Nurse Sourcer

Florida's natural house pets (pests)!

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:09:00 +0000

Summer is here and so are mosquitoes! In my opinion, mosquitoes are part of life here in Florida like gators are. Due to our temperatures, I go running in the morning or at night. However, dusk and dawn are mosquitoes’ feeding times! Thankfully I am not allergic to these insects bites. However, I worry about the diseases female mosquitoes can transmit. Three viruses are typically found in Florida: West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis and Eastern equine encephalitis. Over their 4 – 8 weeks life span, mosquitoes can bite up to 14 times in search of blood! Advisories are issued annually in Florida! Symptoms of a mosquito-borne illness include headache, fever, fatigue, dizziness, weakness and confusion - so this is truly not a laughing matter. Hence my pondering about safe mosquito repellents for humans and nature. Known products include zappers, catchers, citronella candles, sprays, and so on. Mosquitoes have great senses and can detect you from far away! The reason chemically engineered mosquito repellents work is because they mask your body’s chemistry. DEET is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to prevent mosquito born diseases. While DEET has been reported to be safe to use when used according to label directions, I am curious about trying homemade products from herbs and essential oils that are environmental friendlier. Thanks to Google one can find recipes in a flash! Herbal remedies work, but their effects are short lived. This weekend I plan to make my own herbal repellent with citronella, eucalyptus, lemongrass & peppermint oils. During my short runs I will apply the herbal repellent before my run, but on my long runs I will reapply every hour for best effect. If you have experimented with homemade mosquito repellents and found one recipe in particular to be helpful, please email it to me @ julie.rehbeiN@hcahealthcare.com. My skin will thank you!

Cheers,

Know safety, no injury. No safety, know injury.

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:27:00 +0000

June is National Safety Month. Lately when I think of safety, it deals with cooking! One of my gifts for Christmas was a fancy new knife block & a set of new knives. They look great and they feel right - but they are oh-so sharp! Since Christmas I cut myself at least three times and every time it happens, I ask myself why I didn’t pay more attention. I added to my to-do list to research knife handling skills or even knife handling classes to educate myself better. In my research about safety I learned per the National Safety Council “falls are one of the leading causes of unintentional injuries in the United States, accounting for approximately 8.6 million visits to the emergency department. Adults 55 and older are more prone to becoming victims of falls, and the resulting injuries can diminish the ability to lead active, independent lives. The number of fall deaths among those 65 or older is 4 times the number of fall deaths among all other age groups.” Interesting facts, but what really got my attention was an article by CBS News Canada that suggests knives and other sharp objects account for far more emergency room visits than guns! I was glad to learn that most unintentional home injuries do not result in death according to Home Safety Council’s study, though. Thankfully I haven’t cut myself in a while and next on my to-do list is to shop for a step stool for my kitchen – so far I tend to climb up my countertop or on better days, pull a chair to reach on top of my cabinets!!! Unbelievable, I know! Know safety, no injury. No safety, know injury - Author Unknown

Be safe!

April is Stress Awareness Month - Here's a recipe to calm you down!

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 17:16:00 +0000

When I am stressed, I find it hard not to eat! Instead of eating junk food though, I make it a point to research good foods to eat to relieve stress. My latest food addiction is Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah). Quinoa originated in South America & is a “grain-like crop grown primarily for its edible seeds" according to Wikipedia. Quinoa is rich in protein & fiber, and high in magnesium & iron. Gluten-free, too! It’s as easy to cook as rice & has become a regular staple in my household. My current favorite recipe for Quinoa is a tad spicy, have a look @ the recipe:

1 cup Quinoa

1 ½ Tbsp. Olive oil or any other oil of your liking

½ Onion, diced

1 Tsp. grated fresh Ginger

½ fresh Chili, finely chopped

1 Tsp. Coriander

1 Tsp. Turmeric

¼ Tsp. ground Cinnamon

Salt to taste

I like to soak my quinoa in equal amounts of water for about 30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly thereafter. Fry onions in oil until tender (for me the softer the better I like them in this dish). Add grated ginger, chile, turmeric, coriander, cinnamon, quinoa & water. For each cup of Quinoa add 1 ½ cups of lightly salted water. Bring everything to a broil & turn down to simmer for 15 – 20 minutes. Take off heat & let rest for 5 minutes. Fork through the quinoa as you would through couscous. Season with salt if needed & enjoy! Have you cooked with quinoa before?

Be well,

How to write a really good resume

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:23:00 +0000

The beginning of a new year is often times a motivation for some to make a career change. The Internet offers quick ways to search for jobs & to apply directly online. A few people opt to complete online applications; others upload a copy of their resume only, and/or a mix of both. Some hesitate to act on their goals to find a new career opportunity because of the dreaded resume one has to write or update to submit to new potential employers. There are many questions to answer to draft a professional resume. To start off identify what type of job you are seeking & ask yourself if you possess the skills set to perform the job? Write your goals out as your objective. If you possess the skills, or have had high-level exposure and want to broaden or expand your skills set, be sure to highlight your experience plus any accomplishments on your resume. If you don’t possess the skills, you need to understand that you are up against stiff competition. Any other more experienced applicant will most likely be favored over you.

To highlight your experience or accomplishments you can either write them out in a list, or list them separately for every position you held in the past couple of years. Recent career history is important, but past accomplishments relevant for the position you are applying to might also play a role. Find a balance between your employment dates & accomplishments to keep the resume to a two to three page maximum. If you’ve got a long list of accomplishments to share, they might find more attention in an attachment versus on your resume where skills sets are key! List your highest level of education and don’t forget to list your current certifications!

Personal info or bios might be relevant for some industries or positions, but could be left off to discuss rather in-person & also to keep the resume short & sweet. In general the most important information on your resume is your career history & experience. Industry specific keywords will highlight your depth of knowledge; accomplishments will showcase your strengths. Don’t forget to list up to date contact info & an email address for the recruiter to contact you at. Use spell check & if you are courageous, let others read & critique your resume for additional pointers!

A really good resume is easy to read, highlights all relevant skills & lists clear objectives.

Good luck!

Cheers,

Can you hear me?!

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:48:00 +0000

First thing's first: Happy New Year, folks! Here's hoping 2011 is off to a wonderful start for all you. Not sure if people really pen down lists of New Year’s resolutions, but mine is very simple this year: finish all goals from 2010! For example, for the longest I wanted to research all new Smartphones & buy a new one. It sounds easy, but if you knew me, you knew that I am technically a little challenged, or let me be frank: I am just not that in to you, Mr. Technology (or is it Miss Technology?!) I love Motorola even though I shouldn’t because they are known to use conflict minerals in their phones & electronics as many other well known electronics manufactures do too unfortunately. The immense demand for electronics helps to fuel violence in places most of us will never see or visit (I hope)... I don’t know about you, but I NEED my phone. Being a woman it makes me feel safe when I am out & about, but surely it could be a false feeling... If I needed to feel safe, I should sign up with AAA & take a self-defense class to boost my self esteem, right?! Instead I do Yoga & let my AAA membership lapse. Hmmm. Okay, back to the subject. Another thing that gets to me are all these apps out there & especially their prices... However, at the same time I am very intrigued by how they can enrich your life! Take one of these numerous meal planner apps, for example! While at the grocery store you can simply add things you’d like to eat & in a blink of an eye the app returns easy recipes for you to cook for dinner tonight! Now I wish somebody would engineer an app for doggie lovers to search doggie friendly places nearby!

So before I go off to buy a new environmental-friendly-as-can-be phone this year, I pledge to research diligently phones & manufactures so I can buy with a conscious clear mind & find a recycling site or purpose for my old phone to do my part in today's environmental battle with trash!

Cheers,

You have a lot of talent!

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 14:38:00 +0000

What a busy time of the year, right? Along with all the shopping we’re doing, we’re planning festivities, menus & activities, making travel arrangements, prepping for guests – you name it, around this time of the year we’re all multitasking like crazy! So I am multitasking at home and at work. I am sure I am not alone in this. While multitasking at work isn’t unheard of, I am handling additional tasks while covering for a teammate away on leave. Let me tell you, I am b-u-s-y. So much so, that I hardly find time to write posts for my blog, or even post updates on my Facebook Page! I am busy reviewing resumes day in, day out, scheduling interviews for hiring managers & customer service assessments with candidates & posting & recruiting for new positions! New positions are exciting because it means there’s a new opportunity for a job seeker & we’ve got many out there these days… However, the motivation behind today’s post is the urge to speak about resumes, qualifications & job hopping… There seems to be two types of nurse candidates I’ve seen so far: one with a resume, the other without. The ones without are easy, because they can simply fill out an application & submit it. The ones with resumes are split in two groups: chronological resumes & 'summary' resumes. Chronological resumes are great because the reviewer can gather all skills sets in less than two minutes. Summaries are time consuming & we have to look over a lot of resumes a day.... Red flags are unexplained gaps which isn’t clear to everyone because I still see it in the year of 2010. Any recruiter & hiring manager is going to question the unexplained gaps & most likely will pass on these candidates. Worse is job hoping. Truly, there isn’t anything as bad as job hopping in my opinion. With the exception you are military or your spouse / significant other is. Other than that, even if it sounds like great opportunities continue to present themselves to you, what is your job hoping telling about you as a person? Also, applying for jobs you aren’t qualified for usually never convinces anyone that you can do the job. Unless you’ve got great connections within this company you’re applying for – but then, why would you apply in the first place & not let that person ‘walk-in’ your resume? What about new grads!? I know this is a harsh world out there for you & no one’s really told you so before you signed-up for college & paid all those fees, how gruesome it is. Truth is, any institution is in business for profit. Ask yourself what did you go to school for? There are many ways to help people – long term care, hospice, home health, offices. Aside of full-time employment there are also volunteer opportunities to gain some experience until you can secure a paid job. Key is networking & nothing is easier than networking these days! Social Media gives you plenty of avenues to connect with movers & shakers you ought to know to get ahead! Besides networking, I would suggest to start networking as soon as possible so you’re ahead of the game & in the right spot @ the right time. Some encouraging words I’d like to share for those who are in need are from Aldous Huxley:

"Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you."

Always remember that you have a lot of talents - be creative!

Now for the holiday season, I am super psyched to be going home this year for Christmas – it’s been over 3 years that I visited my hometown, Germany’s capitol Berlin! Plus I get to spend my first Christmas with my niece, Mia, age 4! The majority of my luggage entails gifts only for her!

Wishing everyone & their loved ones a very Merry Christmas & a happy New Year!

All the best,

Recent facility visits to Englewood Community Hospital & Fawcett Memorial Hospital

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 19:34:00 +0000

Recently accompanied by two co-workers, Emily Giorgi, Recruiter for Quality & Risk Mgmt & Infection Control & Sandra Maiden, Lab recruitment (think Medical Techs, Lab Assistant’s, Phlebotomists, etc.), we took a trip down south to visit Englewood Community Hospital - only 45 minutes south of Sarasota & Fawcett Memorial Hospital, located 1 1/2 hours from Tampa, 3 hours from Miami & less than 3 hours away from Orlando! Bang! Both locations right in the middle of everything! Interestingly enough I avoided these visits in the past because I was unfamiliar with the area & could only think of Hurricane Charley, Jeanne & Francis! Therefore I didn’t know what to expect of the area - in what shape things would be in, especially people's spirits. To say I was pleasantly surprised by its vibrant beauty would be an understatement! I actually fell in love with Englewood! See, I grew up in the city surrounded by all types of constant ‘vibes’ like ambulance sirens 24/7, taxi’s honking, people crowds, etc.. I’ve lived in Germany’s ‘big apple’ for over 20 years & wouldn’t want to miss a day, but wouldn’t move back anytime soon either! Now if I had to live in a city again it could only be in Berlin, my hometown of course - home to 3 1/2 million people & growing every day! However, the way the growing-up-business goes, I came to appreciate a mid-sized city’s buzz, less hectic lifestyles & best of all: more relaxed folks. Sure, Florida tops these perks by their beautiful beaches, palm trees, the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean & Caribbean to the south! Really, could you ask for any more?!

Back to my post. So here I was in 18K+ populated beautiful Englewood, Florida & its nearby city Port Charlotte - home to 50K+ people! What stood out the most was the people’s love for their communities! I haven’t seen one damaged building anywhere! Instead, everything was spic & span clean! Quiet? Yes. Golfers? Sure. Jimmy Buffett, eh relaxed atmosphere? You bet! Plus, plenty of new communities popping up all around you featuring top of the line Basketball & Volleyball Courts, cinemas on site, Skateboard & BMX ramps & their own bowling alleys! Crazy, huh? Amazing communities for $170K+/-! However, this post wasn’t supposed to rave up our (still challenging) housing market, but rather give you an idea of all the options you have in Florida! Now you wonder about the two facilities we visited? To sum it up: Englewood Community Hospital - like its community - has a strong family-feel to it. Mom & kids, wife & husband employees – speaks volumes of their employee's dedication! Fawcett Memorial Hospital has been lovingly remodeled with modern furniture throughout & employs dynamically driven employees! Both facilities model their communities well.

I didn’t get a chance to check out the beaches (remember I was there on business after all), but I plan to return soon for a long get away weekend! All in all, the area is worth visiting, if not even moving to – according to a recent poll study, Florida was ranked third most popular state! Come see us & email me to learn of our current nursing career opportunities!

Cheers,

Seasonal Hiring & Fall Housekeeping Tips For Your Safety!

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 14:06:00 +0000

Hi there!

It’s been a busy time for me with seasonal hiring kicking off at HCA’s West Florida Division! During Florida’s ‘winter months’ January – May snowbirds from up north love to come to visit us. In order accommodate our communities as best as we can, we need to staff up in time to be ready! Contracts can vary in length from 6 weeks up to 16 weeks. Perks include housing allowances for those traveling farther than 100 miles to the facilities, shift differentials & end of contract bonus. Hourly rates differ by specialty. To learn more, visit us @ www.moreseasonalcareers.com!

Fall is finally here & I am excited about the cooler temperatures! While our daily highs remain in the 90’s, we Floridian’s are waking up more often to low 70’s & enjoy cooler breezes on our patios and yards at night! Until next time, I’ll leave you with some fall housekeeping tips to ponder:

· Check all window and door locks for proper operation
· Check your home for water leaks
· Review your fire escape plan with your family
· Make sure there are working nightlights at the top and bottom of all stairs
· Have a heating professional check your heating system every year
· Protect your home from frozen pipes
· Replace your furnace filter
· Run all gas-powered lawn equipment until the fuel is gone
· Test your emergency generator
· Have a certified chimney sweep inspect and clean the flues and check your fireplace damper
· Remove bird nests from chimney flues and outdoor electrical fixtures
· Inspect and clean dust from the covers of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
· Make sure the caulking around doors and windows is adequate to reduce heat/cooling loss
· Make sure that the caulking around your bathroom fixtures is adequate to prevent water from seeping into the sub-flooring

Cheers,

Healthy Living - Food Shopping

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:09:00 +0000

So, were was I? Peru, Asparagus & Food Inc. Well not that I travelled to Peru, ate fresh local grown Asparagus & made a movie about it, no. Quite the opposite. I bought Asparagus to cook in July in Florida & wondered about its "freshness". Then I saw the movie Food Inc. with my husband & our lives were changed. Do you recall the last time something happened that drastically changed your life? Memories like your first kiss might come to mind, your first ride on an air plane, your first car & so on - but it's been a while probably, right? This time around I was shaken up! My eyes were opened to our food industry, enslaved farmers & health risks I don't tend to read or hear about in the news. I realize that everyone has a different view on things & therefore decided not to elaborate on my opinion here, but suggest you see the movie for yourself to make up your mind... After watching the movie, I wished to have seen it with a group of people because it would have been interesting to discuss our opinions afterwards...

What has changed in my life so far, is WHERE I shop & WHAT I buy. For example, I now exclusively shop @ Whole Food stores in the neighborhood to buy local & fair trade foods. I especially like their large selection of bulk whole food items like dried nuts, spices, baking ingredients, grains, etc. Some bulk food stores allow you to bring your own containers & they will weigh the item for you. Great for small amounts & "budget shopping". I also joined a local food co-op of like-minded food enthusiasts who grow, share or sell organic, healthy foods. I spruced up my recent Vegan Ethiopian Spicy Tomato & Lentil stew (see pix) with fresh herbs out of neighbors yards via the co-op! To state that the stew was YUMMY would be an understatement!

Healthy Living posts to be continued...

Cheers,

Healthy Living - Food Education, Part I

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:39:00 +0000

Recently I re-discovered the pleasures of cooking. I especially enjoy cooking with fruits & veggies! I love to surprise my hubby with an exotic dish you'd otherwise order @ a fancy restaurant, or perhaps indulge in while on vacation in a dreamy location (braised pork with coconut milk & pineapple, anyone?!). I search & pull recipes of the Internet, try old family secrets & have bought cookbooks of international cuisines I love. Thai & Mexican to be exact. Believe me, there's so much more to Mexican food than Taco's!

When a recipe called for Asparagus the other day, I went to the nearest supermarket & bought some. The label of the package read "Produce From Peru". Hmmmmmmm. Peru is about 2,600 miles away from Florida - by plane. It made me think about what keeps veggies so "fresh & green", especially if they have to travel so far. Asparagus is a traditional spring vegetable & I just bought some in Florida in July... My family's health is very important to me so I embarked on a journey to learn more about where our food comes from & what's in it! First stop, we will finally watch a movie I heard a long time ago: "Food Inc.", Academy Award Nominee "Best Documentary Feature". I'll be sure to report back on our impressions & next steps.

Are you concerned about our food? What are you doing to ensure you are eating a healthy, nutritious diet? Let me hear your thoughts!

Cheers,

Google your life!

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:38:00 +0000

A strange thing lead me to write today’s post. Ever felt like you were distracted & are completely detached from your goal(s)? Maybe life, family, work or other problems have a tight grip on you right now & your vision got diluted or worse - you forgot about them! However, this little light continues to flicker in you as long as you live. Sometimes your inner voice gets louder, sometimes it’s off. You know yourself like no one else & know this light inside you is a BIG part of who you are. But you just don’t have the time to tend to your own needs. Then something “bigger” than you reminds you in awkward ways of this little light. Maybe a person with a similar interest enters your life, or your kid (of all people!) shares their dreams with you – dreams you once had, too! You are reminded of something you wanted to do, or try to achieve in life. If we were alert enough to recognize in that moment what is going on, allow our eyes to see, let it re-enter our lives - what would happen?

I hope you are following your dreams, doing what you think you were meant to do. But if you lost sight of your goals or dreams - why not sit down today & make plans how to get back on track? Resources are at our fingertips & readily available 24/7 it seems with the Internet and Social Media. Larry Page & Sergey Brin challenge you to write them if you can’t google it! Go for it!

I dedicate this post to a new found friend who entered my life a few clicks ago on Facebook & reminded me of my goals!

Cheers,

National Frist Humanitarian Awards / HCA Tampa SSC Frist Volunteer Winner

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:50:00 +0000

I've been meaning to write about HCA's annual Frist Humanitarian Awards. This program has been in place @ HCA, Inc. since 1971 & has since celebrated every year outstanding employee's humanitarian and/or volunteering efforts. Employees, volunteers and medical staff of HCA can be nominated for their outstanding spirits! The award includes a $5,000 donation to the charity of the recipient’s choice & $5,000 in cash for the employee and volunteer. The medical staff honoree receives a $10,000 donation to the charity of his choice.

From time to time I work out of the Tampa Shared Services Center & have talked with their Volunteer Frist Award winner. I've learned that the winner has been volunteering with Suncoast Hospice since 2003 & while speaking with them, I could sense their strong compassion for helping the community to make this world a better place. Its a lifestyle for them & not a hobby! Currently caring for two Hospice patients and she is also deeply involved with our next generation of leaders: our kids. She volunteers @ local schools & The Children's Home - I imagine she is putting big smiles on a lot of kids faces!

In the future I expect to write follow-up posts on Green Initiatives across our facilities within HCA's West Florida Division & hope to feature more Frist Award Winners for you!

Cheers,

Healthcare Reform Changes / Pre-existing conditions – Victims of Domestic Violence

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:01:00 +0000

Not sure how many of us have the chance to dive into politics a bit deeper than what’s covered on the news, but I thought I would write about some upcoming changes for the better that I support. Remember, my posts are my own & do not reflect the thoughts/opinions of HCA, Inc., or HCA West Florida. However, the Healthcare Reform will impact us all, including employees @ HCA, Inc., HCA West Florida – everyone in this country.

I personally know victims of domestic violence within my family, circle of friends & so on… Sad but true. This Affordable Health Care for America Act (HR 3962) will bring change for these victims in the remaining 8 states including DC that are: Idaho, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota & Wyoming who previously had no laws in place & the victims were discriminated against! Soon all victims of domestic violence in the US will be covered by the bill & not excluded via “pre-existing conditions”, but actually granted access to help! According to the White House blog, domestic violence causes 2 million injuries & more than 1200 deaths every year!

If you are interested to learn which insurance companies denied benefits to domestic violence victims in the past, I’d suggest you google it. I am not interested in exploiting the insurance companies, but rather talk about the positive changes the Healthcare Reform will bring about.

So have I overstepped my boundaries by talking about positive Healthcare Reform changes? You tell me! I am here to listen!

Cheers,

Did you know?

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Tue, 25 May 2010 12:20:00 +0000

Today I want to talk a little about benefits @ HCA West Florida. I used to hold benefits enrollment classes, Q&A sessions for employees & administer the plans in employer’s systems. However, that was a long time ago & for the most time nowadays in my Nurse Sourcer role, I only have to concern myself with my benefits choices during annual enrollment & not so much with advising employees of their options. Though my ears perked up a couple of weeks ago while listening to NPR in the car on my way to get the dog from doggie care (yes, doggie care!). They were discussing the upcoming changes to our Flexible Healthcare Spending accounts starting in 2011. Did you hear about the changes already? If not, I strongly suggest for you to educate yourself & speak with your doctor(s) about the upcoming changes! From the info I gathered thus far, purchasing OTC’s (over-the-counter drugs) with your FSA will be denied unless your doctor has prescribed them. However, I understand not all details have been worked out just yet. Orthodontia, deductibles, co-pays, & eyeglasses remain covered. Thankfully my family and I are not on a lot of drugs (yet); I only need Levothyroxine for my hypothyroid. But I’ve been buying Sinus Headache pills & general allergy meds for my family. And once a year I used to look forward to a new pair of fancy glasses. Now however, I can only purchase reading glasses & no longer sunglasses. I too will have to find out much more about the changes & what exactly will be covered for us starting 2011.

General info on HCA’s West Florida benefits package can be found here. Now don’t let time get away from you & be sure to educate yourself on the FSA changes & how they will affect your family! Be well!

Cheers,

We are hiring @ HCA West Florida!

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 12:43:00 +0000

Back from vacation & equipped with a wealth of knowledge, I am finding myself again in my cube @ work, doing what I do best: sourcing quality nurses! I have to tell you about my vacation, though. I took it upon myself to travel out of state to attend a recruiting event to refresh my skills & to network with like minded professionals. It was my first time attending such an event & I did it because it is my goal to push my career to the next level. To grow professionally & personally. To keep things fresh & interesting. Remember my post about getting stuck & being stagnant? It was then that I set goals for myself! I always wanted to attend such an event but never followed through! Next year I hope to go again, plus attend an even bigger recruiting event!

Reason for my post today is to keep you all motivated as well! While listening to Punk Rock HR blogger's Laurie Ruettmann take on HR's responsibilities in today's times, she struck a cord with me by pointing out HR's opportunity to put current unemployed Americans back to work! With such high unemployment numbers these days I totally agree with her! At HCA West Florida we started a Back to Work Program for nurses who want to return to the workforce after some time off to tend to family needs or personal reasons. The program consists of 120 hours of online course work & paid clinicals. Check it out or let your friends know about it!

Job seekers and workforce returners alike should also take advantage of the great benefits social media offers today! Think outside the box & get creative with your job search: check craigslist, meetup.com & other local resources for networking groups in your area specific to your professional background. Go to their meetings & start networking! Learn something new; shadow someone at work to explore new possibilities & network! Volunteer & network! Update your profile and/or post your skills set, experience & career desires on Facebook! Find your Alumni, ex co-workers, colleges etc. on Facebook & network! Tweet & blog about it too! Savvy recruiters will find you if you know how to market yourself! I know I will! :-)

Current RN's opportunities @ HCA's West Florida Division include, but are not limited to:

Pain Management, Endo, ER, Cath Lab, Wound Care, OR, PCU / Tele, Labor & Delivery.

Cheers,

NurseSourcer's new Facebook Page!

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:01:00 +0000

Being without my professional Facebook Profile for a few weeks, it was then that I realized how much I rely on it! I love the easy use of this tool - it almost seems like no technical background is needed for a non-geek like me to fully utilize it in the best way possible: writing status updates in a blink of a moment! Some enjoy posting pictures of the family - pets included (like me), others engage in their numerous games & load applications after applications to add to their leisurely fun! Plus you can access it on the go from almost anywhere in the world! No wonder I felt stagnant, unsuccessful - almost left out! Feeling this way & plotting along from 8 - 5 @ the office, an article in Nursing Spectrum's March edition caught my eye. It talked about how we should always seek change & push ourselves to the next level - only then will we conquer things we didn't think possible! It made me laugh because it was talking directly to me! While I was in transition to my new NurseSourcer Facebook Page, I took back control & explored other means to communicate with the world via Twitter and brushed up on my phone skills, calling job seeking RN's for nursing opportunities for HCA West Florida & their facilities around Orlando, Tampa & Sarasota! If you know the feeling, or happen to get trapped soon, try to look for new opportunities you can conquer, learn something new to brighten your horizon, showcase your special talents to share or teach fellow co-workers, go back to school & finally take the class you were dreading for so long or dreamed of taking one day, study for the certification you need to earn a $1 more a hour, volunteer for a good cause, get involved & embrace the new experience!

On the job front: remember HCA's West Florida Division if you're looking for a change in location, culture, or to advance your skills! I am back online & reachable via said Social Media means on Facebook , Twitter, old fashion email or phone: 727.772.5124!

Cheers,

Green Initiatives @ HCA West Florida / HCA Ranked Top Ethical Company!

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:47:00 +0000

I’ve got plenty to talk about today! First & foremost, I'd like to point out that HCA, Inc. has been recognized as one of the world’s most ethical companies according to Ethisphere Institute! This is the very first time HCA receives such designation! Great job to all who work so diligently to provide the best patient care!

Secondly, here’s an update on the Green initiatives across our facilities & Division: for one, all HCA, Inc. employees are now receiving electronic pay stubs! Pay stubs are available to us online the day before payday & we’ll receive email notifications as well – it makes for easy viewing in a timely fashion & saves tons of paper & money, of course!

Electronic health record keeping has been around longer than e-stubs & has a significant green impact as well! I'll continue to research local & nationwide initiatives & be sure to update you on a regular basis!

Here’s an update on Blake’s Green initiatives within their facility: I’ve learned that in addition to their plastic bottle & aluminum can recycling, the facility now installed water filtration systems throughout! For example, their ER used to receive several cases of water per week & nowadays receive none or a very few only! Blake's paramedics are known to consume a lot of water & were given non-disposable water containers by their Marketing department to use instead of bottled water! At catering events, old fashioned water pitchers & glasses are provided instead of anything plastic! All in all, great efforts!

Cheers,

Scrubs, uniforms & work @ HCA West Florida

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:23:00 +0000

Historic Nursing Uniforms: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - Nursing Link

I enjoyed reading this article on historic nursing uniforms & had to share it! There is a lot of talk going on these days around nursing uniforms @ our facilities. For me, I'd love not having to worry about what I am going to wear for the day! On the other hand, I can't imagine a summer without open toe shoes @ work! The color white has certainly earned it's spot in my opinion, but whereas we're going to adopt a policy on scrub colors by department or to highlight roles within, has yet to be decided. Stay tuned - more to come soon!

Cheers,

Haiti & Growth Opportunities

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:35:00 +0000

My teammate Hilary said it best in her post that I don't feel the need to duplicate efforts to spread the news on how HCA is contributing & collecting donations towards this disaster. However, more details have come forth since her post, which I like to share with you as an update: news station WBKO reports that HCA has donated $1M to Haiti! That's awesome news!

2010 has been very challenging for some already, but also proves successful for others. Lots of buzzing going on about the movie Avatar! Have you seen it? I am glad I went despite my hesitation to go see a SciFi movie - just not my cup of tea, I have to admit! Beautiful pictures beyond imagination & familiar story line which doesn't get old but rather reinforces our efforts to gear up & take on our environmental challenges in the world! Speaking of our environment, I'll be sure to follow-up with an update on our Green Initiatives amongst our facilities very soon!

To get back to the subject, a new year bears its own challenges but also brings us hope, right? Similar as the character Jake in Avatar, we are all in charge to bring change to our lives. "Own your career" is another term often times quoted! As the director of the movie, James Cameron, envisioned the movie 15 years ago & didn't get any support, the movie is quickly becoming one of the best selling movies in cinema history!

The same can be true for you! Spring presents itself as one of the best times of the year for career advancement! Browsing the Internet I can't help but notice the spike in job postings! Within our Division too, we've got some alluring career opportunities posted for the driven nurse, ready for the next challenge! Lots of great opportunities out there to grow beyond your imagination & expectations! Set the bar high for yourself for 2010 & see where it will take you!

Cheers,

Happy New Year from Nurse Sourcer!

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:21:00 +0000

Reflecting back on 2009, I have been pondering my greatest accomplishment for this year! My volunteering @ the local Hospice? Moving into a much bigger, nicer place for less money? Gratefulness to have a job in today's economy? I had to realize how blessed I have been this year & recently learned that awareness is the key to future success! For example, yesterday I was able to help a friend in need & drove her to the closest ER to get her the care she needed to get better. I did not only wish for a nationwide ER Wait Time text number initiative, but realized there's no turning back on our recent technology advancement for mobile ER Wait Times! You now can get current average ER Wait Times for HCA facilities by texting "ER" to 23000. You will receive an instant text back requesting your zip code & within seconds you'll know the times of the closest facilities nearby! Times & hospitals are listed in distance & the text also provides you with a toll-free number to call a Nurse! I hope it won't be long until hospitals nationwide will follow suit to provide better care for our people! What a relief this yields to learn of the wait times in surrounding ERs! You can make better choices of where to take your loved one(s) to receive the quickest care possible!

In hindsight, I look forward to our future as we strive to make things better for all of us - in any arena! Happy New Year to all!

Cheers,

Continuing the trend @ HCA!

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:43:00 +0000

As Maddux reported yesterday, Community Hospital (The Future Medical Center of Trinity), Oak Hill Hospital & Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point followed suit with device friendly websites! More great news to celebrate!

More new technology @ HCA West Florida!

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:27:00 +0000

To stay ahead of the curve, South Bay Hospital's website has been configured for easy viewing on mobile devices! For all of us on the go using Ipods, Blackberry's & the like, your mobile device will be automatically redirected to the formatted site to access important info like ER wait times, phone directory, maps & directions! Consumers will continue to log on to the same site @ http://www.southbayhospital.com/! I wonder what we'll think of next to foster better patient care!

Cheers,

Voted best place to work in healthcare!

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:16:00 +0000

We're immensely proud of Doctor's Hospital of Sarasota's achievement being nominated as one of the best places to work at by Modern Healthcare! RNs interested in working for us @ this facility might appreciate to learn of the following openings:

PT RN Case Manager
RN Emergency Services 7a - 7p
RN Emergency Services 9a - 9p
RN ICU 7a - 7p
RN ICU 7p - 7a PT
RN Med/Surg 7a - 7p
RN Med/Surg 7p - 7a
RN PCU 7a - 7p

To see the full list, visit this link.

More shifts. More money. More Refreshing.

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:39:00 +0000

Our Division is busily recruiting for the upcoming season: January - May 2010 for several locations! We're still looking for interested RNs with active Florida licenses for the following departments:

M/S
Tele
PCU
ICU, general & neuro
MICU
CCU
PACU
CSU

Facilities with openings are located in Brooksville, Brandon, St. Petersburg, Bradenton, Sarasota, Englewood & Port Charlotte. We pay hourly flat rates according to specialty throughout all facilities, plus shift diffs.

- Contract agreements for 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 & 16 weeks
- Prorated end of contract bonus according to contract length
- Housing allowances of $250 per pay period for candidates travelling further than 100 miles
- RN hourly rates as follows: M/S $37.00, Tele/PCU $38.00, Critical Care $39.00

Applications can be submitted online @ http://moreseasonalcareers.com/. Come join us!

Cheers,

Nominate an HCA nurse!

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:24:00 +0000

Nurse.com is collecting nominations for the best RNs in our country! If you know of an RN who stands out & deserves this type of recognition, hurry & nominate them on/or before 12/19/09 @ http://www.nurse.com/nursingexcellence/. Categories for nominations are as follows:

Advancing & Leading the Profession
Clinical Care
Community Service
Management
Mentoring
Teaching

If anyone plans on nominating an HCA RN, please let me know! I'd love to hear & write about it!

Cheers,