CampusRN Job Blog
Maternity nurses see a rising demand
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Increasingly wanted: Loving, discreet, experienced professional willing to travel the world and work through the night, feeding, cuddling and changing lots of diapers.
The pay is very good — about $350 a day or more — though it includes 24 hours on call.
With a house in Sarasota and roots in Yorkshire, England, Carol Lee is part of a small but growing army of “maternity nurses” (Europe) or “newborn care specialists” (the United States).
While the quaint tradition of a baby nurse who moves into the house to care for newborns around the clock is alive and well in other parts of the world, the phenomenon is relatively new in America, and experienced candidates are in short supply.
A spike in U.S. demand over the last few years, say Lee and others, coincides with a higher number of older mothers and multiple births.
According to a Centers for Disease Control report issued last month, one in every 30 babies born is now a twin, compared to one in 53 in 1980. More than a third of all births are to women 30 and older, up from just one-fifth in 1980. Fertility treatments aside, older mothers always have been more likely to have multiple babies.
Nancy Hamm, an officer with the Newborn Care Specialist Association and owner of the Exclusively Baby Nurses agency in California, said requests for help from parents of twins have more than doubled in the past three years.
“There are not enough qualified people to service the growing number of multiple jobs here in the U.S.,” she said.
Lee, who specializes in caring for twins, has worked for “British royalty, rock stars and footballers” on 12-week contracts, as well as middle-income families who employ her for the first week or so after birth.
Her workplaces have ranged from palaces and luxury hotels to “a very small, IKEA-type house in Copenhagen.”
“You’re like a bird in a gilded cage because you can’t go anywhere,” she says. “The furthest you can get is to take the baby for a walk in its buggy, if the parents allow it.”
One thing most of her clients have in common, Lee says: They are high-profile, can-do people with plenty of disposable income but not so much energy for those 4 a.m. feedings. Often they live far away from families who might offer support and advice.
posted in: National, news, Employer News
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Nurses needed
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Nurses and other women with a history of working night shifts can join a study investigating the causes of breast cancer and how to prevent it.
The Army of Women, a program of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, seeks volunteers for a study that will look at breast tissue samples from women who have not had breast cancer and who have worked night shifts. The goal is to understand whether wake/sleep cycle disruptions increase the risk of developing breast cancer.
Participants should:
• Be women between ages 30 and 65.
• Never have had a diagnosis of breast cancer, including DCIS. A history of other cancers would not make someone ineligible to participate, however.
• Not have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. Women can participate if they do not know whether they have the mutation.
• Have worked night shifts for at least five consecutive years at some point in their lives. Rotating night shift workers, meaning at least three night shifts a month in addition to day and evening hours, are eligible.
posted in: National, news, Employer News
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Where the jobs are: Health care solid, hospitality strong, nanotech horizon
Monday, January 30, 2012
Julie Wells, 43, of Mohawk, was looking for a career where she would be able to find a job, have benefits and enough income to support her family.
Want job security in the Mohawk Valley?
Become a nurse.
Julie Wells, 43, of Mohawk, was looking for a career where she would be able to find a job, have benefits and enough income to support her family.
She decided to go into health care, a field she has worked in for 23 years. Wells is a nurse manager of maternal child services at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare.
“I knew in nursing I would always be able to find a job,” Wells said. “I think there are still opportunities in health care. In some fields it’s very difficult, if this is where you want to live, for jobs.”
Wells is right on target.
In the Utica-Rome area, other than government jobs, health care is at the top of the list. Manufacturing, and hospitality and entertainment, also employ large numbers of workers, said Dave Mathis, director for Oneida County Workforce Development.
These major industries don’t seem to be changing anytime soon.
Businesses in health care industries, for example, employed 22,205 workers in the Utica-Rome area in 2011, a number that increased 113 from 2010, according to data from Mark Barbano, state Labor Department regional analyst.
And the prediction is health care will continue to grow as the population ages.
Jobs have been a major issue across the nation, with the unemployment rate standing at 8.5 percent. In the Mohawk Valley, unemployment rates and industries have not seen drastic changes.
“This area has been kind of interesting because we never get to the big highs in terms of jobs, or big lows,” Mathis said. “We get along steadily.”
The annual average unemployment rate in the Utica-Rome area was 7.9 percent in 2010 and remained the same in 2011, compared to 8.6 percent statewide in 2010 and 8 percent in 2011, according to state Department of Labor data.
Total jobs in all area industries decreased 1.4 percent from 2010 to 2011 during the January through June time period, according to the data. It was down mainly due to a decrease in federal jobs because many temporary workers were hired for the census, Barbano said.
posted in: National, news, Employer News, New York
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Top 10 Nursing Specialties
Thursday, January 26, 2012
From CampusRN user Erin McKinney
If you’re planning for a career in nursing, you might want to consider which jobs are the highest paying
out of all the nursing specialties. Here are the top ten highest paying specialties in nursing, with salaries
from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
1) Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist – $135,000
Nurse anesthetists have the responsibility of administering anesthesia to patients. They work under
the supervision of physicians, surgeons, dentists, anesthesiologists, and other specialists in a variety
of settings, such as hospitals, clinics, outpatient centers, or research centers. They are trained to
administer all approved anesthetic techniques.
2) Nurse Researcher – $95,000
Nurse researchers usually work at laboratories and universities conducting or assisting in scientific
research and evaluation. Their studies may cover a variety of fields, such as biology, psychology, and
health care systems. They may also be lecturers and professors of nursing at academic institutions.
3) Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner – $95,000
Psychiatric nurse practitioners work with individuals with psychiatric disorders, mental conditions, or
who suffer from substance abuse. They are licensed to diagnose and treat psychiatric disorders and
they can practice autonomously in 20 states. Some may specialize in a certain group of individuals, such
as children, adolescents, or adults, and they work in a variety of facilities, from hospitals and clinics to
emergency services and community health centers.
4) Certified Nurse Midwife – $84,000
Nurse midwives offer care to women with low-risk pregnancies through the postpartum period. They
offer a range of services, from gynecological care and child delivery to menopausal care. They may
work independently or work under the supervision of a physician. Nurse midwives can also prescribe
medications and treatments to their patients.
5) Pediatric Endocrinology Nurse – $81,000
Pediatric endocrinology nurses care for children who have diseases related to the endocrine system,
which cause problems with physical growth and sexual development. The most common diseases
they deal with are diabetes, intersex disorders, hypoglycemia, and puberty difficulties. These nurses
help children and their families learn how to deal with the problems related to the disease and offer
treatment.
6) Orthopedic Nurse – $81,000
Orthopedic nurses help patients who have musculoskeletal disorders, which can range from acute
fractures to bone density disorders. They are trained in specific skills such as muscle rehabilitation,
casting, and neurovascular monitoring. They work in a variety of settings, from trauma and emergency
departments to sports medicine and acute care.
7) Nurse Practitioner – $78,000
Nurse practitioners are registered nurses who have received advanced training in nursing. They
generally specialize in a specific field, such as pediatrics, geriatrics, or women’s health and must be
licensed or certified through a state medical board. Some work under the supervision of doctors, but
they can also serve as primary care providers and supervise other nurses. They focus on educating
patients toward prevention and healthy lives.
8) Clinical Nurse Specialist – $76,000
Clinical nurse specialists care for patients in a manner similar to nurse practitioners, but they also work
to improve the work of other nurses and the overall health system. They offer advice and education to
health offices and clinics in order to help them provide better care.
9) Gerontological Nurse Practitioner – $75,000
Gerontological nurse practitioners specialize in the field of gerontology, which studies the effects of
aging. They care for older adults with acute and chronic diseases related to aging, which may range from
cardiovascular disease and diabetes to dizziness and stroke.
10) Neonatal Nurse – $74,000
Neonatal nurses care for newborn infants up to a month old. They offer care to both healthy infants and
those with minor or serious health conditions who need extra care in order to survive. They are usually
registered nurses (RNs) who may or may not have neonatal specializations.
This article was written by Erin McKinney, who is a licensed nurse practitioner. Erin also owns the site
Masters of Nursing for students interested in getting an
advanced degree in the nursing field.
posted in: Career, National, news, Employer News
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Supporting nurses across cultures
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
The Community College of Baltimore County School of Health Professions has received its third Nursing Support Program grant from the Maryland Higher Education Commission since 2007. The three-year grant worth $571,448 is for the school’s “Minority Student Retention and Success” project.
This grant, which runs through June 30, 2014, will be used to maximize the use of CCBC’s simulation technology capabilities; increase retention and graduation rates among minority students in the nursing program; and provide culturally relevant teaching for faculty, staff and students to enhance their sensitivity when communicating with those from other cultures, especially their patients.
“CCBC has been revising its nursing curriculum for the past several years to better reflect the current and future workplace,” said Elizabeth Webster, RNC MS, nursing program coordinator and project director for the grant. “Initially, we tackled the didactic part of the curriculum. This grant will enable us to focus on the clinical education component that is designed to mirror direct patient care and give students a more hands-on, sensory educational experience.”
posted in: National, news, Employer News
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SIC Taking Applications for New Hybrid Online Nursing Degree
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
HARRISBURG—Southeastern Illinois College is seeking students to enroll in its part-time hybrid online associate degree nursing (ADN) program.
The new program is a product of the Southern Illinois Online Nursing Initiative (SIONI) and is approved by the Illinois Board of Nursing.
Applications are available at www.sic.edu/onlinenursing. The deadline for submitting applications is March 31. Classes will begin in August.
“We are excited about the implementation of the SIONI hybrid-online ADN nursing program,” said Gina Sirach, director of nursing and allied health at SIC. “This part-time program will increase our capacity to prepare students to further their careers as nurses, and it will allow students the flexibility, over a four-semester period, to access newly developed courses outside of the traditional classroom.”
Sirach indicated that all nursing theory classes will be offered online, while all required on-campus labs and clinicals will meet one or two days per week.
posted in: National, news, Illinois, Employer News
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A new year for a new nursing student
Monday, January 23, 2012
As a first-year mental health nursing student I started my course in September 2011, along with around 20 other enthusiastic would-be nurses, of all ages and backgrounds.
With the pride and excitement of achieving a place on a nursing degree course still freshly buzzing around my head, I believe I made the mistake of focusing on how many sharpened pencils were in my brand-spanking new pencil case instead of getting stuck straight in, despite several pre-warnings from newly-qualified friends. Perhaps three or four weeks prior to assignments being due for submission, I found myself desperately trying to search for books in the university library that were already on loan and trying to avoid having to learn to search for journals.
With regards to my first clinical placement, I may as well have skipped onto the ward with a sign stating the words ‘Florence Nightingale II’ stuck to my forehead with a drawing pin. Needless to say, I left the dementia assessment unit after my first shift with tears being determinedly held back, and tail firmly tucked between ones legs. My first experience of dementia certainly opened my eyes.
I have never been frightened of working. Although unfamiliar, the shift pattern was something I grew accustomed to rather quickly. However, it was my sheer ignorance of how many learning opportunities that would suddenly be placed in front of me that really took me aback - first-year ignorance at its exemplory best. I also found that almost every single nursing student has an “I will never cut it as a nurse” moment; in my case, there were more than one. Being a nursing student genuinely is a case of learning something new every single day; luckily, I was blessed with the opportunity to work with a fantastic, supportive group of staff on my first placement.
posted in: National, news, Employer News
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Nursing jobs for you and your future
Monday, January 23, 2012
GYMPIE TAFE’s Diploma of Nursing course is celebrating its first birthday after being introduced for the first time in 2011.
And the course already is aiming to secure real jobs for its graduates, with training from instructors well qualified theoretically and in the field.
Brenden Cooke has joined the team at Gympie TAFE, after having been a registered nurse working in operating theatres at Nambour Hospital until recently.
The latest course begins on Monday and anyone interested should phone 1300 656 188 to find out more so they can enrol by the end of this week.
Mr Cooke is one of three nursing teachers at the Wide Bay TAFE’s Gympie campus.
And with a fully equipped replica hospital ward for a classroom, there could be few better places to learn the vital healing skills which keep hospitals going and their patients on the road to recovery.
With real hospital beds (peopled with specially designed practice dummies) and real equipment, the course is a practical hands-on experience aimed at training people and ensuring they can get jobs at the end of it.
Mr Cooke’s fellow nursing teacher Rose Ann Winnett said: “The TAFE Diploma of Nursing is a qualification in itself, allowing graduates to work as endorsed enrolled nurses.”
posted in: National, news, Employer News
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Encouraging a more collaborative medical culture
Monday, January 23, 2012
I remember hearing the phrase, “Watch out. Nurses eat their young,” when I first entered the health-care profession 17 years ago. It’s a phrase that baffles me as much now as it did then. After all, it’s no secret that there is a nursing shortage. Perhaps instead of belittling and demeaning new generations of clinicians, seasoned health-care providers should mentor and support them.
When I was starting out, I was lucky to have two wonderful mentors, Marti and Karen, who were as different in style and personality as any two nurses could be. But together they gave me a solid foundation of assessment and organization skills that I still depend on as an advanced practice nurse today.
Although my mentors were exacting and sometimes very tough with me, I always felt supported. I knew I had an ally in both of them, if I was uncertain or floundering. They never made me feel stupid or tried to embarrass me in front of my boss or other nurses.
posted in: National, news, Employer News
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School nurses do more than tend to sick kids
Sunday, January 22, 2012
In a 10-minute span one Wednesday morning, school nurse Janice Telsrow saw four students who needed medication dispensed to them, one who was returning clothes he had borrowed the day before and a sixth child who apparently had injured her knee.
Telsrow, who works at Wilson Elementary School in Davenport, is an example of someone who does a lot more in their job than other people might think. Her typical day in the Quad-Cities is similar to a scene that is repeated in schools across the state.
“Many people believe all we do is take care of cuts and scrapes, and we do that. But we also handle many other medical conditions. School nursing has changed, even in the 13 years I’ve been a school nurse,” she said. “We do a lot more with sick kids.”
By “sick,” she means children who have a variety of pre-existing medical conditions, including asthma, diabetes, seizure disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Some need emergency health plans, such those with allergies who might need to use an EpiPen (a device that injects a dose of epinephrine, also known as adrenaline) to treat an acute allergic reaction. That’s handled by the school nurse, who also coordinates each student’s individual health needs plan with their teachers.
The aim is to care for the children so they stay focused and interested in the classroom.
“Children can’t learn if they aren’t healthy,” Telsrow said.
Phone calls
Telsrow spends a good deal of time on the phone speaking to parents, especially because of the many conditions presented by the students. At Wilson, she has 29 appointments per day for children who get some type of medication, which is double-locked and stored in her office. She also averages 30 children per day who come to see her with a complaint of some kind.
“I’ve seen up to 115 children in my office in one day,” she said, adding that her great frustration is a lack of time with the students. To save precious time during the school day, Telsrow makes ice bags at home, takes them to school and stores them in an office refrigerator.
She can be sure a bag full of ice will be needed at some point.
Sure enough, while a reporter is interviewing her, an aide brings a young girl into Telsrow’s office. The girl has fallen while getting off the bus and hurt her knee. The nurse quickly takes action, asking the girl to remove her tights so she can check the knee and then offers an ice bag. During the check-up, she asks several questions about the child’s well-being - and whether she had time for breakfast.
Gillian McLeod, 7, then pops into the office with a girlfriend for a dose of her regular medication. “If Gillian comes in on time, she can sign in for the meds,” Telsrow says as the little girl with long brown hair works hard to pencil in the correct time on a sheet kept just for that purpose.
The children she sees every day are fun to talk to, Telsrow said, and there is never a dull moment in her job.
Appreciative parents
Gillian’s mother, Raquel Rodriguez of Davenport, appreciates the care her second-grader gets from the school nurse. Raquel leaves for work at 6 a.m. every day, so Gillian can sleep a bit later and then get her required medication as soon as she arrives at school.
“This is much more convenient,” Rodriguez said.
Patrick Loeffler’s mother, Christine, said her 8-year-old son gets medication for ADHD. Christine - who has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis - said that having her son’s medicine dispensed to him at school is valuable to her.
posted in: National, news, Employer News
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