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Becoming a Paramedic

I have heard people say that becoming a paramedic was the best decision of their lives. The hours are tough, there are sacrifices that they make, there is blood that they need to take care of, and people who are in miserable state. However, the satisfaction that they get when they save a person is the greatest. Becoming a paramedic is no cake walk, however, if you want to become one, then continue reading this article. There is training that you need to complete at different levels in order to get the license to work as a paramedic. Also, they must train themselves to work in dangerous situations saving people’s lives. The following paragraphs will concentrate on how to become a paramedic. Keep reading for the details of how do you become a paramedic.

Steps to Becoming a Paramedic

EMT Training
The first thing that you need to do is undergo the first level of training, i.e. a basic certification course for an Emergency Medical Technician or the EMT. How to become an EMT? You will need to undergo a course in order to become an EMT. This basic course will enable you to learn all the critical skills required to save a life of a person. This course will take about 150 hours to complete. The EMT salary depends on the state you are working in and the amount of experience that you have. These basic levels should provide you enough knowledge to get a job at a local ambulance service or in a hospital.

EMT Job
Taking up an EMT job in order to experience what is it to be a paramedic, is the next step in becoming a paramedic. You should continue this job for at least a year or an year and a half. This experience will give you a complete idea about how is the life of a paramedic. You will need to understand different methods of emergency preparedness. While on the job, it will be useful if you could research more on what other qualities and trainings a good paramedic requires. The next step is to enroll yourself for the course of paramedic.

Paramedic Course
The EMT training that you undertook is the basic training. Now, you need to take a proper course which will ensure that you become a paramedic and will also explain the details of the paramedic job description. An EMT is not allowed to prescribe any medications, however, a paramedic is. This is due to the very long and detailed course that the paramedic goes through. This course teaches the prospective paramedics all they need to know about the human body and the treatments and medications they need to administer in to save the lives of the people. A certified course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid is also required to be completed. I am sure your next question is how long does it take to become a paramedic? Well, it will take this course to finish anywhere between 1500 to 1800 hours of rigorous training. Next, you will have to appear for a state exam or the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians exam in order to get your certificate licensing you to work as a paramedic.

Working on the Job
This is the last of all the steps to becoming a paramedic. You will get a job depending on how good you have done in your exams and on your previous job experience as the EMT. It always pays to research more on paramedics and their jobs. Once you start working, remember that you will need to renew your license every two years.

Working as a Paramedic

Now that you know the procedure of becoming a paramedic, let me tell you more about the job of a paramedic. A paramedic is expected to always work in stressful conditions, always treat people with care, should be able to lift heavy objects, should be agile enough to bend and get up again and again several times a day and should be able to keep his/her calm while dealing with sick and injured people. He/she needs to be physically fit as this job is physically demanding as well as should be mentally prepared to deal with people and their illnesses. Paramedics may have to work anywhere between 40 to 60 hours a week and may also be needed to work overtime in emergency situations. The EMT salary range is more or less between $35,000 to $48,000 annually. A paramedic usually earns up to $70,000 annually.

I hope the above paragraphs on becoming a paramedic have been useful and informative to you. Becoming a paramedic is a very rewarding medical job, though it is very demanding. However, if you feel that you possess all the qualities required in a paramedic, then do take up this job. All the best!!

Tags: Becoming, Paramedic

How do nurses deal with being away from home during important occasions?

We know how precious it is to celebrate special occasion with our loved ones. As much as possible we want to be with them during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other important holidays. However, not everyone gets to enjoy with the rest of the world.

Tragedy strikes at any time. Accidents will not stop from happening because of special occasions. It is because of this fact that most medical personal are still in their landau scrubs even if the rest of the town are sipping champagne, sharing turkey, or counting the seconds. They attend to their patients while almost everyone are home sharing that moment with their family.

If you are new to the profession, it is very difficult especially if you have close family ties. Surely, most of the nurses would want to be around their loved ones, particularly with their kids to celebrate memorable events. However, duty calls. Their clients do not go on vacation on certain dates. You cannot order them to get well during these times either.

This is just one of the challenges that our nurses face today. They do not spend as much time with their family as they want to. Most of them do not have a schedule that matches the schedule of other family members. When they are back from work, everyone has left.

Nurses have given so much of themselves to perform their duties and responsibilities. You might ask how they deal with this. Why do they last long?

Everyone has their ways of dealing with different situations. Nurses must have looked at these circumstances in a very positive perspective because they continue to do what they do. If you face the same dilemma and do not know how to handle it, here are some helpful suggestions:

1. Find a common schedule and prepare to do a memorable activity. The good thing about the schedule of nurses is that it changes. When you get a schedule that fits the schedule of your family, make it count by doing something memorable.

2. If you cannot be with them during the important occasions, find another time to celebrate it. Ask your other family members and find an activity that all of you can agree on.

3. Make sure that your loved ones understand the nature of your work. Do not assume that they know the demands of your work because most of the time they do not. Explain to them, especially to your children why you do not have the same timetable as others who have regular day jobs.

4. Leave them messages by writing notes. This is very effective. Do you remember how you felt when you saw a note inserted in your books by someone you like? We may live in the information age, but written notes still give a different impact.

5. You also have to make an effort to find time for them. All jobs are tiring and stressful. Do not think that your partner is the only person who should make compromises. You need to do your share to make things work.

No one said that it is going to be easy. Remember, great things come from hard work and sacrifices.

Brent McNutt is actively involved in the subject of Landau Scrubs such as landau scrub

Tags: away, Being, Deal, During, From, Home, Important, Nurses, Occasions

Four Great Tips on How to Impress Your Nursing School Interviewers

When you are getting ready to apply to a nursing school, you will need to make a meeting to speak with an admissions counselor. It is vitally important that you make a good impression. You have a lot of well qualified competition these days.

By following these tips, you will have that counselor’s approval in no time.

First, be prompt. Time your departure so that you will get to the campus no less than 30 minutes before the appointed time. You never know what delays you could run into.

If you show up late you’ve already made an unfavorable impression. People’s lives will rely on you when you’re a nurse; don’t make the admissions counselor think that you’re unreliable.

Next, take pains with your appearance. Look as neat as possible, dress conservatively, and ensure proper hygiene. If you have long outlandish acrylic nails, it would be wise to ditch them altogether for the occasion. Many hospitals ban their employees from wearing acrylic nails, because they harbor germs and microbes. You want to show up at your interview looking like someone that a hospital would employ.

Thirdly, prepare beforehand for your nursing school admissions interview. You will be asked why you want to go into nursing. Here are some sample answers you can look into.

Good: Because helping people is my passion. Because I want to make a difference in people’s lives. Because I enjoy interacting with people. Because I want a job where I can do a public service.

Bad: Because I want to make money. (This may be one of your reasons, and there is nothing wrong with it, but if you mention it to the nursing admissions counselor, it will make it sound as if you are drawn to a very high-stress, challenging profession for all of the wrong reasons.) Because I keep getting laid off, and there are always jobs for nurses, right? Because it’s my ticket to meeting a doctor who can then support me if I quit working. Because I don’t really know what I want to do but everyone’s going to nursing school nowadays because it’s such an in-demand job.

Fourth, prepare questions of your own. Ask relevant questions that will give you a better idea of what to expect in the program.

Some examples are:

- What are your student’s passing rates for the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-LPN?
- What percentage of students who are accepted into your program successfully complete it?
- What type of job placement assistance do you have for your graduates?
- What type of NCLEX preparation courses or support do you offer?

With these sound tips, you can earn high marks from the admissions counselor and be on your way to a nursing career.

Visit us to get a quick and simple road map when applying to nursing schools. You’ll also get to know about all the various traditional and online nursing programs that you can choose to start earning your degree!

Tags: Four, Great, Impress, Interviewers, Nursing, School, Tips

Becoming a Registered Nurse (RN)

Tremendous growth in the health care industry in the United States has increased the demand for registered nurses (RN). They hold a very responsible position within the health care industry, entrusted as they are with the day-to-day needs of patients. The job of a registered nurse is a challenging one, with scope for lucrative salaries and prospects for growth. A registered nurse must, however, have the required educational qualifications and professional skills to excel in this field.

Registered nurses have a number of responsibilities, that begin from taking care of the basic needs of patients to assisting the doctors, to say nothing of treating patients, maintaining their medical records, administering treatments and performing various diagnostic tests. This article should answer your queries regarding how to become a registered nurse and enlist the responsibilities of a RN. Let’s take a look at the prerequisites for becoming a registered nurse.

Requirements to Become a Registered Nurse

How do I become a registered nurse? To become a registered nurse one has to undergo formal education provided by nursing schools. Apart from this you must have either a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Nursing (BSN), an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Diploma in Nursing. This is the basic education needed to become a registered nurse. Once you fulfill these basic requirements for becoming a registered nurse, you need to qualify in a national licensing exam known as a National Council Licensure Examination, to become an authorized and certified registered nurse. This is a sort of prerequisite that allows you to practice nursing as a profession. Next, let’s deal with the question, ‘How long does it take to become a registered nurse?’ To acquire a bachelor’s degree in nursing, it takes four years, while a diploma and an associate degree, both take roughly three years. These were the basic registered nurse education requirements after which you could choose to take on further specializations to add to your qualifications, becoming a nurse anesthetist, a clinical nurse specialist, a nurse practitioner or a nurse-midwife. These additional qualifications increase your career prospects, but need a Master’s Degree in Nursing as well. Read more on registered nurse requirements. The scope of specialization for RNs is quite vast and includes following fields:

Public health nursing
Legal nursingOccupational health nursing
Pediatric nursing
Geriatric nursing
Forensic nursing
Mental health nursing
Becoming a Registered Nurse Online

A Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Nursing (BSN) is provided by most of the online registered nurse courses. Even after acquiring the bachelor’s degree online, you have to qualify in an examination to be a licensed nurse just as you’d have to after a regular bachelor’s degree. Basically, it’s useful for those who already have an associate degree in nursing. Getting a nursing degree online can also be followed by individuals who don’t have any experience in this field, but want to pursue a career as a registered nurse. It’s also applicable for nurses whose licenses have expired or who have not been in touch with their profession for more than a year.

Responsibilities of a Registered Nurse

Becoming a registered nurse, means having the ability to fulfill certain duties and responsibilities, mentioned in the registered nurse job description; these have been enlisted below.
RNs are responsible for maintaining the medical records of patients and keeping track of their progress each day.
They help laboratory assistants in performing various diagnostic tests on patients and in the operation of medical machinery.
RNs perform the various tests and treatments suggested by doctors and specialists.
RNs are also held responsible for educating patients and their family members about the disease, its symptoms, treatments (that are being administered) and precautions that need be taken for quick recovery.
Apart from all these requirements to become a registered nurse, one should also possess a set of certain skills – these include social responsibility, good judgment and decision making, critical thinking and service orientation. Career prospects in this field have been increasing day by day so should you have the required qualification, experience and above all dedication, this may just be the career for you. These were the requirements to become a nurse, I hope they’ve been helpful, good luck!

Tags: Becoming, Nurse, Registered

Starting Salary for Nurses

Being a nurse is no simple task, it requires a whole lot of patience, understanding and a genuine interest in helping others. If you’ve decided to take up this medical job and become a nurse, then it is best that you know the starting salary for nurses. A knowledge of this important aspect of nursing will allow you to have a choice in choosing your field of study perhaps, or to plan for a better future. In the article that follows, we shall give you the figures of the starting salary for nurses and provide you with an overview of the same.

Average Starting Salary – Overview

It has been studied that the average starting nurse salary for registered nurses falls in the range of $20 – $26 at an hourly rate and $39,000 – $54,000 per annum. This figure stays constant for the first 4 years of their career, changing very little and not very drastically at all. But of course, one has to also factor in the different reasons due to which the salary ranges for jobs can undergo a change. These factors include the location of job, city of work, years of experience, the stream of education and the gender. It has been seen that the starting salary for male nurses is usually lower than their female counterparts. The starting salary for nurses might be quite modest, but all these factors will lead to an increase in the figures as well. And with years of experience the salary of a nurse will increase further.

Snapshot of Average Salaries (Different Streams)

Here is a brief account of the average salary for nurses from different streams and expertise. This will help in getting a clearer understanding of the situation.

Stream
Average Salary (Yearly)
Registered Nurses
$39,000 – $54,000
Nurse Practitioner
$60,000 – $76,000
Practical Nurse
$28,000 – $40,000
Emergency Room Nurse
$39,000 – $58,000
Critical Care
$50,000 – $57,000
Nurse Anesthetist
$100,000 – $146,000
Public Health Nurse
$41,000 – $65,000
Flight Nurse
$51,000 – $78,000
Pediatric Nurse
$41,000 – $51,000
Intensive Care Unit Nurse
$39,000 – $61,000
General Duty Nurse
$38,000 – $54,000
Staff Nurse
$41,000 – $59,000
Office Nurse
$33,000 – $43,000
Occupational Nurse
$54,000 – $70,000
Geriatric Nurse
$48,000 – $66,000
Obstetrics Nurse
$58,000 – $66,000
Industrial Nurse
$45,000 – $60,000
Head Nurse
$60,000 – $88,000
Psychiatric Nurse
$50,000 – $56,000

NB ~ Please understand that these figures only give an approximate range of the average starting salary of nurses and that they are prone to change based on a number of factors like the location, education and policies of the industries.

Salary Ranges of Nurses – Overview

There are several other starting salaries for nurses that you might be interested in knowing about:
Nurse Anesthetist Salary
Nurse Practitioner Salary
Neonatal Nurse Salary Range
School Nurse Salary
Vocational Nurse Salary
Pediatric Nurse Salary Range
One has to understand that one cannot give an exact figure of the salary ranges only because there are several factors that influence them. It has to be also understood that the company of hire will lead to a change in the starting salary of nurses. A nurse working in a private organization for example, will have a greater starting figure than a nurse working for a government organization. And even then the policy of the company will determine and influence the starting salary ranges of the nurses.

And now that you have a clear idea of what the starting salary for nurses of different streams is like, you can go on to plan the field of nursing you want to get into. But keep in mind the fact that these numbers will increase over a period of time. All the best!

Tags: Nurses, Salary, Starting

How To Start Your Own Nursing Agency, Nurse Registry, Nurse Staffing Agency

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It’s no secret that the United States has a nursing shortage, one that promises to grow to alarming proportions. Too many nurses are retiring, and too few are entering the profession. To compound the problem, within the next 5 to 10 years, over 76 million Baby Boomers are scheduled to retire from the workforce, with only about 44 million Generation X’ers available to pick up the slack. This will soon place unprecedented demands for services on a health system that is already stretched thin.

This shortage of allied healthcare professionals, especially nurses have a created a new boom to the nursing agency registry business, supplemental staffing agency for medical professionals, permanent placement medical recruiter, or starting a business in homecare and staffing pool. The medical staffing industry will continue to grow because of the upcoming baby boomers, and the current supply of nurses are dwindling. The average age for nurses are in the forties, and they are not being replaced by the new generations. Entrepreneurs have made lucrative business in nursing agency, nursing registry, homecare business, medical recruiter recruiting, or as independent contractor in their own field.

The time is now for entrepreneurs to start a nursing agency,nursing registry business, operate a homecare business, or as a medical recruiter or just become an independent healthcare contractor. By being an independent healthcare contractor, you are bypassing the agency and are self employed. Healthcare facilities are the clients. Homecare are regulated by all levels of goverment from local to fedeal level. Homecare levels of regulations depends on the category of service provided to clients. Homecare services ranges from providing just companions or the more medically needed clients such as terminally ill clients. Homecare services can be in the form of social service, non-medical, and medical services.

More info at: http://www.nursingbizguide.com

Tags: Agency, Nurse, Nursing, Registry, Staffing, Start

Best Jobs for 2010

Thanks to the economic recession that was prevailing, many different jobs in the industry lost their demand. However, as the economic condition is getting back to normal, there are some best jobs for 2010 which have come up. If you are thinking about gaining entry into few of these hottest jobs for 2010, you will need to possess a fair amount of work experience and also the relevant educational qualification. Let us get to know which are the best jobs for 2010.

List of the Best Jobs for 2010

Actuary
In today’s times, actuaries are in demand by businesses who have just come up from recession. Their services are required for studying statistical data and predicting results. The average salary for an actuary is recorded to be around $85,000 per annum.

Nurse
Nursing has always been a sought after profession by people all over the world. You can become a registered nurse, an LPN, or simply a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Nursing professionals can earn a median per annum pay of about $68,000.

Dental Hygienist
A dental hygienist is also one of the medical jobs which is believed to be among the best jobs for 2010. These professionals help dentists in carrying out daily responsibilities. They can draw a salary of around $77,000 per year on an average.

Paralegal Assistant
A paralegal assistant is a law expert whose main duty is to assist lawyers in their everyday tasks. They can expect to get a yearly compensation package of approximately $52,000.

Mathematician
A mathematician is proficient in maths and statistics. They use mathematical concepts and theories to solve problems in businesses. The average pay of a mathematician is somewhere around a cool $103,000.

Financial Planner
A financial planner helps individuals and companies in evaluating their current financial position and planning finances in the future. He may receive a yearly pay of a good $83,000.

Software Engineer
Software engineering is one of the best IT jobs in demand at present. Software engineers mainly get paid as per previous experience in projects and programming skills. A software professional can get paid on an average of $90,000 annually.

Writer
Writing, as a profession, can be done full time or part time and has a good pay associated with it. Writing careers are rated as one of the top work at home jobs for 2010, with an average salary of about $59,000.

Accountant
A career as an accountant is not only sought after in the USA, but also in other countries. He is mainly responsible for maintaining and managing accounts of businesses, for which he might receive an annual salary of about $61,000.

Historian
The prerequisites of this profession primarily include possessing a skill for research and elaborate study. Owing to the level of research, historians generally receive a median pay of around $86,000.

Human Resource Manager
A job as an HR manager is probably one of the top careers for women. The salary range for this resource management job is observed to be approximately $69,000 annually.

Marketing Manager
Generally, a marketing manager is responsible for overseeing the sales, marketing, and advertising department of a company. He may draw an annual salary of about $69,000. It is thought of as one of the best sales jobs for 2010.

Other Best Jobs for 2010

Computer Systems Analyst
Biologist
Pharmacist
Statistician
Philosopher
Meteorologist
Web Developer
Bank Officer
Occupational Therapist
Physician Assistant
These are just a few of the best jobs for 2010. There are many other jobs that have an acceptable amount of yearly salary as well as a good job satisfaction level. Note that the above mentioned best jobs for 2010 are not sorted out according to the level of pay.

Tags: 2010, Best, Jobs

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Salary

A hospital environment is never complete when one only pictures doctors and patients. The most important person who completes this equation is a nurse. Nurses are personnel that help in tending to patients when the doctors are not around. They also help in rehabilitation of the patient and in helping out doctors whenever they see patients. Hence, one cannot underestimate the importance of the nursing staff in a hospital. There are many specialties for nurses. The most common specialty areas for nurse practitioners in hospitals are family practice, adult practice, women’s health, pediatrics, acute care, and geriatrics. An acute care nurse practitioner is especially in a lot of demand now, seeing that they are most well equipped of all to deal with an emergency situation for a patient. However, before choosing this specialty, what many aspiring nurses that wish to work in the emergency care unit always want is to have an idea regarding the acute care nurse practitioner salary range. Before going into the details about the salary range for an acute care nurse practitioner, let us find out more about what exactly an acute care nurse practitioner deals with.

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Job Description
An acute care nurse practitioner is involved with providing advanced care to patients that are suffering with severe illnesses. Although nearly 67% of nurses are employed in hospital settings and likewise environments, acute care nurses are almost always employed in a hospital setting due to the nature of their work and the requirement of specialized equipments to carry out their work. Although this is one of the most sought after medical jobs, this is also a stressful job that requires a lot of grit and commitment, which reflects in the acute care nurse practitioner salary. The nurses often require to work in shifts so as to provide coverage in hospitals during days, evenings and nights. They may even be required to be on call to go to the hospital although majority of nurses are associated with ambulatory care positions. Furthermore, if there are emergencies, like a crash or a disaster, they will be in charge of tending to patients that are severely injured.

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Salary Range
Coming to the average salary ranges for jobs of an acute care nurse practitioner. The median salary range for an acute care nurse practitioner in the United States is somewhere around USD 80,400 on an annual basis. People with just a few years of work experience also manage to pull somewhere between USD 73,840 and USD 87,000. However, most of the nurse practitioners that were exclusively working in emergency settings earned even more, with the median expected nurse salary being somewhere around USD 86,802. There are also many other factors that affect the salary of an acute care nurse practitioner, like the location and the kind of employment sector. Given below are details regarding the average annual salary as per the department or setting.

Annual Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Salary Based on Department and Setting
Department
Annual Salary (In USD)
Emergency Department
84,835
Surgery
84,084
Neonatal Unit
81,511
Hospital
79,393
Gerontology
77,020
Specialty Setting
76,006

As mentioned earlier, there are many factors that tend to influence the acute care nurse practitioner salary. These are still the more higher paid nurses when compared to other nurses, like a neonatal nurse practitioner. This is mostly because there is a higher liability risk associated with this job and there are also, thus, higher reimbursement rates. This is a very serious job and it is no wonder that hospitals are always on the lookout to offer acute care nurse practitioner jobs to well qualified and well trained nurses. The acute care nurse practitioner scope of practice is also good because as a nurse gains more and more experience, she can eventually become a more skilled acute care nurse. So, if you want to get into a field that pays well and offers an exciting and highly satisfying career opportunity, then the job of an acute care nurse practitioner is for you!

Tags: Acute, Care, Nurse, Practitioner, Salary

How do nurses deal with being away from home during important occasions?

We know how precious it is to celebrate special occasion with our loved ones. As much as possible we want to be with them during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other important holidays. However, not everyone gets to enjoy with the rest of the world.

Tragedy strikes at any time. Accidents will not stop from happening because of special occasions. It is because of this fact that most medical personal are still in their landau scrubs even if the rest of the town are sipping champagne, sharing turkey, or counting the seconds. They attend to their patients while almost everyone are home sharing that moment with their family.

If you are new to the profession, it is very difficult especially if you have close family ties. Surely, most of the nurses would want to be around their loved ones, particularly with their kids to celebrate memorable events. However, duty calls. Their clients do not go on vacation on certain dates. You cannot order them to get well during these times either.

This is just one of the challenges that our nurses face today. They do not spend as much time with their family as they want to. Most of them do not have a schedule that matches the schedule of other family members. When they are back from work, everyone has left.

Nurses have given so much of themselves to perform their duties and responsibilities. You might ask how they deal with this. Why do they last long?

Everyone has their ways of dealing with different situations. Nurses must have looked at these circumstances in a very positive perspective because they continue to do what they do. If you face the same dilemma and do not know how to handle it, here are some helpful suggestions:

1. Find a common schedule and prepare to do a memorable activity. The good thing about the schedule of nurses is that it changes. When you get a schedule that fits the schedule of your family, make it count by doing something memorable.

2. If you cannot be with them during the important occasions, find another time to celebrate it. Ask your other family members and find an activity that all of you can agree on.

3. Make sure that your loved ones understand the nature of your work. Do not assume that they know the demands of your work because most of the time they do not. Explain to them, especially to your children why you do not have the same timetable as others who have regular day jobs.

4. Leave them messages by writing notes. This is very effective. Do you remember how you felt when you saw a note inserted in your books by someone you like? We may live in the information age, but written notes still give a different impact.

5. You also have to make an effort to find time for them. All jobs are tiring and stressful. Do not think that your partner is the only person who should make compromises. You need to do your share to make things work.

No one said that it is going to be easy. Remember, great things come from hard work and sacrifices.

Brent McNutt is actively involved in the subject of Landau Scrubs such as landau scrub

Tags: away, Being, Deal, During, From, Home, Important, Nurses, Occasions

Foreign Nurses Cultural Preparation: How to survive and thrive in a new culture

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With all these challenges, foreign educated nurses possess amazing resilience and commitment to quality nursing practice.

What can you do as a foreign nurse to ensure that you are going to survive and thrive in this new environment?

First of all, “know before you go”. Learn all you can about your intended destination. When talking to friends who have been there, ask not only about the positive but also the negative issues so you can learn and prepare for them adequately.

Ask your recruiter or prospective employer what kind of cultural preparation and acculturation support they provide pre-departure, upon arrival, and any continuing support program.

Even if you think that you are adjusting very well to the new culture and work situation, there might be family issues back home that would prove to require more resources than you can muster, especially now that you are not there to deal with the situation. Prepare for family contingencies before you leave. Discuss possible scenarios with your family and how they should be handled in your absence.

Make sure you have social support networks established in the community where you will be living and practicing. If there are nurses from your country already working in the facility, ask for their contact information and start communicating with them before arrival.

Be informed about issues of diversity, prejudice, and discriminatory work practices. Find out how to access resources on immigration information, labor practices, nurse organizations for support, immigrant organizations, etc.

Take advantage of any cultural training programs that are available. You do not have to do it all by yourself. In order to succeed in overcoming these challenges competently, seek support and learn from others who have been there before.

“You can’t direct the wind but you can adjust the sails.”
–Anonymous

Tags: Cultural, Culture, Foreign, Nurses, Preparation, Survive, thrive