers scenes from the book, including information. Enjoy the lovely illustrations, and learn more about your body. A fun way to see how everything works together so that you are functioning properly as a human being. It’s a way to look at the body as a beautiful machine, and see how all the systems work together. Get a look at each system in the body, and learn what it is meant to do as part of the whole.
7. Electrolyte Balance in the Human Body: One of the realities of life is that we require electrolytes in order to have proper balance in the body. Electrolytes help the electric tissues of the body, which include neurons and muscle tissue. As a result, it is important to have a good electrolyte balance. This slide show offers a look at electrolytes and their importance in the human body, as well as how the proper balance can be maintained. Also includes information on how electrolytes can become imbalanced in the body. A factual and organized presentation designed to help health care providers provide good information for their patients.
8. Bodies New York Slideshow: If you are interested in how our bodies really look, this slideshow offers interesting images and information. This slideshow offers images from the BODIES…New York exhibition. This exhibit shows carefully dissected, preserved and displayed bodies so that you can see how the body works. An interesting look at anatomy, detailing muscle and bone placement. Pictures of the body in different positions shows how muscles are positioned during different activities. It’s very interesting to have first hand knowledge of how it works. This slideshow is a great preview of a great exhibit — and a good resource itself.
9. How your brain works: If you are interested in learning about how your brain functions, this slideshow from the Mayo Clinic is a great resource. Learn, in depth, about the different functions of the brain. Learn about the construction of its brain, and its structures. You can gain an understanding of what each part of the brain does, and how it functions. Also see how the brain controls different parts of the body, and its place in the nervous system. Learn how neurons and synapses work, and gain an understanding of how your brain helps you think and feel. A helpful journey through the mechanical workings of the brain, and its importance in your body.
10. Mechanobiology of the Skeleton: If you are interested in how the skeleton works, this slideshow is a great resource. It goes through how bones are formed, and the structures inside of them. The bones in the body have an interesting structure inside of them. You can learn about the way bones grow and form, and find out why bones are so strong — even though they are relatively light. These slides were presented at the Keystone Symposium by Charles H. Turner, and presented on the Science magazine web site. It’s an interesting look at how bones are formed, the biology of what goes on inside of bones, and what happens when disease strikes.
11. Heart Disease Pictures Slideshow: MedicineNet offers another great slideshow. This one tackles heart disease. How does heart disease form? What does it look like when a heart is affected by heart disease? This slideshow is an informative look at the real story of heart disease. Illustrates plaque buildup, and shows images of what can lead to a heart attack. Also, this slide show features great images and diagrams, along with pictures of actual arteries and other parts of the heart when they have been clogged. It might even help you decided to eat better and exercise more, since you can see exactly what you are doing to your heart.
12. Lungs: If you are interested in the structure of the lungs, this is a great slide show. Includes a helpful look at how the lungs are set up, including an inset showing the important alveoli. See the different parts of the lungs, and where they are located. You can also see x-ray images of different problems in the lungs. See what the x-ray of an aortic rupture looks like, or examine pneumothorax. Slides include an explanation of the conditions shown, and explain the basic workings and structure of the lungs. An interesting look, from Healthline, at the lungs, and a couple of the problems you might encounter. If you are a health care professional, this is especially useful in helping you see how these conditions appear on an x-ray.
13. Dried Human Blood: Interested in what blood looks like under the microscope? This fascinating and beautiful slideshow is short, but interesting. Look at dried human blood as it appears in a microscope. You might be surprised at how it looks, and the different structures that are present in blood.