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Obtaining a BLS (Basic Life Support) certification is a form of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) education that focuses on giving vital life-saving care to those going through cardiac arrest or other medical situations. There are several reasons why obtaining a BLS certification is essential for those in the medical field and beyond.
IS A PER DIEM NURSING JOB THE RIGHT FIT FOR YOU?
BENEFITS OF USING A HEALTHCARE STAFFING AGENCY AS A JOB SEEKER
The Value of Organizations Embracing Collaboration
How HealthCare Staff Cope with Burnout and PTSD
Where do you start if you want to work out? Take that first step. When I moved to a more rural community than an urban one in high school, I decided to go on long walks and listen to the radio on a Walkman. When a song I loved pumped me up, I would run through the duration of it. I did this with a few songs and formed a habit. By my senior year of high school, I made strides running cross country. I make sure to jog or walk daily. This is my story about how I became a runner, and it was one decision I made and formed habits over time. Here is how you can start exercising.
Set Reasonable Goals
Start gradually and accelerate slowly with all that you do. Allocate yourself an abundance of time to warm up and cool down with leisurely walking or delicate stretching. Find the best time for you; even just 30 minutes a day is fine. A sensible goal of losing weight is at a pace of one or two pounds a week. Create a habit of drinking more water because you will need it. For me, I started slowly and worked my way up.
Maintain Consistency
Persistence is key. Find an exercise routine and what works for you. Work in the busy day tips and walk with co-workers. Try a different exercise routine every few weeks. You will want to track your goals to stay motivated and think of the bigger picture. If you lose inspiration, set additional goals, or attempt a new workout. Taking a class at the gym and even going with a friend could help, too. For me, every time the song came on, I would run. I picked a few other songs.
Accept Being Uncomfortable
Forming new habits, especially healthy ones, are accessible but challenging. If you switch from taking the stairs instead of the elevator, that can be an adjustment. Walk or ride a bike rather than drive whenever you can. Sore muscles and fatigue will be common symptoms. This feeling is expected, and people will have to comply with it. Know your body. I accepted the fact that sometimes this would hurt.
But Know When to Take a Break
You will figure out how your body responds to different situations. Slow down and take a breather if you feel soreness, shorter breath, dizziness, or nausea. You may be forcing yourself too much. Overreaching can happen when your activity becomes extreme for what your body is used to, and performance drags consequently. Respond to your body's clues and know when to slow down. For me, I would slow down and walk when I got side cramps.
Have Accountability
Sharing your goals and being honest with others is the way to go. Make a friend, significant other, or co-worker your accountability companion and encourage each other by swapping healthy food tips, shipping motivational quotes, and checking in to see how each other feels or maintains their goals. Someone who can help you achieve your goals makes them easier to accomplish. For me, I told people about this habit, and they would ask me how I was holding up.
At WSi, we value working out in the morning, after work, or even a few co-workers going on a walk together during our lunch hour. (Some even answer candidate and client phone calls while taking a stroll.)
The new critically acclaimed crowd-pleasing movie "Dog" now in theaters reminds people of the need for pets to maintain mental well-being. Starring and co-directed by Channing Tatum, it was inspired by the HBO documentary he produced called "War Dog: A Soldier's Best Friend." The main character (Channing Tatum) deals with PTSD as the dog maintains his sanity in the narrative drama. With this in mind, here are the multiple benefits of having a pet:
Increase Physical Activity
A new analysis finds dog owners, on average, walk 22 more minutes more per day than individuals without dogs. This could be below average for very playful pups. That is enough physical activity to make a difference in your health. Going on walks is an effective way to get your steps in. Walking a dog on a hike is an excellent reason to get out and experience nature. Playing fetch and participating in sports is another way to get your dog active.
Provide Companionship
Pets can sense our emotions and provide comfort when people need it. Dogs are a basis of companionship and reassurance for their owners. Emotional and social reinforcement is necessary to get through psychological problems such as grief. Pets can affect our emotional condition, understanding of protection and approval, and even our optimistic outlook on life.
Add Routine
Yes, it is more responsibility with more demand from your time, but it will be worth having a pet. That responsibility is a building bridge to take care of loved ones or starting a side business. Pet owners are tasked with many things. They will need to buy food, treats, a collar and leash, various toys, and grooming products. You will be reliable for meals, water, strolls, exercise, cleanup, and grooming.
More Social
People participate in social activities with dogs. You have a lot of options as a dog owner. However, the mundane dog walk can increase confidence as people compliment your dog or stop to talk with you. Sixty percent are more likely than those without pets to encounter new individuals in their neighborhoods. Dog owners who go on walks with their dogs were also more likely to have befriended someone they met via pet-related associations.
Lower Anxiety
Unless they get into trouble, sharing enjoyment with a furry companion causes numerous people to feel more relaxed, reducing blood pressure and easing the manifestation of mental health difficulties. Research has revealed that merely petting a dog decreases the stress hormone cortisol. In contrast, the social relations between people and their dogs improve the feel-good hormone oxytocin.
Slows Mental Decline
A recent study revealed that pet ownership slows mental deterioration in older adults. It had the best responses among Black pet parents, individuals with a college education, and men. Over the six years, cognitive scores declined gradually among pet owners, with the distinction most substantial among long-term pet owners.
WSi is a dog-friendly office, and we love our pets. We know that pet ownership makes us better people. One of our perks is "bring your dog into work" days.
Valentine's Day is not the only February holiday that focuses on hearts. It is also Heart Health Month, and heart disease is the most common health issue that patients face. This is an ideal time to offer advice on how people can lower their risk of the various problems related to blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels steady and reduce their heart disease and heart attack danger.
Manage expectations
Identifying a medical problem from a doctor's visit or on your own is a major step. You cannot resolve these types of difficulties overnight or even for a week or two. Immediate change can be overwhelming, and people resist adapting to new habits all at once. Tracking improvement is crucial for your health—persevering to confront these issues. Celebrate successes and overcome drawbacks. Momentum is a secret way to succeed at your goals.
Eat Healthily
Living a nutritious lifestyle can help keep your heart health in check. Carbs are not bad. Choose whole-grain bread instead of refined. Plain Greek yogurt makes for a nutritional snack and eat it with natural fruit. Increase your protein intake and drink more water. Avoid fried foods. Skip diet foods tend to have more sugar. All of this will contribute to lowering weight and relaxing your blood pressure.
Lower Stress
Maintaining stress is a way to fight for your heart health. Anxiety can trigger dramatic but temporary increases in your blood pressure. Bodies react by unleashing stress hormones (adrenaline and cortisol) into the blood. These hormones condition the body for a heightened response by causing the heart to beat quickly and narrowing blood vessels to circulate more blood. Begin some relaxation techniques. Meditation, embracing guided imagery, and taking deep, rhythmic breathes.
Exercise
Many people do not spend a lot of time working out. Forming new habits, starting small, and building up to something matters. Both lightweight training and cardio can help you, and temporary soreness is better than the long-term problems of managing heart health issues—however, ten minutes of brisk or moderate walking a few times a day can help.
Increase Sleep
This is an important one and could be the most challenging. Unwinding at night could be difficult for many busy professionals or when a personal life can become burdensome. Lower your blue light (screen time) at night. Avoid caffeine in the afternoon. Taking a melatonin supplement can help you fall asleep. Find a routine schedule of going to sleep and waking up, which allows a natural sleep cycle.
Heart Health month is a fantastic opportunity to book doctors' visits and commence to make small but significant lifestyle modifications. Since 1988, WSi has been staffing health care professionals. Contact us if you are looking for your next position.
With new and evolving Covid variants with higher transmissibility than in the earlier pandemic stages, it feels like society is in a loop while trying to figure out different information. It is a lot to process.
With many things pivoting to virtual during the pandemic, telehealth is a trend that is not going away and can have a few benefits for patients and organizations. Before the pandemic, less than 2% of visits were remote. Today, it is close to 25%. With this tendency not going anywhere, here are some of the positives.
Convenience
People crave the flexibility of working remotely during the pandemic, and it is a habit that will remain in the long term. You want to meet people where they are at as an organization. They will be willing to try virtual health screens, too. People have lives they are juggling and need to manage. Avoiding a trip and spending less time on their appointment will appeal to many individuals. This could benefit rural patients who lack access to quality health care, too. Logging on and off is easy. Just be prepared ahead of time.
See More Patients
Organizations can benefit from seeing more people during the day. Even if it can be physically and psychologically draining, back-to-back meetings online can be more efficient. A practice will be able to work with others. No more waiting for a physical space to be available to see someone. This could enhance productivity in your office. Visiting more patients can help those in need.
Truly Beneficial
Some have expressed concerns that this is medically beneficial and not a way to cut corners. According to the American Medical Association, around 70% of a patient's medical issues do not demand an in-person doctor visit and can be monitored virtually. People worried about telehealth appointments should be reassured that they are effective even if the doctor and patient are not in the same room. With fewer people needing to visit the hospital physically, healthcare professionals could focus on their work in the office and have a team function remotely to see patients.
Technology Improves
As virtual care makes technological progress, health care providers can lean into technology more over time. One thing that can be managed online today is observing hypertension and diabetes. It is anticipated that people may have their temperature by looking into a camera! Technology will continue to advance, and healthcare providers will complete more tasks and provide more patient care online.
Has your organization considered the possibilities of a remote workforce? We have been hiring remote workers for many of our clients to meet this new demand. Since 1988, WSi has provided Colorado institutions with the best, most qualified staff. Speak to an account manager today.
Job hunting can be exhausting and dehumanizing. You work so hard on your resume, applying for work, preparing for the interview, all for it to vanish when you receive the rejection email, or worse, suddenly: you are even ghosted after everything! A recent trending article shared on LinkedIn compared job hunting to online dating, bruising egos. As more people continue to interview during this transitional season, here is a way to keep your mental health in check while looking for a job:
Embrace Perseverance
Being persistent is the key to success with looking for your next role. You must keep going knowing that the best fit is waiting for you. Remind yourself of previous experiences when you needed to embrace persistence. It can be a motivator. You came out stronger in the end. Dopamine motivates people to work harder. However, balance a rhythm of work with a healthy mindset, but take a break with something you enjoy if you need to do so.
Keep It Positive
Most of the time, you cannot take the rejection personally. Easier said than done. If the experience was terrible, know that this doesn’t define your self-worth. Someone else was a better fit for the job, either skill or personality-wise. Mastering the ability to overcome obstacles allows you to work through challenges more manageable.
Reassess Your Goals
Double-check the jobs you applied for in the past. Were you the best fit? Reflect on the positions where you went farther in the interview process. How did it go? Could you have done something differently? You might not be a “square peg, square hole” fit for the jobs you interviewed for. People can learn lessons from those experiences. You could be on the wrong path and need to get back on track with what you want and your values. Goals can change, too.
Tap Into Your Network
Not only is relying on your network a fantastic opportunity to find your next job, but it is also even better to lean on close friends and family to vent and seek emotional support. Reaching out for advice both benefits you psychologically and professionally. This is a way to strategize a plan and know that people who care about you have your back. We need individuals rooting for us during the challenges of life.
Since 1988, WSi’s recruiters have been transparent and honest with candidates looking for other work opportunities. If you are interested in finding your following healthcare positions, get in touch with us today!
With wages increasing across many industries in 2021, negotiating a raise is a skill to master to advance your career. People should navigate the challenges asking for a raise. Keep these things in mind when considering how to approach a potentially sensitive subject of asking for a wage increase:
When do you ask for a raise?
You want to consider asking for a pay increase for the following reasons:
A new job
Your current role
Negotiating a promotion at work
Transitioning between careers
Life transitions happen, and a raise can help you navigate financial changes.
Reflect on your achievements
Process the end of the year and your contributions to the organization. Did you go beyond your job duties this year? Did you meet your goals? Have you even helped other team members achieve their goals or complete a big project that helped your employer? Know your worth and be confident and assertive but not arrogant.
Analyze medium salary data
Salaries are not always a “one size” fits all geographically. The cost of living varies by region, state, and local market. Wages should reflect this reality. Look into expected salary ranges for your industry and your market. You could be below salary, and an adjustment would be needed.
Anticipate a target range
After you parse the data and look over your job description:
Take a few things into consideration.
Figure out what would be fair for you and the employer.
Always be reasonable.
Anywhere between a 3–5% pay increase would be typical, but it could be higher depending on your circumstance or industry.
Consider the organization’s finances.
You may not want to do this if it is a down year. If this is the case, it might not be a time to ask for a raise. Although, if things seem healthy, there is nothing wrong with asking for a pay increase. Do not be emotional nor expect to present your current salary as a problem.
Consult your friends or family
It is always good to lean into your network and inner circle to figure out how to proceed. A trustworthy friend or family member can help you face challenges and give you needed advice. Try not to take negative feedback too personally.
Since 1988, WSi has been an expert in staffing healthcare professionals. If you want to find an ideal rate for your work, please get in touch with us today.
Your resume has caught the eye of a recruiter. That’s great news! They want to schedule an in-person, call, Skype or other type of initial interaction. You need to impress them, no question about it. They are the go-between for you and the hiring company.
How do you spot a bad candidate so they don’t become a bad hire? There are red flags you can watch for during the interview. Consider these eight clues before making an offer.
Even if there are a record number of job openings, there is a disconnect between those openings and qualified people to fill them. A competent staffing firm needs to find qualified people and match them with the right organizations.
It is typically common to feel anxious when you’re heading into a job interview. We are on edge about numerous things, and advancing our careers is one of them. While those nerves can sometimes be sufficient to keep you on your toes, they can also be detrimental.
No matter what business you’re in, customer service is an important aspect of what you provide. The customer-facing part of your team should have extensive training and knowledge on how to provide stellar service to your customers. As the leader of your team, there are ways you can help your employees represent you and your ideals on a daily basis.
Building and maintaining a relationship with your employees will not only help to determine the success of your company, but will create and grow your team to be stronger together. Here are five ways you, as a nurse manager, can work to boost your staff’s morale.
It’s an exciting time when you’re up for a job promotion. You’ve worked hard to get to this point and now you want to ace this interview. You aren’t a stranger to interviewing if you already have a job, but in this situation, you will want to stand out as someone who is a top contender for the promotion. Here are some tips:
There is more to medical billing than simply sitting at a computer and typing. It is a rewarding career that you can do, usually from the comfort of your own home. If you are considering a career in medical billing, here are some important skills you should have:
