NursingLink

They complain, criticize, shout, swear and may even try to hit you. Difficult patients are an unfortunate fact of life in healthcare. But knowing how to identify, understand and respond to them can make your work life safer and less stressful. *+Identify Difficult Patients+* It's sometimes possible to predict which patients will likely become difficult, abusive or violent. Alzheimer's patients, for ...

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*+ +*Be Up Front and Sincere*+ ...

Want better patient outcomes, more patient cooperation, fewer errors, greater job satisfaction and more effective use of your time? It's all possible by improving one key skill: Patient communication. "Communication is the most important medical procedure that anyone in healthcare can do," says Maysel Kemp White, PhD, president and CEO of Healthcare Quality and Communication Improvement, an educational and consulting group ...

If you're a trained nursing professional, you can afford to be a discriminating job seeker, thanks to the nursing shortage. But you still need to prepare thoroughly for every job interview. Part of the process of getting ready for an interview is knowing the questions you want to ask a potential employer. These questions should demonstrate your interest in the opportunity ...

Nursing, especially in the hospital setting, is physically demanding -- and nurses’ backs bear the brunt of their jobs. Just how prevalent are back problems in nursing? According to an American Nurses Association fact sheet: p((. • RNs ranked sixth among occupations most at risk for strains and sprains -- higher than stock handlers and construction workers. p((. • Studies of ...

Starting a new nursing job is a time filled with promise and expectations, but it's also tinged with uncertainty. To help assure your success, heed the advice of experienced nurses. They can help you steer clear of potential missteps and suggest strategies that can help ensure a smooth transition to your new environment. *+1. Leverage Your Orientation+* *+2. Get the Max ...

Sexual harassment of nurses can be as simple as a patient's unwanted flirtatious winks or as elaborate as a male hospital physician's systematic assaults on female employees. And nurses are likely to encounter this occupational hazard. In a University of Missouri study, 21 of 29 nurses surveyed said patients had sexually harassed them. A 2001 NurseWeek/American Organization of Nurse Executives study ...

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],” ...

Surviving your first year as a nurse will likely be one of the biggest challenges you will face in your career. Almost universally, first-year nurses have days, weeks or months when they feel overwhelmed, inadequate, disillusioned, stressed out or all of the above. If you’re thinking, “Was I really cut out for this job?” these tips can help you get through ...

Most travel nurses have heard the term "compact state". While the concept of a "compact state" seems straight forward, there are a few circumstances that exist which all travel nurses should be fully aware of. Let's begin with the basics and then drill down to the common circumstances that are sometimes misunderstood or unknown. *What is Nurse Licensure Compact?* The general ...

Technology has given us many conveniences in this modern era. With our Blackberry, laptop, cell phone, and pager, we are better connected to information and people than ever before. Our staff, colleagues, family and long lost friends can reach us instantly and we are never more than a heartbeat away from the information we need. The Internet gives us 24/7 access ...

Although people considering careers in nursing come from all walks of life, many potential nurses share a surprisingly common set of questions and concerns, such as “Can I get into nursing school?” and “Am I crazy to become a nurse at my age?” Two nurses and a nursing professor address wannabe nurses’ frequently asked questions. How difficult is it to get ...