Those looking for nursing jobs in Arizona (http://azjobs.cancercenter.com) should see more positions available in the near future.

The U.S. Employment Index from eQuest increased from 101.81 to 102.03 during October, as a stronger-than-expected increase in job postings was somewhat offset by an increase in applicant traffic.

The healthcare industry experienced the largest increase in job postings over the month, while real estate reported the largest decrease. On a state-by-state basis, Idaho saw the largest rise in job postings, while California recorded the largest decline.

Industries that saw the largest increase in job postings:

1. Healthcare
2. Biotech
3. Retail
4. Consulting
5. Telecommunications
6. Energy
7. Pharmaceuticals
8. Computing
9. Environment
10. Advertising

Industries that reported the largest drop in job postings:

1. Real estate
2. Journalism
3. Distribution
4. Manufacturing
5. Construction
6. Tourism
7. Mining
8. Raw materials
9. Furniture
10. Paper

States that saw the largest increase in job postings:

1. Idaho
2. New Mexico
3. Arizona
4. District of Columbia
5. Virginia
6. Arkansas
7. Vermont
8. Iowa
9. New York
10. Washington

States that experienced the largest decrease in job postings:

1. California
2. South Carolina
3. Kentucky
4. Georgia
5. Florida
6. Michigan
7. Louisiana
8. Missouri
9. Mississippi
10. Alabama

As the American population continues to age, there will be a strong need for more qualified candidates to fill occupational therapy jobs Arizona (Click here) in the coming years.

Every day this year, and continuing for the next 19 years, it’s expected that 10,000 people will reach the age of 65. That means that the number of people enrolled in Medicare will increase from 46 million to 80 million by 2030.

According to a recent article from TodayinOT.com, this generation of seniors will be different than those before, mainly in the way they hope to remain active. Seniors today want to live longer, work longer, travel more.

This is great news for occupational therapists, who will become more in demand as these seniors aim to remain active. Many seniors will need some help as they age, especially those who look to live at home longer.

“AARP did a survey that showed more than 80 percent of this generation wants to stay in their home as long as possible,” Carolyn Sithong, OTR/L, MS, SCENm CAPS, owner of Home For Life Designs, said. “But most houses don’t accommodate long-term living. They have stairs, narrow doorways, and bathrooms that would not work with a walker or a wheelchair.

“Aging-in-place design will be the new trendy thing to do,” she continued. “It will save them money in the long run. OTs are in a great position to consult and advocate for the home dweller.”

Seniors also want to work longer, which means many workplaces will have to be modified to meet the needs of the elderly. And aside from working and living, seniors are doing their best to stay healthy longer.

“PTs and OTs who provide a targeted service such as an exercise class that is supervised and geared toward baby boomers can secure and increase their business,” Nitin Chhoda, PT, DPT, CSCS, co-author of “Marketing for Physical Therapy Clinics,” said. “Also, developing a separate website or newsletter to offer your clients that serves baby boomer needs would do very well. Boomers are out there looking for information to help them.”

Three groups are teaming up to open a new center that will support a number of positions, from radiology roles to RN jobs Arizona (Click here).

Abrazo Health Care, Imaging Advantage, and Arizona Medical Imaging are working together to open the Abrazo Center for Telemedicine and Innovation, a new radiology reading center in Paradise Valley Hospital.

The center will be open 24-hours per day, seven days per week. It will be staffed by local board certified radiologists and other staff who can communicate easily with physicians at Abrazo hospitals.

The center will feature:

• CT scans
• Ergonomic work stations
• Modern surroundings
• MRI
• Superior lighting
• Ultrasounds
• Video conferencing
• Voice recognition software

“The highly innovative Center will give our radiologists the opportunity to interpret diagnostic imaging tests utilizing world-class technology to provide quicker results to patients,” Dr. Mark Kestner, chief medical officer for Abrazo Health Care, said in a statement.

“The Center is truly unique not only to the Valley but across the country and will ultimately improve our ability to perform more advanced and complex imaging reads in a shorter amount of time,” he continued. “We anticipate a measurable impact on turnaround time, length of stay and most importantly, quality.”

Those looking for Arizona pharmacy jobs have a great place to prepare for their career right nearby.

With all of the competition in today’s workforce, it’s more important than ever before to obtain the proper education before embarking on your career. Attending college will prepare students to become pharmacists or researchers in hospitals or clinics.

The University of Arizona – one of the best schools for pharmacy students – is located right in Tucson, Ariz. The school offers a comprehensive pharmacy program that will help you get ready for your future career.

According to Education-Portal.com, the top 10 schools for pharmacy students include:

1. Ohio State University – Columbus, Ohio
2. Purdue University - West Lafayette, Ind.
3. University of Arizona – Tucson, Ariz.
4. University of California-San Francisco – San Francisco, Calif.
5. University of Illinois-Chicago – Chicago, Ill.
6. University of Iowa – Iowa City, Iowa
7. University of Kentucky - Lexington, Ky.
8. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor – Ann Arbor, Mich.
9. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Chapel Hill, N.C.
10. University of Southern California – Los Angeles, Calif.

Wondering what physical therapy jobs Arizona (http://rehabjob.abrazohealth.com) has to offer? Now is a great time to pursue a career in physical therapy, which will continue growing in the near future.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that both physical therapist aides and assistants will be among the 20 fastest-growing positions in the coming years. Employees in both of these jobs help patients gain a better quality of life through therapy.

The top 20 jobs, based on projected percentage of job growth through 2018 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, include:

1. Biomedical engineers - + 11,600 jobs
2. Network systems and data communications analysts – +155,800 jobs
3. Home health aides – +460,900 jobs
4. Personal and home care aides – +375,800 jobs
5. Financial examiners – +11,100 jobs
6. Medical scientists – +44,200 jobs
7. Physician assistants – +29,200 jobs
8. Skin care specialists – +14,700 jobs
9. Biochemists and biophysicists – +8,700 jobs
10. Athletic trainers – +6,000 jobs
11. Physical therapist aides – +16,700 jobs
12. Dental hygienists – +62,900 jobs
13. Veterinary technologists and technicians – +28,500 jobs
14. Dental assistants – +105,600 jobs
15. Computer software engineers, applications – +175,100 jobs
16. Medical assistants – +163,900 jobs
17. Physical therapist assistants – +21,200 jobs
18. Veterinarians – +19,700 jobs
19. Self-enrichment education teachers – +81,300 jobs
20. Compliance officers – +80,800 jobs

A new round of federal funding will support thousands of nursing jobs in Arizona. Visit http://azjobs.cancercenter.com to find current openings.

The Department of Health and Human Services recently awarded $71.3 million in grants to organizations throughout the nation in an effort to create more nursing education, training, and diversity programs.

The programs will increase nursing education at all levels and prepare faculty members to teach nursing students. The grants are being funded as part of the Affordable Care Act – the healthcare law passed by Congress last year.

Organizations that support nursing jobs Arizona (Click here) are receiving a total of $1.16 million:

• Arizona Board of Regents – $985,424 for a nurse faculty loan program and $45,834 for advanced education nursing traineeship programs.
• Arizona State University – $74,016 for advanced education nursing traineeship programs and $27,000 for a nurse faculty loan program.
• Northern Arizona University – $24,065 for advanced education nursing traineeship programs.

The nurse faculty loan program grants will help registered nurses complete their graduate degrees and become qualified to teach. Nurses who choose to teach will be eligible for partial loan forgiveness.

The advanced education nursing traineeship grants will fund training programs for registered nurses enrolled in advanced programs, including nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse-midwives, nurse anesthetists, nurse administrators, nurse educators, and public health nurses.

“These awards reflect the critical role of nurses in our healthcare system, and our ongoing commitment to attract and retain highly-skilled nurses in the profession,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

There are plenty of speech therapy jobs Arizona for those looking to advance to management positions, but you have to have the proper knowledge and experience first.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association created an Ad Hoc Committee on Business Practices for Speech-Language Pathologists in Health Care Settings to create a policy statement for therapists working in management or leadership positions within a healthcare organization.

The statement is meant to outline the knowledge and skills that organizational leaders and managers need to fulfill their roles as they pertain to the business practices that underly healthcare delivery.

“Speech-language pathologists often rise to management and leadership positions in their organizations, but may not have had access to opportunities for formal continuing education in the areas of management and leadership,” the committee notes.

“This document describes a continuum of knowledge and skill development for organizational managers and leaders in health care that is not typically acquired through graduate education in speech-language pathology, but acquired through on-the-job training, mentoring, and continuing professional education,” the committee continues. “Not all roles or elements listed in this document will be required in every management or leadership position.”

The seven roles performed by a healthcare manager or leader include:

• Leadership
• Performance improvement
• Compliance and professional practice
• Personnel management
• Advocacy
• Marketing
• Accounting and fiscal management

Click here to see the full document.

If you’re considering nursing jobs in Arizona (Click here) among your future career options, you may want to check out what it takes to become a registered nurse.

Registered nurses are the largest occupation within the healthcare industry, accounting for about 2.6 million jobs nationwide. That means there are – and will be – plenty of employment opportunities for registered nursing jobs Arizona. Visit http://nursingjob.abrazohealth.com to see some openings.

The two most common educational paths to becoming a nurse include earning an Associate Degree in Nursing or earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Each of these degree options have their own requirements and advantages, so it’s best to choose based on the type of career that you want to pursue after you graduate.

It’s also important to keep in mind that these programs will vary based on the school you decide to attend. Many schools offer programs that include internships, clinical work, and help getting your license, while others offer more basic options.

An associate’s degree in nursing will teach you how to diagnose and treat patients, including everything from performing diagnostic tests and recording medical histories to administering medications and developing treatment plans.

In order to enter the program, which takes about two years to complete, you must have a high school degree or equivalent. You can expect to take classes in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, nutrition, health assessment, and adult patient care.

Students who pursue a Bachelor’s degree in nursing will learn more in-depth ways of managing and treating patients. You must have a high school diploma or equivalent in order to enter this program, which takes about four years to complete.

Students typically take classes in a variety of more advanced subjects, including biochemistry, microbiology, pharmacology, pathophysiology, clinical nursing theory, childcare, maternal and pediatric care, surgical nursing, mental health nursing, and nursing ethics.

It’s important to consider your education options if you’re thinking about pursuing the speech therapy jobs Arizona (Click here) has to offer.

Speech therapists play an important role in helping people with speech and language disorders. This occupation can be very challenging at times, and requires plenty of preparation, but it’s equally as rewarding.

The first step to becoming a speech therapist is earning your bachelor’s degree. The second step is to attend graduate school and earn either a master’s degree, which is required to begin working as a speech therapist, or a doctoral degree.

According to Education-Portal.com, there are two main types of graduate degrees you can pursue, depending on the type of speech therapist job you want. These include:

• Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology – Through class work and clinical practice, students in this degree program will learn how to diagnose and treat communication and swallowing problems in both children and adults. Some typical class topics include: language disorders, voice disorders, swallowing disorders, stuttering, audiology practice, and clinical practice and procedures. Once you complete the program and earn your degree you will be able to take a state or national licensing examination, which is required before you can begin working.
• Doctor of Philosophy in Speech Pathology – This program is focused more on preparing students for a career in speech therapy research or as a college professor. Students usually work with a mentor to complete more advanced classes in language and speech science and they also may participate in clinical work or serve as a teaching assistant. Depending on the career they are aiming for, typical class topics might include: individual research in speech-language pathology, sensory processes, linguistics, audiology, special education, psychology, engineering, computer science, and statistics.

One company’s decision to open a new solar manufacturing plant will help to create Arizona state jobs.

Gov. Jan Brewer recently announced that Tower Automotive plans to build its solar component manufacturing plant in the Phoenix metro area, a move that will create up to 200 new jobs.

“This is a significant win for Arizona in that it advances our competitive position in the global market and further establishes Arizona’s foothold in the solar industry,” Brewer said. “My goal is to land the top solar manufacturers in the world; creating jobs that put Arizonans back to work and help Arizona families get back on their feet.”

Once Tower Automotive locates to Arizona, it will be eligible under the new Renewable Energy Tax Incentive program, which provides refundable tax credits and property tax reductions for manufacturers.

“Tower Automotive is excited to bring our technology and expertise to the Southwestern United States through the establishment of manufacturing operations in the metro Phoenix area,” Bill Pumphrey, President of the Americas for Tower Automotive, said.

“Through the support of our customer, Stirling Energy Systems, and the State of Arizona, both of which made this possible, we are confident that this is the start of exciting growth opportunities for our company, our colleagues and the communities we support,” he continued.

Tower Automotive is one of the largest independent global suppliers of automotive metal structural components and assemblies. The company is building the new plant in an effort to diversify its product line to manufacture parts for Stirling Energy Systems, which will be used to generate grid-quality solar electric power.

“We’re pleased that Tower Automotive, one of our full service supplier partners, will be joining us in Arizona with a state-of-the-art high tech facility to manufacture components for our SunCatcherTM technology,” Steve Cowman, CEO for Stirling Energy Systems, said.

“We commend Governor Brewer and congratulate the State of Arizona for their efforts in securing Tower Automotive’s location to Arizona,” he added.

Tower Automotive currently operates about 40 manufacturing and product development facilities in 13 countries throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia.