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!

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Firstly, your body language can say a lot, without you saying a word. To improve your body language, try looking at yourself in front of a mirror and make sure that you are standing straight. When communicating with someone, maintain eye contact which shows interest and confidence in yourself.

Practice active listening. Active listening is the type of listening where you convey your understanding by repeating back the main points to the other person.

In nursing you will have a variety of conversations that can lead to different emotions such as anger or upset. Be aware of how your emotions may be affecting the way you communicate and train yourself to remain professional and courteous during difficult conversations.

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Be prepared by running a trial video call with a friend. Test the video and sound to make sure it is clear. Check the internet speed and Wi-Fi connection to ensure the call doesn’t disconnect during the interview.

Practice looking at the camera while you are talking instead of looking at the interviewer on the screen. This virtual eye contact will make a better impression.

Choose a location in your house that is tidy and well-lit and be aware of the background as it­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ will be seen by the interviewer.

Dress professionally in the same way as you would for a face-to-face interview.

Be on time. Make sure to enter the room at least five minutes before the start of the interview.

Good luck!

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Firstly, look at the job description/job advertisement and ensure that the cover letter highlights in a clear and concise way, how your nursing qualifications, experience, skills and personality match the job requirements.

Show your enthusiasm for this particular nursing job and employer by explaining why you chose to apply for this job and facility.

Finally, while reading it over, ask yourself: Does this cover letter sell yourself as the best candidate for the job?

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To answer these questions, consider using the STAR method.

S – Situation – Describe the situation. Think of one specific situation and be as specific as possible about the details.

T – Task – What goal were you working towards? What were you aiming to accomplish? For example, to calm the patient down.

A – Action – Describe the action that you took. Be as specific as possible and focus on what you did by using “I” statements. For example, “I communicated with and listened to the patient.”

R – Result – Explain the outcome and anything that you learned from the situation. Would there be anything that you would do differently next time?

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There is a great career outlook for the nursing profession. The projected growth is faster than other occupations because of the aging population and there is always a need for healthcare. There are many specialties to choose from and opportunities for growth. For example, a nurse can advance into leadership positions such as becoming a Charge Nurse or a Nurse Manager.

Nursing offers a competitive salary and many employers offer benefits such as healthcare plans, 40K/retirement plans, continuing education reimbursement etc.

Nursing provides you with the special opportunity to help and care for others and is a rewarding and meaningful career.

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There are many different job options in nursing and you may be unsure of the best direction to take your career. A recruiter will assess your skills & experience and use their expert knowledge to advise you.

Recruiters often receive exclusive nursing job openings that are not advertised, so you will have access to more jobs. Also, recruiters will search for jobs for you, saving you time sifting through job sites.

Recruiters have experience in resume writing and can ensure that your resume is tailored to the position and presented professionally. This will give you the best chance of getting your resume noticed.

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A hospice nurse visits patients to assess their medical and emotional needs, as well as the support required by their family. One of the main goals of hospice nursing is ensuring the patient is comfortable by providing the appropriate medications, therapies and support.

Hospice nurses have the opportunity to build close relationships with their patients and families. They also get to work independently with the support of their team. One of the challenges is learning to deal with the loss of patients. One of the rewards is knowing that you provided them with the best care and support possible. There is a great sense of accomplishment in knowing that you made a difference to a patient at the end of their life.

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Firstly, make sure that you leave your home in plenty of time to allow for traffic and for finding the location of your orientation. Medical facilities can be hard to navigate.

Ensure that you get the most information out of the orientation by asking questions and taking notes. You should familiarize yourself with, and be open to, the facility and departmental protocols. Each facility has it’s own way of working.

It is important to be teachable by being open to constructive criticism and feedback. By doing so, improvements are made and everyone benefits. Managers really appreciate this attitude.

Finally, maintain confidence by believing in your abilities and don’t forget to smile!

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Networking is key for both developing a support network and finding a job. Keep in touch with your classmates, mentors and professors. They can provide you with advice, support and referrals for a job. LinkedIn is a great professional networking tool and should be utilized.

Your first job will not necessarily be your ideal job but you will learn a great deal. If you are unclear as to which area to specialize in, you could consider float nursing which will give you a chance to try out a variety of different specialties.

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