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Tips for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals to Stay Organized

  • Hello • February 8, 2023

Tips for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals to Stay Organized

By its nature, nursing can be a chaotic affair. Emotional patient outbursts, emergency cases, and other factors beyond your control can suddenly disrupt your workflow. You cannot account for everything, but nurses must control what they can. One way to do this is to get organized. You become less stressed and distracted, and more productive when you know where everything is. As long as you follow these tips for nurses and commit to excellence, anyone can become a properly organized nurse!

Have a plan ahead of time

Some advice for new nurses: Some direction may be what you need to bring order to your day. Instead of completing tasks as they go, planning ahead will reduce stress long term. Make a to-do list by going over your tasks and arranging them by priority. This can be accomplished with a planner or a digital application. You can even plan things the day before if you review patient information. One last CNA tip: do not make your plans so rigid, since anything can change at a moment’s notice.

Set big picture goals

A common tip for new nurses is setting big picture goals. Whether it is gaining work experience at a specific department or logging in a certain amount of extra hours, this will give your work more purpose and forward momentum. These goals could be accomplished in 1 month, 2 months or even free months. When you give yourself something to work towards, you become more motivated and driven. Ask your supervisor for help with crafting these goals and creating a plan of attack. With their experience, they can provide valuable tips for nurses and much needed perspective. From there, you can plan your work weeks and work days with clear benchmarks, action items and progress trackers in mind.

Make use of technology

This is the digital age. Things are faster, more streamlined and easily accessible than they have ever been. Adopting technology into your work routine is great advice for new nurses who want to get organized. As we mentioned earlier, planner apps can help with scheduling appointments, in order to reduce confusion and lost time. Depending on your facility, you may be able to use apps which let patients submit crucial health data in real-time or communicate with their doctors in a HIPAA-compliant manner. This is just a couple of CNA tips for incorporating technology into your workflow.

Know your limits

This is not only a good tip for new nurses, but some veterans as well. When someone asks you to help with tasks that do not require a physician, you do not always have to say yes. Help when you can, but it may be better to delegate if you are already dealing with numerous patients. Ask medical assistants, interns, volunteers or administrative staff if they can handle those tasks for you. Another tip for nurses: As respectfully as possible, explain that your time is limited yet these tasks must be completed.

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Facilities HCP

Making The Perfect Nursing Portfolio: A Comprehensive Guide

  • Hello • February 8, 2023

Making The Perfect Nursing Portfolio: A Comprehensive Guide

You only have one chance to make the first impression that lasts a lifetime. Before even your initial interview, your nursing portfolio will be the first impression that hiring managers have of you. Whether you are a fresh graduate hunting your first job or you are shopping for greater opportunities elsewhere, you want that portfolio to be as good as it can possibly be. What does a “good” professional portfolio in nursing entail exactly? And how can you make one, with what you have? We will go over all these and more in this guide.

What exactly is a Nurse Portfolio?

Put simply, a nursing portfolio is a collection of relevant documents and materials that serves as credible evidence of previous nursing experience, employment history and education. Good portfolios waste no space whatsoever. Every document is organized and structured in such a way that captures the nurse’s professional journey, capabilities and character. Nursing portfolios for new grads shows employers why you deserve special consideration over applicants who are technically more qualified.

Why does my portfolio matter?

Most professionals know just how important a nurse practitioner portfolio is for a compelling and convincing application. More than just a compilation of credentials, portfolios are proof that you are invested in your continued growth. Healthcare is a dynamic and ever-shifting industry, so hospitals are looking for nurses who want to invest in a lifelong learning approach.

Even less talked about is how your portfolio benefits you, personally. It allows you to reflect and review your career plans. By laying out your entire work history and credentials, you can identify both strengths and deficiencies, note experience gaps you can work on and truly ponder on whether or not this career path is what you want.

Nursing portfolio items

What you can and should include in your professional nursing portfolio may depend on your circumstances, as well as the company you are applying to. Good nursing portfolio examples include the following:

  • Front Page and Table of Contents
  • Name, address, contact details
  • CV/Resume copy
  • Registered Nursing certification
  • Degree history and transcripts
  • Certification for Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and more
  • Certification from other specialty courses and training
  • CEU certification
  • Nursing work history
  • Proof of participation in community outreach and volunteer activities
  • “Thank yous” or other personal notes from patients and patient families
  • Character references
  • Posters for professional presentations
  • Evaluations from co-workers or managers
  • Performance evaluations and career development goals
  • Memberships in professional organizations
  • Medical writing samples (Research projects, professional articles, etc)

Organizing your portfolio

There is no “one size fits all” solution for new grad nursing portfolios. What matters is that you arrange items in an organized and professional manner. To get you started, collating your materials in a 3-ring binder is a common practice. Using labeled tabs makes finding specific documents easier for both you and your prospective employer. Finally, you want to break things down into sections. Keep similar documents like certifications or academic papers in one section, to make things organized. Six sections is the sweet spot, as more may leave readers overwhelmed. You can also arrange them in chronological order, to bring a sense of flow and progression to your portfolio.

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Facilities HCP

All You Need To Know About the Monkeypox and Vaccine Rollout

  • Hello • February 8, 2023

All You Need To Know About the Monkeypox and Vaccine Rollout

Monkeypox first arrived in the US on May 18, 2022, when it was detected in a US citizen returning from Canada. The disease has spread at a rapid rate, globally. Early in June, the World Health Organization reported 550 monkeypox cases outside of Africa. America alone accounted for 20 cases filed across 11 different states, both possible and confirmed. To contain its spread, the government sent out 1,200 monkeypox treatment doses to populations at high exposure risk. Before you do anything drastic, here is everything you must know about Monkeypox and the government response.

What is Monkeypox?

Monkeypox is a rare disease that is of the same family as the variola virus which causes smallpox. Monkeypox symptoms are actually similar to that of smallpox, albeit milder and rarely fatal. Originally, the disease was observed in monkeys and african rodents in 1958. The first cases of human monkeypox infections were traced in 1970 and the virus was largely endemic to the West and Central African regions before the current monkeypox outbreak in 2022.

Symptoms and Protocol

If you expose yourself to the virus, the CDC recommends that you observe yourself for potential symptoms, over a 21 day period. According to the CDC, monkeypox greatly resembles the flu. Patients may experience muscle aches, fever, headache, chills, swollen lymph nodes and exhaustion. Following this, lesions can possibly form on the body which can spread monkeypox with direct contact. If they form in your mouth or throat, it is possible to transmit the disease through respiratory droplets, though this is rarer.

If you develop any of these monkeypox symptoms, you are highly advised to contact your state/local health department and self isolate. You will know that you are fully healed when the lesions disappear and your skin has fully healed.

Transmissibility

Previously, monkeypox cases were endemic to the West and Central African regions, and only transmissible between rats and people. It is suspected that monkeypox can now be transmitted through “‘intimate contact and skin-to-skin transmission” and has returned due to globally waning immunities. Once the monkeypox outbreak was first declared “eradicated,” all vaccination efforts ceased. Initially, the CDC believed that the virus is not spreading rapidly and can still be contained. Now, however, clinics are struggling to cope with rising monkeypox numbers and the window to control it “has closed.”

Vaccine variants and side effects

In current monkeypox news, the US is providing two kinds of vaccines: Jynneos and ACAM2000. Though the latter has a respectable 85% efficacy rate, Jynneos is still reliable and seen as the preferred form of monkeypox treatment. This is mainly because of ACAM2000’s unfortunate potential side effects.

Due to the mild strain used as the base of the virus, there is a small chance that it will infect you. ACAM2000 is administered with a two-pronged needle that scratches your upper arm. If left untreated, a virus will infect the area in the form of a blister. You can spread this disease if it touches other people or damage your sight if you touch your eyes after touching your blister. Disinfect the injection side to avoid this. ACAM2000 should also be avoided by pregnant or breastfeeding women as taking the vaccine could cause stillbirth. Patients with skin conditions like eczema or atopic dermatitis are at risk of a devastating full body infection.

Jynneos has none of these side effects, since its strain is irreplaceable in humans. As a result, it is the best currently available form of monkeypox treatment. If you exhibit any monkeypox symptoms or live in an area with an outbreak, Jynneos is what you want.

Vaccine Supply Problems

At the time of writing, the situation is quickly escalating. D.C. reported the largest monkeypox outbreak per capita, with 122. Mass vaccination sites in places like New York are filled to capacity. Federal health officials want to increase available dosage to prepare for a potential case spike in August. An additional 131,000 doses were provided to states, while 7 million ordered doses will not arrive for months. For now, supply is clearly not meeting with demand.

Prevention

If you live in an area with monkeypox cases, there are a number of measures you must observe to prevent infection:

  • Do not touch your nose, mouth or eyes
  • Wash your hands regularly
  • Avoid physical contact with infected individuals
  • No kissing, hugging or sharing utensils or cups.
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Facilities HCP

COVID cases could be higher than you think: Here’s why

  • Hello • February 8, 2023

COVID cases could be higher than you think: Here’s why

America is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases. Depending on the trackers that you use, there are around 94,000 to 100,000 known daily infections. Complementing this are hospitalization rates that are lower than the peaks of April, but still steadily trending upwards. As concerning as these numbers already are, the situation may be more serious than it already looks.

Per Dennis Nash, the professor of epidemiology at the City University of New York Public Health, COVID case counts may be inaccurate by a factor as large as 30. It is very likely that as much as one in five adults–roughly 22% or 1.5 million– have contracted COVID between April and May. There is a significant chance that reports nationwide have been just as inaccurate, as well.

What is the reason behind this dramatic discrepancy? Experts have partially attributed things to the rise of home testing. Patients can see whether or not they have COVID-19 and self-quarantine, instead of going to a hospital and thus being included in official case counts. On top of this, there has been a widespread ‘fatigue’ with COVID and the pandemic. According to a poll from Axios/Ipsos, one in three Americans believe that we have moved past COVID-19. Many Americans are ready to leave the masks at home and “go back to normal.” They want to walk to work or school without any concerns or anxieties regarding infection.

It is true that we are better equipped to handle COVID cases than we were at the start of the pandemic. The vaccines have been proven to reduce the rates of hospitalization and death among even people with prior infections. That being said, there are still certain risks that need to be considered. It is still somewhat random as to whether or not you are affected by long-term COVID symptoms, even with the vaccine. There are also immunocompromised individuals who are still susceptible to deadly COVID episodes. Not helping matters is The rise of newer, more infectious strains like BA.4, BA.5 and BA.2. At the time of writing, these strains make up 8.3%, 13.3% and 14.2% of all US cases. There is a possibility that BA.4 and BA.5 will become the most prominent variants, though they at least lack the respiratory-related symptoms that have made COVID-19 so deadly.

Profession Dennis Nash posits that more accurate COVID information figures would help people make “informed decisions” as to the kinds of precautionary measures they should take. It is on local and public state and national figures to present these more representative numbers. Leaving the public in the dark might engender a greater sense of security, but the consequences could prove to be damaging in the long run.

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Facilities HCP

10 important tips that all graduate nurses should know

  • Hello • February 8, 2023

10 important tips that all graduate nurses should know

Job hunting and working as a fresh graduate nurse can be difficult, to say the least. Nursing is a dynamic and high pressure profession with an increasingly competitive job market. You can have the highest marks in a classroom setting, yet there are some things that school cannot prepare you for. Before you set out on an exciting new chapter in your life, here are a few key considerations that every new grad RN should know.

Tailor your CV to specific facilities

Sending the same documents to multiple employees may seem efficient but you are only making things harder for yourself. Instead of sending the same CV and cover letter repeatedly, create documents that can serve as base templates. From there, you can edit to suit the specific facility, specialization or position you are applying for. For example, new graduate nurses looking for pediatrician roles should stress communicating with children, patience, empathy and other similarly relevant attributes. By doing this, employees will see how you are a unique and perfect fit for the role. This lets you stand out amidst a sea of applicants for new grad nurse jobs.

Establish a support network

Between the unique challenges, stressful nature and advanced knowledge and training needed for base competency, nursing can overwhelm anyone. Building a support network lets you get in touch with fellow graduate nurses who understand your struggles. Talking to people who understand your experiences can lift some of the burden. Your friends can also provide invaluable professional advice and even nurse job leads if you are lucky. Do not be afraid to open up and ask help from your peers, provided that you are willing to do the same. Nurses who are still in school can build this network early by staying in touch with their classmates, professors and mentors. Social media platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn help a lot in this regard. Facebook in particular is rich with new grad RN communities.

Do not be afraid to be discerning

You may end up going through dozens, if not hundreds of applications before your first graduate nursing job offer. Be that as it may, you should not accept the very first job offer that comes to your table. Every offer deserves consideration but if possible, you want to find jobs that fit your desired career path, personality and priorities. Even if you do not know where you want your career to go, you definitely have a good idea of what you dislike. If you have a strong aversion to the ER or the ICU, you do not need to accept an opening or offering immediately. Conversely, if you are interested in telehealth or physician’s offices, then you can give priority to those nursing job openings.

Be ready for anything

Healthcare can be a volatile line of work. No one can predict every sudden patient behavioral shift or flattening heart rate perfectly. Even graduate nurses need to be prepared for the worst when the time comes. All nurse jobs demand composure and adaptability from HCPs. ER nurses make a living off of getting quick, high pressure cases and quickly identifying the problem, before starting treatment in order to stabilize their patient conditions. Not every department is as high pressure but all nurses will be expected to deal with sudden adversity, when the time comes.

Do not be too hard on yourself

New grad RNs are not expected to be experts in their field on day one. Even with years of top education and clinical rotation experience, there will be times where you make mistakes. Acclimating yourself to your facility or profession’s workflow while providing lifesaving care is difficult for even the best new graduate nurses. Instead of beating yourself up after every little fumble, use this as an opportunity to learn. Forgiving yourself is the first step in learning from your mistakes.

Learn from your peers

If ever you find yourself unsure about something, do not hesitate to ask a question to your superiors or peers. Even if it seems obvious, your bosses are responsible for giving clarifications to freshly-graduated nurses who just entered the workforce. You will also gain a lot from simply observing the professionals around you. There is a lot of value to their wisdom and insights.

Build winning habits

A certificate in nursing alone does not prepare you for how unpredictable nursing can be. Establishing a good routine and positive working habits lets you gain some control over your surroundings. For example: regularly getting up and going to work early helps you avoid any tardiness and subsequent complications. Making sure you have all your supplies and double checking your itinerary is also helpful. When excellence becomes a habit, even the most difficult nursing jobs get a little easier.

Work on your time management

Nurses are usually trusted to complete a number of tasks within a single shift. For the uninitiated, juggling all these priorities can be a daunting task. New grad RNs need to learn how to manage their time by setting their priorities straight. Determine what tasks need to be completed more urgently than others. From there you can create a list that can lend some structure and direction to your working day.

Take care of yourself

Sometimes a little self-care is all you need to decompress and new graduate nurses are no exception. Treating yourself comes in many different forms. Sometimes this can mean indulging in the finer things in life: buying clothes, watching movies and eating a good meal can do wonders for your psyche. Self care can be going on a diet, regularly exercising or even taking deep breaths Though not immediately gratifying, over time they will pay their dividends. A graduate nurse who is physically and mentally fit is better prepared for the rigors of hospital work.

Consider continuing education

When you pursue further learning, you are moving towards higher and better paying nursing positions. Alumni from entry level MSN programs can take on advanced practice roles as nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and more. You can even find roles in non-clinical spaces such as nurse education, informatics and research. Graduate nursing programs are often considerably expensive and require a certain amount of bedside experience, so you do not need to start immediately. Once you can pool the resources and can study while you work, this is a route well worth considering down the line.

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Facilities HCP

WHO: For top-quality patient care, we must invest in nurses

  • Hello • February 8, 2023

WHO: For top-quality patient care, we must invest in nurses

In 2020, the World Health Organization projected that a serious global nursing shortage of 4.6 million nurses will ravage healthcare, if left unchecked. Turnover was already an issue—mostly due to the aging patient populations and workforce—but COVID-19 undoubtedly exacerbated it. During the pandemic, hospitals were filled to maximum capacity, hired HCPs worked grueling hours and facilities contended with supply and labor shortages. Unsurprisingly, countless nurses dealt with burnout, fatigue and planned to retire earlier than expected.

Registered nurses make up 30% of American healthcare staffing. They are the backbone of the healthcare system and they are irreplaceable in making the world a better, healthier place. A long and sustained nursing shortage would kneecap both the industry and public safety at large. If we expect them to provide care under historic circumstances, then governments have to start investing in nurses and nurse staffing.

What does this investment entail, exactly? Luckily, this WHO report provides a list of key suggestions. One of the biggest priorities on this list is investing in nurse education and job creation. By developing aspiring nursing students and providing enticing nursing job opportunities, hiring HCPs to fill shortages will be far easier. The WHO also stresses the importance of analytics. With more resources, nurse organizations can better collect, analyze and interpret data from the healthcare world. Using this information, companies can have a clearer picture of the current state of healthcare and how to improve nursing outcomes.

Legislation that promotes safe and productive work environments will also be important for investing in nurses. Safe healthcare staffing, adequate salaries and gender-based workplace policies are just a few pertinent examples. In particular, legal maximum patient-to-nurse staffing ratios have historically been effective in improving patient outcomes and increasing mutual satisfaction between patients and staff. Policies that address gender discrimination will also be crucial in protecting and retaining talent, especially considering that 90% of nurses are women.

In the bigger picture, investment also entails enacting policies related to the globalization of healthcare staffing. Responsibly and ethically monitoring nurse migration, for instance, will make sure international HCPs get hired safely and securely. International harmonization of education and training standards also allows governing bodies to accept nursing credentials across different countries. Implementing these laws will not be easy, but it would give nurses more freedom, mobility and incentives to stay.

Nurses of all kinds play an invaluable role of containing epidemics and maintaining our collective health. Failing to retain and develop the nursing workforce would put the safety of mankind at risk and that is in no way hyperbolic. For the future of healthcare staffing, governments and facilities alike have no choice but to pour resources into nurse education, creating nursing jobs and promoting positive work environments. In doing so, they will ensure a sustainable, satisfactory and productive healthcare system.

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Facilities HCP

McKinsey: Nurses stay motivated with “meaningful work”

  • Hello • February 8, 2023

McKinsey: Nurses stay motivated with “meaningful work”

The pandemic has deeply affected the healthcare world. COVID cases have brought upon unprecedented workloads and stress to nurses worldwide. There was already a shortage of nurses, but these conditions have sped up this trend, especially in America. According to McKinsey, surveyed HCPs who intend to leave the industry shot up by 10% in the US, between February 2021 and November 2021. Among the thousands of nurses interviewed across six countries, between 28 to 38% of professionals wanted to leave their direct patient healthcare jobs.

More than half of correspondents noted that their intentions had “nothing to do with the pandemic.” In countries like Brazil and Singapore, 20% of nurses reported that they were less likely to leave. Though the effect of COVID on nurses’ professional decisions are “variable,” these trends still point to a widespread fatigue with the industry. It is clear that facilities and nursing staffing agencies will have their hands full in the coming years.

Yet CNAs, RNs and nurses of all levels carry on with their work. What drives these people to stay in the face of such adversity?

The McKinsey survey highlights a number of motivating factors. Interestingly, compensation was not the top motivation across correspondents. Of the six countries, Japan was the only area where it even cracked the top 3. The most important motivating forces, across all countries, were “meaningful work, a positive, engaging work environment and feeling safe/healthy.”

It makes a lot of sense.. Healthcare jobs are already demanding without a historic pandemic disrupting the workflow. When you feel that your work is contributing to something meaningful and important, it motivates you in a way that money alone cannot. “Just” compensation will not convince nursing assistants when they can make money outside the clinical setting. A positive work environment feeds into this, as it unites like-minded individuals under a singular vision and shared goal.

Now more than ever, facilities must work to retain, grow and draw nurses if they want to fill their nurse staffing vacancies. Though not comprehensive or unquestionable, the McKinsey survey gives us a good idea of what that might entail.

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Facilities HCP

Thinking for the Future: Supporting nurses across different settings.

  • Hello • February 8, 2023

Thinking for the Future: Supporting nurses across different settings.

According to the US Health Resources and Services Administration, one-third of nurses will retire within the next 10 years. This turnover, combined with the rise in nursing demand, is going to create a drastic and lengthy nursing shortage. 200,000 annual nurse job openings are expected, between 2016 and 2026. All healthcare facilities must step up to support their nurses to survive. The exact healthcare setting does not matter: with the right measures, any facility can retain and develop a strong HCP workforce.

Intelligent Talent Planning

Planning proactive talent pipelines will be essential for any healthcare facility. Creating programs and incentives helps you attract and develop young CNAs and nurses early on. A good example of this is collaborating with universities, community colleges or other training programs. This lets you fill healthcare job vacancies with talent who are prepared for the demands of your specific facility. In turn, they will be more likely to work there long term.

Facilities can also benefit from attracting young nurses early on. Part-time shifts, holiday pay and tuition reimbursement are particularly attractive to younger demographics. Understanding what young nurses want out of their careers is essential, if you want to create competitive offers that

Addressing mental trauma

Nursing jobs are already stressful, but COVID-19 has magnified this tenfold. The increased workload, long and demanding hours and the fear of infection led to symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress among some HCPs. Healthcare facilities must take responsibility by providing their nurses with the emotional support they need. Unfortunately, many HCPs do not talk about their mental issues or take the necessary time to rest, when possible.

Mental health problems are still wrongly viewed as signs of weakness or something to be ashamed of. To address this, a culture of understanding and empathy must be established to encourage a more open and honest dialogue. From there, facilities can provide helpful programs and resources like workshops or communication activities.

Making nurses feel valued

Showing gratitude may seem like a formality, but it can mean the world. When you feel valued, you become more committed, manage stress easier and gain more work satisfaction. For example, nurses in long term care facilities are 10% less likely to feel “recognized” or “thanked,” compared to HCPs in other healthcare facilities. It is no surprise that the annual turnover rate for LTC nursing jobs is double that of an inpatient setting.

Facing the challenges ahead

Even as we head to a “new normal,” there is seemingly no slowing down the inevitable nursing shortage. The stress of the pandemic has already taken its toll on nurses around the world and many are resigning as a result. Per diem nurses are extremely valuable but they cannot be the sole solution. From CNAs to NPs, nurses on all levels need to be supported and taken care of, if hospitals have any hope of weathering the storm. Facilities must go above and beyond to develop and continuously support the talent that remains. By creating a positive culture, crafting detailed development plans and sensitively addressing the struggles they have faced, healthcare facilities can succeed in creating a flexible, resilient and capable workforce that will carry the nursing world into the future.

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Facilities HCP

Around One-Third of Nurses Are Expected To Quit in 2022

  • Hello • February 8, 2023

Around One-Third of Nurses Are Expected To Quit in 2022

Around One-Third of Nurses Are Expected To Quit in 2022

COVID-19 has taken its toll on the healthcare industry. At its peak, hospitals were filled to capacity and nurses were struggling with low supplies, long hours of grueling work and anxiety regarding infection. Surveys from various agencies confirm where things are trending: all this stress is resulting in burnout and turnover.

As much as 33% (around one-third) of nurses stated that it is “highly likely” that they will quit their jobs around the end of 2022. 45% of these respondents cited burnout and a high-stress environment, while 32% pointed to insufficient pay and benefits.

Abusive workplace interactions was another common sticking point. As much as 64% of correspondents reported dealing with physical or verbal abuse from patients and their families. Within these cases, frustration around COVID guidelines (51%) and perceived insufficient staff or care (48%) were the main instigating factors. On a different note, as much as 31% of nurses detailed cases of workplace discrimination or racism. A majority of this came from patient interactions, but 45% of these RNs mentioned dealing with this kind of abuse from their workplace peers. Though not necessarily “abusive,” as much as 65% of nurses felt underappreciated by their communities for their efforts in controlling COVID-19.

Not all resigning nurses were quitting healthcare completely. A considerable 41% of nurses planned to work in different healthcare facilities, while 31% of nurses were either going to leave nursing or retire outright. Surveys also found that 41% of correspondents had already found new nursing jobs by January 2021. Common motivations behind this move included better pay (57% of these nurses), desire for a new role (34%), better scheduling (32%), location (24%), advancing their careers or training (23%) and improved staffing (25%).

Regardless, it is undeniable that the nursing workforce is bleeding manpower. Facilities have been scrambling to find ways to retain high-end talent, like dramatically increasing sign-on bonuses. There has been a significant 161% increase in job contracts with sign-on bonuses. In Texas, 57% of job offers had such bonuses, compared to 15% from the year prior.

The sign on bonuses themselves have almost doubled from $5,600 to $10,500 in the same amount of time. Nationwide, the highest sign-on bonuses belong to Florida at an average of $13,000. California remains at the top of base salary, at 21% higher than the $80,000 median pay..

The US Bureau Labor of Statistics estimates that over 90,000 people have left the hospital sub sector since March 2020. Various Nurses Associations predict that there will be as much as 100,000 vacant nursing jobs next year.

Last year, they formally declared a national nurse staffing crisis and enacted policies to address the issue. Nurses’ mental health, retaining staff and the limited education of new nursing students were among the biggest issues that needed addressing.

On the bright side, more and more nurses are opting to get their vaccines. 89% of nurses have received their COVID-19 doses, compared to last year’s 73%. Considering how 32% of nurses reportedly had no intentions to receive their shots, this is a considerable improvement. Nursing facilities will now be safer and more prepared for the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak.

There are no easy fixes to this ongoing nursing shortage. Experts believe that this will persist well beyond 2022. However, hospitals can do their best to retain staff by addressing the issues outlined above. Truly competitive wage offers, more opportunities for career advancement and further training, and flexible scheduling are just a few of the ways that healthcare facilities can make their staff feel valued. Making your staff feel valued and being transparent with key concerns will go a long way in making things better for everyone.

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HCP Facilities

What’s the Difference Between DNP and DNAP CRNA Degrees

  • Hello • February 8, 2023

What’s the Difference Between DNP and DNAP CRNA Degrees

DNP vs DNAP: Which is the best CRNA degree?

Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are in charge of assisting surgeons and supervising physicians with the administration of anaesthesia, along with post-operative care. It should be no surprise that CRNAs are one of the most in-demand careers in the healthcare industry. The BLS projects a staggering 14% growth in the employment rate from 2019 to 2029. At present, CRNAs are handsomely paid with a median annual salary of $184,570.

So how do you become a CRNA? At the moment, you can become a CRNA by taking a master’s program. By January 2 2022, however, nursing students entering CRNA programs must enrol in a doctorate program. By 2025, CRNAs will require a doctorate in order to practice. Students can choose between a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) or a Doctorate of Nursing Anesthesia Practice (DNAP). For the sake of your career, you want to select the program that suits you best. To help you pick, this article will compare and contrast both doctorate programs.

Overview:

DNP courses emphasize clinical practice, with the intention of producing highly-credentialed leaders. Nurses who want to directly treat patients can further specialize in the Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN) route. These RNs are trained to diagnose and treat patients in specialized ways. These are where DNP CRNA programs fall under.

In comparison, DNAP classes mainly focus on the research of anaesthetic practices. From the clinical setting, education, and even on the administrative level, the goal is to improve nurse anaesthesia on all levels with detailed studies. This can mean applying physiological theory in a manner that improves the quality of care, across the board. Students may also be expected to resolve ethical dilemmas in the industry with effective and creative strategies.

DNAP Program Length and Requirements.

Specific requirements for a nurse anaesthetist program can vary from school to school. Whether it is a DNP CRNA program or a DNAP, you will typically need a bachelor’s degree, a nursing license and a minimum GPA of 3.0. Most doctorate programs will also require one to three years of experience in an intensive care unit or a critical care program.

Once you have met the requirements and enrolled, students can choose between a variety of tracks. DNP students must specialize in DNP CRNA programs, while DNAPs are already specialized. Both programs tend to take 33 to 43 credits and around 500 hours. How long it takes depends on your approach and track of choice. The BSN to DNAP/DNP track can take up to 3-4 years full time and 4-7 years part-time. Meanwhile, MSN to DNAP/DNP programs can take 1-2 years full time, and 2-3 years part-time.

Accreditation

The DNP curriculum is set by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), while the DNAP is approved by the Nurse Anesthetists Council of Accreditation (NACA). Thanks to the efforts of the AACN, the DNP CRNA programs are widely recognized as terminal degrees (or the highest possible nursing education), compared to DNAP ones. Unless you want to become a university faculty member, this is negligible.

DNP and DNAP Salary:

There is no major discrepancy between a DNAP and a DNP CRNA salary. However, there are a number of other factors that can determine your income. Entry-level salaries can sit at around $100,000, while senior CRNAs with eight years of experience can earn up to $220,557. Salaries can also depend on where you work. Currently, the highest DNP/DNAP salaries can be found in outpatient care centres and speciality hospitals. There, income sits at around $224,810 and $201,220, respectively. Certain states also pay their CRNAs better than others. Be sure to also consider the cost of living, before making any major decisions.

How to Become a CRNA After Education:

As soon as you finish your studies, you are allowed to take the National Certification Exam (NCE). This 3-hour computerized test consists of 100-170 test questions, including 30 random non-graded questions. Preliminary results are immediately given, but official results are sent two to four weeks later. Additionally, there is a $995 entrance fee.

The contents of the exam can be broken down into four parts: basic sciences (25%), equipment, instrumentation and technology (15%), basic principles of anaesthesia (30%) and advanced principles of anaesthesia (30%).

Conclusion:

In the DNP vs DNAP comparison, we find that both programs are more similar than different. There is no doubt that both programs diverge in some key aspects. The DNP emphasizes practice, while DNAP is focused on the application of research. The DNP is more widely recognized, because of the efforts of its governing body. Despite this, both degrees have equal merits for any aspiring CRNA. Which one suits you mostly depends on personal preference, and what is available to you.

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