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HELP IS AVAILABLE    The members of the St. Louis College of Health Careers are concerned about your safety and well-being on and off campus.  All of these resources provide 24/7 confidential support.    Security Concerns on Campus  Contact David Blanc or your program director if you feel unsafe on campus or if a are worried about a situation from off campus effecting you here. We have taken specific security measures for students before.     Resources in the St. Louis Area  City of St. Louis Resources – Domestic and Family Violence Help  Start STL – DOMESTIC VIOLENCE – START HERE …

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teamwork in nursing

How Nursing Can Teach Teamwork

Every job and every field depends on teamwork at least to some extent – but for nursing, it’s a matter of substantial and grave importance. It isn’t just about fostering a good workplace environment (though that’s important). If medical professionals don’t work together successfully, sick people don’t get better – it’s as simple as that.   Positive patient outcomes are dependent on the strength of teamwork within a single unit as well as through interdisciplinary collaboration. Treatments may not be effective if medical professionals don’t work together to carry them out.   Moreover, studies have shown that good teamwork is a significant factor in . Although collaboration isn’t just about cultivating a positive workplace environment, that is a critical piece of the puzzle.   With the number of nurses having dramatically dropped after COVID-19, increasing retention and reducing turnover are of crucial importance to the field – and ineffective teamwork due to negative relationships with colleagues threatens that.   Many nursing programs provide ample opportunities for students to work together so they can learn how to collaborate effectively with others to enhance patient outcomes and contribute to a better work environment after graduation. That said, there’s only so much you can learn outside of hands-on training and trial-by-fire experience. The quickest way to learn teamwork and its importance is on the job, which is why reputable programs will balance real-life training with education.       Almost every hour of every day nurses require teamwork. Whether you’re communicating with the doctor regarding a patient’s information or treatment progress, problem-solving across disciplines with other professionals, splitting responsibilities between your team depending on needs or training new nurses, communication is vital.   Soft skills like active communication, listening, negotiating and staying calm in high-pressure situations will be valued just as highly as your technical skills on the job. Having specialized expertise in IV therapy and wound care will be enhanced if you also have exceptional bedside manner and teamwork capabilities. Developing both will make you an esteemed team member and an attractive asset to employers looking to enhance their workplace’s culture with good people who are also good nurses.   St. Louis College of Health Careers offers rigorous training for aspiring nurses and current nurses looking to advance their careers with an esteemed education that medical professionals and administrators recognize. Our nursing programs are designed to both challenge students and prepare them to hit the ground running after graduation and to also be flexible to their needs as real people.   Learn more about and start your application today by calling 866-529-2070.

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nursing making more money

Skills to Learn to Earn More Money as a Nurse

Yes. Any job in medicine requires constant and continuous learning to ensure you’re providing the most up-to-date and efficient care – but some training, specifically courses that develop critical skills, can lead to more tangible results, like a pay increase or diversified employment opportunities. If you’re looking to make more money or secure a higher salary, enhancing these skills – which include both technical and interpersonal proficiencies – can help you achieve those goals.                 Taking on extra shifts in high-demand areas can come with extra pay, including in high-demand environments like the ICU and ER. However, an increased paycheck for more hours worked isn’t the same as getting hired in a higher-paying position where you can work the same number of hours and get paid more.   Training, whether through certifications or by going back to school for an advanced degree, is one of the most reliable ways to enhance your resume and establish your commitment to earning leadership roles or positions with more responsibility.   Certifications are less expensive and time-consuming than an advanced degree. Some may only require completing a certificate program and/or a specific amount of work experience before nurses are eligible to sit for certification exams to prove their skill proficiency.   Common certifications for RNs include Certified Critical-Care Nurse (CCRN), Inpatient Obstetric Nurse (RNC-OB) and Clinical Research Nurse Certification (CRN-BC), while certifications for LPNs primarily focus on verifying entry-level basics, such as IV care and pharmacology.   In contrast, a degree usually involves many semesters of dedicated study and training, but that effort can go a long way in elevating your salary potential.   Advanced degrees, such as , can provide current nurses a convenient opportunity to hone existing skills, gain new ones and translate them directly into a broader array of career opportunities.   Getting an advanced degree not only gives you the rigorous education you need to develop specialized skills, but it can also serve as concrete proof of your capabilities to employers and healthcare facilities. While you may improve your nursing abilities in your current position, employers may not be as confident about hiring you without formalized education and certifications.   Although diploma programs are faster, an advanced degree can show your dedication to a specific area, clearly demonstrating how much time and effort you’ve put into learning these skills, which can give you a competitive edge over other applicants. A degree shows that you’ve undergone a thorough education in the subject and have officially cultivated your skills with a combination of expert guidance and hands-on training.   Pursuing a formal education can also give you access to a network of professionals and mentors, opening the door to new connections and influences that can lead to new career prospects previously inaccessible.   Make yourself a desirable job candidate with the potential to earn more money with a reputable and rigorous education from St. Louis College of Health Careers. Our programs will thoroughly prepare you for your dream job while being flexible to your current job responsibilities, including online classes so you can advance your career on your own time.   Call 866-529-2070 today to learn more about .

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nursing jobs and careers

How to Build a Successful Nursing Career and Resume

One nurse’s definition of a successful career may be pursuing an LPN to RN degree and finding a job where they are able to coordinate patient care, while another’s may be to be directly involved in the care of geriatric or pediatric patients.   However you define “success”, the advanced programs at St. Louis College of Health Careers will give you the tools and resources you need to excel in your path and reach your dream with confidence.         Your resume is only the start to a successful career, and while the end goal is different for everyone, there are some common tools everyone can use, such as pursuing more advanced degrees and developing your skills.   Find a job that caters to what you’re passionate about – whether that’s patient care, education or administration – and, if possible, has a good work-life balance so you can maintain that passion for many years without becoming burnt out.   Honing your expertise and skillset within your specialization will make you a valuable teammate and employee – both of which can lead to a successful career. Currently, nurses make up a significant majority of the healthcare workforce with over three million employed, but only approximately have a master’s degree. You can gain a competitive edge over other nurses applying for leadership roles and higher-paying positions by getting an advanced degree.   Seek out opportunities that give you more experience, like leadership roles, that make you a more likely candidate for further advancement.   Successful nurses also keep up with technology and patient-care advancements in their field. Even if you don’t go back to school, seeking new and challenging continuing education courses can ensure your technical skills, medical knowledge and passion for the work remain fresh.   Forgetting to take care of your own mental health can quickly lead to burnout, which has the potential to derail your career. Taking care of yourself – eating a healthy diet, getting a good night’s rest whenever you can and exercising as regularly as possible — can be crucial in alleviating stress, enabling you to care for others better and with ease.   The faculty at St. Louis College of Health Careers will prepare you to excel in your chosen field, training aspiring LPNs, RNs and healthcare administrators to excel from the very first day. Call 866-529-2070 to learn more about and apply today.

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doc training nurses

How to Transition to a Nursing Position Outside of Bedside Nursing

saw a substantial number of bedside nurses leave the profession, seeking another nursing position that wasn’t as taxing.   The dedication and energy required to perform the duties of a bedside nurse are transferable and valued everywhere. However, if you are trying to jump to a higher-paying position or a separate specialization, getting an advanced degree can make their transition smoother.   Dealing with arguably the most draining part of healthcare on a constant basis while suppressing your own emotional reaction in order to calm patients is one of the biggest stressors of the position.   Bedside nurses work irregular hours that can stretch into the night and well into the next day. These positions may require nurses to work weekends and holidays – all while spending long hours on their feet running all over the place. This can not only lead to an unhealthy work-life balance, but this schedule can also lead to bodily wear and tear and raise nurses’ risk of developing injuries from repetitive strain.   Healthcare professionals are among the most vulnerable to workplace violence, with patient aggression in hospitals and nursing homes negatively affecting bedside nurses. This is made worse by the unsafe nurse-to-patient ratios, which can create potentially dangerous working conditions that can overwhelm bedside nurses.   Between the high patient loads, caring for critically ill patients, talking to concerned family members and critical understaffing, many nurses experience burnout. This can all be compounded if your team is overwhelmed and unable to work efficiently together , which is a substantial factor in nurse turnover.   Not all reasons are necessarily due to a distaste for bedside nursing – some may be seeking an opportunity to pursue a higher-paying job or a position in a different specialization, such as education, healthcare administration, clinical research or critical care.             The most effective way to change course is to pursue an advanced degree. While certifications can give nurses quick accreditation in areas they may want to pursue, going back to school can show employers your dedication to cultivating your skillset, which can subsequently increase your chances of getting hired as well as increase your earning potential.   Completing an advanced degree in can provide tangible evidence of your in-depth knowledge and refined skillset, giving you (and your employers) confidence that you can perform well in a higher position and will be able to hit the ground running from the moment you’re hired.   At St. Louis College of Health Careers, we prepare aspiring and transitioning nurses for their dream position with one-on-one guidance delivered by experienced faculty, hands-on training and ample clinical experience.   Strengthen your abilities at your own pace with in-person and online programs that are flexible to your work and life schedule. Learn more about our programs and today by calling 866-529-2070.

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