One of the Top Portland Healthcare Agencies Explains How to Maintain Professionalism Online and Dodge Social Media Pitfalls

You’ve worked so hard and studied in school for so long to get that nursing degree. Would you put that in jeopardy with social media posts? Unfortunately, some nurses do put their degree and job in jeopardy, which ultimately leads to disciplinary action by their employer. If you decide to have social media, you still want to be professional online. A provider of healthcare staffing in Portland, OR, shares what you should and shouldn’t do while online.

Before you ever post anything on social media, you need to think before you speak. Once you post something, even if you delete it, it can be out on the internet forever. You are a representation of the place you work for, not only your name. There are some good rules to follow when you are online, though.

1. Be aware of social media policies.

You need to make sure that you know your employer’s policies regarding social media. Most employers have a piece of paper that you must sign regarding talking about colleagues, patients, and the business itself on any social media platforms. Regardless of whether you work on the acute, ambulatory, or business administration sides, you must avoid posting things on social media that are work-related, such as patient information as it can violate HIPAA laws.

2. Follow some professional guidelines.

The best way to avoid social media pitfalls is to stay professional on your social media platforms. You should be polite in every online interaction that you have. You should also stay positive and ethical when having conversations with other people. Do not be careless about the comments that you make. You may mean well or think that you’re just venting, but it can become an issue later. The best way to avoid any pitfalls is to not post anything associated with your job online.

You can write down these 3 reminders to help you remember before you start posting online. You should think before tweet or write a status, consider before chatting someone, and ponder before you click the post or send button. If you follow these tips, Portland healthcare agencies explain that you’ll avoid a social media downfall that could cost you your job.

Express Healthcare Professionals in Tualatin, OR is one of the top Full-Service Nursing Agencies that progressively surpasses expectations by placing clinical staff in per diem and contract positions throughout the Greater Portland area and across the nation.

Express Healthcare Professionals
7401 SW Washo Ct #101
Tualatin, OR 97062
(503) 612-1550
https://www.ExpressHealthcareNW.com

One of the Top Healthcare Agencies in Portland, OR Discusses the Impact That Home Care Nursing Shortage Has on Patients

A nursing shortage is usually referred to in a hospital setting, but lately, the shortage has been felt in-home care nursing as well. It has been especially felt by families who have kids with complex medical needs. Rural areas are experiencing a shortage more than other areas. Some of the factors that contribute to the shortage in-home care nursing are significant pay disparities from home care and hospital nursing jobs, lack of socialization with colleagues with home care nursing, overall shortage of nurses, and complex pediatric patients needing to go to the hospital often, which leave the nurse short on hours and income. One of the providers of healthcare staffing in Portland wants to discuss key points of how it’s impacting patients.

Many pediatric patients feel the impacts of nurse shortages.

Pediatric patients are impacted because they end up having to stay at the hospital for longer periods due to the nursing shortage. The children who are in the hospital don’t have a nurse at home to take care of them once they are released with home health. The medical director of Pediatric Home Service explained that children go home with an order for home nursing care, but those children spent 54 more days on average at the hospital because of a shortage of home care nurses.

The reason that more pediatric patients with these medical complexities have increased is that there are advanced cardiac surgical procedures for these kids. The number of children saved has increased but that also comes along with them being more dependent on ventilators and tracheotomies. Rates of survival have also increased with a better quality of life, but they still are dependent on all the medical technology.

Time and insurance are both difficult.

If a patient can have their insurance approve of home care nursing, the next step then takes place to see if a nurse is available to work the hours that are approved by insurance. With the home care nurse shortages, healthcare agencies in Portland, OR, explain that parents are picking up the slack that can cause more stress in the family. Even if a nurse is available, insurance usually only covers an 8-hour day, which then results in the parents still picking up the slack. With these shortages and parents doing the rest, families struggle with finances.

Shortages also impact elderly patients.

A provider of medical staffing in Portland explains that not only are pediatric patients impacted but so are elderly patients. The need for home primary care providers for in-home elderly patients is increasing. It’s expected for primary care physicians to decrease by 2030. Yes, nurse practitioners can help by working as primary care providers for in-home elderly patients, but the need is still there for home care nurses. The shortage is still going to keep happening, which puts more stress on assisted living facilities, staff, and families.

Express Healthcare Professionals in Tualatin, OR is one of the top Full-Service Nursing Agencies that progressively surpasses expectations by placing clinical staff in per diem and contract positions throughout the Greater Portland area and across the nation.

Express Healthcare Professionals

7401 SW Washo Ct #101

Tualatin, OR 97062

(503) 612-1550

https://www.ExpressHealthcareNW.com

One of the Best Healthcare Agencies in Portland Explains How Nurses Must Understand Veteran Patients

At some point being a nurse, you will have a patient who is a veteran, who are men and women from 18-80 years old that have served our country. Many of these patients have special healthcare needs, such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), old injuries, prosthetics, and more. So, what can nurses do to help better understand veteran patients? A leading provider of Portland healthcare staffing explains how.

1. Ask the question “Have you ever served in the military?”

Asking “Have you ever served in the military?” is the most important question that you can ask one of your patients. When you ask this question, you learn much more about the patient and how you will care for them. The American Academy of Nursing created an initiative that focuses on this question called the Have You Ever Served in the Military? Initiative. The initiative aims to improve the health of veterans. It also gives providers and nurses a way to find important information on what to look for and what to ask when they are caring for their veteran patients. The site gives access to what military members may have been exposed to and what they might have a higher risk of.

2. Watch for health and well-being concerns.

There are many health concerns that you must watch for in veteran patients. These concerns include PTSD, blast concussions, military sexual trauma (MST), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and exposures, such as nuclear weapons, radiation, and more.

For example, veterans who served during the Vietnam War before 1992 became exposed to hepatitis C. The website “Have you ever served in the military?” gives important information such as this to help nurses understand and provide the best care to veteran patients. Musculoskeletal injuries plus associated pain, substance abuse, physical stress, PTSD, and suicide are some of the biggest health concerns with military members.

Take the time to build trust with your veteran patients and gain more knowledge regarding them and their health. Thanking them for their service is also a big help. It’s important to surpass a superficial relationship with a veteran patient, so they understand that you are truly there to help and care for them, explains healthcare agencies in Portland.

Express Healthcare Professionals in Tualatin, OR is one of the top Full-Service Nursing Agencies that progressively surpasses expectations by placing clinical staff in per diem and contract positions throughout the Greater Portland area and across the nation.

Express Healthcare Professionals

7401 SW Washo Ct #101

Tualatin, OR 97062

(503) 612-1550

https://www.ExpressHealthcareNW.com

One of the Leading Healthcare Agencies in Portland, OR Discusses Solutions for Nurse Burnout

A major safety issue in the nursing profession is burnout. A medical staffing agency in Portland explains that nurse burnout can include cynicism, exhaustion, and inefficiency. All of this can negatively affect nurses and can even affect patients through lack of safety and satisfaction. Here are a few solutions that can help with nurse burnout.

1. Resilient Environment

The leaders need to build a resilient working environment. The first step to preventing nurse burnout is to know that it does exist. As a leader, take the time to evaluate, find the cause, and take the necessary steps to eliminate burnout. Your staff should be able to openly communicate with you about any concerns they may have.

2. Staff Awareness

Of course, the nursing staff must have a part in watching for burnout. They should watch out for burnout in themselves and other coworkers. Tough situations such as clinical scenarios or challenging patients can increase stress and decrease resilience while other nurses embrace the challenges and can adapt. Even communication among the staff can help nurses thrive during their shift.

3. Research

Healthcare agencies in Portland, OR share that a big step to helping with burnout is to do your research. There are plenty of nurse literature materials and resources to learn more about nurse burnout, how to address it, and how to strategize around it. Both nurse leaders and staff must learn how to begin the conversation and discuss burnout with each other.

4. Safety Actions

A few safety actions to consider for any nursing facility is to provide the education needed to identify burnout and fatigue. You’ll want to have positive role models for other nurses to learn from. Create or use current tools to be ahead of issues and opportunities. Work internally to figure out if the current electronic health record system efficiently helps with the workflow. Schedule staff meetings to talk about new policies, processes, and outcomes and any changes that need to be made going forward and make sure that the staff is engaged.

Express Healthcare Professionals in Tualatin, OR is one of the top Full-Service Nursing Agencies that progressively surpasses expectations by placing clinical staff in per diem and contract positions throughout the Greater Portland area and across the nation.

Express Healthcare Professionals

7401 SW Washo Ct #101

Tualatin, OR 97062

(503) 612-1550

https://www.ExpressHealthcareNW.com