The Hypodermic

NCANS Newsletter December 2016/January 2017

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Issue Contents: Editor’s Intro…………….1 Board of Directors…….….2 Annual Conference Info….2-3 My Summer as a PNA…...3-4 New Nurse Grad Interview Tips…………………..5-7 Nurses Day……………...7

Source:http://pumpkincarvingstencils2016.com/free-happy-new-year-quotes-for-friends-family-2017.html

CongratulationstoEveryoneforMakingitThrough2016!

TheNCANSboardwouldliketocongratulatetheDecembergraduatesandtherestofour

NCANSmembersformakingitto2017.WehaveourAnnual

Conferencefastapproachingandhopeeveryoneisexcited!

Editor’sIntroduction

Ihopeeveryoneenjoyedtheirholidayandforthoseinnursingschoolenjoyedabreakawayfromclasses.NCANSisstartingofftheNewYearwithnewsaboutourAnnualConferencecomingupinMarch.WehavemanyexcitingspeakersespeciallyourKeynoteSpeakerNurseAlice.Wehopethateveryonewillbeabletoattend.ThisissueofTheHypodermicwillprovideyouwithmoreinfoandhowtoregister.Wewishallofourmemberswellthisyearandgoodluck! Eleni Kondyles, PublicationDirector2016-2017

TheHypodermic December/January2016

2016-2017 NCANS Board of Directors

President:

Jade McPherson

Vice President: Kaitlyn Fair

Secretary: Erin Mullins

Treasurer: Deb Julian

District Reps: Alexcia Hodge, Amy Giar &

Jennifer Marshall

Breakthrough to Nursing Director:

Morgan Ross

Legislative Director: Brittney Bunn

Publication Director:

Eleni Kondyles

NCANSAnnualConferenceMarch4th-5thatHiltonRiversidein

Wilmington,NC

TransitionoftheNursingStudenttoNewNurse:HowtoPutYourBestSelfForward

TheofficialconferencescheduleisstillpendingbutwearehonoredtoannouncethatAliceBenjamin,RNwillbeourKeynoteSpeaker.ShehasalmosttwodecadesofexperienceandexpertiseasaCardiacClinicalNurseSpecialist.ShewasthefirstAfricanAmericannurseelectedtotheAmericanNursesAssociation/CaliforniaBoardofDirectors,servesaschairmanfortheAmericanHeartAssociation’sWesternStatesMulticulturalHealthEquityTaskForceandisamediahealthexpertandwriter.NurseAliceisknownasAmerica’sfavoritenurseontelevisionandradiowithappearancesonTheDr.OzShow,HLNNewsNow,FOXNews,TheDoctorsandmanymore.Sheistheauthorof“CurbYour

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TheHypodermic December/January2016

NCANS Annual Conference Cont.

Cravings:31FoodstoFoolYourAppetite”andthemuchanticipated“28Waysin28Days”.Weareveryexcitedforthisconferenceandhopetoseeeveryoneattend.WewillhavemorespeakersaswellasanNCLEXreviewtohelpourmembersaidinstudyingtogettheirRNlicense.Wealsoanticipatemanyexhibitorstosharegraduateprograms,employmentopportunitiesandmoreNCLEXreviewprep.Ifyouareinterestedinattending,makesureyouregisterassoonaspossibleonourNCANSwebsiteundertheEventsandMeetingstabatthebottomofthepage.RegistrationpricesincreaseafterFebruary1st,2017!FormoreinformationbesuretojointheNorthCarolinaAssociationofNursingStudents-NCANSFacebookPageforupdatesaswellascheckingourwebsiteatwww.ncans.org.AndformoreinformationaboutourKeynoteSpeakerAliceBenjamin,RNfollowheronTwitterorInstagram:@AskNurseAlice,joinherFacebookpageandcheckherwebsiteatwww.alicebenjamin.com.

My Summer as a PNA IhadthewonderfulopportunitytoworkatDukelastsummerasaProfessionalNurseAssistant(PNA).Ispentthesummerworkingwithmypreceptoronthehematologyoncologyfloorandwasavitalpartofanursingteam.Iwasabletoparticipateinprovidingexcellentnursingcaretooncologypatients.Ilearnedaboutanursingspecialtyareaandalsowasabletoshowcasemyworkethic.IreceivedrealworldexperienceandbuiltuponmypreviousclinicalskillsI 3

TheHypodermic December/January2016

havelearnedinnursingschool.Ithoughtitwasespeciallyhelpfultoseehowmypreceptororganizedherdayanddeterminedherprioritiesinplanningcare.Iwasalsofortunatetowitnesshowteamworkcreatesagreatworkenvironment.Aftermyexperiencesthissummer,Ifeltthatmyclinicalperformanceandconfidencegreatlyincreased.Itwasanexcellentintroductionformeintorotatingshiftwork.Ievenexperiencedmyfirstnightshiftanditwasinterestingtoseethedifferentatmospherebetweendayandnightshifts.IwilladmitIhadhesitationsaboutgivingupmylastsummerwithmychildren,buttheexperienceprovedtobeworthyofthesacrifice.Ihighlyrecommendeverynursingstudenttoapplyforexternshipprogramsatsomepointduringtheirnursingprogram.Ihaveincludedsomelinksforsummer2017programsatDukeHealthinDurham,NCandRexHospitalinRaleigh,NC.Moreprogramscanbefoundbutthisisagreatstartforanyonewhoisinterested.Goodlucktoallinyourfutureendeavors.http://www.rexhealth.com/rh/careers/new-graduate-residency-programs/nursing-externship-program/https://www.dukenursing.org/student-nurseDeb Julian, NCANSTreasurer2016-2017

My Summer as a PNA Cont.

Source:http://www.williamsons-solicitors.co.uk/clinical-negligence/nursing-carepressure-sores/ 4

TheHypodermic December/January2016

New Nurse Grad Interview Tips

Congratulations!Youmadeitthroughnursingschoolandhavelandedaninterviewforyourdreamjob.Sohowcanyouputyourbestfootforwardandlandthatposition?

Herearejustafewtipstohelpyoustandoutduringyourinterview.

DressforthejobyouWANT:Thisissoimportant,butmanyapplicantsshowuptointerviewsincasualclothesorscrubs.Ifyouwantaprofessionalnursingjob,wearprofessionalattire.Businessattiresuchasaskirtorpantssuitinconservativecolorssuchasnavyorblack.Dressshoesarebest—noopentoedshoes.Remember,presentationiseverything.

YourPortfolio:Thissetsyouapartfromotherapplicants.Yourportfolioshouldincludeyourresumeandhighlightyouraccomplishmentsthroughoutcollegeorprioremployment.Thiscanincludeleadershippositions,clubs,awards,scholarships,lettersofrecommendationandanycertificatesthatyoumayhaveacquired(BLS,ACLS,PALS,etc.)Youhavealottooffer.Showthemwhytheyshouldinvestinyouasanewemployee.

BePrepared:Priortoyourinterview,gettoknowyourpotentialemployer.Dosomeresearchontheinternetorvisitthefacilitieswebsitetolearnaboutthecompany’svisionandvalues,recognitionsreceivedorwhatservicestheyoffer.Forexample,iftheyofferaninnovativeprocedurethatinterestsyou,bepreparedtochataboutit.Itisalsoagoodideatosearchexample

Source:http://www.freecnatrainingclasses.com

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TheHypodermic December/January2016

New Nurse Grad Interview Tips Cont.

interviewquestionsonlineandpracticewithsomeonesoyouaremorepreparedtoanswerquestionsduringyourinterview.Thisnotonlygivesyouanopportunitytoimproveyourinterviewingskillsbutwillhelpyoubelessnervousontheactualinterviewday.

Beontime:Punctualityshowsyourprospectiveemployerrespectaswellasacommitmenttoyourendeavors.Arrivetoyourinterviewappointment10-15minutesearly;butnoearlier.Oftenthehiringmanagerisonatightscheduleandwillappreciateyouarrivinginatimelymannerforyourappointmentwiththem.

BeConfident:Noteveryoneisoutgoing.Youmightevenbeshy,butspeakingclearlyandmaintainingeyecontactduringtheinterviewcanspeakvolumesaboutaperson.Remember,youareinterviewingforaprofessionalnursingposition.Employerswanttohireanapplicantwhotheyseeasagoodfit.Someonetheycanimaginejoiningtheirhealthcareteamanddeliveringcaretotheirpatients.

FollowUpandBePatient:Beforeendingtheinterview,youshouldinquirewhatthenextstepinthehiringprocesswillbe.Sometimestheywillprovideatimelineofwhentheywillmaketheirdecisionby.Besuretoaskforcontactinformationthatwayyoucanfollowupwiththeinterviewer.Finally,besuretofirmlyshakehands,andthanktheinterviewerfortheirtimebeforeleaving.

Afteryourinterview,alwaysremembertosendathank-younote.Itmayseemoldfashioned,butifyouwantthejob,sendthenote.Therearemanygreatexamplesavailableonline,butathank-younoteshouldalwaysconveyyourappreciationfortheinterviewer'stimeandreiterateyourinterestintheposition.Senditwithin24hoursoftheinterviewtobemosteffective. 6

TheHypodermic December/January2016

New Nurse Grad Interview Tips Cont.

Thehiringprocesscanbetimelyandoftentakesmuchlongerthaneithersideanticipates.It’sappropriatetogiveafollowupcallafterthetimelinetheygiveyou,butbeyondthatallyoucandoisbepatientandwaitforthe“bigcall”.Keepinmindthereareusuallyseveralapplicants.Remainpositiveduringthistimeandbeproactive.Thismayincludebrushinguponskillsorapplyingtootherpositions.Andremember,evenifyouaren’tselectedfortheposition,putyourbestfootforwardwitheasebecauseyourdreamjobisjustanotherinterviewaway.

Goodlucktoeveryoneintheirfutureinterviewsandcareers!Jen Marshall, NCANSDistrictIVDirector2016-2017

NorthCarolinaNursesAssociationishostinganeventTuesday,April18th,2017

Thisisagreatopportunitytoallowmemberstohavetheirvoicesheard.Youwilllearnfromelectedofficialsandspecialguestspeakersabouthowtoget

involvedaswellasprovideinformationaboutlegislativeissuesimpactingyouattheNCGeneralAssembly.

Schoolscansponsortheeventtoallowstudentstoattendforonly$10each!

Formoreinformationabouteventorsponsoringvisit:https://ncnurses.org/events/day-at-the-legislature/

Nurses Day at the Legislature

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