CNAs (Certified Nursing Assistants/Aides) perform vital support functions in hospitals and other health care settings by acting in a front line patient care role. CNAs work under the supervision of registered nurses and physicians, and work intimately with patients to ensure their quality of life and health are maintained to the best possible standard. Daily duties of a CNA include basic and emergency care, keeping the registered nurses informed of a patient’s status, ensuring the ward is kept clean and tidy, and relaying patient wishes to registered nurses and physicians. As a CNA, not only can you work in a hospital setting, but also in community care, group homes, assisted living facilities, and many more environments. Indeed, because of the many places CNAs can work, they are in high demand, and demand is expected to grow.

Joining this growth industry is much easier than becoming a registered nurse. To become a CNA you generally just need to have a high school diploma or GDE (although some states may have additional requirements), and do a course that runs between 6 to 12 weeks. You don’t need a college degree, which is great because it allows you to get into the workforce earlier and avoid a hefty student loan debt. To enter a CNA course you will have to undergo a criminal record check, and in some states a drug check.

CNA courses are usually held either in a health care facility or at community college, and are typically taught by a registered nurse. Topics that will be covered include basic anatomy and physiology, to the more practical aspects of the daily role of a CNA, including building patient rapport, maintaining hygeine standards, and safe manual handling practices.

Courses usually involve between 200 and 230 hours of coursework. To put that in context, that’s about 5-6 weeks of a regular full-time job. In addition to this, you’ll need to do another 75 hours of internship (2 weeks full time). Many graduates say that the internship is the most important part of the training, as it allows them to get a feel for the job while having close oversight to ensure they get things right. Courses are often flexible, and even may be online, but internships are less flexible because of the requirement to attend shifts at a health care facility.

At the end of the course, you will need to undertake a written exam and a practical assessment. The specifics of these assessments will vary depending on what state you’re in.

If you don’t mind having to stay with your employer for a period after training (you may even consider the stability a boon), your best option may be completing your training with a health care facility. These facilities will often either train you as a CNA themselves, or will pay for your training with a third party. Of course, the expectation is that you will stay on as an employee for a contractually agreed period of time after your training. If you leave your job prior to that date you may be liable to pay back the cost of your training, so always read the fine print about how long you may be required to stay with an employer who trains you.

If you’d prefer not to be restricted to one employer once you’ve graduated, CNA courses at community college can cost up to $1,300 including examination fees (although some cost much less). The American Red Cross also runs a highly regarded CNA course. Some universities offer CNA courses, but these can cost up to twice as much. However, you can be guaranteed that you are getting first-rate training for your money. If money is an issue, keep in mind that there may be grants available to help low income earners access training.

In any case, to make sure your course is recognized check out the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.

If your mental image of military surplus items primarily consists of punks and goths wearing black army cargo pants and combat boots, then you’re missing out on a wide variety of useful items available at military surplus stores.

To begin with, it’s not only the alternative crowd that can benefit from the surplus clothing options available (although women will have a harder time finding something they like). The staple winter pea coat is a Navy classic, many causal mens jackets are derived from the M-65 military jacket, and bomber jackets, well, you get the idea. While many men will pick up replicas of these items from department stores, checking out an actual military surplus store will likely result in finding what you’re after, but in a cheaper and more sturdy version. Military surplus stores are also a great source of inexpensive and durable casual basics such as sweatpants, t-shirts, and hats, and for reliable cold weather gear such as parkas.

Another realm in which military surplus stores have a multitude of useful everyday items is in bags and packs. Given the vagaries of the equipment that military outfits need to carry with them, there is a bewildering array of different bags and packs to suit pretty much anyone’s needs. From small map bags (great as a waterproof messenger bag) and messenger bags, to laptop bags, backpacks and duffle bags, there is a military surplus bag for every occasion.

Outdoors enthusiasts are also well served by military surplus items. Sure, these items tend not to be the most ultralight and cutting edge designs, but they will take a serious beating and remain dependable. Sleeping bags for all seasons are a particular strength of the military surplus range, but there are many more to choose from. Simple basics such as compasses, knives and canteens can be relied upon because they’ve been field tested by thousands of troops. Fancier items such as water filters, collapsible water buckets, cooking sets, and even portable toilets can be found at military surplus stores cheaper than at outdoor supply stores. Beyond that, many military surplus stores also cater to people more interested in extreme outdoors activities, stocking items such as crampons, signalling lights, and entrenching tools which can be hard to find in many outdoor supply stores.

On a more serious note, military surplus items have long been in demand from people interested in emergency preparedness. If you’re worried about a Hurricane Katrina type of event, items from a military surplus store such as solar multiband radios, MREs (“Meals Ready to Eat”), and many of the outdoors items listed above will help make any transient disaster less difficult to endure. For those worried about longer term or permanent disruption, items like gas masks and chemical suits, rope, webbing, and canned seeds should be on your shopping list. Many military surplus stores will stock emergency preparedness kits, so even if you’re not sure what you’ll need in a time of crisis, you can be sure that you’ll at least have the basics.

Unsurprisingly, firearm owners are well served by military surplus stores. Some will stock firearms and ammunition, but even those that don’t will stock items such as targets for practice, slings and holsters, cleaning kits, and ammo boxes.

Finally, military surplus stores can be a fantastic source for affordable health-care items. Aside from the obvious first aid kits, a wide range of products are available from military surplus stores, from simple items such as sterile gloves and splints, all the way through to surgical gowns, respirators, and full medical instrument and supply chests.

In this short article we have barely been able to scratch the surface of what’s available at military surplus stores. Regardless of your lifestyle or interests, you really are doing yourself a disservice if you don’t check out the variety of military surplus items available at least once.

Despite increases in fuel prices, SUVs are still a popular choice for buyers looking for greater safety, more space for passengers and luggage, and the potential to explore the great outdoors. When choosing an SUV there are many variables to consider, and the ones that are most important for you may not be important to another buyer. Some buyers will be interested primarily in practicalities such as price and fuel efficiency, while others may be willing to pay a little more or sacrifice some on-road qualities for a more off-road capable ride. So the first thing you will need to do as a prospective buyer is to honestly appraise what you’ll be using the SUV for. If it’s just for around town, or for taking the kids to school, your needs will be different from someone who needs to tow a boat on the weekend, or who wants to get off the beaten track.

Keeping this in mind, there are some clear winners in the 2012 line-up.

The obvious first mention is the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, which won top honours from Motor Trend when compared to a field of contenders including the
BMW X3, Ford Explorer, and Jeep Wrangler. Beating out the Wrangler in particular was controversial, with motorists who prefer more intense off-roading preferring the Jeep to the Evoque. Reviewers however did note that while the Evoque isn’t quite as suited to tougher off-roading as the Jeep, it was surprisingly capable off-road. They also they lauded its fuel efficiency, style, and the high quality of the interior fitments.

In response to Motor Trend’s choice, some have complained about the engine options for the Evoque (a 4 cylinder turbo) and the price. Of course there was also the eternal bickering that SUVs are not true off-road vehicles (Motor Trend itself refers to the Evoque as being a “lifted hot hatch”). If you are after more off-road ability, while still retaining city and highway practicality, check out the Dodge Durango,preferentially the v6 model. The Durango has aggressive styling and shares a significant amount of drivetrain and chassis components with the Jeep Grand Cherokee. An extra boon to the Durango is that it will comfortably seat seven adults. If on-road practicality comes a distant second to off-road ability, check out the aforementioned Jeep Wrangler, which comes with body on frame construction and a low range gearbox.

If your budget doesn’t stretch to the models mentioned above, check out the Kia Sportage or Chevy Equinox, which have both been singled out for praise as value for money. For those more interested in luxury and with the wallet to support them, the Infiniti QX and Mercedes-Benz GL are superior models.

And finally, for your own sake – avoid the Ford Explorer. The explorer has garnered criticism on nearly every front, in particular for having disappointing power and handling. Indeed, the best thing about the Explorer is is the brakes, which is appropriate as you’ll be wanting to stop and get out of this glorified minivan as soon as possible.