Guest Post: Top 10 Skills Employers Seek in New Nurses

Thanks to Katy for a great post!

One of the toughest challenges recent nursing school graduates often face is competing for jobs with the experienced labor market. The good news is that there are employers looking for not-so-seasoned nurses. In fact, we found 284,576* job postings over the past 12 months seeking registered nurses with two years or less experience.

One way you can be sure to set yourself apart from other green nurses is to come armed with inside information on what employers are looking for. If you know the keywords they are using in their job descriptions, you can get one step ahead of your competition by using those same words in your resume and job application.

Message for Graduating Nurses: Remember these words

Several years ago I was asked to give the graduating commencement speech for a local school of nursing in Pittsburgh. I can remember talking with many, many new nurses and parents after who were very inspired by my speech. Knowing that this is the time of year again for new graduates, I wanted to share that speech with you to hopefully inspire you too as you begin your journey into the wonderful world of nursing.

Nursing Practice Tip: Documentation “Never” Events!!

I think we’d all like our roles as nurses a whole lot better if we didn’t have to document. I hear nurses say all the time that they spend more time DOCUMENTING than taking care of patients. And sometimes, I agree.

But documentation is an important part of what we do. Why? Well, documentation helps providers identify problems and make appropriate treatment decisions; allows you to take credit for the work you do; ensures that you’re practicing according to standards of care; and helps your organization get the maximum reimbursement for your hard work!!

However, documentation can also be used against a nurse – especially when patients have bad outcomes.

New Nurse Tip: Your patient passes out. Now what?

Before I became a nurse, I worked as a Medical Assistant at a local women’s clinic in Pittsburgh, PA. I worked in the lab and drew blood on about 50-60 people a day. It was inevitable that out of the 50-60 people, at least one of them would start to drop their pressure and pass out.

When I became a nurse, the same sort of thing happened but sometimes it wasn’t because I was drawing their blood – sometimes it was because they had a massive GI bleed, were septic, or severely dehydrated.

What would be your initial independent nursing intervention if your patient passed out? Pick one.

You’ve already learned how to become a successful nurse

If you are in nursing school or newly graduated, you may feel overwhelmed with everything you have to learn to be a successful nurse. You may also be confused by the contradictory advice and behaviors of others. “Be professional” yet you see how nurses sometimes treat each other.

I know how you feel.

Even as a seasoned nurse and business owner, I sometimes question my decisions and advice others give me. One person says, “do this” yet another person says, “no. Don’t do that…do this!” Ugh. It’s a struggle sometimes to make good decisions and always do the right thing…especially when others don’t.

Good news! If you get overwhelmed about what to do or get confused by how to behave, just remember the words of Robert Fulgham.

10 Action Steps to Survive and Thrive Nursing School

I’ve been a nurse for more than 23 years yet I can remember almost every detail from nursing school (mental scars). Getting through my program was probably one of the most stressful and challenging periods of my life! The expectation of mastering a mountain of information, always being “tested” by your instructors, the constant worry that you’re going to make a mistake and the never-ending list of demands from your school – it’s a wonder that anyone graduates!

But we do. We somehow manage to survive.

Nursing school doesn’t have to leave you with mental scars. You and your classmates can do more than just survive school…you can thrive!!

Follow these steps for nursing school success:

Magnesium: Potassium’s Little Sister

Did you ever care for a patient with hypokalemia who despite multiple runs of KCl and countless mixes of Klor, the potassium level hardly moves? If so, check the patient’s magnesium level.

Why?