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Q & A: What it takes to work on the front lines of patient care

Paula Miller talks about the challenges and rewards of being a nurse There to get you settled when you arrive, and there to discharge you when you leave, nurses are an integral part of quality care in the field of medicine. We interviewed Paula Miller, director of quality at Bartow Regional Medical Center, about what it…
Healthcare workers in demand

A look at local opportunities from the ground up As baby boomers age, there will be more job opportunities in healthcare in Central Florida. Nurses likely will continue to be in demand, and local schools are offering the training needed. “Students seek our Nursing Program because they know it will give them more than just…
College Wellness 101

Making better choices for campus life now and the career ahead College can be an exciting time as most students are starting adulthood, but it’s also a time where many start out on the wrong foot. We’ve all heard of the “Freshman 15,” the weight gain that is common during freshman year, but it’s just…

Editor’s Dose: A thank-you letter to nurses

FROM MID-FEBRUARY to about mid-April, my family was at the doctor’s office a lot. The late-spreading flu season (although none of us in our household ever actually caught the flu — thank goodness) must have carried with it many other viruses, because we’ve certainly experienced our fair share. In fact, a few nurses on staff…
Healthy Skin: May is Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month

“C’MON, DOC. What’s a little sunburn?” is a question I frequently hear from the public. The answer is, if you’re lucky, that’s all it is. But a little sunburn is one of the easiest skin cancer risk factors to avoid. If left untreated, skin cancer, or melanoma, can progress to the point that it’s disfiguring…
Cautions for two of your favorite summer activities

SPRING IS THE TIME OF YEAR in Florida when temperatures begin to warm and the weather is perfect outside. With the sun shining and a gentle breeze blowing, this beautiful weather also marks the beginning of swimming season for Polk’s residents. Swimming and boating are two of the most popular summer activities for people living…