De Vore Recruiting Blog

The nursing profession is experiencing an identity crisis of sorts. Pop culture has twisted the narrative regarding this noble trade, which begs the question, can any layperson correctly identify what it is nurses actually do? Hint: it’s a far cry from kindling steamy romances in the ICU or making brash decisions in the heat of the moment set to a swelling dramatic score.

Given how far pop culture has distorted the reality of nursing, perhaps the last place you’d expect to find an accurate depiction of the profession is on behalf of an animated movie starring a cartoon robot. Disney’s Big Hero 6 is arguably the most competent portrayal of nurses to shore up outside the crowded sea of mainstream entertainment in years.

Meet Baymax: a lovably loyal, affable, and dutiful robot/caregiver. Outside of the obvious dissimilarities, Baymax actually has quite a bit in common with other working nurses today; he evaluates health conditions of his patient, provides personalized recommendations relating to his health and even finds time to educate him on his neurochemical processes. Not bad for an hour and forty-eight minutes of work, wouldn’t you say?

Contrast this with depictions of nurses elsewhere like Showtime’sNurse Jackie and you’ll quickly find Hollywood is all about the drama. Although the show’s central figure, Jackie Peyton, can be counted as highly skilled and sympathetic — qualities frequently found within the nursing sector — she also happens to be a lying, corruptible, drug addict.

While it’s refreshing to see more accurate portrayals of nurses in mainstream media, but Hollywood certainly has a penchant for the sensational — occasionally at the expense of a time-honored trade. As one writer on behalf of NPR puts it, “You know your profession has an image problem when you point to a balloonish animated robot doll and say ‘Yes, that’s good. That accurately reflects what I do on a daily basis.’”

De Vore Recruiting specializes in placing experienced RNs in open positions throughout the US. To see a list of available openings, click here. To speak with one of our recruiting specialists, call us at 877-411-4358.

De Vore Recruiting specializes in finding health care professionals to fill registered nurse and director-level positions in nursing homes and skilled/assisted living facilities around the country.

The responsibilities for a registered nurse in an assisted living facility (ALF) – a residential long-term care environment that includes 24-hour, health and personal care services for seniors – are specific.

The following highlights are provided by the American Assisted Living Nurses Association (AALNA). More about the standards for registered nurses in assisted living facilities can be found here.

The following are based on skill set, experience and knowledge. Registered nurses in assisted living facilities are responsible for:

• Assessing the resident’s physical status when she/he is admitted, as well as during severe changes in health and also annually;
• Establish a care plan using the information that was gathered on the resident during the assessment process;
• Share the care plan with the resident and members of the staff and oversee its implementation while noting anything that strays from the plan;
• Manage the resident’s medication, making sure to test a resident’s ability to manage their own medication administration and storage;
• Create and oversee programs (including immunization requirements and plans for combating infectious diseases like tuberculosis) that promote health and prevent diseases for residents;
• Create and oversee a philosophy of care that includes exercise plans at the assisted living facility;
• Create and oversee rules for resident capacity and end-of-life care preferences;
• Be accountable for care practices when it comes to himself/herself and the staff;
• Ensure care practices have each resident’s best interests in mind.

Assisted living facilities are unique care environments that work hard to avoid an institutional feel and look. They seek to aid seniors who are impaired either cognitively, medically or functional and require some assistance with day-to-day living activities.

De Vore currently is seeking a skilled candidate to fill a RN position in Oregon. Also, we’re looking for the right candidate for a RN nursing supervisor position in a skilled nursing facility in Pennsylvania. Click here to learn more.

Sometimes nurses are looking to share their services in areas where there may be a dearth of quality health care professionals, which may require them to make a multi-state move. Other times, jobs for experienced registered nurses or director-level positions aren’t readily available in a certain area.

Whatever the reason, nurses may be interested in finding career openings in new areas but don’t know where to start.

At De Vore Recruiting, we specialize in finding the right candidates to fill in-demand positions for experienced registered nurses and directors within skilled nursing facilities. Here are some tips for health care professionals looking to make a significant move for the right position.

· If you’re currently unemployed for whatever reason and looking for a job in another state, it always helps to start volunteering during your job search. Volunteer work keeps you relevant and provides a worthwhile bullet point on your resume. You can learn new skills or just merely keep your skills well-practiced. You will also stay abreast of the latest technology and techniques within your field. Employers will appreciate that you’re making an effort to work, rather than just waiting for the next paid position to come along. Check your local free clinics, blood banks or public health departments for open volunteer work.

· Typically beginning in spring, nursing career fairs are a great way to meet potential employers face-to-face in order to make a more lasting impression. Employers and nursing recruiting agencies will be together in one place, making it more convenient for you as a job seeker. Career fairs are also a great place to network.

· Pick up the phone. Call anyone – professional or personal – you know, as you never really know who knows who. Call people who aren’t even in the health care industry since they may know someone who may know someone, etc. Tell your contacts what you’re looking for in a new career move. Ask them to stay alert for any job leads or for opportunities to refer you to someone else. Networking and word-of-mouth referrals are the most effective ways to find and receive a job offer.

· If you’re not finding anything online, it’s probably time to contact a nursing staffing agency like De Vore Recruiting to help you find an appropriate position for your skill level. Some agencies specialize in hospital placement. De Vore is looking for nurses and director-level employees for skilled nursing facilities. Our experienced specialists will help find you the right fit.

Call De Vore Recruiting today at 877-411-4358, or visit our open jobs list on our website to see what’s currently available. You can also submit your resume online. We look forward to helping you find your future fulfilling career move.

Healthcare jobs continued to show solid growth in November, according to the recent federal data. The healthcare industry added nearly 29,000 jobs throughout the month. These jobs filled the following sectors: hospitals, nursing and residential providers and ambulatory care. The latter saw the most growth, according to the release. The new jobs added to the 14.9 million healthcare workers in the U.S.

And news continues to get better for the industry. The report notes that:

• November’s job growth was significant compared to the year’s monthly average of 23,500 jobs.
• Healthcare employers added approximately 261,000 jobs – a 1.8 percent increase – in the 12 months that ended in November.
• Hiring recovered (especially at hospitals) this year following last year’s slowdown.
• Hiring at nursing and residential care facilities did, however, remain relatively unchanged with 300 new jobs added to the total number of 3.4 million.
• Job growth totaled .8 percent during the year that ended in November for nursing homes and residential care employment. Payrolls increased by 24,500 jobs.
• Employment increased in November in home health care services (over 5,000), outpatient care centers (over 4,000), hospitals (over 4,000) and physicians’ offices (over 7,000).
• 321,000 jobs were added in the month of November across the economy.
• “Ambulatory care” (i.e. labs, outpatient centers, physicians’ offices and other sectors) added 24,300 jobs in November
• During the entire year that ended in November, ambulatory care added 208,200 jobs – a 3.2 percent increase from the previous year.

De Vore Recruiting specializes in filling nursing and director-level positions for skilled nursing facilities around the U.S. If you would like to submit your resume to us, visit our website here. For a listing of all of the available positions for which we are recruiting, click here. Call De Vore today at 877-411-4358 to speak with one of our specialists.

Nurses, the front line of patient care, were likely not surprised when Nina Pham became infected with Ebola while treating patient Thomas Eric Duncan in Dallas. They have been worried for a while about such diseases and proper safety precautions at their hospitals. However, worries were amplified thanks to Pham’s contraction of the disease, especially given the extreme precautions typically taken when dealing with deadly diseases that lack a cure.

Pham’s case is interesting, as she apparently followed her hospital’s procedures for dealing with infection control. She wore a gown, mask, gloves and face shield.

So what needs to happen at hospitals and health care facilities around the country to help assuage their nurses’ concerns and ensure that their procedures are foolproof when it comes to dealing with infectious diseases?

Patients requiring isolation require the utmost precaution. There should be:

• A room to gown and a room to de-gown after seeing a patient.
• A colleague watching the nurse suit up and down to ensure that it’s being done efficiently, especially since nurses don’t have the extra safety of a Hazmat suit when they visit patients.
• Extra measures taken to make sure that nurses working with Ebola patients or other infectious diseases aren’t fatigued. Lapses in judgment and care can happen especially if nurses are working a 12-hour or longer shift. Therefore, proper staffing must be in place to prevent overworked nurses from having to care for patients with deadly diseases.

The issue with nurses is that sometimes the patient’s needs outweigh thoughts of their safety and health. They are continuously looking for ways to care for and help someone feel better. Sometimes, this comes at the expense of the nurse, as in Pham’s case. Hospitals and health care facilities need to help their nurses and staff feel confident that all precautions are being taken.

De Vore Recruiting specializes in finding experienced RNs and director-level nurses to fill competitive positions around the country. To view current openings for which we’re looking to hire, click here, or call our offices at 877-411-4358.

Many individuals question job security and how roles are changing in particular fields. The healthcare industry is seeing great expansion, yet hospital jobs are becoming harder and harder to find. However, with the help of nursing recruitment agencies, nurses are now able to explore new jobs and revisit traditional roles.

The Importance of Education

Beginning a career as a nurse in a hospital is becoming increasingly difficult. Despite staff shortages, hospitals have stopped hiring new employees. Also, existing nurses are postponing retirement. As openings occur, facilities are searching for applicants with a high level of education. This is a direct result of the Affordable Care Act, legislation aimed at improving the quality of care patients receive at hospitals. Nurses with advanced degrees are entering specialties and leadership roles.

Shift in Job Placement

A lucky nursing graduate will receive an internship invitation into a hospital, but most graduates must seek other sources of employment. Although nursing home jobs were once populated by experienced professionals, they are the new starting point for many graduates. Since healthcare reform is trying to keep patients out of hospitals, there is a heightened need for community healthcare. Home healthcare is the one segment projected to grow the fastest over the next five years.

To train nurses, many home health agencies offer mentoring and orientation programs. In a similar fashion, ambulatory surgery centers are training new nursing graduates to perform tasks including wound care, behavioral health and chronic illness treatment. Nurses are also being taught to prep patients for small surgical procedures, administer sedation and perform other triage jobs.

Some graduates are receiving opportunities to work in general medical offices. Many medical groups are teaming with nursing schools to involve students with clinic rotations. Through this hands-on learning, students develop critical thinking skills and a positive bedside manner. If a candidate proves successful, it is not uncommon to be picked up on a permanent basis.

Besides new nurses, experienced nurses nearing retirement are seeking employment outside traditional hospital settings. Some are interested in nursing home jobs, and others choose hospice duties. These new roles are considered the “new natural progression” in the nursing industry.

While working with a healthcare recruiter, a nurse is likely to find satisfactory employment that fulfills individual career goals. It is a smart way to gain benefits and a flexible schedule. No matter where it leads, a person will be able to enjoy a rewarding nursing career throughout the field.