Nursing

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

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.

Common Errors in Patient Education

Posted in Nursing, Uncategorized

Common Errors in Patient Education

One of the most important aspects of the nurse’s role is to educate patients. To do that effectively, there are a couple of points that nurses (as well as other health care professionals) should be aware of.

One is that health care illiteracy affects over one half of all Americans. Regardless of their ability to read and write, or their level of education, Americans don’t understand the health care system and how it works. They don’t even understand enough most of the time to know that they don’t understand.

The other point is that as a result of this problem, the Institute for Health Care Advancement (IHA)points out that costs are continuing to rise to the point of, “as much as $236 billion in unnecessary health care expenses annually due to the inability of patients to understand what medical providers are communicating to them.”

The IHA has complied a guide for health care professionals and consumers to help eliminate some of these problems. This list is composed of the 10 Most Common Errors Medical Professionals Make When Communicating with Their Patients.

Some of the points in this document include:

Prescription drug instructions are often written at a 10th or 11th grade reading level. Most of the population reads at a 5th grade level.
Communicating with patients using medical or other technical jargon such as “otitis media” or “myocardial infarction” instead of using laypersons’ terms such as “ear ache” or heart attack.”
Telling patients to go read about their condition, treatments or medications on the Internet when this information might be too complex, might disagree with the physician’s course of treatment, or the patient may not have access or know how to search the Internet.
Handing out reading material which is printed in too small a font to be easily read, especially by seniors who represent the largest portion of the population.
Not using simple graphics or other visual aids to enhance the patient’s understanding.
Not recognizing that the patient is nodding or saying “yes” as more of a means to be polite and not necessarily because s/he understands what is being said.

Providers should always ask patients to repeat back to them in their own words what they interpret to be the information or instructions given to them. Tis is the best way for the provider to be sure the patient understands correctly and then to make clarifications as needed.

Not demonstrating cultural awareness and how cultural differences may affect the patient’s ability to comply and to succeed with a treatment or other regimen.

Speaking too quickly and not allowing the patient time to formulate or ask questions.
Not providing the information and instructions in the patient’s first language.
Not taking time to adequately explain the meaning of terms on prescription drug labels. For example, “Take With Food,” is written at a 1st or 2nd grade level, but what does it really mean? Studies have shown that some patients have interpreted this as meaning stuffing the pill into a piece of solid food and swallowing it without taking any liquid. This could have varying degrees of problems depending upon the drug and even the size of the pill.

Other problems patients typically have difficulty with include how and when to make follow up appointments, where to go for tests, and even which medications should be refilled and continued versus a course of antibiotics.

Even the most highly educated patients may not understand medical information. Nurses, as the primary health educators, need to understand how to educate patients as well as how to evaluate the patient’s understanding before they leave.

Resources:
IHA (http://iha4health.org)
Helen Osborne M.Ed.,OTR/L, Health Literacy Consulting (http://healthliteracy.com)
By Kathy Quan RN BSN. Kathy is the author of The Everything New Nurse Book and the author/owner of TheNursingSite.com

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

How to Use the Interview Process

Posted in Nursing, Nursing Jobs, Travel Nursing

How to Use the Interview Process

The interview process is a time for the employer as well as the applicant to exchange information. It is not just about the employer learning more about you. This is your chance to find out more about the employer and the job at hand.

You might be an excellent choice from their perspective, but how does this position and employer fit your needs and goals? To assess this, you need to first understand what your own needs and goals are. These will be unique to you.

If you are currently employed and looking for a change, consider the factors that have driven you to this point. Make a list of the pros and cons of your present situation and prioritize these points. What do you need in a new position to make it a more satisfying and rewarding situation?

You might need a change of venue. Perhaps you need a slower paced environment or maybe even crave something more challenging and faster paced. Maybe you need a more positive experience such as a change away from hospice or oncology. Or perhaps you’re looking for a career path opportunity.

If this is your first nursing job, you will need to consider a few other issues such as the orientation and learning opportunities for new grads.

If you are a travel nurse, you will reevaluate your needs and goals much more frequently and will have perhaps perfected the interview process with recruiters as well as with facilities.

Being prepared for your interview will help you to demonstrate the fact that you are organized, able to prioritize, and have a strong understanding of your personal goals and needs.

Once you have completed the list of priorities for your new job, consider some of the questions you may need to ask in your interview and how to fine tune them to your individual needs and goals. These questions will also help you to demonstrate your knowledge base and interest in the opportunity.

Arrive for your interview early and be professional. Be neat, clean and well-groomed. That includes your hair, nails and any facial hair. Your clothing should be clean and professional.

Be sure you have all of your documentation with you such a licenses, social security card, and names and contact information for references. Have a black pen that writes which you are comfortable using. Be neat and legible with all of your paperwork.

Prepare your answers about any gaps or other issues in your resume. Be ready to discuss your skills and talents as well as your expectations and goals. If you need a second to consider an answer, say so instead of stumbling, stammering or giving the deadly “deer in the headlights” look.

Use direct eye contact and be aware of your body language. Thank the person for their time and this opportunity. Send a follow up thank you note or email. Remember that anything that sounds too good to be true, probably is too good to be true. Take some time to consider any offer that is made.

By Kathy Quan RN BSN
Kathy is the author of The Everything New Nurse Book, and is owner/author of TheNursingSite.com

Make Sure the Nursing Program is Accredited!

Posted in Nursing, Uncategorized

Make Sure the Nursing Program is Accredited!

One of the most important points in finding the right nursing program is to make sure it is accredited. This cannot be emphasized enough. Just because there is a nursing shortage, does not mean that substandard nursing education will be accepted. Do your homework and don’t be mislead or pressured by programs! Make an informed choice.

Excelsior nursing programs are just one example of nursing schools that have questionable accreditation status throughout the U.S. Many states no longer recognize these schools often because they don’t meet the standard of required hours of hands on experience. Most recently, Georgia has decided not to allow licensure of recent grads of an Excelsior program. (See thread in the Forum.)

It is the duty of the state board of nursing to protect the public. If nursing programs within their jurisdiction do not meet the education standards set forth in the licensing criteria for that state, you will not be allowed to sit for the NCLEX and become a licensed nurse. This applies to LP/VN programs as well as all levels of RN programs.

Don’t waste your time and money attending a nursing school that is not accredited! Begin your search by finding accredited nursing programs and be sure that the state where you wish to practice accepts that program as well. Start with your state board of nursing. Find a listing for RN and LP/VN schools at the National Council of the State Boards of Nursing (http://ncsbn.org/515.htm).

The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc. (http://nlnac.org/home.htm) is the primary accrediting agency for U.S. schools of nursing. They publish a guide to undergraduate and graduate schools of nursing which is available on their website as well as from books stores and Amazon.com.

Peterson’s Guide to Nursing Programs 2009 (or Petersons.com) provides a listing of nursing programs in the U.S. which includes information as to the accreditation status of the program. New nursing programs may not be accredited yet, but their application status will be listed. Proceed with caution and understand that they may not be fully accredited by the time you graduate.

The American Association of Colleges of Nurses (AACN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) also offer accreditation for BSN, MSN and PhD nursing programs. Their website is http://www.aacn.nche.edu/.

Don’t be duped by recruiters and advertisers. Verify the accreditation status before you commit to any nursing education. This is your first big test in becoming a nurse.

By Kathy Quan RN BSN. Kathy is the author of The Everything New Nurse Book and the author/owner of TheNursingSite.com.

Protect Your Patients Get the Flu Shot

Posted in Nursing, Travel Nursing, Uncategorized

Protect Your Patients Get the Flu Shot

The 2008-9 flu vaccine is beginning to appear. This year, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) says there will be an all-time high supply of the vaccine as manufacturers predict as many as 146 million doses will be available. This means many more people will be able to be vaccinated than ever before.

Health care workers often forgo the opportunity to be vaccinated and present a risk their colleagues and patients alike. Statistically, about 20% of the U.S. population gets the flu each year and up to 200,000 are hospitalized.

This puts nurses and other health care workers at tremendous risk for exposure. Even when asymptomatic, nurses and other heath care workers can then contribute to the spread of the flu virus.

A recent study of health care workers reported in the August 4, 2008, issue of Advance for Nurses found that 59% of health care workers surveyed did not recall having had any flu symptoms and 28% stated they did not recall having any respiratory illness. This gives rise to a false sense of security and perception that health care workers do not need to be vaccinated.

The ethics of this erroneous perception can lead to a violation of the moral code for health care workers to protect the public. Knowing that the risk of infection exists, nurses and other health care workers need to be vaccinated in order to do their part to help prevent the spread of the flu virus. The public believes and expects that health care workers will protect them from harm.

Last year the flu vaccine was found to be ineffective in covering the majority of flu virus that emerged. This year, manufacturers have changed the formula entirely and it will cover three new strains that research shows will most likely cause influenza this year.

Whether or not the vaccine covers the exact strains of active virus each year, those who are vaccinated and subsequently become infected with the virus will have a much milder case of influenza than those who are not vaccinated which also reduces the likelihood of complications which can lead to severe illness and even death.

Each year in the U.S. approximately 36,000 deaths are caused by influenza and the complications such as pneumonia. Those most at risk should be vaccinated, unless otherwise contraindicated. This includes children aged 6 months to 19 years, pregnant women, those of any age with chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and lung diseases.

Those who reside in nursing homes and long term care facilities where influenza can spread rapidly should be vaccinated. Teachers, health care workers, and anyone who cares for the elderly or infirm.

Anyone who cares for or has contact with children under the age of 6 months should be vaccinated to reduce exposure to this age group which cannot be vaccinated.

Nurses need to take the lead and set the example for all health care workers as well as the general public to be vaccinated and protect others from the flu virus. This can be even more important for travel nurses who spend time in many different parts of the country. You can send an E-card from the CDC website to your colleagues, friends and family to remind them to be vaccinated as well.

By Kathy Quan RN BSN. Kathy is the author of The Everything New Nurse Book and the author/owner of TheNursingSite.com.
©2008 by UltimateNurse.com All Rights Reserved

Is Nursing a Profession?

Posted in Nursing, Nursing Jobs, Uncategorized

Is Nursing a Profession?

There are those who say that nursing will never become a profession until all nurses are required to have at least a BSN. There are others who will argue that the diploma and ADN nurses are better nurses. This debate has gone on for years and will continue for some time to come.

There was a point several years back when progress towards making a BSN mandatory was making headway. Hospitals began only hiring BSN nurses and had even begun to cutback on hiring LP/VNs who then had to look to other venues such as retirement and nursing homes for employment. And then the nursing shortage began to make an impact and it didn’t matter what preparation nurses have as long as they are a licensed nurse.

Not all states have the ability to survey, collect and analyze data from the nursing workforce, so we have to look at figures from 2004. At that time, greater than 51% of the workforce had less than a BSN; 17.5% of RNs were diploma prepared, 33.7% had an ADN, 34.2% had their BSN and 13% had advanced degrees of an MSN or a PhD in nursing.

It is doubtful that a dramatic shift in BSN prepared nurses has occurred since 2004, and with shortages of nurse educators it is not like to happen any time soon. Students are pursuing any avenue open to them including the LP/VN route with an eye to bridge to RN or BSN.

And so the debate over whether nursing is truly a profession will continue. The fact is however, that nurses are the backbone of the health care system. The shortage of nurses has made an impact and brought this point to the forefront. Nurses need to continue to demand respect for our contributions and it is essential to continue to conduct ourselves in a professional manner.

Nursing is a lifelong learning process. No student graduates from nursing school knowing everything they will ever need to know. Health care itself is constantly evolving as technology improves and more is learned about medical science. Techniques, procedures, medications and treatments continue to change.

Nursing roles have evolved over time as well. Nurses have many more responsibilities now than ever before, including the fact that early nurses worked very hard and also swabbed the floors and made bandages, etc.

Continuing education is mandatory in most states. Career advancement requires more formal education. Those who prefer bedside nursing don’t necessarily need more formal education. But clinical specialists and nurse managers do need at least a BSN. Nurse educators are usually at least MSN prepared and professors have a PhD.

To the outside world, nursing may not meet the criteria to be labeled a profession but to those who work the work and talk the talk, nursing is one of the most rewarding of all professions.

By Kathy Quan RN BSN. Kathy is the author of The Everything New Nurse Book and is the author/owner of TheNursingSite.com.

New Nurses Need to Learn How to Advocate for Themselves

Posted in Nursing, Nursing Jobs, Uncategorized

New Nurses Need to Learn How to Advocate for Themselves

As a new nurse, you need to learn to advocate for yourself. There is a critical nursing shortage and most new nurses are going to find themselves working on a unit that is very short staffed.

If you are lucky enough to have a preceptor assigned to you, you need to consider the fact that all too often that person isn’t going to be ecstatic about having an extra burden, regardless of whether or not they like being a preceptor.

A Few Tips
Here are a few tips to help you and your preceptor make this a positive experience. Remember that you are not expected to be perfect. You are however, expected to observe the primary rule of DO NO HARM and to ask for help if you don’t know how to do something. If you haven’t been checked off on doing something by yourself, you are expected to ask for supervision.

You are also expected to do your homework. Yes, you still need to do some research and studying on your own time. There will always be new drugs, treatments, procedures, diseases and conditions to learn about.

You should not waste your preceptor’s time. Be prepared. Gather the supplies you will need ahead of time and prepare the patient. Know how a procedure should be done in your facility. (Read your Policy and Procedure Manual, AKA the P&P.) Be prepared to answer questions from the patient and your preceptor. And be prepared to ask relevant questions. Observe and learn the tips and techniques being demonstrated.

Offer to help your preceptor with some of his/her patient load to ease her burden. Help with procedures and routine tasks or care so s/he has time to help you. Don’t do this at the expense of leaving your own tasks undone.

Smile and say Thank you!
Always say thank you, and ask how you can help your co-workers. Smile and use direct eye contact. Be sincere.

Not all preceptors are created equal and not everyone is cut out to teach. If you can’t find a way to work with your preceptor, ask for a change. But don’t place blame and make accusations. Learn to say something like, “Susan is a great preceptor, but I’m more of a visual learner, is there someone else I could work with?” Or, “John has been so patient with me, but I just always feel so intimidated by him because he’s such a good nurse, I think I would do better with someone a little more laid back.”

Speak to your supervisor privately about any issues you have. Give him/her the opportunity to offer suggestions to make this work out. Try them and if they don’t help, stand up for yourself and again say you need something different.

Give Yourself a Year
Be patient. Do the best job you know how to do, and it will all get easier. Don’t expect that to happen for about a year. Think about it, that’s why there are so many books about your first year as a nurse. You’ll get there!

If It’s Too Stressful
If you are way too stressed by your job, you won’t be happy and you won’t do your best. Remember that if the unit is too fast paced and short handed, you don’t have to stay there. Talk to your supervisor and ask for a transfer to another unit where you can have a better chance to learn and refine your skills at a slower pace. It will be better for all. Don’t take no for an answer. Advocate for yourself. If the facility can’t accommodate you, you may need to look elsewhere. This isn’t the only nursing job available!

By Kathy Quan RN BSN. Kathy is the author of The Everything New Nurse Book and author/owner of TheNursingSite.com.

Are You Working on This Labor Day?

Posted in Nursing, Nursing Jobs, Uncategorized

Are You Working on This Labor Day?

It’s Labor Day, a holiday in the U.S. to honor the working citizens. Congress made the first Monday in September a federal holiday in 1894. It is usually celebrated with picnics, BBQs, parades and a day of rest for workers. Symbolically it represents the end of summer, and for many years, school started the next day.

Much of the rest of the world honors the working citizen on May 1, or May Day, also known as International Worker’s Day.

For most U.S. nurses, Labor Day represents one of the “lesser” holidays. Typically employers require nurses to work at least one of the “lesser” holidays as well as at least one of the “major” holidays such as Christmas, New Year’s Day or Thanksgiving.

More often than not, nurses will work several holidays each year and typically every other weekend. This is not something most student nurses or those considering a career in nursing ever seem to think about. Sick people don’t suddenly get well for the holidays and hospitals don’t close down for the weekends.

This means nurses often sacrifice a lot of fun and family time for their jobs. This can add to the stress level and cause resentment to build. Nurses need to be sure to reward themselves for their sacrifices as well as for a job well done.

This is not a profession that provides a built in reward system. Nurses don’t often see the benefits of their care because patients move on to another level (I.e. from ICU to a regular floor) or are discharged home long before they are “well.”

Nursing is typically not a nine-to-five job. Those considering a career in nursing should explore what this means and how it can impact their lives before starting a nursing program.

There are many roles for nurses that can support a more “normal” life style, but they usually require a year or two of acute care experience first. These can include such roles as school nurses, insurance nurses, disability case managers, and medical office nurses.

Home health nurses can often find a lighter or less demanding holiday and weekend
requirement. They can also sometimes juggle their patient visits around a child’s sporting event or stop in to see their child get an award at a school assembly.

Nursing is a demanding profession and requires a great deal of commitment from the individuals. For those who truly enjoy helping others, it can be one of the most rewarding careers of all. But it is not without sacrifices.

As we celebrate this holiday honoring working citizens, think about nurses today! Thank you for a job well done!!!

By Kathy Quan RN BSN. Kathy is the author of The Everything New Nurse Book, and is the owner/author of TheNursingSite.com
©2008 Ultimate Nurse.com All Rights Reserved

Nursing

Some No-Brainer Interview Tips

Why Should Nurses Vote?

Common Errors in Patient Education

Questions to Ask in Your Job Interview

How to Use the Interview Process

Make Sure the Nursing Program is Accredited!

Protect Your Patients Get the Flu Shot

Is Nursing a Profession?

New Nurses Need to Learn How to Advocate for Themselves

Are You Working on This Labor Day?

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