Great Goals for Nursing Assistants

A caregiver is simply a person who cares for the health and basic needs of another when they can't do it for themselves. This can be a nurse assistant or simply a loving family member.

Nursing assistants look after their patients in basic but vital ways. They help them bathe, eat and dress. They help them in and out of bed, provide walkers and wheelchairs to those who can't get around without them, fetch items as needed and provide a listening ear for their troubles. While the primary job of a nursing assistant is giving basic care to people who can't do it for themselves, it's also about restoring dignity in the process. To make sure she does this, a nursing assistant must keep several goals in mind.

1. Patient Care

Of paramount importance to a caregiver is making sure he gives his patients the best in quality care. This doesn't just mean knowing what to do and when to do it, although those things are important as well. Good patient care is grounded in knowledge, but it also means showing empathy for patients. Nursing assistants make it a goal to never be cold or dismissive toward their patients.

For More Goals and the Original Article.

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10 Reasons Why Health Care Workers Get Sick

We clean everything we can get our hands on, but we still get sick. While cleaning everything be great for fighting off those nasty bugs that can wreak havoc on your immune system, there really is some truth to the saying, “Too much of a good thing is bad.”

Here are the top ten reasons why health care workers get sick:

1. Not Washing Our Hands
We sure don’t practice what we preach all the time do we? C’mon admit it. Do you wash your hands every single time you go in and out of every patient room? Before and after every contact?
Also, are you washing your hands after each contact with a patients chart? How about the bedside glucometer?

2. Not Enough Sleep
Research has proven that sleep deprivation will lower your immune system. But, even without research on my side, think about how you and your body felt after not sleeping well for just one night! How about a whole string of nights during the week?

3. Too Much Work
Go right ahead and work those extra shifts. While your paycheck is inflating, your energy reserve is deflating. Guess what happens to your immune system when you get run down? Hey, don’t get me wrong, I like the overtime as much as the next nurse, but there has to be a balance between the extra shifts and taking care of yourself.

4. Not Drinking Enough Fluids

For More Reasons and Original Article

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Time For You: How to Stay Energized throughout Your Shift

Working a 12-hour shift is challenging in any field, and health care workers specifically must deal with physical, emotional and relational stressors that can deplete their energy more than many other workers.

A number of factors can also determine how taxing a shift is, including:
•  Patient load and acuity levels;
•  Amount of ancillary staff support;
•  Documentation requirements;
•  Level of co-worker/provider engagement;
•  Ability to take breaks and make nutritious food choices;
•  Personal health status;
•  Ergonomics of the work environment;
•  Type of flooring and shoes worn;
•  Available patient handling assistance devices; and
•  Shift schedule.

With so many factors at play, what can a health worker do to survive and thrive through a long and challenging shift?

1. Control what you can control
“While you may not have any control over your patient load or acuity, you can make use of any assistance devices available to you. You may not get to choose what shift you work, but you can do your best to maintain a regular routine.

For more tips and the original article.

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Nursing Assistants: Tips on Improving Your Professionalism

Being Professional-The Hard Facts

When we accept a job, anywhere, we are expected to act in a professional manner. In health care it is vital to be a good worker, to respect our resident’s rights and dignity and to respect ourselves. After years of seeing certain things and traits of people, I have come up with a few things specific to us, Nursing Assistants.

Appearance
Number one, no matter what ANYONE says, is how we look. Nursing staff are supposed to be clean and neat- in order to prevent infection. All too often we see CNA’s wearing clothing, uniforms- that are wrinkled and dirty looking. Stains and holes are just plain tacky looking.
If we want to project an image of being professional, we must be willing to dress the part. I have heard many a CNA state- “I don’t make enough money for decent uniforms” …This is true for many of us. No one is saying one needs tons of uniforms, just that the uniforms we do have be kept in good shape.

Wear clean clothes to work that are ironed or at least wrinkle free. Wear underclothing that is decent and not too colorful.

For More and the Original Article.

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Cool, Quick & Easy Meals for Winter Parties

The holidays may be over, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to celebrate. The new year comes with award season, college bowl games and, of course, the Super Bowl. These kind of events always end up being extremely fun times, but if health care professionals are asked to provide meals for the winter party, it can be stressful.

When you’re working long hours in the health care profession, finding time to whip up an extravagant meal for a party can seem more of a hassle than enjoyable.  Instead of slaving away in the kitchen for hours on end, keep some of these simple potluck dishes in mind for your next get-together—they’re easy to prepare and are guaranteed to please a crowd!

Dips:
When it comes to easy party recipes, dips are at the top of the list. From spinach dip to buffalo chicken dip, most dips only require you to mix up different ingredients and either serve right away or bake for a short time.  Make your dip the night before your event and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to go; lots of dips can be served chilled, and it’s also easy to quickly reheat them in the oven or a microwave.

For more ideas and the original blog.

The holidays may be over, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to celebrate. The new year comes with award season, college bowl games and, of course, the Super Bowl. These kind of events always end up being extremely fun times, but if nurses are asked to provide meals for the winter party, it can be stressful. 
When you’re working long hours as a nurse, finding time to whip up an extravagant meal for a party can seem more of a hassle than enjoyable.  Instead of slaving away in the kitchen for hours on end, keep some of these simple potluck dishes in mind for your next get-together—they’re easy to prepare and are guaranteed to please a crowd!
Dips
When it comes to easy party recipes, dips are at the top of the list. From spinach dip to buffalo chicken dip, most dips only require you to mix up different ingredients and either serve right away or bake for a short time.  Make your dip the night before your event and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to go; lots of dips can be served chilled, and it’s also easy to quickly reheat them in the oven or a microwave.
- See more at: http://www.nursetogether.com/nurses-quick-and-easy-meals-for-your-winter-party#sthash.ZZ2ZnK76.dpuf

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Pharmacy Tech's Role in Preventing Medication Errors

Pharmacy technicians play a major role in modern pharmacy practice. The pharmacist relies on the technician to provide an extra layer of safety. It is important for technicians to follow system-based processes and inform the pharmacist whenever they have questions, concerns, or feel processes do not work or are unmanageable.

Prescription Drop-Off
If technicians are stationed at prescription drop-off, consider creating a checklist of critical patient information that the technician should obtain from each patient. The date of birth should be written on every hard copy prescription so the pharmacist has a second identifier readily available during verification. Allergy and medical condition (eg, pregnancy) information should be updated in the patient’s profile at each patient encounter and communicated to the verification pharmacist. Knowing a patient’s medical conditions can help the pharmacist uncover errors.

Order Entry
Medication safety is enhanced when technicians know medical terminology and drug names, especially if they enter prescriptions. - See more at: http://www.pharmacytimes.com/publications/issue/2010/January2010/MedicationSafety-0110#sthash.GbqDrqg4.dpuf

Pharmacy technicians play a major role in modern pharmacy practice. The pharmacist relies on the technician to provide an extra layer of safety. It is important for technicians to follow system-based processes and inform the pharmacist whenever they have questions, concerns, or feel processes do not work or are unmanageable.

Prescription Drop-Off:
If technicians are stationed at prescription drop-off, consider creating a checklist of critical patient information that the technician should obtain from each patient. The date of birth should be written on every hard copy prescription so the pharmacist has a second identifier readily available during verification. Allergy and medical condition (eg, pregnancy) information should be updated in the patient’s profile at each patient encounter and communicated to the verification pharmacist. Knowing a patient’s medical conditions can help the pharmacist uncover errors.

Order Entry:
Medication safety is enhanced when technicians know medical terminology and drug names, especially if they enter prescriptions.

Pharmacy technicians play a major role in modern pharmacy practice. The pharmacist relies on the technician to provide an extra layer of safety. It is important for technicians to follow system-based processes and inform the pharmacist whenever they have questions, concerns, or feel processes do not work or are unmanageable.

Prescription Drop-Off
If technicians are stationed at prescription drop-off, consider creating a checklist of critical patient information that the technician should obtain from each patient. The date of birth should be written on every hard copy prescription so the pharmacist has a second identifier readily available during verification. Allergy and medical condition (eg, pregnancy) information should be updated in the patient’s profile at each patient encounter and communicated to the verification pharmacist. Knowing a patient’s medical conditions can help the pharmacist uncover errors.

Order Entry
Medication safety is enhanced when technicians know medical terminology and drug names, especially if they enter prescriptions. - See more at: http://www.pharmacytimes.com/publications/issue/2010/January2010/MedicationSafety-0110#sthash.GbqDrqg4.dpuf

For More and this original article.

Learn more about what it takes to become a Pharmacy Technician.

Home Health Aids: Interested in Increasing Your Caregiving Skills?

Reliable, trustworthy, and skilled caregivers were the most important factor in leading a consumer to be "very satisfied" with his or her long-term care, according to a report prepared for The SCAN Foundation by LifePlans, Inc.

The researchers therefore conclude that advanced training for caregivers -- including direct-care workers in all care settings -- could help boost overall satisfaction levels among consumers.
"Such training could help to identify the source of unmet needs, emphasize the importance of the personal dimension of caregiving -- not just the technical -- and assure that paid caregivers have a thorough understanding of the criticality of building trust and communication with the care recipient," the researchers write.

For More and the Original Blog

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Making Your New Year's Resolutions Stick

It can be daunting when your list of New Year’s Resolutions is as long as your holiday shopping list. In addition to the post-holiday slump, not being able to keep your resolutions by February, March or even late January may increase your anxiety. When your holiday decorations are packed up and stored away, the frustration of an unused gym membership or other reminders of failed resolutions can make the later winter months feel hopeless.

However, it is important to remember that the New Year isn’t meant to serve as a catalyst for sweeping character changes. It is a time for people to reflect on their past year’s behavior and promise to make positive lifestyle changes.

“Setting small, attainable goals throughout the year, instead of a singular, overwhelming goal on January 1 can help you reach whatever it is you strive for,” says psychologist Lynn Bufka, PhD. “Remember, it is not the extent of the change that matters, but rather the act of recognizing that lifestyle change is important and working toward it, one step at a time.”

For More and the Original APA article.

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Go for an Exciting Career with Travel Nursing

Travel nursing is an exciting option for all areas of the nursing practice and there are a number of benefits. These include being able to select your location of choice to having the opportunity to see the US by driving from your home state to the assignment.

If you decide to accept a cross-country assignment, take the time to enjoy the drive. Stop along the way to see amazing sights, learn history, and to meet the locals. Upon arriving at your new travel nursing assignment, become familiar with the area and surrounding towns. Your patients and their families are a great way to find out about the best restaurants, churches, doctors, salons, etc.

America is very diverse, not only with a mix of ethnic backgrounds but also with geographical cultures. Each region of the US looks different and has its own culture and unique and fun things to do. As a travel nurse, you will experience a wide variety of what the US has to offer and also develop some great and lasting friendships along the way.

See more at: http://www.nursetogether.com/travel-nursing-an-exciting-way-to-go#sthash.0hcMHoM6.dpuf


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