Are you interested in identifying patient care issues and finding solutions? Consider getting on track to become a Ph.D trained nurse scientist. With a doctorate you can do independent research.
Nursing research develops knowledge to:
Build the scientific foundation for clinical practice
Prevent disease and disability
Manage and eliminate symptoms caused by illness
Enhance end-of-life and palliative care.
Only about 1 percent of the estimated 2.9 million registered nurses possess a doctorate, according to a 2010 Institute of Medicine report titled “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.” The reportfound that there is a shortage of nurse scientists.
Why so few numbers? Reasons include more money to be earned in clinical practice and a longer academic journey for nurses, especially if they entered the profession with an associate degree.
But where there is a will, there is often a way. If you envision yourself making discoveries to improve the health of individuals and winning big grants to do so, there are a number of resources available to launch the careers of academic nurses.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nurse Faculty Scholars program is working to develop outstanding junior nursing faculty through career development awards, which include mentorship, leadership training and salary and research support. The award is for $350,000 over the three years. More details can be found here http://www.nursefacultyscholars.org/about.
The National Institute of Nursing Research has fellowships, career development awards and loan repayment programs. NINR’s annual budget is about $150 million, and more than 80 percent goes toward funding the work of nurse scientists within NINR and around the country, according to the American Nurses Association. More information can be found at https://www.ninr.nih.gov/training/trainingopportunitiesextramural#.
Nurse scientists do their part to help create a healthier nation. Many more are needed. Do you hear the calling?
Robin Farmer is a freelance journalist with a focus on health, education and business. Visit her at www.RobinFarmerWrites.com.
You earned your degree and landed your first nursing job. Congratulations! You’re well on your way to a meaningful and challenging career.
Everyone wants to make a great first impression when starting a new job. Here are a few pointers to get you started on the right foot.
Be Positive
Negativity exists everywhere – even among nurses and in healthcare facilities. Be determined to be a positive team player on your new job. Avoid gossip and complaining with your coworkers because it only contributes to a more toxic work environment. Instead, put your energy and creativity into being a problem-solver, not a problem-starter.
Learn the Culture
You’re the newbie, so give yourself time to learn the culture of your new company and figure out how you fit into it. Alison Doyle, About.com’s job search site author wrote that company culture is defined as “the personality of a company and defines what a company, from an employee perspective, is like to work for. Company culture includes the company mission, values, ethics, expectations, goals, and work environment.”
There are nuances to each company’s culture that you can’t know until you actually work there. These subtleties can’t be picked up during a job interview. Once you know the culture, you can decide if it’s a fit for you or if you’d like to try another environment. As a new nurse, give yourself time to decide, but realize that you can always choose to move on if it’s not a good fit.
Be a Team Player
You’ll score major points with your fellow nurses and manager if you work as a team player. Being a team player means stepping up when you see something that needs to be done. This is also an important quality that directly affects the level of patient care.
Focus on Exceptional Patient Care
Your number one priority is to be the best nurse your patients could ask for. Though work can sometimes get hectic, always remember why you became a nurse – to help people. You’ll go a lot further in your career if you are the nurse who goes above and beyond for his/her patients. As a nurse you should listen to your patients and work hard to make them feel comfortable and meet their needs. Also focus on learning good communication skills as you’ll be communicating with many different people including other nurses, doctors, patients and their families.
Plot Your Next Move
Now that you have your foot in the door at your first job, keep an eye out for advancement and/or educational opportunities. What is the logical next step that you can work toward? When you have an end goal in mind, it helps you to excel in your current role in order to be considered for a higher level position.
Also, consider getting an advanced nursing degree — another career booster. Does your company offer educational assistance? If so, take advantage. The more education you have, the further you’ll go as a nurse. If your current employer offers tuition reimbursement, this is the perfect time to hit the books without incurring a lot of student loan debt.
Make your first year on the job all about learning as much as possible about the field of nursing and how to be an exceptional nurse and you’ll move up the ranks in no time.
Denene Brox is a Kansas City-based freelance writer specializing in career development topics.
Of all the things that make a career in nursing so fantastic – the flexibility, the people, the constant learning – it’s the incredible variety of nursing opportunities that make the profession so appealing.
If you take 50 professionals with a nursing background and education, their paths will likely be radically different from each other. That’s because the skills learned during nursing studies are so easily transferred to other nursing careers and are needed in so many industries. Clinical and nonclinical opportunities are available in a variety of settings – you just have to think outside the box to find your best match.
If you are feeling stuck in your current nursing role, consider all the different paths your career can take you as a nurse. You might be surprised that a field you have always been intrigued by is looking for someone with the skills and experience you already have. You could go in the direction of a specialty you have always wanted to pursue, possibly labor and delivery, dermatology, pediatrics, or oncology. Or you might want to step back from patient care for a while and see what changes you can make in an organization.
So what can a new nursing career look like? A nurse can be many things, starting with the traditionally depicted role of a nurse caring for patients in a health care setting like a hospital or a physician’s office. A nurse can also hold a corporate-level position or a government leadership role that shapes policy for nurses everywhere. Nurses can train international students to help them become successful nurses in this country or in other countries. Nurses also serve in the military or travel the world filling in where they are needed.
If you are considering making a move within the nursing profession, you might need to boost your skills with some additional training. If you have only a general idea of what you kind of change would be best for you, think of any skills you have right now that are especially strong.
If you are great at sharing your knowledge and a bit of a learning junkie, teaching at a university might be your next career move. Likewise, if you are trying to find hours that will fit the needs of your family, a school nurse position gives you that flexibility. A triage nurse role might offer you the flexibility as well while still allowing you that patient connection.
If you have always relished the role of organizer and promotion of all things nursing, consider a career move into administration in a professional nursing organization that can use both your nursing knowledge and your public relations/customer service know how. Nursing recruiters know what makes a good candidate for a certain nursing opportunity and this kind of job path allows you to assist organizations to find the right match. Legal nurse consultants can offer their technical knowledge where needed and if you have great communication skills, you can use those to write and submit articles for publication (or you can start your own blog!).
Are you looking more for a position that will help you delve into the scientifics of nursing and health care? A researcher role can take many shapes – from hands-on lab research to more clinical research involving working with patients in various settings.
Whatever role you investigate, you’re likely to find something new to reinvigorate your career.
Does the carpet in your living area get its fair share of wear and tear? That just shows you’re blessed with a happy, active household! Instead of cutting down on the patter of little feet (two or four-legged) and big shoes, try this DIY “green” carpet deodorizer for extra freshness.
Most nurses are incredibly pressed for time, so why bother with homemade cleaners when commercial ones are plentiful? Mainly, you’d make your own product to ensure that the ingredients are healthful, not harmful.
How harmful could a cleaning product really be? According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “many cleaning products can present health and environmental concerns, including eye, skin, or respiratory irritation, or more serious issues.” Yikes!
(The EPA recommends looking at product labels before purchasing. Say No to anything labeled Danger/Poison; Corrosive; Severely Irritating; Highly Flammable; Highly Combustible; or Strong Sensitizer. )
Or you can skip the label scrutiny and just make your own simple, non-toxic, and fresh-scented household cleansers. The EPA says white vinegar, baking soda, and mild liquid soap can be just as effective for most cleaning purposes.
This carpet freshener relies on essential oils, not ordinary fragrances, so it counts as aromatherapy, which advocates say has healing properties. As anyone who’s ever been to a health spa knows, these oils can definitely help you de-stress and de-toxify.
DIY Carpet Deodorizer
Ingredients: 1 cup baking soda 18 drops essential oil (lavender is an all-around purifier)
You’ll also need: Quart jar with lid punched with small holes
Directions: Mix baking soda and essential oil in a bowl until baking soda is moistened. Fill quart jar with mixture. Sprinkle deodorizer on carpet; let sit for 10 minutes. Vacuum as usual.
Caution: Keep essential oils away from children, pets, and open fire (they’re flammable).
Give this recipe a spin and let us know how it worked for you. Or if you have your own favorite way to keep carpets fresh and clean, please share that with us.
Jebra Turner is a health writer in Portland, Oregon, but you can visit her online at www.jebra.com.
Many people believe their resume is the only part of an application that human resources focuses on. Although a properly crafted resume can make or break an applicant, the cover letter really makes you stand out.
Cover letters serve an important purpose for the job hunter. The cover letter shows the employer that you are the best candidate for the job. There are specific aspects you need to include in your cover letter to catch the eye of the hiring manager.
Incorporate these tips in your next cover letter to grab the attention of your future employer!
Address the letter to the hiring manager.
Use some researching skills to find out the name of the hiring manager (or recruiter) for the position you are applying for. This will make your application stand out since you have actually gone through the trouble of obtaining this information. No one likes the generic, “To Whom It May Concern” salutation.
Use the company name at least twice in the body of your letter.
Your opening statement should say something like “I am inquiring about the (insert job position here) at (company name). You can also mention the company name later in the letter when you explain why you would be the best candidate for the job.
Highlight your most pertinent experience related to the job you are applying for.
Customize each cover letter for each job you apply to. This may mean highlighting your ICU experience when applying to an outpatient infusion center or emphasizing your charge nurse experience for a management position.
Show enthusiasm.
Employers love to hire people who show enthusiasm for a position. You can show enthusiasm by the tone of your cover letter. Don’t make the cover letter generic for every job you apply for. Show your interest by researching the company and mentioning something about them in your cover letter. This could be something like, “I know XYZ company values empowering individuals to improve their health, and I do too. In a past position I have served as a wellness nurse educating people on making positive changes in their life.”
Close strong.
After you have convinced the hiring manager why you are the best candidate for the job you need a call to action to end the letter. Don’t be afraid to say you are looking forward to hearing from them about the position. You could use the line, “I am confident I can be a valuable asset to XYZ company, and I look forward to discussing my qualifications and experience with you in greater depth.”
In addition to working as a RN, Nachole Johnson is a freelance copywriter and an author with her first book, You’re a Nurse and Want to Start Your Own Business? The Complete Guide, available on Amazon. Visit her ReNursing blog at www.renursing.com for more ideas on how to reinvent your career.
