If you’ve been thinking about getting into the nursing field, there is no better time than now. The entire nursing industry has been on an aggressive upward trajectory in recent years, and is projected to continue to do so for the foreseeable future. The trend stems from an aging U.S. population that requires more intensive care as they progress through their retirement and later years.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there will be a nearly 20% demand increase by 2022, with even greater growth possible for some specialties.

Here are the most popular nursing specialties that are expected to grow rapidly in coming years:

Neonatal Nurse

Babies who are born prematurely commonly experience a variety of health issues early on, and this is where a neonatal nurse comes in. They work with premature babies – often in the NICU – to ensure their needs are met until they mature enough to go home with their parents.

Positions require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in nursing or a related field, and some positions even require a master’s level education. Additionally, prospective neonatal nurses will need prior experience working with neonates.

This field is expected to grow 17% by 2022, and the current average salary is $65,000.

Clinical Nurse

The primary goal of a clinical nurse is to provide a high standard of care to patients suffering from advanced or serious health conditions like chronic illness, heart disease, or cancer. Clinical nurses typically work in hospital or clinic settings.

This position requires you to be an advanced practice registered nurse with both bachelor’s and master’s levels of education in nursing.

This field is expecting a 20% growth by 2022, and currently has an average salary of $67,000.

Dialysis Nurse

When a person’s kidneys no longer function well enough to filter waste from their blood due to old age or another condition, dialysis is required to do the filtration for them. Dialysis nurses work with these patients who make routine trips to the dialysis center for treatment, and deal in both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

Dialysis nurses are required to have a bachelor’s level education in nursing, and should enroll in courses that focus on dialysis specifically.

This field is expecting a growth of 19% by 2022, and currently has an average salary of $64,000.

Nurse Practitioner

Due to the shortage of doctors in the United States, nurse practitioners are becoming one of the most in-demand nursing jobs in the industry. They typically work under the supervision of a doctor, administering tests, prescribing medications, and diagnosing certain types of ailments. In some areas however, practitioners are able to have their own standalone practices.

Nurse practitioners are required to hold bachelor’s and master’s level degrees in nursing, as well as pass a licensing examination.

This field is expecting an astonishing 25% growth by 2022, and currently has an average salary of $94,000.

Nurse Advocate

This is a unique position in the nursing field. As opposed to being focused on providing care directly to patients, a nurse advocate helps to represent the interests of a patient’s family in a care setting. They are a crucial part of the relationship between the patient and involved medical professionals, and help clarify exactly what is going on in terms of care, billing, treatments, and more.

Nurse advocates are required to have a bachelor’s degree in nursing and become a Registered Nurse. After accumulating experience as a RN, nurse advocate positions become available.

This field is expecting 19% growth by 2022, and currently has an average salary of $57,000.

If you’re a healthcare professional looking for your next step in the industry, join our talent network today and take a step in the right direction. We strive to find every candidate the perfect position. Call us today at 407-478-0332 to learn more about what HealthCare Support can do for you!

The healthcare field is one of the largest and most competitive industries in the entire world. With job demand rapidly increasing, it is critical during the application process to do everything possible to market yourself as the ideal candidate. When it comes to writing resumes, best practices often overlap between industries, however, healthcare candidates often have long lists of educational accomplishments and certifications that need to be put on display.

If you’ve been in healthcare for more than a few years, expect your resume to be nearly two full pages. For those who are fresh out of school or seeking administrative work in the healthcare field, keep it to one page.

Formatting

Bullet points, when used appropriately, are an effective tool for efficiently conveying important information to a potential employer who is likely looking through a thick stack of resumes. Nobody wants to try and quickly skim through a wall of text, and bullet points allow you to highlight exactly what you want your future employer to see.

Bold the main headings of each section of your resume (qualifications, education, skills, certifications, etc.) to make navigating the document easier for the reader, and italicize your job titles to help them stand out that extra little bit.

Do not choose a strange font in an attempt to stand out. You’ll end up frustrating the reader and your resume will be discarded. Times New Roman is preferred for how easy it is to read, and keep the body text at nothing smaller than a 10-point size.

There are two recommended ways of laying out a resume, and which is best depends on your specific education and experience.

• Chronological

  This is the most common format in just about every industry, including healthcare. It flows well and gives the reader information in a logical pattern. If you’re strong in education and certifications, chronological is ideal for you as it puts that right up towards the top. Chronological resumes are also a strong option for those looking for an entry-level position, as it highlights education and skills over previous work experience.

• Functional

  For those keen to show their prospective employer their diverse skillset, the functional resume is great. From there, it leads into where you acquired those skills through education and work experience.

Header

Your future employer needs to know who they’re talking to. Your name should be at the very top of your resume, followed by your full title. Below your name should be your contact information, including address, phone number, and professional email address. Objective statements are viewed as outdated at this point and should be avoided.

Keywords

Pick out keywords from the description for the job you are applying for, and fit them into your resume. Large employers weed out some applicants by using a recruiting system that looks for certain keywords to find suitable candidates automatically. You might have the strongest resume in the world, but if it lacks certain keywords, it won’t make it past the computer.

Certifications

These are vital for many healthcare positions, so make sure they are listed – especially ones that your job posting mentions specifically. If you’re working towards a certification but don’t yet have it, list it as well, but add an expected date of completion.

References

Quality references open many doors in the healthcare field. Many gloss over putting references in their resume in order to talk about themselves more, but having others who are willing to talk on your behalf can be extremely helpful. A recommendation from someone who has some clout in the industry carries more weight than you talking about yourself a little bit more. Include two to three professional references on your resume.

Here at HealthCare Support, our number one goal is to get you into the perfect position. Join our talent network today, or call us at 407-478-0332 to learn more about what we can do for you!

The healthcare field enjoys the highest projected growth rate across all sectors. There are numerous medically-related jobs expected to experience an increase in demand of between 22 and 45 percent. With this boom, comes the need for business and administrative support. That means the demand for experienced and knowledgeable administrators and managers in the healthcare field is also growing rapidly.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals the projected need for more than 352,000 healthcare managers by 2026 — representing an estimated 20% growth rate. With an average median annual salary moving upwards of $96,540, these professions deserve serious consideration.

Educational Requirements of a Healthcare Administrator or Manager

These professionals are highly educated individuals, requiring a bachelor’s degree, at a minimum.

Degrees

A Bachelor’s Degree is required, but many employers prefer a Master’s Degree. Typical areas of study for a Bachelor’s include health services administration and management, business administration, nursing administration and public health administration.

To command a top position with a higher salary, a Master’s degree with focused studies in both business and medical science is recommended. Candidates should choose a primary program — such as Master of Business Administration — with a healthcare concentration. A Master of Science in Health Informatics is another good choice, suitable for those who enjoy technology.

Obtaining Employment

Once you’ve earned your Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in the applicable field, you can start looking for work. While experience will help those already in the field, the growing demand for these positions will encourage employers to hire candidates straight out of school. This doesn’t mean you won’t have competition. An effective way to get a leg up on other candidates is through use of the services of a top-notch recruitment firm. Choose one that focuses on the healthcare industry to ensure they have the knowledge and networking skills required for successful placement.

At Healthcare Support, we help medical care organizations and qualified healthcare professionals connect, and we offer a variety of flexible placement options. Whether you’re looking for an administrator or a manager for your facility or seeking an employer in this field, we can help. Learn more about our employment solutions here.

Healthcare professionals play a vital role in the overall health and well-being of the community by helping take care of patients in various settings such as hospitals, clinics, government agencies, and educational institutions. But, to continue to grow in the healthcare industry, staff members must master several different skills. So, what can you do to ensure your success? You can start by following these 7 tips.

Foster communication and interpersonal skills

Those who are sick or hurt will always seek empathy from someone who understands what they are going through. By maintaining interpersonal skills, you let patients know you have compassion and see them as individuals. As a healthcare professional, it’s also important to practice transparent communication with patients by taking your time to explain things in a way in which they can easily understand.

Remain organized

Healthcare professionals see a lot of patients on a daily basis and therefore must remain incredibly organized when managing schedules and paperwork. This not only helps to avoid a potential mess, but it also allows the organization to work more efficiently by being able to obtain the information they need quickly.

Always be discreet

To keep from violating the confidentiality of your patients, you must never mishandle sensitive information. Doing so is not only morally wrong, but it’s also against the law.

Learn how to manage stress

A lot of positions in healthcare require you to make important decisions that affect your patients. Combine that with working long hours and maintaining a heavy workload, and it’s easy to see that a person working in the healthcare field can become stressed easily. Therefore, you must try and balance your personal and work life, and do anything you can to manage the stress before it becomes too overwhelming.

Keep a flexible work schedule

Because there are no set times people get sick, your schedule will require you to work different hours including days, nights, weekends, holidays, and overtime. You also need to be prepared to work odd hours when an emergency situation comes up quickly.

Stay educated

Make sure to train yourself whenever possible whether it’s to master your specific position, or learn new ones within your field. Keep an eye on your industry and pay attention to the always changing trends and you’ll remain one step ahead.

Network often

Often, it’s not what you know but who you know. Networking allows you to build business relationships that could benefit you in the future. Join organizations, attend work functions, and don’t be afraid to talk to people both inside and outside of the workplace.

No matter what career path you are on in the healthcare industry, by implementing these traits into your daily work life, you are much more likely to excel.

Are you a healthcare professional looking for a job locally or even out of state, but aren’t sure of where to start? HealthCare Support invites you to join our talent network today to enhance your job search and application process. Our mission is to find you a job that’s the perfect match for you. Call us today at 407-478-0332 to learn more about how we can help get you hired.

Let’s talk about honesty. There are few things more important than honesty and this holds true for working with recruiters as well.

For some, working with a recruiter sounds like a complicated process. However, when you partner with a reputable agency that has a record of success like ours, you will find the process is actually very straightforward.

Nonetheless, there are always certain situations where no matter how organized or defined the process is, a candidate makes things difficult. There are a number of reasons for this. It could be inattention to detail, lack of preparation, or miscommunication. Sometimes it simply boils down to the candidate choosing to be dishonest. Purposely embellishing experience or withholding information from your recruiter will do nothing but hurt your chances of gaining employment.

One scenario we see often is when a candidate has already been submitted to a position with X client, either personally or with another agency, and allows one of our recruiters to submit their resume to the same position. Applying to the same position will not make you a more attractive candidate or enhance your candidacy in any way. Be honest, if you’ve already applied tell us and we will work together again in the future.

Another scenario is when a candidate is asked about their criminal history and they choose to withhold information from their past. The majority of our clients request background checks and require that they are completed prior to the candidates’ first day. A suspended license or misdemeanor for speeding on your background report may not be charges that would impact a candidate’s chance of gaining employment, but finding out after the fact will make you loss some credibility. Active cases are also important to disclose.  Bottom line, it’s best to be upfront with your recruiter.

In other scenarios we’ve seen candidates withhold details of pre-arranged vacations for fear of time-off preventing them from securing the position, not to mention falsified experience or information provided during phone screens or listed on resumes. The list goes on, but our goal here is to assure all candidates that honesty is the best policy. Being honest allows our recruiters to work with the facts and help you the best way we can.

While education, certifications and computer program knowledge often make up a large portion of hiring decisions, other things like character traits can be of equal importance.

Drive or ambition is probably the most sought-after trait in an employee and the one that most closely correlates with a quality candidate. Someone with ambition knows where they want to go in life and have the drive to get them there. These individuals can usually answer short-term and long-term goal questions without hesitation and often exceed employer expectations.

Humility and Positivity are just as important and people with these qualities tend to work better in teams and bounce back from shortcomings faster. These employees make great leaders. When issues arise, which they will, these individuals search for the root of the problem and find the solution instead of placing the blame elsewhere.

Reliability is a key ingredient to trust and large part of how and employee becomes a long-term employee. People with this quality typically progress faster in their career because their supervisors can trust them to complete the work and respect their opinions. They live up to their word and are transparent with information that may impact their plans or promises.

Displaying these highly coveted qualities during an interview can differentiate you from the competition and can ultimately give you the upper hand in a head to head race for the job. Our recruiters are trained to look for these same attributes to provide our clients with quality options. If you have the skills for the job and qualities of a great candidate, the only thing you are missing is a great employment partner like HealthCare Support! Let us work with you and open the door to new opportunities with great companies!

If you’re new to the recruiting world, don’t worry. Everyone takes different approaches when beginning their careers, or looking for new job opportunities. And, to help you be as successful as possible when working with a healthcare recruiter, we’ve compiled some information to help guide you through your job seeking journey.

Partnering with a Recruiter

Because the job market is so competitive, it’s often difficult to get the attention of the individuals who are responsible for hiring new talent. But, when you partner with an outside healthcare recruiter like HealthCare Support (HSS) who has connections with all sorts of people in the healthcare industry, you have access to valuable information on what specific companies are looking for in a potential candidate.

And, while the recruiter works with you during the whole interview process, they also work for the company who obtained their services. So, it’s essential you show the recruiter why you are an ideal candidate. One of the ways to make a great impression on both the recruiter and the company you are interested in working for is by having a well-constructed resume that is organized, easy to read, and highlights prior successes.

Some “Do’s” to Keep in Mind

• Be honest – Never misrepresent yourself by hiding things regarding your background, experience, or qualifications. Issues often come to light during reference and background checks, so it’s always better to be upfront with your recruiter from the very beginning.
• Listen – Your recruiter handpicks job opportunities they think would be the best match for both you and the employer. Listen to their insights and directions. If they ask you to improve some things, such as your resume, it’s in your best interest to follow their advice.
• Ask questions – Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification regarding certain matters. It’s also a good idea to find out what companies are looking for. Let the recruiter know of any skills you have that could be an asset to the company that the recruiter previously may not have known.
• Follow up – You can’t expect the recruiter to do all of the work for you. Make sure you involve yourself in the process. Following up shows that you’re both motivated and interested in the positions you are applying for.
• Be professional – While the recruiter does not make the final hiring decision, they are the ones helping you get placed into a job. Treat them just like you would the hiring manager, maintaining a high-level of professionalism at all times.

Some “Don’ts” to Keep in Mind

• Don’t quit communicating – If you happen to decide you’re not interested in a specific position, be upfront with the recruiter, don’t ignore them. A good recruiter isn’t going to try and pressure you to take a job, but if you cut off communication, you’re only going to come off as unprofessional.
• Don’t be a pest – There’s following up, and then there’s being an annoyance. It’s perfectly fine to check in one or two times a week throughout the process, but anything more than that will show you’re desperate, which may be seen as a turn-off.
• Don’t take things personally – If you don’t get chosen for a particular job, it doesn’t mean that there’s necessarily something wrong. You may not have the skill set for the current opening. If a recruiter informs you weren’t selected, then use that information to improve on your shortcoming’s for the next potential role.
• Don’t go around the recruiter to get to the client – If you don’t hear back from the recruiter in what you think is an appropriate timeframe, never take it upon yourself to contact the client, especially after your information has been presented to the client by the recruiter. Not only will you look bad, but your candidacy could be affected in a negative way.
• Don’t cancel an interview the day of – If a recruiter works hard to get you an interview, don’t miss the opportunity by canceling it last minute. The recruiter may not want to work with you in the future. You’ve got to remember that their reputation is on the line just as much as yours.

As with all relationships, whether personal or professional, communication is key. When you have an interview scheduled, check in with the healthcare recruiter right before going in to go over any final details. After the interview is over, call the recruiter to inform them of how you think everything went.

Working with the correct healthcare recruiter will only benefit your career. However, it’s important to understand that not all recruiters are the same. HSS is a leader in the healthcare recruitment field, and as a result, we have gained partnerships with some of the most prestigious healthcare organizations. To get started with your job search, contact us today by calling 407-478-0332 or fill out our form online.

Many times, job searching can become an overwhelming process. You spend hours inquiring about work opportunities, updating your resume, and applying for job openings, but still aren’t getting hired. Without being given feedback from outside sources, it can become difficult to know what you can improve on to help increase your chances of landing a really great job.

According to the American Staffing Association (ASA), staffing firms have made a compelling improvement to the U.S. economy by offering staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions, which has resulted in 15 million employees being hired annually. With statistics such as these; it’s no wonder so many professionals are using staffing firms to assist them in finding a position relating to their field. Other benefits of using a staffing firm to help get you hired include:

• Accessibility to lots of jobs

  Busy employers count on staffing firms to fill numerous employment positions on a temporary, temp-to-hire, or direct hire basis.

• Possibility of full-time

  When in a temporary position, you can impress the employer, which could land you a permanent spot in the company. There are also many employers looking to hire full-time employees from the start.

• Getting connected

  Many staffing firms work with thousands of local employers, allowing you to get connected to jobs much easier than on your own.

• Knowing the job market

  Staffing firms work in the industry every day and therefore know firsthand when changes are approaching. You will have access to all kinds of insights regarding which skills are in demand and how to find and keep work in the current economy.

• Offering clarification

  You’ll be guided into starting a career that is a good fit for you depending on what you are looking for, as well as being educated on where to apply based on who is hiring.

• Providing important services

  By getting help with your resume and interviewing skills, you will have an advantage over those who are job searching on their own.

• Acting as good support systems

  Having a great attitude is crucial to being hired. Staffing firms can help you focus on the brighter side of job searching when things become emotionally stressful.

• Looking out for you and the employer

  A staffing firm who takes pride in what they do will have both you and the employer’s best interests at heart.

You are missing a major component needed for a more efficient job search by not working with a professional staffing firm. HealthCare Support (HSS), is a national niche recruitment firm placing top talent in the dynamic healthcare industry. To enhance your job search and application process, join our talent network today!