Positive Image of a Professional Nurse

Assertiveness
- helps individual resist manipulation
- makes one personal feel more confident
- expressing oneself tactfully without hurting each other’s feelings
- take risks to be heard
- actively and persistently work to get their goals accomplished
- stick to the issue at hand without sidetracked
- clearly and consistently conveying stand on issues.

Aggressiveness
- reactive rather than goal-directed
- reflect underlying insecurity
- demonstrate a lack of personal responsibility for one’s feeling and actions

Factors hindering assertiveness

- family interaction
- Fear
- punishment by authorities
- losing control
- being rejected
- being too aggressive
- seeming unfeminine

Counterproductive attitude that can prevent assertive action

1. I do not have the right to express my thoughts or opinions
2. I do not have the right to express my feelings directly
3. I do not have the right to disagree with others
4. I should never say no to a request for help
5. I should listen to irreleveant requests since that is my job
6. I should never make a mistake
7. I am responsible if other people will feel angry or anxious
8. I should never make a mistake
9. I should never broadcast my skills or accomplishments
Assertive and Aggressive
- you don’t know what youre talking about
o let’s talk this over and compromise or I disagree
- what? you don’t have the report
o the agreement that the report will be available today

Passive Behavior are Aggressive

 an administrator forgets to get back to a supervisor’s request
 = the administrator passively avoids confronting the issue of the supervisor’s request
and aggressively leaves the supervisor hanging
 A nursing manager agress with a head nurse but never acts
 = The nursing manager takes a passive-resistive route, neither taking action ir
delegating the task; the manager aggressively does not allow the head nurse to be
more independent in decision making and does not respect the head nurse as a person
who can deal with a no or direct action

Initial steps for increasing assertiveness

- elementary
- verbal communication
- complex interaction
o thinking through goals actively implementing them
o using effective work habits and setting limits one another attempts to interfere
o relating with peers and subordinates
Practice Activities
- assertive training program
- written exercises
- tape-recorded exercise
- keeping a record
- relaxation exercises

Positive Image of a Professional Nurse

FACTS:
- the American oublic has identified nursing as the profession it most trusts
- in the 2008 gallup poll, 84% of respondents rated nurses’ ethical standards and honesty
as “high” or ‘ethical standards and honesty as “high” or “very high”
- nurses have received the top ranking
- Alos, 2009 President Obama declared that nurses are the backbone of the healthcare
system recognizing the nurses are the individuals most involved in patient care
- satisfaction with hospital nursing care has been identified as the main factor influencing
patient satisfaction with the overall hospital experience.
- treated as individuals with unique needs
 - receiving explanations of care and treatments being provided
- knowing the nurse is watching over them
- recievng timely responses to requests

I – introduce yourself
M- Medication
A – Assessment
G- Goal
E- explain and educate

Professional Adjustment

- getting off to a good start

- making a career plan
- diff fields of nursing
- making a killer resume
- interview types
- choosing the right company
- salary bargaining tips
- passing the probation
- resignation

Getting off to a good start

- what career will suit my lifestyle?
- what are my talents and skills?
- what do I like doing?
- what I don’t like about work?

Making a career plan

a sound career plan involves a 3 step process

1. know thyself
2. study careers
3. make a decision

Different fields of Nursing

1. hospital or industrial nsg
2. public health nursing
3. private duty or special duty nursing
4. nursing education
5. military nursing
6. independent nursing practice
 7. clinic nursing

Drafting a Killer Resume

Chronological Resume
- conventional itemized employment history
- career milestone arranged in reverse chronological order, starting with current position
held
Functional Resume
- organizes work history into sections that highlight skills and accomplishments
Combination Resume
- Merge best features of the chronological and functional types-history of employment
plus achievement section.
Curriculum Vitae
- Detailed, lengthy and structured outline of educational background, publications,
awards and work history
Electronic Resume
- can be sent by e-mail or be viewed in the internet

Resume Writing Tips

- Avoid spelling boo-boos
- streamline or make ore efficient
- use personal details carefully
- be concise
- make it easy to read
Mastering Interviewing Skills
- come prepared
- arrive early
- dress smart
- reply calmly
- don’t shoot your ex boss
- focus on the company’s interest
- don’t talk money too soon
- ask away
- don’t act desperate or apologetic
- observe proper etiquette

FAQ
1. tell me something about yourself
2. why do you want to
Interview Types
Screening Interview
- filters unqualified applicans
- generally HR will look or clues to eliminate you
- give polite and direct answers
- don’t volunteer information that could harm you

One on one interview

- actual interview with the decision maker
- your objective is to establish affinity with hiring manager and prove you have the
qualities and skills needed by the institution
Telephone Interview
- talk in a clear, slow and confident voice
- keep your answer concise and focused
- you can have your resume copy in front of you
Stress Interview
- interviewer may deliberately attempt to see you reaction to uncomfortable situations
o ex; make you wait long for your turn, throw sarcastic questions
- remain calm and poised
- ask for clarification of necessary
Group panel interview
- involves a meeting with two or more interviewers at the same time
- will gauge the candidates behavior under the pressure of dealing with diff personalities
- create rapport
- smiling and rotating eye contact when answering
Behavioral Interview
- candidate is asked to recall and describe past situations which will apply time
management, leadership or conflict resolution skills.

The application follow up

- The follow up starts at the end of the interview
- always write a thank you letter within 48 hours of your interview
- inform your references that they might receive a call from the employer
- do call on the day instructed to you
- while doing follow-ip, don’t limit to one company alone
- if the interviewer tells you the position has been filled, remain calm and respectful
- if your emails or phone calls are not being returned three weeks after your campaign
started, it’s safe to assume you were not chosen.
Choosing the Right Company
- company vision
- long term orientation
- people orientation
- excellence
- compensation

more reminders on how to select best employers

1. its not a one way street
2. consider personality match
3. choose company where youre likely to grow
4. monetary benefits
5. know what exactly you are getting in to

Salary Bargaining tips

Pre-Bargaining Stage
- calculate the amount youll need to support your lifestyle
- assess your value
- do a comparative research on prevailing salary trends
- discreet the study of the hiring company

Interview
- no specific figures. rather provide a salary
- the less you reveal about what offer will make you bite, the more youre likely to receive
a best offer.
Negotiation Stage
- goal is to shoot fot the high end
the job offer
- never accept or reject a job on the spot
Acceptance
- get everything down in writing
- don’t be blinded by the financial aspect

Passing Probation
1. positive work attitude
2. quick to adjust
3. eager to learn
4. good people skills
5. be professional
More Tips:
1. do your work, impress your boss
2. don’t ignore comments
3. show initiative
4. don’t be in a hurry to attach yourself in a particular group
5. don’t ask for a salary raise yet

10 keys to career success

- sharpen your people skills
- project a professional image
- go with the winners
- don’t wait to be noticed
- take control
- acquire lifelong education
- look outward
- trust your instinct
- watch what you say
- find time for life and leisure

Top 10 worker qualities employers seek

- communication skills
- initiative/motivation
- teamwork skills
- interpersonal skills
- flexibility/adaptability
- analytical skills
- computer skills
- organizational skills
- honesty/integrity
- strong work ethic
Resignation

ways to know when to leave:

1. differences don’t give a good product
2. lost sense of purpose
3. lost sense of fun
4. what originally motivated your interest in the job
5. when the commitment to communicate is no longer solid
6. if respect is lacking
7. if you find yourself lyin
 - decision should be rooted firmly in the logic and avoid emotional impulses
- tell your supervisor first
- give 1 month notice
- be modest
- don’t insult anyone
- stay on top of your resp.
- adhere to institution protocol
- organize your file
- review employee handbook
- do agreat job training your replacement
- don’t take anything that doesn’t belong to you

Tips on Writing a Resig letter

1. Short, professional and positive
2. do not use as a forum to criticize
3. don’t show to other employees
4. deliver directly to management