allhealthcare

10 Tips for a Healthy Thanksgiving

More Food and Nutrition Resources

• What Your Natural Biology Is Saying About Weight Loss

• Attitude is a Main Predictor of Eating Habits

• How You Can Eat Healthy at Work and Home

• Informative Quiz: What’s Your Nutrition IQ?

_(Images provided by: Creative Commons)_

12 Things to Never Say to Older and Younger Coworkers

Nina Kim | AllHealthcare — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:50:00 -0800

With the downturn in the US economy, workplaces are becoming more and more diverse age-wise. Older workers are working alongside younger workers as people at every stage in their health care career are getting laid off.

With this generational gap among health care workers widening, there’s a lot of potential for miscommunication or differing perspectives. Though many people will absolutely deny that they have any pre-conceived notions about certain people, let’s face it — stereotypes are a reality in our culture whether we like it or not.

To ease relations between older and younger health care workers, AllHealthcare has come up with six things never to say to an older coworker and six things to never say to a younger coworker. Some of these may seem obvious, but you’ll be surprised to hear how many people have actually been asked these types of questions. So whatever you do, don’t say these 12 things!

First Thing Not to Say >>

[widget:new_user_widget_for_slideshow_articles]

[widget:new_user_widget_for_slideshow_articles]

• 8 Things to Never Say to a Patient

• How To Deal with Pushy Patients

• 10 Things to NEVER Say to a Nurse

• Tips for Effective Patient-Provider Communication

• Ten Tips for Staying Happy at Work

• Just for Fun: The 25 Species of Coworkers

• Must Read! 13 Bosses and How to Make Them Love You

_(Images provided by: Creative Commons)_

[widget:new_user_widget_for_slideshow_articles]

10 Ways to Take Control of Your Health

Chicago Tribune — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:53:00 -0800

Do things that bring meaning to your days, said Patricia Boyle, a neuropsychologist in the Alzheimer's Disease Center at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, whose research has shown that having a higher purpose can reduce the risk of death among older adults.

"Purpose is cognitively stimulating, and this is very much along the lines of the adage 'Use it or lose it,' which certainly has merit," said Dr. Thomas Perls, director of the New England Centenarian study.

More Healthy Living Resources

• What Your Natural Biology Is Saying About Weight Loss

• 6 Ways Healthcare Workers Can Beat Burn-Out

• How You Can Eat Healthy at Work and Home

• Stress-Management Tips for Healthcare Workers

• Lessons From the Code - A First-Hand Account From A Crisis Clinician

• Top 10 Tips to Balance Work/Life

• Ten Tips for Staying Happy at Work

• Need a vacation? Check out The Best 25 Vacation Cities for Healthcare Workers

• Informative Quiz: What’s Your Nutrition IQ?

Image source: Creative Commons

8 Friends to Make at the Hospital

Nina Kim | AllHealthcare — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:23:00 -0700

Hospitals can be crazy places. From ambulances rushing in patients and nurses shouting vitals to security having to deal with frantic family members, you may blink and find you miss an important moment.

But for many healthcare professionals, hospitals are their second home. With all the different departments and types of healthcare workers in hospitals, it’s not uncommon for newbies to feel a bit lost and overwhelmed at first.

Whether you are a seasoned healthcare veteran or a just-starting-out amateur, it’s always a wise idea to make friends with some allies and get better acquainted with the inner workings of the hospital.

To help you maneuver your way around the hospital network, AllHealthcare spoke to a physical therapy doctorate student and an ER receptionist on the front lines at Kaiser Permanente. With their insights, we’ve developed this list of eight must-have friends in any hospital. Get the inside scoop on who to buddy up with and how they can help you out!

Friend #1: Nurses >>

[page]

Nurses

When a patient is rushed to the ER in an ambulance, the blur of events and high-intensity adrenaline can be quite overwhelming. What are his vitals? What needs immediate attention? Which doctors are available? Miscommunication and confusion can occur – especially as the patient is handed off from reception to the nurses.

Buddying up with the nurses, especially the triage nurses, can ease tensions between the different hospital departments. Because the nurse manager has the most leverage with the nurses directly involved with patient care, it’s also probably not a bad idea to solidify this relationship as well. But don’t make the mistake of only befriending the manager. You probably won’t get much help if you neglect the workers in the trenches.

“We, as receptionists, aren't allowed to administer any care whatsoever since we're not licensed, so we really need a nurse's help for those patients who come to the department screaming and bleeding.” says Kathleen Siño, an ER receptionist on the front lines at Kaiser Permanente in Anaheim, Calif. “It would lessen the stress in our environment if we could communicate better as far as anything missing on charts and printing out patient labels, armbands, and legal paperwork.”

Friend #2: Security >>

[page]

Security

While medical professionals are trained to remain calm under pressure, you can’t always predict how incoming patients — and their caretakers — will react.

As a hospital employee, you’re probably well-equipped to handle the actual patient, but sometimes the friends and family of said patient can be frustrating to deal with. A million different thoughts and emotions are probably running through their heads as they stress about whether or not their loved one will be okay.

Great health care professionals respect people and rules. They are mindful of confidentiality requirements and different cultures and traditions. And they respect the wishes of the patient.

More Resources for Healthcare Professionals

• 6 Ways Healthcare Workers Can Beat Burn-Out

• Difficult Patients: Why They're That Way and How to Handle Them

• 8 Things to Never Say to a Patient

• Tips for Effective Patient-Provider Communication

• Stress-Management Tips for Healthcare Workers

• Ten Tips for Staying Happy at Work

• Need a vacation? Check out The Best 25 Vacation Cities for Healthcare Workers

• Fun Quiz: What Makes You an Amazing Health care professional?

This article originally appeared on Monster Career Advice.

Six Tips to Survive Your First Year as a Hospital RN

Lisette Hilton / Monster Contributing Writer — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:15:00 -0700

The first year on the job is often the toughest for new nursing graduates, especially those who work in hospitals. In fact, new nurse graduates account for more than half of the turnover rate in some hospitals, according to a study published in 2007 by Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing researchers.

“There really are multiple reasons for [the first-year exodus],” says Patricia Benner, RN, PhD, professor at the University of California, San Francisco and a senior scholar at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. “One is that nursing practice is incredibly complex. Over the past 60 years, the transfer of responsibility to nursing from medicine has been incredible. I think society doesn’t typically recognize that.”

Because the sickest patients are in the hospital, hospital RNs need good clinical judgment and the ability to recognize when a patient needs immediate intervention -- challenges that are especially pronounced in a nurse’s first year of employment.

Benner says her research on first-year nursing indicates that it’s actually easier for many new nurses to start on a specialty unit, such as labor and delivery or a highly staffed pediatrics unit, because the patients on those units are more homogenous than those on a medical/surgical unit.

“If you take a position on a general medical/surgical unit, the range of patients is quite broad,” Benner say. “If you work on intensive-care or coronary-care units, you will have more of a controlled patient population.”

Continue>>

[page]

Get Your Feet Wet

That’s what first-year nurse Girish Dang, RN, a psychiatric nurse at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital’s inpatient psych unit, did. While he was getting his ADN at North Shore Community College in Massachusetts, Dang worked on the hospital’s psych unit as a psychiatric counselor. He credits that experience with helping him hit the ground running when he began working as a nurse on the unit, because he was already familiar with the culture and knew whom he could lean on for help.

The same can’t be said for all of his nursing school classmates. Dang says he knows of several fellow graduates who, lacking prior experience with their employers and insight about the staff and working environment, left their first nursing jobs within six months.

“In my opinion, 90 percent of the things in the job are learned not in nursing school but in the job itself,” Dang says.

How To Deal with Pushy Patients

Megan Malugani / Monster Contributing Writer — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:02:00 -0700

Every healthcare professional encounters patients who are short-tempered, belligerent or just plain rude from time to time. But the frequency of these encounters may increase as the stress level rises among patients and providers. Experienced physicians and nurse practitioners offer five tips on keeping your cool when tempers flare:

Give Patients the Benefit of the Doubt >>

[page]

If you feel a situation is escalating out of control, take a time out, Song says. He recommends telling the patient, "I understand this is very upsetting to you, and I empathize with what you are feeling." Then leave the room to give the patient time to absorb what is happening.

Don't Let It Ruin Your Day >>

[page]

Don't Let It Ruin Your Day

Family nurse practitioner Debra Bergstrom, founder of Neighborhood Family Practice in Scottsdale, Arizona, doesn't let irate patients get under her skin. "Our philosophy is that we're not going to let it get to us," she says. "We try to identify the patient's real problem. Maybe they're afraid we won't take them seriously, are anxious about money or were treated poorly elsewhere."

According to Bergstrom, in a service business, "you may as well shut down" if you are bothered by every difficult encounter.

More Resources >>

[page]

More Patient Relations and Stress Management Resources

• 6 Ways Healthcare Workers Can Beat Burn-Out

• 8 Things to Never Say to a Patient

• Tips for Effective Patient-Provider Communication

• Stress-Management Tips for Healthcare Workers

• Reduce Nursing's Physical Strain

• Lessons From the Code - A First-Hand Account From A Crisis Clinician

• Difficult Patients: Why They're That Way and How to Handle Them

• Ten Tips for Staying Happy at Work

• Need a vacation? Check out The Best 25 Vacation Cities for Healthcare Workers

• Informative Quiz: Are You at Risk for Burnout?

20 Career Lessons from Celebrities

Tania Khadder and Zac Frank | AllHealthcare — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:33:00 -0700

Photo courtesy of Loveyousave, Creative Commons

http://i26.tinypic.com/2v17nmo.jpg" align="right" style="float:left;margin:0 10px 0 0;">
Lesson: Even if you're a failure, you can still be a success.

Donald Trump is one of the best known business moguls in the world, but his "empire" seems to be a house of cards built on sand. Trump's business ventures have filed for bankrupty not once, not twice, but three times, most recently in February of this year.

So how does Trump continue to maintain his mystique as a formidable tycoon, telling contestants on The Apprentice , "You're fired!" because they can't cut it? He has several tricks up his sleeves.

If you're going to take on debt, don't take on a little, take on a lot. A whole lot. When the "Trump Debt Crisis" first appeared in 1990, Newsweek reported that "the banks are owed so much by Trump…that they have no choice but to try to keep him going."

While his name may be gaudily splashed across most of his ventures, it doesn't actually appear on the companies' paperwork. The companies he starts file for bankruptcy, not the Donald himself.

Fight, fight, fight for your place on Forbes. It has been reported that Trump and his associated badger the people who rank personal wealth so that he appears to have more money than he actually does.

More Career Advice:

• 6 Tips to Get Noticed in Your Healthcare Job

• 10 Ways to Make Yourself Unfireable

• 10 Ways to Make Next Week Better

• 7 Job Search Time Wasters and How to Avoid Them

• The 10 Worst Job-Hunting Mistakes

• How to Revamp Your Resume

10 Worst Things to Say to Someone Who Just Got Laid Off

Alice Handley and Tania Khadder | AllHealthcare — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:32:00 -0700

• 15 Dumbest Ways to Lose Your Job

• 10 Ways to Make Yourself Unfireable

• 6 Tips to Get Noticed in Your Healthcare Job

• How to Negotiate Your Severance Package

• Is Healthcare Really Recession-Proof?

• Informative Quiz: How Secure is Your Job?

Stop Your Emotional Eating and Be Happier!

Nicole Ohebshalom | Radiant Living Wellness — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:16:00 -0700

One late night while working Boston’s needle exchange van I realized the early stage of drug addiction is no different than the sugar or coffee cycle many of us fall prey to in our daily lives. This particular evening a young man walked into the van, and we talked about his drug use and life in the gay community. He had just come out about his sexual orientation without any support and used drugs to mask his fears.

As we spoke further, it surfaced that many of his fears were tied to him giving into his every temptation. He wanted to feel comfortable in his skin but had a certain pleasure tolerance that diminished any positive thoughts about himself. At this point, many of us look to the outside to heal and grow in life instead of looking and loving within ourselves. What happens at this point when we reach for a heroine needle or the cookie jar? We reach our pleasure tolerance, or our happiness quota and, the addiction cycle begins.

For many people food is an addiction, just like a drug. We receive the same cycle of highs, lows, and reasons for cravings. Many of you can relate to the subtlety of sugar cravings in the office setting. When stressed, you open up that drawer of hidden chocolate bars and the cycle begins.

Have you had a time in your life when you were eating very healthy and exercising? You’d think to yourself, “I’ve got this down!” then out of nowhere you grab a few cookies and weeks later you notice your healthy lifestyle has vanished! This is because the way we eat is the way we live. Our interaction with food is an interesting insight to how we live our lives.

We’re all born with a certain amount of happiness, but this is not our comfort zone because we aren’t always happy or comfortable with our life and ourselves. This has been keeping you from connecting to the love you want, enjoying the relaxing lifestyle you want, realizing your desires and inspiration, or savoring the yummy stimulation from a meal.

Guilt is a major quality that has been preventing you from enjoying your meals and life. We feel guilty for indulging in too much food, sex, power, and money. We can experience guilt when we’re going through change and becoming happier in life. But you shouldn’t feel guilty for having it all. It’s your moral prerogative to have it all and be happy about it. Give those self-conflicting voices about pleasure a rest.

[page]

When you let yourself feel good, you feel better about life and thereby are more open to connecting with yourself and feeling balanced. Creating a new way of enjoying eating can be intimidating because it’s new and requires courage and fearless love for yourself. Remember: change can be scary but it’s the only way to grow and achieve happiness. Ask yourself: What would it be like if you got on board with your eating or body changes? How can you celebrate them?

Follow these steps for increasing your happiness tolerance and end the cycle of emotional eating!

Step 1: Write down the reasons behind your emotional eating. Sometimes, just seeing them on paper makes it easier to get a handle on the problem. Keep a food journal for one week, writing down absolutely everything that you eat, as well as making a note about your mood at that exact time. This exercise will help you target which foods you turn to depending on your different moods.

Step 2: Connect with your desires. Who do you want to be? What do you want in life? What do you enjoy and dislike in your daily life? Being in tune with your desires helps you understand your true self and optimize life satisfaction. Have you written down your desires? Be true to what opens your unique, fun, and happy heart. Embodying these desires by writing them down will allow you to connect to and trust yourself. Next time you think negative body or food thoughts, come back to your desires. Ask yourself what is your stand-- what will create happiness in your life?

Step 3: Make a list of things you are grateful for while experiencing this change in food and body image mentality. Put it up on your fridge and look at it to remind you of all the wonderful things in your life. This will help you stay on track, even though the change might be difficult at first. Remember, there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel!

For a Bonus: Say YES to something that you would not normally say yes too. See if you enjoy any activity that you normally would not include in your routine.

More Food and Nutrition Resources

• What Your Natural Biology Is Saying About Weight Loss

• Attitude is a Main Predictor of Eating Habits

• How You Can Eat Healthy at Work and Home

• Informative Quiz: What’s Your Nutrition IQ?

10 Worst Time Wasters at Work

Tania Khadder | AllHealthcare — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:09:00 -0700

Time flies when you're wasting it

• 22 Affordable Ways to De-stress

• 6 Ways Healthcare Workers Can Beat Burn-Out

• Stress-Management Tips for Healthcare Workers

• Top 10 Tips to Balance Work/Life

• Ten Tips for Staying Happy at Work

10 Things to NEVER Say to a Nurse

Georgia Price | AllHealthcare — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:36:00 -0700

Nurses hear it all: The good, the bad, and the (very, very!) ugly. From pushy patients to bossy doctors, nurses handle it all with grace. But there are some things that can get under the most tolerant nurse’s skin.

AllHealthcare staff members talked to healthcare professionals, one another and (of course!) nurses to find out what phrases or questions were most irritating. Ever felt like strangling someone with your stethoscope? Then you probably heard one of these 10 things.

Go To #10 >>>

[widget:new_user_widget_for_slideshow_articles]

[page]

10. "Helloooooo, Nurse!"

Okay. We get it. We've all seen the cartoons with the buxom nurse who is swooned over by a wolf, or a man, or an Animaniacs character. It wasn't funny or original the first dozen times you heard it, and it certainly hasn't made a positive impact 10 years later.

You're not an object to be fawned over. You're saving lives here! You don't have time to be ogled. Luckily, younger generations have probably never heard the phrase, so you can hope that it will be phased out soon.

Fun Quiz: Who's Your Inner Nurse?

Go To #9 >>>

[page]

9. "Do You Only Date Doctors?"

Puh-lease. Anyone who has actually spent any time around a doctor knows that dating one is next to impossible. Crazy hours. Big egos. Constant stress. Who wants to put up with that? Plus, everyone knows you shouldn't "dip your pen in the company ink." Spending 12-plus hours with someone can make you form an incredibly close bond, but that doesn't mean your co-workers will make the best significant others.

Anyone who asks a nurse this is clearly watching too much Grey's Anatomy and needs their head examined.

Fun Quiz: The Office Romance Quiz

Go To #8 >>>

[page]

8. "C'mon. Nursing is Just Like on TV!"

What were we just saying about people who watch too much Grey's Anatomy? While medical shows are a great form of entertainment - tons of nurses watch them, too - that doesn't mean they are an accurate portrayal of when hospital life is like. Nursing organizations have even taken up arms against nurse-centered shows like Nurse Jackie and HawthoRNe. Prior to these shows, nurses were almost never the focus of a medical TV show. Nurses were merely in the background emptying bedpans or taking orders.

But we know the truth. Nurses are the foundation of any good health system. They don't have time to be the center of attention because they are always cleaning up a (metaphorical) mess a doctor has left!

Fun Quiz: Who's Your Inner Nurse?

Go To #7 >>>

[page]

7. "Nurses Take Orders From Doctors"

Nurses work alongside other nurses. They report to other nurses. They belong to organizations and unions just for nurses. Edie Falco of Nurse Jackie put it perfectly when she said "Doctors diagnose. Nurses save lives." When it comes down to it, nurses are the ones in the trenches. Because they spend the most time with patients, they can be counted on to know when something is wrong or if a patient has made any progress.

Doctors and nurses may work side-by-side, but nurses are responsible for nurses.

8 Things to Never Say to a Patient

Nina Kim, Georgia Price | AllHealthcare — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:10:00 -0700

You don’t get to choose your patients. So your relationship with them can range anywhere from “match made in heaven” to “your worst nightmare.”

Any appointment can be a potentially difficult situation, mainly because when patients come to see you, they’re probably already anxious. They may be concerned about what’s ailing them, be uncomfortable with the sterile atmosphere, or have a general distrust of medical practitioners.

Regardless, proper patient care requires utmost clinical professionalism and good communication.

But “good communication” doesn’t necessarily mean “tell all.” While transparency is important, there are certain phrases healthcare professionals should never say to their patients. Ever.

To help you keep your patients at ease, AllHealthcare came up with 8 things you should never say to them. We’ll also offer suggestions for what to say instead.

Next Page: #1 “This won’t hurt at all.” >>

[widget:new_user_widget_for_slideshow_articles]

More Resources:

• Difficult Patients: Why They're That Way and How to Handle Them

• 6 Ways Healthcare Workers Can Beat Burn-Out

• Ten Tips for Staying Happy at Work

• 10 Small Ways to Gain Respect as a Leader

• Fun Quiz: What Makes You an Amazing Healthcare Professional?

[widget:new_user_widget_for_slideshow_articles]

13 Bosses and How to Make Them Love You

What they do: The Nitpicker is a micro-manager who likes to control all of your work, all the time. Did you save the hospital money on equipment? It’s not nearly enough. Work hard on a killer presentation? There’s a punctuation error on the 10th slide. Nothing you do is ever good enough for The Nitpicker, and that can cause your own faith in your abilities to slip. You’ll spend all your time second-guessing yourself instead of innovating.

How to make her love you: Instead of letting the Nitpicker drain you of all motivation, learn to work by your own standards. Try finding someone else at work to be your mentor, because you surely won’t get coaching out of her, unless it’s to point out all your faults. You might also try working one step ahead of The Nitpicker, detailing every single thing you do, so you’ll be ready for the inevitable barrage of questions.

Quiz: What's Your Boss's Secret Personality?

More Resources for the Workplace:

• Just for fun: The 25 Species of Coworkers

• How Nurses Can Detect an Unhealthy Work Environment

• Ten Tips for Staying Happy at Work

• What Healthcare Professionals Should Never (Ever!) Wear

9 Ways to Wake Up Earlier for Your Morning Shift

Tania Khadder | AllHealthcare — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:21:00 -0700

10 Ways to Make Next Week Better

Christine F Della Monaca | Monster Featured Writer — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:47:00 -0700

On one of the last episodes of “Seinfeld,” the main characters are stuck in traffic on a Sunday night. Galpal Elaine, who desperately wants to get home, wails, “All I know is that it's Sunday night, and I have got to unwind! Now, who's with me?”

If perpetually single Elaine felt that way, you can imagine how the rest of us - especially workers with families - cope on Sundays. But while some have their own ways to decompress before the workweek starts (Elaine watched “60 Minutes”), others spend Sunday nights either worrying about the upcoming week or trying not to think about it at all.

There are better ways to prepare.

“It all goes back to choices, and a lot of people choose to go the negative route,” says Joel Zeff, author of Make the Right Choice: Creating a Positive, Innovative and Productive Work Life. “Why not go the [positive] way? It’s less stressful.”

Remove the Extras

When you de-clutter your home, you’re not only getting rid of unwanted belongings, you’re removing “dead weight” from your life.

This can surely be an overwhelming process, so I recommend starting the habit to clean for 15 minutes a few times a week. Once it becomes part of your routine, it’s going to be much easier to keep things tidy. After all, we bring things into our home on a regular basis, so it’s only natural that we remove what we don’t use.

Make sure to keep a box somewhere in a central location for unwanted items that you don’t want to throw away: you can donate them to Goodwill, or you could sell them on either eBay or Craigslist if they are still in good condition.

Next Page: Feng Shui ->

[page]

Feng Shui

Many people have adopted the Chinese art or practice of Feng Shui (“Fung Shway”) to create harmony in their home. The aspect of Feng Shui that relates to creating positive effects in your home relies on the orientation of objects. For example, the way you arrange furniture in a room.

When you decorate your home by allowing “chi” (energy) to flow through your home freely, your home becomes a more open, peaceful and relaxing place to be. The easiest way to put Feng Shui to use in your home is to remove clutter.

Unnecessary junk hinders the flow of good energy through your living space. Color selection and décor are also factors. Here are some easy and inexpensive ways to put Feng Shui into practice in your own home:

*1.* Make sure nothing is blocking the energy flow through your hallways and doors. De-clutter these areas and place plants in hallways to help the energy along its way.

*2.* Don’t place any chairs where a person’s back would face a doorway, window or sofa.

*3.* Don’t let your “chi” get trapped in a corner! Lighten these areas up with lights, mirrors and plants.

Next Page: Aromatherapy ->

[page]

Aromatherapy

As one of our most powerful senses, smell stimulates the part of the brain that connects memory and emotion. Aromatherapy has been connected with relieving stress, energizing the body and promoting general well-being.

Health claims aside, fragrances can help create a welcoming and calming home environment. Some frugal Do-It-Yourself ideas include:

*1. Essential Oils*

Essential oils are scents created from plant extracts. I like to put about 15 drops of lavender in a spray bottle of water to make a homemade air freshener. You could spray your pillow (or just put a few drops directly on your pillowcase) to get a more restful sleep.

*2. Sweet Smelling Fabrics*

Combine four tablespoons of fabric softener with a half gallon of water in a spray bottle to create a homemade fabric spray. Try it on sheets and towels for a fresh scent.

*3. Do It Yourself Simmering Scents*

Peel an apple or an orange and simmer the peels in a little water on the stove. Add some cinnamon, clove or nutmeg to get a great scent throughout your house.

Next Page: More Stress Management Resources ->

[page]

More Stress Management Resources

• What Your Natural Biology Is Saying About Weight Loss

• 6 Ways Healthcare Workers Can Beat Burn-Out

• Tips for Reducing Stress

• Stress-Management Tips for Healthcare Workers

• Lessons From the Code - A First-Hand Account From A Crisis Clinician

• Top 10 Tips to Balance Work/Life

• Ten Tips for Staying Happy at Work

• Need a vacation? Check out The Best 25 Vacation Cities for Healthcare Workers

• Informative Quiz: How Do You React to Stress in the Workplace? [PhD Certified]

8 Ways to Manage a Complaint (and Protect Your Nursing License!)

Tania Khadder | AllHealthcare — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:23:00 -0700

Did you know that anyone – your employer, a co-worker, a patient, even a jilted lover – can file a complaint against your practice?

Handle it well, and you could turn it into a valuable learning experience. Handle it poorly, and you could lose your license.

AllHealthcare spoke to a Sheryl Oakes Caddy, a nurse, nursing faculty instructor and an attorney who represents nurses facing possible license suspension and revocation.

She helped us come up with a “must do” list for nurses dealing with a complaint -- it's certainly not an easy situation to find yourself in. "Nurses identify very strongly as nurses," Caddy says. "So it can be jarring when we're told we're not a good nurse."

But hopefully, with our eight tips, you can overcome a complaint, avoid losing your nursing license and continue to practice for many years to come.

[page]

4. Act Preemptively

Let’s say you’ve just been nailed for a DUI. Or maybe you realize you need help with an addiction.

Don’t wait for the Board to come to you.

Going to your employer voluntarily to request help will go a long way towards protecting your license.

Think of it this way: they’re going to find out eventually. It’s better if they find out from you.

Even better if they see you making a sincere attempt to address the issue before it has to come to disciplinary action.

Improve Your Practice >>

[page]

5. Improve Your Practice

Consult with your attorney to evaluate the nature of the complaint. Whatever it is, begin take steps immediately to improve your practice. Maybe you could benefit from continued education? Maybe you’ve been less than meticulous about your documentation? These are all issues that you can and should address before you stand before the Board.

“Up to the point of revocation, you can come to an agreement with the Board on a disciplinary action that can promote better practice for the licensee,” Caddy says.

By improving your practice immediately and by your own will, you show the Board that you understand the problem, and that you’re willing and ready to take the steps necessary to rectify it. If the Board feels it’s necessary to help you understand the weight of the issue, the seriousness of the complaint – and its ramifications – will be significantly escalated.

**Document Everything >>**

[page]

6. Document Everything

You learn it in nursing school, but you may not realize quite how important it is until you are actually facing a complaint.

Mother Jones, registered nurse and founder of well-known nursing blog Nurse Ratched’s Place, reiterated this point for NursingLink. “If I did a dressing change but I didn’t chart it, then legally I didn’t do it,” she says. “If the patient’s wound gets infected, and they sue me, it doesn’t matter if I say I did it. If it’s not in the chart, I’m liable.”

The same logic applies to any action you’re taking to improve your practice or reform in light of a complaint. Things like continued education or rehabilitation need to be documented.

Up to Date on Your Scope of Practice? >>

[page]

7. Keep Up with Changes to Your Scope of Practice

Sure, you got to know the ins and outs of your Scope of Practice in Nursing School. But have you re-read them since? You should. Your job depends on it.

Caddy says it’s important to keep a close eye on these, as they can and do change over time. And it’s your job to keep abreast of the changes. “For example, what constitutes patient abuse has changed over the years,” she says.

Meet All the Conditions>>

[page]

8. Meet All the Conditions

Whether you’re facing a complaint, have had your license suspended or have already had your license revoked, getting back in the game depends on successfully meeting the conditions set forth by the Board.

If you have a DUI or drug dependency, make sure you complete the rehabilitation process successfully. If you get caught giving less-than adequate service, identify the issue and get some nursing continuing education to enhance your work performance. Whatever you do, make sure you make a sincere effort to reform, and that you document everything you do along the way.

To speak to Sheryl Oakes Caddy, email her here.

More Resources for Nurses>>

[page]

More Resources for Nurses

• Reduce Nursing's Physical Strain

• Nursing Reality Shock: The New-Nurse Survival Guide

• Nursing Careers Beyond the Bedside

Become a Nurse!

• Career Guide: Licensed Practical & Licensed Vocational Nurses

• Career Guide: Registered Nurse

• Nursing, Psychiatric, and Home Health Aides

• Career Q&A: Licensed Practical Nurse

• Informative Quiz: Nursing: Should I Give it a Try?

22 Affordable Ways to De-stress

Nina Kim, Georgia Price | AllHealthcare — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:23:00 -0700

Whether you’re an EMT dealing with life-or-death situations, or a home health aide caring for difficult patients, any job in healthcare can be overwhelming and stressful. Learning how to manage stress and channel it through positive means is vital, not just for a successful career, but for your happiness and well-being too.

If you don’t take time to unwind, constant stress can lead to a number of physical and psychological problems, like poor concentration, depression, back pain and weight gain. It also weakens your immune system and increases your risk for cancer and cardiovascular disease.

That’s why AllHealthcare came up with these 22 different ways to de-stress without breaking the bank. So hit pause, relax and indulge in some much needed (and affordable!) R&R. A hardworking healthcare professional like you deserves it!

Next Page: Stress Reliever #1 >>

[widget:new_user_widget_for_slideshow_articles]

[page]

Massage therapy has a rich history across several cultures. Hindus, Persians, Egyptians and the Chinese have been healing ailments with massage for thousands of years. Hippocrates even wrote papers recommending massage to treat joint and circulation problems.

The physical and psychological benefits of massage are plentiful. It reduces anxiety and the level of stress hormones in the body, improves circulation and your immune system, and increases your self-esteem via direct contact with another person through touch.

Your body can go through significant wear and tear from being on your feet tending to patients, or hunched over a desk all day. Relax by recruiting the soothing hands of a significant other or look up a massage school near you for a discounted massage. Massage students must practice their skills for their training, so they offer their services for about half the cost of a regular massage.

Cost: $15-30

More Info: Google “massage school” and your town and state, or use this nationwide massage school finder.

Next Page: Stress Reliever #14 >>

[page]

The AllHealthcare Team Picnic

A picnic is a relaxing (and affordable!) way to spend quality time with your friends and family. You don’t have to pack a fancy spread or bottle of champagne to make it a worthwhile trip. Ask everyone to sign up to bring a dish, and turn it into a potluck. Looking for something on the romantic side? Stop by your local farmer’s market and pick up some strawberries and melt your own chocolate for a delicious treat.

Cost: Finding a shady patch of grass and laying down a blanket doesn’t cost a thing. Pony up the dough for store-bought goods, or make something at home on the cheap.

More Info: Find a park

Next Page: Don't Stress Out! More Stress Management Resources >>

[page]

More Stress Management Resources

• What Your Natural Biology Is Saying About Weight Loss

• 6 Ways Healthcare Workers Can Beat Burn-Out

• Tips for Reducing Stress

• Stress-Management Tips for Healthcare Workers

• Lessons From the Code - A First-Hand Account From A Crisis Clinician

• Top 10 Tips to Balance Work/Life

• Ten Tips for Staying Happy at Work

• Need a vacation? Check out The Best 25 Vacation Cities for Healthcare Workers

• Informative Quiz: Are You at Risk for Burnout?

(All images provided by: Creative Commons)

[widget:new_user_widget_for_slideshow_articles]

allhealthcare

10 Tips for a Healthy Thanksgiving

Portion Sizes

Dinner Rolls

Appetizers

Cranberry Sauce

Potatoes

Vegetable Casserole

Stuffing

Turkey

Desserts

General Advice

More Food and Nutrition Resources

• What Your Natural Biology Is Saying About Weight Loss • Attitude is a Main Predictor of Eating Habits • How You Can Eat Healthy at Work and Home • Informative Quiz: What’s Your Nutrition IQ?

12 Things to Never Say to Older and Younger Coworkers

To an Older Coworker: “Do you know how to use email?”

To an Older Coworker: “I didn’t know you were so old!”

To an Older Coworker: “So are you planning to retire soon?”

To an Older Coworker: “My grandpa gave me that same advice.”

To an Older Coworker: “You’re going back to school?”

To an Older Coworker: “There were some last-minute changes. Will that be too much to handle?”

To a Younger Coworker: “Are you the new intern?”

To a Younger Coworker: “You sound just like my son/daughter.”

To a Younger Coworker: “How old are you?”

To a Younger Coworker: “Considering this is your first job, you probably wouldn’t understand.”

To a Younger Coworker: “When I was your age..."

To a Younger Coworker: “The real world doesn’t work like that.”

More Career Resources

10 Ways to Take Control of Your Health

1. Take a Walk

2. Keep a Food Journal

3. Stop Drinking Soda

4. Strengthen Your Muscles

5. Chill Out

6. Eat Out Less

7. Be a Social Butterfly

8. Get your Zzzzzzzz

9. Eat Whole Foods

10. Find Your Passion

More Healthy Living Resources

8 Friends to Make at the Hospital

Nurses

Security

ER Technicians

Financial Counselors

On-Call Contract Employees

Medical Receptionists & Secretaries

Interpreter

Medical and Clinical Lab Techs

Top 10 Qualities of a Great Health Care Professional

1. Communication Skills

2. Emotional Stability

3. Empathy

4. Flexibility

5. Good Attention to Detail

6. Interpersonal Skills

7. Physical Endurance

8. Problem Solving Skills

9. Quick Response

10. Respect

More Resources for Healthcare Professionals

Six Tips to Survive Your First Year as a Hospital RN

Ask About First-Year Nurse Turnover Rates

Find Out About Orientation and Preceptor Programs

Inquire About Support

Observe the Unit

Consider Working on a Specialty Unit First

Get Your Feet Wet

How To Deal with Pushy Patients

Give Patients the Benefit of the Doubt

Be Up Front and Sincere

Put Yourself in the Patients' Shoes

Maintain a Professional Demeanor

Don't Let It Ruin Your Day

More Patient Relations and Stress Management Resources

20 Career Lessons from Celebrities

#1: Madonna

#2: Christian Bale

#3: Britney Spears

#4: Simon Cowell

• What Your Natural Biology Is Saying About Weight Loss

• Attitude is a Main Predictor of Eating Habits

• How You Can Eat Healthy at Work and Home

• Informative Quiz: What’s Your Nutrition IQ?

**To an Older Coworker: “My grandpa gave me that same advice.”**

**To an Older Coworker: “You’re going back to school?”**

**To a Younger Coworker: “You sound just like my son/daughter.”**

**To a Younger Coworker: “How old are you?”**