Listen to the webinar from authors Kristen Mauk and Mary Hobus, Engaging the Faith-Based Nurse: Exploring Nursing as Ministry.

Nursing as Ministry provides the foundations of Christian nursing as ministry, taking an interprofessional perspective with 29 contributors from backgrounds in theology, nursing, medicine, social work, and pastoral ministry. Designed to be a student-friendly textbook for faith-based schools, this first edition text focuses on the spiritual aspects of patient care, providing practical information ministering to specific populations. The reader is guided through topics such as homelessness, substance abuse, community health, vulnerable elders, prison ministry, culturally sensitive care, and more. Additionally, the text is designed to guide the reader through their own spiritual journey, with personal reflection questions in each chapter to help students and nurses to internalize the content.

With a need for a contemporary, evidence-based text on nursing ministry, this first edition offers an abundance of resources including critical reasoning exercises, interviews with nurse leaders, case studies, suggestions for faith integration in daily nursing care, and more.

Features and Benefits:

Video interviews with Christian nursing leaders
Scripture integrated throughout the chapters
Personal stories of nurse leaders woven throughout the text
Navigate 2 Advantage Access

Each new print copy includes Navigate 2 Advantage Access, unlocking a comprehensive and interactive eBook, student practice activities and assessments, a full suite of instructor resources, and learning analytics reporting tools.

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It is no surprise that baby boomers are entering the elderhood phase of their lives, which often means seeking medical care or advice for themselves or for their aged parents. The role of the Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) is quickly becoming more relevant as America’s older population is expected to grow from 15% to 24% over the next 30 years. With life expectancy increasing from 68 years old in 1950 to 79 years in 2013, the expertise of the AGNP is more valuable than ever as healthcare faces this “Silver Tsunami.”

AGNPs are trained to provide care across the continuum of adulthood from young adults to the frail elderly as a reflection to changes made to the national certification exams in 2013, which combined the adult and gerontological specialties into one certification. However, many AGNPs and still-certified Gerontological NPs choose to specialize in the elderly population, (those older than 65) with specific focus areas or competencies related to the aging adult.

Nurse practitioners who specialize in adult and gerontological care can further their specialization by choosing a primary care or acute care concentration. No matter the setting, the AGNP provides multi-disciplinary care to treat the entire individual, not just their health concerns. As there are many facets of aging to consider, the AGNP addresses the physical, psychological and social aspects of aging not only to treat conditions, but to educate patients and the community on preserving function and preventing injury or further decline. Depending on the state in which they practice, AGNPs typically work with a supervising physician under standardized procedures in order to assess, diagnose, treat and prescribe medications.

Many studies have shown that patients are very happy to receive care from nurse practitioners in a variety of settings, including palliative care. Education regarding options for end-of-life care is typically managed by AGNPs in the acute care, post-acute care, home care, long-term care and primary care settings. As educating patients and populations is a cornerstone of the nursing profession, advanced-practice nurses such as AGNPs offer expert knowledge to guide patients and their families through the challenging maze of end-of-life planning. The role of the Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioner has never been more valid or necessary as the U.S. begins to feel the surge of the silver tsunami.

Catherine Burger, BSN, MSOL, RN is a board-certified nurse executive leader and contributing writer for www.registerednursing.org.

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The National League for Nursing and the National Students Nurses’ Association (NSNA)(2012) stated that “although there is a shortage of registered nurses, the economic recession has flooded the RN market with experienced nurses who were retired, planning to retire, or went from part-time to full-time employment. The need for RNs has declined due to low hospital census”. Nursing students graduating today face a competitive employment market. Much of your success at getting the position you want will depend on how well you interview for the job. Follow these steps to be better prepared and increase your chances for a successful interview.

Be prepared

Submit your resume and application in advance, but do not assume that the person interviewing you has read them carefully. Before the interview, think about how you can highlight important aspects of your experience or education.  Do some background research on the organization or place to which you are applying.

Familiarize yourself with the key people in authority, especially focusing on the person who will interview you. During the interview you can use this information to establish some common ground. Consider some key areas such as: How large is the organization and/or the unit where you are applying? What population and geographic area do they serve? What expertise do you have to offer that might be valuable to them? For example, if you are applying for a job on an inpatient rehabilitation unit, did you have a course in rehabilitation or do clinical rotations in rehab? If so, be sure to mention this during the interview.

Look professional

Paul Walden, writing on the NSNA website, stated, “appearance and attitude are everything. Dress in professional attire and smile. Make sure you arrive promptly”. Although professional attire may be more casual than it has been in years past, employers still expect an interviewee to look his/her best.  This means no blue jeans, shorts, cut-offs, flip-flops, low-cut blouses, miniskirts, overbearing jewelry, or other extremes in attire.  Business casual is usually acceptable, but when in doubt, err on the side of dressing more formally in business attire than casual.

Start with a good beginning

Introduce yourself and offer to shake hands with the interviewer while making direct eye contact. Do not sit down until directed to do so. The interviewer controls the interview. Express enthusiasm for the interviewer taking time to speak with you and make a positive comment about the surroundings or reputation of the facility. Smile and convey friendliness, approachability, and confidence. Most nurse managers are looking for a “good fit” in a new employee with their existing staff and unit milieu. Your personality may be as important to the manager as your skill set. Listen for comments made by the interviewer that suggest he/she is seeking someone who will be a team player and then be sure to share ways in which you have successfully blended with similar groups in the past.

Ask thoughtful questions

Have a few thoughtful questions ready to ask. For example: How does the open position fit within the organizational chart? Is there opportunity for gaining additional education? What type of orientation or mentoring do they provide for new nurses? Are there opportunities for advancement? These types of questions show that you are interested in a long-term relationship with the organization and are willing to learn and increase your professional skills. Asking deliberate questions can also help you assess whether or not this job is the right one for you.

Be memorable

You want the person conducting the interview to remember you in a positive light. What sets you apart from others who might be applying for this job? Answering that question in advance will point you in the direction where you need to shine. This might be your engaging personality, strong evaluations from clinical professors, your flexibility or willingness to learn, your experience in another country with service-learning projects, or your good academic performance.

End the interview well

If you were fortunate enough to be given a tour of the unit or facility, be sure to take advantage of any opportunities to greet or interact with staff or patients. The interviewer may be watching to see if you display positive interpersonal skills. Before you leave the interview, be sure that you know how you will be notified if they wish to hire you. Thank the interviewer and shake hands again (if appropriate), expressing your enthusiasm for this wonderful opportunity. If possible, send a follow-up email or thank you note to the interviewer for his/her time and attention. Be sure to continue to display warmth and cordiality as you leave the facility. You never know who may be watching.

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Are you thinking about a career in radiography? If yes, then this article will prove to be very meaningful to you. Let me just tell you, a career in radiography is a great choice for you if you like helping other people and paying close attention to details. Moreover, if you like performing an important role in a medical emergency, then there’s nothing better than becoming a radiologic technologist.

This article will brief you about what a typical career of a radiographer comprises. For more important details regarding how to become a radiographer, you can log on to insideradiology.com.au.

1- What Is a Radiographer Trained to Do?
One of the benefits that radiographers get from their profession is that they are trained to operate some of the most cutting-edge medical equipment. As a radiographer, you get the chance of being right in the middle of a medical case, working closely with patients and doctors. If you’re pursuing a career in radiography, then you would be trained to perform several diagnostic procedures, like X-rays, fluoroscopy, MRI, CT, and angiography.

2- How Is Radiographer’s Career Important?
A doctor cannot perform an invasive procedure even if it’s an emergency case without having the results of diagnostic tests performed by a radiographer. Radiographers are also responsible for setting radiation equipment accurately and ensuring that all test results are recorded correctly.

3- What Makes a Radiographer’s Career Interesting?
If you’re thinking of becoming a radiographer, then you won’t spend your day doing the same work. You’ll be performing various tests and using different kinds of modern technical devices. Following is what makes a radiographer’s career so interesting:
• Dealing with patients and briefing them about the procedure

• Guiding patients to form correct positions for the tests.
• Operating all the test equipment
• Recording the test results
• Working with doctors and interpreting the results

4- The Directions in Which a Radiographer’s Career Can Go
The best thing about becoming a radiographer is that you don’t have to stick to medical insinuations and hospitals throughout your career. Although most radiographers prefer to work in hospitals, you can steer your career in other directions as well. You can work with scientists and perform radiography on fossil bones to examine them. You can work with engineers to diagnose flaws in mechanical designs. You also have the option to work in mobile imaging services, military, breast imaging centre, and veterinary care practice.

5- The Demand for Radiographers
Radiographers in Australia enjoy a sound career and handsome salary. Moreover, radiography is a steadily growing job market that is expected to flourish further during the years to come. A general radiographer in Australia can easily make $65,000 to $75,000 annually and a CT radiographer can earn around $70,000 to $90,000 annually. The pay scale for MRI radiographers is even better.

So, what have you decided? Does a career in radiography sound interesting to you? Whether you work closely with patients and doctors or help a scientist examine fossils and mummies, a career in radiography sure gives you the feeling that you’re making the world a better place.

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