nursing school Tag

Passing the NCLEX: 5 Effective Studying Strategies That Work

Have you just graduated from nursing school? If you have then congratulations! There’s just one more small but significant hurdle to overcome- the NCLEX exam.

Just hearing about the NCLEX exam can put fear into many young nurses, but it shouldn’t. Of course, it’s a major exam, but many people have passed it and you can too. If you’ve already graduated from nursing school, then you’ve proven that you know your stuff.

You’re already on the home stretch and once you finish, a rewarding career is waiting for you. You just need to put in that last bit of effort so you can hit that home run.

Studying for the test doesn’t need to take over your life. There are some simple tips you can follow to create a balanced study plan which suits you. This plan will help identify your strengths so you can get the most out of study sessions. You’ll then feel confident as you walk into the exam.

So what are some great study tips and how can you install them?

In this article, we’ll share 5 effective study strategies that work so you can pass the NCLEX exam the first time.

Read on for more information.

1. Make a Study Plan and Stick to It

Most people don’t write out schedules but we highly suggest you create an NCLEX study guide/plan.

A big mistake you can make in the beginning is to make a vague schedule in your head. You may decide to study on a certain day and time, but other things can easily get in the way or you could forget.

Instead, you should sit down with a diary or at your computer and work out a study schedule.

First, you should write down your daily routine. This would include when you’re at work, at the gym, looking after the children, etc. These are usually the times in which you cannot study at all.

Next, you should identify any future plans you may have such as vacations, parties, and medical appointments.

Finally, write down any weekly chores such as cleaning, shopping etc. You should also put aside time to meet up with family, friends and to chill out.

Once you have the schedule in front of you, start to identify suitable times in which to study. Ensure that you can stick to these and identify any hurdles you may face. For example, it may not be the best idea to study after a long gym session.

Once you have your study plan finalized, keep it somewhere you can easily access it.

2. Identify Your Study Style

You probably know by now how you study best, but if not then don’t worry.

Just think back to how you previously prepared for exams and what you focused on. For example, if you prefer watching and listening to lectures, then there are loads on Youtube to help. In fact, there are now even some great podcasts so you could listen to some in the car or whilst exercising.

Alternatively, you may have enjoyed being in a study group so you could discuss topics. If so, reach out to fellow graduates who are also preparing for the exam. You could hold weekly skype sessions or meet up for a coffee.

Whatever you choose to do, make sure it’s helpful and beneficial to you.

3. Take the Test Not Long After Graduating

Ideally, you want to take the test within a few months of graduating if possible.

After you have graduated, you’re usually full of confidence and in the right frame of mind to pass the exam. You also will still have a lot of information fresh in your head. If you wait a year or more, you’ll likely forget important things and have to spend longer studying.

It’s ok to take a few weeks off for a vacation just after graduating but be clear on a return date to studying. If not, you could end up procrastinating and weeks turn into months.

4. Take Practice Exams

Before you enter the real exam, you want to know how it works and the type of questions you could be asked. Therefore, sitting practice exams should be at the top of your to-do list.

A practice exam will help you to understand what the invigilators are looking for in your answers. You’ll also be able to practice your time management skills.

Once you have completed a practice exam, you should go back and look at your answers. Focus on the questions you didn’t get right and research the correct answers.

Try to take as many practice exams as you can so it becomes a small habit. You’ll feel more confident on the day as you’ll know the structure of the exam.

5. Take Some Time For You

Whilst some people find it hard to start studying, others find it hard to stop. This may sound rather beneficial but it can negatively affect their exam results.

Stress and anxiety can be very damaging to our physical and mental wellbeing. So, you need to learn how to relax and know when to switch off from studying.

Eating healthy and exercising regularly will help you to stay calm and focused. The last thing you want to do is turn up to the exam a nervous wreck. If you do, you set yourself up to fail.

Ensure you take time out for yourself to just relax. This way, you’ll pass the exam in no time. You may even decide to gain advanced qualifications to further your career even more.

Helpful NCLEX Study Tips

We hope you have enjoyed reading our article and have found these NCLEX study tips useful.

As you can see, by being prepared you set yourself up to pass. You’ll also find studying a breeze and most likely enjoy it.

Finally, check out the benefits of being a travel nurse and why you should consider it once you pass the NCLEX exam.

What To Know About the COVID-19 Vaccines

With a COVID vaccine being made available, it’s starting to look like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. There’s a lot of confusion and misinformation when it comes to the safety and the efficacy of the vaccine and why you should get it, who can get the vaccine, and where to get the vaccine. Below, you can find more basic and general information. However, the vaccine rollout can be dependent on state/city, and as Biden comes into office, the rollout may change even further. As a travel nurse, you likely will be in the first few rollout phases (or maybe, you’ve already been vaccinated)! It’s best to consistently check local state regulations and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for the most updated and accurate information. 

What are the effects of the COVID vaccine and is it safe?

If a vaccine is effective, it helps prevent the person from getting sick if they’re exposed to the virus. For COVID specifically, it’s very important to note that you must continue to remain socially distant until enough people have received the vaccine. There is not enough information to determine whether or not a vaccinated person can pass and transmit the virus to others, hence the importance to remain socially distant (Hopkins Medicine). 

The FDA approved vaccines (which you can see below) are safe and encouraged. As BBC states, “there is no evidence that any of these ingredients cause harm when used in such small amounts. Vaccines do not give you a disease. Instead, they teach your body’s immune system to recognize and fight the infection they have been designed to protect against.” If you think you may have any allergies or reactions to the vaccine’s ingredients, it’s always best to consult the CDC website and your doctor before receiving the vaccine. 

What COVID vaccines are out there?

As of now, there are two COVID vaccines that the CDC recommends: the Pfizer vaccine and the Moderna vaccine. Each has their own requirements and eligibilities:

Pfizer

• Recommended for those 16 years and older. 
• 2 shots in the upper arm. There should be 21 days between the initial and second shot. 
• According to the clinical trials, “the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was 95.0% effective… in preventing symptomatic laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 in persons without evidence of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection.”
• Mild to moderate symptoms following vaccination can include: pain, swelling, and redness at the injection site, and chills, tiredness, and headaches. This is normal, and these are common symptoms with many safe vaccines. 

Moderna

• Recommended for those 18 years and older. 
• 2 shots in the upper arm. There should be 28 days between the initial and second shot. 
• According to the clinical trials, “the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine efficacy after 2 doses was 94.1%…in preventing symptomatic, laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 among persons without evidence of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, which was the primary study endpoint.”
• As with the Pfizer vaccine, mild to moderate symptoms following vaccination can include: pain, swelling, and redness at the injection site, and chills, tiredness, and headaches. 

Who can (and should) get the vaccine?

• Currently, eligibility to receive the vaccine differentiates between states. For example, Illinois is making the vaccine available to certain groups in different phases. Travel nurses would be in Illinois’ first phase, because it includes healthcare personnel (hospital settings and non-hospital healthcare), long-term care facility staff and all residents, and other identified congregate care staff and residents. The second phase includes people 65 years and older, frontline essential workers, and inmates. Then the rest of the phases move accordingly to who is deemed at a higher risk of contracting and suffering from COVID. Often, you register ahead for the vaccine, but this also varies by location. Webmd has a good, collective list of links to states’ different rollouts. 
• Overall, the COVID vaccine rollout across the United States will likely change when Joe Biden takes office. NPR reports that Biden has a five-part plan to speed up national vaccinations: “To bring the virus under control, it proposes hundreds of billions of spending for a national vaccination program and public health measures such as testing and contact tracing; new jobs for public health workers; and expanded U.S. manufacturing for protective gear.” The full five-part plan can be found here. 

Why should a travel nurse especially get the COVID vaccine?

• First and foremost, getting vaccinated for COVID will help keep you healthy, and greatly lower the risk of serious complications of COVID. Travel nurses typically have a higher COVID exposure than non-healthcare workers. Getting the COVID vaccine will not only give you peace of mind but will also allow you to continue to work and help those in need. 
• The CDC points out that “Healthcare personnel who get COVID-19 can also spread the virus to those they are caring for—including hospitalized patients and residents of long-term care facilities. Many of these individuals may have underlying health conditions that put them at risk for severe COVID-19 illness.” Getting vaccinated not only protects yourself, but it helps protect the people you’re working with. 

As always, please refer to the CDC for the most updated information regarding COVID and the COVID-19 vaccine.

Everything You Need to Know About Telemetry Nurses

In every hospital unit, you’re bound to find specialized nurses that devote their training, skills, and time to provide the utmost level of medical care. Monitoring patients remotely after surgeries and other cardiac treatments are at the heart of telemetry nurses’ responsibilities – no pun intended. Whether you’re just starting your journey as a nurse or you’re looking to find a specialization, this is everything you need to know about telemetry nurses. 

What is a Telemetry Nurse?

A telemetry nurse works with patients struggling with heart disease, heart failure, and other cardiac conditions. To understand a telemetry nurse, you have to understand the term telemetry, which comes from the words tele meaning “remote” and metron meaning “measure.” 

Thus, a telemetry nurse monitors patients using remote electronic signals and specialized equipment. They monitor patients’ progress, provide medical care, and provide specific cardiac interventions in an emergency. 

National average salary: $107,536 per year

Job outlook: 7% increase

Where Do Telemetry Nurses Work?

As their name states, telemetry nurses work in the telemetry unit of a hospital. These units provide care for patients leaving the intensive care unit (UCI) that still require consistent monitoring. In the telemetry unit, patients are more stable but even need close monitoring should their situation change. 

Sometimes, telemetry nurses also find work in outpatient surgery centers and long-term care facilities. Other medicine areas may also employ a telemetry unit, so nurses may find themselves working with sleep clinics or neurological units. 

What Kind of Patients Are On A Telemetry Unit?

The telemetry unit receives a wide range of patients. Most patients need telemetry monitoring, particularly those with a history of high blood pressure, stroke, or a heart attack. Patients in this unit have a high turnout rate because most patients are already stepping down from a more intense level of care. 

What Does a Telemetry Nurse Do?

In short, telemetry nurses provide care for patients with cardiovascular issues and related consequences. They perform frequent patient assessments to watch for any changes. This includes measuring blood pressure, levels of consciousness, and breathing patterns. 

Telemetry nurses also operate heart monitoring equipment, perform diagnostic tests, and follow protocols to treat chest pain. Most of the time, nurses also assist with procedures like cardioversions and other procedures performed in the telemetry unit. However, their biggest responsibility is recognizing and responding to cardiac emergencies quickly. 

The telemetry nurse has a mixture of responsibilities that include registered nurse duties and technical skills to monitor patients’ health. 

Most responsibilities include:

• Caring for cardiac patients
• Using electronic equipment like an echocardiogram (EKG) and breathing machines to monitor patients
• Looking for cardiac baseline changes, arrhythmias, and abnormalities
• Responding to irregularities
• Performing stress tests
• Administering IVs and medications
• Monitoring telemetry units of hospitals
• Assisting cardiologists throughout cardiac procedures
• Using diagnostic tests to evaluate patients’ cardiac health

How Do You Become a Telemetry Nurse?

As a baseline, telemetry nurses are registered nurses (RNs). To become an RN, you need to earn either a Professional Nursing Associate’s Degree or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree. You must then pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and meet your state’s requirements for RN licensure. 

After obtaining your RN licensure, you can start transitioning into telemetry. Consider speaking with a supervisor about your interest in telemetry and ask how you can train in this specialty. Unlike other specialties, there’s no central organization that focuses on telemetry certification. The two most common credentialing programs include the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). 

Other certifications:

• The Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification obtained through the American Heart Association
• The Processive Care Certified (PCCN) certification given by the Association of Critical-Care Nurses

What Skills Do You Need to Be a Telemetry Nurse?

Telemetry nursing is a highly technical environment that requires a more specialized skill set. This career path involves acute care for patients experiencing cardiac problems. The dual nature of telemetry nursing that combines technical and practical skills separates them from other specializations. 

Most common skills for telemetry nurses include:

• Understanding of cardiac rhythm monitoring techniques, interpretation, and treatment
• Knowledge of basic and advanced life support procedures
• Knowledge of drug dosage and continuous monitoring
• Knowledge of standard interventions to stabilize patients should an emergency arise
• Understanding of monitoring machinery

Starting Your Telemetry Nursing Career

If the above responsibilities sound like the type of work that interests you, there’s a straightforward path towards becoming a telemetry nurse. With a specialty like this, you could become a coveted travel nurse. At Stability Healthcare, we place nurses in hospitals across the United States in specialties like telemetry. Browse open jobs today! 

Tips For Travel Nurses Working Long Hours

Travel nurses often work long hours in unfamiliar regions and often have little downtime between shifts. This can not only cause significant stress but also, can contribute to long-term burnout for nurses that don’t find work-life balance. Here are some tips for travel nurses working long hours.

Prioritize Self-Care Outside of Work

Travel nursing is demanding, which makes self-care that much more important. Outside of working hours, it is important to eat well, exercise, and engage in personal pastimes that bring you joy. Anything that you can do to relax and have fun can ease the stress of working long hours. Cultivate hobbies outside of the workplace and spend time exploring your new surroundings. This is one of the benefits of travel nursing.

Take Breaks When Possible

You might be tempted to forgo breaks when you’re trying to prove yourself in a new healthcare environment or are still trying to master a new system. When working long hours, however, breaks are important to ensuring quality care. Breaks afford options to hydrate, get in a quick bite, and rest your feet. Working long hours can contribute to extreme physical and mental fatigue, so if you have a chance for a break, take it. Check out our article on knowing when to take a mental health day to take care of yourself.

Get Extra Sleep

Travel nurse jobs are draining in part because of the long hours and in part because of the unfamiliar surroundings and distance from family and friends. When you are working long hours, the fatigue can make it harder to do your job more effectively. Get extra sleep when you can. Take naps before your shift if you can and try to stick to a regular sleep schedule on the days you don’t work. This can be tricky when you are working as a travel nurse and sleeping in unfamiliar surroundings, so maintain a healthy sleep environment as well.

Get Organized On Your Days Off

One of the ways that you can ease the strain of working long hours as a travel nurse is by staying organized. Wash and iron your scrubs on your days off so that you don’t have to try to manage this task while working long hours. Plan meals in advance if possible, so that you can also grocery shop and perhaps cook in advance between nursing shifts. The more organized you get between shifts, the easier it will be while you are in the midst of it.

Work With a Company That Cares About Your Placement

Work with a travel nursing agency that focuses on helping you to find an ideal match for your next placement. One of the best ways to avoid burnout when working long hours as a travel nurse is to receive a placement match that aligns with your ability to find balance between work and your personal life. Stability Healthcare provides a support team to make sure you’re being taken care of, find your next placement today!

Tips for Making Your Temporary Housing Feel More Like Home

As a travel nurse, you’re used to being on the road. While everyone goes about it a little differently when it comes to moving and packing, there is one thing that most travel nurses have in common: you have to pack light. You may have seen our tips for finding housing or how to pack, but with the cold months approaching we want to talk about feeling cozy and comfortable in your temporary housing.

Making your temporary housing feel cozy is so important, especially in the midst of a pandemic when we’re spending a lot of time at home. Home should be a place where you feel most comfortable. With these simple tips, you’ll be snuggling up in a homey environment in no time.

Plants

Who can deny that a plant suddenly transforms a space. They naturally filter air pollutants, they’re calming, stress-relieving, and overall provide a wonderful mood boost. Plants can absorb harmful gases through the pores in their leaves, filtering the air in your room. Keep an eye on our blog later this month for a guide to which plants are the best, but for now to keep it simple here are some of the easiest plants to keep alive while traveling from place to place: succulents, snake plant, and aloe vera.

Blankets 

As children, everyone had their favorite blanky. It brought comfort, safety, and familiarity. It doesn’t hurt adults to have a favorite blanket that you keep with you to snuggle up with. A nice blanket, whether it be a fun fleece print that you love, something your grandma handknitted for you, or just something so soft you can’t resist, is a guaranteed way to cozy up a space and make it feel more like home.

Candles 

Did you know candles can increase focus, improve your mood, and even help you remember positive memoreis? Finding a scent that is familiar and reminds you of home is the perfect way to transform any sort of temporary housing you may be staying in into your home. Plus, there’s no better way to set the mood for an evening of relaxation after a long shift.

Photos

We can’t forget photos! Nothing beats a photo of a pleasant memory to boost your mood. Print up a handful of your most favorite moments that have been captured and bring them with you on all of your placements. You can hang them on a wall, spread them out on a dresser, or even just have them sitting in a stack on your bed side table. These physical momentos will bring you joy when you need it most. 

Art 

While some people may find it a bit extreme to travel with art, it can actually be the key to transforming a space. Find one or two pieces of art that you love – a print by your favorite illustrator, an old movie poster you found at a flea market, something that used to hang in your childhood home. When you go from place to place, find a new spot for your art and it will feel right at home and provide a sense of consistency and familiarity.

Ready to embark on your next adventure? Vist Stability Healthcare to book a travel nursing placement today!

5 Morning Workouts Under 20 Minutes

Working at a hospital can really take a toll on a nurse’s health with long hours, lots of time on your feet, lots of high-stress moments, and no consistent routine. It’s important to get in a little extra movement to keep you in tip-top shape so you’re feeling good.

Starting the day with a workout isn’t for everyone, but it is a fantastic way to get the day started. The common misconception is that you have to wake up at the crack of dawn and lose needed sleep to squeeze in a morning workout, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Set your alarm clock a few minutes earlier than usual, and get in one of these convenient morning workouts – all under 20 minutes and all can be done out of the comfort of your own home.

Maddie Lymburner of MadFit has a goal is to help inspire everyone at all fitness levels to get up, get moving, and reach their goals. This 15 minute morning workout is the perfect combination of stretching and cardio to get you moving.

If you’re in the mood for something more lowkey, then this full-body stretch is perfect. Mady Morrison is a Berlin-based yoga instructor and her workouts aim to leave you feeling balanced in body and mind. This video takes you through a full-body stretch that is perfect to get you ready to head into a 12-hour shift.

If you’re in the mood to get moving, this 12-minute cardio routine is sure to get your heart racing. Dudzz Dimension is a former NCAA Basketball player and current Personal Trainer and his videos are for beginners and pros alike. The best part? This only takes 12 minutes!

If yoga is your thing, this one is for you. If you’ve been following our blog, you’ll know we mention yoga fairly often  This 20 minute full-body flow is the perfect way to center your mind and body before starting your day.

And last but not least, you don’t even have to change your alarm for this one. This 5 minute routine from the Allbengers is just enough to help you break a sweat and keep you feeling strong and ready to take on your shift.

Ready to test out your morning workout routine in a new city? Stability Healthcare offers travel nursing placements all across the country. Find your next placement today.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn for updates!

Cozy Up: 4 Fall Drink Recipes

The leaves are changing, we’re pulling out our sweaters, and most importantly, we’re officially making the leap from iced coffee to hot. We put together a list of some of our favorite fall drinks to get you feeling festive and give you a little boost to start your shift on a fall-filled note!

Dairy-Free Pumpkin Spice Latte

Ingredients

8 oz coffee (either warmed up cold brew or regular coffee)

1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk (I use Califia)

1 1/2 tablespoons pumpkin puree

2 tablespoons real maple syrup

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Instructions

Combine ingredients in high powered blender and blend on medium speed for a good minute or two. Taste and feel free to add additional maple syrup or other ingredients – everyone’s taste is different! Feel free to top with whipped coconut cream! Enjoy!

via The Wooden Skillet

Spiced Apple Tea Latte

Pumpkin Spice Matcha Latte

Ingredients 

2.5 cups hot water (approximately 175 degrees)

1/3 cup raw cashews

2-3 teaspoons coconut palm sugar

2 teaspoons matcha powder

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

Add all ingredients to a blender. Blend on high until creamy and smooth. For an extra creamy drink, soak your cashews in hot water for 15-30 minutes, then drain and rinse before adding to the blender. Serve the pumpkin spice matcha immediately.

via Kaitlyn Noble

Apple Caramel Latte Macchiato

Ingredients

2 cups apple cider

1 cup milk

6 teaspoon instant coffee granules

2 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 teaspoon salted caramel sauce

extra sweetener if desired

Instructions

Add milk, apple cider and instant coffee granules to a small saucepan. Give it a stir and let it heat up until just before it’s simmering. Add vanilla extract and, if using, additional sweetener of choice. Prepare the mugs by pouring salted caramel sauce into them and swirl to cover the bottom. Cool the mixture a bit (unless you have a heat-proof blender) and then blend. It will get bigger in volume as you blend, so you shouldn’t completely fill the blender. Work in batches if needed. Using a spoon, hold the foam back while you divide the milk mixture among the mugs. Then divide the foam between the mugs. Drizzle with more salted caramel sauce!

The Benefits of Being Bilingual in Nursing

It’s always an asset in any career field to be fluent in more than one language. But for nursing in particular, where so much of your job depends on being able to communicate and connect with people from all kinds of backgrounds, being bilingual is a major plus. Here are five reasons that speaking two or more languages at least semi-well could make your nursing career soar. 

Exciting foreign job prospects

If you speak another language, especially a romance language, you will be at the top of the list of applicants to go to all kinds of exciting places outside of the United States. COVID-19 may have put a bit of a complication on international placements, but a lot of countries are opening up their work visas again, and it might be nice to go somewhere with a lower case count than the U.S. 

You can be more accurate with keeping records, and give better care

Even if you’re not going abroad, hundreds of languages are spoken throughout this country, and there are many families who don’t speak English very well. Especially if you’re working with vulnerable populations, it can be a huge asset to be able to speak with someone in their native tongue. Doctors and nurses get things wrong all the time when there’s a language barrier. You could be the person that steps in and saves the day. 

Job flexibility

Right now especially, if you’re trying to go where you’re needed most, it can be essential to speak another language. There are all kinds of neighborhoods in cities around the country where English is not the dominant language spoken, and if you want to work in the clinics and hospitals in those neighborhoods, it’s important that you can communicate with patients. Whether it’s Little Havana in Miami or Little Saigon in Seattle or even the Bronx, speaking a second language will make you a treasured nurse to those patients in need of care. 

The ability to connect

There’s nothing harder than having a language barrier with someone who is fighting for their life and really needs the comfort that nurses so often provide. Sometimes it can leave nurses themselves feeling helpless and like they can’t perform their job as well as they’d like to. Taking the effort even just to speak basic sentences in other languages like Spanish or Mandarin could make a world of difference for your patients. Think about it — if you’re in pain or you’re about to go into a frightening surgery, or even if you’re just in a room full of strangers, it’s stressful enough as it is. Imagine having the added stress of having to translate all of your thoughts and questions into a language that isn’t your own. And imagine how relieved you would feel to know that someone who works there can speak to you in the language you’re most comfortable in. It really is a huge thing 

Want to find a new placement to practice your Spanish, French or Mandarin? Check out our list of placements here. 

Signs You Need a Mental Health Day

Burnout culture for nurses is REAL. You might think that you’re handling the constant overtime, 12-hour days filled with blood and guts and sickness, perfectly fine. But a mental health crisis can creep up on you, and you may not notice you’re in need of a break until you’ve reached a breaking point. It’s good to check in with yourself and recognize when you’re overworked. If you’re in a state of crisis, it’s not good for you or your patients!

Here are four signs you should take a mental health day ASAP. 

You feel tired all the time

If you can’t sleep, something’s wrong. And if you are sleeping, but you wake up still exhausted and can’t retain energy throughout the day, something is also very wrong. Sleep can be a vicious cycle for emerging anxiety and depression. If you’re anxious or depressed, it can usually result in a lack of sleep. And then in turn, a lack of sleep can result in more anxiety and depression. If you catch yourself needing more than five cups of coffee a day to keep you going throughout the day, but then find yourself tossing and turning when you try to go to bed, it’s time for a lifestyle change. And it’s hard to reset if you can’t get a break from work. Take a day to look up some natural remedies for retaining your energy throughout the day. 

Check out our blog post about some natural recipes that might give you a little energy throughout the day. Or our blog about some energizing morning yoga moves to try.

You’re easily set off

You might find yourself crying more than you usually do. Or getting really frustrated at small inconveniences to the point of rage. This usually means you’re exhausted. And you might be even more angry knowing you have a full work week ahead of you and you’ll have no chance to catch up on sleep. Your sensitivity can also manifest in how you treat other people. You might be getting short with people you would usually be more compassionate towards, or your coworkers might annoy you or anger you more than is reasonable. If you’re snapping at people and having mini meltdowns, it’s time to take a step back. 

You can’t focus

If you all of a sudden find yourself pivoting from one task to the next without finishing anything, unable to keep your attention on one thing for more than a few minutes, you probably don’t have ADHD. It’s more likely that you’re tired, and maybe a little anxious. This kind of absent-mindedness can lead to careless mistakes, which is not good for a nurse working in an emergency room or the ICU. If you find yourself more scatterbrained than usually and struggling to keep up, take a day to recharge.

“Concentrating on emotional well-being could allow for some mental rest and improve work-related morale,” NYU psychiatrist Marra Ackerman M.D. told Women’s Health. “Practicing mindfulness meditation [during your mental-health day] is one tactic you can use to improve your concentration.”

You can’t stop getting sick

We’ve all been there. That point in your life where you’re working so hard you’re practically always sick with something. Sniffling all the time or a cough that won’t go away (which is extra scary in COVID times) can indicate that your immune system isn’t working as well as it should be. And this is almost always directly linked to a lack of sleep and too much stress. One day of rest can actually make a world of difference for your physical and mental health. Give your mind and body 24 hours to recover and your immune system might bounce back faster than you think. 

Be sure to check Stability’s blog, and Instagram for more tips and tools for Suicide Prevention Month.

Elements to Include in Your Travel Nurse Resume

If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that writing a resume isn’t an easy task. It’s something that most nurses don’t even go over in nursing school in the first place. With travel nursing jobs on the rise during the COVID-19 pandemic, lots nurses are revisiting their resumes. A travel nurse resume has some key differences from a regular nursing resume, and yours may need some refining.

If you’re trying to get that travel nursing job you dream about, make sure to include these five things.

1. Certifications & Licenses

If there’s one thing you can’t forget on a travel nurse resume, it’s your certificates.

There are a number of certifications you need to become a travel nurse. These often include a Master of Science in Nursing and a related nursing specialty certificate. You should always mention these in as much detail as possible, as well as any other certificates you may have.

The more certificates you can show off, the more qualified you’ll appear.

2. Relevant Work History

You want to be as honest and open about your work history as possible on your resume.

Include full details on every nursing job you’ve ever had, and give your potential employer all the details they need to follow-up on your jobs. Details to write-in include:

• Job title and description of that title
• Name/location of the facility, type of facility, contact details
• Exact start and end dates
• Number of beds in facility, unit you worked in
• Specific duties completed

The more details you can give on your previous jobs the better. This shows you as a working professional. Only include relevant jobs — that grocery store clerk job you had as a teenager likely doesn’t have too much pull on a travel nursing job.

3. Professional Prose, Action Words

The best resumes use not just professional wording, but action words to hook the reader in.

Always triple-check your resume for spelling and grammar errors and awkward phrasing. You can even bring your resume to a professional to have it checked over if that’s not your strong suit. Once the language is perfect, it’s time to mix in some action words.

Action words like tested, administered, and coordinated may be suitable on a nursing resume. Fit them in where they make sense, and don’t overstuff your resume. These words will help keep your resume exciting when used tactfully.

4. Education

You worked hard for your education, so flaunt it on your resume.

Include the full details of where you went to school, for how long, a full address and telephone number. List the degree achieved, your GPA, and any references you may have made there. If you did any interning, or any specialty courses while in school, mention those too.

5. Custom Summary

You should always tailor your cover letter for each travel nursing job, but that goes for resumes, too.

Study the position before you apply and tailor your professional summary to it. Highlight how you can help in the specific position, and include buzzwords you think they’ll like. The more you study the assignment listing and company (check social media pages, company website, etc.) the better you can pull this off.

Submit the Best Travel Nurse Resume Every Time

Your travel nurse career starts with a standout travel nurse resume. Follow the five tips above and wow the travel nursing agency every time!

If you need a good travel nursing agency to find your next assignment, click here to see what Stability can do for you.