Top Nursing Certifications: More Than CPR

Top Nursing Certifications: More Than CPR

Nursing is among the most demanding and critical jobs in the healthcare industry. To provide the best care to patients, nurses must continuously enhance their skills and expand their knowledge.

While CPR is a vital credential for all healthcare professionals, there are other certifications you can obtain as a nurse to further your expertise. Today, we will look at ten certifications that can help your career.

The Importance of Obtaining Additional Certifications

We cannot overstate the value of nursing certifications

These extra credentials will open up career opportunities and help you stand out in the competitive nursing field. 

Additionally, certifications will equip you with specialized knowledge that will be helpful for your patients.

Top Certifications for Nurses

1. Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)

ACLS is a certification for those who want to treat adult patients with cardiovascular emergencies.

The training for ACLS includes advanced algorithms and covers topics such as cardiac rhythm interpretation, drug therapies, and advanced airway management.

By learning more about an ACLS flowchart and obtaining this certification, you can intervene in emergencies like cardiac arrests and strokes.

2. Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

PALS is for those who want to provide critical care for pediatric patients. Over one-third of ICU beds are occupied by children with chronic critical diseases. So, PALS can be a helpful certification for nurses.

PALS courses cover various topics such as advanced pediatric assessments, medication administration for pediatric emergencies, life support for children, and post-resuscitation care.

Holding this certification allows you to work effectively in pediatric intensive care units.

3. Basic Life Support (BLS)

BLS is one of the fundamental nursing certifications that all healthcare professionals must have.

This certification equips you with basic first aid knowledge, such as conducting effective CPR, using an AED, and relieving choking in adults and children.

This certification and its expertise can benefit all nurses and healthcare professionals working in clinics or hospital settings.

4. Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)

The CEN certification is helpful for nurses working in emergency departments and urgent care settings.

Training for this certification includes a deep look at trauma management, critical thinking, patient assessment and prioritization, and crisis intervention.

A CEN certification will prepare you to handle various emergencies and deliver quality care in unpredictable and fast-paced environments.

5. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

A CRNA certification allows nurses to administer anesthesia to patients during operations and oversee their care.

CRNA training covers preoperative assessment, anesthesia principles and administration techniques, post-anesthesia care, and possible complications management.

CRNAs are crucial members of surgical teams and are highly sought after for their expertise in safe anesthesia delivery.

6. Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)

The CNM certification is for registered nurses who want to care for women during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.

The CNM education program includes advanced training in nutrition, management of common complications, pharmacology for midwifery, women’s gynecology, and newborn care.

By obtaining a CNM certification, you can work in various healthcare settings, providing comprehensive care to pregnant women.

7. Certified Nurse Educator (CNE)

The CNE certification is for those in academia or staff development roles who want to educate the next generation of nurses.

CNE training covers advanced nursing principles, leadership and management, ethical decision-making, and interprofessional collaboration.

Nursing is one of the largest healthcare professions in the US. There are over 5 million registered nurses. With this number rising annually, holding a CNE certification as an educator is a valuable credential.

8. Certified Gerontological Nurse (CGN)

CGN is a helpful certification for nurses who want to work specifically with elderly patients. This certification equips you with the necessary information to care for older patients’ mental, physical, and psychosocial health.

CGN coursework explores care planning for the elderly, geriatric nursing principles, medication management, and end-of-life care.

With the growing population of elderly patients and the increasing demand for skilled nurses in this field, pursuing a CGN can be a worthwhile consideration.

9. Certified Diabetes Nurse (CDN)

Nurses who want to provide care specifically for patients with diabetes can get a CDN certification.

This certification covers topics such as diabetes management, nutritional assessment, glycemic control, and providing support for diabetic patients and their families.

By holding a CDN certification, you can care for diabetic patients in outpatient clinics while partaking in diabetes education programs.

10. Certified Nursing Informatics (CNI)

Nurses who want to get into the technological side of the field can opt for a CNI certification. This field is where healthcare and technology meet.

The training for CNI covers topics like healthcare information systems optimization, electronic health records management, and information security.

Obtaining a CNI certification opens the door to career opportunities as a clinical informatics specialist or systems analyst.

Expand Your Horizon With Additional Certifications

Obtaining additional certifications in nursing can significantly enhance your career prospects and allow you to take better care of your patients.

Choose a certification that aligns with your interests and continue to expand your knowledge and expertise in various nursing fields.

Holiday Gift Ideas for Healthcare Heroes: Share Your Appreciation

Holiday Gift Ideas for Healthcare Heroes: Share Your Appreciation

It comes as no surprise the art of gift-giving is our most prominent tradition. Finding the right present can take time and effort. Instead of ruminating over what the perfect gift would be, knowing what a great gift would be is much simpler.

Nurses, healthcare professionals, doctors, and physicians are some of the most hardworking people on the planet. They sacrifice their time, energy, and knowledge to provide their patients with unbeatable care and compassion. Each day, countless people are healthier, happier, and alive because of the life-changing work that they provide.

This year, wrap a present you know they will love to see during the holidays. We’ve collected some of the best gift options for healthcare heroes to illustrate your appreciation for all they do.

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Add a sparkle to their day with jewelry (photo credit: Sheilabox)

Add a Sparkle to Their Day With Jewelry

From diamonds to gemstones and precious metals, there is no gift more impressive than a thoughtful piece of jewelry. Gemstones and birthstone -centered jewelry or other festive jewelry pieces are surefire options that will touch their heart. Rings containing personalized engravings of their practice or another significant phrase remind them of their value to their patients and loved ones. 

If you’re looking for a classic gift option, delicate necklaces and bracelets are a crowd pleaser. Cardiology professionals love a heart-themed design, while regional jewelry works well depending on the city or state they practice in. Charm pieces with their favorite hobbies or specialties make for a one-of-a-kind gift that will receive many compliments.

Surprise Them With a New Fashion Statement

Physicians and nurses alike know all too well the restrictions of the daily work uniform. Their time off and vacation are well spent in their favorite and most comfortable clothing, including comfy sweats. Offer them a thoughtful holiday gift, such as a beautiful new scarf or boutique jacket. There are endless options, fits, and fabrics to choose from and match their style. Soft velvet material and rich gem tones are fantastic seasonal choices they can start wearing immediately. Everyone loves a new way to switch up their outfit routine!

If they are a close friend or loved one, gently inquiring about any clothing items they’d love to have can help you choose the perfect gift. Creating a surprise gift is possible as well. Classic styles, such as a rich black dress or sharp blazer, will be well-loved by many people.

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Illustrate their impact with unique art (photo credit: Nick Fewings)

Illustrate Their Impact With Unique Art

Thousands of gift art designs are available online, and they continue to be an equally personal and heartfelt holiday present for anyone. Coordinates-based art creatively makes a design from two different points on a map. You can select any locations to be reflected in the final piece. Choosing these points based on their career, such as where they graduated from school and where they currently practice, can be a great gift for their office or at home.

Alternatively, a word collage art piece has visual interest and special meaning for the gifter and receiver. These can be made at home or ordered with an artist online and amalgamate a collection of words in different sizes into a shape, design, or color theme. For the nurse in your life, including words related to their practice, hobbies, favorite things, and even milestones in their life are fantastic places to start. Are you gifting for a doctor or specialist? The same types of words work well, including any studies, treatments, or further education accomplishments they’ve achieved.

Make Their Next Day Off Rejuvenating with Self-Care

Invest in a massage or spa gift card for a fool-proof, guaranteed holiday present they will love to see under the tree. Nothing is better than checking into a space dedicated to relieving stress. Healthcare professionals experience some of the highest occupational stress levels, so moments to decompress can be a lifesaver during stressful weeks. 

Massages move tension out of the body, and spas contain many services and rooms designed to improve your mood. Salon certificates often include a head massage with a hair wash and detailed style, another fantastic gift of self-care.

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Sweets for the sweetest healthcare professional (photo credit: Anna Peipina)

Sweets for the Sweetest Healthcare Professional

From November to January, we’re all indulging in our favorite family recipes, seasonal cookies, cakes, and pies, and it is part of what makes this time of year so wonderful. If you’re shopping for someone with a sweet tooth, there are indulgent and relatively nutritious gifts to place under their tree this year.

Well-known companies such as Edible Arrangements and gourmet gift baskets offer healthier treats in elegant packaging. Fresh fruit, minimally processed snacks, and ethical desserts are great for anyone who enjoys sweets without excess sugar or additives. If your friend or loved one savor the decadent flavors of the holidays, choosing something like a Holiday Brownie Box will leave their taste buds dancing into the new year.

From One Nurse to Another: How to Make Gift Bags Your Co-Workers Will Love

From One Nurse to Another: How to Make Gift Bags Your Co-Workers Will Love

Nurses spend their shifts caring for patients, communicating with doctors, and much more, so a great way to show your fellow healthcare professionals how much you care is with a gift bag.

So, how do you make gift bags for fellow nurses? What should you include in your bags? Here’s how to make gift bags your co-workers will love.

Buy Them or Take the DIY Route?

One of the first decisions is whether to make or buy gift bags. If you’re not crafty, buying gift bags is relatively inexpensive. You might even get a deal if you buy many bags for large nursing teams.

If you or someone you know is artistic and wants to make gift bags, that’s perfectly fine. But, for everyone else, buying gift bags costs a little more but saves lots of time.

Choosing a Theme

While it’s not something you must do, some people like their gifts to have a theme. Do you need help coming up with theme ideas? We have you covered. Here’s a quick list of nursing gift bag themes:

  • A nurse theme: Since your gift recipients are nurses, why not use nursing-themed gift bags, wrapping paper, and cards?
  • Nursing-related holidays: Nursing holidays  happen all year round. National Nurses Week is one of the most popular times to celebrate nurses from May 6th to 12th.
  • Your nurse’s interests or hobbies: As many work teams do, nursing staff have shared hobbies or interests. For instance, movie theater gift cards can be great for nurses who go to the movies together. You could also order food from their go-to restaurant.
  • Empowerment: Another excellent theme idea doesn’t require it being a specific time of year. You can include gift bags and cards featuring positive words of encouragement.

Essential Items to Include in Nurse Gift Bags

Whether you choose a theme or not, your bags now need gifts. Here are perfect gift ideas for nurses they’ll all love.

1. Snacks

Eating food gives the body fuel. And nurses need lots of fuel to care for patients. Because of that, snacks are great things to include in a gift bag. Everyone loves a snack.

Snacks are great gift ideas because you have many options. Companies make healthy snacks for the health-conscious crowd, but sweets are ideal for nurses with a sweet tooth.

2. Foot Care

Nursing is challenging on the feet. That’s why a few toe socks are excellent gift bag additions. Fortunately, there are many benefits of toe socks, especially for nurses. Toe socks let toes move independently and can help reduce foot pain.

A bag of scented Epsom salts is great for soothing sore feet. Foot creams and balms will also be well-received additions to any gift bag.

3. Spa Packages

We all know it to be true: Being a nurse is an active job that can leave anyone aching after a 12-hour shift. Help your fellow nurses get the relief they seek with vouchers for a local spa.

Let them spend their time off enjoying a spa’s saunas, massages, wraps, mud baths, and more. After these treatments, you’ll likely notice a refreshed nursing team ready for anything.

4. Pens

We spend lots of time writing. Whether for charting, updating patient reports, or something similar, nurses use a lot of pens. Pens are always big hits with nurses, especially if you need something small to put in a gift bag.

Premium pens with comfortable grips work well for preventing annoying hand cramps nurses know all too well.

5. Makeup

Recent United States Census Bureau data found that 75% of all nurses are female. With that in mind, you’ll likely know a handful of people who love cruelty-free and vegan makeup.

To be all-inclusive, offer gender-neutral skin or hair care products.

Including a Handwritten Note or Card

The last step is also the most important: include a handwritten note. You don’t have to overthink this step. A small handwritten message detailing how much you appreciate your fellow nurses is perfect. But feel free to write longer messages, too.

From one nurse to another, we know the value our fellow healthcare professionals provide for communities everywhere. No matter the occasion, we hope our tips help you create stunning gift bags for the nurses in your life.

Infection Control and Prevention: 7 Dos & Don’ts of Surgical Attire

Infection Control and Prevention: 7 Dos & Don’ts of Surgical Attire

The awareness of medical professionals for infection control is high. But, the pandemic taught us that an even higher level of vigilance is to control and prevent infection, and disinfecting your scrubs is part of the challenge.

One of the fronts of the war on infection is the sterile processing of scrub uniforms  worn on the job. Surgical attire needs special attention to ensure that medical professionals are part of the solution and not part of the problem! So, this post details seven dos and don’ts of surgical attire to ensure we’re effective in our struggle against the spread of infection in clinical settings.

Let’s review the process of getting your scrubs to “sterile.”

1. DO Wash Scrubs Separately

Infection control starts at home, so separate your scrubs from other household laundry using a specific hamper (preferably one with a lid and a plastic liner that can be regularly wiped clean with an antibacterial agent). Immunocompromised family members should use protective gloves when doing the laundry to prevent the transfer of pathogens.

Don’t wash your scrubs with other laundry. And if you change into your street clothes before leaving work, place your scrubs in a sealed bag where they should stay until wash day.

2. DO a Stain Check

Don’t just throw those scrubs in the machine when wash day arrives. Give them a good going over first to check them for stains. You must get those stains out, whether blood or coffee! Your surgical attire should be pristine to inspire patient confidence, sending a message of trustworthy sterility.

Treat stains before washing with diluted bleach or vinegar (blood) or one part vinegar and two parts water (coffee).

3. DO Two-Stage Washing

Your first stage of disinfecting surgical attire is a cold water wash in the normal setting. Turn your scrubs inside out to prevent deterioration of the fabric’s right side. If stains are still evident, don’t move on to stage 2, a hot water wash that will set any residual stains. Instead, soak garments in water-diluted bleach to remove the residue.

Only proceed to the hot water wash once all stains are gone.

4. DON’T Use Undiluted Bleach

Bleach will remove blood stains, but using it on your scrubs without diluting it with water is a recipe for disaster. The fibers in your scrubs will deteriorate. Bleach can also cause discoloration when not properly diluted before use.

Use bleach in your washer, but add it to the water before the clothes go in!

5. DO Dry On a High Heat

Heat is disinfection’s best friend because heat goes where other disinfecting agents can’t! So, when you dry your surgical attire, use the highest setting on your dryer. Thirty minutes on a high heat kills bacteria and other pathogens that may still cling to the wet fabric.

Wait to dry for 30 minutes.

6. DON’T Skip Ironing

Ironing your scrubs (again, on the highest setting the fabric will bear) is the final step to ensuring they’re sterile and ready for use. As I said above, heat is disinfection’s BFF, so iron your scrubs thoroughly.

7. DO Secure Your Disinfected Scrubs

Securing your scrubs once disinfected ensures that your work is not in vain. Place them immediately into a secure, non-permeable bag like a large ziplock. Don’t remove your scrubs until it’s time to put them on.

One Final Step

Your washing machine has been exposed to bacteria and other pathogens, so it must be sterilized like all other equipment exposed to contaminants. Your family’s clothes get washed in there, too, so this is a measure of protection you should take.

Using a bleach/water solution of 1-10, fill a spray bottle and spray the entire inside of your washer. With the scrubbing side of a dish sponge, thoroughly scrub the lid of the machine and the tub. When you’re done, run the machine on a brief, hot cycle, using more bleach and water to finish.

Scrubs are essential to hospital and clinical dress codes, but if they’re not disinfected correctly, you could undermine the work of sterile processing professionals in your facility. These simple steps will keep you on the right side of the war on infection at home and work.

Want to Be a Travel Nurse?

Want to Be a Travel Nurse?

Have you ever wanted to explore the U.S. but felt tied down because of a nursing job? Then, travel nursing may be the right path for you.

With travel nursing, you can choose the length of your stay, take extended holidays and vacations when you don’t wish to work, and enjoy traveling to many different locations. Who knows? You might find somewhere so incredible you want to make it a permanent home.

Is Travel Nursing Right for You?

Here are our top 7 tips for BSN students and nurses interested in a travel nurse position.

1. Make Sure you are Certified in an NLC State

After earning your BSN, you must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and be licensed in the state where you work. The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) allows state-licensed nurses to work in any state that is an NLC member.

With nursing ranked #2 on the U.S. News & World Report’s 100 Best Jobs of 2022 and the overall need for nurses growing , having an NLC-state license gives you the freedom to take these increasing travel nurse job opportunities. Because of the coronavirus, hospitals are experiencing nursing shortages, so take advantage of this to help fill the gaps.

2. Get Some Experience Under Your Belt

Traveling nurse agencies like prospective employees to have at least two years of experience as an RN before applying. If you are a specialist nurse, expect to need two years in your specialty.

A great way to get paid experience is with a summer externship while in nursing school. You’ll get hands-on experience and a possible reference as well!

3. Use a nursing staffing agency

Finding the right job that fits your specialty and personality can be difficult. If you are looking for travel nursing assignments, an agency that maintains a list of excellent hospitals and other work environments can screen out unsuitable matches and ensure you have a fantastic time as a traveling nurse!

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Meeting new people by networking to help your career

4. Network

You might not think networking is important in a nursing career, but it can help you find jobs, make friends who can refer you, and allow you to help people as well.

Use your time management skills to pinpoint the best networking opportunities, and participate in nursing organizations, groups, and committees to meet other skilled professionals. Networking has its rules, so practice as much as possible while still in school.

5. Learn to Ask for Help

If you are serious about travel nursing, you will be working in many situations where you don’t know the layout, policies and procedures, and unwritten rules. Therefore, it’s much better to ask for help if you are unsure than to spend time searching for something you could have known in a few minutes just with a question!

6. Specialize

Specialty nurses generally have higher salaries than RNs. Top-paying specialties include Labor & Delivery, Operating Room, ICU, and NICU nurses. Combine the aspect of nursing you love with a specialization in a higher-paying job.

7. Learn Organization and Time Management Skills 

An essential part of being a traveling nurse is flexibility. If you have children or pets, you’ll need to be organized in getting everyone and everything ready for travel.

If you’re preparing to go from one travel assignment to the next, you’ll need to make sure your first assignment is completed and you are organized for your next one.

What are you waiting for? Explore the benefits and get ready for a career in which something new is always happening!