I've been working as a Nurse Tech for the PCU for over a month now. And I must say that my impressions thusfar have been favorable, both of the hospital as well as the floor. Yet, before I go any further, I want to tell you something very important I have realized these last few weeks:
Working as a tech is an invaluable foundation for your nursing career!! I highly advise all nursing students to take on a part time job as a tech or aide!!
Make no mistake, tech work isn't easy. It's sweaty and gritty and filthy and exhausting. I often spend 10-12 hours a day on my feet (Which was quite an adjustment for me; I had to buy inserts for some new shoes just to keep from having muscle pain. I've lost a few pounds from the walking). But I feel like it is fundamentally important to nursing care. I feel like, if I can do this part, I can do anything.
And honestly, if you aren't prepared to do the "worst parts" of the job, how can you be expected to do a good job at the easier parts?
The thing I love most about my work is the people I get to talk to. Of my few gifts, I feel that reading people and ministering to their emotional hurt is the most important and relevant for my daily life. Sometimes healthcare workers forget to look at a patient holistically. While I am caring for the body, I also place great value on caring for the mind and spirit. It is SO easy to write people off because of their behavior. It's easy to forget that people are human beings, not just diseases. Every time I go in a room, I take time to hear the person's story (because everyone likes to talk about their health). I feel it is making me not only stronger, but kinder.
But beyond direct patient experience, this job has been good for learning more how the hospital works. I am sent from place to place on various errands, and am finding out where things are located and how to get things done. The nurses often pull me into a room to watch procedures, so I'm gaining extra "class time" of a sort. And, lastly, I am making connections that will prove valuable for my future preceptorships and job interviews.
The only real downside is that I wake up early and am often tired at the end of the day. But I'm a somewhat soft person, so I can't complain too much if my body hurts simply because I'm out of shape.
School starts in the middle of August, so I'll keep you updated on how this job works out for me during the new semester ^_^
Senin, 31 Juli 2006
Nursing Jobs - Insider Tips On Choosing the Best Employer
The Author: Scott Knutson is an entrepreneur and writer.
Nurses are in high demand and that demand has created an excellent opportunity for those in the health care field. It's not only a chance for better wages than ever before; it's also an opportunity to choose your benefits. That means that you'll look more closely at the individual companies and what they can offer. So what benefits can you expect as a nurse? Take a look at some options you'll find from the various nursing agencies and health care facilities.
Favorable working conditions and hours - While there's no doubt that more nurses and other health care professionals are constantly in demand, many companies and facilities are offering nurses and technicians time off as an incentive to work for them. These companies do whatever it takes to keep working hours to a reasonable level, including hiring temporary workers from other companies. This means that there's less demand to work overtime, leaving even nurses time for themselves and their families. The goal is two fold. Not only do these companies want to attract and retain quality employees, they also realize that nurses and others health care professionals are more likely to be at the top of their game when they're handling reasonable working hours with adequate backup staffing.
The tangibles - Not only are nurses demanding higher wages than ever before, they're also being offered other benefits that haven't been necessarily associated with professionals in this industry in the past. Most are small incentives that carry little importance to some people, but may become big issues. Direct deposit is one example. Seem like a minor point? Maybe, until you're getting your paycheck on Thursday night, are too tired after working overnight to make the trip to the bank Friday and wind up with a check that still hasn't been cashed the following week.
Part-time, temporary and situational jobs - There are companies out there that offer placement for nurses to meet situational requirements. You may not want the responsibility of a full-time position in a hospital, but want to work only a few weeks at a time. You have plenty of options. Choose travel nursing and spend a few days on the road each month, or a few months out at a time. Pick up part-time work or temporary positions. You have plenty of options without working full time and there are companies that do nothing but placements for people like you. Be careful to choose a reputable company and be wary of signing a long-term contract that limits your work with other companies, but this could be a viable option.
Education - There are some real options available if you want a career in nursing or want to advance your education to make yourself more attractive on the marketplace. Take a year off to get some additional training or take a night class. You can choose online courses or pick up classes at your community college or university. You have plenty of options if you want to advance your career with education.
Pay - Most nurses will tell you they choose their field because of the good they can do other people, but there's no doubt that the money is attractive. And pay for nurses in all walks of the health care industry have never been better.
Nurses are in high demand and that demand has created an excellent opportunity for those in the health care field. It's not only a chance for better wages than ever before; it's also an opportunity to choose your benefits. That means that you'll look more closely at the individual companies and what they can offer. So what benefits can you expect as a nurse? Take a look at some options you'll find from the various nursing agencies and health care facilities.
Favorable working conditions and hours - While there's no doubt that more nurses and other health care professionals are constantly in demand, many companies and facilities are offering nurses and technicians time off as an incentive to work for them. These companies do whatever it takes to keep working hours to a reasonable level, including hiring temporary workers from other companies. This means that there's less demand to work overtime, leaving even nurses time for themselves and their families. The goal is two fold. Not only do these companies want to attract and retain quality employees, they also realize that nurses and others health care professionals are more likely to be at the top of their game when they're handling reasonable working hours with adequate backup staffing.
The tangibles - Not only are nurses demanding higher wages than ever before, they're also being offered other benefits that haven't been necessarily associated with professionals in this industry in the past. Most are small incentives that carry little importance to some people, but may become big issues. Direct deposit is one example. Seem like a minor point? Maybe, until you're getting your paycheck on Thursday night, are too tired after working overnight to make the trip to the bank Friday and wind up with a check that still hasn't been cashed the following week.
Part-time, temporary and situational jobs - There are companies out there that offer placement for nurses to meet situational requirements. You may not want the responsibility of a full-time position in a hospital, but want to work only a few weeks at a time. You have plenty of options. Choose travel nursing and spend a few days on the road each month, or a few months out at a time. Pick up part-time work or temporary positions. You have plenty of options without working full time and there are companies that do nothing but placements for people like you. Be careful to choose a reputable company and be wary of signing a long-term contract that limits your work with other companies, but this could be a viable option.
Education - There are some real options available if you want a career in nursing or want to advance your education to make yourself more attractive on the marketplace. Take a year off to get some additional training or take a night class. You can choose online courses or pick up classes at your community college or university. You have plenty of options if you want to advance your career with education.
Pay - Most nurses will tell you they choose their field because of the good they can do other people, but there's no doubt that the money is attractive. And pay for nurses in all walks of the health care industry have never been better.
Minggu, 30 Juli 2006
Preparing for the Future
Pictured: June SchulteAs the mother of five adult children, I have many reasons to support the National Nurse Act of 2006. Now that they have moved on from home, I am concerned that they have access to good, affordable health care. My reasons arise as questions: Will my children have a way to get their health related questions answered? Will my child with diabetes know enough about self care? Will our country ever get a national health focus that encompasses the needs of growing families?
My sister is a nurse, so I know nurses give a lot to their profession. When I served as a hospital chaplain intern, I quickly saw how vital our nurses are. They are on the front lines of care and most people trust their nurses to assist their care and to answer important questions about their care. When one patient with diabetes I was following complained of leg pain following surgery, it was a nurse who discovered the infection.
How will we cope with the evident nursing shortage that is looming? What if there is a national health emergency? How can we encourage nursing vocations? I am soon to become a grandmother; what does the future of health care in this country look like?
Isn't it about time that we take action for today and prepare for the future through the National Nurse Act, so that nursing in America can have a central focus? I say YES, and what took us so long?! Thank-you, nurses!!
~ June M. Schulte, Jericho, Vermont
Sabtu, 29 Juli 2006
Top Ten Travel Nursing "Hot Spots"
Janet Fikany works with HealthCare Staffing Network. If you want to find a specific job as a traveling nurse just click on the links below the pictures at the top of this page.The great thing about being a traveling nurse boils down to one key component – it’s about the travel! For those of us who love moving around and seeing the world, travel nursing is the profession of our dreams. There are many travel destinations available, based on weather, activities, cost of living, and salary. Therefore, I have gathered a list of my “Top Ten” destinations that nurses choose, based on the number of travelers who inquire about each location every month. Are you a travel RN scouting a new assignment? Then I’d like to suggest the following ten “Hot Spots”:
HAWAII – It’s no shock that Hawaii generates over 500 travel nursing inquiries per month. The wide range of outdoor activities from snow-capped mountains to snow-white sandy beaches elevates Hawaii to one of those meccas where you can build a snowman or a sand castle all in one day. Nurses tell me that you’ll discover virtually every type of outdoor activity imaginable—hiking trails that wind through erupting volcanoes, secret beaches, and lush green ranchlands. Many travelers also hunt, mountain bike, go rafting, and golf on some of the world’s most extravagant courses.
ALASKA – Travel nurses are intrigued by the possibilities of Alaska’s rugged mystery. Alaska is a huge wilderness with beautiful scenery, and travel nursing assignments offer plenty of time to see and do everything you want, whether in winter’s darkness under northern lights, or the glorious spring and summer where it’s light most of the time. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy Alaska for its’ wildlife, spectacular natural landscape, and fishing expeditions where the fish really are as big as the stories about which they’re told. Countless day cruises and sightseeing expeditions abound, as well as opportunities to hike, kayak, canoe, ski… Need we say more?
MONTANA – Whether photographer, adventurer, or both, Montana is truly a state that beckons with open arms. River trips, fishing and camping, history, snowy mountain ranges, and waterfalls are what you’ll encounter, along with plenty of open space to explore. Assignments in Montana appeal to those travel nurses who just need some time to break away from their city grind to enjoy marching to the beat of an entirely different drummer. The Big Sky Country boasts some of America’s most famous mountains, canyons, river valleys, forests, grassy plains, badlands, and caverns, and many travelers find it just irresistible enough to keep coming back.
MAINE – Maine’s splendor has inspired artists like Georgia O’Keefe and three generations of the Wyeth family, since the mid-nineteenth century. Travel nurses can’t resist at least one adventure in this charming getaway. Whether you embark on outdoor adventures like skiing and snowmobiling, or if you prefer the cozy ambience of antiquing through charming villages or just strolling or riding horseback on miles of sandy beaches in the smell of salt air, Maine is legendary and offers some wonderful travel nursing experiences. Its’ unique culture is outdoorsy and quaint, and of course you get to enjoy lobster as the locals do—fresh from the ocean!
CALIFORNIA – Warm weather and world-famous beaches make California a favorite choice for traveling nurses. Nine-hundred miles of coastline gives nurses in all locations the chance to spend many hours near the waves; and for nature lovers, California is home to many wildlife parks, remote wilderness areas, and safe-havens for endangered animals. If you’re an excitement junkie, you can scout out a wide selection of theme parks; and no matter what your taste in music, concerts abound in every type of venue. Historic sites and museums invite, as do five-star restaurants and clubs in which to see and be seen. The shopping is unparalleled, whether it’s trendy Melrose Place, La Jolla, or the strand in Venice Beach; and of course it’s home to Hollywood, and, yes, movie stars. Whether northern, southern, or coastal locations, traveling nurses return to California time and again.
WASHINGTON – The Evergreen State boasts the gorgeous Pacific Ocean, the Cascade Mountains, desert experiences, rain forests, towering volcanoes, glaciers, and lush wine country. Washington State rates high on the list of many nurse travelers. Must-sees are the Space Needle and Coulee Dam. The culture here is incredibly diverse; sophisticated, outdoorsy, and loaded with resorts, history, parks, museums, and botanical gardens. Whether touring downtown Seattle for cozy antique and book stores, exploring ancient Indian grounds, or hiking and biking mountains or trails, Washington holds a strong allure for many nurse travelers.
SOUTH CAROLINA – Endless adventure, excitement, fun and exploration represent why South Carolina is always a favorite destination for travel nurses. America’s oldest landscaped gardens frame mansions rife with historical heritage, in addition to pristine beaches and legendary marshy wetlands. For all you golfers, with over 330 golf courses, there’s always a new place to swing your clubs. But what fascinates many traveling nurses is the rich heritage in which South Carolina has paved the roads of culture, art, and folklore in our past. You can visit several historical areas and discovery centers of American history, including the American Revolution and the Civil War.
COLORADO – World-class winter skiing and summer music festivals in the mountains are just two reasons that nurses love traveling to Colorado. Boasting four spectacular seasons, Colorado is where travel nurses get to explore the state’s 18 million acres of state and national parks, forests, and monuments for biking, hiking, fishing, mountain climbing, and kayaking, to name a few. Colorado has many cultural treasures, including ancient Native American sites and dinosaur fossil exhibits, historic ghost towns, and even award-winning vineyards in Grand Junction. And for those who enjoy city life, amid all this natural beauty lie wonderful metropolitan areas like Denver and Boulder, full of shopping, performing arts, and professional sports.
TENNESSEE – From energetic nights of blues on Beale Street, to gorgeous rolling acres of Tennessee Walker horse country, to peaceful Smoky Mountain sunsets, Tennessee is a vacation that offers many world-renowned attractions. Nurse travelers who visit Tennessee will find that they’re within a day’s drive of 75-percent of the U.S. population via quality interstates and highways. Attractions in Tennessee include the Jack Daniels’ distillery, Elvis’s Graceland, the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, and lots of southern hospitality. And don’t forget the crown jewel of the southern Appalachians, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
ARIZONA – If you adore the outdoors, then the Grand Canyon State might just be for you. The nurses who go there just rave about Arizona’s landscape which takes in tall mountain ranges, swift rivers, grasslands, sand dunes, and cactus forests all set against a beautiful sky that glows pink in the sunset. The traveler nurses who enjoy history will find plenty of it here, including Old West reformations, Native American nations, and Spanish-influenced areas all in one state. Arizona is also home to the nation’s greatest golf courses, resorts, spas, cabins, and ranches.
As you can see, limitless possibilities exist for those nurses who want travel, fun, and adventure to be part of their daily lives. If you’re a nurse who travels and it's time for you to move on to a new location, try one of these top travel nursing destinations and see what new experiences lie ahead.
Jumat, 28 Juli 2006
Travel Nursing - The Best Of Both Worlds. Find out how travel nursing can help your career and your life today.
Because of severe shortages of nurses across the country, travel nursing has become "big business" If you're one of the nurses not familiar with travel nursing you owe it to yourself, and your bank account to investigate further.
Family Keeping You At Home?
Many nurses with children have the idea that travel nursing is off limits. Not necessarily true. There are advantages of travel nursing that can benefit you as well as your children. For example, as a travel nurse many recruiting companies will provide you with free housing. This provides you a place for your family without all the hassles of finding it on your own and moving your household items.
Another benefit to the children is the fact they have the chance to see other parts of the country and a variety of lifestyles. It's almost like vacationing while you're working. You and your family get to see the places you've always dreamed about visiting... yet you're still earning a regular salary.
You can also choose travel nursing and work within areas close to home. You'll be working in familiar areas, keeping the family in one location and earning more. That's right most travel nursing pay scales are anywhere from ten to fifteen percent higher than the pay of a regular staff nurse.
Pick and Choose
Another advantage of travel nursing is you'll get to choose the area you work as well as the type of nursing. If you're feeling a bit stagnant in your career, travel nursing is a great way to pursue other specialty areas of nursing without being locked in as a staff nurse. You'll get to try whatever you choose without being stuck if you find you don't care for that particular nursing specialty.
Most travel nursing companies assign you a recruiter. Your recruiter will work to find out exactly what you're looking for and find it for you. This includes salary, type of nursing, and geographical location. You can write your own ticket to wherever and however you choose to work.
Increase Your Skills
Travel nursing offers you the opportunity to increase your knowledge base. By choosing to work in a variety of settings and nursing areas, you'll build a long list of experiences that will make you in high demand. Travel nursing skills gives you unlimited opportunities and puts you in great demand. Investigate today for your future.
Family Keeping You At Home?
Many nurses with children have the idea that travel nursing is off limits. Not necessarily true. There are advantages of travel nursing that can benefit you as well as your children. For example, as a travel nurse many recruiting companies will provide you with free housing. This provides you a place for your family without all the hassles of finding it on your own and moving your household items.
Another benefit to the children is the fact they have the chance to see other parts of the country and a variety of lifestyles. It's almost like vacationing while you're working. You and your family get to see the places you've always dreamed about visiting... yet you're still earning a regular salary.
You can also choose travel nursing and work within areas close to home. You'll be working in familiar areas, keeping the family in one location and earning more. That's right most travel nursing pay scales are anywhere from ten to fifteen percent higher than the pay of a regular staff nurse.
Pick and Choose
Another advantage of travel nursing is you'll get to choose the area you work as well as the type of nursing. If you're feeling a bit stagnant in your career, travel nursing is a great way to pursue other specialty areas of nursing without being locked in as a staff nurse. You'll get to try whatever you choose without being stuck if you find you don't care for that particular nursing specialty.
Most travel nursing companies assign you a recruiter. Your recruiter will work to find out exactly what you're looking for and find it for you. This includes salary, type of nursing, and geographical location. You can write your own ticket to wherever and however you choose to work.
Increase Your Skills
Travel nursing offers you the opportunity to increase your knowledge base. By choosing to work in a variety of settings and nursing areas, you'll build a long list of experiences that will make you in high demand. Travel nursing skills gives you unlimited opportunities and puts you in great demand. Investigate today for your future.
Promote Health Education Through A National Nurse
Pictured: Donna JaggerAs a women's health nurse for over 25 years working in Labor and Delivery, teaching childbirth classes and helping Moms learn how to breastfeed their babies, I am sure that the office of a National Nurse would be a fantastic way to promote health education with our present and next generation!
As a Lactation Consultant, I know we have lots of work to do to influence our culture and see that breastfeeding should be
the normal behavior for mothers and babies. When we support the breastfeeding dyad we not only help to reduce the risk of middle ear and respiratory infections, allergies, childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes, but we also lessen the risks for mom to develop breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer and osteoporosis.
But most significant is that we reduce health care costs and create a healthier society! The miracles of childbirth and the natural system of infant nutrition (AKA breastfeeding) should be well explored with health care providers on a regular basis, as part of our educational and health care system.
An adoption of the National Nurse Act would certainly afford nurses like myself to engage in the education of preventive health practices for all Americans! The vast knowledge of the nursing profession, can offer a world of good to every American, strengthening the core of America, the family.
Donna Jagger , RNC IBCLC CCE
Lactation Consultant
Community Medical Center
New Jersey
Kamis, 27 Juli 2006
How to Maximize Your Potential as a Traveling Nurse
The Author:Janet Fikany is a "Senior Placements Specialist" for HealthCare Staffing Network.
It never fails to surprise me how many nurses express their frustration with the world of travel employment. Most often, they wonder why they aren’t finding the assignments they want and deserve; they wonder why placements can take so long; and they wonder why their agencies aren’t doing more to help. It’s understandable nurses feel like this. Finding the right opportunity can be a timely, stressful, or ultimately unfulfilling process, especially if their placement agency isn’t putting in a lot of time on their behalf. However, what many nurses fail to realize is that to be successful as a travel nurse, there’s some work that should be done on their part, too! As with any job, you will get out what you put in -- your potential is directly related to your involvement in the placement process. In light of all this, here are some tips to help guide nurses in being proactive during a job search to help find the best possible assignment each time.
BE PREPARED
First, always be prepared to demonstrate your qualifications at any time. Nursing placement agencies will need copies of your current Nursing, Operating-Room Technician, or Allied Health Professional licenses. You will need to show experience in your specialized field. And you will need to verify all of your certification, education, and experience. Candidates who are not prepared to verify their qualifications often end up with the less-desired positions.
BE AWARE
Second, know what types of facilities are most desirable to you, and make your placement agency aware of this too. For instance, do you like teaching or non-teaching facilities? Large metro facilities or small rural hospitals? High or low volume staffs? If you make clear your preferences from the beginning, you are more likely to find placement in the type of work environment that best suits you.
BE TIME CONSCIOUS
Third, do your best to have a grasp of the time frame you are planning to remain. Although the industry standard for nursing assignments is a thirteen week period, many assignments may be shorter or longer. Know when you plan to leave, or if you’d like to apply for one or more extensions. When you give your placement agency this type of information, you give them the time they need to find you a position that fits your future and moving schedule.
BE REALISTIC
Fourth, understand the concept of pay rates in the travel nursing business. In many cases, the higher paying positions offer more money for a reason. Before you accept a big pay position, make an attempt to understand why it is big pay. For some nurses, a pay increase is not worth working at hospitals with low nurse-to-patient ratios, extended emergency hours or extremely needy facilities. If you do this research before you accept an available position, you are less likely to step into something unexpected.
BE INFORMED
Fifth and finally, read the entire contents of your contract. Although, in the past, many travel nurses often worked around verbal agreements, contracts are absolutely necessary. Read over yours carefully. Contact your recruiter with any questions or concerns before signing. If anything is not specific enough, ask for changes. The more specific you are on contract details, the more control you have over your job assignment.
If you supply all this information, you will give your placement agency the tools to be able to effectively go to work for you and be there every step of the way. They will have everything they need to ensure you the best travel nursing experience possible. Most importantly, you will be satisfied to know that your extra commitment to your job future did indeed help you to maximize your potential as a successful travel nurse.
It never fails to surprise me how many nurses express their frustration with the world of travel employment. Most often, they wonder why they aren’t finding the assignments they want and deserve; they wonder why placements can take so long; and they wonder why their agencies aren’t doing more to help. It’s understandable nurses feel like this. Finding the right opportunity can be a timely, stressful, or ultimately unfulfilling process, especially if their placement agency isn’t putting in a lot of time on their behalf. However, what many nurses fail to realize is that to be successful as a travel nurse, there’s some work that should be done on their part, too! As with any job, you will get out what you put in -- your potential is directly related to your involvement in the placement process. In light of all this, here are some tips to help guide nurses in being proactive during a job search to help find the best possible assignment each time.
BE PREPARED
First, always be prepared to demonstrate your qualifications at any time. Nursing placement agencies will need copies of your current Nursing, Operating-Room Technician, or Allied Health Professional licenses. You will need to show experience in your specialized field. And you will need to verify all of your certification, education, and experience. Candidates who are not prepared to verify their qualifications often end up with the less-desired positions.
BE AWARE
Second, know what types of facilities are most desirable to you, and make your placement agency aware of this too. For instance, do you like teaching or non-teaching facilities? Large metro facilities or small rural hospitals? High or low volume staffs? If you make clear your preferences from the beginning, you are more likely to find placement in the type of work environment that best suits you.
BE TIME CONSCIOUS
Third, do your best to have a grasp of the time frame you are planning to remain. Although the industry standard for nursing assignments is a thirteen week period, many assignments may be shorter or longer. Know when you plan to leave, or if you’d like to apply for one or more extensions. When you give your placement agency this type of information, you give them the time they need to find you a position that fits your future and moving schedule.
BE REALISTIC
Fourth, understand the concept of pay rates in the travel nursing business. In many cases, the higher paying positions offer more money for a reason. Before you accept a big pay position, make an attempt to understand why it is big pay. For some nurses, a pay increase is not worth working at hospitals with low nurse-to-patient ratios, extended emergency hours or extremely needy facilities. If you do this research before you accept an available position, you are less likely to step into something unexpected.
BE INFORMED
Fifth and finally, read the entire contents of your contract. Although, in the past, many travel nurses often worked around verbal agreements, contracts are absolutely necessary. Read over yours carefully. Contact your recruiter with any questions or concerns before signing. If anything is not specific enough, ask for changes. The more specific you are on contract details, the more control you have over your job assignment.
If you supply all this information, you will give your placement agency the tools to be able to effectively go to work for you and be there every step of the way. They will have everything they need to ensure you the best travel nursing experience possible. Most importantly, you will be satisfied to know that your extra commitment to your job future did indeed help you to maximize your potential as a successful travel nurse.
Rabu, 26 Juli 2006
Not Happy With Your Nursing Career Or Need To Start One? Travel Nurses Are In Great Demand!
When I was in nursing school the thought of graduating and and starting work as a nurse was exciting. I watched my parents (small business owners) spend years working days and nights to make a living for our family. They worked 60-70 hours every week. The thought of working three days a week (12 hour shifts) and getting full time benefits (especially vacation!) seemed almost too good to be true.
After working at the same hospital for a half dozen years another job opportunity came along that also sounded too good to be true: Travel Nursing! I spoke to several travel nurses and even more travel nurse agencies. I learned that most travel agencies would assist with moving expenses and help find a suitable lodging for me and my family. I also learned that many of them provided free dental, health and life insurance, 401K's, licensing and NCLEX reimbursements and more pay than I was then making
As someone who loves adventure, I decided the 8 to 13 week travel nursing assignments would allow me to discover the United States and still earn a living. It has.
After working at the same hospital for a half dozen years another job opportunity came along that also sounded too good to be true: Travel Nursing! I spoke to several travel nurses and even more travel nurse agencies. I learned that most travel agencies would assist with moving expenses and help find a suitable lodging for me and my family. I also learned that many of them provided free dental, health and life insurance, 401K's, licensing and NCLEX reimbursements and more pay than I was then making
As someone who loves adventure, I decided the 8 to 13 week travel nursing assignments would allow me to discover the United States and still earn a living. It has.
In Full Support of A National Nurse
Pictured: Elaine WilliamsI am in full support of HR 4903 because the American public deserves to know and understand what we do. People desperately need education in health maintenance and even more importantly in understanding their own disease processes, medications and care. I have practiced nursing for the past 32 years and worriedly watch as more and more physicians have decided that "patient teaching" is no longer part of their job, in part, due to time constraints and low or no reimbursement for their time. Nursing has always found the time to "patient teach" but it is becoming increasingly more difficult due to poor staffing and the nursing shortage.
We need an organized approach and good leadership. We need the recognition to attract fresh new recruits to this wonderful and rewarding profession. We need a voice...one loud, educated, credible voice.
Elaine S. Williams RN, BSN, CGRN
Pennsylvania
Selasa, 25 Juli 2006
Promote Visibility-Buy A Button or A Bumper Sticker
Support the National Nurse Campaign! Visit Cafe Press and purchase a button or bumper sticker to let others know about HR 4903. Thanks to those of you who have already done so.
Senin, 24 Juli 2006
Words of Support From Oregonian
Pictured: Mac PrichardOne of the key jobs of the proposed Office of the National Nurse is providing practical, preventative health care information through presentations at schools, libraries and other public places. By educating the public about the consequences of alcohol and drug use and the importance of making healthy life choices, America's 2.9 million nurses in the country could make an important difference in reducing drug and alcohol abuse.
Mac Prichard is communications director for Reclaiming Futures, a national initiative of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that helps teenagers caught in the cycle of drugs, alcohol and crime.
Jumat, 21 Juli 2006
Spreading the News About HR 4903 in New York
Pictured: Edie BrousToday's newsletter asked supporters of HR 4903 to submit a statement along with a picture to the National Nurse Team. Here is one we received from New York.
The National Nurse Act is a critical step in addressing the public health crisis of an escalating nursing shortage. Utilization of nursing expertise at the federal level will allow for appropriate and effective resource allocation. Health care safety must be a priority of our government.
Edie Brous, RN, BSN, MS, MPH, JD
Kamis, 20 Juli 2006
Maryland Supporter Speaks Out
Pictured: Dr. Joachim VossI am a strong supporter of the proposed National Nurse Office. Nurses are the largest workforce amongst all health professions and our demands grow weekly with new discoveries in technology, research and clinical practice. For example, recent health policy legislation adds tremendous pressure to fulfill the mandatory nurse ratios. Therefore, we need more support from Congress and the House to educate a substantial workforce to staff our hospitals and nursing homes adequately. In order to change the current situation, nurses need to educate and represent their members of Congress, the House. Funding is needed to develop "Principles of Sustainability for the Nursing Profession" to lead us successfully through the 21st century.
Focused health campaigns could guide training efforts and health programs to improve the poor health of many Americans. Prevention and health education in kindergartens, schools, universities, churches and community centers have the potential to reverse a national obesity epidemic that will decrease the live expectancy of Americans by 2020. Nurses can and will have a major impact and the National Nurses Office would provide a platform to plan, design, and execute these tasks.
In September 2006, I will become assistant professor at the University of Washington in the Department of Biobehavioral Nursing & Health Systems.
Joachim Voss, PhD, RN
NIH Research Fellow
Maryland
Selasa, 18 Juli 2006
California Nurse In Support of HR 4903
Pictured-Susan Perry, Nurse Educator"This is an idea I've been mulling around in my own head for a long time. As a patient and nurse advocate and educator, I've long proposed that education as the only way to bring about responsible change in our profession. As a nursing educator, I also see firsthand the desperate need for patient education prior to hospitalization. The National Nurse bill creates a program that could effectively accomplish this and I'm behind you all the way.
The more people know before they come into the hospital, the more likely they are to have a successful hospitalization. Many patients also share their hospital experiences with others.
Help us have an educated health care consumer by supporting HR 4903."
Respectfully,
Susan Perry RN BSN PHN LNC
Coronado, CA
Minggu, 16 Juli 2006
Supporters Speak Out About HR 4903
Pictured-Dennis Smith courtesy of ABC TelevisionNurses and the public are very interested in hearing what supporters are saying about the National Nurse Act of 2006. They would like to hear from you as well, so please email your thoughts, accompanied with a picture to The National Nurse Team.
Dennis Smith, Chairman and CEO of First Responders Financial, LLC sent in a statement today. The First Responders Financial Services Company was created exclusively for the nation's first responders, including nurses.
Chairman Smith is the author of 14 books, including Report From Ground Zero. His latest book is San Francisco is Burning The Untold Story of the 1906 Earthquake and Fires. Chairman Smith is a reknown New York firefighter who presented testimony in front of the US Commission on Terrorism (9/11). For more information about Smith's work, visit www.dennissmith.com
"We very much need someone of recognized public standing to inspire young people to join the thinning ranks of American nurses, and there is no better person to do that than a National Nurse, supported by the Office of The National Nurse. This is not the creation of another bureaucracy, but a very needed voice in our government and our communities. Just one question sums it all up: Who are the fundamental communicators in the American medical community? The answer is obvious, and now our nurses need a national platform."
-Dennis Smith
Jumat, 14 Juli 2006
St. Joseph Hospital (Orange, Calif) sponsors conference on Pain Solutions:evidence based approaches...
St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, California is hosting a conference on October 22, 2006 entitled
"Pain Solutions: evidence based approaches to the care of persons experiencing pain". 8 contact hours will be available for this conference; registrations must be be received by September 22, 2006. Please use this registration form. For more information, please contact Cheri Cancelliere at Cheri.Cancelliere@stjoe.org or call 714 771-8000, x7345.
Rabu, 12 Juli 2006
Thank You Representative Greg Walden (OR)
Pictured: Congressman Greg Walden (OR)The National Nurse Team welcomes the addition of Congressman Greg Walden as a cosponsor to HR 4903. Congressman Walden co-chairs the 182 member House Rural Health Care Coalition and is committed to advancing rural priorities in health care policy.
Here is Congressman Walden's statement about the National Nurse Act of 2006:
"I'm proud to strongly support the establishment of an Office of the National Nurse. Nurses are a vital link in health care delivery systems throughout the nation. They are skilled, compassionate and accessible to patients, which makes them uniquely positioned to serve as patient caregivers and as patient educators. Education efforts led by nurses could dramatically reduce the prevalence of chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity, saving both lives and health care costs. An Office of the National Nurse could help bolster the coordination of such efforts, increasing their efficiency and efficacy, while also raising public awareness of the tremendous asset nurses are to health care delivery and encouraging people to consider entering the nursing profession."
Senin, 10 Juli 2006
Show me the Evidence by Catherine Spader, RN
Infusion therapy nurse Eun Kim, RN, BS, C, CRNI (right), shares with Mary Sampson, RN (center) and Judi Murphy, RN, BSN, PNAP III, a new method to clean central line dressing sites that has reduced infection rates by 50%. The method employs chlorhexidine gluconate in place of Betadine Solution. Photo by Winslow MartinAn article in Nursing Spectrum Feb 27, 2006 carries the same title as our blog "show me the Evidence". It describes some real life examples of implementation of EBP by med/surg nurses at Winchester Hospital in Winchester, Mass.
Julie's July Picks from the Nursing Literature
Some of these recent nursing articles really caught my eye. SJH/CHOC staff can obtain these online or request them from Burlew Medical Library. Nurses who are not at SJH/CHOC should check with their own medical libraries.
1. 2009172202 NLM Unique Identifier: 16620259. Ballen LE. Fulcher AJ.
Nurses and doulas: complementary roles to provide optimal maternity care.
JOGNN: Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing. 2006
Mar-Apr; 35(2): 304-11. (34 ref)
Burlew carries this journal
2. 2009165829. Tracy S. Dufault M. Kogut S. Martin V. Rossi S. Willey-Temkin
Translating best practices in nondrug postoperative pain management.
Nursing Research. 2006 Mar-Apr; 55(2S): Supplement: S57-67. (61 ref)
Burlew carries this journal
3. 2009139524 NLM Unique Identifier: 16601511.
Newhouse RP.
Evidence and the executive. Selecting measures for safety and quality
improvement initiatives.
Journal of Nursing Administration. 2006 Mar; 36(3): 109-13. (27 ref)
Burlew carries this journal
4.2009157318 NLM Unique Identifier: 16553707.
Elliott R. McKinley S. Aitken L.
Adoption of a sedation scoring system and sedation guideline in an
intensive care unit.
Journal of Advanced Nursing. 2006 Apr; 54(2): 208-16. (23 ref)
Burlew has some years.
Jumat, 07 Juli 2006
Create Change Website: the changing environment of digitial scholarhship
The Create Change Website, a resource on scholarly communication issues, has been updated to provide faculty with current information, perspectives, and tools that enable them to play an active role in advancing scholarly information exchange in the networked environment. The new Create Change Website is based on the idea that the ways faculty share and use academic research results are changing rapidly and irreversibly. The Website includes sections on digital scholarship and new modes of communication, examples of change in diverse fields, and ways to stay informed about new developments.
The National Nurse Team invites you to email teri@nationalnurse.info to receive this free poster. You will need an Adobe Reader program on your computer to open and print this.Also, please consider stopping by the National Nurse Cafe Press website to purchase a button, bear, mousepad, poster, bumper sticker or mug. There is a very small profit margin for the National Nurse Campaign but these extra dollars help with long distance phone calls, the email newsletter data base, and printing and mailing costs. Your small contributions are helping to keep this effort strong.
HR 4903 is a 100% grassroots effort which means the campaign is not being run by "professional" lobbyists or organizations. Even our book keeper, accountant, and webmasters are volunteers. The team hired a lawyer and formed the National Nursing Network Organization; this is now a non-profit coorporation and not tax-exempt, so contributions are not tax-deductible. The rationale for doing this is to keep the campaign "clean" and also to assure that the team may lobby legally.
Teri, Alisa, and Terri cannot thank you enough for all of the supportive emails, comments, and suggestions. Nursing is TEAMWORK, and when we work together, we deliver the best care to assure positive outcomes for our patients; in this case it will be the American public!
Minggu, 02 Juli 2006
George Mason University Students Defend HR 4903
Pictured left to right or counter clockwise are Professor Brenda Sheingold,Carla Stemmer, Dane Sehnert, Suzanne Arbogast and Alexis McPolandThe National Nurse Team received this report from Leesburg, Virgina. On Thursday, June 29, 2006, the George Mason University Master of Science in Nursing class, Organization of Nursing and Health Care Delivery Systems, gave mock Congressional testimony regarding the nursing shortage with actions to remedy it. One group representing patients, spoke in strong support of The National Nurse Act of 2006 and encouraged all in attendance to contact their representatives and spread the word to their colleagues. In attendance were senior leaders of the Inova Health System, Karen Drenkard, David Goldberg and Patrick Walters. This healthcare system is located in Northern Virginia. Members of the class were surprised that they had not heard of HR 4903 and vowed to promote it using handouts provided by the National Nurse Team and this web page. The class is taught by Brenda Sheingold, RN, MSOD who uses many innovative teaching techniques when instructing her students.