PROVIDENCE – Dozens of nurses and other caretakers could lose their jobs at nursing homes across Rhode Island – one of the state’s few growth industries – as funding is cut to close ballooning state budget deficits.
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Nursing Jobs
RI budget cuts jeopardizing many jobs in nursing homes (Worcester Telegram & Gazette)
Posted in Nursing, Nursing Jobs
Nurses Have a Voice and Should Not Go Silent
Posted in Featured, Nursing, Nursing Jobs, Travel Nursing, Travel Nursing
Nurses can’t find jobs either? What’s the truth behind this issue?
One thing that has happened in the past few months as 401Ks and other retirement funds have practically vanished, is that many nurses, who have not been actively employed for possibly even years, have returned to work.
With children in college, spouses losing jobs, and retirement funds evaporating, yes, many inactive or “retired” nurses have returned to the workforce. This will impact the nursing shortage to some extent, but will not solve it.
But, what else is really happening?
Nurses are being threatened and frightened into working mandatory overtime that states have regulated or outlawed. Nurses are being forced to take on nurse-to-patient ratios that are totally unsafe because administrators can hold their jobs over their heads. Working conditions and safe, quality, care are at risk!
Some states have passed nurse-to-patient ratio laws and have strong organized nursing unions enforcing them. But in far too many places, nurses have been afraid of such laws and hate the unions. Nurses will begin to see that hospital administrators, faced with huge reimbursement problems, are going to cut the nursing staff first and foremost because they have new found power to control the nurses.
Fearing the loss of jobs, benefits and retirement funds, nurses will buck up and work under the worst of circumstances once again. Out of a false sense loyalty to the patients they serve, nurses will martyr themselves and continue to try to provide the best care they can.
But what about the quality of patient care and safety issues, never mind putting their own license on the line because they are overworked and burned out? Then where does this loyalty to the patients they serve stand?!
This economic downturn is going to prove to be one of the biggest issues nurses have had to deal with in many years! It already is.
Nurses need to remain strong and stand up for the patients. There is data available to support the theories that quality of care diminishes, and people die when nurses are not supported.
Medicare, for one, has instituted many important reimbursement factors and continues to collect and analyze data regarding the quality of patient care. There are numerous “do not pay” rules that affect reimbursement for hospitals such as decubs, UTIs from catheters, and blood clots post op.
Medicare also maintains a database of hospital comparison based on specific criteria and outcomes which illustrate the quality of care (or lack of) provided in hospitals all across the U.S. This too is used by Medicare to determine reimbursement rates, and it is hoped that consumers will seek out this data and avoid these institutions when they have a choice in health care.
Nurses have the power to make a difference not only in the lives of the patients they individually care for, but also in the overall quality and safety in care they collectively provide. This power cannot be relinquished for fear of losing jobs in a bad economy. Nurses have a voice and cannot go silent!!
Institutions that value patients and continue to strive to provide quality care to patients continue to have nursing vacancies because there continues to be a shortage of nurses. Those institutions who don’t value quality patient care, probably don’t have many vacancies because they have cut staff to the bare bones and have a hiring freeze.
Nurses need to stand strong and work together to continue to demand better working conditions and not lose ground that has been hard fought to gain in the past 30 years by falling prey to those who value the dollar more than lives. There is a lot more to be lost than jobs.
By Kathy Quan RN BSN ©2009 by Ultimate Nurse.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Kathy is the owner/author of TheNursingSite.com and the author of four books including The Everything New Nurse Book.
What Nurses Won’t Learn in School
Posted in Nursing, Nursing Jobs
What Nurses Won’t Learn in School
Nursing is a lifelong learning process, and one of the things new nurses learn quickly is how much they did NOT learn in school. Graduating from an accredited nursing program and passing the NCLEX is just the beginning.
In clinicals, nursing students get only a small taste of what nursing is all about. They usually have one or two patients to care for and only for a part of a shift. They are frequently very sheltered so as to not get into trouble and cause an issue for their instructor who has many students to oversee.
Student nurses have little, if any, experience in the day to day activities and functions on the unit. Admitting and discharging patients is rare and therefore the associated paperwork with just these two activities can be overwhelming to a new nurse!
Ordering supplies and meds may be touched upon as needed for your patient, but the overall process has probably been shortcut by someone; either a staff member or your instructor. Signing for the narcotics may not be allowed by students even if the instructor co-signs and so nursing students may not even be aware of the process with controlled substances.
With only one or two patients to care for in a short duration, time management skills will never be effectively taught in nursing school. Prioritizing and learning how to schedule your day is something all new nurses struggle with. This then becomes one of the most intense points of contention with regular staff; how to learn to be good nurses without becoming a burden to the already over-stressed regular staff.
Student nurses would be well-served to spend some time just sitting and observing the flurry of activities on a unit, and if possible, shadowing a nurse for at least one whole day each rotation instead of being assigned to a patient. This would help to provide students with insight into how to plan out their day, make adjustments as events unfold and to regroup as necessary to stay on schedule.
Spending some time with other team members on the unit such as the unit secretary or clerk would be beneficial. Learning how supplies and medications get ordered and charged or how an order for a CAT scan get processed and scheduled can be very important. When you have some idea of the process, how long it can take, the number of people involved, etc, you will have a better appreciation for doing your part in a timely manner and being as accurate and complete as you can.
Learning about the day to day function of a unit will give you a broader understanding of the need to be organized, to know how to strategize, how to delegate effectively, and how to flex when the unexpected happens. Understanding how the unexpected can make a major impact on how your day goes will also help you to formulate the need to learn to be organized and use time management skills effectively.
You will have learned the basics of nursing in school; the anatomy and physiology, the microbiology of germs, the chemistry of medications and bodily functions, and many of the skills such as IVs, injections, catheters, tubes, wounds, etc.
As a new nurse, you will learn how to put all of this knowledge to work while learning how to function as a nurse. This part will take some time. You won’t master it all in a day or even a week. Give yourself a year! But keep plugging away at it and making progress. You too will become a good nurse.
By Kathy Quan RN BSN. Kathy is the author of The Everything New Nurse Book and the owner/author of TheNursingSite.com.
©2009 by UltimateNurse.com
If I Have a Criminal Record, Can I Become a Nurse?
Posted in Nursing, Nursing Jobs
If I Have a Criminal Record, Can I Become a Nurse?
Is it possible to become a nurse if you’ve been charged and/or convicted of a crime?
There are several important aspects to the answer.
It may be that you shoplifted a lipstick from the local drug store when you were thirteen. Were any charges filed? Or was it handled just between the store, your parents and you? If you were charged and the case was sealed because you were a juvenile, don’t make assumptions. Find out what’s on your record that can be found.
Have you been involved in a domestic dispute? Were any charges filed against you? What was the result? Were you perhaps arrested for being involved in a public rally or demonstration that got out of hand? Or do you have a record for a DUI or involvement with drugs?
First of all you must be honest about your experience. Before you apply to a nursing program, contact your state board of nursing to discuss your situation. They can advise you as to whether your situation will prevent you from becoming licensed or not and what steps you need to take.
Be prepared to answer honestly and to explain your unique situation. Have all police records, court documentation, etc. at hand to refer to and to send copies if requested. If you have served jail time, provided restitution or been involved in rehabilitation of any kind, you should have all of that information and documentation as well.
Nursing schools will have a question on the application or at some point during the admissions process. Again be prepared to discuss the situation openly and honestly. Have your documentation at hand and present copies if needed. Also provide the information your state board of nursing gave you.
Employers may ask about criminal activity as well and you will again need to be frank and honest about your situation and provide all necessary information.
In some cases, your situation may prevent you from becoming licensed as a nurse, but the state board may also be able to suggest other health career options to explore.
Not all situations will prevent you from becoming licensed. However, the one thing that will be a sure bet to prevent you from becoming a nurse is if you lie or try to cover up any criminal activity you have been involved in. No matter what the crime, if you lie about it, you will most likely never become a nurse.
Nurses are held to a very high standard. Patients entrust their lives to nurses and expect that they are honest, have integrity and are professional. Nurses deal with narcotics and are expected to maintain confidentiality.
Throughout your nursing career you will continue to be held to this standard. Your behavior off duty can be as important to your career as how you conduct yourself on the job. For instance, a DUI can not only cost you a lot of money in fines, legal fees and rehabilitation efforts, but it can cause you to have your license suspended or revoked.
By Kathy Quan RN BSN. Kathy is the author of The Everything New Nurse Book and is the author/owner of TheNursingSite.com.
© 2009 by UltimateNurse.com All Rights Reserved.
Is Nursing Really Recession-Proof?
Posted in Nursing, Nursing Jobs
Is Nursing Really Recession-Proof?
People will always get sick and need care, but will this make nursing a recession-proof career? The answer is as complex as the recession. Yes, people will always get sick and need care despite the economic status. Yes, the population is aging, more obese and, in general, demands better care.
But can people afford healthcare in a recession? With nearly 50 million Americans presently without any health insurance, it’s more likely they will opt to make the mortgage payment and not seek medical care unless it’s absolutely essential. So while this can mean a cutback in the number of patients being seen or cared for, it also means that those who are seeking care are often sicker than usual.
For those who are insured, the new calendar year has most likely brought higher co-pays, higher deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses as well as other changes in coverage for beneficiaries. These changes will affect the level of care Americans seek. And given a choice between paying the medical bills, buying food, or paying the mortgage; medical bills will more than likely be put on the bottom of the pile. This will impact the providers.
A leading indicator of a recession to health care industry professionals is the rise in the number of knee replacements and gum surgeries according to an article in the March 28, 2008, issue of Business Week. As Americans face possible layoffs and loss of health insurance, they often rush to have elective procedures done. On the other hand, many will forgo even necessary care for fear of losing their jobs for taking time off from work.
As hospitals, clinics, and other providers face financial losses associated with these factors, nurses and other staff will be affected. Some hospitals and other facilities have already instituted hiring freezes and a few have laid off staff. The nursing shortage isn’t going to go away because we are in a terrible economic crisis. Between 2006 and 2016, the BLS estimates that we will need 23% more RNs.
The really bad news is that economic situation is not expected to get better until it actually gets worse first. It is estimated that an additional 4.2 million Americans are likely to lose their health insurance coverage before the economy recovers.
Illness doesn’t take economic factors into account. The population today is older, more obese and more prone to chronic diseases. Those who face cancer, heart disease and emergency medical situations will need care whether they can afford it or not. Many will be sicker because they have put off seeking care until absolutely necessary which will tax the system even more. Should there be an epidemic or medical crisis during this recession, it could turn into a real medical mess!
Nurses are likely to find themselves placed in a precarious situation of being leveraged with the heavy hand of administrators threatening them to take on increased patient ratios or face layoffs themselves. This is going to be a time when nurses need to unite and stand strong in the face of adversity to not lose the small amounts of ground we have gained in this fight so far.
As the economy recovers, history has shown with past recessions that patients will rush the health care industry and it can be difficult to build back staff quickly enough to keep up with the demand. Because of the growing shortage of nurses, it is important for more people to continue to become nurses. There may be a shortage of jobs for new nurses for awhile, but as the economy recovers, this situation will improve and new nurses will once again find multiple options.
The nursing profession is not entirely recession-proof, but nurses are certainly positioned to be less likely to be laid off than many others. Will they be affected by the recession? Without a doubt.
By Kathy Quan RN BSN. Kathy is the author of The Everything New Nurse Book and the author/owner of TheNursingSite.com.
© 2009 by UltimateNurse.com All Rights Reserved.
Home Health Nursing
Posted in Featured, Independent Contractor, Nursing, Nursing Jobs, Per Diem, Permanent Placement, Travel Nursing
Home Health Nursing
Have you ever considered home health nursing? Like any other nursing specialty, it’s not for everyone, but it can be a challenging and rewarding career option for the right candidate.
Not to be confused with private duty assignments in the home, home health nursing involves making several visits each work day to a variety of (at least temporarily) homebound patients.
These visits entail a complete head-to-toe assessment which can be brief or complex depending on the patient, the findings, or the physician’s orders. The visit will also include patent and caregiver teaching. Again the extent and complexity depends on the specifics of the situation. Each visit should build on the previous teachings and may involve some sort of return demonstration or pop quiz, if you will.
There may be a task to perform such as assessment and wound care, incision care, IV administration and/or site change, Foley catheter change, G-tube change, etc. The patient and/or caregivers may need specific instruction in the care of these as well.
Or the patient and caregiver may need in-depth instruction for a new diagnosis such as diabetes which would include such things as blood glucose monitoring, insulin or other medication administration, and how to identify and treat the signs and symptoms of hypo or hyperglycemia.
Patients and caregivers may also need instruction in medications including dose, administration, possible side effects, purpose and desired results. Other areas of common patient/caregiver education include specific dietary and nutritional needs or restrictions, and home safety issues.
Teaching caregivers how to safely assist patients with hygiene care (bathing, showering or a bed bath), transfers and ambulation may require the assistance of a PT or OT, but the home health nurse also needs to know how to perform and instruct in these as well.
Home health care is most often ordered by the physician following discharge from the hospital, or it may be ordered in lieu of hospitalization. In most instances it is not expected to be long term, but rather to help the patient and/or caregivers become independent in the necessary care.
For reimbursement purposes, Medicare and insurance companies have specific guidelines and criteria that patients must meet to be eligible for home health care. The home health nurse is responsible for reviewing this and documenting accurately. One of the worst parts of home health nursing is the paperwork! Much of it can now be done using a laptop or hand held computer, but there is still a lot of documentation to be done.
The nurse is the eyes and ears of the physician in the home. Many times home health referrals are made because the physician suspects that the patient needs more assistance or instruction in order to improve his/her outcomes. Or perhaps a higher level of care is needed.
The home health nurse learns to assess a home situation and to make recommendations for durable medical equipment (DME) and other disciplines to participate in the care such as a PT, OT or ST. A home health aide may be added to assist with hygiene care and to teach the patient and/or caregivers how to safely bathe and groom the patient.
If necessary, a medical social worker (MSW) may be called in to assist the patient and family in making more complex short term or long term plans for care, or help them to cope with life changing circumstances.
The beauty of home health care is being able to spend quality time with patients and caregivers one-on-one. But home health care is a team approach and the nurse is not expected to do it all.
It can be scary at times because there isn’t another nurse just down the hall to call for assistance or consultation. But there is backup a phone call away, and with cameras in cell phones, it can be even easier to get that consultation.
The autonomy and the ability to utilize skills that sometimes seem wasted in the fast pace of a hospital setting often draw nurses into the home health arena. Call a home health agency and ask to make a ride-along visit with a home health nurse to consider if this might be something you’d like to explore further.
By Kathy Quan RN BSN. Kathy is the author of The Everything New Nurse Book and the author/owner of TheNursingSite.com
©2009 by UltimateNurse.com. All Rights Reserved
Dealing With a Nightmare Nursing Assignment
Posted in Nursing, Nursing Jobs, Permanent Placement, Travel Nursing, Travel Nursing
Dealing With a Nightmare Nursing Assignment
What happens when you encounter a nightmare nursing assignment? Whether you are a travel nurse or this is a permanent job, you may not be able to run screaming from the building never to return. So what can you do?
First off, take a deep breath and remember that you are a professional, If possible, leave the building, or at least the unit, for a few minutes to help clear your head. Perhaps the best you can do is retreat to the bathroom. Mentally punch a few walls and then try to decipher what just happened.
The most important thing is to make sure that your own patients are well cared for. If your issue is with another staff member, avoid him/her by spending more time with your patients.
If the issue is with a patient or family member, you can first try killing them with kindness while you make sure their needs are met, and then avoid them by spending more time with your other patients.
Let your nurse manager know what’s going on so that s/he can back you up and isn’t blindsided by complaints. Let him/her know that you’re trying to work this out, but need a little break from the situation. Perhaps s/he can offer some assistance.
Approach the situation using your critical thinking and problem solving skills. Try to step back and not let your emotions take precedence. Use the Nursing Process to assess, diagnose and create a plan to deal with the situation. It may take some time and require small but steady steps to make it work.
Some of the the things you need to consider include:
- Is this something you can fix by yourself?
- Do you need some advice, help or support from others to implement your plan or to make it work?
- Is this a personality conflict?
- Is this an issue of patient safety or quality of care?
- Has there been some misunderstanding? How can you clear up the issue?
- What can you do to avoid this problem in the future?
If this is your permanent job, you should speak to your nurse manager and decide together what can be done to improve the situation. Don’t go to him/her pointing fingers, go seeking assistance in solving a problem.
If you are a travel nurse, you may also need to consider whether the problem stems from being the traveler who “makes the big bucks and has all the perks?” If this is the core of the issue, you need to discuss this with your nurse manager and figure out how to turn this around.
Travel nurses are brought in to help reduce a specific nursing shortage situation and it’s up to the nurse managers in that facility to help permanent staff to understand this and to appreciate the help; not resent it, or to abuse a fellow nurse for accepting this role. Management needs to set the tone.
Travel opportunities are open to all nurses and just because someone does not take that option should not give them reason to resent or mistreat those who do. We all know that that isn’t the way it usually works, but travelers need to stand up for themselves and hold nurse managers and administrators responsible to set a positive tone about using travel nurses in their facilities.
The situation should also be brought to the attention of your recruiter. Hopefully it an be resolved without having to involve the recruiter, but s/he should be aware of the situation and it’s resolution for future reference.
If the situation can’t be resolved, or not to your complete satisfaction, you will just have to complete the assignment and/or make plans to move on as soon as you can. Put your focus on the positive aspects of this and learn something from it.
Understand the situation and look for something where you can avoid this situation in the future. Also count down the days left so you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Remain professional and continue to provide the best possible care for your patients.
By Kathy Quan RN BSN. Kathy is the author of The Everything New Nurse Book and owner/author of TheNursingSite.com
© 2008 by UltimateNurse.com. All Rights Reserved.
Some No-Brainer Interview Tips
Posted in Nursing, Nursing Jobs, Travel Nursing, Travel Nursing
Some No-Brainer Interview Tips
Whether you are interviewing by phone for a travel nursing assignment, or in person at a local health care facility for a nursing job, there are a few do’s and don’ts for your interview. These may seem like no-brainers to many, but there are a frightening number who must be told and/or reminded of basic social skills.
First of all, turn off your cell phone! If there is the possibility of an emergency during your interview, either postpone the interview or notify anyone who might need you that you will be unavailable for about an hour. Otherwise shut it off. Any calls can be returned when your interview has concluded.
In any social setting it’s just plain rude to interrupt your conversation to take a phone call or respond to a message. Yet, sit and people-watch in any public place for just a few minutes and you will see a multitude of people suddenly ignoring their present company and answering their phones. Sometimes they even wander away and talk for a really rude amount of time. This is simply not acceptable in the workplace. Turn it off and give your interview your undivided attention.
Second dress appropriately. If you’re on the phone this may not matter, but in person it says a lot about you and your professionalism. Even on the phone, however, if you’re uncomfortable, this may come through in your voice or intonations.
In person, the way you dress will tell a lot about who you are, your habits and values. If you look like a slob, this reflects that your work style may be very casual and sloppy as well. If you are well groomed and well dressed you tell the interviewer you take pride in yourself and in your work.
If you will be going to an interview straight from work, make sure that your scrubs or uniform is neat and clean. If you work on a unit where this is not possible, take a change of clothes with you. At the very least warn the interviewer that you will be coming straight from work and won’t have time to change first.
Third check your teeth in the mirror. Take a last look at yourself before you go in to any interview. Do you have food stuck in your teeth from lunch? Were you literally pulling your hair out all day? Do you need a little makeup? Don’t overdo any perfume or scents! Are your hands and fingernails clean? And what about your shoes?
Body language is another important issue to be aware of. Even when speaking on the phone, sit up straight and pay close attention to the conversation. Offer a firm handshake, make eye contact often and smile.
Be prepared for the questions. If you don’t understand any question or don’t know how to answer it, be honest. Ask for some clarification. If you don’t have an answer, make a note and tell them you’ll find out and get back to them. Don’t try to bluff your way through. Take a deep breath and think about your answers before blurting them out.
Have at least a couple of questions prepared to ask the interviewer. Do your homework and know something about the facility. If all of your questions were already answered in the interview, it’s Ok to say something like, “I was going to ask you about your staffing ratios and how you determine acuity, but you’ve already covered that.” It still shows you are interested in this position and this facility. You might also just go back to an issue you want to be very clear on such as whether travel nurses are expected to float.
Never bad mouth any previous or present employer. If you are leaving because you can’t stand the place, that’s your issue. As far as anyone else is concerned you’re looking for new challenges, different opportunities, a change, r other positive note.
Always say thank you for the interview, offer a firm hand shake and again make eye contact. Ask when they will make a decision. Tell them to please let you know either way.
By Kathy Quan RN BSN Kathy is the author of The Everything New Nurse Book and is the owner/author of TheNursingSite.com
©2008 by Ultimate Nurse.com All Rights Reserved
Why Should Nurses Vote?
Posted in Nursing, Nursing Jobs, Travel Nursing
Why should nurses vote?
What’s at stake in this election for nurses? There are two vital issues; the economy and health care. In many ways these two issues are intertwined and they both impact nurses immensely.
In a struggling economy, be assured that hospital administrators will be making cuts to maintain some margin of profit or keep losses to a minimum. That means fewer nurses and a shortage of beds for those who need them most. In other health care settings, administrators will face similar financial decisions and will be making cutbacks in staffing as well.
As the economy began to take a turn for the worse several months ago, many non-active nurses returned to the field for their own financial security. This factor helped to temporarily address some of the shortage of nurses which in turn affected opportunities for foreign born nurses as well as travel nurses. With more permanent staff available, the need to help nurses immigrate or to use travel nurses has declined in some areas, and not in others.
Now as the economy worsens, the fear is that hospitals and other healthcare facilities will have to make mild to severe cutbacks. In states where mandatory nurse-to-patient ratios exist, hospitals will be forced to take a closer look at how much they can cut back and still offer quality healthcare in their communities. Mandatory overtime could and probably will become even more of an issue if that proves to be more economical for the facility.
Each of the Presidential candidates has expressed a view of the health care crisis in this country and has developed a comprehensive plan to address the issue. They have each made note of the nurse’s role in the health care system and expressed their level of support of nurses. After careful consideration, the American Nurses Association has endorsed Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL).
Each of the candidate’s plans for economic reform and for health care reform shows a deep concern for the American people in keeping with their own political party views.
The 2004 Presidential election was decided by a little more than 500 votes. This election stands to be a very close one as well. There are 2.9 million nurses in the U.S. and health care is the largest industry in this country. Your vote is very important. Please be sure to exercise your right to VOTE on November 4.
No matter who you vote for, the important issue is that you get out and VOTE on Nov. 4. Many states allow early voting to help those who may have scheduling conflicts on voting day. For nurses, this may be a very useful alternative, especially for those who work 7AM to 7PM and may not get to the polls in time to cast their ballot. Absentee ballots are another alternative, but it may be too late to request one now.
With rights come responsibilities. Make sure you make an informed choice. In many elections across the country, voters will be choosing state and local representatives as well as voting on ballot initiatives. Read your voter information carefully and research the candidates and issues; especially in regard to how they impact nurses and healthcare.
By Kathy Quan RN BSN. Kathy is the author of The Everything New Nurse Book and is author/owner of TheNursingSite.com.
© 2008 UltimateNurse.com. All Rights Reserved.
Questions to Ask in Your Job Interview
Posted in Nursing, Nursing Jobs, Travel Nursing
Questions to Ask in Your Job Interview
When preparing for your job interview, here are some of the questions you should consider. Be sure to adapt them to your own needs and goals. Add or subtract from this list as appropriate for your unique situation. Make your own list and take it with you to the interview.
Understand the orientation and continuing education process offered.
- How long will my orientation last?
- Will I be offered additional time if I feel I need it?
- Will my orientation be provided on the shift I will be working?
- Will I have a preceptor or mentor?
- Is there an internship program for new grads?
- How often do you offer in-services and other education opportunities?
- What are your expectations for new hires during the first six months?
- Are nurse educators available on all shifts?
Ask about the working conditions.
- What is the typical nurse-to-patient ratio on this unit? Is there a maximum?
- What are the days/hours available? How long are the shifts?
- What is the policy for weekend and holiday rotation?
- Is there flexibility to the schedule? Can nurses trade days off with each other?
- Who does the scheduling?
- Is there mandatory overtime? How often?
- Is there an on-call responsibility? If so, explain the requirements and conditions.
- How many nurses work on this unit? On each shift?
- How long have most of the nurses worked on this unit? (Turn over rate?)
- How long has this position been vacant? Why did the previous person leave?
Then ask about the management and administration.
- How do you motivate your employees?
- What do you do to boost morale?
- What is your management style?
- How much autonomy do your nurses feel they have?
- How do you demonstrate that you value your nursing staff?
- How often are performance evaluations done and what is the process?
- How much input does the staff have about patient care and other issues on the unit?
- How do you handle conflict between staff members?
- Are there any challenges that this unit or facility is facing or anticipates in the next year?
- Would you support a nurse looking to transfer for career growth or hold him/her back due to your own staffing issues?
- How do you ensure safe working conditions for your staff?
- What are the career growth opportunities?
- Why would I want to work here?
Salary and Benefits
Typically the interviewer will bring up this subject first so wait and follow their lead, but be sure you understand thoroughly and make your negotiations up front.
- What is the salary? Is there a shift differential involved?
- What is the salary policy regarding weekends, holidays and overtime?
- What is included in the benefits package? Is there a salary adjustment allowed if some benefits are waived such as health insurance that your spouse provides?
- How much vacation, sick leave and other time off and how is the time accrued?
- How are raises handled? Are there merit increases, cost-of-living adjustments, etc.? How often are they given? What is the typical amount?
- Are there any tuition reimbursement plans?
- Are there any incentives such as sign-on bonuses, concierge services, mortgage or housing assistance plans, etc.? What are the specifics of these options?
Have a clear understanding of the position and assess how it measures up to your needs and goals before accepting any offer of employment.
By Kathy Quan RN BSN
Kathy is the author of The Everything New Nurse Book and the owner/author of TheNursingSite.com
©2008 by UltimateNurse.com. All Rights Reserved.