Each year for more than a decade, employees at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point in Hudson, Fla. have conducted a "Family Christmas Baskets" event.
Local schools provide the hospital with the names of families who are not fortunate enough to celebrate the Christmas holiday due to financial hardship. This year, employees at Bayonet Point adopted 78 families and provided them with gifts including gift certificates to purchase a Christmas meal for each household.
CEO Steve Rector said, "Our entire cafeteria is filled with the humbling charitable giving that has resulted from the volunteer efforts of our employees. We estimate that our staff has donated more than $20,000 to this event. It is incredible and we are blessed! Also, this year the medical staff allocated an additional $3,000 to help more families so we were able to add another 'basket day' providing Christmas for an additional 10 families. I can't say enough about our team and their incredible giving spirit. Happy Holidays!"
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
INTERVIEWING SKILLS AND TIPS
In considering an interview, the most important step is to be prepared. Do some research, finding out as much about the position and facility as possible. Job descriptions, advertisements, Internet sites can provide valuable information about a facility and position, as can employees, or even walking through the facility itself.
Consider what will be the most important attributes for the position. For example a staff RN needs to demonstrate skills such as decision making, good communication, stress tolerance, teamwork, and customer service to name a few. Write down as many skills as you think are important. Now, for the really hard part, with each individual skill attempt to think of at least two examples of how you demonstrated this attribute.
An interviewer does not want you to tell them that you are customer focused; they need to be shown evidence that you are. Describe the situation, what you did to overcome the situation and what the result was. Also include any recognition you may have received from your actions, i.e. letters from patients, etc.
With this list you will be much better prepared to answer any queries during your interview. Some interviewers will focus on the skills necessary for the position others will be more general and then you have to work in your homework into the conversation.
Always ask for good clear directions to your interview location and if necessary make a trial run so that you can arrive early. Bring an extra copy of your resume, in case the interviewers desk looks anything like mine. Make sure you have identification, your nursing license, and any other applicable credentials.
Dress appropriately, either in business attire or, if preferred, in the uniform of the position you are seeking. Be rested, arrive early, sit up straight, make good eye contact and appear relaxed but confident.
In considering an interview, the most important step is to be prepared. Do some research, finding out as much about the position and facility as possible. Job descriptions, advertisements, Internet sites can provide valuable information about a facility and position, as can employees, or even walking through the facility itself.
Consider what will be the most important attributes for the position. For example a staff RN needs to demonstrate skills such as decision making, good communication, stress tolerance, teamwork, and customer service to name a few. Write down as many skills as you think are important. Now, for the really hard part, with each individual skill attempt to think of at least two examples of how you demonstrated this attribute.
An interviewer does not want you to tell them that you are customer focused; they need to be shown evidence that you are. Describe the situation, what you did to overcome the situation and what the result was. Also include any recognition you may have received from your actions, i.e. letters from patients, etc.
With this list you will be much better prepared to answer any queries during your interview. Some interviewers will focus on the skills necessary for the position others will be more general and then you have to work in your homework into the conversation.
Always ask for good clear directions to your interview location and if necessary make a trial run so that you can arrive early. Bring an extra copy of your resume, in case the interviewers desk looks anything like mine. Make sure you have identification, your nursing license, and any other applicable credentials.
Dress appropriately, either in business attire or, if preferred, in the uniform of the position you are seeking. Be rested, arrive early, sit up straight, make good eye contact and appear relaxed but confident.
SPECIALTY CHANGE
Are you considering a specialty change? Want to become a Telemetry Nurse, take a
Critical Care Program or even expand your horizons to the Emergency Department?
If you find your current position challenging or difficult, you may not be ready for
Additional training. If your reason for a change is because you believe the new area will
be less work, i.e. smaller patient loads, do not bank on it. Smaller patient loads will often
mean more intensive work with fewer patients. But if you have excelled in your current
field of nursing you may be up for the challenge.
Research the position. Speak to colleagues who work in your desired areas to give you a
feel for the environment and workload. Check for position availability from your Nurse
Recruiter. Talk to the Education department to find out course structure, outlines and
content. Will you be given a preceptorship, and if so how long. Are you assigned to a
Preceptor and is that person trained on how to instruct.
Often being bounced from Nurse to Nurse will not optimize the learning experience.
Clinical Coordinators and your Nurse Director may be your best source of guidance.
Our program has been in existence for a good number of years. We have developed a
Stepping Stone approach where Telemetry Nursing follows a basic EKG course,
then the Critical Care content, and finally our Emergency Nursing segment. Each step is
the prerequisite for the
next i.e. the Medical Surgical RN will be trained in telemetry nursing prior to taking the
ICU course. We have found this standardized approach has made us very successful in
training candidates. Course content is based on AACN guidelines.
Preceptorships are structured and scheduled. Your training and progress will be
evaluated frequently. You, your preceptor and your Nurse Director will be involved with
the evaluation process so that your learning experience can be tailored to fit your specific
needs.
Change is always a little frightening and very exciting. Researching your options,
familiarizing yourself with the course content and structure and ensuring you will have
support throughout the program will help quell your fears.
Are you considering a specialty change? Want to become a Telemetry Nurse, take a
Critical Care Program or even expand your horizons to the Emergency Department?
If you find your current position challenging or difficult, you may not be ready for
Additional training. If your reason for a change is because you believe the new area will
be less work, i.e. smaller patient loads, do not bank on it. Smaller patient loads will often
mean more intensive work with fewer patients. But if you have excelled in your current
field of nursing you may be up for the challenge.
Research the position. Speak to colleagues who work in your desired areas to give you a
feel for the environment and workload. Check for position availability from your Nurse
Recruiter. Talk to the Education department to find out course structure, outlines and
content. Will you be given a preceptorship, and if so how long. Are you assigned to a
Preceptor and is that person trained on how to instruct.
Often being bounced from Nurse to Nurse will not optimize the learning experience.
Clinical Coordinators and your Nurse Director may be your best source of guidance.
Our program has been in existence for a good number of years. We have developed a
Stepping Stone approach where Telemetry Nursing follows a basic EKG course,
then the Critical Care content, and finally our Emergency Nursing segment. Each step is
the prerequisite for the
next i.e. the Medical Surgical RN will be trained in telemetry nursing prior to taking the
ICU course. We have found this standardized approach has made us very successful in
training candidates. Course content is based on AACN guidelines.
Preceptorships are structured and scheduled. Your training and progress will be
evaluated frequently. You, your preceptor and your Nurse Director will be involved with
the evaluation process so that your learning experience can be tailored to fit your specific
needs.
Change is always a little frightening and very exciting. Researching your options,
familiarizing yourself with the course content and structure and ensuring you will have
support throughout the program will help quell your fears.
Finding the Right Place to Work for you
Unhappy at your current facility? Planning to reenter the Hospital workforce? New Graduate? Looking for Advancement?
Just how will you choose your new work place.
Research is your first step. Find out what you can, often easily on the Internet. Hospital size, services offered, parent company, career listings etc. are often readily available facts from the comfort of your home. Are you looking for the familiarity of a smaller facility or the vast opportunities offered by the larger complexes? What field of Nursing do you wish to work and is it offered by that facility. What do the career listings or job boards tell you? Does the number of vacancies reflect the opening of new services or a high turnover rate?
If possible speak with as many people as you can about the facility. Patients or employees may be a great source for information but sometimes the final judgment needs to be yours.
Visit the facility. Check out driving times, potentially a huge deciding factor. A 12 hour shift, coupled with an hour commute, will make your day 14 hours long, and perhaps not the safest way to drive home. How are you greeted at the facility? If the staff are friendly smiling and approachable you may have found one great hospital. Is the facility clean, how is parking? Any evidence of service excellence programs in place? If I will be moving is this community right for me. And for some of us just how far is the beach?
Should you decide to apply to a facility, how are you treated as a candidate? Is your application processed efficiently and professionally? Benefits, wages, reward programs etc all come into the equation. What does a huge sign on bonus tell you about a hospital.
We have three great facilities in the Pasco Hernando market. Oak Hill in Spring Hill, Regional Medical Center at Bayonet Point, and Community in New Port Richey. With the three we offer many specialties and options in three growing communities. World Class Open heart, Psychiatry, LDRP OB are just some of our choices. Onsite RN to BSN programs and Internship programs designed around the needs of Graduate Nurses and RNs needing career changes are just some of your options. All in communities offering great lifestyles and short commutes.Choosing the facility that is right for you will take both time and effort but will hopefully result in a positive career move for you
Unhappy at your current facility? Planning to reenter the Hospital workforce? New Graduate? Looking for Advancement?
Just how will you choose your new work place.
Research is your first step. Find out what you can, often easily on the Internet. Hospital size, services offered, parent company, career listings etc. are often readily available facts from the comfort of your home. Are you looking for the familiarity of a smaller facility or the vast opportunities offered by the larger complexes? What field of Nursing do you wish to work and is it offered by that facility. What do the career listings or job boards tell you? Does the number of vacancies reflect the opening of new services or a high turnover rate?
If possible speak with as many people as you can about the facility. Patients or employees may be a great source for information but sometimes the final judgment needs to be yours.
Visit the facility. Check out driving times, potentially a huge deciding factor. A 12 hour shift, coupled with an hour commute, will make your day 14 hours long, and perhaps not the safest way to drive home. How are you greeted at the facility? If the staff are friendly smiling and approachable you may have found one great hospital. Is the facility clean, how is parking? Any evidence of service excellence programs in place? If I will be moving is this community right for me. And for some of us just how far is the beach?
Should you decide to apply to a facility, how are you treated as a candidate? Is your application processed efficiently and professionally? Benefits, wages, reward programs etc all come into the equation. What does a huge sign on bonus tell you about a hospital.
We have three great facilities in the Pasco Hernando market. Oak Hill in Spring Hill, Regional Medical Center at Bayonet Point, and Community in New Port Richey. With the three we offer many specialties and options in three growing communities. World Class Open heart, Psychiatry, LDRP OB are just some of our choices. Onsite RN to BSN programs and Internship programs designed around the needs of Graduate Nurses and RNs needing career changes are just some of your options. All in communities offering great lifestyles and short commutes.Choosing the facility that is right for you will take both time and effort but will hopefully result in a positive career move for you
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