Migration to TheNursingSite.com

Migration to TheNursingSite.com will be complete as of JULY 1,2019 and this site will be deleted. Please update your bookmarks to THENURSINGSITE.COM.

Thanks,
Kathy

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Seven Tips for Starting Nursing School with a Full-Time Job

By Deborah Swanson

If you’re contemplating working full-time during nursing school or you’re already struggling to balance these commitments, read on for seven tips to stay sane while going to nursing school and holding down a full-time job.

1. Find a flexible job.

Maybe you’re lucky enough to already have a flexible job: You can set your own hours to a certain extent, you have a retail or food service position, you often work remotely or you freelance exclusively and can schedule your work whenever you want. If this describes your situation, then great! That will make it easier to continue your work during nursing school. But if it doesn’t, you might need to look into making a change. Your work schedule will need to accommodate classes from the get-go — and eventually shifts for clinical work as well.

2. Search for healthcare positions.

If you’re contemplating a job change to make it easier to work full-time while going to nursing school, consider looking for positions in the healthcare field. There are plenty of other jobs available in healthcare, such as home health aides and medical assistants. These roles sometimes offer shift work or schedules that are otherwise flexible, and the relevant experience will help bolster your resume when it comes time to search for that first nursing job after graduation.

3. Talk to your supervisors and co-workers.

Once you get accepted into nursing school, you’ll need to broach it with your supervisor at work. If your school hours won’t interfere with your shift, this might be a simple heads-up so they know you’re going to school — but if you’ll need to change your schedule, prepare for a longer conversation, and have a proposal in mind beforehand.

4. Figure out your finances.

Sit down and take a hard look at your finances, with your partner if you have one. Tally up all your current expenses (rent, food, gas, etc.) as well as any specific costs for nursing school, like tuition, textbooks, scrubs, nursing shoes. See if there’s anything you can reasonably trim, and figure out the absolute minimum income you need to bring in to cover all your expenses. Even though money seems tight, it’s only for a couple years.

5. Schedule your life.

Balancing a full-time job with nursing school means you’ll need to get really good at planning ahead and maximizing your time. Break down your semesters into months, the months into weeks, the weeks into days and the days into hourly blocks. First, mark down major dates such as exams and breaks. Then put down your classes and work hours. From there, you can determine when you have time to study, cook and take care of other necessary activities.

6. Create a study group.

Speaking of scheduling study time, creating a study group can be a great way to keep yourself accountable. When you procrastinate on studying, you’re cancelling on yourself — but it’s a lot harder to cancel on other people. Being part of a group makes studying an actual event, and you’ll be more likely to show up if other people are involved.

7. Look for a low-stress environment.

While you won’t always have a choice, if you do find yourself in the position of deciding between multiple jobs it’s worth considering which one will cause you less stress. Working in a calm, slow-paced environment can give you a respite from the hustle and bustle of nursing school and hospitals and add some balance to your life.

Deborah Swanson is a Coordinator for the Real Caregivers Program at allheart.com. A site dedicated to celebrating medical professionals and their journeys. She keeps busy interviewing caregivers and writing about them, gardening and walking her dogs.

Thanks Debbie!

NurseCEO Success Summit a Huge Hit!

Yesterday I had the honor of participating in the NurseCEO Success Summit in Los Angeles. The discussion centered around nurses building businesses beyond the bedside. The mission was "to educate, inspire, and empower nurses to be successful entrepreneurs, business owners, and business leaders." It was clearly fulfilled, and then some!

Several of the participants and attendees are not nurses, but their stories were most certainly relevant. The only negative was there was so much more to say and time ran out. Let's do it again soon!

In fact, there is another session booked for Nov. 17 in Atlanta and those of you who can, should make plans now to attend! You too will be a winner! #nurseceosummit.

Thank you Lolita Korneagay, Portia "Revlon" Wofford, Tobi Taj, and Shauna Chin!

@TheNurseCEO @lipstickandstethoscope @ShaunaChin @Tobi.Talks

National Register to Vote Day

Today (Sept. 25,2018) is National Register to Vote Day. Voting is a civic duty from the time American Citizens turn 18 until they are no longer alive or capable of making an informed decision. There are NO excuses! You can also check your voter registration status.

Your rights depend on your voting wherever you live. The deadline to register to vote in the upcoming Midterm election Nov. 6 is fast approaching. For instance, in California the deadline is Oct. 22.

There are many ways to register. USA.gov offers tips for each state on how to register and to vote. You may be able to register online.

Military and those living overseas can find information about registering and voting at Overseas Vote Foundation. 

If you have recently been married, changed your name for other reasons, moved to a new address, didn't vote in the last presidential election, or changed your political party affiliation you need to re-register. You MUST be registered in order to vote. Don't procrastinate, do it TODAY!

In most states (27) you can also order a mail-in (absentee) ballot if you won't have time/opportunity to vote in person. These ballots are not always just for shut-ins and disabled persons. Twenty states do require an excuse. With the promise of more election hacking possibilities, paper ballots may be the preferred way to vote until the issues can be addressed and resolved.Check with your state for rules on Absentee Ballots.

Did you know that 3 states, CO, WA, and OR automatically mail ballots to ever registered voter?
Voters can opt to vote in person, but have the ballot in case circumstances change.

Mail-in ballots need to be post marked by election day (or as set by state law) or can be delivered by the voter to your polling place before the polls close on Nov. 6. Please check the specifics for your state. Many states have laws protecting voters which require employers to allow time off to vote. If you don't want to hassle with that, order your absentee ballot.

The focus TODAY is to be REGISTERED to VOTE! Help register family and friends!

Never Forget

photo ©Kathy Quan

No words needed. #NEVER FORGET!

That Certain Patient

Dianne Cabelus-Braley

www.nursingtheneighborhood.com

I think it’s safe to assume many of us as nurses at one point or another have had that certain patient that we somewhere along the way became a little attached to,  maybe caring about a wee bit more than the rest.  I realize as a nurse this probably is politically incorrect to say but this happens.  We are human.  But if we are performing our job correctly it is that that we care more about not provide better care for certain patients from time to time.  In other words…  We kinda just like them better.  That being said we as nurses take an oath and in that we are to provide the best care that we can while remaining neutral, empathetic and objective but this does not mean we are lack emotion.  As a nurse that is the main component in our job, to care which is based on emotion.  With some certain patients we just find ourselves becoming a bit more invested.  The reasons this happens, who knows?   

Sometimes we relate to the person and find commonalities between us.  Other times they may remind us of someone we know or maybe we just get along well.  I think that we have all found with some certain patients we invest a little extra time and this can make it that much harder to leave them and even more difficult when they leave us.  I know that for me the patients that I have bonded with the most are the stubborn difficult ones who have a quick wit but can make you crazy.  My husband would say that type of person is very familiar to him.  I have found these are my most challenging patients but the ones that I get the most satisfaction in helping when they finally allow me to do that.  A nurse patient relationship is an intimate and unique one.  It’s really no wonder we get attached at times.  In this profession there are many highs and just as many lows and we occasionally find ourselves on an emotional roller coaster.  

So how to deal...

Rule number one is you need to balance empathy with objectivity and this can be difficult, especially for a new nurse.  It can be a slippery slope when you are to care for someone but at the same time not become emotionally invested.  While yes, with some patients being objective and neutral will be easy to do.  Others you may find it hard to balance and that’s normal. 

How to balance…

Keep it professional and keep the focus on the patient.  You don’t need to disclose your personal life to with your patient and it is actually unprofessional if you do.  You can have conversations but keep things general and non-specific about yourself.  This is not only in your best interest but in the best interest of the patient.  The focus should always be on them.

Start off on the right foot…

Getting to close can cloud judgement so start off with each patient the same.  Learn to keep a compassionate distance to protect yourself and your patients.  This can start with setting clear expectations and boundaries with your patient and their families in the beginning as to the role you will play in providing care.  I have found being a homecare nurse for years this is of vital importance.  Start off right. 

Take personal inventory…

Reflect on how your feeling throughout the time you are spending with the patient.  Are you divulging to much personal information?  Are you becoming emotionally invested?  Is the care you are providing in your patients best therapeutic interest.  If you feel that the boundaries have become blurry.  Talk to a co-worker or manager about switching assignments or maybe  not seeing this patient for awhile.  Protect yourself and protect your patients. 

Dianne Cabelus-Braley is a registered nurse currently working as a clinical documentation specialist and nurse blogger.  She has a had a lengthy and colorful career in nursing and also holds specialized credentials in both nutrition and aesthetics.  Dianne resides on the north shore of Massachusetts and is married with two human children and is also mom to two dogs and five chickens. You can check out Dianne's blog at www.nursingtheneighborhood.com



Thanks Diane for this great post!

 

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Best New Grad Preceptor

Becoming a preceptor is an honor for many nurses. Yes, it’s going to be more work and you probably won’t get out on time while you’re doing it, but it can be quite rewarding in many ways. Like any new challenge, you need to prepare, and the better you prepare, the easier and more successful the outcome.  

Pixabay.com

Onboarding a new nurse whether a new grad or even a seasoned nurse, needs to be a positive experience to make for a well-prepared, happy new employee. You need to help her/him learn the ropes and the culture of your facility and feel welcomed into the community with a strong understanding of the expectations and responsibilities for quality evidence-based patient care.

Take note that not all situations work out perfectly, and many times no one to blame; it just wasn’t a good match. Keep your manager informed throughout and be honest and subjective. Read more....

Flexi Clip Giveaway Winners!

Thanks again Laurie Young for your Lilla Rose Flexi Clip Giveaway.

The 2 winners are Carol Chiocchi and Josette Stegmair. Congrats! Laurie will be in touch with each of you. Enjoy your Flexi Clip! Thanks for all the great entries.

If you didn't win, I hope you'll keep Laurie in mind and support her business. These are really nice products.

Flexi Clip Give Away

Hello!  My name is Laurie Young.  I have close friends and family members in the nursing field and have always admired their patience, gentleness, and genuine hearts.  I know you are under-acknowledged and under-appreciated which is why I am so excited that you are discovering the world of Lilla Rose and even more that I get to give away TWO of our amazing Flexi Clips to the lucky winners (one to each winner)!  

The Flexi Clip
The Flexi Clip is the product that I fell in love with several years ago and caused me to become a consultant with Lilla Rose. It is a patented, one-piece, flexible hair clip that works in all types of hair, from baby-fine to extra-long and thick. It comes in 7 sizes, and enables you to do a variety of simple hairstyles, from a half-up to a full french twist, in less than 30 seconds!  It is perfect for anyone who needs their hair to stay put, out of the way, all day long…my nursing friends have fallen in love.

For our complete line of beautiful, versatile, & durable hair accessories, visit my website or my Facebook page.  Both sites have videos showing a variety of 30 second hairstyles.

This double giveaway includes 2 winners, one flexi clip each!

To enter, complete my online form here:

https://members.fiitfu.com/pages/LaurieYoung/lilla-rose-giveaway-entry-thenursingsiteblog

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Entries will be accepted until midnight (EST) Sunday night, August 26, and the winners will be chosen on Monday morning, August 27.  Winners will be chosen at random. 

Winners will be announced here on The Nursing Site Blog, as well as my Facebook page. The winners will be announced on the blog Monday evening, August 27. Good luck and have a wonderful day!

Thanks Laurie!
~Kathy