Dream Job Search: Environmental Nutrition Ed.

In regards to the healthcare field, you really can go anywhere. Earlier this morning I was on the phone with an old preceptor from my dietetic internship (public relations rotation) who provided me with some guidance as to my next step. Her advice for non-traditional job opportunities as a Registered Dietitian (RD)? Network, NETWORK LIKE NEVER BEFORE. Because if you decide to take the non-traditional route, you'll have to take a non-traditional approach down that route. This means, less utilization of job search engines, and more emailing, calling and researching (i.e. Twitter, Facebook, etc.) non-traditional RDs. And so, ladies and gentlemen, Monica continues to email, call and research her non-traditional, dream job.

This week's approach? Environmental Nutrition. Point of inspiration? FRESH, the movie.

Food/Nutrition Writer Sharon Palmer, RD wrote a blog about FRESH which I found refreshing. Refreshing in the sense that she had officially combined two things that intrigued me: environmental nutrition and writing.

My point is...what you want to do with your healthcare career is out there, you just have to make every effort to look for it. And sometimes, it's right under your fingertips (literally).

Happy research and networking! :)

The U.S. Air Force ... Keeping an Open Mind

I feel like a rebel. I feel like a rebel because I have this itch to go against the norm. I have this inexplicable craving to avoid the 9 to 5's, as unavoidable as it may seem.

Picture this, healthcare opportunities...with the Air Force.

Did I lose you? Let's just say I understand. Let's just say that I've been there. About a year ago I got a call from an Army advisor, and after that first phone call I refused to pick up any other phone call. Not because I wasn't interested, because I probably was, it's just...in a way, I wasn't ready to be interested. I was scared. Scared because I know that my parents wouldn't want me to. Scared because it was an unknown territory that I wasn't sure I wanted to explore.

How did I get into it? A really good friend of mine started looking into it...I mean really looking into it. It's something he's always wanted to do since he was a kid, and he claims he's being hit by all kinds of signs to just do it already. He was able to answer all the questions I've been wondering about, which aided my suppressed curiosity towards a

If you're in the healthcare field, there's a place for you in the Air Force:

Physician Careers

Nursing Careers

Dentistry Careers

Allied Health Careers (Biomedical Sciences)

Health Services Administrator (Medical Services Corp)

As far as paying for school? The Air Force offers a Health Professions Scholarship Program, which provide the following:

• tuition
• textbooks
• small equipment items and supplies required for study
• monthly allowance of approximately $1,907 for living expenses

The catch? Be on active duty in the Air Force for 45 days while on scholarship and serve active duty for one year for each year of scholarship (minimum of three years).

The benefits...the benefits had me at...well, "BENEFITS":

• Housing allowance (living expenses include utilities and maintenance for on-base housing and a monthly tax-free allowance for out-base residents)
• Food allowance (receive a flat rate monthly; can save by shopping at tax-free, on-base department and grocery stores)
• Compensation (salaries are competitive with those in the civilian sector, health professionals receive incentive pay & substantial annual bonuses)
• Retirement (eligible to retire after 20 years of service with the Air Force = one of the earliest retirements around!)
• Insurance (comprehensive medical and dental care provided and low-cost plans for eligible family members; temporarily disabled due to injury/illness? = still receive a salary!)

Last but not least, what will your life be like?

• "A City Created Just For You" is what an Air Force base is like which includes restaurants, tax-free shopping, churches, schools, parks, and more
• Enjoy 30 days of vacation with pay where you can take advantage of Air Force aircraft (in other words, fly around the world for free!)
• On-base facilities (including gyms, golf courses, intramural leagues, swimming pools, etc) to keep you physically fit

The only thing holding me back is the thought of being away from my family and not knowing where I'd be deployed to. This explains why I may not be jumping at signing up for the Air Force, but my mind has definitely opened up to it. And an open mind....totally counts.

Photo courtesy U.S. Air Force Academy

The Attack of H1N1....IN MY HOUSE!

Is it just me or are more and more people getting the swine flu? First my 10-year-old nephew, then his 8-year-old brother who slept over our house just last weekend, and now both my parents have been hit by the H1N1. And then there was Facebook...my niece had it and now an old colleague who says he got it from another mutual colleague. I'm trying not to freak out. I'm trying really, really, hard actually.

So what exactly am I doing to fight my chances of getting it?

• Lysol...everything...including the air.
• Hand sanitizers and obsessive-compulsive hand-washing.
• Wear a jacket, even when "it's not that cold out."
• Stocking up on oranges/tangerines.
• Taking my multi-vitamins.
• Eating right and hitting the gym.

I mean I know it sounds pretty self-explanatory, but considering my nutrition background and my strong desire to not get sick? Prevention is key for me right now. I'm ALL OVER prevention like a kid in line for free candy.

Last week, before my Mom (the nurse) got the swine flu, she gave us all a chart that distinguished symptoms between the common cold, the flu, and the swine flu. I thought it was very helpful to know the symptoms ahead of time to avoid future freak-outs if/when I do develop a symptom. And so, I Googled it...to share with the world. Find it here.

And because I just heard an advertisement for the City of Chicago on the Swine Flu on the radio, you can find more information here.

In other (ABC Action) news, H1N1 Concerns Spur Orange Juice Boom.

Swine Flu photo courtesy

An Inside Look at NURSING

Dedication: I dedicate this to my older brother, John, who just passed his board exam to become a Registered Nurse!

Nursing. A lot of people I know seem to be headed that direction. I mean, why wouldn't you? Considering the recession, the longer lifespan, and more elderly needing health care assistance...how can you say no? It's stable, pays really well, and the very best part? You can make as much money as you want by working more than the usual 40 hours a week.

I know because I've watched my mom do it all the time. Growing up, I knew that we were short on money when I would rarely ever see her. Including now. On top of working full-time as a Clinical Nurse Manager, she also picked up a part-time job at a nursing home and another one for a a home health care agency. It's non-stop work for her, but she's doing it and she's making the money to make ends meet.

And it's not just the money, there are other reasons why people choose nursing. You get to take care of people who legitimately need your help. You get to make them feel better, to make them smile. And the best part? You get to give reliable advice to your friends and family! It's not just work...it's a way of living.

Still not convinced?: 6 Excuses That Keep People From Nursing

All I'm saying is, if you're totally against nursing for some reason you cannot put a finger on, give it a chance. It just might be what you've been subconsciously dreaming about all your life.

On a lighter note, I found a "Nursing Community for Nurses" that's worth checking out at allnurses.com. A unique, online community for nurses to share their inputs on everything nursing! Including this...

Top Ten Reasons to Become a Nurse:

10. Pays better than McDonald's (though the hours aren't as good.)
9. Fashionable shoes and sexy uniforms.
8. Needles: 'tis better to give than to receive.
7. Confidence in reassuring patients that all bleeding stops ... eventually.
6. Opportunity to expose yourself to rare, exotic, and exciting new diseases.
5. Interesting aromas.
4. Courteous and infallible doctors who always leave clear orders in perfectly clear handwriting.
3. Admit it, it's a lot easier than med school.
2. Celebration of holidays with all your friends ... at work.
1. Comfort in the knowledge that most of your patients survive no matter what you do to them.

Nurses photo courtesy
Male Nurse Action Figure photo courtesy

This is the Part Where I Grow Up: Tests & Job Hunts

My board exam to become a Registered Dietitian is Friday. This Friday. As in 3 days from now...Friday. It's coming, and I'm ready. I'm ready to take this test and grow up! And for those of you studying for midterms, here are a few tips for mental preparation and text anxiety:

• Maintain a positive attitude!
• Spend time visualizing success.
• Praise yourself.
• Eat right, exercise, and get plenty of sleep.
• While you are taking the exam, if you feel yourself beginning to brew a storm of anxiety, stop what you're doing and mentally draw a blank.

Source: Breeding & Associates Educational Resources

It's all about attitude. You have to want to do this. You have to want to study and feel the need/desire to succeed. It's all but a mind game, right?

In other news, after I take this board exam it's all about the job hunt. I am determined to find a non-traditional position as a dietitian! It will be hard considering the fact that most job search engines have been only focused on positions in a clinical setting. Speaking of which, here are my top three job search engines that I highly recommend (and have been really helpful when searching for jobs in the health care field):

1. Simply Hired: www.simplyhired.com; The thing I love most about this is that after saving the jobs you are interested in, there is a column on the right next to the saved jobs where you can rate the position however you like. For example, for me, a position with 5 stars means that I really, really, really want the job. There's also some space for notes which I've used for my application process progress.
2. Indeed: www.indeed.com; My favorite thing about this website is that you can look up the average salary for the jobs you are seeking. This is helpful especially if money is a factor for you, because you can specify it to the location you please.
3. Experience: www.experience.com; Last but not least, I love Experience because not only does it offer job opportunities, but helps me brainstorm ideas for my non-traditional dream job as a dietitian. I really enjoy watching the videos from interns and/or other professionals.

Signed with hopes, dreams, and a big smile on my face,

Monica

P.S. Good luck with midterms and job hunting!

Study habits photo

Job search comic courtesy

Unaswered Questions? Go "Health Nuts!"

Last week, while studying for my board exam, I found myself at Panera Bread (indulging in their free wifi and coffee refills) talking to a friend of mine who is currently in her last year of pharmacy school.

"I wish I had a friend who was a dermatologist so she can tell me what the best lotion to get is from a local drug store," I said. That's where it started. It started with me, seeking a health professional to give me advice about lotion. But it's not just lotion, it's beyond lotion. I wanted to know the truth behind medications. I wanted to know the best cosmetics to get without spending $100. I wanted to know what I needed to know behind the label. As a Registered Dietitian to be, I'm very familiar with Nutrition Facts...but what about everything else?

Keeping the recession in mind and currently being unemployed, I couldn't help but think about everything else I've bought in the past just because it "seemed" like a good product based on the font, colors, and tag lines to certain products. I no longer want to be fooled. I want to be a smart consumer, and I'd like to be well-informed before making any purchases.

And this? This friendly conversation with my study buddy is what led me to come up with the top 3 reasons why to choose the healthcare field.

1. You get to know the truth behind the "truth."
You get to read all about it yourself, including evidence-based research explaining why things are how they are. You get to understand it all, and share the wealth of knowledge thereafter.

2. Jobs are still high in demand, even in this economic crisis.
People will continue to get sick, and will continue to seek medical help. That's just that.

3. Option of non-traditional job opportunities.
You don't have to just work at a hospital or nursing home, you have options too. It's just the matter of networking and thinking outside the box.

For a list of different health care careers with responsibilities and how to get there, read "Who Needs Med School?", an article I wrote for Experience.com not too long ago.

Lotion photo source

Olympics Volunteer, London 2012

So I had a crazy idea! A light bulb moment at that. Not too long ago, I had blogged about healthcare opportunities that involve traveling. This time around, I'm looking into healthcare opportunities for...wait for it... THE OLYMPICS. It's a bummer that Chicago didn't win for hosting Olympics 2016 (not that I was hoping and praying that we would), because if we did, I would've been ALL over the opportunity to work for it.

What have I found? Well, London 2012 is currently planning their volunteer program in which they will be recruiting 70,000 volunteers to take part in London's Olympic and Paralympic Games. The bad news is, they're only recruiting volunteers from across the UK (although I'd give it a shot anyway). The good news? Well, they recruit volunteers for sport or medical training in which they will provide all the training at the highest standard!

I know what you're thinking...what's in it for us? We're in the US...not the UK. How do we get involved? I say...go for it anyway. Or if you're going to be London for whatever reason when their training program begins, lucky you! If not, wait for the Olympics at Rio de Janeiro, see if they have a volunteer program. But at least we know, it's out there!

Applications will open in 2012. For more information, click here.

Now this is what I call, thinking outside of the box: London 2012 edition!

Olympics photo courtesy