Blogs, Blogs, Blogs!

I have skimmed, scoured, and read tons of blogs relating to my career path. I have absorbed information from Marketing, Public Relations, and Human Resources. Before I took a good look I though they would be blasé and dry. But, surprisingly technology has opened the whole new world of information and ways of sharing it.

The three blogs I thought were the most interesting were about using blogs, social media, and other various outlets to market yourself as a professional, your business (in my case, hospital), and your knowledge. I used to be on the fence about using social media in the professional realm, but after reading up on it there are ways to that social media can be professional and helpful. I started an employment portfolio earlier this year through my business writing class. It opened a world of opportunities. I find the more tech savvy I become the more doors I open in terms of marketing for my profession.

My three favorite professional blogs:

http://www.pr-squared.com/index.php/2009/11/the-awareness-scale-how-social-media-pr-advertising-now-work-together

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com

http://blog.hubspot.com

How is Health Psychology Relevant to Human Resources?

Last spring I took what I think will be one of the greatest college classes that I will ever take. Health Psychology introduced me to a relatively new discipline in psychology. The link between health psychology and a Human Resources position in a hospital my not be obvious. In fact, you might be thinking the only reason you could possibly link them together is that one has health in the title and the other is located in a place that deals solely with health issues and the maintenance of health. Well you couldn't be more wrong.

I learned about how jobs affect health and how to keep employees healthy. I learned about programs that can be implemented to provide incentive for employees to become healthy and stay that way; to help them create a healthy life-style. I learned that employers can effect the health of their employees.

Since I want to be in Human Resources in a hospital I will be able to apply this knowledge through programs, insurance offered, and bonus perks. I will also have a grasp on what employees can and cannot tolerate. The phenomenon known as burnout in the medical community happens quite frequently. Health Psychology taught me how to prevent this. With the help of the knowledge I gained I will strive for healthy employees that are at the top of the game. This will enable them to provide the best medical care possible and keep all of their patients as healthy as possible!

Health Human Resources

I recently had a change of heart about the career path I should take. My grandma was the administrative assistant at Memorial Medical Center. I grew up in a hospital; I knew the employees and they knew me, I knew the different specialties in the medical field, and I learned about all the hidden jobs in hospitals. Being in that environment taught me that I wanted, needed to work in a hospital. The question was where? I spent years fighting obstacles, slaving over textbooks trying to get A's, and working Certified Nursing and Resident Assistant jobs because I thought I wanted to be a nurse. I am no longer pursuing this option.

I got older. I fell in love, moved in, broke-up, and moved out just to move back into the same apartment after he left. You ask why this is important in terms of my career path? I will tell you. I learned things about myself and what I want in life through my relationship. I learned I want to get married, have children, and maybe even a couple puppies! Nine to five started to become more appealing. To be a trauma nurse I would have to live in a hospital for years. That was no longer an option for where I wanted to go in my life.

You may say I could have both. Yes, I could. However, I didn't want my life to be structured that way. I want to watch my kids get on the bus. I want to be the one to pick them up at the day care at five o'clock. I want to have weekends off and go to the farmers market, with a warm latte in my hand and a scarf on to keep warm on cool September mornings. These are all things that seemed unrealistic or at the very least would only happen every so often if I continued on my path to be a nurse.

I started to explore my options. I love people, the medical field, and I now love the idea of nine to five. I chose to create my own major. I designed a major through University of Wisconsin-Superior's interdisciplinary studies program titled Health and Human Resources. I took a combination of science, psychology, and business classes to help me transition from nursing to the behind the scenes office setting in a hospital. I hope to go into Marketing, Human Resources, or Public Relations in a hospital. My ultimate goal is to become the director of one of those three specialties or the president of a hospital.

A Toast To Our Health

A huge social issue affecting the medical community is the cost of medical care and insurance. While hospitals, doctors, insurance companies, and other professionals are making bank, citizens are struggling to afford health insurance and paying for health care in general. While it it is easy to say we have the right system or say we need to adopt a free health care system comparable to countries like Sweden, it is not that simple. We are in debt and need to take that in consideration.

While I don't know the answer to this issue that surrounds every aspect of my future career and the medical field, I do know that the answer in the link below will not solve it in it's entirety. Reducing just the amount of deliveries will not suffice. It may help, but we need to do more.

Increasing our focus on health early in life and creating habits of leading healthy life-styles rather than being "fat Americans" will reduce the amount of chronic disease. These diseases are the bulk of our medical expense. Lower them and we will not only save money as a nation and health care system, but we will also live healthier lives. This is my proposal. It is easier said than done. It WILL require a major shift in culture. However, when I look around I can see change already. This is a good sign :)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/leahbinder/2013/02/21/the-five-biggest-problems-in-health-care-today/

IDS Baby!!

My major is an interdisciplinary studies major (IDS). The idea is that the student gets to selects class to form a major that will allow them to achieve their career goals. This is an excellent route if there is not already a major that will help them succeed offered at University of Wisconsin-Superior. An interdisciplinary major must include at least 3 different discipline areas. Each discipline must have 9 to 22 credits and a minimum of 18 of all the major credits must be level 300 or higher. The student must take IDS 300 as well as a capstone course. Also, they must comply with UWS's graduation requirements as well.

My IDS is titled Health and Human Resources. It includes disciplines in biology, psychology, and business. I will be seeking jobs in administration in the health field. Hopefully, I will get a job in Human Resources in a hospital as an Assistant to the Human Resources Director. Eventually I would like to become a Director of Human Resources and maybe someday the president of a hospital. With my degree I could also look into Marketing, Public Relations, and Administrative Assistant jobs within the medical community.

http://www.uwsuper.edu/catalog/2012-14/majorsandminors/undergraduate/programs/isp.cfm#_61354551

To: Grandma Judy

The person who inspired me to go into Health and Human Resources was my Grandma, Judy Nasholm. She worked as an administrative assistant to the presidents of Memorial Medical Center in Ashland, Wisconsin for 36 years! Because of her I got to know the ins and outs of hospitals. This is what ultimately inspired me to look at career options in the medical setting. I knew that I wanted to work in a hospital, I just didn't know where.

My grandma is a supportive, kind lady who has never once questioned my dreams. She encouraged me through my trial and errors at different jobs and different majors. I spent time going to school with the intention of becoming a physical therapist. She thought this was great. I spent time going to school with the intention of becoming a nurse. She thought this was great. Finally, I made the decision to go into the business side of hospitals and designed my own major that would allow me to build a career in Human Resources, Public Relations, or Marketing in a hospital. She thought this was great.

Besides being supportive and showing me the world of health care, my grandma raised me and taught me how to be a caring, productive human being. She is incredibly hard working and instilled many of her own traits and beliefs in me. Without her guidance and reassurance I wouldn't be where I am today. I am confident that I am on the right path. I am grateful for everything she has done for me and the things she will continue to do for me.