Tag Archives: nurse

How to List Your Nursing Credentials

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Your nursing credentials sum up your education, active licensure, certifications, and greatest professional achievements. Whether you’re filling out a job application or signing a legal document, you’ll need to pay careful attention to how you write them. Here are some tips to help you list your nursing credentials correctly.

Listing Your Nursing Credentials

As a nursing professional, your credentials should appear in the following order:

  1. Highest earned degree (including doctoral degrees, master’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and associate degrees)
  2. Licensure (including RN and LPN)
  3. State designations or requirements (including APRN, NP, and CNS)
  4. National certifications (including RN-BC and FNP-BC)
  5. Achievements and awards (such as FAAN)
  6. Other recognitions or certifications

Your highest earned degree comes first in your list of credentials for multiple reasons: Your degree doesn’t require renewal, and it is the least likely of all your credentials to change. Of course, you may continue your education in the future — replacing what you originally listed with the most recent, highest earned degree. Because licensure is necessary to practice nursing and may or may not be renewed, it is always listed second in your line of credentials.

State designations and national certifications follow licensure because these, too, are required for practice and will expire without continued education. Finally, achievements, awards, and other recognitions are left last on your line of credentials. These additional honors aren’t required to practice nursing, but they are still significant to your professional experience and can help you stand out as a competitive nursing candidate.

Once you have finished listing your credentials complete your resume with your experience listed from your most recent position. There is typically no reason to list any employment that surpasses the last 10 years.

Nursing Credentials Q&A

Below are some of the most common questions that nursing professionals have about their credentials:

  • What should I do if I’m unsure how to list my specific degree or state licensure? Consult your state board of nursing for accurate listing information.
  • Am I required to list certain credentials? You should always list the credentials necessary for your profession in your state when signing legal documents.
  • What if I have more than one degree? List your education in order from the highest to lowest level or simply list your highest earned degree.
  • What if I have multiple nursing credentials? While you aren’t required to list multiple nursing credentials in any specific order, it may be useful to list them from most recently acquired to first acquired or in order of relevance to a specific job if you are applying for one.

Nursing Tips, Tricks, and Preparation

Are you a recent nursing graduate applying for jobs or an experienced nursing professional that’s ready to hop back on the job market? If so, you’ll not only need to get your credentials in order, but also have an interview-ready resume and virtually unlimited access to relevant job postings. That’s where HealthCare Support comes in. Our team of healthcare recruiters will help you find jobs, prepare for interviews, and settle into your new position. To learn more, contact HealthCare Support today at 407-478-0332.

5 Tips to Help Nurses Prepare for the Night-shift

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There are plenty of registered nurses that prefer to work the night-shift, but not all nurses are night owls. Fortunately, any nurse can adjust to a new clock-in time with a few hidden tricks and the right sleep training. To help you make the switch, here are some of the top transitional changes to make ahead of schedule.

Put Stock in Shift Changes

Because you won’t be able to communicate as much with your sleeping patients, you’ll need to rely on the previous shift for essential updates. Knowing even the most minor updates on your patients will encourage you to keep an eye out for subtle changes and prevent critical situations.

Pick the Right Pick-Me-Ups

Energy drinks and premade performance beverages might seem like a convenient choice for the night-shift, but these unhealthy options aren’t good for the long term. Instead of picking up a sugary supplement, reach for healthier forms of energy found in caffeinated teas or a coffee drink you can stir up yourself. If you have an aversion to caffeine, you can still boost your energy by prioritizing activity during your shift or trying an LED light therapy lamp to stimulate your brain.

Stay Hydrated and Satiated

Hydration is essential for day- and night-shift nurses — especially when consuming caffeine. If you have trouble remembering to run to the water fountain, bring your own reusable bottle to keep at your station. While paying attention to your water intake, pay attention to your food intake as well, because choosing the right food options can play a huge part in your night on the clock. You can make healthy eating just as convenient as the vending machine by meal prepping at the beginning of each week.

Set Aside Enough Sleep Time

While adjusting to the night-shift, you’ll need to rearrange your sleeping habits so you can get seven to nine hours of sleep in before the start of your shift. It might be tempting to try and reset your rhythm by pulling an all-nighter beforehand, but this can end up making it harder to get your sleep on track in the long term. Instead, try modifying your environment to be as sleep-friendly as possible by:

  • reminding your family that your sleep is important
  • setting up thick curtains to keep light out
  • wearing an eye mask or ear plugs
  • avoiding caffeine before bed
  • limiting phone and other screen usage before bed

Work With a Healthcare Recruiter

No matter how new you are to nursing, the right healthcare recruiter can help you find a position that fits your wants and needs. In fact, the team of healthcare recruiters at HealthCare Support will help you find the perfect fit for and lend you all the guidance needed to navigate your new role as a night-shift nurse. To join our talent network and take the next steps in your healthcare career, call us today at 407-478-0332.

Why You Should Come to Work Early

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Coming in to work early is one of those things that we all know is a good idea but few people actually have the will to pull it off. It sounds like a great plan until the alarm goes off in the morning and all you desire is one more hit of that snooze button. However, getting in to work early is one of the best things you can do, both for your performance as well as your public perception. Here are some concrete reasons why you should get to work a little bit early.

Establish Order

When you get to work early, everything is much calmer. There are few people present if any, the noise level is low, and there is no stress to be at the peak of your game yet. This can allow for you to get set up for the workday ahead. Iron out a schedule for the day’s proceedings, organize your desk, and get mentally prepared for all the great work you are going to do in the upcoming hours. This will help you to be focused for the hours ahead.

Get Work Done

Arriving early allows for you to get a head start on the tasks for the day. Any extra time to clock in and get some projects completed is always an added bonus, and getting in to the office early allows for that. This can also be a big advantage in an industry that thrives on competition and sales, as the extra time allows for you to get a leg up on your fellow workers.

Impress Your Superiors

Being an early arriver sends a positive message to your coworkers as well as your boss. It shows that you are dedicated and able to sacrifice for the sake of your career and the company. Your superiors will notice your drive and work ethic, and this can only serve to benefit you down the road with future projects. And while demonstrable benefits go a long way, there is an important aspect for just the respect and dignity that comes from being regarded highly as a person and worker.

Aspirational Healthcare Workers

In the healthcare industry, it is important to have determined workers who work hard and do the little things to succeed, like showing up to work early. At HealthCare Support, we specialize in connecting employers to their future star employees in the healthcare sector. If you are looking for a job opportunity, or are looking for a new hire, contact us today at 407-478-0332.

Tips for New Triage Nurses

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As a Triage Nurse your challenging duty is to medically assess the patients’ illnesses and symptoms to determine which patients need immediate attention from the doctor. It’s a tricky job considering having to deal with a room full of worried patients and family members, so doing it as a novice can seem pretty much impossible. But, don’t worry, there have been many people in your shoes and we’re going to simplify it by giving you some tips and tricks to ace your job!

First things first, greet every patient with a smile.

They are already scared, so try and ease their anxiety by treating them warmly. If you make your patients feel more comfortable, they will feel better telling you their medical history. If you were to be cold and emotionless, they might feel the need to withhold some important parts of their medical history that could help you in the end.

Take your time and be efficient.

I know there may be tons of people in the waiting room but rushing your patients won’t do you any good. Take it slow with them. Make sure you’re getting all the information needed to be able to follow the correct protocol. It’s easy to jump to conclusions after you hear the first symptom but you need to explore all possibilities.

Trust your instincts.

So many people come into the emergency room with self-diagnoses that they got from the internet. Take into consideration their concerns, but also give a full assessment and make your decisions based on that assessment. Remember that this is your decision and not theirs, you’re the one with the credentials and knowledge.

Don’t be afraid to ask more questions.

Probe a little further into your patient’s history or ask them questions that could narrow down the list of potential medical problems to improve your chances of finding the cause of your patients’ symptoms.

Have open communication with your patients.

Be sure to make them comfortable enough to want to come in if they have any other symptoms or if any of their illnesses worsen. Don’t fall into the trap of once you hand off the patient to the doctor, you are done. Before the patient leaves, make sure he or she knows that if they have any questions or concerns to come to you. Be approachable.  Also, make sure you’re communicating with your other patients in the waiting room by keeping them updated on delays or just simply checking in on them.

Triage nurses have a big responsibility as they are the first person a patient sees when they are scared and in a time of need.  Figuring out the cause of their illness takes time and careful attention.  To apply for one of our Triage Nurse positions, click here.

“Dos and Don’ts” While Interacting with Patients

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For those in the healthcare industry, interacting with patients is likely a key part of what you do every day. Though some like nurses and general practitioners see more of the patient than surgeons or anesthesiologists, anyone involved with healthcare needs to have the interpersonal skills to relate to their patients. After all, the whole purpose of healthcare is to administer to the sick and injured, and the relational aspect is no small piece of that. Here are some things to do, and not to do, every time you meet with a patient.

Things to Do

  • Encourage the patient to speak – This will help them feel valued and involved. A patient isn’t merely a broken machine to be set right, but a human being requiring care.
  • Listen carefully – Listening when a patient talks shows that you genuinely are interested in what they are saying, and you might actually learn something important for their treatment.
  • Answer the question the patient asks – Don’t immediately disregard uninformed questions, but answer as best you can and then explain how you see things. This will make it feel more like a conversation and less like a lecture.

Things Not to Do

  • Use jargon – In all likelihood, your patient probably didn’t go to medical school, so drop terminology which would be meaningless to them. An oversimplified understanding is better than not understanding at all for a patient.
  • Steamroll a conversation – Don’t just show up, lecture the patient, and leave before they had time to process anything you said. This is a great way to ensure that your patient will leave confused and dissatisfied with you as their caregiver.
  • Include unnecessary information – Another way to cause confusion is to explain too much or answer questions they didn’t ask. Be as clear and concise as possible. Otherwise your patient might forget key things you said in the stream of over-information.
  • Make assumptions about the patient – When a patient begins telling you something about their feelings or symptoms, don’t cut them off before they finish because you think you know what is wrong. This is a great way to alienate your patient and you might even jump to the wrong conclusion.

Find Your Next Healthcare Job

HealthCare Support can help talented, passionate healthcare professionals find the perfect long-term or short-term job. Our professional network is vast, and our dedicated team can help place you in the ideal situation for your career. To learn more about our open jobs and services, please give us a call at 407-478-0332.

Tips for New Nurses

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You’ve finally earned your nursing degree, passed the licensing test and landed your first nursing job. Congratulations! That’s no small achievement. However, as you are likely aware, the real working world can be somewhat different from the classroom. Below are just a few tips that will help you make that transition from student nurse to working nurse.

  1. Nurture your passion

    . Many nursing educators agree that having a passion for nursing is what sets the truly gifted nurses apart from the rest. As you develop your career never stop learning and seeking new ways to be your best. Be willing to put in the time and extra hours to excel.

  2. Learn critical thinking skills.

    No day is ever like another in nursing, and the best nurses are those who can adapt easily and “think outside the box.” Nurses need to be able to quickly evaluate a situation and see how it relates to the patient, his or her family and even to the community as a whole.

  3. Embrace new technology

    . Few industries have added more technology in the past decade as health care. Even as a brand new nurse, you’ll not likely be familiar with every way that new technology can make your job easier. From online training classes to apps that allow you to interact with patients, make sure to be open to these time-saving and beneficial new products as they are introduced.

  4. Develop mentoring relationships

    . The best way to learn about your new career is to tap into the hard-earned knowledge and experience of someone who has worked in your job for years. Look for more experienced nurses or nursing supervisors to take you under their wings. These people can be found at work as well as at networking events and within professional associations.

To learn more about succeeding in your new nursing position and to investigate other nursing employment opportunities, visit healthcaresupport.com.