6 Powerful and Effective Tips to Find a Nursing Job Career Opportunity Sooner Than You Expected

October 17, 2008 · Filed Under Insights · Comment 

6 Powerful and Effective Tips to Find a Nursing Job Career Opportunity Sooner Than You Expected

Are you a registered nurse and still looking for a job?  Do you have the experience and skill needed but your employer does not provide you with exciting career challenges?  Do you seek to work abroad for greener pasteur?

Whether you are a pro or a beginner nurse, finding a nursing job isn’t easy nowadays in the Philippines.  Not only it is a time consuming and a frustrating process, it also robs you of the opportunity to focus on your career growth and stability

The biggest piece of the puzzle on any job search process is to know where and what to look for in a nursing position that is suited for you.  And being proactive here will surely mean so much for you when you are ready to go to work.

We have designed the following 6 powerful and effective tips (and tricks) to take some of the headache out of your search, by giving you some directions and guidance on the steps you need to take to find a job opportunity that is your ideal nursing job.

1. Pay a visit to recruitment or human resources department of hospitals, medical centers and doctor’s offices to inquire about the availability of nursing positions.  If there are no vacancies, please offer your resume to remain on their file and ask them to call you should their future openings match your skills.

2. Call nursing recruitment and contract employment agencies. This is a one-to-many strategy.  Aligning yourself with a nursing headhunter can give you access to jobs that are often not advertised to the public. The best thing about recruiting agencies is they allow you to apply for positions at multiple companies simultaneously with a single resume submission. The recruiters will be the one to match your resume to all of the available nursing job openings.  Once you have a match, they will surely call you.

3. Search the Internet.  Searching for work for nurses or nursing jobs on the internet will reveal hundreds of available job opportunities for you. Just be aware that the competition for these open positions is tough since hundreds, if not thousands, of other nurses are also looking at and applying for the same jobs ad.

4. Train for Free.  When you don’t have work, then try to gain experience by working for free while you are waiting.  By doing so, you are helping the community or the local hospital within your vicinity. This is one of the best ways to get your feet in the door of the medical profession and also gain experience. Experience in real world hospital care is normally a plus to employers especially if you are a new nurse.  Consequently, it also gives you a chance to evaluate the organization and nursing department to ensure it is a match with your expectations before applying for the post for the long haul.

5. Check your school.  Your Alma Mater often has available positions in the nursing school’s dean’s office or else they can refer you to another organization. Nursing dean advisors are also excellent sources of information on how to network in the industry and get your foot in the door. They are often asked by potential employers who seek fresh nursing graduates rather than experienced nurses. You can ask your former nursing professors too to help you out.

6. Power of Networking. Get your friends, family, and casual acquaintances involved in the search.  Through them, other people and organization will know that you are on the market searching for work. Most companies nowadays would hire those that have been recommended and fully vouched for by acquiantances. So it’s really important to spread the news that you are available and seeking a new job opportunity in nursing.

Finding a nursing Job and career opportunity is not an easy task.  But Filipinos are known for their resourcefulness.  if there’s a will, there’s a way.

Featured Article - An Introduction To Psychiatric Nursing

October 2, 2008 · Filed Under Featured Articles · Comment 

An Introduction To Psychiatric Nursing

What do psychiatric nurses do?

Psychiatric nurses are nurses who specialize in the treatment of those with mental disorders. They are sometimes known as mental health nurses. Psychiatric nurses may treat patients on an in-patient or out-patient basis, and may see those suffering from depression, bipolar disorder and many other types of mental health conditions. Psychiatric nurses work with those who are seriously ill as well as those who are taking proactive steps to improve their health.

Psychiatric nurses receive specialized training to become familiar with different types of treatment therapies as well as methods of effectively dealing with what at times can be extremely challenging behavior or non-compliant patients.

What are the challenges of psychiatric nursing?

One of the largest obstacles that a psychiatric nurse must overcome is the fact that many of the patients they are responsible for may not wish to receive treatment. There are few other specialties in medicine where the patient may not wish to be well.
This reluctance to receive treatment may be present whether the patient is working as an outpatient or is in a secure psychiatric facility. This general unwillingness to receive treatment complicates the treatment process.

What specialized training does the psychiatric nurse receive?

Psychiatric nurses are trained in the administration of different types of psychiatric medications. Not only must they be comfortable giving medicines both orally and through intramuscular (IM) injections, they must know what types of side effects to watch for with each type of medication.

While medication is commonly used when treating mental health patients, the psychiatric nurse must also be familiar with the different forms of therapy used as part of the treatment plan. While a physician or counselor will be in charge of any psychotherapy the patient receives, the nurse must understand the concepts of the therapy as well as the goal. Since the nurse sees the patient more than the doctor or counselor, she can be on the alert for changes of behavior or worrisome new developments that may affect the patient’s recovery.

Jobs for psychiatric nurses

There are a variety of career paths for those nurses that are interested in the mental health field. While most people think automatically of working in an in-patient facility, there are many other areas where psychiatric nurses are employed. Out-patient hospitals are commonly used for those mental health patients that pose no immediate threat to themselves or others. Additionally, many psychiatric nurses work in rehabilitation hospitals, to help patients who have suffered a stroke or other health problem and need help to reclaim their life.

Psychiatric nurses also work in many community based health clinics. They may work with the public, in an office, or make home visits to those in need of mental health care. Psychiatric nurses that work in this capacity often run community based addiction programs, providing counselling for those struggling with alcohol or drug dependency.
Psychiatric nurses also work with the incarcerated population, both before and after trial. Many psychiatric nurses work in retirement communities and assisted living homes. As the population ages, the incidences of dementia are increasing, and psychiatric nurses are often best trained to deal with the increasing demands of an elderly patient suffering from dementia.

Types of psychiatric nurses

Licensed practical nurses and licensed psychiatric technicians are permitted to dispense medications to psychiatric patients. They also help maintain the patient’s records. A registered nurse, or a specialized registered psychiatric nurse, can perform the same duties of the LPN, and also help with assessments and provide counselling (if trained). The RN that goes on to complete their masters or doctorate degree can work as a psychiatric nurse practitioner. In addition to other duties, the psychiatric nurse practitioner can provide psychiatric diagnosis and prescribe medications. In some states the psychiatric nurse practitioner can work independently, while in others they work under a physician.

Job outlook

The job outlook for psychiatric nursing, like many other types of nursing, is good. Several reasons for this are: Our aging population may increase the number of psychiatric nurses required in assisted living homes. As the cost of health care continues to increase, more insurance companies and private pay patients can make the decision to see a trained nurse rather than a more expensive doctor or counsellor.

For those interested in taking on the challenge of working in this field, the career path is wide open. The job is well suited for those who enjoy a challenge, have the ability to think on their feet, and those who enjoy seeing their work directly help others. If you believe that this is the career path for you, talk to others in the field. They can give you insight on a typical day and tell you the particular challenges and rewards of working in the field of psychiatric nursing.

Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Rachel Jackson

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