Scrubs Magazine also has interesting articles too. You can follow this link to their current edition. And be sure to scroll through archived articles for other interesting reads.
Off to go scrub shopping (again).
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Scrubs for Your Body Type
Stumbled upon an online tool by Scrubs Magazine to help you figure out the best scrubs for your body type. Find it here. Guess I'll be sticking to plaid shoes or hair ties and not plaid scrub tops.
Shift Work
Since it looks like I will be working the night shift once I get off orientation, I have been doing a little research trying to collect info, strategies and tips for working nights. I've been adding some links regarding working night shift to the "NEW NURSE LINKS" on the side bar - mostly for me to go back and read.
My hospital organizes a couple mini-retreats for new grads throughout our first year of nursing. My understanding is that one the topics at the retreats is sleep and/or night shift issues! Obviously the nursing admin is interested in patient safety issues and want to address issues that affect job satisfaction, but they also want to keep us medically and mentally healthy too. I'm nervous about the health aspects, but also about effect it will have on my social life. Is this going to be one more obstacle to dating?
My hospital organizes a couple mini-retreats for new grads throughout our first year of nursing. My understanding is that one the topics at the retreats is sleep and/or night shift issues! Obviously the nursing admin is interested in patient safety issues and want to address issues that affect job satisfaction, but they also want to keep us medically and mentally healthy too. I'm nervous about the health aspects, but also about effect it will have on my social life. Is this going to be one more obstacle to dating?
Saturday, July 14, 2012
An "Ah-ha" Moment
During my recent interview process and through reading of various hospital documents, I have become more aware of the importance of developing a professional nursing portfolio. A nursing portfolio is basically a snap shot of one's career. It is now expected and/or required when applying for jobs or when challenging the clinical ladder within institutions. I've been told and have read in multiple places that it's never too early to start working on your portfolio.
The past couple days I've been doing some internet research and information gathering (so grateful my school doesn't cancel my access to online journal articles through the library) on nursing portfolios. I am a very visual person and so I want to SEE an example, what's included, and to understand how it's presented or submitted.
While searching for articles and examples on-line, it occurred to me that I had already started a nursing portfolio, except mine was created and then subsequently forgotten after NUR 100 (my very first nursing course two years ago). At the time, my instructor, who was requiring it, did not call it a portfolio. I have no recollection of what she called it or how she framed the assignment, but I do not remember the word portfolio being used. But at the time, we were all pretty clueless about why we were being asked to develop a website. It made absolutely no sense to us at the time and even a year or more later we were still joking about the assignment - still clueless! If you are curious, here is mine.
Obviously it was created without regards to professionalism. I'm not kidding, on the "About Me" page under Factoids, I actually include "I can touch my tongue to my nose. My tongue regularly palpates my tonsils." Oh boy! At the time I was just looking for filler and looking to amuse my instructor. I remember that I proudly went above and beyond the requirements for our assignment. Definitely a little too far. Anyways, my website is desperately out of date and not even close to the professional portfolio that I would actually create and submit. But it's good for a laugh now.
One year from now I will be gearing up for my first performance evaluation and at that point I will automatically be bumped up from RN-Clin I status to Clin II status. But to advance further on the Clinical Ladder, I will need to submit a portfolio for consideration. It could be a couple years before I would pursue Clin III status and that's time enough to misplace important documents or to forget stories that might be appropriate as an exemplar of my clinical and/or leadership skills. My thinking is that by simply collecting and writing supporting documents over the next couple years, I will have much less work to do when the time comes to prepare and finalize it for submission. It seems overwhelming now because I'm at ground zero, but over the next year or two I can certainly spend time working on it (once I know what MY hospital is looking for). And then the point it is to never really let it get out of date.
Looking back, I really wish I had understood the reasoning and rationale behind that website assignment. It makes sense now. Perhaps it wasn't sufficiently explained or maybe it was explained but it just went over my head? Either way, I'm sure there will be a lot of "ah-ha" moments in the coming months and years as I connect the dots between my education (and what we thought were bordering on ridiculous, time-wasting assignments) and my actual practice. Life is funny that way.
One of the most significant things I learned in nursing school is that the majority of people/patients need a rationale in order to fully embrace the need for change (or to do homework). It's one thing to inform a man with high cholesterol that he needs to change his diet and lifestyle and something else all together to explain WHY he must work to lower his cholesterol levels. Preaching rarely gets you the same results as teaching. Well, at least that's true for me. I need to understand the rationale and the bigger picture before I'm able to embrace new information or change.
The past couple days I've been doing some internet research and information gathering (so grateful my school doesn't cancel my access to online journal articles through the library) on nursing portfolios. I am a very visual person and so I want to SEE an example, what's included, and to understand how it's presented or submitted.
While searching for articles and examples on-line, it occurred to me that I had already started a nursing portfolio, except mine was created and then subsequently forgotten after NUR 100 (my very first nursing course two years ago). At the time, my instructor, who was requiring it, did not call it a portfolio. I have no recollection of what she called it or how she framed the assignment, but I do not remember the word portfolio being used. But at the time, we were all pretty clueless about why we were being asked to develop a website. It made absolutely no sense to us at the time and even a year or more later we were still joking about the assignment - still clueless! If you are curious, here is mine.
Obviously it was created without regards to professionalism. I'm not kidding, on the "About Me" page under Factoids, I actually include "I can touch my tongue to my nose. My tongue regularly palpates my tonsils." Oh boy! At the time I was just looking for filler and looking to amuse my instructor. I remember that I proudly went above and beyond the requirements for our assignment. Definitely a little too far. Anyways, my website is desperately out of date and not even close to the professional portfolio that I would actually create and submit. But it's good for a laugh now.
One year from now I will be gearing up for my first performance evaluation and at that point I will automatically be bumped up from RN-Clin I status to Clin II status. But to advance further on the Clinical Ladder, I will need to submit a portfolio for consideration. It could be a couple years before I would pursue Clin III status and that's time enough to misplace important documents or to forget stories that might be appropriate as an exemplar of my clinical and/or leadership skills. My thinking is that by simply collecting and writing supporting documents over the next couple years, I will have much less work to do when the time comes to prepare and finalize it for submission. It seems overwhelming now because I'm at ground zero, but over the next year or two I can certainly spend time working on it (once I know what MY hospital is looking for). And then the point it is to never really let it get out of date.
Looking back, I really wish I had understood the reasoning and rationale behind that website assignment. It makes sense now. Perhaps it wasn't sufficiently explained or maybe it was explained but it just went over my head? Either way, I'm sure there will be a lot of "ah-ha" moments in the coming months and years as I connect the dots between my education (and what we thought were bordering on ridiculous, time-wasting assignments) and my actual practice. Life is funny that way.
One of the most significant things I learned in nursing school is that the majority of people/patients need a rationale in order to fully embrace the need for change (or to do homework). It's one thing to inform a man with high cholesterol that he needs to change his diet and lifestyle and something else all together to explain WHY he must work to lower his cholesterol levels. Preaching rarely gets you the same results as teaching. Well, at least that's true for me. I need to understand the rationale and the bigger picture before I'm able to embrace new information or change.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Footwear
So... I have been looking for some nursing shoes. Something that will be both functional and also reflect my personality. The other day I was inspired to look for plaid clogs. Why? Because plaid is my favorite color!!! (Yes, you could argue that plaid is not a color, but for me it is. I don't have a favorite color...and who says they have a favorite print?) My favorite plaids are tartans, specifically:'
So I start looking around for plaid clogs. This is what I found:
Perfect, except that I really want my heel covered.
Too cute, but since they are fabric they would absorb bodily fluids. Also I think my feet would kill me before my 12 hour shift is up. Oh so cute. Maybe I should get them for every day use?
At some point I bumped into the idea of handpainted clogs. And these "argyle" ones are the closest I've come to plaid. But at $219 they are way out of my price range.
I even posted on Facebook my disappointment in lack of plaid footwear for nurses and the mom of a childhood friend mentioned that her son (my childhood friend) airbrushes all sorts of things and is quite talented. But plaid is plaid and I'm not sure you can airbrush plaid effectively. Sigh. And I'm not sure I'd have the courage to buy expensive red patent leather Dansko clogs and paint my own. I know I'd end up hating them.
So I think my dream of plaid nursing footwear is kaput unless I find someone in Scotland who could locate a pair -- but the whole "buy without trying on" freaks me out--especially if I'm also looking for comfort. I don't need a $150 pair of uncomfortable shoes.
Today I strolled into the local high-end shoe store that sells Danskos. And I fell in love with their 20th anniversary clog.
I LOVE the script, the words (very appropriate for nursing), the color -- EVERYTHING. But alas, a limited edition means just that. I'm late discovering these awesome shoes. The only size I can find online (including e-bay) and local stores is a size 37. I need a 39. Ack!
So back to the drawing board!
May be I should write to Dansko and suggest they add a tartan plaid to their shoe designs. It would be a BIG seller! If anyone has any ideas for where to find plaid clogs, please drop me a comment!
Another thought crossed my mind... what if I ONLY owned and wore plaid scrub tops? I'd FOR SURE become known as the plaid nurse!! There's no flying under the radar for this girl! haha!
 |
| Royal Stewart Tartan Plaid |
 |
| Dress Stewart Tartan Plaid |
 |
| Black Watch Tartan Plaid |
So I start looking around for plaid clogs. This is what I found:
At some point I bumped into the idea of handpainted clogs. And these "argyle" ones are the closest I've come to plaid. But at $219 they are way out of my price range.
I even posted on Facebook my disappointment in lack of plaid footwear for nurses and the mom of a childhood friend mentioned that her son (my childhood friend) airbrushes all sorts of things and is quite talented. But plaid is plaid and I'm not sure you can airbrush plaid effectively. Sigh. And I'm not sure I'd have the courage to buy expensive red patent leather Dansko clogs and paint my own. I know I'd end up hating them.
So I think my dream of plaid nursing footwear is kaput unless I find someone in Scotland who could locate a pair -- but the whole "buy without trying on" freaks me out--especially if I'm also looking for comfort. I don't need a $150 pair of uncomfortable shoes.
Today I strolled into the local high-end shoe store that sells Danskos. And I fell in love with their 20th anniversary clog.
 |
| Dankso 20th Anniversary clog |
 |
| 20th Anniversary shoe artwork |
I LOVE the script, the words (very appropriate for nursing), the color -- EVERYTHING. But alas, a limited edition means just that. I'm late discovering these awesome shoes. The only size I can find online (including e-bay) and local stores is a size 37. I need a 39. Ack!
So back to the drawing board!
May be I should write to Dansko and suggest they add a tartan plaid to their shoe designs. It would be a BIG seller! If anyone has any ideas for where to find plaid clogs, please drop me a comment!
Another thought crossed my mind... what if I ONLY owned and wore plaid scrub tops? I'd FOR SURE become known as the plaid nurse!! There's no flying under the radar for this girl! haha!
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Why I Want to Be a Nurse
Once upon a time I promised to post my "Why I Want to Be a Nurse" paragraph. This was required when I applied to my nursing program. It's kinda fun to go back and read my thoughts from over two years ago.
Copyright © 2010 Joy Hancock.
This is my intellectual property. Please do not steal and/or use any portion of it for your own use. It would be unwise and unethical to take my words to use as your own. Think.
Why I Want to Be
a Nurse!
I recently spent
a year living in West Africa where I worked
with a health-oriented NGO. My days were a mishmash of emotions as I poured
myself into my work as a nutrition volunteer. I experienced great heartache as
I uncovered the willful neglect of a malnourished four-year-old child. And then
experienced profound joy and pride five months later when that same child was
growing and laughing and learning how to walk again. Those experiences, and
many more, revealed to me that I have the heart of a nurse, but I am frustrated
with my lack of knowledge to really be effectual in that role. I carry in me a
desire to educate and to bring hope and encouragement to my patients. To
advocate and fight for those who have no voice and to empower those who have
lost their voice. To help families find solutions for themselves and to laugh
and cry with them as they walk uncertain paths. To promote dignity and life in
the midst of the most challenging of circumstances. I want to be a nurse so
that I can make a positive difference in people’s lives—whether they are taking
their first breath or last breath. I also want to be a nurse because the
nursing field is diverse and affords limitless opportunities for learning and
professional development. The demand for nurses has also made it a field where
there is excellent income potential and opportunities for advanced education.
And finally, I want to be a nurse so that when earthquakes and tsunamis, wars
and famines happen across the world, I will have critical skills that can be
put to use immediately!
This is my intellectual property. Please do not steal and/or use any portion of it for your own use. It would be unwise and unethical to take my words to use as your own. Think.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Thinking Ahead
Found this article "Tips for Your First Year as a Nurse" and it definitely has some helpful tips...even includes her 12 hour day shift routine. Think I'll post this on my side bar links.
I'm looking for other articles. I'll keep posting as I find them.
I'm looking for other articles. I'll keep posting as I find them.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Registered!
It's official. I am a Registered Nurse!
I logged on to the Virginia Board of Nursing website to check my status. I went from "pending license" to having a license number issued! Woohoo! Feels great!
In other great news, I got the job! My nurse manager just called with the official offer (I was told on Friday to expect it early this week). I'll be working on a 30 bed telemetry unit that is primarily cardiac and neuro patients. I'll be starting orientation on July 23! Now, I have about two dozen thank you notes to write to faculty and friends who provided references and/or put in a good word for me with those looking at my application. Plus, then there are all those great nursing instructors who helped me from start to finish!
How cool to get license confirmation and job offer all in the same day! God is good! I must tell you that I am SO GLAD that I went ahead and took NCLEX before starting work. Starting a new job is always a bit stressful for me. There's always so much to learn and remember, that my brain is usually shot at the end of the day. I knew it would be too hard for me to manage starting a new job and studying all at the same time, so I really forced myself to study and get the NCLEX over with.
Virginia permits new grads to work without a license within 90 days of obtaining their ATT (authorization to test for NCLEX), but it's up to the hospital to decide how they want to handle it. The larger teaching hospital in town does not permit new grads to start working as RN's until they have their actual license. They hire tons of new grads and it costs mega bucks to train and orient a new grad, that they don't want to take the risk of having a partially trained new hire fail NCLEX and not be able to work. The hospital where I'll work does permit new grads without a license to begin orientation with the expectation that they will pass NCLEX within orientation. But thankfully I don't have to worry about it anymore. I'm registered. :)
So two great pieces of news today is quite a feat! Even better would be to get news that power has been restored at home. Been without power since Friday night. I'm presently crashing at my parent's home where they've got the benefits of electricity... WATER, AC, and internet.
I logged on to the Virginia Board of Nursing website to check my status. I went from "pending license" to having a license number issued! Woohoo! Feels great!
In other great news, I got the job! My nurse manager just called with the official offer (I was told on Friday to expect it early this week). I'll be working on a 30 bed telemetry unit that is primarily cardiac and neuro patients. I'll be starting orientation on July 23! Now, I have about two dozen thank you notes to write to faculty and friends who provided references and/or put in a good word for me with those looking at my application. Plus, then there are all those great nursing instructors who helped me from start to finish!
How cool to get license confirmation and job offer all in the same day! God is good! I must tell you that I am SO GLAD that I went ahead and took NCLEX before starting work. Starting a new job is always a bit stressful for me. There's always so much to learn and remember, that my brain is usually shot at the end of the day. I knew it would be too hard for me to manage starting a new job and studying all at the same time, so I really forced myself to study and get the NCLEX over with.
Virginia permits new grads to work without a license within 90 days of obtaining their ATT (authorization to test for NCLEX), but it's up to the hospital to decide how they want to handle it. The larger teaching hospital in town does not permit new grads to start working as RN's until they have their actual license. They hire tons of new grads and it costs mega bucks to train and orient a new grad, that they don't want to take the risk of having a partially trained new hire fail NCLEX and not be able to work. The hospital where I'll work does permit new grads without a license to begin orientation with the expectation that they will pass NCLEX within orientation. But thankfully I don't have to worry about it anymore. I'm registered. :)
So two great pieces of news today is quite a feat! Even better would be to get news that power has been restored at home. Been without power since Friday night. I'm presently crashing at my parent's home where they've got the benefits of electricity... WATER, AC, and internet.
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