Archive for the ‘Nursing Tips’ Category

Sep
22
Filed Under (Nursing Tips) by pooch on 25-04-2007
Having signed on with a nursing agency, make sure you nail these basics. Know the ancillary staff members and their roles. When you’re assigned to a new hospital, or a new unit, go to the nurse, manager or unit secretary to find out who does what. Learn their names and use them. Then locate the policy and procedure manuals. Then use them. Even if it’s different from what you know, as long as it’s reasonable, safe, and lawful, follow hospital policy. Do not try to implement the policies of one hospital in another without going through the proper channels. Be open-minded. Your way may not always be the best way, so be flexible enough to learn new skills from the hospital staff. Be patient and do not complain. Most hospitals try to give agency nurses manageable assignments. But if your assignment is overwhelming, discuss your concerns with the agency to prevent that situation from happening again. Get oriented as soon as possible. If your agency does not provide a formal orientation when you work at a new location, arrive early for your first shift to orient yourself. Find out who to use as a resource person. For example, the charge nurse may orient you to the equipment unit, code cart, telephone paging system, Charting system, and any special codes. But be prepared for the expectation that you’ll be productive immediately. Chart thoroughly and accurately. Although most hospitals use a flow sheet or checklist Charting system, be as thorough as possible and use Narrative Charting to address patient issues. Document everything. Use the pharmacy as a resource. As an agency nurse, you’ll administer various Medications. If you’re not sure about the actions and interactions of a drug you’re Administering, ask the Pharmacist or refer to a comprehensive and current pharmacology reference. Be prepared and identifiable. Take your own equipment, Stethoscope, and so on-to every assignment. Always display your identification prominently on your uniform.
After signing with a nursing agency, make sure that these basic elements of nails.

Meet staff members and their auxiliary functions.
When he is assigned to a new hospital, or a new unit, go to the nurse, manager or unit secretary to find out who does what. Learn their names and use them. Then, locate the policy and procedure manuals. Then use them. Even if different from what you know, as long as is reasonable, safe and legal, follow the policy of the hospital. Do not try to implement the policies of a hospital in another without going through the proper channels.

Be open-minded. His form may not always be the best way to be flexible enough to learn new skills from the hospital staff. Be patient and not complain. Most hospitals are trying to give agency nurses manageable tasks. But if your task is overwhelming, discuss your concerns with the agency to prevent that situation from happening again.

Aimed at achieving as soon as possible. If your agency does not offer a formal orientation when working at a new location, arrive early for their first shift to orient yourself. Find out who to use as a resource person. For example, the nurse in charge in May to guide the team unit, code car phone speaker system, graphics system, and any special codes. But be prepared for the expectation that you will be productive immediately.

Chart thoroughly and accurately. Although most hospitals use a sheet flow control or graphics system, such as thoroughly as possible and use the mapping narrative to address the issues of the patient. The whole document.

Use the pharmacy as a resource. As an agency nurse, you manage multiple medications. If you are unsure about the actions and interactions of a drug that is the administration, ask the pharmacist or refer to a broad and current pharmacology reference.

Be prepared and identifiable. Take your own equipment, stethoscope, and so on to each assignment. Always show their identification prominently in his uniform.



Sep
16
Filed Under (Nursing Tips) by pooch on 25-04-2007

Nursing is a noble profession and requires as much dedication as a physician. A nurse is the primary care-giving a patient safety and contributes to recovery of patients. Good nurses are always in demand. Any medical service is incomplete without the infirmary. Whether the Boards general or the operation theatre, the role of trained nurses is paramount everywhere. Nursing includes various responsibilities, such as maintaining patient records, dispensing drugs, creating teams of an operation theatre and many other routine jobs. As specialized functions, nurses are obligated to care for psychiatric or pediatric patients.

In fact, these days, Indian nurses have good career opportunities abroad. India is seen as a talent of qualified nurses. The nursing course can be done both in degree and diploma. B. Sc Nursing course is a popular and available in several renowned universities and institutes. There are many courses in nursing and nursing colleges in India. Nursing training includes both theory and practice.

Caring for the sick and sick people is not meant task. It requires patience and kind of joy beyond compare. Probably, this is why t is their profession dominated by women. The name of the nurse Florence Nightingale became a part of history when she served patients in the Crimean War.

At the beginning of the service, a nurse is confident in bed with patient care. With the passage of time and gain more experience, you can specialize in handling patients in a section as psychiatry, pediatrics, cardiology, expertise that are needed.

Eligibility to pursue a bachelor of nursing course is that you must have completed 10 +2 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as compulsory subjects. For a postgraduate course in Nursing, one must have successfully completed a degree in nursing. Subsequently, the eligibility requirements for a Ph. D in Nursing is the successful conclusion of Graduate Nursing. There are about 500 nurses training institutes in India to admit some 10000 students each year. The minimum age for admission is seventeen.

One can take a course in Hindu Rao Hospital, New Delhi, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education Research in Chandigarh, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur College of Nursing in Delhi, Jamia Hamdard Rufer School of Nursing in Delhi, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in
New Delhi, Institute of Health Sciences in Mangalore, in addition to many other institutes.

Acharya Institute of Health Sciences and is affiliated to the prestigious University of Bangalore. The institute offers degree and postgraduate level post-graduate course in nursing. B. Sc Nursing is a full-time four-year course which includes the following topics: Kannada, sociology, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, Basic Principles and Practice of Nursing, General Psychology, educational psychology, microbiology, Introduction to Community Nursing and Health. M. Sc Nursing is a full-time two-year course which includes the following: Medical Surgical Nursing, Community Health Nursing, pediatric nursing, advanced concepts of Nursing and Health, biological and psychological foundation of Nursing, training and education of Nursing, Biostatics, Research Methodology and nursing research.

Sacred Heart School of Nursing based in Jalandhar, Punjab offers a full-time 3-year Diploma in General Nursing and Midwifery to train students in the field of General Nursing and Midwifery. Eligibility to appear eh college entrance exam is obtaining a minimum of 45% to 12 marks class. An entrance examination is carried out to the eligible candidates. Oral interview and verification of the original certificates is carried out by those candidates who qualify in the entrance examination.
Once completed the course, one joins as a nurse in hospitals, clinics and nursing homes. One can become a nurse regardless of whether one has a Bachelor degree or diploma certificate. The main difference is reflected in the number of increments and duration between promotions. After the initial course, a nurse can specialize in fields such as Psychiatric Nursing, Pediatric Nursing, the Opera Theatre of Nursing, the treatment of cancer in Nursing and Neo-natal nursing.

A good nurse would have inherent qualities such as patience, perseverance, responsibility and punctuality. At work, the success of the nurse develop qualities such as organizational skills, flexibility and ability to comment and rapid decision-making. Alert mind and team spirit are also necessary to cope with emergencies.

The demand for nurses is very high in India and abroad. Nurses can get good jobs in schools, health departments, orphanages, homes for senior citizens, defense, industrial houses etc. One could also opt to join a training institute as an educator. In countries like the UK, U.S. and the Middle East, nurses are paid very handsomely. In fact, India is the largest supplier of nurses to the world.

The starting salary of a nurse ranges from Rs.10000 to Rs.12000 per month. In state hospitals, but also get some allowances for uniforms, subsidized rental housing, washing allowance, the Government of accommodation and free medical treatment



Sep
10
Filed Under (Nursing Tips) by pooch on 25-04-2007

Do you like the medical industry, and helping others who work with people in need? Are you patient, outgoing, warm and friendly? Do you love to meet new people and challenges facing everyday life? If so, you may want to pursue a career as a nursing assistant. Once you get the proper experience and training, which can immediately begin working with doctors, nurses and other doctors.

Nursing assistants are trained to the medical profession in trade, vocational or technical schools. Following a graduate student, a nursing assistant may choose to become a nursing assistant certificate, which will increase the likelihood of a better paid. This implies more schooling and professional certification.

Several regions of the United States give different titles to nursing assistants. An assistant may also be known as a nurse aid, orderly, an assistant home health, personal care assistant and a technician of patient care. Basically, all play the same functions of ordinary dressing, meals, exercising, bathing, administration of medications, bathing, recording vital signs and other general care to provide each patient with quality care. Patient care technicians also provide personal care and attention to elderly or disabled people who may not be able to independently care for themselves.

Working in the field of medicine can be demanding and stressful. It is not for everyone. Being a nursing assistant requires a great deal of compassion, patience and tolerance. Nursing assistants should enjoy working with a variety of people who may be injured, disabled or mentally unstable. They should enjoy providing security and comfort, have a good sense of humor and love talking to people who may possess different ethnic or funding. If you possess most of these characteristics would be an ideal nursing assistant. It can be a very rewarding career.
Once you get a certification of nursing assistant, may carry out a position in hospitals, adult health centers, nursing homes, personal homes or assisted living apartments. Nursing assistants typically work under the supervision of a brilliant medical staff.

Nursing Assistant classes are usually led by a professional registered nurse. The duration of training can vary. Often, schools will offer evening or weekend classes for people who already have a full-time job or having children. These classes teach the fundamentals of caregiving. Assistant Nursing courses include medical-surgical nursing, pharmacology, physiology, anatomy, newborn care, infection control, personal care, phlebotomy, emergency care, patient safety, first aid and CPR. Students are also given practical experience that prepares them adequately for a nursing career.



Sep
01
Filed Under (Nursing Tips) by pooch on 25-04-2007

When someone enters the nursing profession, they quite often have a specialization in mind. As the field of medicine expands exponentially every single day, more and more of today’s nurses want to refine their skills and practice in a specialization that will make them more marketable and more available to specialized centers. The field of pediatric nursing is one that is expanding all of the time, and this is in part due to the advance in medical science that is coming up with more and more cures and treatments for diseases and disorders specific to children and adolescents. Pediatric nursing is an exciting field to be in today, however, it is one of those specializations that require a unique individual, as it is less often than not, a field of glamour and excitement.

Pediatric nursing is not the walk in the park that many see it as. In fact, it is known to be one of the most difficult specializations of nursing in the medical field today. There is a significant abundance of rewards available to the practitioner in pediatric nursing as they assist children and adolescents in getting better and improving the quality of their lives. Every child is significant and every child is a reward in itself to today’s pediatric nurse. However, today’s pediatric nurse must meet the challenge of understanding that not every child will have a happy ending. This is quite possibly the most difficult element of pediatric nursing, and as such, it is not for everyone.

What does it take to be successful in pediatric nursing today? For starters, a degree within the specialization will be required. Depending on your location and the governing body of nurses in your area, the type of degree will vary. A nursing degree or certificate is a must, but you may need a specialized degree in pediatric nursing as an adjunct to your nursing degree. Prescription dosages, various treatments, and many other factors vary for children in comparison to adults. Babies in fact do not even have the same norms of vital signs as adults do, and thus, this education is required before you practice in pediatric nursing. Check with your local agencies and governing bodies that regulate nursing standards in your area to see what educational requirements are necessary, and if this is something that is feasible for you.

Employers of pediatric nurses will also be looking for a unique individual, and not necessarily the one that is the most educated. Compassion will be a key concern for the individual that undertakes pediatric nursing and this is not something you will be able to learn, you either have it or you don’t. A unique gift of compassionate personality will be something people will generally describe about you and if you have this gift, you may make it in pediatric nursing. You need to be compassionate not just for the small little beings you are taking care of, but for their families as well. Working with families or parents of sick children is entirely different than working with families of adults, and this is a gift employers will look for. Reference letters that report this as a key component of your persona will work very well for you here.

The most obvious thing you need to have in your attitude is an enjoyment of working with children. You need to learn how to love each of your patients as if they were your own such that you can care for them in the best quality way. On the other hand, you need to be able to separate yourself from your patients with an air of objectivity that is more productive than emotional. You will run into situations yourself that are emotionally draining and difficult to see, and as a result, you need to have an inner strength that is capable of handling this.

There is no question that pediatric nursing is one of the most exciting fields to work in for today’s nurse. It is quite possibly more rewarding than any other nursing specialty as well. However, the specialty of pediatric nursing does not come without an equal balance of challenges and disappointments. The pediatric nurses that shine in their fields today are those that are capable of understanding and maintaining this balance, of providing care that is compassionate and loving, but do not lose sight of the job that is required. Before you go into pediatric nursing, weight each of these elements to see if you are up to the challenge. If you are, you will be rewarded with an exciting and rewarding career.



Sep
01
Filed Under (Nursing Tips) by pooch on 25-04-2007

Finding the right nursing job is all about keeping your mind open to different opportunities and researching all possibilities. First things first, it is important to have an idea of the type of organization you are interested in. Luckily, today there are many more opportunities for those seeking a career in nursing than just hospitals.

The internet is a great place to start your search, but it is important to start by getting good advice from trusted sources. There are a lot of good trade associations and organizations for nurses. And, if you are doing research these are always the best places to start. You should also look into nursing forums and message boards. Associations such as the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the National Student Nurses Associations are great starting points.

Visiting your local college and university is the next important thing you should do. Colleges, community colleges, and universities are a great source of information and a good place to research and possibly get additional credentialing, take a few classes to brush on your skills, or learn new ones if needed. You may also stumble upon a few aptitude tests that may even show you what nursing skills you enjoy using the most. This will guide you to the nursing career path that will best suit you.

Finally, you need to research the various types of nursing positions that you may want to pursue. Think about the things that may be important to, factors such as travel time, flex-time, and benefits. Would you prefer to work with children, adults, seniors, or all? You may even decide that you would rather be a consultant, instructor, or rehabilitation coordinator. If traveling is not an issue, consider a career as a school based health nurse. These nurses travel to various schools and treat an assortment of injuries and illnesses for school aged children. School based health nurses are also the first line of defense for child abuse; so, if you are sensitive to children’s issues, this may not be the best career track for you.

The good thing is that nursing careers are always in demand; so job security will not be a problem. However, work hours maybe another concern, especially if you have small children or someone who is dependent upon you. In this instance you may want to focus your efforts on the consulting side. Although it’s not as exciting as “Scrubs,” being a nursing consultant has its perks. For starters, the hours are much better. Typically, nursing consultants may work for insurance companies and underwriters, large corporations as employee health nurses, or for local state, and federal governments.

Nursing consultants for insurance companies and underwriters are needed for their expertise in helping determine the cost of a potential claim. Workers compensation are and automobile claims are usually the most common areas where nursing consultants will be needed. In fact the need is so great in this area of workers compensation that there is an opportunity to start your own consulting business. Nurse Case Management is becoming more popular and if you have the right experience, and is a good start up or side business. Nurse Case Managers help get employees back to work, oversees their treatment, and help the insurance companies keep costs down. They also act as a liaison between the claimant, the insurance agent, and the doctors.

On the other hand, if you are unsure of the type of nursing path you would like to take, perhaps you should think of looking into government. The great thing about government is that you have the perfect opportunity to do numerous things. In most governments and municipalities the largest department is usually their human services department. Governments and municipalities hire a large number of nurses, many of which may start off working in a clinic, but move to other areas such as program management, contract administrators, or a host of other different jobs.

Finding the right nursing career is much easier, simply because there are so many options today. Research is important but, you must start in the right places. However, it is important to consider your motivating factors, before you decide on a particular job. For some, nursing means long hours and happy patients, for others it can mean giving seminars, or working with claimants. You just need to find out which path will work for you.