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How to Stay Motivated When Taking Online Classes

Bryan University offers 100% online classes for all of our programs. Does studying at home and learning everything from the comfort of your own space sound great to you? Do you want to expand your career opportunities with career-focused learning? Bryan University has many options for students looking to earn a diploma or degree. 

Today’s blog from Bryan U explores how to stay motivated when taking online classes.

Related Post: How Online Classes Improve Your Well-Being

Set Short-Term Goals

Earning your degree and starting your new career are long-term goals. Yet reaching these goals takes a lot of short-term successes. Set short-term goals for yourself as you take online classes. Short-term achievements can range from reading 10 pages in a textbook, getting the kids to be early tonight, or eating a healthy meal. Eventually, your short-term goals add up to long-term success. 

Create a New Routine

Humans are creatures of habit. Create a new routine as you start your educational journey with online classes. Set aside some time just for studying, reading, and attending classes on a daily or weekly basis. You may have to get up a little earlier, stay up a bit later, or sacrifice some fun time for studying. As you create your routine, set a schedule and stick to it as much as possible until it becomes second nature.

Talk to People

One drawback of online classes is that you’re isolated from your instructors and peers. Even so, there are ways to stay in touch. Email, virtual chat, videoconferencing, and phone calls let you bounce ideas off of your peers. Discuss class concepts, ideas for studying, or just talk to someone going through the same thing as you. 

Reward Yourself

Remember those short-term goals we talked about earlier? Track them as you note your progress. Then comes the fun part: reward yourself for reaching each milestone in your goals. Pass one class, buy that new pair of jeans you’ve been eyeing. Finish your paper, indulge in your favorite food for dinner the next day. Positive experiences with online classes help you recognize the rewards of what you’re doing in a tangible way that your brain remembers time and again with each reward for hard work.

Related Post: How Our Online Classes Prepare You for a Career-Focused Environment

Online Classes at Bryan University

Bryan University offers affordable, convenient, 100% online classes. We provide career-focused learning to jumpstart your journey to a rewarding professional life. Call Bryan University toll-free at 1-855-862-0755 or enroll now to find out more!

2020-10-20 00:00:00

Healthy Habits to Observe When Adding Online Classes to an Already Busy Schedule

Bryan University gives you an opportunity to take career-focused classes in the best possible setting: Your living room! Our 100% online classes offer convenience and cost-effectiveness while preparing you for job opportunities in the future. Today’s blog from Bryan University discusses healthy habits to observe when adding online classes to your already busy schedule.

Related Post: Building healthy lifestyle habits 

Exercise When You’re Sitting Down

There are plenty of ways to get physical activity when you’re sitting down. Stretch your arms straight over your head and clasp your hands together. Hold that position for a few seconds. Then lean back a bit to stretch your spine. Push off the floor with your feet until your toes are the only things touching the floor. Twist your chest to the right or left while keeping your lower back stationary to stretch your spine and torso. Perform all of these stretches slowly for best results when sitting down for your online classes.

Eat Healthier

Plan for healthier meals, but also have healthy snacks nearby as you study. Increase your intake of vegetables for better vitamins and minerals. Choose healthy carbs that aren’t based on sugar or high fructose syrup. Consider nuts, oats, and whole grains for healthy carbs that deliver energy when you need it the most. Eat until you’re just feeling full rather than overdoing it with a big meal. Eating too much can lead to less brainpower when you’re trying to focus on your online classes!

Drink More Water

Have some purified or bottled water on hand while you study. Water helps regulate many processes in your body. Drinking enough of it is one of the most important healthy habits you can develop. Just one sip every 15 minutes delivers plenty of water for your body to process nutrients, regulate your metabolism, and keep your brain healthy.

Wash and Sanitize Your Hands and Other Surfaces

Personal hygiene is vital, especially in the time of COVID-19 but also during cold and flu season. Wash and sanitize your hands, especially if you use a computer that other people in your household use. Clean and sanitize regularly handled surfaces in your home on a daily basis, such as light switches, doorknobs, faucets, keyboards, tabletops, refrigerator handles, and more.

Sleep Well

The average person should get around eight hours of sleep per night. Your body naturally rejuvenates every night when you sleep. Your mind filters the previous day’s events with dreams, your immune system kicks into overdrive, and your brain goes into healing mode. The more restful sleep you can get, the better. Be sure to make more time for it in your schedule.

Related Post: Benefits of Online Classes From Bryan University

Online Classes at Bryan University

Bryan University’s 100% online classes are affordable, convenient, and let you learn in a safe and comfortable environment. We offer career-focused learning that puts you in the driver’s seat for your professional future. Call Bryan University toll-free at 1-855-862-0755 or enroll now to explore how you can elevate your career with online classes.

2020-10-27 00:00:00

Tools You Need for Daily Duties as a Medical Assistant

Are you interested in one of the most important jobs in a doctor’s office or clinic? Medical assistants keep the office running smoothly while helping patients feel at ease during their visit. Bryan University talks about the tools you need to perform daily duties as a medical assistant.

Related Post: What Does a Medical Assistant Do? Our Medical Assistant Program Expert Weighs In 

Your Sharp and Talented Mind

The best tool in your arsenal is a sharp and talented mind to go along with a cheerful attitude. Patients often see a medical assistant first when they come in the door. You can easily calm a nervous situation with a warm smile, a winning attitude, and a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

You’ll also need your skills to communicate effectively with other staff in the office, including nurses and doctors.

Computer

Your computer is where you organize everything, including appointments, emails, and patient paperwork. Typing skills, knowing how to navigate various computer programs, and troubleshooting problems are vital skills you’ll need to work at your desk as a medical assistant. As telehealth becomes more prominent in the medical field, you may need to know how to use videoconferencing software and equipment.

Phone

Medical assistants, rather than nurses, are the first line of customer service when answering the phone at a medical office or clinic. You’ll use the phone when communicating about appointments, discussing patient information, or relaying calls to other staffers.

Pens, Forms, and Clipboards

New patients need to fill out forms when they first come in the door. Have these tools organized and ready so you know right where they are as soon as someone comes in. Hand them the form they need on a clipboard with an attached pen. Make sure you sanitize them before handing them to another patient. 

Thermometers, Hand Sanitizer, and Face Coverings

The COVID-19 pandemic taught the world that sanitary conditions are necessary for public health. Many healthcare providers take people’s temperature as they step into the facility, ask people to sanitize their hands, and they might wear masks when they come in. Organize these tools when you first start your shift, and keep an eye on the supplies of sanitizer and masks from time to time as you work through patient after patient.

Related Post: The Benefits of an Online Medical Assistant Program

Medical Assistant Classes at Bryan University

Bryan University creates a convenient, affordable learning dynamic with our 100% online programs, including a Medical Assistant Diploma and medical assistant Associate in Applied Science degree. Call Bryan University toll-free at 1-855-862-0755 or enroll now to discover the possibilities.

2020-11-10 00:00:00

Program Highlights of Medical Billing and Coding

Medical billing and coding specialists play a vital role in allied health care. They analyze patient medical records to gather and share information between patients, healthcare providers, and insurance companies. Today’s blog from Bryan University looks at program highlights of our Medical Billing and Coding Associate in Applied Science degree.

Related Post: What You Can Do With a Medical Billing and Coding Degree 

Medical Insurance & Billing Procedures

This course introduces you to various types of forms used by the health insurance industry. You’ll learn how to fill out insurance claims properly for accuracy, and you’ll discover the terminology used by all insurance carriers. 

Medical Billing & Coding IV

Bryan University takes you through a series of four medical billing and coding courses, and the most advanced one covers the evaluation and management of services, anatomical coding, and procedural coding. The purpose of this course is to cover the codes required to bill insurance companies for services. You’ll become very familiar with classes of codes, how much standard services should cost, and using a 10-key pad.

Electronic Medical Records Management

Medical records management puts your administrative skills to the test. You’ll immerse yourself in a simulated medical setting using electronic healthcare records and a variety of software. You’ll learn about pre-registering patients, collecting overdue accounts, information technology, and HIPAA compliance. 

Externship

Your medical billing and coding externship puts you in a real-world setting under the supervision of local healthcare professionals. On-the-job training can lead to your first position as a medical billing and coding specialist.

Related Post: Your Healthcare Career – Medical Billing and Coding 

Medical Billing and Coding at Bryan University

Bryan University offers affordable, convenient, 100% online classes for our medical billing and coding program. Call Bryan University toll-free at 1-855-862-0755 or enroll now to find out more!

2020-11-17 00:00:00

Program Highlights of Medical Assistant Courses

Medical assistants are vital frontline workers in allied health. They’re responsible for checking in patients at clinics, doctors’ offices, and other healthcare offices. Today’s blog from Bryan University explains some highlights and interesting classes you’ll take as part of the medical assistant program in our School of Allied Health.

Related Post: What Does a Medical Assistant Do? Our Medical Assistant Program Expert Weighs In

Anatomy and Physiology Courses

Bryan University offers two anatomy and physiology courses for medical assisting students. The first course delves into the body as a whole and various systems, such as the nervous, circulatory, muscular, and skeletal. The second course covers nutrition, metabolism, fluids, electrolytes, and the acid-base system, as well as the respiratory, urinary, reproductive, immune, and digestive systems. Along the way, you’ll learn how various influences can affect the human body. 

Medical Law and Ethics

Medical assistants must practice medical ethics while following rules and regulations. You’ll learn the details about patient confidentiality, your legal responsibilities in the allied health field, and your liability as a worker. 

Pharmacology

Our pharmacology course discusses how to administer medications and account for drug interactions. You’ll learn about common medications, what they’re used for, and how they affect various systems of the body.

Clinical

The clinical course is where you learn hands-on skills that medical assistants use on a regular basis. You’ll discover how to take vital signs, prep patients for medical procedures, take patients’ measurements, and document patients’ medical histories. Accuracy is of utmost importance for this course.

Externship

An externship is where you put your knowledge to the test. You’ll utilize essential skills learned in the classroom as you work in a healthcare setting, such as a physician’s office or clinic. Successful completion of an externship gives you practice experience in the field ahead of starting your career.

Related Post: Reasons Why You Should Pursue a Medical Assistant Degree

Medical Assistant Diploma From Bryan University

Bryan University 100% online classes prepare you to jumpstart your career as a medical assistant. Call Bryan University toll-free at 1-855-862-0755 or enroll now to discover more.

2020-11-24 00:00:00

What Are the Best Ways to Study for Online Classes?

Bryan University offers 100% online classes, making it easy to choose affordable and convenient courses that fit into your busy schedule. Remember that learning online should be just as important as attending class in person. To that end, Bryan U has some tips on the best ways to study for online classes.

Related Post: Benefits of Online Classes From Bryan University 

Read Textbooks Digitally and Take Notes in the Same Way

You’ll use your laptop or tablet to read your textbooks. These high-tech tools allow you to highlight key concepts easily, study for tests, search for terms, and review the text as you complete assignments. If you have questions about anything in the text, you’ll be able to show your instructor what you’re talking about effortlessly. With online access, you can log in from any device so long as you have a stable internet connection.

Find a Quiet Spot

You might be tempted to head to your local coffee shop to study. That’s fine, but it might be full of distractions. You’ll need earbuds or headphones to tune out the hustle and bustle of a public place. 

Instead of trying to tune out a loud environment, we recommend finding a quiet spot. Consider waiting until after the kids are in bed and everyone’s settled before tackling a reading assignment. Play your favorite music in the background, on a low volume setting of course, to help you enjoy the learning experience of online classes even more.

Schedule in Some Time

Routines are hard to come by, especially when things change quickly both in your own life and in the world as a whole. Schedule in some regular time every week to devote to your studies for online classes. If you can’t find a few hours in a day, consider 30-minute chunks. Those 30-minute periods add up over time, and you’ll still learn some valuable things in your chosen area of study.

Figure Out How You Learn Best

You might not learn in the same way now as you did in high school. Figure out how you learn the best. You might find you’re a morning person who retains knowledge better after you awake from a good night’s sleep. Perhaps your brain needs a break from work or caring for the kids, which is why you learn better at night as everyone is winding down. Maybe you perform best when the kids are at school and you have quiet time in the middle of the day. You know yourself best. Figure out how you learn through online classes. The sooner you do this, the sooner you can develop a routine. 

Related Post: How Online Classes Improve Your Well-Being

Online Classes at Bryan University

Bryan University offers affordable, convenient, and 100% online classes. We provide career-focused learning that can elevate your career! Call Bryan University toll-free at 1-855-862-0755 or enroll now to find out more details.

2020-12-08 00:00:00

What Medical Assistants Are Doing in the Fight Against COVID-19

Medical assistants represent some of the most vital workers on the frontlines of healthcare. They are the ones that many people see as soon as they come into a clinic or doctor’s office. In today’s blog from Bryan University, we talk about what medical assistants are doing in the fight against COVID-19.  

Related Post: Why Medical Assistants Are the Most Important People in Allied Health

Regular Duties

Medical assistants perform many regular clinical and administrative duties at healthcare facilities. 

Every day, medical assistants may do the following:

Organizational Multitaskers

Medical assistants need to be organizational multitaskers during the pandemic. They’ll need to organize medical records for patients coming into the office. MAs must manage appointment schedules, help patients fill out medical history information online, and then assess patients when they come in. Medical assistants must organize relevant information for each patient quickly and accurately. Then the next patient comes in, and the process begins anew.

Expanded Duties

During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical assistants find themselves handling expanded duties. In general, medical assistants know a little about everything, so they can support doctors, nurses, and other clinicians. 

Because of extra precautions during the pandemic, medical assistants may perform other duties on a regular basis. 

Many states require everyone who enters a medical facility to have their temperatures taken or rapid testing performed. Medical assistants often take swabs of patients, measure their temperature, and make sure they are masked and that they sanitize their hands.

At the University of Wisconsin, demand is so high for clinicians that daycare services are swamped. Medical assistants support the teachers at the daycare by helping them with daily duties.

Emergency staffing protocols are being put into place. The University of Maryland Medical System has been hiring medical assistants to work in food services, guest services, and clerical areas.

Crisis situations with overloaded staffing require medically trained workers to assist with patient care, including bathing, transporting, feeding, shampooing, and performing minor housekeeping at home. The idea is to help patients with daily living activities when clinical staff must be called to other locations.

Medical assistants might find themselves monitoring medication, providing administrative assistance, and documenting assessments. These expanded duties are up to the individual clinics and doctor’s offices, as well as state law in the locale where you work.

Related Post: Tools You Need for Daily Duties as a Medical Assistant 

Become a Medical Assistant Via Bryan University

Bryan University offers 100% online classes for medical assisting. If you want to enter a vibrant field, a medical assistant diploma or associate of applied science degree provides a way to jumpstart your career in allied health. Call Bryan University toll-free at 1-855-862-0755 or enroll now to find out more!

2020-12-14 00:00:00

Why Online Classes Are More Important Than Ever During a Pandemic

Thousands of schools, colleges, and universities have adapted to offering online classes for their students because of the coronavirus pandemic. All of Bryan University’s courses are 100% online classes you can complete from the safety and comfort of your home. Today’s blog discusses why online classes are more important than ever during a pandemic like COVID-19.  

Related Post: Benefits of Online Classes From Bryan University

They Can Save Lives

Considering the rapid spread of COVID-19 in September, October, and November of 2020, online classes may save lives by preventing the spread of the disease. Yes, there are other factors that spread the coronavirus. But social distancing, although inconvenient, has been shown to save lives.

Online Classes Have Some Social Interaction

Face-to-face social interaction with peers represents one crucial element of traditional learning models. Learning from home disrupts the traditional paradigm by maintaining social distancing. Online classes can overcome that by offering various methods to communicate, such as email, texting, video chat, apps, and virtual chats. It’s not the same as seeing your instructor or classmates face-to-face, but technological improvements make it easier to mitigate communication issues.

Online Classes Offer Positive Experiences

In general, students and instructors find online classes to be a positive experience. In a survey of 1,000 professors and instructors across the country taken in August 2020, 49% agreed that online learning is an effective method for teaching. Another study conducted by Digital Promise showed that 59% of 1,000 students surveyed found they were mostly satisfied or somewhat satisfied with their online classes after they went completely online.

Related Post: How to Stay Motivated When Taking Online Classes

Online Classes at Bryan University

Bryan University offers the convenience of online classes in five-week intervals. Earn your diploma or degree on your terms from the comfort of your home while working around your busy schedule. Call Bryan University toll-free at 1-855-862-0755 or enroll now to find out more!

2020-12-28 00:00:00

How COVID-19 Continues to Change Allied Health Careers

The coronavirus pandemic continues to make headlines. Cases rose in October and November just as cold and flu season began. Healthcare systems, such as hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s offices, continue to feel the strain of the extra burden the pandemic is causing. Today’s blog from Bryan University explains how COVID-19 continues to change allied health careers.

Related Post: What Is Allied Health? Bryan University Explains

Higher Demand for Allied Health Workers

As cases spike, allied health workers are in high demand to meet the strain of more patients in clinics, doctor’s offices, and hospitals. Everyone from lab technicians and nurses to medical assistants and medical billing and coding specialists are needed to meet the surge of cases. 

Worker Safety

Yes, there is a fear of being exposed to the coronavirus among allied health workers. However, healthcare agencies take into account employee health at the office. Regular screenings and temperature checks are performed on a daily basis, both for allied health workers and patients entering healthcare facilities. Anyone with a temperature that’s too high can’t come in.

Telehealth

Telehealth and virtual visits continue to rise in popularity. Allied health agencies and organizations tout virtual appointments and consultations via smartphones and mobile devices that are readily available to patients.

Online interactions with a doctor or care team must comply with HIPAA privacy regulations. These include having a secure connection and keeping patient information safe from possible intrusions.

Changes in Basic Duties

Medical assistants are being called upon to expand their duties to include other tasks because of the surge in demand for clinical staff. Medical assistants have a wide range of duties, but they don’t typically handle childcare or food preparation. Because of the strain on the healthcare system, staffers need extra help at childcare centers because there are so many doctors and nurses working. Ordinary support staff, such as food preparation for home health agencies, don’t have time to perform basic duties. 

Focus on Mental Wellness

As you can imagine, the added strain on allied health means extra stress and anxiety for workers. Compassion fatigue, burnout, and depression are becoming more common among workers due to the labor shortage. Make sure you take time for yourself and relax when you can. The pandemic is stressful enough, and patients rely on compassionate workers to help them to heal faster.

Related Post: Choose One of Our Many Allied Health Programs

School of Allied Health at Bryan University

Bryan University offers classes for the medical field through our School of Allied Health. Interested in jumpstarting your career in this vibrant industry? Call Bryan University toll-free at 1-855-862-0755 or enroll now to find out more details.

2021-01-04 00:00:00

Personal Fitness Trainer: A Career That’s Good for the Brain & the Body

When you think about careers that are intellectually stimulating, or good for the brain, STEM fields likely come to mind first: scientists, doctors, engineers. But what about a personal fitness trainer? Probably not a career that would top your list, but The New York Times has published a series of articles in recent months that look at research showing how exercise promotes brain health.

From promoting the release of hormones that ease the symptoms of depression and anxiety to creating new brain cells in already developed adult brains, exercise has all kinds of positive impacts on the brain. Let’s take a closer look at a few of those studies.

Related Post: What Interesting Classes Do You Take as a Personal Trainer?

Sustained Aerobic Exercise Leads to New Brain Cells

While high intensity interval training and weight training have many health benefits, possibly including benefits related to brain health, a recent study by researchers in Finland found that they didn’t have much impact on the creation of new brain cells in already developed adult brains. However, lab rats who voluntarily jogged long distances each day for seven weeks had enormous brain cell growth.

The new brain cells that developed were neurons around the hippocampus, “a key area of the brain for learning and memory,” according to The New York Times. Of course, lab rats are not people, but researchers noted that the results could also have implications for human brain health as well.

For a personal fitness trainer working with clients who may have concerns about aging impacting their memory, having them add aerobics to their workouts could improve cognitive functions.

Related Post: The Benefits of Certification for Personal Trainers

Yoga Might Improve Memory for Older Adults

As the Baby Boomer generation retires and turns focus to their health and mental wellness, exercise will play a key role. An article was published in April in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease that studied the effects of yoga on middle-aged adults who were evaluated and found to have mild cognitive impairment, which can be a precursor to dementia.

The study participants were randomly divided into two groups: One group participated in well-established memory enhancement training (MET) while the other participated in yoga, practicing breathing exercises and meditation. Both groups spent the same amount of time each week on their activities and the study lasted a total of 12 weeks.

At the conclusion of the study, researchers found that both groups experienced significant improvement on memory and language tests. Researchers were surprised that the yoga group was not only able to equal the MET group in thinking improvement, but surpassed the MET group in other ways. The yoga group also showed improvement in their moods: “they scored lower on an assessment of potential depression than those in the brain-training group,” according to The New York Times.

The demand for personal trainers is growing, due in part to the active baby-boom generation wanting to prevent injuries and illness related to aging. Since yoga is a low-impact activity, it could be a great solution with significant brain benefits for older clients.

As a Personal Fitness Trainer, You’re Probably Producing Lots of “Miracle-Gro” for the Brain

Researchers have known for a while that exercise leads the body to produce more of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (B.D.N.F.), which is sometimes referred to as “Miracle-Gro” for the brain. B.D.N.F. helps brain cells grow and remain strong, and it strengthens connections in the brain – all of which help the brain work better.

Scientists wanted to better understand the connection between exercise and the production of this protein, so they studied the brain tissue of two groups of mice: one group that ran vigorously for several miles every day and another group that remained sedentary.

As expected, the exercising group of mice produced more BDNF than the sedentary mice. Scientists then looked at the gene that produces the protein and found that the gene in the sedentary mice was blocked from producing BDNF by inhibitors. These inhibitors didn’t work as well in the exercising mice because of a substance found that made the inhibitors ineffective. The substance found in the running mice was ketones, which is produced during exercise.

Related Post: 7 Things to Know About Becoming a Personal Fitness Trainer

Again, mice are not people, but the study still has implications for human brains. As a personal fitness trainer, you are likely exercising for at least an hour most days of the week, which is what scientists say it requires before the body will start producing ketones. You may not have realized it before, but your body and your brain are in great shape.

As a personal fitness trainer, it’s important to find ways to motivate every client; that can be a challenge for people who don’t see a need for much physical activity in their everyday lives. Making sure those people understand the importance of exercise for brain health and development could be exactly the thing you need to get them up and moving.

Contact Bryan University Today!

For more information about Bryan University graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed our programs, transferability of credits, and other important information, please visit our website.

2016-09-21 00:00:00