Ways to Jumpstart Your Nursing Career

So you finished nursing school and passed the nursing board exams with flying colors. You certainly want to land a nursing job that's financially-rewarding as it is fulfilling. But you don't know where to begin.

True enough, having a rewarding nursing career doesn't automatically happen after obtaining a nursing degree and passing the boards. There are those who have worked as a nurse for years and still don't find their chosen career the least bit fulfilling.

The nursing profession may be one of the most stressful careers but it can be rewarding and fulfilling if you are able to make wise career choices. As an entry-level nurse, you have to jumpstart your nursing career, learn in-demand skill sets, get noticed, and make things happen for you so that you can grab the most rewarding nursing career opportunities. Here then are some tips on how you can jumpstart your nursing career.

• Research. Read on different nursing specialties so you will have an idea what specific area you want to practice eventually. Do you think you'll make it good as an OR nurse someday? Have you heard that travel nursing is fun and financially rewarding? Then research and ask around about these areas so you'll have a general feel if you've found a potential niche in the nursing profession.

• Learn, learn, and learn. If you want to be on top of the nursing career ladder someday, then you must get ahead by learning more by obtaining nursing certifications. You can also attend workshops or obtain an advanced nursing degree.

• Accept challenges. Whether you want an in-demand nursing job, or a raise or a promotion later in your career, remember that those who advance in any career are the ones who possess leadership skills and initiative. So if you want better career opportunities, accept challenges by volunteering for tasks or projects even if it may mean extra work for you.

• Build relationships. As nurses, we always collaborate with our colleagues and other medical professionals. Maintain a good relationship with your superiors and peers. It is also wise to choose a mentor within your nursing unit and learn from that colleague. 

• Use technology to your best advantage. If you want to be a globally competitive nurse, then you should be tech-savvy. Remember that technology has dramatically altered the ways in which we manage nursing problems and issues. In fact, technology has provided the solutions that enable us to enhance the practice of nursing. There's a wealth of information available on how you can become tech-savvy and you can start by learning or two about podcasts and mobile applications specifically made for nurses and other medical professionals.

Having that nursing career of your dreams will not happen overnight but if you're able to jumpstart your nursing career early and obtain the necessary skills set and have the right attitude, the climb up the nursing career ladder will be easier. And who knows, you might just be recognized as one of the trailblazers in the nursing profession someday.

Five Ways to Boost Your Memory When Reviewing for Nursing Exams

You were reviewing for your foreign nursing exams when you came across a question on the management of a patient manifesting the Homan's sign. Immediately, you stress out because you don't remember what the Homan's sign is and yet you are very sure you read on it just a couple of days ago. As a result, you lose focus and can't concentrate on your nursing review.

At work, you forget to do certain tasks or fail to remember things a staff nurse normally knows by heart like common medical abbreviations or normal laboratory values. You forgot what NIDDM stands for or what a blood potassium level of 5.0 means. You have these little meltdowns that you are convinced that you might have a serious memory decline.

Before you freak out, remember that forgetting things doesn't automatically mean you are suffering from memory loss. Keep in mind that the brain functions like a muscle and you need to take care of it for it to function properly and prevent memory decline. Here's how:

1. Learn new things. Your job as a staff nurse at the ward can be quite routinary. Go stimulate your brain by learning new things that are entirely different from what you do everyday. Being introduced to new and exciting things regularly like reading a book, pursuing a new hobby, or going on educational trips will improve brain activity and is vital to preventing memory loss.

2. Watch what you eat. You need to consume food that increases blood flow to the brain, stimulate brain activity, improve cognitive function, and enhance information processing. Food known to improve brain function include tuna, boiled peanuts, fruits, vegetables, and whole wheat crackers as these are packed in vitamins and antioxidants and will help maintain glucose levels without the risk of damaging your arteries.

3. Pay attention to details. Making the extra effort to pay attention to little details is one way of enhancing your memory and preventing memory loss. Remember, it takes practice to finally do something right. Simple memory exercises such as reciting a person's name minutes after he or she was introduced to you, observing your immediate environment, or even remembering what your friend wore when you saw her yesterday will help maintain cognitive function and prevent memory loss.

4. Manage your environment. When studying for your nursing exams, be it the NCLEX, the CGFNS, the NLE, or the CRNE, make sure that your study area is quiet and devoid of any distractions like facebook or a television set. This way, you will be able to focus on your study material and be able to review what you have covered with fewer interference.

5. Have plenty of rest and sleep. Sleep is the body's way to achieve relaxation. So when learning something new, make sure you get enough rest and sleep for optimum brain function. When reviewing for nursing board exams or when about to do tasks requiring concentration, a good night's sleep will help you remember the details you need to remember the next day.

Memory and other cognitive functions may be improved by simple lifestyle changes like the ones mentioned in this article. By watching what you eat, engaging in stimulating activities, and having enough rest and sleep in a relaxing environment, you will be able to maintain a sharp memory even as you age.

Tips for Nurses: Preventing Back Injury

Nursing is one of the riskiest occupations for work-related back injuries.  Because a nurse’s job involves a lot of stretching, bending, lifting, and transferring patients, nurses are more likely to experience severe back injuries than other types of workers.

 
Majority of hospitals in Europe and the United States have adopted a "No Manual Lifting" policy after studies on injury prevention showed that tasks such as lifting and transferring patients account for a large percentage of work-related injuries among nurses.

In the Philippines, however, not every healthcare institution has the capacity to implement a back injury prevention program and invest millions on modern mechanical lifting equipment to protect their nurses’ health.  

And so mitigate this risk, here are some practical tips on how to prevent back injuries in the workplace:

• Observe proper body mechanics.  Sure, we learned this in nursing school but it won’t hurt to review on the topic again so you’ll remember to maintain a wide base of support and maintain proper body alignment.
   
• Use proper equipment.  Use a draw sheet when moving patients up in bed or a slide board when transferring the patient from the bed to another flat surface.  The use of assistive devices such as rails, gait belts and walkers when transferring patients will greatly reduce the risk of back injury.
   
• Organize a lift team.  Always ask for help when transferring patients.  When moving or repositioning patients, the rule of thumb is never lift more than you can.
   
• Strengthen your back.  Activities as simple as walking, swimming, and running will help you greatly in strengthening your back and keeping you in shape.  If you are overweight, consider losing the extra pounds because the excess weight puts additional strain on your spine and will make back pain even worse.

Work-related back injuries may be fairly common among nurses but it is an issue that can be addressed.  Through re-education , adequate staffing,  and the use of modern mechanical lifting devices, it  is preventable.