Pros and Cons of Going Freelance as a Nurse

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In recent blogs, we’ve looked at the nursing shortage and – paradoxically – why it’s still hard to find a job as a newly-graduated nurse.

One solution to this could be to start working as a freelance nurse.

Whether it’s a way to break into the healthcare industry or a change of pace after years of full-time wok at a hospital or clinic, freelancing might be just the ticket for you.

Here are some of the plusses and minuses to a few aspects of freelance nursing:

Independent Contracting: Pros

An independent contractor, formerly known as a private duty nurse, can diagnose and treat a patient in the client’s home and is paid directly by the patient or a representative of the patient.

Nursing care must follow the nurse practice act of whichever state you’re working in, just like that provided by a staff nurse. (In some states, physician collaboration or supervision is required.)

The advantage here of being in business for yourself is that you set your own hours, charge a rate slightly above the amount a staff nurse would make, and your earnings are only limited by the number of hours you work in a day.  Continue reading “Pros and Cons of Going Freelance as a Nurse”

9 Effective Nursing-Friendly Charities

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If it’s all you can do to find the hours to volunteer your time to a good cause, but still want to help make a difference in a medical cause on a larger scale than day-to-day work, don’t worry…

There are dozens of charities well-aligned to advance the ideals of nurses and their patients, on a global scale.

Here are 9 of the most effective charities that are especially meaningful for nurses and other healthcare professionals.

Such charities are formally categorized as effective when they spend at least 75 per cent of their budget directly on programs, have open-book status for disclosure of their financial information, and – most importantly – by the amount of good they do through the extent of help they offer to people: Continue reading “9 Effective Nursing-Friendly Charities”

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“Why we didn’t hire you”: What Not to Do in Nursing Job Interviews

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“I remember one nurse whose clothes were so tight, I felt like I was watching her slowly suffocate during the interview,” says one hospital HR recruiter.

“I had a gal come to an interview with an itty-bitty dog in her purse,” says another.

“Please don’t start off the interview with a litany of things you won’t do…such as work nights, touch poop or look at old people,” says one more.

A totally different senior RN tasked with hiring says “do we really have to say some of these things?”

According to anecdotal evidence, the answer to that question would seem to be “yes.”

Don’t be one of those anecdotes…

…And while you’re at it, take a look at some more common reasons that clinic or hospital may not have hired you as their next nurse: Continue reading ““Why we didn’t hire you”: What Not to Do in Nursing Job Interviews”

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Should You Consider Oncology Nursing?

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There are several different areas of nursing you can choose to pursue. Whether you are a new graduate or a seasoned nurse, you may be considering your options. Oncology nursing may be a perfect fit for new nurses or those looking for something different. Continue reading “Should You Consider Oncology Nursing?”

Dealing with Difficult Patients: How to Keep Your Cool

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Working in healthcare can be an extremely rewarding experience. Patients are often grateful for the treatment and care they receive. But sometimes patients can be difficult, hostile, or even aggressive. Almost everyone who works in the field of healthcare will encounter a difficult patient at least occasionally in their career. In order to handle situations appropriately, it’s important to understand more about why patients become difficult and how they may act. Continue reading “Dealing with Difficult Patients: How to Keep Your Cool”

A Nurse’s Role in the Mobile Health Environment

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More than 3.4 billion people will have smartphones or tablets with access to mobile health apps by 2017.¹ Mobile health is not only changing the way healthcare technologies are being developed, but it is also changing the way people on the front lines, such as doctors and nurses, are providing care.

Continue reading “A Nurse’s Role in the Mobile Health Environment”