Prepping for the next chapter

Two weeks ago I was offered a position in a Nurse Residency Program. With great joy and not shortage of smiling I accepted and listened intently as my new boss told me what to expect, who to expect to call me and when orientation will be.
So as these weeks seem to fly by, my last vacation as a new grad, there are things I'm working on to prepare for this new position and life dream come true.
1) Focus on me
    Nursing school meant hours and hours of studying which mean hours and hours of sitting.  Each time I would try to exercise, my desire to do well in preparing for an exam or write a paper I couldn't focus or how many reps or sets I needed to do.   So my knowledge increased but so did my weight.  So I working on getting my BMI into a healthy region and be a healthy example for my patients.  My personal trainer shows me no mercy and I'm glad.  I'm a tell-it-like-it-is type of nurse and I appreciate his challenging workouts and well as his encouraging attitude.  It keeps me focused on being sensitive to my patients as well as completely upfront on on what they need to know to improve their health.

2) Organizing my Family
    My oldest just started high school and my youngest is in 1st grade.  This time has allowed up to get a schedule together and work on keeping it.  Soccer games and practices, homework due dates and exam days, whose cooking dinner or cleaning up the kitchen.  This time is great for working out the kinks and seeing what works and fixing  what doesn't.  We'll be more prepared when I start those long work hours and need them to do more and not "try" to pile more on me to do.

3) Connecting and reconnecting with friends
     I have had more "coffee" dates for a non-coffee drinker in the past few weeks than all my life.  It has been therapeutic and encouraging.  Hearing from classmates and colleagues who have been where I am going, giving me advice and sharing their stories are invaluable jewels that I will always treasure.  These great people will be the listening ears I'll need in the coming week and I hope to be a good listener to them as well.

4) Have fun
    I've made sure to do something non-nursing and non-demanding.  Me and the kids are enjoying the video games and board games.  We've also splurged (alittle thanks to friends, deals and coupons) and visited Disneyland, Magic Mountain and SeaWorld.  I made sure to have as much fun as the kids, jumping in full force.  I've also started back to writing, developing stories and putting poems together.  Writing has become my secondary stress reliever along with exercising.  Not that I count exercise as fun, its a necessary evil I'll have to deal with for the rest of my life.

5) Scale Back
    As I was organizing I started looking at what do I really want to do, really need to do and waste my time really doing.  It was amazing how much "Free" time I found.  I can get my homework done, watch an episode of Judge Judy or Rookie Blue and not feel rushed or like I've got somewhere to be at all hours of the day.  I continue to stay involved in my professional organizations but I don't run myself ragged.  If I can volunteer and still be true to me and family then I do it.  Otherwise I don't feel bad saying no.  I am a healthcare professional and if I don't take care of my health I'll be no good to my patients let alone anyone else.

So as I get closer to my first day of work I keep employing these things so I can be the best new nurse I possibly can.  I am so grateful for this opportunity to do what I love and be an asset to my new workplace.
Nurse Kim signing out for now.

Ways to sabotage your job search and Other Job Hunting Types

Abridged: Forbes

CHICAGO, IL -- To help you avoid a costly faux pas, here's a list of the six missteps that will sabotage your job search: 

1) Failing to proofread job-hunting materials. We all make mistakes. Make sure your resume and cover letter are error free or it could lose you a job opportunity. 

2) Ignoring your online footprint. If you don't show up online somewhere, the hiring manager will either conclude that you're a technological dinosaur or have little to offer. Limit the damage of a weak online presence by being proactive. 

3) Sounding wishy-washy about your job objective. When networking to find employment, you'll probably be asked, "What type of job are you looking for?" The more confident and clear you are, the likelier others can and will help you. 

4) Playing the pity game. Yes, it's a tough economy. Yes, age discrimination is real. Yes, it's increasingly difficult for the long-term unemployed to find jobs. But interviewers don't want to hear it. Focus on the positive and keep your emotions in check and try to convey an upbeat attitude.

5) Not preparing a list of questions for your interview. Nothing spoils a job interview faster. Spend time compiling great questions for the interviewer. 

6) Forgetting to say "thank you" Don't be a networking nitwit. Make it a point to thank everyone who takes the time to speak with you.

Try a different approach to your job search

Staff Writer, The Career News

SAN DIEGO, CA -- With a new job search engine called MyJobHunter, you can search all top career sites at once & apply to all matching jobs with one click. Just enter your search criteria, review the matching jobs and select the ones you want. Then, click a single button and you'll instantly apply to all selected jobs with your resume and cover letter (without having to log into each job site separately).

Click another button and you can automate the whole process! MyJobHunter can remember what you searched for, search for it again each day, and AUTOMATICALLY APPLY FOR YOU to new jobs matching your criteria. Review jobs in advance or put searching & applying on auto-pilot. The choice is yours.

You'll also get an application history report that makes follow-up a breeze! It shows the jobs you were applied to, full job descriptions, employer contact info, and application dates. You can even add personal notes to each job! This service is proven to reduce hours of job searching and resume submitting to just minutes. Simply upload your resume, enter your job search criteria and let MyJobHunter take it from there. Try a new approach this year when searching for a job online with MyJobHunter.

A personal website should be a part of your search

Abridged: CareerBliss

ATLANTA, GA -- These days, a job seeker has to stand out. And in a difficult job market, a strong resume may not be enough. One option for getting an edge on the competition is to build a personal website or online portfolio. Here's how having your own website can help your job search:

1) Helps employers come to you. Recruiters can't reach out to you if they can't find you. Building a website or online portfolio makes it easier to be found by a wider array of potential employers. 2) A personal website allows you to show instead of tell. Resumes and job applications tell potential employers about your experience and skill-sets. A personal website allows you to show your talents instead of simply listing them. An online portfolio can let your work speak for itself.

3) Adds to your existing resume. Using a personal website allows you to supplement your resume without leaving anything out. 4) Builds your personal brand. You want to showcase who you are and what you do in a clear and consistent manner. Building your personal brand can help you control how you are seen by others. 5) A personal website grows with you and your accomplishments. It lets you keep an up-to-date listing of every new career achievement. You can highlight a success immediately without having to rework your entire resume around it.

Things employers look for in an interview

Abridged: Wet Feet

INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- When interviewing, hiring managers are hoping to explore these basic areas: Do we want to work with you? You might enter an interview prepared to recite a litany of skills and work experience, but interviewers aren't looking for a walking, talking resume. They're already intrigued by your skills--that's why they're interviewing you in the first place. The reason they need to meet with you in person is to gauge your personal qualities, to see if you'll be an asset to the workplace.

Will you mesh with the team? The corporate workplace is increasingly a team-driven environment. Because of this, organizations are especially eager to hire people whom they think will fit within a team. This might mean a tough adjustment for academic high achievers who are used to working on their own. But as much as interviewers might be gauging your individual strengths, they are also evaluating your ability to be a team player.

What's your EQ? Interviewers are probably less interested in your IQ than your EQ--your emotional intelligence. You can have a high IQ and still lack common sense and empathy. Employers are learning that intelligence isn't always the most desired attribute for prospective employees, especially when it comes at the expense of good sense. Although you'll want to impress your prospective employer with your smarts, you also must convey you are a thoughtful, collegial coworker with a sense of personal responsibility.

Why aren't you getting more interviews?

Staff Writer, The Career News

LOS ANGELES, CA -- According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) 66% of organizations are having difficulty recruiting for specific job openings. If you think these are highly technical positions that only apply to a very limited few, think again. In their poll of 2,286 HR professionals, the job categories listed as being difficult to fill ranged in expertise from the highly skilled to day laborers.

Do you have what these recruiters are looking for? If so, then why aren't you getting more interviews? It may be hard to believe, but there's a good chance your resume is the culprit. Even the most carefully crafted resume and cover letter can be overlooked if you're not tailoring it to a specific job posting. When your qualifications are not opening the doors for an interview, consider enlisting the assistance of a professional resume writer to help you stand out and get recruiters to take action.

The Career News recommends having your resume written or revised by the resume experts at GuaranteedResumes. Your new resume is--guaranteed to grab an employers attention--while emphasizing your work experience, skills, abilities and achievements. Their expert resume writers know how to strategically apply keywords to your resume and effectively market you for the job you want. Whether seeking a new job or climbing the career ladder--you need a resume that sets you apart from other qualified applicants. It's easy to get started and they even back their work with a 60 day interview-guarantee. To get a superior resume that gets you noticed, get started now.

When to say 'No' on interviews

Abridged: What's For Work

DANVILLE, CA -- Keep your principles and priorities in check. Any time intent and motive come into question on an interview, say "no" even if it means losing out on the job. Intuitive warning signs are also something to which you should give serious consideration. Recalling a past experience, I was asked to meet a traveling recruiter in the lobby of a luxury hotel. Upon arriving, I asked the front desk to let the recruiter know I had arrived. The front desk manager relayed the recruiter wanted me to meet him in his room.

Without hesitation, I said, "no" but that I would wait until he came down to the lobby. Taking the lead on interactions puts you in a position of professionalism. The recruiter came down to the lobby and profusely apologized. From there the interview deteriorated. He conducted a one-way conversation, grilling me, as if I were his prisoner not allowed to offer input or ask questions. Only at the end of a 45 minute discourse was I allowed to ask a question or two and as it turned out, the answers were less than truthful.

Needless to say, this job was not even close to my ideal and one from which I walked away. We all could use extra cash but the question is, to what lengths are you willing to go to get some? Your answer will dictate the right job for you!

The ultimate guide to job interview answers

Staff Writer, The Career News

LOS ANGLES, CA -- The interview is extremely critical given employers and recruiters use your presentation to make their final decision. When you enter an interview armed with a wealth of information on the company and a solid understanding of how you can make a valuable contribution, you're automatically put at the front of the pack. Imagine what life would be like if you could ace any job interview you take, blowing the competition out of the water and giving the interviewers no other option but to hire you!

If you really want to land the job of your dreams you must give yourself an advantage over your competitors. What too many people fail to understand is that it doesn't matter what it says on your resume, you only really have one chance to impress your prospective employer and it all boils down to 'how well you perform in your job interview' and the answers you provide to their tough interview questions.

With 'The Ultimate Guide to Job Interview Answers' you can arm yourself with the answers they want to hear to some of the toughest questions any interviewer could possibly throw at you. This guide is "so much more than a list of questions and answers". With a bit of practice you'll be able to adapt to the mind-set of the interviewer and know exactly how they want you to respond based on the types of questions they ask. You will lose any nerves you once had, increase your interview confidence and the job interview will become a game you will win! To ace your next interview and beat the competition, get The Ultimate Guide To Job Interview Answers today.

Tips to get your resume past scanners and screeners

Abridged: Feisty Side of Fifty

DENVER, CO -- In order to ensure your resume gets passed along, you'll need to "learn the rules of the game." Applicant tracking systems are programmed to allow only those resumes that match the search criteria (i.e. keywords) to make it through the screening process and eventually wind up on the recruiter's computer screen. If yours does not reflect what they're looking for, it will disappear into the black hole of cyberspace.

Give them what they want. You'll need to match your skill sets to the skills advertised in the posting. Whatever you put on your resume needs to be 100% truthful, however it's your decision as to which skills you choose to emphasize. Remember, software cannot make assumptions, your resume needs to duplicate the advertised skills as closely as possible.

Placement is Important. If your resume makes it through the screening process of the applicant tracking software, it will eventually be viewed by a human screener/recruiter. Most reviewers claim to give resumes only a 30-second scan. Therefore your key skills and experience need to be readily visible and placed at the top of your resume. Ask yourself the "so what" question. Although keywords and skills are critical, you'll need to sell the reviewer on your abilities by stressing your accomplishments. Asking yourself "so what" after each bulleted statement on your resume will help you focus on the positive results you've achieved.

What if a Patient Won't Follow My Advice?

Question
What is a nurse's responsibility when a patient wants to do something that is unsafe?

Response from Carolyn Buppert, MSN, JD Healthcare attorney, Boulder, Colorado

The nurse who asked this question provided the following example: A patient who was admitted to the hospital because of increased seizure activity leaves the unit to go outside to smoke, against the nurse's advice.

The nurse's responsibility is to give the patient evidence-based advice, to explain the rationale for the advice, to advise the patient of the consequences of not following the advice, and to give the patient a time frame -- when the patient should do whatever is advised. The nurse should then document the advice given and the patient's response. What happens next depends on the nature of the advice and the risk. For example, if the patient with increased seizure activity goes outside to smoke, against advice, the nurse has no responsibility or authority to detain the patient. However, if the patient is threatening to jump out the window or otherwise hurt him- or herself, clearly the nurse's responsibility moves to a higher level: Call for help and make every effort to dissuade the patient from jumping.

Usually, the situation is somewhere between the extremes of these 2 situations. For example, a patient needs some sort of follow-up (diagnostic test, consultation from a specialist, medication, or lifestyle change) but doesn't comply. Then, the nurse's responsibility is to persist; that is, attempt to find out why the patient isn't complying, urge the patient to comply, repeat the explanation of the necessity for compliance, continue to teach the patient, and enlist other healthcare providers to reinforce the advice. The level of assertiveness of the nurse must be titrated to the severity of the consequences if the patient doesn't take the nurse's advice.

One class down.....

 All the grades aren't in yet but I am glad with all the work I've done in my first class of  my  Master's Program. 
The class, which was Theoretical Foundations for Nursing Roles And Practice, was very interesting.  I learned a great deal about nursing theories and the different schools of thought on the how, what and why of what we do as nurses.  There were days were I felt like I was not given all I needed to be the best nurse.  I most days than not asked "Why weren't we taught this sooner?"  There is so much ADN and BSN should be exposed to before they hit the unit and I hope as a future educator to impress upon my students and colleagues the value of being committed to live long learning.  Right now I have the skills, the critical thinking, the passion to be a nurse, but there is so much more and I want it!
My new class starts today...Nursing Research & Evidence Based Practice!  If its similar to my research class while getting my BSN I hope to do well.  I liked learning about research and it was interesting to see all the different types of questions researchers ask and investigate.  I don't see myself, at this point, being an active researcher, but I could see myself collaborating with others on certain projects.  That brings up my other topic, team work.  I realize as a nurse, I must work with others and I want to work with others,especially when dealing with patients and their health.  Now when it comes to my grades/points I want to be the responsible party.  Having to work with others who may not be as zealous as I am, concerns me because I want to give my very best each and every time....no half stepping.  I learning that isn't always the case, even in this setting,which is sad to me but you see it work, in organizations, everywhere.  No one puts care into anything unless they can get something out of it.  Why waste the time?  Well I see this as a learning ground for me to have to deal with this people, maybe be a good example/role model and store this information for when I am practicing, which I hope will be soon!
Well got some more reading to do for this first week.  Here's to another great 8 weeks & prayerfully an "A" not an A- (missed by .07 last class)!  

Times flies and I'm still having fun!

It has been 8 weeks since I went back to school and despite the hard work and dedication I must have I am loving it.  In many ways this class is preparing me for the next step....working.

There have been so many things that I have learned that I wish we were learning at the baccalaureate level.   Because we are with patients when they are at their most vulnerable we should want to be at our personal best.  Life and death should not be watered down to a collection of skills.
All in all it has been an awesome 8 weeks and I am confident the next 8 will be just as great, especially since I'll be adding working to the mix!

8 things you can do to help your patients’ families

by Scrubs Contributor • May 14, 2013 Career, Career Advice for Nurses

Tell me if this sounds familiar.
I’m sitting outside our children’s hospital waiting for a relative. The woman next to me is smoking her cigarette with an intensity that screams “patient’s mother,” and her orange wristband is a clear giveaway.
I’m open about my son’s heart defects and surgeries, but I don’t assume others share my openness. So, I gently opened a door for the woman to talk if she wanted to. We were in the same club, after all, and had the bracelets to prove it.
She proceeded to bear her soul to me.
Her teen daughter was airlifted after a car accident and suffered severe brain trauma. The mother rode in the helicopter and had no change of underwear, had little cash and was down to her last few cigarettes. She wanted to go to a Walmart, but feared she couldn’t afford a cab.
I asked her if she’d spoken with a social worker yet. She said no.
She was at her child’s side for 48 hours. She hardly used the toilet, hadn’t slept outside of the bedside chair and this cigarette was her one reprieve. I told her to ask her nurse to page a social worker, that there were vouchers for cab fare, cafeteria meals and things like that. I told her to use the specific term “social worker.”
Television hasn’t engendered trust in “social workers.” The average person has no idea that hospitals staff them to help in crises. Then again, the average person doesn’t know the protocols of being airlifted with a critically ill child. Under extreme circumstances, families are not filtered through the standard admissions process. If no one asks if they want emotional or financial support services, they cannot say yes—they don’t know to ask.
Is there more that nurses can do?
As a nurse, you can help guide a struggling family through the hospital ropes…but it’s hard to know what you can and should offer if you’ve never been on the other side of the critical care bed before. If you’re a new nurse, or recently have moved from a less intense setting to the ICU, these tips can help you better help your patients’ families.
8 things you can do to help your patient’s family:

• Put yourself in their chairs. What would you need and would you know where to find it?
• Show and tell them where to get free coffee or water, if available.
• Explain shift change before shift change. Getting kicked out without warning is stressful for parents or spouses.
• Learn the resources available to families in your hospital so you offer them in an appropriate context.
• Ask if they want a social worker to talk to them about vouchers or services. Many, especially first-timers, won’t ask you or are reluctant to take “charity.” Keep asking.
• Offer to contact child life, family counseling, a chaplain or social worker (and make sure the resource actually shows up). The family’s stress isn’t helping your patient.
• Encourage them to take a walk and use a volunteer or friend to fill their seat. If sitting for long periods is bad for airline travelers and office workers, it is no less bad for families sitting bedside.
• Visit a parent/family room or the Ronald McDonald House (or similar) at least once in your career. Knowing you’ve bothered to see things from their side of the bed will increase a family’s trust in you.

Amanda Rose Adams is a child health advocate. Her first book, Heart Warriors: A Family Faces Congenital Heart Disease (Behler Publications, 2012), recounts the journey the Adamses took from expecting parents to Heart Warriors. Adams founded two nonprofit organizations to both educate parents about rare congenital heart defects and raise critical research dollars. She is currently a member of Baby’s First Test 2013 Consumer Advocacy Task Force. Adams has written for scrubsmag.com and the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Bioethics. She holds a master’s degree in technical journalism from Colorado State University.

Safe Patient Handling and Mobility: Interprofessional National Standards

Safe Patient Handling and Mobility: Interprofessional National Standards
No health care worker should face the constant risk of instantaneous or cumulative musculoskeletal injury from lifting, moving, and re-positioning health care recipients, when assistive technology that has been proven effective is available. Likewise, health care recipients should no longer be exposed to an injury risk – or an affront to their dignity – from manual patient handling. The Standards set the path to a stronger culture of safety and higher quality of care.

• The Movement Toward a Vigorous Culture of Safety (Press Release)
• Teleconference – Launch of ANA’s Safe Patient Handling and Mobility: Interprofessional National Standards (Audio - 29:26)
  Experts present the background and goals of the initiative to implement comprehensive SPHM program across the care continuum with guidance of the new national standards:
  • Suzy Harrington, DNP, RN, MCHES, director, ANA’s Department for Health, Safety, and Wellness
  • Karen Daley, PhD, RN, FAAN, ANA president
  • Mary Matz, MSPH, CPE, CSPHP, national program manager for patient care ergonomics, Veterans Health Administration
  • Ronda Fritz, MA, BSN, RN, Safe Patient Handling Facility Champion, VA-Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System
  • Robert Williamson, MS, BSN, RN, CWCP, director of associate safety, Ascension Health

• The Safe Patient Handling and Mobility book: A Sampler
• Safe Patient Handling and Mobility: Creating the Framework (video)
• Frequently Asked Questions
• SPHM Overview
• Myth vs. Reality
• Navigating the Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Interprofessional National Standards Webinar
• Infographic: Survey Results, Injury Stats, Lift Estimate
• SPHM Work Group: A Diverse Array of Professionals