March 20, 2012 Class

We continued the discussion in this class about the hiring and firing process. This time though we also spent a significant amount of time talking about the challenges of staffing. This was a real eye opener into what a manager goes through when staffing the floor. Later when taking an exam for this course, I was able to apply what I learned as I did a "fake" schedule for a medical surgical. There is a lot to take into account when staffing. Full time people obviously must be staffed first in order to attempt to help them get the hours needed for benefits. Maternity leave, vacation, etc... through wrenches into the schedule. The nice thing about healthcare is the PRN staff. Those PRN staff can help fill holes when necessary. This class discussion was really interesting to me, as I will soon start my first hospital job. It was interesting to hear how different floors, hospitals, etc... handle scheduling and staffing issues. It seems to me that managers have to deal with staffing and spend a great deal of time on it.

Clinical Blog

Just a reminder that my clinical blog can be accessed at this link: http://whitneyward4405.blogspot.com/
My clinical hours, including my budget interview can be found at my other blog.

March 6, 2012 Class

This class was very interesting to me. We discussed the hiring and interview process. I have had more experience with the applying and interview process this past year then I could have ever wanted. I have applied to over 300 jobs and had about 10 interviews. It has been a real eye-opener and learning experience for me. In this economic climate, every application and interview counts. In class, we discussed the use of behavioral-based questions. Behavioral based questions are important, because it allows the interviewer to get to know the person being interviewed. These questions are open ended and often asking the interviewer to give specific examples. In my interviewing experience, I feel that some of my interviewers have not been very prepared to interview me, while other times the interviewers were very prepared. This helped me know what kind of company I was interviewing with. Just this week, I was offered a job at LDS Hospital. My interview for this position was my best experience interviewing yet. The manager was friendly, asked appropriate questions, and made me feel at ease. This was so important to me, because it allowed me to show the interviewer who I am. I hope someday when I am on the other side of the table, I will remember the qualities that make a good interview experience.

Personal Career Development Plan

This assignment is very exciting for me. I was just offered a job on the Oncology unit at LDS Hospital. This job offer has given me more of a focus for my career. This has helped me immensely in creating a personal career development plan.

Goal: To become a Nurse Practitioner.

Current Education: Associate of Science in Nursing received April, 2011.

Required Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Current Skills/Experience: Currently licensed as a RN and was just offered a position on the Oncology floor at LDS Hospital.

Required Skills/Experience: I would like to get 3-5 years of experience on an oncology floor in order to become a proficient RN.

Step 1: Complete Bachelor Nursing Program and graduate with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Target Completion Date: April 26, 2012.

Step 2: Complete Intermountain New Grad Residency Program

Target Completion Date: June 30, 2012.

Step 3: Join Oncology Nursing Society

Target Completion Date: December 31, 2012.

Step 4: Work a total of 1872 hours at LDS Hospital on Oncology floor

Target Completion Date: March 26, 2013.

Step 5: Apply to University of Utah's Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program and take the GRE.

Target Completion Date: Fall, 2013

Step 6: Enroll in University of Utah's Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program

Target Completion Date: Fall, 2014

Step 7: Successfully complete first three semesters of Nurse Practitioner Program

Target Completion Date: Fall, 2015

Step 8: Successfully complete second three semesters of Nurse Practitioner Program

Target Completion Date: Fall, 2016

Step 9: Successfully finish Doctorate Scholarly Project and last two semesters of Nurse Practitioner Program.

Target Completion Date: Spring, 2017

Step 10: Begin work as a Nurse Practitioner

Target Completion Date: Summer, 2017

February 28, 2012 Class

This class was interesting. We talked a lot about budgeting and managing a budget. We were actually able to look at an example of a hospital's actual budget. We were then split up in groups to discuss the budget and look for ways to cut spending to meet the monthly budget. This was very interesting, because it was a look into how management has to problem solve to meet budgets. This activity readied me for my budget interview that I will be conducting shortly. Who knew budgets could be so complex and take so much management?

February 14, 2012 Class

Our class on February 14 was interesting. It started with an announcement that our syllabus and course structure was completely changing. A little bit after that announcement our teacher left without any explanation. This little "set up" was supposed to give us an example of how not to manage change. Change needs to be explained and dealt with in a professional manner. Despite the unconventional teaching method, I did think it did bring home a point. Many of the students were upset about the change. While preparing for the class, I had read "Who moved my cheese?" A lot of the time our cheese is moved, or change happens that we cannot control. We can control how we react to it. Change will happen. As managers and leaders, I hope to manage change in a professional manner and control how I react to change.