No matter your employment capacity (full time, contract traveler, per diem), each facility requires you to keep up with your compliance status. Staying compliant with your license, certifications, CPR, immunizations (TB), skill sheets, annual training and much more, show your strong commitment and integrity towards your profession.

It’s not always easy to keep track of the numerous items to keep current. My suggestion is to set up reminders in your email calendar, in your iPhone, BlackBerry, Android or just the plain old wall calendar / planner.

Most professionals have varying time frames where their documents / certifications come due. Be sure to give yourself enough time to get your items renewed without missing your deadline. For example, continuing education might be one of the most time consuming. For Aureus Medical you may complete up to 27 modules. Each module can run from 3 – 10 questions. For state licenses, it’s going to vary from state to state (possibly 1 to 6 weeks). For immunizations, appointments must be scheduled and completed.

Our commitment to compliance is to be the best. Let’s prove our commitment to quality together.

CPR – Almost every healthcare professional is required to be certified in CPR and some must be certified in advanced life support. To help ensure the safety of patients, it’s essential to maintain your CPR and advanced life support certifications. Most facilities only accept life support certifications from the American Heart Association or American Red Cross. Remember if you take an online test you will also need to complete a skills test in person with a CPR instructor. Visit the American Heart Association to locate a class.

State License – There’s no way around this requirement! Healthcare professionals need to renew their state license as soon as they know of it expiring. Contact the state licensing board and make sure you maintain this important credential!

TB Skin Test – It’s important to be tested each year since healthcare providers can be placed in situations where it’s possible to contract and spread tuberculosis. You cannot let your TB test expire beyond one year! Most times you can update your TB prior to expiration at the facility you are assigned to. If this is not an option, contact your Aureus Account Manager promptly to help you find another location close to you.

Annual Training -Healthcare facilities and professionals take the safety of patients very seriously. To help ensure you stay up-to-date on healthcare policies and Joint Commission requirements, Aureus Medical offers an annual training program to cover various topics including HIPAA, substance abuse recognition, legal issues, and infection control. An email will be sent with instructions when your Annual Training is due. Follow the instructions to login and complete your testing.

Skills Checklist – It’s important for us to be aware of any new skills since the last time your checklist was completed. It’s equally important to know if you’ve become more proficient in any skill over the past year. We forward your checklists to potential employers when you are presented to jobs, so it is critical they are an accurate reflection of your abilities! It’s very easy to update your checklists – just login anytime to www.aureusmedical.com.

• Exercise is key to relieving stress.  “After the initial shock of getting over something new, I was fine.  Working out is my answer to everything…getting a good sweat.”  When starting to travel, the hardest part for him was getting immersed into a completely different environment.  So listening and asking questions help but when the day is over, heading to the gym to burn off stress really did the trick.
• Balancing work, family and relationships when away is difficult, but not impossible.  “It was harder on me because she’s busy…so when I wanted to talk, she couldn’t.  It’s easy to get frustrated when you worry about bills, work, no time with girlfriend…Since I was by myself, I could relieve some of my frustrations by going for a run.”  Fill your time with activities that you enjoy so that you’re not sitting around waiting for the next day to start.  It’s important to be active, whether you are exercising, sightseeing, or simply taking in a movie.  Schedules will differ for you and your family so budget your time to adjust for their schedules and for yours.  Setting a time to call will help reduce the likelihood of becoming upset because you can’t connect. 
• Take advantage of the time to yourself.  “I used the time away from friends to get healthy, eat right…develop good habits.”  While on his first assignment, Matt took it as an opportunity to become focused, including training for his first half marathon.  Not only did Matt complete the half-marathon, he beat the time he had set for himself.  “Finishing the marathon was the coolest sense of accomplishment.”
• Stay mentally balanced. “It’s easy to get frustrated when you don’t have [an assignment] locked up or you thought you had something locked up…talking to you guys helped me out.”  There’s a certain degree of uncertainty with traveling which isn’t for the faint of heart.  Talking regularly with your recruiters so that you are abreast of the situation helps but knowing that the assignment may not work out can take its toll.  Times like these require you to kick it up a notch in the coping skills department. Maintain communication with your recruiter including coming up with a backup plan with a drop dead date in which it takes effect.  Keep up your healthy eating habits, be active and get plenty of rest.
• Eat healthy.  “Cooking for one wasn’t really the problem, it was shopping for one.  I realized quickly that I had to buy in smaller portions.”  Matt made sure to cook more often and eat out considerably less because he could control what went into his food.  He made it a point to try new foods and to look up recipes online to add variety.  When eating out, try researching the nutrition info ahead of time so when you get to the restaurant, you know exactly what you should order.

Developing healthy habits and effective coping skills are important for everyone.  Make sure to take time every day to lessen stress and increase your fitness level.  As always, I would love to hear what works for you so feel free to comment so that we all learn something new!

Sun Hui (Sunny) Snook graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Truman State University and received a Master’s in Human Services from Bellevue University. She has been in the healthcare staffing field for 11 years, first working with nurses before moving to a nationwide work strategies consultant where her key responsibilities were to coach staffers and hospital managers on effective staffing. In 2009, Sunny started with Aureus Medical as an Account Manager in the Rehab Therapy division, working with both clients and prospective employees. In 2011, she moved to Student Outreach Coordinator. Sunny was named the 2011 Employee of the Year for C&A Industries, the parent company of Aureus Medical Group. Prior to working in healthcare staffing, she served as an addictions therapist and residential treatment coordinator for five years.

Sunny Snook / 800.456.5857 ext 6578 / ssnook@aureusmedical.com / Facebook / LinkedIn / Twitter

Don’t Forget Cardio!
Cardio activities help burn the fat that covers your muscles, especially in the belly area. Combining aerobic exercise with strength training can give you a more slimming look.  Even 20 minutes a day can make the difference!  Walk around the hospital or outside the parking lot during your break or jump on the treadmill at your housing property for a half hour. It will pay off!  Persistence is key.

Never Skip Meals.
I know…easier said than done, right?  When you’re working a 12 hour shift and struggling to find a break, this can be difficult.  However, experts say that eating six small meals a day can help you avoid blood sugar “spikes” and help curb your desire to binge.  If you feed yourself well throughout the day, you’ll learn to understand when your body really needs food.  If you starve yourself, you will not make good choices for your next meal.  Make time to snack on healthy items throughout the day.

Sleep Tight….
It’s important to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night.  A recent study from Case Western Reserve University found that, on average, women who sleep for 5 hours or less per night are 32% more likely to gain weight than those that get at least 7 hours of sleep.  If you work nights, do whatever it takes to maximize your sleep time.  Cover the windows with blankets, wear ear plugs, have some “white noise” going on the background…whatever it takes, don’t deprive yourself of much needed sleep!

Drink More Water!
Studies show that drinking 16 ounces of water at a time can increase your metabolic rate by 30%, burning an extra 24 calories.  Cool water is recommended because the body uses more calories warming it up to your body temperature.  If you aren’t a big fan of water, spice it up a little!  There are plenty of products on the market now that are flavored and contain hardly any calories or sodium at all. 

Control what you can Control.
Take time out for yourself, manage your free time wisely, and only commit to those events that you can.  It’s okay to say no sometimes!  This will help you keep your stress levels down, if you only take on only what you can handle. Many studies have found a link between high stress levels and weight gain.  We are more prone to eating more when we are stressed out.  There are plenty of de-stress exercises out there that do not take up a lot of time.  And remember……BREATHE!!

With spring upon us, we will be able to enjoy longer days, warmer weather, and the sights and sounds of spring.  Along with the joys and wonders of this new season come new challenges, including tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, and tsunamis.

Because of the recent force of nature that spread from Japan to Hawaii to the mainland, I think this is a good time for us all to review some of the important safety tips and resources available to us.

Remember to create your own emergency preparedness plan for your area.  This will help to keep you and your family safe. Better safe than sorry!  

Tornadoes
Tornados are natures’ most violent storms. Spawned from powerful thunderstorms, tornadoes can cause fatalities and devastate a neighborhood in seconds.

•  If you are inside, go to the safest place you can find: a safe room, basement, storm cellar; if no basement the lowest level of a building interior room.   Any safe place where you can protect yourself from glass and other flying objects is ideal.
• If you are outside, hurry to the basement of a nearby sturdy building or lie flat in a ditch or low-lying area.
• If you are in a car or mobile home, get out immediately and head for safety.
• Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck.
• Do not open any windows

 For more details see Tornado Safety: FEMA.  

Floods
Floods are one of the most common hazards in the United States. Flood effects can be local, impacting a neighborhood or community, or very large, affecting entire river basins and multiple states and coast lines.  There are many different types of floods. 

• Listen to the radio or television for information.
• Be aware that flash flooding can occur. If there is any possibility of a flash flood, move immediately to higher ground. Do not wait for instructions to move.
• Be aware of streams, drainage channels, canyons, and other areas known to flood suddenly. Flash floods can occur in these areas with or without such typical warnings as rain clouds or heavy rain.
• Prepare to evacuate if necessary.

 For more info see Flood Safety: FEMA.  

Earthquake
It’s important to take “quake-safe” action at the first indication of ground shaking. Don’t wait until you’re certain an earthquake is actually occurring. As the ground shaking grows stronger, danger increases.

Steps to take if at home:

• It is safer to stay inside than to get out or try to hide in another place.
• Hide under a table, stay in a doorway, or stand in the corner of a room.
• Stay away from windows, balconies, hanging wall & ceiling objects, free-standing cabinets and bookshelves – anything that can fall or topple onto you.
• Cover you neck unless you need to hold onto an object to keep from moving. 

For more tips, visit FEMA’s Earthquake Safety page.  

Tsunami
Earthquake-induced movement of the ocean floor most often generates tsunamis. If a major earthquake or landslide occurs close to shore, the first wave in a series could reach the beach in a few minutes, even before a warning is issued.

•  Turn on your radio to learn if there is a tsunami warning if an earthquake occurs and you are in a coastal area.
• Move inland to higher ground immediately and stay there.
• Stay away from flooded and damaged areas until officials say it is safe to return.
• Stay away from debris in the water; it may pose a safety hazard to boats and people.

Visit FEMA’s Tsunami Safety page for more information.

Cindy Shea, National Sales Manager - Cardiopulmonary Division

Cynthia Shea is the National Sales Manager for the Cardiopulmonary division of Aureus Medical Group. She joined C&A Industries, the parent company of Aureus Medical, in July 1987 where she began her career with AurStaff (a division of C&A Industries, Inc.) as a staff supervisor.  Since then she has received promotions to Assistant Manager, Division Manager, and National Sales Manager, the position which she currently holds. Cynthia has extensive experience in recruiting, hiring and developing work teams, performance counseling, problem resolution as well as creating strategic divisional plans and executing operational programs, all of which have resulted in an explosion of growth that has positively impacted the company’s bottom line.  She is a master at creating innovative ways to generate new business. She also possesses outstanding sales and people development instincts, along with superior communication skills.  

Contact info:
Telephone: 800-456-5857, ext. 6061 / Fax: 402-895-7812 / E-mail: cshea@aureusmedical.com

Sound familiar? One of the most stressful parts of being a contract employee is the “what next”.  In today’s economy, there is no question that it is much tougher then it was just a few years ago. Is there anything that you can do to help your odds of getting another contract quickly? The answer is YES!  Here are a few pointers to help you stay out:

1.  Keep in close contact with your Account Manager or Recruiter. This does not mean you need to check in four times per day, but as your end date comes closer, you may need to speak with them daily or every other day.

2.  Speak with your Account Manager about what the market is looking like 30 days before your end date. Ask specifically about your modality, not just the market in general. Even though the market is constantly changing, this will give you an idea what to plan for. 

3.  Do your absolute best on your current contract. Your assignment appraisals and references are part of your permanent file. Account Managers look for contract employees that have a great track record and want to send the best candidates to their open jobs.

4.  Make sure that your Aureus online profile has accurate information about the states where you want to travel and the types of positions you are interested in. Are you only interested in contract assignments or would you consider a direct hire position??  The more accurate you information is in our system, the better chance you will be alerted of job openings.

5.  Open up your options. Geographic areas, shifts, call, job duties – these are all things that could prevent you from getting calls about positions. The more limits you give your recruiter, the fewer the doors will be open for you.

6.  Talk to more then one Account Manager or Recruiter. Even though you may already be working with an Account Manger or Recruiter, it’s ok to ask who markets a particular state or states you are interested in. Most Account Managers are assigned territory that they market daily.  If you are interested in a particular state, they can market you into that area or keep you top of mind for any positions that may come open within that state.

Hopefully these points will help take some of the stress out of finding your next contract and keep you on the road to a successful travel career.