EP 211: MICU and Becoming a CRNA with Jenny Finnell

EP 211: MICU and Becoming a CRNA with Jenny Finnell

by | Apr 14, 2023 | Podcast

EP 211: MICU and Becoming a CRNA with Jenny Finnell

Becoming a CRNA is possible for any nurse. It may take time and a lot of dedication, but you can become one too. In this episode, we would like to introduce you to Jenny Finnell. Jenny is a CRNA with experience in MICU, adult open heart, and pediatrics.

She spends most of her time mentoring and looking for ways to build community and resources for our nurses. 

Jenny launched Nurses Teach Nurses in August 2022, a mentorship marketplace for nurses by nurses. She helps nurses by empowering them to share knowledge, promote personal growth and create a culture of support.

She is also the creator of CRNA School Prep Academy, which helps people get into CRNA school and succeed on the job. 

We talk about the life of a CRNA and what it takes to become one and overcome self-doubt in school and on the field. 

Questions for Our Guest

The questions below are some we’d like to tackle. We often go off-topic, so we don’t expect to hit them all. If you have any ideas, please let us know.

Looking forward to our conversation!

These are the questions you had in Calendly. We’ll go off your questions and wherever else our conversation goes.

  1. Can you give some background about yourself, your nursing experience, and how you decided to become a CRNA? 
  2. Why did you choose to jump into the MICU?
      • How was your experience in the MICU?
      • Any interesting cases? Common things you dealt with?
      • What were the expectations and some things you struggled with?
      • We often hear the phrase that nurses eat their young. Did you feel that way? Is this a good way to teach new nurses?
  3. What are the requirements for becoming a CRNA?
      • What experience is needed?
      • How is CRNA school?
      • CRNA school vs Nursing school?
      • Is there a certain “person” that gravitates to becoming a CRNA? 
      • Advice for future CRNAs?
      • With NP school, there isn’t a requirement to work as an RN. Do you think you really need that ICU experience to be successful as a CRNA?
  4. You’ve been married to your high school sweetheart. How important is having support?
      • Did you always get the support you needed? 
      • Work-life balance? 
  5. What made you start CRNA School Prep Academy?
      • Did you have a mentor in CRNA school? 
      • What can you expect to get and learn at the CRNA School Prep Academy?
  6. What made you start Nurses Teach Nurses?
      • How important is positive nursing culture?

Ending Questions

Before we end the show, we have one last question we like to ask all our guests. If you had the opportunity to have a Cup of coffee with anybody one last time, who would it be & why? 

Links: 

https://nursesteachnurses.com/#
https://www.instagram.com/crnaschoolprepacademy/
https://nursesteachnurses.com/#
https://www.instagram.com/nursesteachnurses/
https://www.cspaedu.com/steps

Here’s her journey from MICU and becoming a CRNA. Watch the full episode here 👇👇

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction
01:58 About Jenny Finnell
03:13 The Incredible Benefits of Pursuing a Career as a CRNA
04:54 What is the Environment of an Open Heart Surgery look like
08:19 The real responsibilities of CRNA’s
11:09 What does a life of a CRNA look like
13:29 Patient Care Differences Between Adults and Children
15:34 Tips to becoming a CRNA
17:05 How to Boost Your Confidence and Conquer Your Insecurities
23:21 Experiences That Paved the Way to Becoming a CRNA
25:50 Reasons Why Nurses Leave Bedside Care
30:39 The Benefits of Seeking Professional Help from Experienced Healthcare Professionals
34:22 Who are the Nurses teach nurses for
37:28 What is “CRNA School Prep Academy” all about
41:12 Things that need improvement in nursing
43:36 Wrapping up the show

 

Be a Travel Nurse and Work in These Top 10 Best Places 

Be a Travel Nurse and Work in These Top 10 Best Places 

by | Mar 4, 2023 | Travel Nursing

Be a Travel Nurse and Work in These Top 10 Best Places 

So, you are a nurse who is looking for something new to do. You love your job set-up in the healthcare facility you currently work in, but your mind wanders. It would help if you had an adventure.

You need to fuel your passion! If this is your current mindset right now, sign up to be a travel nurse and get to choose ten of the best places for this job. 

Where Can Travel Nurses Work?

 

#1. Alaska

With stunning views and a vast space for fishing, Alaska is home to the largest hospital in the city, the Providence Alaska Medical Center. Travel nurses who enjoy activities like camping, fishing, and boating will surely enjoy Alaska.

The growing healthcare industry and great pay are why many travel nurses chose this destination for work [1].

With the city’s unique features and long sunny days, Alaska is ideal for those interested in working here as a nurse and enjoying the outdoors.

Make sure to bring plenty of sunscreens! 

 

#2. California

Cali is home to excellent teaching hospitals, including the UCLA Medical Center, UCSF Medical Center, and others. Not only that, but California also has one of the highest-paying nursing salaries in the country.

If you love the idea of learning and visiting California’s famous landmarks, this is an exciting place to choose!

If you love beaches, California has plenty, and if you are a wine enthusiast, you will surely enjoy the endless array of vineyards there too.

There are plenty of places to explore so you will surely love your time here. 

 

#3. Texas

If you want to work in Texas, Austin is the place to be. Ranked as one of the most popular locations for travel nurses, Austin is a fast-growing city with a high density of healthcare facilities to keep the flow of nurses constant.

Besides the booming healthcare industry, Austin is also a hub for entertainment. If you love food, music, and festivals, Austin is your next best destination.

 

#4. Florida

Another popular destination for travel nurses to work in is Florida – Miami, in particular, is a rather popular state to be in. If you are looking for warm weather and beaches, Florida is an excellent choice. It is a popular location for nurses who enjoy spending time at the beach after long working hours.

If you love exploring popular tourist attractions, Florida is home to Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and Sea World. They also offer epic nightlife destinations like the Design District, Downtown, and many others.

All in all, it is a well-rounded city with many things to do after your shift.

 

#5. Hawaii

As a travel nurse, you have the opportunity to work in different locations, even with the pandemic travel restrictions that we have now. If you are interested in working far from the usual continental U.S. sights, you can apply for work in Hawaii.

However, this may be steep competition as it takes time to get approval for a work permit. But with patience, you, too, can land an assignment here.

Just be reminded that Hawaii is not exactly the place for travel nurses who want to earn top dollar, but if you are longing for an experience of a lifetime, this is it. 

 

#6. Colorado

Colorado is a compact nursing state which means a license in one state allows you to work assignments in another, just like in Texas.

If you choose urban life, Denver is an excellent choice to work and be a travel nurse. After your work, you can enjoy the breathtaking views the Rocky Mountains have to offer.

If you love skiing, Colorado has plenty of winter sports activities that you will surely love. Not only that, but since Colorado is part of a compact nursing state, you can attain greater work mobility without complications. 

 

#7. New York City

When we talk about New York, we always think of tall skyscrapers and high-rise apartments. But when it comes to healthcare facilities, New York is one of the best.

They are known for medical centers like the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Mount Sinai Hospital. As a travel nurse, you have the opportunity to work in one of the best cities without a permanent commitment. In addition to that, New York is home to prestigious art galleries, museums, parks, and restaurants. This state is also one of those that offer nurses high salaries – which helps in the expensive nature of the city [2].

 

#8. Arizona

If you are looking for travel nursing opportunities that require low-cost living, then go to Arizona. Tucson City offers travel nursing opportunities that you might like.

Among the best features that this city has to offer include food scenes, music, a predominantly younger demographic of university students, and a good number of retirees.

So, if the desert life suits you, you might as well look into this location for travel nurse assignments.

 

#9. Washington

For coffee lovers who are also traveling nurses, working in Washington is a great choice. Seattle is one of the top cities in this state that offers good pay for nurses.

With the current nursing shortage in this city, it is an excellent opportunity for you to grab and find an assignment. As the coffee capital of the United States, you will surely enjoy this city.

If you love farmer’s markets, you can visit the Pike Place Market, considered the world’s oldest farmer’s market.

They also offer museums for you to check out – the Museum of Pop Culture and Museum of Flight are among the best tourist attractions you can find here. 

 

#10. Chicago

As the United State’s third-largest city, Chicago is home to some of the country’s largest and most prestigious healthcare facilities.

However, with the current pandemic, Chicago also faces nursing shortages, and the demand for nurses has pushed average salaries to $70,000 per year.

If you have plans to be a travel nurse in this state, do it. Not only will you enjoy working here, but you will also love the skyscrapers and their famous spot called Millenium Park. 

 

Pack Your Bags and Go!

If the location you would like to be a travel nurse in is not listed here, don’t worry. Many hospitals still need nurses out there, so you can choose wherever your passion takes you! And if your favorite destination is listed here, grab the chance to work today; good luck!

 

Looking for more nursing and travel nursing information? Check out these helpful links!

EP 205: 9 Qualities of a Good Nurse

EP 205: 9 Qualities of a Good Nurse

by | Mar 3, 2023 | Podcast

9 Qualities of a Good Nurse

In this episode, we will discuss the nine qualities of a good overall nurse. It is undeniable that nursing is a noble profession that requires a unique set of skills and qualities.

It is not an easy job, and nurses must possess several qualities that make them stand out. In this podcast, we will discuss nine qualities that every aspiring nurse should strive to have.

1. Be a team player – hard work ethic.

One of the most important qualities of a good nurse is being a team player with a strong work ethic.  Nurses should be willing to work collaboratively with their colleagues and be proactive in helping them.

Even if your shift is difficult, can you still go out of your way to help another nurse? What if you’re busy and your co-worker wants a 15 min break? Will you say no? Do it for the squad! In some units, you know the team got you back.

2. Learn to communicate with everybody on the healthcare team

Communication is another critical skill that every good nurse should have. Nurses interact with several people, including patients, families, physicians, and other healthcare professionals.

Therefore, excellent communication skills are a must. Nurses should be able to convey information, listen actively, and respond appropriately. Effective communication ensures that patients receive quality care and that the healthcare team works together seamlessly.

3. Flexibility in your shift – going with the flow

Flexibility is also crucial in nursing. Nurses must work flexible hours, including night shifts, weekends, and holidays or even deal with floating multiple times a shift as we did in our travel nursing contract.

Flexibility helps ensure that patients receive the care they need and that the healthcare team is adequately staffed. Can you float as a nurse without negatively impacting your team?

4. Don’t be hyper-independent and not help others

While nurses need to be independent and resilient, they should also be careful not to be hyper-independent and not help others. Nurses work in teams, and every team member should be willing to help their colleagues.

Being a team player means being willing to lend a helping hand, ask for help when needed, and work collaboratively to achieve the best patient outcomes. This is what makes you a high-quality nurse to be around. 

5. Having empathy – compassionate 

Empathy is another crucial quality of a good nurse. Nurses should be empathetic and compassionate towards their patients.

They should be able to connect with their patients, show them kindness, and provide emotional support. Having empathy helps patients feel valued, understood, and cared for, which can positively impact their recovery.

6. Emotional Stability – Tempered 

Nursing is a challenging job that can be emotionally draining. Thus, a good nurse should be emotionally stable and tempered.

They should be able to manage their emotions, remain calm under pressure, and handle stressful situations effectively.

Emotional stability helps nurses provide quality care and maintain a positive work environment.

7. Attention to detail 

Attention to detail is another critical quality for nurses. Nurses are responsible for administering medications, monitoring vital signs, and providing treatments. Therefore, they should be meticulous and detail-oriented.

Paying attention to detail ensures that patients receive the right medication, dosage, and treatment, which can significantly impact their recovery or potentially cause harm.

8. Problem-solving skills – a Critical thinker 

Problem-solving skills are also essential for nurses. Nurses encounter complex problems daily and must be able to solve them effectively. A good nurse should be a critical thinker and possess problem-solving skills.

They should be able to assess a situation, identify the problem, and develop a plan to solve it. If you don’t know how to solve the problem, who can you escalate the situation to (chain of command)? 

Problem-solving skills help nurses provide quality care and improve patient outcomes.

9. Patient advocate 

The core of nursing is centered around being a patient advocate. They should speak up for their patients, protect their rights, and provide the best possible care.

Being a patient advocate requires nurses to be knowledgeable, assertive, and proactive in advocating for their patient’s needs.

In Closing

In conclusion, becoming a successful and effective nurse involves possessing several qualities. These qualities include being a team player, having excellent communication skills, being flexible, empathetic, emotionally stable, detail-oriented, possessing problem-solving skills, and being a patient advocate.

Every aspiring nurse should strive to possess these qualities to provide quality patient care, maintain a positive work environment, and achieve the best outcomes for patients.

Do you have all the qualities of a good nurse? Check out the full episode here 👇👇👇

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction
02:09 1. Be a team player – hard work ethic
04:00 2. Learn to communicate with everybody on the healthcare team
06:03 3. Flexibility in your shift -going with the flow
09:50 4. Don’t be hyper-independent and not help others
13:32 5. Having Empathy – Compassionate
17:53 6. Emotional Stability – Tempered
23:47 7. Attention to detail
27:02 8.Problem-solving skills – Critical thinker
29:53 9. Patient Advocate
35:02 Wrapping up the show

 

EP 204: What Does a Flight Nurse Do with Madison Vawter

EP 204: What Does a Flight Nurse Do with Madison Vawter

by | Feb 24, 2023 | Podcast

What Does a Flight Nurse Do with Madison Vawter

What does it take to be in a different nursing path? Nursing is a vast field to explore. If you are not too keen to work as a bedside nurse, you can always find a different nursing field to pursue. One of these paths is being a flight nurse.

A flight nurse cares for critically ill patients in a plane or helicopter as they are transported from an accident scene to a medical facility. They also ensure their patients don’t go into code while transported to long-term care. 

Qualifying as a flight nurse is easy. You need a nursing license in your state and experience in critical and trauma care. If you’re interested in a fast-paced environment like this, you may qualify to be one. But is that all that it takes to become a flight nurse? 

In this episode, we would like to introduce you to Madison Vawter. Madison is a flight nurse with an ER, ICU, and Trauma background. We talk about what a flight nurse does, how to become one, and how to build confidence. 

Question for Our Guest

The questions below are some we’d like to tackle. We often go off-topic, so we don’t expect to hit them all. If you have any ideas, please let us know.

Looking forward to our conversation!

These are the questions you had in Calendly. We’ll go off your questions and wherever else our conversation goes.

  1. Can you give us a brief background about yourself and How you got into flight nursing?
  2. What are the responsibilities of a flight nurse? 
  3. What education is needed to become a flight nurse?
    • Is it a competitive market to find a flight nurse position?
  4. What are the keys to building a solid resume as a nurse?
  5. What are your thoughts about bullying in nursing? 
  6. What do you think is the key to building confidence as a nurse?

Ending Questions

Before we end the show, we have one last question we like to ask all our guests. If you had the opportunity to have a Cup of coffee with anybody one last time, who would it be & why? 

Connect with Madison and follow her journey through her Instagram at @madrose.v.

Do you have what it takes to be a flight nurse? Check out the full episode here 👇👇👇

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction
01:27 About Madison Vawter
03:54 What is a typical day in the life of a flight nurse like?
05:50 What tasks fall under a flight nurse’s responsibility when there are no patients?
08:01 What other healthcare professionals accompany a flight nurse?
10:48 Who makes the decisions about orders, and how are they communicated?
12:42 What does the team do when they receive an emergency call
17:42 Cases that Madison enjoys addressing
19:18 What does it look like working inside a helicopter
22:02 The most memorable experience
29:43 What is required to enter the field of flight nursing?
32:38 The very competitive field of flight nursing
37:20 Hospital vs. Company based program
38:24 How does the onboarding process look like
41:00 Does a flight nurse need to get familiar with aviation?
44:00 Can a flight nurse care for patients of any age?
45:19 Tips for building self-confidence
53:23 The challenges of a flight nurse
57:42 Wrapping up the show

EP. 198 Guide to Personal Finance With Anthony Swain

EP. 198 Guide to Personal Finance With Anthony Swain

by | Jan 15, 2023 | Podcast

Guide to Personal Finance With Anthony Swain

Personal finance must be your top priority. The nursing profession is indeed a lucrative job. It has its perks and advantages, mainly if you choose to be a nurse in a specific field like travel nursing.

If you’re a student nurse right now, you’re probably thinking, “I want to be a nurse because it pays well, ” While this is true, this should not be your end goal. Just because the job pays well, that’s all you’ll ever chase.

Being a nurse is more than just the dollar sign; being a travel nurse requires time and dedication. And if you want to do both and get the paycheck you deserve, you must also learn how to build a solid financial foundation.

Remember, you will not be a nurse forever, and learning to manage your finances as early as now will help set your future. What can you do about it? And what are the benefits of having a solid financial foundation?

In this episode, we would like to introduce you to Anthony Swain. Anthony has been an RN since 2014 and works as a travel nurse and Nurse Finance Coach. He recently released his new e-book, The Travel Nurses’ Guide to Personal Finance.

The goal of his book is to help nurses & other healthcare professionals develop a solid personal financial foundation so that they can be empowered by money rather than be hindered by it. His mission is to help others reach financial independence. 

QUESTIONS FOR OUR GUEST

The questions below are some we’d like to tackle. We often go off-topic, so we don’t expect to hit them all. If you have any ideas, please let us know.

Looking forward to our conversation!

These are the questions you had in Calendly. We’ll go off your questions and wherever else our conversation goes.

  1. Can you please give us a little background about yourself?
  2. Before we dive into some financial tips, what was your favorite unit to work on?
    • What was it like working with liver and kidney transplants? What did the day-to-day look like?
    • When it comes to liver and kidney transplants, what are some protocols you follow or things you pay attention to? 
  3. When you started travel nursing, what really surprised you? Were you surprised by how little focus is placed on investing and saving for your future?
  4. Is working overtime worth it? Doesn’t a lot of it get eaten away by taxes?
  5. What are the most critical systems to put in play when travel nursing? 
    • Where should people start to put their money?
  6. In your book, you mention asset and investment allocation; what are they, and are they different?

ENDING QUESTIONS

Before we end the show, we have one last question we like to ask all our guests.

If you had the opportunity to have a Cup of coffee with anybody one last time, who would it be & why? 

Connect with Anthony through his Instagram at @financially fit.rn Or check out his book titled The Travel Nurses’ Guide to Personal Finance

SPECIAL CODE: CupofNurses25 for 25% off for the entire week of the podcast episode 

Want to learn more about managing your personal finances? Click here for the full video 👇👇👇

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction
01:44 About Anthony Swain
03:37 Travel nurse financial lesson
04:48 Financial tips for new grad nurses
10:02 Possible modifications to make student loan repayment easier
14:25 Financial advice for nursing staff who want to do travel nursing
17:16 What to do with the money you’ve saved?
18:32 The journey of writing a book
20:31 What’s inside the book
21:50 How to begin building financial stability
24:54 How to track your finances
30:35 What to do with your extra money
33:36 Can a nurse retire early?
36:45 Difference between Asset allocation and Investment allocation
38:01 Where are Anthony’s Investment
40:57 Difference between an Index Fund and a Stock
45:38 Universal Life Insurance vs. Term Life Insurance Policy
50:12 Wrapping up the show