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Is a Travel Nurse Career Right for Me?

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 19:21:15 +0000

Is a Travel Nurse Career Right for Me? Anonymous Thu, 08/18/2016 - 12:21

Nursing careers can span a wide array of positions in varying environments. One particularly interesting subset is that of traveling nurses. Given the growth within the medical industry combined with increased nursing specialization, traveling nurses are more in demand than ever. But taking your career on the road is not for everyone. Along with the benefits a traveling job can offer, there are also many difficulties that must be considered. Compensation Traveling nurses earn premium compensation in return for filling vacancies and short-term staffing shortages throughout the country. In addition, relocation expenses are often covered in part, if not entirely, by the hiring institution. Cost of living is an obvious variable, depending on where you relocate to, that must also be taken into consideration. Location The demand for traveling nurses tends to follow the increasing need for medical services around the country with elderly care driving both. As you might expect, locations such as Arizona, California, Florida and many other coastal areas are highly popular retirement destinations and, accordingly, have ample supply of nursing jobs for those willing to relocate. Nursing in these areas come with the benefit of living in some of the most desirable locations in the country. And if you are looking to get away from it all nursing jobs are available in more remote locations like Alaska. Workplace Culture Traveling nurses routinely encounter varying workplace cultures as they change locations. Some are harsher than others and being the new hire provides challenges of its own. Being viewed as a bit of a hired gun, you'll undoubtedly face jealousy and insecurities, both personally and professionally. Be prepared to deal with all the usual politics in addition to the potential for pettiness. Challenging Assignments Nursing in any environment comes with its share of challenges. Traveling nurses face an increased level of difficult tasks as they tend to draw the toughest assignments in the same way any new employee would. Expect to confront the most challenging regimen on a regular basis. High expectations Increased expectations are tied closely to the compensation traveling nurses receive. Coworkers and supervisors will be aware of your enhanced earnings and expect more of you as a result. Confidence is key as you'll be expected to adapt quickly, work independently and perform at top levels with the utmost professionalism. Professional Opportunities Opportunities abound for anyone interested in a nursing career tied to travel. Two main factors stand out. First, you will have the opportunity to work in virtually any type of environment you wish. Teaching hospitals, specialized practices and any number of other possibilities are possible as you choose your next location to expand your resume. Additionally, networking opportunities are plentiful. Every supervisor and colleague you work with in your various stops is a potential referral or reference for that dream job you're building up to. Skill Development One distinct advantage for traveling nurses is the opportunity to develop their existing skills and learn new ones while visit numerous locations. Hospitals and other medical facilities are always looking to master new technologies and practices and you will have a chance to learn those during your time in those nursing jobs. Life on the Road While traveling nurses may not be considered road warriors they do spend a limited time in each position, averaging around 13 weeks in each nursing job prior to moving on. The nature of the job limits, to an extent, the personal growth you can enjoy as getting settled in isn't exactly an option. You'll visit a lot of exciting places but won't get much time to take them in. But there are options available for traveling nurses that don't find the notion of bouncing around the globe appealing. Taking numerous nursing positions in the same region, like Southern California, gains you the benefits of a traveling nursing career while allowing for a more normal personal life. A traveling nurse career offers many opportunities not found in traditional nursing jobs. It is, however, important to understand what life as a traveling nurse will be like prior to jumping in with both feet. While the benefits are plentiful and very appealing the challenges can be equally difficult.

Nursing Prospects Expected To Continue Strong Outlook

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 19:21:15 +0000

Nursing Prospects Expected To Continue Strong Outlook Anonymous Thu, 08/18/2016 - 12:21

Brookings analyst Martha Ross said health care remains a bright spot for employment growth. "Even though the health care field is in the midst of major changes, it remains a labor-intensive enterprise," she said.

"Employment will only grow as baby boomers age and are more likely to use health care services."

Health care employs about 14.5 million people nationwide and accounts for 10.3 percent of jobs nationally.

"It's one of the few industries that has shown nothing but steadily upward growth in employment over the past decade," Ross said.

Even with some staffing adjustments, hospitals are still continually hiring due to normal turnover, especially in clinical care positions such as nursing and physical therapy.

As a result, graduates in nursing, physical therapy and other medical fields have generally fared better than most other college graduates in finding jobs, especially during the recession from 2009 through 2010.

CONTINUE READING AT TIMES FREE PRESS

Measures To Boost Nursing Home Care A Potential Boon For Nursing Jobs

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 19:21:15 +0000

Measures To Boost Nursing Home Care A Potential Boon For Nursing Jobs Anonymous Thu, 08/18/2016 - 12:21

At the White House Conference on Aging, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) proposed new rules to improve the care of approximately 1.5 million elderly who reside in more than 15,000 long-term care (LTC) facilities nationwide.

The proposal aims to reduce unnecessary hospital readmissions and infections, improve quality care, and strengthen safety measures for these Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, according to statement from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The proposed rule, which was released on July 13, is a major overhaul of nursing home care and is expected to cost the industry approximately $729 million in the first year and $638 million in the second year.

Why RN's Should Pursue a Bachelor's Degree

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 19:21:15 +0000

Why RN's Should Pursue a Bachelor's Degree Anonymous Thu, 08/18/2016 - 12:21

Job opportunities are strong nationally for registered nurses who only hold an associate’s degree. So why does it make sense for many nurses to return to school, and for aspiring nurses to stay in school until they earn a bachelor's degree? Many reasons, with money at the top of the list.

A BSN program is more in-depth than any other registered nursing training curricula, and can include courses on theory, as well as such business issues as human resources and office management. Having the degree translates into a $5,000 increase in your median salary, according to a report conducted by the state of California. While that may not seem like a lot, consider that it would average $100,000 more over the latter 20 years of a 40-year career. And keep in mind that these numbers don't account for positions requiring advanced degrees that require a BSN as a pre-requisite.

The upshot of more extensive training is that nurses with BSNs can find more advanced career options faster. For example, you might find it relatively easy to become a manager of other nurses, or even move toward specializations in anesthesia or becoming a nurse practitioner.

The Push for RN's with a Bachelor's Degree

The value of an associate’s degree in many sectors has fallen, especially with the ease of earning a bachelor's degree from state schools and universities. But there is also a push by thought leaders in nursing to minimize the number of nurses with just a two-year degree.

The Institute of Medicine, a subset of the National Academy of Sciences, wants to increase the percentage of nurses with a bachelor's degree from 50% to 80% over the next eight years. Since this think tank has contacts in the government and in the private sector, expect to see greater workplace incentives for those with more experience.

Nurses are used to continuing education as a part of maintaining their licensing. But you might not realize that many organizations offer subsidies, if not outright tuition reimbursement, for returning to school. This can significantly defray the cost of courses and is worth investigating. Even if it's not mentioned in your contract, your employer may offer assistance if you ask for it.

The other benefit of major organizations calling for more graduates with bachelor's of science degrees in nursing is that schools recognize the opportunity for accelerated programs. If you don't have to go to school for more than three or four semesters, it's easier to fit that into your schedule.

Who Shouldn't Get An Advanced Degree in Nursing?

There are certain groups of nurses who might not benefit from earning a bachelor's degree from an economical sense. One group are those with 10 years or less to go until retirement. According to the College Board, the average in-state tuition for a state school is about $8,000 a semester, and accelerated programs would then cost $12,000 to $16,000, plus any associated lab fees and costs for textbooks. You might find that the salary increase you can expect for another eight to 10 years of working makes it a less viable option.

Others may simply not want to move into management, and would rather focus on patient care and enjoy their work as it is. Whether or not it's the right fit for you depends on your career goals, your budget and employer's generosity. But greater hiring demand is already developing for BSN graduates, and as in other health-care sectors, the gap in potential jobs for those with four-year degrees is only likely to grow more.

Opportunities Available For Travel Nurses

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 19:21:15 +0000

Opportunities Available For Travel Nurses Anonymous Thu, 08/18/2016 - 12:21

The adventure of travel nursing sounds exciting, but nurses who are considering this career option should weigh the pros against the cons. For example, travel agencies may not offer sick time or vacation pay benefits, and nurses can be financially penalized if they don't complete a 40-hour work week. In addition, travel nurses are usually expected to stay to complete a patient assignment that takes longer than anticipated, just like the permanent staff.

Taking call, working weekends or being assigned to different shifts may also be a part of the job, but for some travel assignments, such as those at outpatient surgical centers, nurses don't take call or work weekends and holidays.

CONTINUE READING AT NURSING JOURNAL

Workplace Independence Helps Nurses Thrive

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 19:21:15 +0000

Workplace Independence Helps Nurses Thrive Anonymous Thu, 08/18/2016 - 12:21

Patients fare better when nurse practitioners are able to exercise the full extent of their skills, according to a new report.

The study, published in Nursing Outlook, revealed a “significant relationship” between the full practice of nurse practitioners and decreased hospitalization rates for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. University of Missouri (MU) researchers say the study supports assertions that advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) can help relieve the shortage of healthcare workers and provide much-needed care to underserved populations.

“APRNs have graduate-level educations; when you get APRNs into nursing homes, they help improve the overall quality of care because they have advanced knowledge of the best evidence-based practice,” says Marilyn Rantz, Curators’ Professor and Helen E. Nahm chair in the MU Sinclair School of Nursing. “In states where APRNs practice independently, health outcomes are better, Medicare and Medicaid outcomes for older adults are better, and costs are lower. Hospitalizations also decrease.”

How to Survive a Nursing Interview

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 19:21:15 +0000

How to Survive a Nursing Interview Anonymous Thu, 08/18/2016 - 12:21

Forget hectic hospitals and crazy hours. The job interview might be the scariest process you’ll ever experience as a nurse. You're trying to sell yourself for a position that you want, and you have to put your best foot forward while not knowing what the employer is seeking exactly. Being nervous is expected, but you can do yourself a favor by doing a little prep work beforehand. Preparation is key to calming your nerves and boosting your confidence. Here's how you can get started:

Review the Job Description

The dirty secret of most interviews, for any position, is that a number of interviewers simply read from a script. And their script is based verbatim on the job description. That means that you can expect questions like:

Why do you want to work at this facility?
What are the most important aspects of this job (hint, they should be at the top of the description)?
Can you give me an example of how you stay current with the latest techniques?

So, the key is to study the job description in detail and then take advantage by preparing your answers in advance.

The One-Minute Story Test

Since you've got yourself a list of the questions that will likely be asked, you can start taking notes on how you'd like to answer them. You should have two or three notes for each of the questions, ranging from strengths and weaknesses to questions about the facility itself. What's critical is that you time yourself answering these questions.

Too often, nerves mean that you begin to babble (not you, of course, but other people), or that you clam up. So when you share these stories, make sure that you time yourself. Give yourself about a minute or two to answer each question, and then see if you covered the notes you had written down.

By rehearsing these, you'll find that it's easier when you are actually nervous. And even if the questions are slightly different, you'll have practiced similar answers.

Using a video camera to record your practice answers is a good way to review what you’ve said and to test your nervousness.

Calming the Nerves

Nurses can expect to deal with a lot of high-pressure situations, and the nursing interview helps your future supervisor and fellow staff understand how poised and in control you can be.

What's more important is to minimize the risk of fidgeting and stuttering. To help combat this, a trick is to bring along a small notebook to your interview. There are several reasons to do this.

One, you can map out questions and notes on how you want to answer. Don't rely on it, but it can help prompt you if you draw a complete blank.

Second, is that it allows you have something to hold and also to take notes on what the employer says. This helps you by giving you questions to ask your interviewer to show that you have an active interest.

The other reason to bring one is that it's also a good place to write down who all you interviewed with so that you can follow-up with a 'thank-you' note after the interview.

Now You're Ready

There are a number of great nursing jobs in this rapidly expanding industry, but you still want to perform your best at a nursing interview so that you can get the best possible offer from the healthcare system you deserve.

Experience And Education Matter For Nursing Opportunities

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 19:21:15 +0000

Experience And Education Matter For Nursing Opportunities Anonymous Thu, 08/18/2016 - 12:21

In the job-search world, perhaps no other sector is talked about more, and less understood, than health care. It is such a broad topic, encompassing so many occupations, that much of the information on job availability is confusing and conflicting.

For instance, while there are many reports that nursing is a constantly in-demand profession and that many employers fear a "nursing shortage," there is plenty of anecdotal evidence showing that merely having a nursing degree is no guarantee in finding a job.

However, registered nurses are the most in-demand healthcare professionals per one study in Washington, followed by personal and home-care aides, nursing aides, medical secretaries, and medical and health-service managers.

CONTINUE READING AT NWJOBS.COM

Succeeding at a Nursing Career Fair

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 19:21:15 +0000

Succeeding at a Nursing Career Fair Anonymous Thu, 08/18/2016 - 12:21

Nursing career fairs are a great opportunity to meet and network with other nurses, find out more about nursing as a career and, most importantly, meet recruiters from the healthcare industry. Attending such events can have numerous benefits for both job-seeking nurses and those wanting to expand their network. The benefits include:

Access to a large number of healthcare recruiters in one place.
Finding out information about a variety different fields related to nursing.
A chance to impress recruiters in person.
A chance to build a list of contacts for networking.
Meeting other nurses who can offer insightful tips and advice that can be particularly helpful for new nurses.

Whether you are looking to secure a new job or improve your list of contacts, make the most of your time by preparing in advance. Here are some areas to focus on:

Conduct Research

Before you attend you should make an effort to conduct basic research, which can give you the information you need to prepare for success later on. Such research may include:

The type of recruiters expected to attend - the nursing profession is varied and working for different sized healthcare organizations can bring different benefits.
Healthcare organizations in attendance - Research each attendee to target those companies that share your philosophy in medical care and provide the type of environment that you want to work for.

Your Resume

Creating or updating your resume is a must before attending career fairs. This will ensure that your up-to-date information is available for potential employers and a chance for them to review your skills and experience.

If you are creating a resume be sure to create a unique and original one for each targeted recruiter. Don't be tempted to copy and paste the same resume for all recruiters. Adding a few changes to a resume can make it more appealing for certain jobs.

Don’t forget to include all the extra courses that you have taken or any voluntary work that you have done.

How to Dress

The nursing profession can be a little strict when it comes to clothing. While you don't necessarily need to be dressed in expensive suits you should still be dressed in a smart and professional way.

Men and women with long hair should consider tying it back neatly as they would when working. The worst thing you can do is dress in a sloppy way. The impression that you want to give to the recruiters is that you are a neat, competent person who will be a valuable asset to their organization. How you dress can give them this impression.

Introducing Yourself

You should have a list of the recruiters that you really want to meet. If possible, knowing who is going to be representing the organization on the day can be useful to introduce yourself. Be confident and not nervous. Remember that the recruiters are interested in meeting you and talking to you, as they want the best nurses for their organization.

Those nurses who suffer from nerves can rehearse a brief introduction beforehand so that they are more confident. Creating an easy one-minute elevator pitch about who you are and what you’ve accomplished ahead of time can help calm your nerves when meeting recruiters.

How to Entice a Recruiter

Most recruiters are interested to know just how sincerely someone is interested in working for them so be sure to display genuine enthusiasm. There are many other ways that you can interest the recruiter.

One mistake that job seekers make at career fairs is not doing their research about the companies and/or recruiters ahead of time. A quick way to impress a recruiter is to ask detailed information about their organization and nursing program to show your interest in their company and show that you have done your homework.

After the Career Fair

One overlooked aspect job seekers make is to not send a “Thank You” note after meeting people. By sending the recruiter a nice, handwritten note after the career fair discussing your conversation and affirming your interest in their organization will help keep your name fresh in their mind and confirm your interest in the organization.

Preparation is the key to success before attending a nursing career fair. The more prepared you are beforehand the more you’ll be able to go in and knock a recruiter’s socks off and increase your chances of employment.

Economy Sends Workers To School, Especially For Nursing

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 19:21:15 +0000

Economy Sends Workers To School, Especially For Nursing Anonymous Thu, 08/18/2016 - 12:21

Graph lines comparing unemployment to the number of students pursuing higher education or specialized training often show a corresponding trend: as unemployment rose, so did enrollment.

Lisa Barrow, a senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, co-authored a paper about post-secondary enrollment increasing nationally between 2007 and 2010. She found that during the recession and early part of the recovery, enrollment increased at most types of institutions of higher learning.

The two-year enrollment rate increased by 13 percent during the time period, after decreasing or staying about the same between 2002 and 2007. At public four-year colleges, enrollment increased more than 8 percent, after having risen less than 3 percent between 2004 and 2007. Enrollment at four-year private institutions increased more than 20 percent after having grown by nearly 8 percent between 2004 and 2007.

CONTINUE READING AT CLEVELAND.COM