AGENCY NURSING 25/04/16 Hi there another week has passed and hope you all had a great week Well to continue with my blog on Agency nursing. Usually when you arrive at your destination you will be picked up by a member of the staff and taken to the Hospital where you pick up your key to your Accomodation. In the outback you may have to travel a couple of hours to get to the Hospital so the driver will stop and let you by food from one of the supermarkets as it a lot cheaper. Always be cordial to them when being picked up as it makes it easier for them and creates a relaxed atmosphere and travel more comfortable. I know you will probable be feeling tired and just wanting to have a shower and a rest. On arrival at the Hospital once again be friendly and you will be greeted with positivity and friendliness. I have seen many Agency Nurses arriving and have been very stand offish this does not make for a good first impression. Most places will have saved you a meal to prevent you from having to cook on that long day. Accomodation is one of the biggest issues in Agency Nursing as some places still have the old Nurses Quarters from the 60s where your room is big enough to hold one small single bed and a table with a chest of drawers. The bathrooms were all together and had showers with such gaps in the doors that you could see into them. The bathrooms were so cold that you didn’t linger long in the showers. No heaters I hated these as it did remind me of old staunch nursing days. We had a communal kitchen that had an old oven in it and it didn’t always work and lounge that usually had the oldest of furniture ever. I know of many Nurses who didn’t even unpack their bags over the state of the places. They would ring the Agency and get taken out of the place and put up in a Motel or leave the Hospital entirely and anull the contract. It was easier to go if you had your own transport. Then we had Accomodation that was the exact opposite where we had double beds own ensuite and shared lounge and kitchen that were the best. We paid to live in these places which was not a problem as the comfort was amazing. On arrival you were told what duties you were working. You had a day of orientation where you got the rundown of the place and introduced to all the staff but you never remembered everything. It always takes a couple of days to get used to the environment and people. One of the biggest things I was told by permanent staff was that many Agency nurses would say “we didn’t do it like that where I came from” and that immediately upsets the staff. It is best just to do it their way as it is their Hospital procedure and we are only there for a few weeks or months. Being adaptable is a plus or if you can’t perhaps you are not cut out for Agency nursing. Some Hospitals make you wear their Uniforms. Now for your duties you will find that you may have to work around permanent staff, that is one of the reasons we are there to assist them. I know that many places I did a lot of night duties and have not really liked these but that is the way it goes. Another complaint often made by permanent staff is that some Agency nurses are quite lazy and I have to say that this is true. I witnessed it on more than one occasion and felt they didn’t want to work as a team member worked only to please themselves. I think a few were deaf also as they didn’t hear call bells or that their legs were not working at that time. Have a great week and I will catch you all next week Check out these bargains and many more at http://nursefactory.com

This blog saved to Facebook but not my website at nursefactory.com my appologies 21/04/2016 Agency Nursing Hi there hope you all have had a great week. Over the next couple of weeks my blog will be a little different as I am going to talk about Agency nursing after having collegues say that I have the experience to give you the information required, so I can let you know the important things before you start. In 2008 I decided to become an Agency nurse and work in Australia (even though I love in New Zealand) doing Rural and Remote Nursing. I worked for a Nursing Agency who would get me the contract and away I would go. I decided to do this work after my husband wanted to retire from his work and I was past wanting to work permanently also. He would retire and renovate our home up and I would continue working , it was a great arrangement and worked well for us. This gave me the freedom of working three to four months and having two months off after each contract. This didn’t always work out as I often only had a month off but I didn’t mind as I love the work. He was always there to take me to the airport in the early hours of the morning which was two hours away from where we lived, or we would stay the night with a great sister in law who didn’t object to being woken in the early hours of the morning with me getting ready to go to the airport. All travel arrangements were usually made by the Nursing Agency and at the odd time I would do it myself. At the end of contracts that I extended on Gary would come over and we would get a rental car and explore the area. We love it and saw a lot of Australias great outback. There are many Nursing Agencies to choose from and all offer something different.. I researched Nursing Agencies I was interested in and read all comments from Nurses. Once I started working and wanting to join more Agencies it was great meeting up with more agency nurses who had experience to help, and I was able to make informed choices. Agency nursing is exciting and rewarding if you are aware of what is ahead of you. Don’t get carried away with the though of seeing new places, think of you abilities and make sure your skills are what is required Tips on starting The downside of Agency nursing is that you may have to wait for work so I think it is also a good idea to join up with more than one Nursing Agency as if there is no work with one there often is with another Agency. Some Hospitals have their favourite Agencies and use these ones only. Other Agencies will only work in certain areas. Have a current Passport Make sure your Nursing Registration is up to date. There is always a lot of forms to fill out and it is important that you have Health cards up to date for Hospital requirements eg drug screening and inoculations. Make sure you have copies of all paper work as mishaps do occur and when you get to your Hospital and they inform you that there are forms missing, and having certified copies helps. Keep then in a separate file When you get your contract it is important that you read it and understand what it says. If you are not happy with anything contact your Agency and get them to explain it to you. I have worked with Midwives who do not like working in Emergency Departments and have made sure it is their contracts. Remember that the choice of work is yours and if you feel apprehensive about it don’t do it. Learn bout the hospital, how big is it and what facitlies are available. Is there a Doctor on site does it have an Ambulance service as this helps with knowing what you are getting into. Find out about staff accommodation. I found in the more remote areas we did not pay for accommodation but nearer the bigger towns we did, so find out the cost before you get there. I remember one contract I did and was sleeping in the closest as there were not enough beds for Nurses. My Agency soon sorted that one out for me. You have the choice of how long the contract you want to work and many places give you the option of extending. Find out about the area. What is the population and what facilities are available. Check out the transport availability as if you are like me and have no car it is a good idea to know about the transport. As I say this I have worked in a few places where there is no transport in or out. I would have been picked up at the nearest airport and have often traveled more than two hours in a car to reach my destination. If you have you own car check out the garage repair places if needed. Another thing that is important check out the climate as if you are flying you can only have so much weight. Take clothing to suit the climate. I always like to take some personal things like my little blender and paring knife. I also pack small bathroom products to last a few days til I get settled and able to get food etc in. Check tickets before you depart for correct time and date. I have had wrong dates on tickets before. Contact the hospital to ensure that there will be someone there to pick you up at the airport or bus station. Have a good flight So you have arrived at your destination now I will tell you how to adapt to working in different Hospitals as an Agency nurse Everything you need as an Agency Nurse is available from ht://nurse factory.com See you next week . Stay safe and well Lynne Check out these passport covers at http://nursefactory.com

Stethoscopes

Sunday 09/04/2016 Hi all STETHOSCOPES I remember when I first started training and only the Doctors had Stethoscopes that they hung round their neck like a badge of honour and all Nurses had to use the one in the ward. One of the things I hate is when I am on a Doctors round and they ask if they can use my Stethoscope. I am very fussy about keeping the earplugs clean. The easiest thing to lose or have stolen. Stolen not by choice but because Heath Professionals forget who they borrowed it from and we forget who borrowed it in our busy duties. One of the things that I find hard to understand is that there are many in the wards for use by all and have seen many Health Professionals just pick one up to use and not clean it before or after. I had a bit of a reputation on night duty that all Stethoscopes got cleaned and hung up. Its not hard to work out that they should be cleaned between each patient with an alcohol swab, to prevent cross infection. As I say that it is recommended that the tubing should be cleaned with soap and water. I have cleaned some of my stethoscopes with alcohol swabs and it made the tubing go dull and one set go sticky.



There are two types of Stethoscopes one for Pulmonary and one for Cardiac Patients. The Diaphragm is used for Pulmonary patients as it picks up high pitched noises and the Bell for Cardiac Patients as it picks up low pitched sounds. A good quality Stethoscope gives better hearing. Stethoscopes come in a varied price range and you need to ascertain how much you can afford. In some Hospitals I have worked in they Purchase cheaper ones for the Isolation Units so they can be disposed of on discharge of the Patients.



The next thing you have to think about is are you going to use it for Paediatric or Neo-natals. The small chest pieces provide a more narrowing sound which makes better diagnosis for the babe or infant. You will find most Paedricians have these, but as we get more Nurse Clinicians we are getting a more variety on cost on these also.



There are many Brands of stethoscope and are all of great value. I use a Littmans and it seems to be one of the more popular brands. There are Stethoscopes with duel heads for teaching purposes and attachments for eg hanging tape, stethoscope name tags, children's novelty tags. There is also jewelery available with stethoscope lapel pins, charms for bracelets and embroidery squares.



Even way down here I watched the television show called "The View" and listened to the comments made about the Colorado Nurse who was ridiculed for wearing a Stethoscope. What a sad indictment on Society when we have so called Celebrities making fun of someone who is so proud of her profession. Come the Day when they need medical assistance. Shame on "The View". That is why we as Health Professionals need to support each other. Check these and many more great buys from Lynnes Nurse factory @ http://nursefactory.com/ See you all next week Stay safe and well Lynne

01/04/2016

Hi there, Hope you have had a good week. I have been in Hospital to have a small procedure done.  Glad its over with and will wait for the results in a week.  Feeling confident.
This week I want to talk about footwear, so it was very fitting to be in Hospital and take note of what Nurses are wearing.  Nothing like in my early nursing career.  I remember having to wear heavy hard white leather shoes and had to clean them with this white polish that didn't work very well.  I had been sent back to the Nurses Quarters to clean them again and another visit to the Matron, who told me she was see me to often for this.  I thought atht is she did see me more often we might get to be on first name basis.

I notices that many of them were wearing sports like footwear. Nurses spend a lot of time on their feet up tp 12 hours in some places and can run many miles on a duty. its great to look trendy but Nurses need shoes are comfortable. Shoes need to be washable as we all know how easy it is to get bodily fluids split on them. Some of the shoes that I saw Nurses wearing had a mesh front on the tops at the toes and I remember having shoes like this and getting bodily fluids on them and had to keep working in them till they dried. Not recommended when working in a place with bodily fluids. When wearing new shoes to work it is always a good idea to bring your old shoes to swap after about six hours as new shoes can start to feel a little uncomfortable if not worn in at home first. There are many Brands to choose from eg, Cherolee, Landau, Dansko, Sketchers to name a few. All have sometime different to offer and have great designs and colours to choose from, but sizing can alter. What fits in one Brand may not fit in other Brands. Some Hospitals insist on closed in heels for Health and Safety issues. Some thing to look for when buying shoes. Look for shoes that are anatomically correct for walking as bad fitting shoes can cause Back pain and Joint pain. Non slip soles are important and now come with patterns for better grip on wet surfaces especially in Operating Theatres. Shoes come with different measurements in heels to suit. Try and get insoles that have memory foam or latex (if not allergic to it), as these can mould to the shape of your feet and keep you comfortable on long days. As our feet can get hot with all the walking it is a good idea to have spare insole to change for coolness. While shoes come with many different fabrics it is an individual reason what we prefer. Leather is also very popular as some Nurses felt they gave more support. They are made with soft leather today and very flexible and come in many great colours and designs. If wanting the whole team to look the same there is a large selection of unisex shoes and clogs to choose from. Have a great week and I will see you all next week Leave me a commemt love to hear from you. Lynne

18/03/2016
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Hi there another week as passed and hope you all had a great week.  Last week I mentioned about how our uniforms in the late 60s were starch stiff.  They were not designed for comfort but to make you look professional or so the Matrons made you think that.  When we walked you could hear the rustle of  our uniforms as we walked the hallow corridors and busy wards.  When we removed them at the end of a duty you could stand them up in a corner, (that we did and put a mop on the top for a head.  We did get caught and reprimanded for unprofessional behavior),  not to mention that nurses caps were no better.  We all had trouble keeping them on our heads as they were so stiff you couldn't mould them to shape your head and get clips to stay in place.
Its great that in todays nursing world how uniforms have changed and the wearing of Nurses caps are no more.
Most Hospitals require staff to adhere to uniform regulations, but most have the choice of Scrubs or Dress uniforms.  While this is great we have to remember that  we are not all the same shape.  The thing to remember when choosing Scrubs is to look at the length of the top.  If you are short like me some tops are so long they can make us look shorter than we are.  The same can be said if you are tall the tops can be to short.  So it is important when looking for Scrubs you choose the correct one for you.  Well fitting pants are also important.  I preferred the elastic waists as I was able to move more freely but many of my collegues preferred the waist bands.  (They were usually the more leaner nurses).  Remember when we are bending over to do a procedure we don't want to show knicker bands or skin.  Picking Scrubs with pockets is also important as we need to carry so much equipment from Stethoscopes, Scissors, to pens etc.  Pockets well placed on Scrub Pants is an advantage as have to much equipment in Tops pockets as I have had Nurses speaking to me about being weighted down and making them look bulky. 
Remember Patients and Visitors are looking as us and always comment on the appearance of Nurses.
Next week I will discuss the difference in styles and material types and what may suit different body types and in different situations.
Catch you next week  Stay safe and well
Lynne Thyne

Hi there. My name is Lynne and have been nursing for over 40 years. Let me tell you about myself. I started Nursing as a Community Nurse which was then changed to Enrolled Nurse then I did my Nursing Degree to become a Registered General Nurse. So as you can see I have done two levels of Nursing. I am from New Zealand have worked in England, Scotland and Australia. For the past eight years I have been working for a Nursing Agency in Australia. I work in Rural and Remote areas and have met some of the most amazing nurses ever. I would work three to four months then come back home for a couple of months then off again. I have a great husband who always keeps the home fires burning. When home we go away in our Camper Van. We both love fishing and enjoying the beautiful spots to enjoy and relax in. I am happily married with three children and four Grandchildren who I love dearly. I have just retired or until I get a call to do another contract. After seeing many changes in the Health Profession whether it be in uniforms procedures or learning tools I feel that I am very experienced to write this blog. I will be writing a blog once a week and I will discuss one topic at a time. This blog will coincide with my website nurse factory.com. I created this website to make it easier for Health Professionals to purchase all nursing products in one place. As this is my first Professional Blog please hang in there I know I will get better. Today I will look back on my first days of training in brief. It was the days when the Matron did the ward rounds and checked all wards. Beds had to have the wheels all turned in one way, pillow cases had to have the openings away from the doors, hospital corners had to be really neat. Doctors were held in awe and we jumped at their every request. When the Ward Sister spoke you have to stand with your hands behind your back and yes sister no sister were all you were allowed to say. Uniforms were starched and left chafing marks on your neck. You stood up when someone more senior came into the room. This is just a brief description of my first days in nursing next week will go more in depth. Have a great week all