My 2 Cents

Time and a Half

I am a home health R.N. and I am seeing patients on Christmas. I am per diem and decided to pick up three visits. I am embarrassed to tell you my "holiday pay" for working on Christmas.

If you are working, are you being paid time and a half for Christmas  and/or New Year's Day? Is the extra pay adequate compensation for time away from family and love one? Are you required to work this weekend/next weekend or are you picking up an extra shift?

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays to everyone. If you haven't done so already take sometime to write out financial, professional, and personal goals for 2006. Maybe attending a national conference? Taking a course to advance your career? Using your debit card over a credit card to decrease spending? Increasing the amount you are saving towards retirement? Active participation in your specialty nursing association?

Have a Safe and Wonderful Holiday Season! I will start posting again after the holidays.

Tis the Season for Risk Management

The new year is almost here and now is the time to think about developing and implementing a risk management plan for your nursing practice. Do you have a risk management plan for your nursing practice? One of the first things you should consider is purchasing your OWN individual professional liability insurance policy with an insurance company which writes policies for nurses. Also purchase or download a copy of the your state Nurse Practice Act and Board of Nursing regulations and review the documents.

You know your nursing practice better than anyone. What other steps can you take to safeguard your nursing license? As a practicing home health R.N., I am planning to make improvements to my narrative nursing documentation and attend a wound care conference in 2006.