Insights Blog

Cedarville Insights provides answers to your pressing questions about Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, as well as college undergraduate and graduate programs, theological and philosophical questions, and general purpose information.

Shortage of Clergy Coming?

Man standing in front of small group study We are living in challenging times. We have endured two years of a global pandemic, which has led to millions of deaths worldwide. We have experienced political and financial uncertainty in our nation. We have witnessed increased violence in our largest cities and now watch in horror at the loss of innocent lives in Ukraine. The world needs the message of hope found only in the Gospel.

These challenging times provide opportunities for theologically trained, ministry-equipped individuals to make a difference in people's lives. Ministry leaders and pastors are desperately needed right now.

Unfortunately, it is also a time when, according to a recent Relevant article, there is a shortage of clergy coming. The article cites an October study from the Barna group that found that 38% of pastors were at least considering leaving full-time ministry. The concern is even higher for Millennial pastors; around 50 percent of them are considering quitting.

Posted in MDiv MTS - Ministry

What It Takes to Be an Engineer

Of all the college students who start out studying engineering, around 50% will change their major at some point during their college experience. It’s not for everyone. Engineering is a tough discipline and requires a specific skill set and personality.

So, what does it take to become an engineer?

Posted in Engineering and Computer Science

Pharmacist Shortage as Role Increases

Pharmacist assisting a customer with a question about and over-the-counter product The recent COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the increasing role of today's pharmacists. No longer simply counting pills behind the counter, pharmacists are on the frontlines counseling patients and evaluating medication plans. With these increasing roles has come a greater demand for pharmacists, leading to a shortage of pharmacists across the country. According to a recent report from Fox News, 80% of independent pharmacies report having trouble filling positions. To combat this problem, pharmacies are offering huge bonuses — as much as $50,000 — to recruit new pharmacists.

The Cedarville University School of Pharmacy is equipping students through pharmacy excellence and Christlike compassion to meet this increasing demand. Students learn from and are mentored by professors who are highly credentialed, experienced, and godly pharmacists.

If you want a rewarding career with ample job opportunities where you can make a real difference in people’s lives, consider pharmacy. And consider a Doctor of Pharmacy from Cedarville University.

Posted in PharmD

Adversarial Thinking for Cybersecurity

The need for better cybersecurity is becoming more evident every day. One way cyber professionals are protecting our online information is by using adversarial thinking. Adversarial thinking requires understanding the technological capabilities of potential h ackers and being able to anticipate where, when, and how they might attack.

In a lecture titled “Introduction to Adversarial Thinking for Cybersecurity" as part of a Foundations of Computer Security Course, Cedarville University’s Dr. Seth Hamman explains adversarial thinking, why it is important for cybersecurity, and how to improve adversarial thinking skills.

Posted in MBA

Pharmacist's Helping Treat Diabetes

A recent online Drug Topics article – Diabetes Mortality Has Increased, But Pharmacists Can Help – underscores the increasing role of today’s pharmacists. No longer stuck behind the counter dispensing medications, today’s pharmacists are coaches, interventionists, and patient advocates, helping address some of the greatest health challenges facing our nation.

The article explains how pharmacists are uniquely positioned to screen patients for pre-diabetes and diabetes and helping them with HbA1C levels, lifestyle changes, medication, and more. Most patients see their pharmacists regularly – 35 times per year on average, according to the author -- while they may only see their doctor twice a year.

Posted in PharmD

Athletic Training – General Medical Conditions

Athletic trainers may not need to diagnosis or treat general medical conditions, but there is a chance they may encounter these conditions in their patients and should be prepared to recognize them.

Posted in Athletic Training

5 Tips to Avoid Burnout as a Christian Pharmacist

By Jeff Bates, Pharm.D.

I’m a workaholic. I recently played golf, and it took me three holes to stop feeling guilty about being out on the golf course on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. But I need time away from work to avoid becoming burned out, just like you do. For me, though, the key to avoiding burn out is maintaining a healthy, godly perspective of my work.

I'd like to share 5 tips that I have used to help avoid burnout as a Christian pharmacist.

Posted in PharmD

MBA Grads Earning $5K More This Year

Man standing in front of business meeting A recent Wall Street Journal article reported that this year’s Master of Business Administration graduates are experiencing $5,000 higher salaries than last year. According to the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, the median salary for 2021 MBA graduates has risen to $155,000. And 99% of graduates seeking employment received an offer. Now is a great time to start your MBA!

Posted in MBA

When Missions Align: Cedarville and GMHC

Cedarville University is equipping healthcare professionals who bring outstanding skill and compassionate care into their practice for Kingdom impact. This focus finds a partner in the Global Missions Health Conference (GMHC), which more than 100 Cedarville students attend annually. The conference inspires and informs Cedarville students about God's missional work around the world and the myriad of opportunities to use a healthcare profession as a platform for Gospel ministry.

Posted in PharmD

How Should Christian Nurses Respond to COVID Burnout?

by Scott Long, MS, RN, AGACNP-BC, CCRN

Nurse caring for a child in hospital Critical care is a job that I have felt called to since day one of nursing school and have since expanded my skills to an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner in the Intensive Care Unit. I have felt blessed and honored to be a person whom God has given an ability to provide comfort to patients and/or families. This is a stressful job that can be rewarding but also leave you walking out of work crying alone or in a co-worker’s arm. The COVID-19 pandemic has added even more to stress, anxiety, and even burnout, but that is where we need a strong support system of people. We can confide in others but, ultimately, we can get so tied up with our professional occupation and keeping up on the most up-to-date information that we lose time with God. If there is anything we need to do more than ever is to spend time in God’s Word and prayer to provide us with spiritual and mental strength through life’s storms personally and professionally.

Over the last 18 months, we have watched COVID-19 grow from what at first was distant, unless you lived in China, where it all started. This virus spread increased in size and its impact became evidently clear as it deprived hospitals of critical care beds in certain areas to even have the U.S. Navy deploy the hospital ships to Los Angeles and New York City as well as Samaritan’s Purse deploying a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to set up field hospitals in Central Park and in Italy to allow an opportunity to expand the access of critical care capabilities. Now we see the Delta variant stretching healthcare, hospitals at capacity with not just COVID but in general higher acuity patients. It feels we are continuing in disaster response status. As Christian health workers, what should be our perspective and response at this time and how can we help reduce burnout among nurses?

Posted in MSN