Explain your strengths and weaknesses.

This is something that a Hiring Manager will likely ask you about, and you should be ready to answer. Showing that you’re aware of the skills you’ve already mastered as well as what you need to work on demonstrates that you’re committed to growth.

Why did you decide to become a nurse?

This is a question you can expect at almost any interview. Have you always wanted to be a Nurse, even as a child? Does it come from a personal experience? What type of nursing specifically interests you? Take a few minutes to let your interviewer know what drives you in the first place.

If you don’t have any questions prepared to ask the interviewer, that’s fine. You might already be familiar with the facility. Maybe you completed your clinicals there or have a family member that worked there. In any case, it’s always a good idea to get a feel of what it would be like to actually work there.

Asking about company culture shows you have an invested interest in this job. You want to be there long-term, not just “try it out.” Is the supervisor helpful and responsive? How is staff orientation and training? Is there an overall good feeling throughout the facility?

It’s also a good idea to ask about the patient to staff ratio if you’ll be working with a larger patient population. Can you handle a fast-paced environment while concentrating on your specific role? Or do you prefer a slower-paced vibe?

Regardless of how prepared you are for the interview, you’ve made it this far. An interview is the first step in the right direction to becoming an accomplished medical professional. So good luck and remember that consistency and growth is key!

The post Interview Advice For Your First RN Job appeared first on Advanced Care.

We’ve compiled 10 extremely useful hacks for anyone who works in healthcare.

Enjoy and make sure to put these to good use.

• Use shaving cream to break up incontinence from the skin. Works great and smells great.
• For NG tube placement: tie a loose knot at the end of the tube, then put it in a glass of ice-cold water for several minutes. Untie the knot, and it becomes more flexible when inserting the tube.
• Put peppermint oil drops in the toilet for a patient who is unable to pee. It works wonders for new Mothers on L&D!
• Keep a biohazard bag in the bedside commode and just change out the bag instead of scrubbing the bucket.
• If you cut a slit in the middle of mesh panties, it can be worn like a sports bra to hold bandages on the chest.
• Cut a foley cath and use it as a drinking straw for patients after jaw surgery, like wisdom teeth removal.
• When cleaning out PEGs and changing dressings, if redness or irritation was present, rubbing some Mylanta with a Q tip will clear it right up.
• Wrap a diaper around a pediatric IV site to protect it.
• Apply olive oil to skin to keep poo or anything else from sticking to it. (Then you won’t have to scrub too hard to clean)
• Use ostomy paste to fill in skin folds to get a seal for wound vacs. Works on all body parts.

We hope you find these useful and can use them during your next shift!

The post 10 Handy Hacks for Nurses appeared first on Advanced Care.

In order to reassure your patients and let them know that their health and safety is your top priority, try these tips:

• Before your visit officially starts, maintain a safe distance from your patient and quickly address any questions or concerns they may have regarding COVID19, the frequency of your visits, or anything else they may want to know
• During your visit, make sure to reassure your patient that everything you’re doing is for their wellbeing, and that you will go above and beyond to ensure their comfortability
• Before you leave your patient, double check that they’re 100% clear on how to take their medications, how to best get in touch with you if they need any assistance between visits, and remind them of when your next visit is

The post Reassuring and Building Rapport With Your Patients appeared first on Advanced Care.

Breathing – something we used to take for granted – has never been so relevant, and learning how to effectively breathe with a mask is extremely important.

Before putting on your mask, take a deep breath: in through your nose for three seconds, out of your mouth for five seconds. Repeat this three times. Then as you walk, breathe in tune to your footsteps. For every three steps you take, breathe in through your nose, then for every five steps you take, breathe out of your mouth.

You’ll find that this exercise will help regulate your breathing with your mask on. Wearing the mask cuts off the air circulation that we’re used to without the mask.

So hopefully the next time you’re stuck on that hill with those heavy bags, you’ll remember this exercise and it will make the climb a tad easier.

The post How to Breathe Effectively With a Mask appeared first on Advanced Care.

Keep Composed. Appearing calm even if you are not feeling that way can help you feel calmer inside. Keep your voice as slow and steady as possible.

Keep Focused. Stay focused on the care that you need to provide your patients. Later, when you have time, you can debrief with a friend or colleague about the emotions that you felt.

Keep Positive – Remain focused on the positive. Don’t imagine the worst case scenario and practice positive self-talk. Taking a few deep breaths will also help to calm you down.

The post Techniques for Staying Calm as a Nurse appeared first on Advanced Care.

Why do I want to become a second career nurse? Nursing school is a commitment so you need to ensure that you are doing it for the right reasons. Think about what is motivating you to make the change. Is it the demand for nurses, the flexibility, the variety of job opportunities or a drive to help others?

Do I have what it takes & the support to make it through nursing school? Find out and understand what the requirements of the nursing program are and make sure that you have a strong support system to get you through an accelerated nursing program. There are many study options to choose from. Good luck!

The post Is Nursing as a Second Career the Right Choice for You? appeared first on Advanced Care.

In addition to eating a healthy diet and taking the time to exercise, you also need to take care of your mind. Read anything that will uplift you, such as a good book, positive quotes or encouraging thoughts. Listening to music can also uplift you. Stay away from negativity and gossip.

Finally, find emotional support. Everyone, including nurses need someone who they can talk to about their feelings and frustrations.

The post Self-Care Tips for Nurses appeared first on Advanced Care.

A profile photo is an essential part of your profile as it’s the first impression that a profile viewer will get of you. Research shows that profiles with photos attract 14 times more views. Make sure that your photo looks professional.

Add a background image which can make your profile stand out. You can find free ready-made background images online.

The headline is found right below your name and is the first thing that a profile visitor is likely to read. The headline doesn’t have to be just your job title. You can use it to list your nursing specialty. You can also use keywords to make it easier for recruiters & others to find you in a search. Examples of keywords are ’emergency’, ‘home care’ or ‘Nurse Manager’.

The post LinkedIn Profile Tips for Nurses appeared first on Advanced Care.

Joining a professional nurse organization. Membership will allow you full access to resources and information, discounted rates for events & continuing education courses, to name a few.

Attending online courses and conferences. Many events have been moved online due to the pandemic and provides you with the opportunity to attend both local and international courses & conferences.

Reading nursing blogs. There are a variety of nursing blogs online, many of them are written by nurses for nurses discussing the latest news and current issues on nurses’ minds.

Download Nursing apps. Nursing apps are ideal for nurses on the go. Apps are constantly updated and provide nurses with information that is easy to access from their phone.

The post 4 Ways to Keep Up to Date as a Nurse appeared first on Advanced Care.

Firstly, use a professional resume template. You can find many of these templates online.

As you are likely to have less job experience, you can also include:

• Any relevant awards or honors received. For example, an educational award or an award received during your clinical rotations.
• Volunteer, summer jobs and work experience in the healthcare field that are relevant to the job.
• Any nursing affiliations you have.

When listing your clinical rotations or senior preceptorship, you should include as many relevant details to the job you are applying to. For example, you could include the type of patients that you worked with.

Finally, being bilingual in a second language is a sought-after skill and should be included.

The post Resume Tips for New Graduate Nurses appeared first on Advanced Care.