On contract, Impromtu Gypsy Event with Tina Hall
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Travel Nurse Happenings: December 7, 2013
This entry is part 22 of 23 in the series Weekend Report Here is your weekend report. This is a round-up and overview of this weeks Travel Nurse happenings with all of the weekly posts in one place for easy navigation. Don’t forget, if you have questions or comments or material that you would like to see covered on Gypsy Nurse, let me know in the comments below. I hope you have enjoyed the content this week. Don’t forget to follow me via Facebook or Twitter (or both) to get the most recent content as it’s posted. Have a great weekend and I’ll be back on Monday. Travel Nurse Inspiration: Brattleboro VT Weekly Nursing Vital Signs: December 2, 2013 Ask A Travel Nurse: RV Living RoundTable (TravCon14) What travel nursing means to me Specialty Spotlight: High Risk OB RN Check out the Staffing Agency Submissions in the Directory Have you worked for any of the companies listed? If so, please fill out a review! If you would like to see your company listed in the directory, send them the submission link. I hope you’ve enjoyed this weeks edition of Travel Nursing Happenings. Stay tuned next week for additional great content! Have a great weekend.
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Inspiring Letter to a Nursing Student
Want to hear a heartwarming story? I thought you might.
This post on The Meta Picture shared some photos that tell the story of an amazingly sweet exchange between a nurse and a nursing student.
The poster wrote, “My girlfriend is studying for her nursing license exam and found this envelope tucked in a book at B&N.” What followed were images of an envelope and letter that began “Words From a Nurse” and continued with the author guessing that if the reader was thumbing through an NCLEX book she was probably closing in on the end of nursing school. Advice and kind encouragement followed. Here are some highlights from the letter:
“I want to start by saying that you should be so proud of yourself! You’ve worked so hard to get here, and I promise you, it’s so worth it. I’ve been a nurse for 12 years and can’t imagine doing anything else.”
“I want to let you know that the first year or two out of school is the hardest. But don’t give up & remember why you decided to become a nurse in the first place.”
“Be patient, and don’t beat yourself up. Don’t take things personally and when you’ve had a difficult situation, try to leave work at work.”
“Two more very important things to remember are 1, be proud to be a nurse, and 2, believe in yourself. Also trust your instincts—they’re usually right!”
And then, just when you thought it couldn’t get any sweeter, you see that there is a $10 Starbucks gift card enclosed and the letter reads, “So grab some coffee & study for NCLEX. I’m certain you’ll do fine. But if you don’t pass, it’s not the end of the world although it might feel like it. You simply take it again, and that’s OK.”
In closing the letter reads: “You’re going to be a great nurse! Remember, be proud & believe in yourself! You can do it! XOXOXO, Another Nurse.”
What an awesome pep talk! Kudos, anonymous kindness ninja nurse. Thank you so much for spreading joy in the world and helping inspire another future nurse!
Have you ever experienced such an awesome act of random kindness? Tell us all about it in the comments.
Here are the images of the letter from the original post; click to enlarge:
Judge’s Medicare Advantage Order Could Have National Impact
UnitedHealthcare will appeal a federal judge’s order blocking the insurer from dropping Connecticut providers, while doctors’ groups in Ohio and New York look at bringing similar lawsuits.
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$55.5 Million to Strengthen Health Care Workforce
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced $55.5 million in funding awarded in FY 2013 to strengthen training for health professionals and increase the size of the nation’s health care workforce.
“These grants and the many training programs they support have a real impact by helping to create innovative care delivery models and improving access to high-quality care,” Secretary Sebelius said.
More than 270 grants will address health workforce needs in nursing, public health, behavioral health, health workforce development, and dentistry. The grants are managed by HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
A majority of the funding, $45.4 million, will support nursing workforce development in the following areas:
- Increasing the number of nurse faculty ($22.1 million) — provides low-interest loans to nurses to train to become faculty and loan cancellation for service as faculty.
- Improving nursing diversity ($5.2 million) — expands educational opportunities for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including racial and ethnic minorities who are underrepresented among registered nurses.
- Increasing nurse anesthetist traineeships ($2.2 million) — supports nurse anesthetist programs to provide traineeships to licensed registered nurses enrolled as full-time students in a master’s or doctoral nurse anesthesia program.
- Promoting interprofessional collaborative practice ($6.7 million) — brings together interprofessional teams of nurses and other health professionals to develop and implement innovative practice models for providing care.
- Supporting advanced nursing education ($9.2 million) — funds advanced nursing programs that support registered nurses in becoming nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and other practice nurses.
Funding also supports training of doctoral-level psychologists to address the behavioral health needs of vulnerable and underserved populations ($2.4 million); accredited residency programs in preventive medicine and public health ($3 million); and four health workforce research centers ($1.4 million) to improve understanding of both local and national health workforce needs.
An additional $3.1 million will help state designated dental health professional shortage areas develop and implement innovative programs to address dental workforce needs. States must match at least 40 percent of the grant funding or provide equivalent support.
“These grants cover a wide spectrum of health workforce needs,” said HRSA Administrator Mary K. Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N. “From diversity to dentistry – all are critical to achieving a skilled workforce now and in the future.”
For a list of grant awards, go to www.hrsa.gov/about/news/2013tables/healthprofessions. More information on HRSA’s activities to strengthen the nation’s health professions workforce is available at HRSA Health Professions Programs.
ANA 2014 Elections
The ANA Nominations and Elections Committee is seeking nominees for a slate of candidates to be presented to the ANA Membership Assembly at its June 13-14, 2014 meeting at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC. The following positions will be elected in 2014:
ANA Board of Directors
- Officers
- President (2.5 year term: June 14, 2014 – December 31, 2016)
- Vice President (1.5 year term: June 14, 2014 – December 31, 2015)
- Secretary (2.5 year term: June 14, 2014 – December 31, 2016)
- Treasurer (1.5 year term: June 14, 2014 – December 31, 2015)
- Director-at-Large Position
- One (1) Director-at-Large, Recent Graduate (1.5 year term: June 14, 2014 – December 31, 2015)
Nominations and Elections Committee
- Three (3) member positions (2.5 year term: June 14, 2014 – December 31, 2016)
ANA places high priority on diversity and seeks to encourage/foster increased involvement of minorities and staff nurses at the national level.
Nominations for the initial slate must be submitted to leader@ana.org by 5:00pm Eastern Time on Friday, February 7, 2014. If insufficient nominations are received, a second Call for Nominations will be conducted. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor of the Membership Assembly.
Preparation of Nomination Materials
- READ the roles and responsibilities for your position of choice to ensure that they match your interests, experience, and qualifications.
- ENGAGE in a voluntary self-reflection of your leadership and governance competencies if you are interested in seeking election to the ANA Board of Directors to a) determine the degree to which you possess the competencies that have been deemed important to serve successfully and effectively and b) identify competency areas that you may wish to develop more fully before seeking election to the ANA Board of Directors.
- SELECT a Campaign Manager and an Election Observer and provide their contact information where requested in the nomination packet.
- COMPLETE AND SIGN required nomination materials in the nomination packet. Electronic signatures will be accepted or the nominee may fax the signature page to 301-628-5343; attention Christopher Etienne.
Nominees for the ANA Board of Directors must also submit the following additional documents, which are included in the nomination packet.
- Conflict of Interest Statement
- Financial Interest Disclosure Form
- Committee Preference
- SUBMIT the completed nomination packet to leader@ana.org by 5:00pm Eastern Time on Friday, February 7, 2014. Please note:
- Forms that are incomplete, handwritten, faxed, or submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
- All materials must be submitted in a single packet with the exception of the faxed signature page.
- Biographical information will be posted in the campaign area for qualified candidates who are nominated from the floor of Membership Assembly during the nomination period.
- REVIEW the ANA Election Manual.
MAKE NOTE of the 2014 meeting dates should you be elected to serve on ANA’s Board of Directors. All meetings will be held at the ANA Headquarters, unless otherwise noted.
June 25 BOD Conference Call – alternate/emergency (2:00pm – 5:00pm)
July 14 – 18 New ANA President Orientation (tentative dates)
July 23 – 24 BOD Face-to-Face Orientation – Part One (full day)
July 25 BOD Face-to-Face Meeting (9:00am – 1:00pm)
August 4 – 6 New ANA President Orientation (if needed)
Sept 10 BOD Orientation Conference Call – Part Two (noon – 2:00pm)
Sept 10 BOD Executive Committee Conference Call (2:15pm – 5:00pm)
Sept 24 BOD Conference Call – alternate/emergency (2:00pm – 5:00pm)
Oct 22 BOD Conference Call – alternate/emergency (2:00pm – 5:00pm)
November 11 BOD Face-to-Face Committee Meetings (11:00am – 5:00pm)
November 12 BOD Face-to-Face Meeting (9:00am – noon)
November 12 BOD Orientation Face-to-Face – Part Three (1:15pm – 3:00pm)
November 12 BOD Face-to-Face Meeting (3:15pm – 5:30pm)
December 10 BOD Conference Call – Budget focused (2:00pm – 5:00pm)
If you have any questions regarding the elections, please send an email to leader@ana.org.
Thank you.
Maureen Thompson, MA CAE
Director, Leadership Services
American Nurses Association
301-628-5041
Press Release: Budget surplus shows Minnesota in the right hands
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Budget surplus shows Minnesota in the right hands
Minnesota nurses say a strong state can take better care of its citizens
(St Paul) – The latest revenue forecast shows Governor Mark Dayton and the legislature have built a strong foundation for Minnesota moving forward. Minnesota’s Management and Budget office shows $1 billion surplus, which will be used to repay Minnesota’s schools after years of borrowing.”It’s great news and proof we put the state in the right hands,” said Linda Hamilton, RN, BSN, President of the Minnesota Nurses Association. “Governor Dayton and state legislators put the state back into balance.”
Lawmakers put the money where it would work for Minnesotans by investing in kids, seniors, and health care and not back into the pockets of corporations. Nurses have long warned that Minnesota can’t keep borrowing its way to mediocrity while the elite few profit from the many.
“The Governor inherited $6 billion dollars in debt, and a school system that had to loan us almost a billion of that. Hard decisions had to be made, and we can see the state of Minnesota is back in balance,” Hamilton said.
Minnesota needs to continue on the path the Governor and legislators set that ensures all citizens are paying their fair share for the services that benefit all of us. Dayton and lawmakers in Saint Paul need to continue to invest in the future of Minnesota, not repeat the mistakes of past policies that put its citizens deep in debt and in cuts to local services.
“The state’s economy is healthy again,” Hamilton said, “and we need to make sure Minnesota citizens stay healthy as well.”
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Nurses Agree on New Contract with Virginia hospital
Nurses working at Essentia Health – Virginia Medical Center agreed to a new three year contract on Tuesday after difficult negotiations resulted in nurses working for more than three months without a contract. Nurses voted overwhelmingly to pre-authorize a strike at the facility prior to the agreement to send the message that they expect Essentia to support nurses and patients.
“We are grateful to nurses for sticking together during a very difficult process,” said Glenn Anderson, RN and Co-Chair of the bargaining unit, “and their support showed Essentia that we expect the employer to honor their promise of creating a a working environment that would attract and retain nurses and protect the quality care patients deserve.”
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Associate Degree Nursing Organization Joins ANA as Affiliate
Specialty Spotlight: High Risk OB RN
This entry is part 16 of 15 in the series Specialty NursesThe Gypsy Nurse could not be successful without the support and contributions of it’s readers. Today’s Specialty Spotlight is from reader and Specialty Nurse Patricia C Pitts, RNC -OB / CNM who works as a High Risk OB RN. Name: Patricia C Pitts, RNC -OB / CNM Job Title: High Risk OB RN List your education/certifications: Where do you work: Currently assigned 30 miles out to sea on Nantucket Island. MA. Nantucket Cottage Hospital. Considered a Critical Access facility it is part of the Partners Hospital Network with affiliations to Mass General & Brigham & Womem’s Hospital . A very High tech 17 bed facility, departments include but not limited to OB, ED, MS/Tele & Dialysis . Because of its location & distance from the mainland, this is not the place for the new grad or the inexperienced ! How long have you worked this Specialty? Expert Greater than 5 years How/Why did you get involved? Was there someone/something that inspired you to choose this specialty? That came out of my love of Midwifery & the great experiences I had . I love to teach & precept new nurses to the field. What do you do in a typical day? Since I have been working nights for about 20 yrs, my typical day consists of what the rest of the world do at night. …..Sleep ! That being said, my night at work consists of taking care of pregnant […]
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