IHG Education Foundation

Benefits of Nurse Certification

1. Increased earnings and opportunities.

The National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA) identifies many benefits to nursing certification, including higher nursing salaries, greater prestige, and enhanced job opportunities.

2. Career advancement.

Employers value certification, and certification can lead to career advancements through clinical ladders or promotions.

3. Proficiency in your nursing specialty.

Certification promotes excellence in nursing and demonstrates knowledge and proficiency in your specialty.

4. Expertise to handle complex cases.

Nursing is becoming more complex, she explained, and certified nurses have the expertise to care for patients with multifaceted needs and disease processes. It also elevates the hospital’s service lines to employ certified nurses.

5. Career mobility (including more job offers).

Certification leads to greater career mobility and opportunities. Certification can move your application ahead, whether at a hospital or with a travel nurse recruiter.

6. Better patient outcomes.

Nursing specialties certification was linked with better patient outcomes and improved quality of care. Specifically, a 10 percent increase in nurses with certification was associated with a 2 percent decrease in 30-day mortality.

7. Essential step in professional development and leadership.

Nursing certification is an essential part of professional development and the first step in being an advocate, change agent, leader, and expert.

8. Continual learning through recertification.

Through the renewal process, registered nurse certifications promote continued learning and help to advance the nursing profession.

Certification creates a framework where you achieve professional fitness through lifelong learning.

7 Secrets to Improving Nurse–Physician Relationships

1. Take pride in your practice.

Show up on time, pay attention to details and do the absolute best that you can. Such professionalism leaves little room for complaints and can build respect.

2. Communicate effectively.

Research has shown that some physicians express frustration with nurses who don’t communicate information in an organized, logical, and concise manner.

Learn to communicate information clearly and efficiently, without a lot of extraneous detail, especially in emergency situations.

Some hospitals and organizations have instituted standardized communication tools to bridge the gaps that often exist between people with different communication styles, which can also be helpful.

3. Embrace the team approach.

Everyone on your team, not just the physician, has an important role to play. Approach the situation as a collaboration, one in which you are just as responsible for the patient as the physician.

4. Speak up when you notice a problem or a potential error.

You can do this calmly and carefully, but you must not be afraid to speak up. You cannot claim to be a professional and a patient advocate if you won’t speak up if you see something that’s wrong.

5. Avoid negative behaviors.

If you want to be respected, you must act worthy of that respect. You don’t want to be the kind of person that people interact with one time and then never want to see again.

6. Consider the context.

Health care is fraught with stressful situations, which can lead to a physician or another clinician saying something that is unintentionally hurtful.

It can be helpful to consider the context of the situation, and not just the literal words that were spoken, before reacting or responding.

7. Have a sense of humor.

That doesn’t mean joking around on the job. But there are times that humor can help reframe a situation or defuse a tense moment.

How Nurses Cope with Postcode Stress

A team of researchers recently set out to understand how nurses cope following the death of a patient after CPR, and to identify nurses most at risk for postcode stress and PTSD.

When critical care nurses participate in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) that fails to save the patient, how do they deal with the stress and loss?

And how do you know if you and your fellow nurses are feeling “normal” emotions or are at risk for developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

“Stress and Coping of Critical Care Nurses After Unsuccessful Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation” explores the relationship between postcode stress, PTSD symptom severity, and coping behaviors after an unsuccessful attempt to resuscitate a patient.

Finding ways to minimize distress and improve resiliency not only helps the individual nurse but may also help combat high turnover and vacancy rates for critical care nurses.

The researchers reported that thousands of critical care nurses are involved in resuscitation attempts within critical care units every year, and between 40% and 84% of them result in immediate or imminent death of the patient within 24 hours.

These frequent and cumulative exposures to unsuccessful cardiopulmonary resuscitations can result in psychological trauma.

The role of debriefings and coping behaviors:

The study found that critical care nurses show moderate levels of postcode stress and PTSD symptoms when asked to recall an unsuccessful resuscitation.

Nurses who had institutional debriefing support reported significantly lower postcode stress scores than their colleagues without such support.

The researchers also analyzed how 10 study variables influenced the participants’ self-reported severity of PTSD symptoms.

They found that the four negative coping behaviors included in the survey were significant predictors of PTSD symptom severity. These behaviors included:

Denial

Self-distraction

Self-blame

Behavioral disengagement

The research adds to the growing body of evidence that confirms the link between healthy work environments and patient safety.

8 Ways to Avoid Nurse Burnout

1. Pay attention to what and how you are feeling.

Work on noticing your negative thoughts and looking for ways to find a positive angle.

This is a hallmark of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), which helps create a greater awareness of the present, understand your typical reactions to stressors and develop healthier ways of responding.

2. Determine, or remember, what you enjoy about practicing nursing.

Focus on finding ways to remain open and curious. The more we can bring curiosity, there is a freshness that is available to us in the present moment.

3. Practice deep-breathing techniques.

Before you open the door to a patient’s room, stop and take 5 –10 slow, deep breaths. This will help you re-center and ground yourself.

4. Take short breaks.

If you’re the type to just keep on working, you may need to reevaluate this approach and find a way to give yourself some time off.

5. Take a longer break.

Letting that vacation time accrue? Time to use some of it.

Getting physically away may help you put some emotional distance between yourself and your work, allowing you to recharge.

6. Practice an activity you enjoy that requires your attention.

Focusing on something besides your nursing job gets your mind off of the negative aspects of your day and allows your mind to rest.

Whether you prefer reading, sewing or an athletic pursuit, the important thing is to choose something in which you can immerse yourself for a little while.

7. Try yoga.

A team of UCLA researchers found that a short daily practice of yoga helped caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients reduce their stress levels, in a study.

This ancient practice combines simple movements with breathing techniques that can help you calm and refocus yourself.

8. Consider a change.

If you still value being a nurse but need a change of venue, you might consider making a permanent job change or getting out to experience new places and work environments as a travel nurse.

America Needs More Healthcare Professionals

The US is facing a critical shortage of skilled healthcare professionals in several fields. According to a report from CNN Money, “The US will need to hire 2.3 million new healthcare workers by 2025 in order to adequately take care of its aging population. But a persistent shortage of skilled workers—from nurses to physicians to lab technicians— will mean hundreds of thousands of positions will remain unfilled”.

According to research by global health care staffing consultancy, Mercer....” The largest number of new job openings – about 423,200 -- will be for home health aides”, the report found. “Few other industries are racing the clock to find a future-ready workforce like today’s healthcare administrators”, said Jason Narlock, senior consultant with Mercer. Mercer lists several staggering numbers of shortages in various fields by 2025:

·446,300 home health aides

·400,000 new nursing assistant positions

·51,500 new nurse practitioner openings with not nearly enough skilled workers to fill them and

·98,000 medical and clinical lab technicians and technologists.

How Is IHGCC Helping?
IHGCC is responding to this crisis. We have certified over 6,000 CNA and Medical Assistant student and Home Health Aides, helping them advance their careers. In addition, we have collaborated with a significant number of diverse organizations that have supported our school by allowing our students to do important clinical externships, as well as hiring them after they complete our program successfully.

We have made an impact in the San Diego community by developing quality graduates that provide superior and compassionate care for our seniors at a number of care facilities throughout San Diego.

The IHGEF has been established to help meet this need by providing scholarships and other forms of financial aid. But we need your support to help solve this critical shortage. You and your family members will surely benefit from more skilled healthcare professionals being available, should you need their care.

America Needs More Healthcare Professionals

The US is facing a critical shortage of skilled healthcare professionals in several fields. According to a report from CNN Money, “The US will need to hire 2.3 million new healthcare workers by 2025 in order to adequately take care of its aging population. But a persistent shortage of skilled workers—from nurses to physicians to lab technicians— will mean hundreds of thousands of positions will remain unfilled”.

According to research by global health care staffing consultancy, Mercer....” The largest number of new job openings – about 423,200 -- will be for home health aides”, the report found. “Few other industries are racing the clock to find a future-ready workforce like today’s healthcare administrators”, said Jason Narlock, senior consultant with Mercer. Mercer lists several staggering numbers of shortages in various fields by 2025:

·446,300 home health aides

·400,000 new nursing assistant positions

·51,500 new nurse practitioner openings with not nearly enough skilled workers to fill them and

·98,000 medical and clinical lab technicians and technologists.

How Is IHGCC Helping?
IHGCC is responding to this crisis. We have certified over 6,000 CNA and Medical Assistant student and Home Health Aides, helping them advance their careers. In addition, we have collaborated with a significant number of diverse organizations that have supported our school by allowing our students to do important clinical externships, as well as hiring them after they complete our program successfully.

We have made an impact in the San Diego community by developing quality graduates that provide superior and compassionate care for our seniors at a number of care facilities throughout San Diego.

The IHGEF has been established to help meet this need by providing scholarships and other forms of financial aid. But we need your support to help solve this critical shortage. You and your family members will surely benefit from more skilled healthcare professionals being available, should you need their care.

Inexpensive ways to decorate your travel nurse housing for the season

Think thrift first:

Seriously, don’t discount thrift stores as a source of budget-friendly decorations (pun intended). You may not have packed for entertaining, but now you want to host a few new nurse friends for a holiday get-together.

Not a problem; thrift stores are great places to pick up trays, serving dishes, glassware and even holiday dinnerware for only a few dollars.

Bring winter indoors:

What better excuse to get out and explore a new city than to hunt for holiday decorations?

Collect a few bare branches in a tall vase and then hang some pinecones, inexpensive icicle ornaments, colorful paper dreidels or holiday cards from the branches.

If you’re on a coastal assignment, go hunt seashells and driftwood to make a beach-inspired “tree.”

Oh, Christmas Tree:

For some travel nurses, there’s just no Christmas without a Christmas tree.

A small artificial tree can be a practical choice, but it can’t match the beauty and smell of a real tree. If the hefty price tag of either type of tree leaves you cold, opt for a creative alternative.

Design holiday wall art by pinning strings of lights on the wall in the shape of a Christmas tree or to spell out a holiday greeting. You could even drape them in the corner, alternating from wall to wall, to give your light tree some dimension.

Pin on photos and holiday cards from friends and family as ornaments. Bonus points for nostalgia if you string popcorn and cranberries garland.

Celebrate your travel nursing lifestyle:

Many travel nurses collect Christmas ornaments as travel mementos, representing special places and memories from their assignments. You could start your collection this holiday season and relive the memories every year.

String your special ornaments on ribbons at varying lengths across a window for an effortless look that can be enjoyed both inside and outside your apartment.

Maybe you collect postcards from the places you visit on your travel nursing jobs.

Laminate them, punch a hole in the corner and string them up as ornaments; they could also make unique holiday cards to send to your friends back home.

Working Over the Holidays? How to Make the Most of It

Plan and prioritize:

Understanding the facility's scheduling policies and planning in advance can lead to a successful and stress-free holiday season.

Prioritize the holidays that are most important to you, and then put in a request for those days as early as possible.

The majority of hospitals operate under the hierarchy of seniority, so senior staff nurses typically get first dibs on which holiday shifts to take off.

Pay it forward:

We’ve all heard the saying, “Take one for the team,” and volunteering to work holidays that are not as important to you can mean the world to your nursing colleagues.

If your big family gathering typically happens at Thanksgiving or you absolutely love the Fourth of July, you can sign up to work another holiday which will allow Christmas or Hanukkah to happen for one of your fellow nurses.

Problem-solve and propose some fun:

Take some time to identify the things that are going to help a holiday shift be fun for you and your colleagues, and also memorable for your patients. If you go in saying, “How can we make lemonade out of this?” you can create some nice experiences and make it special for everyone all the way around.

Simple gestures such as baking your grandma’s favorite pie, donning colorful scrubs, setting up a Secret Santa, organizing a group dinner, or adorning the nurses’ station with some festive decorations (where allowed) can make a powerful impact.

Thinking outside the box is something nurses do best and looking beyond the traditional holidays to celebrate and relax can be just what the nurse practitioner ordered.

Although most nurses have to work on holidays at some point, it might not be forever. Seniority helps, for every year that you do it.

And many nurses branch out to other practice areas that do not require holiday work. In fact, only half of the nurse’s work is inpatient, and many move to specialties such as community health, surgery centers, and other work environments where holidays off are the ultimate gift.

4 Ideas to Simplify and Slim Down Your Holiday Meals

1. Prep in advance:

Nurses know all about being prepared, and preparing meals ahead just takes a little planning. Let’s take a look at a common holiday staple: mashed potatoes. You can make this dish (and many other common holiday foods) a lot easier by preparing everything in advance.

In fact, there are countless recipes online for “make-ahead” mashed potatoes where you can make the dish several days in advance and then just throw it in the oven when it’s time to get ready for your holiday dinner!

2. Remember the freezer is your friend:

Whether you are attending a potluck, hosting a party, or planning an entire feast, strategically utilizing the freezer can make things a lot easier. Consider designating part of your next day off as your prep-and-freeze day. You can use this time to prepare soups, desserts and easy-to-freeze side dishes or appetizers.

3. Make healthy swaps:

Slimming down recipes can also be simple: it’s all about the swap. There are countless little swaps you can do to make your holiday meals a little bit healthier and more nutritious without sacrificing much in the way of flavors and taste.

Here are some common, “healthy” swaps to give any dish an instant slim-down:

● Spaghetti squash for white pasta.

● Applesauce for oil in baked goods (check recipe for measurements).

● Sweet potato or yam for regular baking potatoes.

● Spinach for iceberg lettuce.

● Greek yogurt for sour cream.

● Mashed cauliflower for mashed potatoes.

● Kale chips for potato chips.

4. Use that crockpot:

Ah, the power of the slow cooker, a.k.a. crockpot! There’s almost nothing this little guy can’t do, and once you unleash the power of dumping ingredients into a pot and then walking away, you’ll never look back.

From making chili for those cool nights, to hearty steel-cut oatmeal for any time of day, there are so many easy dishes you can start prior to your shift.

5 Tips to Minimize Risk of Getting Sick

1. Ease into the local foods.
That spicy Southern gumbo may be tempting, but it’s a good idea to adapt slowly to the local flavors.

Over time your body can adjust to the differences in the food and spices, but in the meantime, unfamiliar foods can upset your digestive tract, resulting in heartburn, cramps, gas, diarrhea or vomiting.

2. Stay well hydrated.

Whether it is a long plane flight, an unprecedented heat wave, or a higher-than-normal altitude that you’re adjusting to, drinking plenty of water can keep your body hydrated, staving off dizziness or shortness of breath. It can also help keep your digestive system working as it should.

3. Maintain a regular exercise regimen.

Your overall health is more likely to adapt to environmental changes if a regular exercise regimen is followed. Just 30 minutes of physical activity each day can boost your immune system and help you fight off illness, according to WebMD.

Daily exercise also helps you sleep more soundly, which is a great way to overcome any time zone difference challenges you may be facing.

4. Prevent bug bites.

Mosquitos can run rampant in some parts of the country, especially in hot months and in areas with standing water.

They can also transmit debilitating diseases. The bite or sting from bees, spiders, ticks, fleas, or cockroaches can also spread viruses or allergic reactions, making you sick.

If you have relocated to an area with a large assortment of bugs, limit your chances of getting bitten or stung by using DEET spray, or wearing clothing that covers up your vulnerable, exposed skin.

5. Take it easy on yourself.

Adjusting to new surroundings, new work schedules, new commuting routes, etc., can zap your energy those first few days after arriving at a new assignment.

If you push your body too far when you first arrive--even for fun activities--you may end up paying for it.

So, take it easy, get your rest, and once you are acclimated, get ready to step out with your health intact.