Lab Coats and Perceptions

Experts say that those who go to work wearing white uniforms are smarter and more capable people. In fact, a couple of Northwestern University scholars say that these individuals even perform their tasks more accurately and with more confidence. To put it in plain words, white lab coats tend to make people more productive.

But what if you walk down the street to find someone wearing a suit or a work uniform? Does it somehow change our attitude in believing that the clothing a person wears is symbolically subject to be what he or she is? Two Northwestern University scholars found that wearing white lab coats could actually open a whole new avenue in how people perceive you. For instance, wearing a lab coat may make a person’s posture change before your very eyes. The treatment is different because there is a symbolism invested in it what you’re seeing. According to the researchers, the power of representation is at work.

The question is how a couple of researchers stumbled upon this novelty idea. In one test, volunteers were asked to wear white coats, just as doctors do, and then measured their ability to concentrate. Those who were uniformed performed other tasks. The study proved that wearing lab coats could have a significant influence on our mental and physical well being.

The lab coat, medical scrubs, and other uniforms are an integral part of many professions’ identity. When the person wearing a uniform puts it on, he or she assumes a whole new identity that can be a confidence boost for them as well as clients or patients.

Holidays in the Hospital: A Visiting Guide

The Christmas holidays can be the best time of the year for most but for those unable to spend it outside of the hospital it can be a sad, lonely, and frustrating time of the year. If you find that a loved one is stuck in the hospital this year, be sure to go the extra mile to make their holidays a bit better.

There are a few simple, easy things you can do to bring Christmas cheer to the hospital room. While it isn’t always possible to set up decorations, your presence or a thoughtful phone call is often enough to lift someone’s spirits. Take a look at these tips for visiting the hospital during the holiday season:

·       Stagger the Visits - No one person should be the visitor; everyone that is available should visit at separate times so the person that is in the hospital feels wanted. By staggering the visits, everyone has a chance to socialize with the patient and the patient is not overwhelmed with too many people.

·       Bring Festive Food – If it is ok with the attending doctor, bring food that reminds the patient of the season. Sometimes even setting a bowl of festively wrapped candy in the room for those in medical scrubs to munch on can bring a bit of pizzazz to bland walls.

·       Deck the Halls - Who says you can’t decorate the hospital room like you would at home? Ask the person what they think of the idea and what kind of decorations they want. There is no reason why it can’t be fun for them too! Just be sure that the hospital staff approves the décor you put up.

·       Use Technology Available - If there’s a chance you can’t come to the hospital, set up some form web-chat. A phone call is always a good choice as well.

·       Never Overdo It - Never overwhelm the loved one. Visitors are great but you don’t want to crowd him or her with a room full of visitors or a large string of visiting friends. Make sure there is some down time for the patient to get some breathing room.

As either a nurse, doctor, or even a former patient, what are some suggestions you have for those visiting loved ones in the hospital this season?

Advice for Leaving a Great Hand-Off Report

Hand-off reports are timely, consuming, and often considered to be one of the least enjoyable tasks of the nursing field. Yet almost every healthcare system relies on great hand-off reports to better help patients. While it takes time to write a great hand-off report, the benefits of doing so are numerous and help not only the patient but the team as well.

Handing off great reports, also known as change of shift reports, is one thing that most new nurses have to learn on their own as they start a new job. Most hospitals and other healthcare centers have their own procedures when it comes to reports.

To help you out, we have a few general tips that will increase the productivity and overall standard of your nurse-to-nurse reports.

1.     Cross Every ‘T” and Dot Every “I”. Making sure your report is complete is essential. Perfection in the medical world can save lives, as can details.

2.     Anticipate Every Question. If you ask yourself a question about a report, you can expect someone else will do so as well.

3.     Nursing Is A Job That Never Stops. This means that reports will always have to be updated, even if the update is a single item or many.

4.     Stay Organized. Not only should your workstation and scrubs be organized but so should your reports.

5.     Work As A Team. Everyone working together can only mean success. If there’s a system in place for reports, follow it.

Great reports are essential to a functioning, productive work place. Be sure to follow procedure when it comes to reports, and to record what you can. When you hand-off a great report, you are not only helping your patient but also your fellow co-workers.

The Secret to Looking Your Best at Work

If you are required wear medical scrub at your job, there are several things that experts say you should do to keep yourself looking great in the workplace. Just because your fashion choices are restricted does not mean all is lost. In fact, you need not spend huge sums of money to look your best, but there are some solid, reliable guidelines to follow for that proper, professional look, most of which are related to cleanliness and hygiene. Unfortunately, many medical employees ignore these tips and end up with an appearance that is much less than appropriate.

Always wear a clean set of medical scrubs, and never wear faded or worn scrubs. This also applies to shoes and socks, which can make or break an otherwise positive demeanor. Stained, worn, and ill-fitting clothing is perhaps the greatest detriment to your overall look. Likewise, your hair, nails, and teeth speak volumes about your level of professionalism.

Experts on workplace etiquette point out that medical scrubs can look very good unless they are too large or too small, at which point they look simply awful. Shop carefully for scrubs that fit, and then purchase several sets of that size in your preferred colors. If you launder the scrubs regularly and repair or replace torn garments, you will never have to concern yourself with looking less than your very best.

Concerning hair, it is best to keep long hair tied back in a ponytail or braid, but never tuck a ponytail or braid into the back of your scrubs collar. Those who consult about workplace etiquette say this practice is one of the worst habits in medical settings.

By keeping your clothing and body clean and fresh, you will always have a bright, positive appearance while on the job in the medical industry. Clean medical scrubs can enhance your air of professionalism as well as give you confidence in yourself.

Tips for Washing Your Medical Scrubs

If you are in the medical field, chances are pretty high that you need to wear scrubs to work. With that being said, you should also wash your medical scrubs everyday as well. When you wash clothing on a daily basis, however, it will fade and look worn out as time goes on. Since you own fewer sets of scrubs that regular clothing wearing them out will happen much sooner than you expect.

Take a look at these tips that will help your medical clothing look newer a lot longer:

1.     Buy the highest quality scrubs on the market. Whenever you go to buy regular clothing, you probably buy the best on the market. The same should go for your medical attire. Never substitute quality for savings.

2.     Always wash your work clothes separate. Medical scrubs can carry a lot of things home with them but they can also bleed like regular clothing. So make sure the whites stay with the whites and darks with the darks.

3.     Wash your scrubs in cold water, always. Cold water has a habit of trapping the dye and keeping it in your scrubs.

4.     Try adding a single tablespoon of vinegar to your wash before adding detergent or any clothing. This helps stop any bleeding of fabrics.

5.     Always use the delicate cycle.

6.     Mild detergents are always the best. Make sure you let the suds foam up before putting your scrubs in.

7.     Never add softener. However, dryer sheets are okay.

8.     Line dry your scrubs. Never throw your scrubs in the dryer as they could shrink or stain.

Tips to Help Prepare for a Nursing Job Interview

If you are a nurse fresh out of college, then you are ready for your first job as a professional. The first thing you must remember is that the interview process is an important one and should not be taken lightly. Just because you have a nursing degree doesn’t necessarily mean you will get a job sooner or later. Professionalism is a must in this field and, if you follow the tips below, you should have no problem getting a career started quickly.

1. Like preparing for a test, getting yourself ready for a job interview primes a person to achieve. Ask for the basics the moment a job interview is planned. Ask who will be interviewing you and how to enunciate their name (if you are unsure). Confirm where the interview will be held and obtain directions. If the facility is large, examine the site for a detailed layout.
2. To assist you in getting ready for your job interview, search for articles regarding interviewing and types of questions usually asked. Consider how likely it is to answer all of them and write down a list of queries you'll request.
3. Before your interview, get everything together- maps or directions, notes considering the time as well as interviewer's name and telephone number, resume, your phone, along with a notebook together with your listing of questions.
4. Be sure you have your outfit together. Hang your garments so that they’ll be wrinkle free. Iron clothes if need be, and be sure you were something tasteful and conservative. Do not wear medical scrubs to the interview; be professional in your appearance.
5. Gather up information about the company. This step is crucial, as you will likely be asked why you want to work for that particularly company or organization. You will want to know what their specialty is (if any), what their mission is, and one or two things you like about the organization.

While an interview doesn’t always mean a job, every interview will get easier. Be confident in yourself and show respect, and you will do just fine.

The Top Paying Nursing Specialties

After a nurse finishes nursing school, he or she has to choose the right specialty, which soon becomes the chief focus for weeks or even months. There are so many different specialties that a nurse can choose from and that means many nurses are finding it extremely difficult when picking just one. However, when you have nearly every specialty that requires its candidates to turn around and pass a number of exams and then fulfill on-the-job training, it all seems like a race to the finish.

Pay shouldn’t be a nurse’s only concern when they consider a specialty however it can be a factor when looking at choosing between several specialties. There are other things to look at when choosing a specialty like what medical scrubs you can wear, is child care going to be a problem and so on. No matter what your choice is, the important thing is that you should be happy.

With that said, if you do have a degree and are looking to get into a top paying nursing career, one of the following may be for you. Take a look at the top 10 highest earning nurse professions in the country:

#10: Neonatal Nurse whose average salary is $74,000

#9: Gerontological Nurse Practitioner whose average annual salary is $75,000

#8: Clinical Nurse Specialist whose average salary is $76,000

#7: Nurse Practitioner whose average salary is $78,000

#6: Orthopedic Nurse whose average salary is $81,000

#5: Pediatric Endocrinology Nurse whose average salary is $81,000

#4: Certified Nurse Midwife whose average salary is $84,000

#3: Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner whose average salary is $95,000

#2: Nurse Researcher whose average salary is $95,000

#1:  Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist whose average salary is $135,000