ADVANCE for Nurses

Transcription

ADVANCE for Nurses
advance for
2013 | www.advanceweb.com/nurses
Serving New Nurse Graduates and Students
Ready,
Set,
Go!
A Guide for New Nurse Grads
[3] Message
from NSNA
[5] Where Will You Be?
[6] I Got a Job!
[8] Interviewing How-to
[10] Passing NCLEX
[12] Graduated? Why Stop Now?
[16] Using Social Media
Sponsored by
[19] Beyond the Salary
[22] Building a Résumé
[24] Words of Wisdom
Dave perillo
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ADVANCE For Nurses:
Serving New Nurse Graduates and Students
A Message from the President
Joseph Potts
president of the the
National Student
Nurses’ Association
s your coursework winds down, most of you know those
butterflies in your stomach are due to more than your looming final
exam schedule. In a few short months you will be heading onto a
whole new adventure — whether that’s graduate school or your first nursing
position. You and many of your classmates may be nervous and excited at the
same time because, with this next big step, you know the choices you make
now are going to make a big difference in your nursing career path. Whether
you are headed to graduate school or looking for your first job, the possibilities are endless. Joseph Potts, president of the the National Student Nursing
Association, recently spoke with ADVANCE and offered his advice to students
preparing for their first jobs after graduation:
(PIP) that will play a key role in ANA policymaking and updating in the future.
Keep an eye out for a panel you might be interested participating in.
How can new nurses maintain their skills while searching for a job?
Volunteering with your local community clinic is a great way to maintain/
develop your skills while giving back to your community. Plus, at the end of the
day, you will feel better about helping others.
What can nurses do to make the most of their first job? What should
they expect?
New graduate nurses should expect a competitive applicant field. They should be
prepared for an interview by doing their homework on both the prospective place
What can nursing students do to make the most of their education?
of employment and current trends in the profession. They should also be honest
Nursing students should read as much as possible and ask a lot of questions,
with themselves and their new employer about their strengths and weaknesses.
both in and out of the classroom. Sometimes, we as students get so focused on
Most of all, they should be enthusiastic about joining the organization and making
making it through nursing school we lose sight of something more important:
a positive impact on the lives of the patients they will be caring for.
learning to be a nurse.
Is there anything else you would like to share/tell new nursing
Check out
what else
ADVANCE's
Student &
New Grad
Center has
to offer.
Click here
How can students prepare for life after graduation?
graduates?
My advice would be to get out there and build relationships. The job market is
Find a way to maintain balance in your personal/professional life. Burnout is
extremely competitive for new nursing school graduates. Many new graduates
a huge problem in the nursing profession in general, but as a new nurse, you
that I speak with tell me they found their jobs through contacts they met dur-
may be especially susceptible because you have had less time to develop the
ing clinical rotations and preceptorships, or through connections they made by
tools and support system necessary to deal with many of the challenges that
networking in the nursing community.
come with being a nurse.
What advice would you give to new graduates beginning their career?
Graduating from nursing school is no small feat, and you should be proud of
As a new nurse, you should get involved in the future of your profession and
all your hard work and long hours. Keep these great tips in mind as you start
join professional organizations such as the American Nurses Association (ANA).
the job search to ensure you are ready for whatever life brings and you have a
As the only organization that represents all registered nurses, ANA cares about
smooth transition from student to practicing nurse. Good luck to you all as you
what you have to say. They are currently developing Professional Issues Panels
start your exciting new career as a nurse!
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GIVE YOURSELF A LIFT. No need to feel confined to flats –
elastic straps. These features allow for greater adjustability. “It’s
Elaine M., TX
you’ll actually be better off with a slight heel, says Dittrich. Her
like a personalized fit for your foot,” says Dittrich.
advice: “Look for a shoe with at least a half-inch lift. It will help
READ THE LABELS. Does your hospital require slip resistant
“{The Sedona Collection} is what I have
footwear? In order to comply with this requirement, footwear
needed for my quick paced job in the
LOOK FOR SUPPORT. Standing all day is tough on your feet,
must meet a preset industry standard. This should be clearly
ICU... the style is contoured low to the
knees and lower back. Look for shoes, like Dansko, that have
noted on the footwear packaging.
better support the arch.”
a contoured foot-bed and provide plenty of arch support.
When combined, they provide the support you need to stand
comfortably for long periods of time.
ground and so light weight. The soles are
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Follow these simple tips and you’ll be ready whenever and
steps around the hospital. I definitely
wherever you’re needed!
recommend these shoes for my nursing
friends.” Ashley O., PA
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5
ADVANCE For Nurses:
Serving New Nurse Graduates and Students
Where Will You Be?
In search of the next generation of bloggers, ADVANCE asked students and new graduates
to tell us where they saw themselves as nurses in 10 years. Our winner, Mia Ross, a student
at Pace University, New York, N.Y., shared her personal experiences and how they have
shaped her future nursing career.
she had a DNR order, there was nothing left to do to ease her
grapple out of life. This alleviated none of my misery. I began to read in various healthcare publications complaints of a
similar nature: Loved ones were constantly lost so painfully, so
unnaturally, almost barbarically in hospital settings.
That’s when I came across palliative care. And I’ve been
hooked ever since.
It is an undeniable truth that to become a palliative care NP
in the next 10 years I will need to go back to school and gain
hospital experience. However, I am no longer an 18-year-old
Last time I met the acquaintance of the notorious
girl without conception of the actualities of our healthcare
interview question “Where will you be in 10 years?” I was in
system. This time, I forge ahead with unclouded eyes and a
the pending stages of nursing school acceptance. I answered
determined heart. I will cultivate my burning passion, stay fo-
the question in hopes of placating the administration and
cused in the present and continuously examine and question
replied, “In 10 years I hope to be practicing with the highest
the way things are done.
standards of quality care using evidence-based practice and
I can no longer accept the statement, “There’s nothing left
to do.” My ability to articulate an answer to the broad, ex-
have a master’s degree.”
I had done my research. However, just two short years
pansive question “Where will you be in 10 years?” in this
later I’ve realized becoming that standout nurse I’ve always
dynamic stage of my life gives me confidence and strength.
dreamed of will take much more than a hospital job and an
Writing in my journal saved me from severe psychological
MSN after my name.
anguish after losing my grandmother in such a horrid way.
Today, that same probing question lends a much different
For that I am grateful. It would be a cause for great joy to
response; a response more holistic and genuine. Last year I
have the opportunity to share my writing and cultivate my
watched my grandmother struggle for weeks in a hospital
professional linguist skills with ADVANCE, in whatever topic
bed, under headache-inducing fluorescent lights, while she
presents itself.
drowned slowly in her own lungs. This experience was so un-
If I can help others better understand this enigma of health-
shakable, I began writing a journal and questioning the way
care, I am content. If I can help others muster the confidence
we die, trying to make sense of her abhorrent passing.
to question the conventional way it is carried out and de-
These questions ignited an internal flame. Conversations
with family and friends ensued, and soon I was researching
mand evidence, I am delighted. If I can do it through writing,
I am absolutely thrilled.
the subject intensely. While my grandmother suffered, we
were consoled by the hospital staff, reassured that because
Keep an eye out for Mia’s posts in the New to Nursing blog.
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ADVANCE For Nurses:
Serving New Nurse Graduates and Students
I Got a Job!
Take heart! It requires effort but graduates of
four-year nursing schools are twice as likely as
other college grads to find a job By Gail O. Guterl
At times during her job search, nursing student Gemma
D’Angelo despaired. “At one point I was in tears,” the BSN graduate
said. “I thought to myself, I have externship experience; I have a 3.86
GPA; I have good references, so why am I not getting call-backs and
dave perillo
job interviews?”
‘There is still a great
demand for nurses.
Things are different from
maybe a decade ago when a
graduate would have
six or seven offers for immediate hire
before they completed senior year. It is a
bit more competitive now; we are hearing
BSN-prepared nurses are preferred.’
— Geraldine (Polly) Bednash, PhD, RN, FAAN,
D’Angelo began her job search in earnest in March of her senior
year at Catholic University of America in 2011. After completing several interviews and with three more set up, she turned down one
job offer because she felt it wasn’t right for her. Seven months after
starting her job search, she landed a job in a neuroscience unit at a
large suburban hospital.
“I wanted to work in critical care and I wanted to be in a city,” she
told ADVANCE, of the job she accepted. “The job I was offered is
in critical care but not in a big city; but it came with a fantastic sixmonth orientation package, which was a must for me, and good
benefits, so I feel fortunate.”
CEO and executive director, AACN
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ADVANCE For Nurses:
Serving New Nurse Graduates and Students
‘We are looking for people who are prepared for the interview, who show a
passion for nursing; who have done research on our health system.’ — Alisa Cohen
(Polly) Bednash, PhD, RN, FAAN, CEO and executive director
of AACN. “Things are different from maybe a decade ago
when a graduate would have six or seven offers for immediate hire before they completed senior year. It is a bit more
Although D’Angelo is concerned she may have settled by not
Recruiters Alisa Cohen and Hope Shafer at Holy Redeemer
competitive now; we are hearing BSN-prepared nurses are
holding out for that urban job, she recognizes neuro requires
Health System, with facilities near and in Philadelphia, concur.
preferred.” (According to Huot-Singer, for several years now
finely honed assessment skills and is certainly critical care.
What she may not know is having completed a four-year nursing school she is more fortunate than most college graduates.
“Except for a few more specialized units such as NICU and OR,
we welcome new grads,” Shafer said.
Penn Presbyterian’s policy is to hire only BSN nurses.)
“It takes more time,” Bednash assured, “but new grad nurs-
This has to be interpreted as good news because, according
es are still getting jobs.”
to the AACN survey, the North Atlantic is not the region where
Perception vs. Reality
new graduate nurses are more likely to land a job. The survey
The Best Advice
The perception among nursing school students is that jobs
revealed some regions of the country have more nursing jobs
So what are recruiters and others advising new graduates
are hard to come by and few institutions are hiring new
than others.
seeking jobs?
D’Angelo took advice from experienced co-workers and
graduates, especially for more acute care units. Recruiters say,
although the economy is slowly improving, they aren’t hiring
Survey Says!
subscribed to a professional nursing magazine to keep cur-
as many staff as before the recession. In fact, the hospital
Let’s look at the 2012 AACN survey more closely. Of 501
rent with all types of critical care topics. “I’m told it’s pos-
where D’Angelo did her externship talked about hiring her
schools from across the country that responded to the survey,
sible to move from one specialty to another and I want to be
after graduation, but then instituted a hiring freeze in her
the average job-offer rate at the time of graduation was 57%
prepared,” she said. “If I have to take another orientation for
senior year.
for new BSN graduates and 73% for entry-level MSN gradu-
another type of critical care position, that’s fine with me.”
“New grads, especially those from two-year associate degree
programs, are having difficulty finding entry-level positions,”
ates. Job offers four to six months after graduation rose to
88% for BSN grads and 92% for entry-level MSN.
Cohen said there are more opportunities out there if you
are flexible, including opportunities for graduates of com-
Compare these statistics to a survey done by the National
munity colleges and diploma programs. “A BSN is preferred;
Association of Colleges and Employers in 2011 that showed
however, we do hire new grads with associate degrees as
But what about BSN-prepared nurses? There, the news
26% of new BA/BS graduates had job offers at graduation time.
well as nursing diplomas.
is upbeat. Looking at the latest American Association of
It doesn’t seem to matter whether you graduate from a
“Many new nurses are excited to get the experience,” Co-
Colleges of Nursing (AACN) survey shows four-year nursing
small college or a large university, but where you want to work
hen said. “They’re open to all areas of nursing and all shifts.”
college graduates are twice as likely to have jobs by four to six
matters. According to the AACN survey, the job offer rate in
Shafer agrees. “We travel to different schools and job fairs
months post-graduation, than other college graduates.
the South is 66%, in the Midwest 58%, North Atlantic 52%
and speak with many new graduates. They’re positive, inter-
Nurse recruiters in one market, Philadelphia, agree. “We
and the West 42%. Hiring rates are higher across the board
ested, excited and anxious to start their careers.”
hire new grads to work in 95% of the hospital,” said Sue
for entry-level MSN graduates, 79% in the South, 75% in the
Huot-Singer, MSN, RN, nurse recruiter at Penn Presbyterian
North Atlantic, 73% in the Midwest and 53% in the West.
said Diane Mancini, EdD, RN, CAE, FAAN, executive director
of the National Student Nurses Association.
Medical Center, Philadelphia.
“There is still a great demand for nurses,” said Geraldine
Huot-Singer said phone screenings of potential candidates
tell her a lot. “You can hear a lot in people’s voices, such as
if they are truly interested,” she said. “New grads are so
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ADVANCE For Nurses:
Serving New Nurse Graduates and Students
thankful to be given the opportunity that by the time they
come in it’s a joy to interview them.”
Huot-Singer tells new graduates: “Don’t give up, perseverance pays off. You came to nursing for a reason; remember
that and you’ll get results. Don’t be afraid to move for a job.
... [You] can always return to your first choice region later.”
Cohen advises: “Pay attention throughout the whole application process. Make sure the application is complete and that
Interview Do’s and Don’ts
Landing the interview is only the first step, and it is crucial you present yourself in a
professional, positive manner to make the right impression. Wardrobe, body language
and verbal queues can mean the difference between a call back and a “thanks, but no
thanks.” Watch ADVANCE’s video to learn how to make the most of any interview.
you have put your best foot forward,” she said. “Be engaged
in the interview, focused on patient care. We want to see your
work history, whether you were involved in any committees.
“We are looking for people who are prepared for the interview, who show a passion for nursing; who have done
research on our health system.”
Shafer said recruiters are also looking for the right fit. “We’re
looking for character that stands out among the applicant
pool,” she enumerated. “We’re looking for nurses who are
detail-oriented; have a caring nature, compassion, collaborative spirit; a candidate who will create a positive experience
for the patient and who is interested in continuing learning.”
And what advice does the recent new grad offer? D’Angelo
said: “Don’t get discouraged. The right fit is worth the wait. I
wasn’t willing to compromise. I wanted a longer orientation
and a critical care position and I got both.”
D’Angelo agrees with what many job counselors say: Looking for a job is often a full-time job. “Start looking early. Get
references, cover letter and résumé done early. Keep looking
at hospital websites. Some hospitals make you dig for the
information as to whether they hire new graduates, whether
they offer orientation programs or not.”
Gail O. Guterl is a freelance writer.
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ADVANCE For Nurses:
Serving New Nurse Graduates and Students
Testing
Change
A revised version of the NCLEX exam
unveils April 1, emphasizing care
management and safety By Gail O. Guterl
You’ve worked hard in your nursing education program. You are ready to graduate and put what you have
learned into practice. However, you have one more test to
take! You must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses, commonly known as NCLEX-RN.
If you take the licensure exam on or after April 1, it will be
a recently revised version of the NCLEX-RN exam, something
the exam’s creators, the National Council of State Boards of
Nursing (NCSBN), does every 3 years.
What’s New
The revised NCLEX-RN exam reflects changes observed in the
practice of entry-level nurses, a source from the NCSBN told
ADVANCE.
“Data suggest there are two areas where the practice of
newly licensed nurses has increased in significance: management of care, and safety and infection control,” said the
spokesperson. “In surveying 12,000 new nurses we found
an increased frequency of tasks revolving around these two
areas. In asking nurses how important this is to client care,
dave perillo
10
outcomes, etc., we saw these were high-frequency, highcriticality tasks.”
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ADVANCE For Nurses:
Serving New Nurse Graduates and Students
Another change in the 2013 test is clarification of language.
However, the team doesn’t just depend on the results of
The definition of ‘client’ encompasses individual, family or
this survey, as a spokesperson explained. “We conduct a con-
• pharmacological and parenteral therapies(12-18%)
group, which includes significant others and population. Ad-
tinuous practice analysis. Every three months we get a new
• reduction of risk potential (9-15%)
ditionally, NCLEX practice settings are clarified as acute/criti-
sample to see if anything has changed over and above what
• physiological adaptation (11-17%).
cal care, long-term care/rehabilitative care, outpatient care
we know from the survey of 12,000 RNs. This quarterly survey
and community-based/home care settings.
has a section that allows nurses to tell us about any changes
Taking the Test
in their practice that might not be asked on the survey.
Knowing all this, what is the best way to prepare for the
Discovering the Trends
“I would be surprised if anyone else is doing this type of
• basic care and comfort (6-12%)
NCLEX-RN exam?
As soon as revisions are published triennially, NCSBN begins
information gathering at this level,” said the NCSBN spokes-
According to NCSBN, those taking the test “should become
working on the next review. Several things must be in place:
person. “It is costly, but if something developed in the three-
familiar with the current NCLEX-RN Test Plan and the content
“we assemble a panel of subject matter experts (SMEs) and
month period we would know about it.” All this is done on
outline, with NCLEX-specific terminology, and the Computer-
create a list of behaviors which represent entry-level nursing
a three-year cycle “because the U.S. healthcare industry is
ized Adaptive Testing (CAT) delivery method.”
activities,” NCSBN explained.
rapidly changing.”
Since NCSBN believes examination preparation needs
are unique to each candidate, the organization “does not
Panel members must either work with or supervise RNs who
are within their first six months of practice, or are themselves
The Nitty Gritty
recommend or endorse any review courses or study materials.
newly licensed RNs. Panelists represent all geographic areas of
So what does this 2013 test plan contain? Content is divided
If you are interested in participating in a review course or pur-
the U.S., major nursing specialties and varied practice settings.
into four major “Client Needs” categories; some categories
chasing review materials, please consult a nursing education
They bring completed activity logs reflecting the behaviors of
are broken down into subsections.
professional for suggestions,” according to the organization’s
new nurses in their facilities to discussions. Interviews with
The maximum of 265 test questions are multiple choice and
website.
alternate item formats, which includes: multiple response; fill-
In the meantime, well before you hope to take the test:
Once all this information is gathered, the NCSBN psycho-
in-the-blank; hot-spot items asking the test-taker to identify
• apply for an Authorization to Test at your board of nursing
metric and nursing content staff core team takes over. This
one or more areas on a picture or graphic; charts; ordered-
• register with Pearson VUE
team, key to this process, has test development expertise and
response items; audio clips and graphic options.
nursing leaders help to determine potential nursing trends.
competency in industry standards for practice analyses.
These staff members work collaboratively and “perform a
review of relevant nursing resources seeking to gather information on future trends in nursing,” the NCSBN spokesper-
(http://www.pearsonvue.com/nclex)
Test takers must answer a minimum of 75 items in a sixhour period. The four categories and the percentage of test
1. Safe and Effective Care Environment, which includes:
• management of care (17-23%)
SME panel are then incorporated into a survey, which is sent
• safety and infection control (9-15%)
(https://www.ncsbn.org/1213.htm)
• get familiar with the NCLEX test plan format
questions assigned to those Client Needs are:
son explained. “Entry-level nursing activities developed by the
• review the NCLEX Candidate Bulletin
• after you get materials from Pearson VUE, schedule your
exam through Pearson
• locate your test site.
to a randomly drawn sample of 12,000 newly licensed RNs.
2. Health Promotion and Maintenance (6-12%)
Data from the survey is collected and analyzed for trends and
3. Psychosocial Integrity (6-12%)
current practices.”
4. Physiological Integrity
Other NCLEX exam resources are available at www.ncsbn.org.
Gail O. Guterl is a freelance writer.
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ADVANCE For Nurses:
Serving New Nurse Graduates and Students
Higher
Learning
Will a graduate degree boost your career?
By Keith Loria
If you’re one of the masses who recently graduated
from a nursing program, you may be asking yourself: “what
now?” In many areas of the country, the job market for new
nurses is stifled and those that do have openings are looking
for people with experience.
That’s why many new nurses have decided to continue their
education and are looking at graduate programs or a specialty
certification.
“Nurses working in management level positions are being
asked to have at least a BSN and to also consider master’s
level education in nursing administration so that they have
an increased understanding of the literature and knowledge
related to being an innovative leader,” said Elaine Graf, PhD,
RN, NE-BC, research and funding coordinator at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. “Education opens
doors in one’s professional career and provides you with the
knowledge and skills to be successful in your role. Many
hospitals provide educational support as part of employment,
so take it and run with it. It is a gift.”
Nursing is a profession where you must keep up to date on
calling for 80 percent of nurses to be BSN prepared by 2020.1
In fact, many of the best hospitals to work in are now
Dave Perillo
changes in knowledge and practice. The recent IOM report is
‘Nurses working
in management level
positions are being asked to
have at least a BSN and to also
consider master’s level education in
nursing administration so that they
have an increased understanding of
the literature and knowledge related
to being an innovative leader.’
— Elaine Graf, PhD, RN, NE-BC
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ADVANCE For Nurses:
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‘The next generation of nurses must take the opportunity to move
the nursing profession forward.’ — Andrea Lindell, PhD, RN, MSN, ANEF
hospitals employing nurses with baccalaureate
degrees had lower mortality rates in surgical patients than comparable hospitals that employed
nurses with lower levels of education.2 “This study
showed that although experience was a factor in
ing on my BSN in the 1970s, I decided I wanted
patient outcomes, it was not as strong a factor as
“One of the wonderful advantages of nursing as
a master’s by age 30 and a PhD by age 40 and I
nurse level of education.”
a career is that you can continue on at whatever
did just that. At the time I was doing my degrees,
A higher degree can enable a nurse to consider
pace suits your life. Most master’s programs ac-
it was typical to work clinically like I did, and in
a wider range of opportunities in healthcare. If the
commodate working RNs through the scheduling
fact I worked while doing my master’s,” she said.
nurse is considering a career in nursing leadership
of classes online, using weekend formats, intensive
“With the healthcare reform activities and the ag-
or professional development, a degree will lead
courses (for example, 6 straight days, 9 a.m. to 5
ing of the American (and the world) population,
p.m.) and so on,” said Elizabeth A. Madigan, PhD,
there is going to be a great demand for nurses
RN, FAAN, associate dean for academic affairs/
with advanced practice degrees.”
requiring BSN as minimum level to be hired.
her on that path.
Eileen Mahler, MSN, RNC, NE-BC, director of
nursing education and development at South
professor of nursing at the Frances Payne Bolton
At the inaugural Healthcare Workforce Sum-
Nassau Communities Hospital’s ED Nurse Fellow-
School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve Uni-
mit, AMN Healthcare Chief Clinical Officer Marcia
ship, OR Training Program and Student Nurse In-
versity in Cleveland. “The reason to go back right
Faller revealed the results of the “2012 Survey of
ternship, graduated with a bachelor’s degree and
away is that you are already in the groove of doing
Registered Nurses,” which showed 40% of regis-
spent 8 years practicing as a perinatal RN before
college level work. It’s harder, in my experience, to
tered nurses plan to pursue further education in
returning to school part time to get her master’s.
stop and restart.”
nursing over the next three years.
Want to
read more?
Learn if, or
how much,
CE is required
in your state
of licensure
Click here
Is certification
in your future?
Click here
to see what
certifications
are available
2013 National
& Regional
Conferences
Kathy Missildine, PhD, RN, CNE, assistant dean
helped me advance both clinically and as a nurse
A Call for Specialization
for graduate studies at the Texas A&M Health Sci-
leader,” she said. “Five years after finishing my
Also, nursing is becoming increasingly specialized.
ence Center College of Nursing, said the value of
master’s degree, I took a two-year certificate pro-
Plan continuing
education and
networking
opportunities for
the year ahead.
By continuing your education, you are increas-
continuing professional nurse education is best
gram as a legal nurse consultant. This brought
Click here
ing the depth and breadth of your knowledge
measured in improved patient care — the only
me excellent insight into legal and regulatory
in a particular area. If you are too limited in your
measurement that really matters.
aspects of healthcare and was useful as I had
“It took me 7 years to achieve it. I believe it
knowledge, you limit your ability to make the best
“We have ample evidence that higher degrees
moved into a nursing supervisory position at the
decisions as an advocate for healthcare changes
result in better patient outcomes," she said, not-
time. Just this past fall, I made the commitment
to provide better patient outcomes.
ing that in 2003, Linda Aiken, PhD, FAAN, RN,
to return to school for my PhD in nursing. I truly
Madigan went the more traditional route with
Director of the Center for Health Outcomes and
believe this will benefit me and my ability to ad-
her degrees. “I worked in a clinical setting after
Policy Research, University of Pennsylvania School
vance the nursing profession through research
finishing my BSN and my MS. When I was work-
of Nursing) completed a study that demonstrated
and innovation in practice.”
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ADVANCE For Nurses:
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A Place at the Table
recognized,” she said. “I went back to school for my bach-
The Price
Andrea Lindell, PhD, MSN, RN, ANEF, faculty in the Doctor of
elor’s degree while working as a hospital nurse. While work-
The problem is that just because you have a higher degree
Nursing Practice program at the School of Nursing at Walden
ing at the hospital, I assessed who had the voice, power and
still doesn’t guarantee you a job when you graduate. You still
University has more than 30 years of clinical and educational/
key decision-making capabilities, and I quickly realized it was
won’t have the experience and now you’ll be even more in
administrative experience in nursing.
those with a master’s degree.”
debt with more years of college to pay off.
“Years ago, I started out working for a health insurance
There are many factors one should consider when deciding
“The cons of pursuing a degree is the commitment of time
company paying claims. I had my RN, but it became clear
whether to return to school. Going back to school requires
and cost,” Mahler noted. “The nurse must be in a position
early on that without additional education it would be dif-
time and, potentially, a lifestyle adjustment. Getting an ad-
to dedicate the time required to study and complete assign-
ficult for me to advance in my career and have my capabilities
vanced degree isn’t easy and a lot of work is involved. This de-
ments. Having a strong support system can be a tremendous
cision can also impact your family and current work schedule.
help for nurses with young families. There is a cost for tuition
“Online learning is an option for many students who are
and books and in some college settings, cost is prohibitive for
trying to balance a family, career and other commitments,”
nurses on a tight budget.”
Lindell said. “It provides students with the opportunity to
Still, having a higher education will give you a better chance
earn a degree without sacrificing their other interests and
to get the job you want. Continuing education will be a plus
obligations.”
and the clinical experiences gained will add to one’s experience.
In today’s environment, nurses who decide to continue their
“Nursing has become a major leader in providing quality
education will see many benefits. They will have an increased
care because of increased education and the highly special-
depth and breadth of theoretical knowledge for key decision-
ized areas that have evolved,” Lindell said. “Should nurses
making and actions in their field.
not further their education, they will lose roles and opportu-
“An advanced degree ensures that nurses have a place at the
nities, which will be assumed by other disciplines. The next
decision-making table and helps them advance up the career
generation of nurses must take the opportunity to move the
ladder in either the hospital or academic setting,” Lindell said.
nursing profession forward.”
“For me, as a professional who is a member of a healthcare
team, the nurse should hold credentials that are equitable to
the other team members. This results in increased respect for
their knowledge base in areas of decision-making, strategic
References
Initiative on the Future of Nursing. IOM Recommendations. http://www.
thefutureofnursing.org/recommendations
Aiken, L, et al. Educational levels of hospital nurses and surgical patient mortality. JAMA. 2003; 290(12): 1617–1623.
planning, advocacy, organizational changes, etc., and ultimately, increased respect for the individual and for the profession.”
Keith Loria is a freelance writer.
Click here for a list of articles and webinars where you can earn contact hours from ADVANCE.
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ADVANCE For Nurses:
Serving New Nurse Graduates and Students
Landing a Job Through
With the popular emergence of social networking,
opportunities abound in many forms. From coupons, to fashion
Social Networking
tips, to friendly advice, websites such as Facebook and Twitter
offer a flurry of information that could be helpful, overwhelming or somewhere in between. But this access overload has
Market yourself, know your network and ask favors with caution By Kelly Wolfgang
proved more useful than obtrusive. For those looking for jobs,
the sites once used to connect to your high school best friend
can become a valuable source for finding your future employer.
With the right use, social media can be a tremendous resource for marketing yourself, bringing employers to you
and touting knowledge of your industry. An easy means to
reach those you may have otherwise had no direct contact
with such as big businesses, industry leaders and potential
colleagues, social networking has proved to be an important
tool for job searchers.
With the help of social networking, you are not confined to
your address book and the classifieds—you are able to reach
a large and precise audience in seconds, proving yourself a
go-getter and someone who is not afraid of risk. With the professional atmosphere that LinkedIn provides, the immediate
feedback Twitter facilitates and the accessibility of Facebook,
those searching for the next big opportunity in healthcare
have to reach no further than a keyboard to succeed.
Benefits of Social Networking
“The most effective way to get a job has always been through
networking and contacting people you know,” said Rob Hellman, adjunct professor at the New York University School of
Continuing and Professional Studies (NYU-SCPS) and career
dave perillo
coach. “Social media is totally, perfectly designed for that.”
Job searchers are no longer restricted to job boards, business cards and newspapers. Jonathan Rick, CEO of the
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ADVANCE For Nurses:
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Jonathan Rick Group, a social media agency based in Washington, DC, added that the acces-
Additional Tips
sibility of a virtual network has expanded employment efforts in impressive ways. “The Internet
has flattened everything,” Rick said. “Ten years ago, you had to rely on the physical network of
Engage With Companies
people in your apartment building or church. The world was a very small place and proximity
“You can certainly engage with a company’s page, but restrict your posting to comments
and ‘liking’ on Facebook and following on Twitter. Though the person running the company
page is most likely not a hiring manager, your interaction could filter up, or come up in
interviews. Nothing pleases an employer more than to hear during an interview that the
candidate knows what a company is doing, but you don’t want to be overbearing.”
— Rob Hellman, adjunct professor, New York University School of
Continuing and Professional Studies (NYU-SCPS) and career coach
was imperative.”
Now, Hellman said, people are able to stay in touch with friends and associates regardless
of where they’re located. “Everything is virtual—you can send an email and get a response
immediately. We are not only in touch with everyone on a global and immediate level, but you
can see who your friends are friends with, extending your network exponentially,” Rick added.
“Whereas your network was very small and relatively closed 10 years ago, now it’s endless and
Build a Network
“When building a network on LinkedIn, use the Advanced People Search tool. You can type
in key words and job descriptions to browse people you may know in the field. You will get
great results and find contacts who can introduce you to others in the field.” — Hellman
the available opportunities are amazing.”
Aaron Ginn, community outreach specialist for Simplee in Palo Alto, Calif., noted that as
businesses become more accessible through social media, the opportunity for employment
Sustain Your Career
has also become less stressful. “Employers and start-ups continue to use publishing avenues
“Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are there to sustain your career. Social media is filled with
people you already know who can help you out—people you can go to and say, ‘Help me
out! I’m looking for a job and if there’s anyone you know in the field, keep an eye out.’ You
can’t do that with job boards or newspapers.”
— Jonathan Rick, chief executive officer, Jonathan Rick Group
to find employees, and therefore the search is becoming more informal,” Ginn, who found his
Restrict Applications
“It’s important to avail yourself to every opportunity and cast a wide net, but you shouldn’t
be tempted to apply to every opportunity you qualify for. It’s better to apply for five positions for which you’re extremely qualified, write detailed cover letters and tailor your
— Rick
résumé specifically to those jobs.” Establish Yourself
“Right now is a good time to be on social media talking about healthcare. There is always a
transition, something to care about, something to focus on. Social media is a great way to
engage with people on a mass scale and show yourself as someone who is knowledgeable
and technologically savvy.”
— Aaron Ginn, community outreach specialist, Simplee
most recent job through Twitter, said. “Corporations now have their own Twitter accounts and
use them as an informal way of hiring. As companies become more socially-oriented, they are
drawn to people who are equally minded in the social sphere.”
Building a Profile
Taking the best steps to landing your dream job virtually must be done with as much care as
any other job searching process, however. When approaching job opportunities online, the
most important way to effectively market yourself is by having a profile that is easy to read, appropriate and detailed. “A good first step to building an attractive profile is to make sure there
are a lot of similarities between your paper résumé and your online profile,” Hellman said. “List
your accomplishments in bullet form so it’s easy to read. You don’t want big, dense paragraphs,
but something that is scannable and uses keywords relevant to your audience.”
Employers will be wary of someone who does not appear professional online, as that is a
Start Now
“Social media is a long-run game. If you’re unhappy in your current position, the time to
start engaging and looking for a new opportunity is now. It takes a while to build up your
rapport online and it takes a while for people to follow you. Go after it—it’s always a bad
idea to start tomorrow. If you don’t invest the time, you’ll never succeed.” — Ginn
representation of how you may act with future patients or co-workers. “Establishing your
presence and credibility online is key when you’re going after established companies,”
Ginn said. “Employers are likely to search your name on Google and browse your various
social networks. Their constant ability to find out information about you is greater than a
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ADVANCE For Nurses:
Serving New Nurse Graduates and Students
résumé on paper, so engage yourself in your pas-
tion as to why you’re connecting with an individual,
fortable with the people you’re calling upon and
sion, but show restraint.”
you will be rejected. It absolutely behooves you to
know they will help you when you need it.”
Ginn said enhancing your profile by showing
an expertise in your field can be a huge draw for
establish a relationship prior to requesting some-
Know Your Outlets
one as a friend.”
employers. “If you’re really passionate and socially
To do this, Rick said, start off a message by men-
Perhaps most importantly, know your audience
inclined, show it. It will be beneficial to go online
tioning a commonality, such as living in the same
and direct your posts, retweets, friend requests
and interact with the leaders in your space. When
geographic location or attending the same school.
and messages appropriately. “You will get more
you do land an interview, they will remember your
“There is so much data out there,” Rick said. “You
traction if you listen to other people, and know
profile and the time you took to develop a knowl-
would be a fool to not avail yourself to it when
who is listening back,” Ginn said. “Learn exactly
edge in your field,” Ginn said. “It may be more work,
connecting with others.”
who your audience is on each social network, and
Hellman added that after you have developed
but it will orient you to people in your industry.”
a substantial network, prioritize those people
your field in a moment of passion. “The Internet
between reliable friends likely to go lengths in
Ginn suggested avoiding the social networking
never forgets,” Ginn said. “People actually read
helping you land a job, acquaintances willing to
saturation state by consolidating posts for each me-
what you say. People will reply to what you say,
provide a connection and those who are simply
dia outlet and catering specifically to each group.
and those people may not be the audience you
socializing. “Keep your social and professional
“Facebook is a place for friends, Twitter is more of a
expected. You want to get traction and be known,
lives separate,” he said. “Facebook could be de-
conversation and LinkedIn is for networking,” Ginn
but for the right reasons.”
voted to socializing, but LinkedIn should be strictly
said. “Know what each page is for and tackle it.”
Expanding Your Professional Network
LinkedIn for
Your Career
Expand your
networking through
this popular
online tool.
Click here
respond accordingly. Know what your followers
He did warn, however, never to write about
professional.”
Read more
articles on
networking
want from each avenue.”
Social
Networking
Gone Bad
Healthcare workers
using Facebook
and Twitter should
proceed with caution.
Click here
It’s also important to prioritize your time be-
Hellman also noted it’s important to restrict your
tween each social network, paying attention to
To ensure you’re reaching the audience you in-
professional network to those willing to make a
what you’re posting where, Hellman said. “You
tended, it’s important to build a reliable network.
leap for you. “For a job search, it won’t work if
have to be careful of what you post and what you
“LinkedIn is absolutely the first place to go,” Rick
you are weighed down by people you don’t know.
say,” he said. “Prioritize your time properly. Don’t
said. “It’s easy to find former classmates, locate old
If you look through your network for a contact
spend time complaining about your current job or
co-workers and connect with past educators who
and can only find strangers, you won’t be able to
repeatedly responding to ads. Those are valid, but
may help place you in your next job.” Be wary, how-
reach out to them and they will prove useless.”
everyone uses them, so you can’t rely on them
Smartphones
& Tablets
Here to Stay
ever, of connecting with those you’ve never met,
Ginn agreed. “Adding people you don’t know
solely. Use about 80% of your time building a reli-
As more health
systems adopt
the devices as
communication
tools, nurses are
seeing both pros
and cons.
even briefly, in person, Rick said. “Don’t pre-friend,
to your social networks just isn’t classy,” he said.
able network and getting introductions. That is
Click here
as tempting as that is. “All social networks allow
“You may have a lower number of contacts, but
you to send a message prior to sending a friend
you know you can rely on them,” Ginn said.
request,” Rick continued. “If you send a request
“Social media is a great tool, but it will never
with no identifying information and no explana-
replace personal interaction. You need to be com-
where you will find success.”
Kelly Wolfgang is on staff at ADVANCE. Contact:
KWolfgang@advancweb.com
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ADVANCE For Nurses:
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Beyond
the Salary
When considering your first job, it’s
increasingly about more than the money
By Rose Quinn
For some new graduate nurses, maintaining a certain lifestyle is as much a factor as salary when assessing a
job offer — sometimes even more so, according to seasoned
recruiters and hiring managers.
Cynthia Phelan, MS, RN, interim vice president of patient
care services and chief nurse at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, not only recognizes a difference in work
attitudes in today’s nurse graduate hires, as well as potential
candidates, she appreciates it.
“There is a work-life balance expectation,” Phelan said.
Renee Scott, BSN, RN, and Angela Cassidy, MS, BSN, RN,
senior nurse recruiters for Centra Health in Lynchburg, Va.,
see it, too. Like Phelan, they encourage new hires to scrutinize every facet of an employment package — including
flexible scheduling, upward mobility and benefits including
401(k)/403(b) and continuing education, as well as salary —
before deciding if they are the right fit for a job, and vice versa.
“Money is great, but what they really need is that support
on the front end,” offered Scott, who along with Cassidy enor residency programs to help them transition from student
to professional nurse.
scott derby
courage novice nurses to seek out employers with internship
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ADVANCE For Nurses:
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‘Novice nurses should seek out employers with internship or residency programs to help them
transition from student to professional nurse.’ — Renee Scott, BSN, RN, senior nurse recruiter
At Centra, they promise a supportive healthcare system that provides a
structured orientation for new graduate nurses as they begin their climb up a
consider include overall perceptions of nursing practice within the organization and community and the role that nurses play in patient safety.
“These should all matter to a new nurse,” Phelan said.
four-step clinical ladder.
“We don’t throw our new nurses out to the wolves,” Scott said.
Phelan said at her facility, which employs more than 2,000 nurses, success-
Karen Hogan of Beck-Field & Associates Inc., a medical personnel recruit-
ful candidates take part in a year-long Clinical Nurse Residency program; 12
ment firm specializing in the placement of registered nurses, nurse practi-
weeks of core orientation, followed by a planned first work experience that
tioners, physicians, physician assistants, and other healthcare professions in
focuses on the necessary skills and behaviors needed to carry out the role of
Selma, Texas, first noticed an attitude shift around 2001, about the same time
professional nurse. The program promotes socialization to the professional
she took a seminar focusing on generation differences in the workforce.
nursing role and supports the concept of individual career development in
“I think days of it being all about money are gone,” said Hogan, who has
seen novice nurses turn down good-paying jobs for a number of reasons, including something as seemingly simple as restrictions on the type of scrubs
nursing. Additionally, new graduates will be assigned to a nurse preceptor and
Learn
More About
Salaries
& Benefits
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INTERACTIVE
STATE-BY-STATE
MAP THAT
INCLUDES
SALARY DATA,
LINKS TO
BOARDS OF
NURSING AND
MORE
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a volunteer sponsor selected on their abilities to coach, support and mentor.
As director of staffing at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Laurie Peck
“Unfortunately, there are more outstanding entry-level nurses out there than
IT'S ALL ABOUT
ASKING: FAILING
TO NEGOTIATE
AT THE START OF
A NEW JOB CAN
COST YOU
Priorities
opportunities here in the Boston market,” Peck said. “Sometimes they have to
Click here
Looking back to when she started in the profession 30 years ago, Phelan said
leave the region to get experience and then come back.”
oversees all the hiring, with the exception of physicians. While they represent a
nurses were permitted to wear.
While that particular nurse might be a rare exception among today’s crop of
small percentage of new hires, she said they “love to have new nurses” at Beth
workers, Hogan simply said, “I don’t think they want to be a slave to money,
Israel Deaconess, which is located in a highly competitive market in the
nor a slave to the job.”
Northeast.
nurses worked 8-hour shifts five days a week, and every other weekend.
As part of the hiring process at Beth Israel Deaconess, candidates undergo
“It was understood that was the typical schedule expectation,” she said.
a pre-employment assessment. According to Phelan, it’s a hiring tool that is
Today’s 12-hour shifts allow nurses to work three days out of seven each
relatively new in hospital nursing. Through pointed questions, it helps identify
A LESSON
IN STUDENT
LOAN DEBT
a candidate’s strengths in areas like quality care, patient focus and collabora-
Click here
week, a pattern of flexibility new graduates especially find appealing.
Clinical opportunity is one of several elements, in addition to a competitive
salary, that Phelan would encourage job-seekers to consider when weighing
tive abilities.
To those hunting elsewhere, especially in markets where they can choose
from a number of job offers, Peck also advises candidates to carefully evaluate
one position, or employer, over another.
“Right now, you can be a new nurse in an ICU setting. When I started, you
couldn’t. It just wasn’t offered as an option," Phelan said. Other elements to
every employer, every position.
“Think broadly, not just about the kind of patient you will be caring for,
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ADVANCE For Nurses:
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‘Think broadly, not just about the kind of patient you will be caring for,
but is this a nurse manager and organization [you] can learn from?’
— Laurie Peck, director of staffing
but is this a nurse manager and organization that I will learn
essay describing clinical practice areas of interest, a memo-
from?” Peck said. “Ask yourself, ‘Can I be successful in the
rable experience as a student during clinical rotation, and
role I am taking? Is this the kind of organization where I can
examples that illustrate qualities that would benefit Centra.
grow in my career?’”
“We encourage students to really take time to answer the
Beginning with the application, Peck said candidates in her
market have to set themselves apart.
essay,” Scott said. “This is you. You need to put your best
foot forward.”
And if you are fortunate enough to find an entry-level
While some new graduates may be assigned to a specialty
nursing role, she said, “Be the best new nurse you can be in
unit like the birth center, most are assigned to acute care or
whatever role you take.”
med/surg to hone basic nursing skills.
“I look at it as a puzzle, trying to piece where a person
Thinking Ahead
belongs, where they would best fit,” Cassidy said.
“If you have the opportunity to do an externship in your
And though they preach the importance of internships
junior year of nursing school, that hospital experience is invalu-
and residency programs, Scott and Cassidy found neither
able,” Scott said. Cassidy agreed, adding that any hands-on
registered as an overwhelming concern among 250 nursing
experience before graduation looks good on a résumé.
students they recently surveyed.
“We tell new grads, ‘We know what it is like anticipating
Among the five questions they asked students was this: As
graduation, anticipating whether I will have a job,’” Scott
a new graduate, what would make you consider a position
said. “We lived it. We breathed it. … Now we are here to
at one organization versus another? Among some suggested
help the new graduate in any way we can.”
concerns listed: sign-on bonus, NCLEX reimbursement, pay/
Centra offers a New Graduate Nurse Internship Program,
benefits, community.
designed to help newly licensed graduate nurses transi-
Full analysis of the surveys was incomplete at the time of
tion from students to professional nurses successfully and
this interview, but Scott and Cassidy told ADVANCE that sev-
seamlessly.
eral respondents were primarily interested in the $200 NCLEX
The program consists of class instruction, self-guided
e-learning, a clinical preceptorship in the unit of hire and new
reimbursement.
“I found that to be interesting,” Scott said.
graduate nurse focus group meetings.
Part of the application process includes a personal narrative
Rose Quinn is a freelance writer.
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Follow these tips to create a résumé that will open doors
A Call to Action
A résumé should give just enough information to make the readers want to learn more about you. You have to provide
enough details to let them know you are qualified, but not too much that they have reason to question if you are the right fit.
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ADVANCE For Nurses:
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As you begin your career, seasoned nurses offer
words of wisdom
“Keep an open mind with everyone you meet in your
chosen field of nursing. This includes the small child
to the wise elder, the person living with challenges to
the one who has the world by the tail — and everyone
in between. Each of us has a story to tell and you will
learn something from every encounter if you take to
the time to listen.” — Susan Sooy, BSN, RN
“As you know, we have a heavy load to
carry. There are so many facets to our job
and another person’s health and happiness
is dependent on our actions and knowledge.
As serious as our job demands are, take a
minute to find a little humor along the way.”
Dave perillo
— Janet Hess, BSN, RN
“Challenges should be considered
gifts that will inspire and motivate
one towards improvement and innovation. Nurses should stay current,
read nursing and medical journals
and join professional development
networks.” — Dayna Dixon, MA, RN
“Never lose sight of why you chose to become a
nurse. … always advocate for your patient, always
look for opportunities to grow professionally, continue to develop your support network, continue
to question and challenge appropriately, be humble,
maintain your integrity, don’t compromise your
standard, and take excellent care of yourself.”
— Francine Forrest, MSN, RN
“Two major changes that are likely to influence your career as a nurse are centered on the Affordable
Care Act. The first is that because there are so many chronic conditions related to lifestyle, people are encouraged to choose an active life making choices that will contribute to better health. Hence prevention
is a major theme. Secondly, beginning 2014, everyone is entitled to healthcare. It is hoped that people
will take advantage of screening and testing so that diseases will be diagnosed early at curable stages.
You are likely to see more community-based health and fewer hospitalizations.” — Flo Rice, EdD, RN
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ADVANCE For Nurses:
Serving New Nurse Graduates and Students
“Utilizing the nursing process will guide you in developing
and understanding your patient’s comprehensive plan
of care. Perform a detailed assessment, implement nursing
interventions and re-evaluate for effectiveness. Build
relationships with the multidisciplinary teams within your
organization, including physicians, nutritionists, specialty
educators, nursing assistants, case managers
and physical therapists.” — Cheryl Tugman, MSN, RN, FNP
“Make a connection
and establish a trusting
relationship with your
patient by keeping them
well informed of the plan
of care, being courteous
and respectful, being
attentive and having
patience — go above
and beyond your call
of duty.” — Cheryl Tugman,
“Nursing theorist Jean
Watson said, 'Caring is
the essence of nursing.’
If as nurses we remember
to keep the patient at the
center, the art and science
that is nursing will always
follow.” — Dayna Dixon, MA, RN
“Nurses beginning their career in this era of
nursing have the advantage of advanced
technology and multigenerational, culturally
diverse nurses to guide and support them. It
is important that new nurses take pride in
their identity as nurses.” — Dayna Dixon, MA, RN
“Allow yourself to
learn something
new every single
day. The skilled
hands of a nurse
can tell so much
about your patient;
listen to them.” —
Marlene DeRoo Dolan,
BSN, RN
MSN, RN, FNP
“Whether you’re in direct patient care or
population-based public health, we’re still
working with individuals. Your smile may
be as important a tool as all that knowledge
you’ve absorbed and those clinical skills
you’ve developed.” – Leslie Leonard, BSN, RN
“Have confidence in
yourself. I started
out as a shy nurse
in a medical center.
I am now in my
33rd year in public
health, quite secure
in my position and
wondering where
the years went.
Enjoy the ride.”
“Leave the stress
and heartache of
a day at work...
do not bring it
home with you!”
— Linda Whalen, RN
— Jane Scarfo, BA, RN
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Dave perillo
25