A Leading Nursing Staffing Agency in Portland Discusses Important Tips that Nurses Should Know About Wound Care

There are many medical procedures and practices that seem to constantly change. As a nurse, these changes can be difficult to keep up with. Wound care is one area that can be especially tricky to stay up-to-date on. Fortunately, a leading nursing staffing agency in Portland, Oregon is here to provide nurses with essential tips regarding wound care: 

1. Wound Care is Ever-changing 

The longer you work as a nurse, the more changes you will notice over time. For example, instead of doing the Braden Scale wound assessment within twenty-four hours upon patient arrival, it is now done only eight hours after arrival. Don’t let change throw you off your game… anticipate it! 

2. Expect Changes in Documentation and Terminology  

Changes in the way you must document information are difficult to get used to, but they are inevitable. It is vital that charts match the current terminology; otherwise, the charts will not communicate as effectively as they should, thus creating confusion. For example, the terms “pressure ulcers” and “decubitus” are now referred to as a “pressure injury.” Consistency across the board is essential when health is at stake. 

3. Pay Attention to the Healing Rate 

There IS a proper healing rate for wounds, and it is important to pay attention to whether or not a patient’s wounds are synonymous with that rate. Within three or four weeks, a wound should be reduced to half of its initial size. If this is not the case, a new treatment option should be considered. 

4. Educate When You Can 

If you see your co-workers using the wrong materials or practices when treating a patient’s wounds, do not hesitate to kindly correct them on it. With the right approach, they will not feel judged or attacked. Simply talk to them in a collaborative way and let them know that new practices have been instated.  

Though it is difficult to keep track of the frequent changes in patient care, putting in the effort to adhere to them will not only help you continuously become the best nurse you can be, but it will create the best possible outcomes for your patients!  

For more information, make sure to contact a nursing employment agency in Portland, OR. 

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) 272-6386 

www.expresshealthcarenw.com  

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

Healthcare Agencies in Portland, OR Discuss about Choosing Your First Nursing Job Wisely

Nursing school is a journey that has had several steps, including earning your degree, passing the NCLEX, and getting your license. So, what’s next? Your first job. You may be worried about the transition from a nursing student to now being in the field. Will you do well, fit in, and be successful? What will happen if you make a mistake?

There are two important steps with starting your career path with RN or CNA jobs in Portland. The first step is finding a job, and the second step is choosing the right one.

Narrow down the job searching.

Researching the job search can help you a lot. Make sure you’re updated on the job market and network with nurses who you went to school with. Have discussions with your past professors. You can also search online for chat rooms to speak with other new nurses. Find out what jobs are trending in the area. You may end up relocating to a different city and state. One of the leading healthcare agencies in Portland, OR suggests making decisions like where you want to work, the role you desire, and the benefits and salary that you need.

Think about other positions.

You don’t have to only work in a hospital. There are many other positions for nurses besides a hospital setting. You may be interested in working in nursing homes or medical clinics. You may even work as a case manager or academic nurse writer. Your options are open considering the nurse hiring market is competitive, so you can accept or decline certain job offers.

When you think about which nursing job you want, think about your personal goals, and what you want to get out of your nursing career.

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 Portland Healthcare Agencies Shares What Nurses Should Know about Pressure Injuries

Nursing practices can change frequently, so it can be a challenge for a nurse to stay updated. Wound care updates can be very hard to stay current with from new treatments, new products, to the best medical practices for several wound types. Pressure injuries can happen in all sorts of environments such as acute care, home health, and long-term care. CNA staffing agencies in Portland want to share what nurses should know about pressure injuries.

1. Wound care changes constantly.

What may have worked yesterday may not work tomorrow. A great example would be the Braden Scale wound assessment which used to be done in twenty-four hours upon being admitted. Now, the wound assessment is to be done in 8 hours of being admitted.

2. Documentation and terminology frequently change.

Not only do healthcare practices change but so does terminology. You may want to know what’s so important about staying up to date on healthcare terminology. Staying up to date helps to use the terminology that is current for charting. A great example would be the outdated term, pressure ulcers or decubitus, that is now known as a pressure injury. Also, instead of using Roman numerals for the staging system, Arabic numbers are now used.

3. There is a healing rate for wounds.

A wound should be reduced by fifty percent in size within 3 to 4 weeks after treatment has started. If the wound hasn’t decreased in that size by that time frame, another treatment option needs consideration.

4. You should help educate your coworkers when needed.

If you notice that wrong materials or practices being used, help educate them on what to do. Don’t judge them or approach them in an insulting way. Instead, collaborate with them and teach them the correct practices. Webinars or educational sessions can be given by the company with lunch can be a great way to help nurse staff learn the proper practices, explains Portland healthcare agencies.

5. New products for wound care can change.

Each product will most likely have specific instructions on usage. All staff should be shown how the product should be used when there are new products on the floor.

Staying updated on pressure injuries will help give the best possible outcome for the patient.

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