by scott | Sep 21, 2022 | Blog, Client, Healthcare
Cold and Flu season is approaching and it is coming in HOT! While the 2021 flu season was milder than the previous year, partly thanks to the lingering COVID restrictions that kept us masked and sheltering in place. This year, the CDC recommends that, “adults 65 and older receive a high-dose influenza vaccine for better protection.” With masks off and COVID restrictions now lifted, it’s time to prepare your healthcare facility for an influx of patients, sick staff members, and of course, the stubborn viruses that are sure to visit us this fall. This blog will help you prepare for cold and flu season.
CDC Recommendations for 2022 Cold and Flu Season
The CDC published tips for preventing the spread of flu. Many of these will be familiar to you, but this year, in addition to reminding your patients of some of these best practices, you should also remind your staff:
- Encourage everyone, including your employees, to take the seasonal flu shot.
- Host a flu vaccine clinic at local companies. This will promote your facility in addition to protecting your community.
- Review your sick leave policies to ensure that your staff feels comfortable staying home when they need to. Set up a plan for per diem staff to step in to fill gaps as necessary. AG Globe Services can help in this area.
- Sick leave policies should support employees who come down with flu symptoms while on the job. Do not encourage them to “tough it out” to avoid spreading contagion. Create a culture where employees are comfortable confessing that they don’t feel well and back it up with plenty of paid sick time. This will help build an internal culture of wellness that will help your employees feel better about their health—and their jobs.
- Consider using telemedicine to your advantage in these cases. During COVID, quarantined clinicians who were asymptomatic conducted virtual patient visits. This is a great triage tool that keeps patients out of the ER and healthcare waiting rooms. But it also can make use of an exposed or slightly ill healthcare worker who can continue to work but do it safely at home where they’re not spreading germs around your facility.
- Continue to remind patients and staff of sanitary practices to stop the viral spread. Hand washing is the bare minimum, but also no-touch trash cans, hand sanitizer stations, and mask-wearing during peak flu season, are still important.
- Provide additional resources for employees and patients who are at risk for serious flu complications. Pregnant women and people with chronic diseases are particularly vulnerable at this time of the year.
Staying prepared for cold and flu season requires an extra effort. What can you do right now to prepare for staff illnesses that will leave you shorthanded this winter?
Mitigating Healthcare Staffing Shortages During Flu Season
Partnering with AG Globe Services now will help you prepare for flu season later on. We are a full-service healthcare outsourcing provider of top clinical and administrative talent. Healthcare organizations partner with our recruiting teams to help maintain appropriate staffing in their facilities during times of peak volume and labor shortages.
Are you still searching for a credible staffing partner? Contact our team today to get ready for the 2022 viral load. We can help.
by scott | Sep 7, 2022 | Blog, Healthcare, Job Seekers
Some people choose the job of being a nurse because it provides an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of patients and their families. Others do it for job security, great pay, and benefits. But the most surprising perk of working as a registered nurse is actually the flexibility of the role. Other careers just can’t compare. In this blog, we’ll discuss how being an RN can be flexible, what options you have to achieve job flexibility, and also where you can go from here if you decide your current role isn’t the right fit.
What are the Jobs with the Most Flexibility in the Nursing Field?
Finding better work/life balance in the nursing field isn’t as hard as you might imagine. Why? Because, first, you can select from a wide range of nursing environments, including:
- Hospitals
- Small group practices
- Schools
- Prisons
- Rehab centers
- Ambulatory surgery centers
- Home Health
- Mental health rehabilitation centers
- Colleges and universities
- Nursing homes
- The military
- And more
There are even completely virtual nursing jobs. NursingCE talks about them in a recent blog:
- Virtual healthcare recruiters sometimes use nurses as part of their technical screening processes.
- Telemedicine nurses work strictly in the virtual space, conducting patient evaluations, triage, diagnosing, and treating patients.
- Insurance nurses use work-from-home talent to screen, evaluate, and coach surgery patients or those with chronic illnesses.
- A Health Coach is a nurse entrepreneur of sorts; you can seek out specialized certifications and then build a book of contract business, or work full-time.
- Freelance nurse writers produce content for medical journals, blogs, and more.
Even if these roles don’t appeal to you, the traditional nursing profession isn’t a 9-to-5 job anymore. Today, you can work as a:
- Per diem nurses, are contract nurses that fill temporary staffing gaps. You’ll find per diems in almost any facility but particularly in hospitals during inpatient population spikes or just to fill in for someone on vacation. Per diem work is very flexible because you can choose to take or not take the job. Many times, these flexible roles come with benefits through the staffing agency that employs you.
- PRN nurses are on-call until they’re needed. These floating nurses are a bit like substitute teachers in that they fill in an unexpected gap in staffing.
- Travel nurses can pick up contract staffing roles around the country. These nurses make excellent money—some of the best rates in the industry—and most pay for lodging and more.
- Job-sharing nurses can split a full-time position along with benefits. This gives you the flexibility of a part-time job but with full-time perks.
In the past, the idea of nursing didn’t bring the vision of job flexibility and work/life balance. But today, the field has changed. Not only do you have job options and educational choices, but you can also pick the job based on its flexibility to fit your lifestyle.
If you’re ready for a more flexible lifestyle and a better work environment, call on AG Globe Services. We work with the leading healthcare companies in the U.S to provide them with the best RNs in the business.
by scott | Jun 22, 2022 | Healthcare, Job Seekers
We’ve never seen a healthcare job market like this. The demand for clinical and even administrative candidates has been outrageously high. Even with a low unemployment rate this year, we still will fall far short of filling the jobs that are currently open. There’s never been a better time to work in the healthcare field.
But what about healthcare contracting? One of the most notable developments over the past few years has been the rise of more contracting positions; from per diem and locum tenens to travel nursing, there is a new level of flexibility in the kinds of jobs you’ll find in healthcare today. Contract jobs have some unique benefits. What are they? Why would you consider a contract healthcare role this summer? We have answers that will help inform your decision-making this year.
Benefits of Considering a Healthcare Contract
If you’re on the job hunt and have healthcare skills right now, it’s time to stop and consider your options. Joining a full-time role this summer may interfere with your vacation plans. But have you considered contracting your skills? Healthcare organizations are desperately looking for talent during the months when their workforce is desperately seeking time off—and they’re paying top dollar and signing bonuses for your expertise and willingness to help. Why would you consider taking on a temporary position when there are so many open full-time roles this summer?
- First, contract roles are incredibly flexible. You can take on short-term assignments that allow you to get the time off you need this summer with your family. That schedule flexibility is incredibly valuable and a huge perk of contracting. For example, in addition to scheduling your contract job around an already-scheduled family vacation, maybe you want a job in a cooler climate to get out of the summer heat this year. There are all kinds of perks and bonuses found in the general flexibility that a healthcare contract brings.
- We mentioned compensation, but it’s so lucrative now to contract that it’s worth mentioning again. Some specialty areas in healthcare make even more money; for example, traveling nurses have fantastic salaries, signing bonuses, and the employer will put you up somewhere and pay for your travel. Generally, if you have certain specialties, you stand a better shot of making a very high income as a healthcare contractor.
- You’ll also be able to try out a brand-new healthcare environment. New working environments are risky if you’re going in full-time. A contract job this summer gives you the opportunity to try out a workplace before committing to a full-time role. It may even allow you to try out different teams within a larger employer to see where you might fit. Because there are so many jobs right now, you should have no problems targeting a specific employer to come back to in a full-time position.
Today’s healthcare job market is much different than in the past. There are dozens of lucrative contract roles that offer you flexibility during the summer months or even beyond that time. Our team works hard to pin down these roles and then make sure you find the one that fits your goals. If you’re ready for your next summer contract assignment, get in touch with the AG Globe team today!
by scott | Jun 8, 2022 | Healthcare, Job Seekers
Certified nursing assistants (CNAs), also known as nursing aides, are in-demand. That’s because healthcare doesn’t happen without a CNA somewhere in the mix. CNAs provide direct care to patients, whether they are in their homes, in a skilled nursing facility, or in other in-patient settings. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts these jobs will grow at a rate of 8% annually through 2030. As the baby boomer population continues to age and needs skilled nursing care, CNAs will play an important role in meeting these needs. In this blog, we’ll share important information on the CNA/nursing aid role. What education do you need to become a CNA? What skills will you need to take on this work? We have answers that can help you decide if a CNA position is right for you.
What is a CNA?
Certified nursing assistants take care of patients directly under the supervision of a professional nursing team. This is an entry-level role perfect for anyone seeking to break into steady work in the healthcare industry. On a typical day, a CNA will:
- Help multiple patients with a variety of health concerns.
- Aid patients with mobility issues with basic life skills such as eating, bathing, dressing, and even movement and exercise.
- Monitor and record the patient’s food and beverage intake.
- Update the nursing team on any changes in the condition of the patient.
In a hospital, the CNA may do all of these things, but also, they may:
- Deliver patient meals.
- Answer phones at the nursing stations or assist patients in making calls.
- Clean patient rooms by wiping down surfaces, sweeping, and taking out the trash.
- Provide emotional support to patients who are feeling sad or discouraged by simply listening to them.
- Helping push equipment from one room to another or even transporting a patient to a testing location.
What Skills Will You Need To Be a CNA?
A CNA job is physical. You’ll be on your feet and moving around. You may be required to lift or move patients. During this you will also need to exhibit caring and compassion for the patient. You’ll need to notice small patient details and report on them in the charting. Communication is critical in these positions. You will also need:
- Patience, optimism, and a sense of humor will help with stress.
- Some knowledge of medical phrases and terminology
- Flexibility; each day will be as different as the patients you serve.
Interestingly, you can jump right into these positions. There are some great programs out there that are low cost (but high return). Completing one will set you up to break right into healthcare—fast. What kind of training and education will you need to land your first CNA job?
What Education and Training Will You Need?
CNA certifications can be obtained in as little as 90-days. This usually includes about 75 hours of classroom work plus on-the-ground training in the clinical skills you’ll need. There is a CNA examination required in the state where you’re working. You don’t need a college degree, either. That means there is a low barrier to entry for CNA positions and the certifications themselves are quite affordable. For about $1,300, you can have the certifications you need to take on this role.
If you’re ready to explore a career as a nursing aide, browse our open roles today!
by scott | May 18, 2022 | Blog, Healthcare, Job Seekers
Searching for the right position isn’t always easy! There are hundreds of thousands of open healthcare positions online right now, and it can be difficult to try to figure out what would be best for you and your skills. Consider working with a staffing agency, like AG Globe Services, where our recruiters will work closely with you to help place you in a position perfect for you. How can a staffing agency help you find the right fit?
Benefits of Working with a Recruiting Firm
If you are in healthcare, particularly if you have experience, your email is probably filled with recruiters interested in working with you. It’s a great position for you to be in. The trick is to find the right recruiter that not only understands your profession but takes the time to get to know you and the healthcare client they represent.
Partnering with a firm like AG Globe Services makes sense because of our insider knowledge of the clients we serve. It gives you the edge over every other candidate that applies online. There are no fees for us to represent you; the employer pays for our good work. This allows you access to great jobs that may not even be listed on a job board yet. It also helps you with professional advice on tailoring your resume as well as tips for making your interviews go more smoothly. How can AG Globe Services help you in your healthcare job search?
We Save You Time and Money
Who has time to search through hundreds of job openings, research the healthcare facility, and apply? We know applying to healthcare jobs is a full-time job. Now compare this to working with an AG Globe Services recruiter. Your job is to send us a resume. That’s it. Once we’ve spoken with you and understand exactly what you’re looking for, we do the rest. Our job is to represent candidates to top healthcare employers and get you to the interview process. If you don’t think that healthcare facility is the perfect match, we have plenty of other jobs available and can save you the legwork by sharing them with you. There are zero costs involved with us doing this work on your behalf and we are committed to finding what you’re searching for!
We Provide You with Valuable Career Advice
Your AG Globe Services recruiter can coach you to help you do better in the interview process. We’re trained to spot resume flaws—we’ve seen hundreds of CVs—and help you refine your credentials. Our team can also talk knowledgeably about what it’s like to work in the organization you’re considering. We can help you understand the tricky nuances of culture fit, which is something that isn’t described in most job descriptions. Then, throughout your career, we stay in touch so that, if something changes in your situation, you can call us for advice or even for your next job.
Having an AG Globe Services recruiter in your back pocket is like a secret weapon in your job search! If you’re ready for the next step in your career, check out our jobs and get in touch with our team.
by scott | May 4, 2022 | Blog, Healthcare, Job Seekers
Congratulations on your recent graduation from nursing school. You’ve probably been thinking about life after graduation and wondering which type of position and what kind of work environment is right for you. If you’re not quite sure where to go next, here are some career paths to consider.
Med-Surg Nursing
We’ll start with one of the more traditional nursing jobs. Medical-surgical nursing is probably the go-to nursing specialty and if you choose this profession, your skills will be highly in demand. The work is primarily with adult patients with a ranging caseload of illnesses. It’s a great intro to the world of practical nursing because of that variety. Typically, in these roles, you operate outside of an OR, whether it’s an ambulatory surgery hospital or another type of facility. Your job is often to monitor patient care after a procedure. It’s a good place to practice bedside manners as well as basic clinical skills that serve as the underlying backbone of your skills. You’ll find that, out of all the career paths we’ve listed, the med-surg nursing role most closely aligns with what you learned in school.
Hospital Nursing
Hospitals have big budgets, so not only can new nurses employ higher salaries and better benefits, but the innovations in technology, research, and clinical workflows can be higher than in a smaller independent medical practice or another type of organization in healthcare. New nurses are exposed to the best training and the best tools as well as experiencing hands-on clinical tasks from maintaining IVs to wound care, and much more. Hospitals also offer nurses a variety of patient care scenarios from COVID to congestive heart failure, infants to the elderly. It’s a great foundational job that can lead you just about anywhere later in your career.
Mental Health Nursing
There has been much written about the mental and behavioral health crisis caused by COVID and the opioid epidemic, as well as other factors affecting this area of healthcare. Psych nursing jobs are demanding but rewarding. They are also hugely in demand for qualified nursing staff. You can handle a variety of mental and behavioral health cases, forming strong therapeutic relationships with patients and their families. It’s a demanding field but pays well and is highly rewarding.
Eldercare Nursing
The demand for nurses to work in eldercare facilities is rising in direct proportion to the baby boomer population. One healthcare provider describes the work in this way, “Choosing to work with the elderly is compassion on a whole different level.” Working in a senior living facility allows you to use all of your clinical expertise but also requires the desire to know that you’re making a big difference in someone’s life beyond dispensing medications. Long-term care and senior living facilities are filled with people who have lived their lives and seen some amazing things. As an eldercare nurse, your work will go beyond caregiving to include learning about the lives of your patients and the amazing things they’ve lived through and seen.
No matter which type of nursing path you start on, AG Glove Services has a job for you. If you’re ready to make the leap from school to nursing practice, check out our jobs to get your career started.
