If you are a nurse staffing agency owner, and you are interested in learning about alternative ways to finance your business, then look no further than nurse staffing account receivables factoring. Selling your invoices to a factoring firm gives you the ability to stabilize your cash flow without having to go into debt. Here are five more reasons why temporary nurse staffing agency owners should factor their receivables:

1. Receive cash for your nurse staffing receivables within 24 hours or less.
Stop waiting 30, 60 or 90 days for your invoices to be paid. With nurse staffing account receivables factoring, your agency can receive cash the same day you invoice. Typically, agency owners send copies of their invoices and signed time sheets to the factor electronically (via email or fax), at which point the factor verifies the shifts were completed and then it will deposit anywhere between 70-90 percent of the face value of the invoice directly into the agency’s designated bank account.

2. Add working capital to your business without increasing debt.
When a nurse staffing agency decides to use factoring services, the company’s owner has the ability to increase his/her cash flow without a taking out a business loan. In addition, in most cases, there is no interest, no origination fees, no closing costs, and no long-term commitments involved with account receivables factoring.

3. Relieve stress related to poor cash flow.
Nurse staffing account receivables factoring provides a reliable cash flow stream in order to meet business obligations, such as weekly (or in some cases, daily) payroll as well as quarterly payroll taxes. Having enough cash on hand to deal with these ever-present financial responsibilities takes the stress off of the nurse staffing agency and allows him/her to focus on more important things – like growing the business.

4. Reduce overhead costs associated with collections.
There is no need for a nurse staffing agency owner to hire a specific collection manager when working with a nurse staffing account receivables factoring firm. Most factors have designated departments and individuals to take care of the collections process, which frees up the agency’s time and resources to focus on other aspects of running the company.

5. Funding is based on the financial strength of your customers.
Most business owners are relieved to discover that nurse staffing account receivables factoring is based on the financial strength and stability of their customers rather than their own personal FICO score or business credit score. In general, factors are more concerned with the healthcare provider’s creditworthiness rather than the agency’s because it’s the provider who remits payments to the factoring firm.

Clearly, there are a number of benefits that nurse staffing account receivables factoring offers staffing agency owners in addition to easing financing worries. However, nurse staffing agencies typically factor their invoices when they are up against a cash flow squeeze and slow-paying customers. Regardless of the underlining reasons to look into factoring, the one thing that remains the same is that it’s an excellent alternative funding arrangement for nurse staffing agency owners.

New York City
The Big Apple is a desired location for many of the younger nurses wanting to live in the City that never sleeps. Some of the best hospitals are located in New York. Since your accommodations are normally provided for you by the agency, you can experience the legendary city without having to worry about renting apartments, transportation, and other issues that most workers have to deal with. Imagine being able to work with top doctors at Mount Sinai. Catch a Broadway performance on your off day, stroll through Central Park, or just take in some sights. For many young nurses, New York City assignments can give them a taste of big city life. For the history, the location, the hospitals, and the overall diversity of the city, New York ranks very high on the list of desirable cities.

Dallas
Dallas Texas, the fusion of big city and country lifestyles. Take off-day excursions to Mexico, or enjoy the experiences of Texas. Perfect for those that like mild winters, great BBQ, and southern manners. Enjoy some of the finest that classical western life can offer, while working at wells renown hospitals like Dallas Regional Medical Center. Visit the Gulf, enjoy your experiences, and help those that need your services. Dallas has a growing population with more and more demand being placed on the medical field. Explore your opportunities in Dallas.

Los Angeles
The City of Angels is the place where the rich, famous, and powerful live. Enjoy the beaches, the nightlife, the cultural experiences that are available to you, in this booming metropolis. UCLA Healthcare and The Good Samaritan Hospital are wonderful additions to your experience and to your resume. Working is not everything, so when you are not at work, you can take in world famous sites, like the Chinese Theater, Six Flags, Magic Mountain, and more attractions than most people ever realize. There is always something new to do when you are not working.

Tampa
Further south, you will find sunny Florida, and Tampa hospitals waiting for you. If you do not like the cold winters of the north, then Tampa may be just the place for you to consider for your next assignment. Tampa is located close to just about everything that Florida has to offer. Amusement parks such as Disney, Busch Gardens, Sea World provide you with many exciting things to do. You could just relax and take a stroll the white sand beaches of nearby St. Petersburg beaches. Nightlife in Ybor city offers a little bit for every taste. Best of all are the hospitals. World famous Tampa General provides groundbreaking cardio care. The Moffitt Cancer Center, based on the USF campus, is the nations leader in battling cancer. These two hospitals are well worth the experience.

No matter where you choose to go, it is important to put a great deal of thought into your assignment. You should always choose a location that you want to be. You should also consider the experiences that you can gain at the various hospitals as well. Never forget about your off days, you will want something to keep you entertained when you are not working. These cities provide the best of both worlds, work and play. It is up to you to decide what to experience first.

When purchasing a nursing cover for breastfeeding your new baby, it is important to keep a few things in mind to ensure maximum convenience while breastfeeding and to get the biggest bang for your shopping dollars. Decide why you want a nursing cover. Is it to help you feel more comfortable in public while breastfeeding or do you want to keep baby less distracted while feeding?
Most nursing covers are designed to provide discreet coverage for nursing mothers so that they can breastfeed their baby without exposure to others. Nursing covers are quite convenient and often high on expectant mom’s lists of things they would like to receive at the baby shower. This is a great idea for first time moms since it most certainly will be used at the hospital post delivery, when everything is still new and new nursing mothers are still uncomfortable with the process of breastfeeding. The constant stream of well wishers may make a new mom, already unsure of her breastfeeding skills, even more hesitant to feed her new baby naturally.
Nursing covers are also a great baby shower gift for seasoned nursing moms who may use them while expressing milk by pump at the office, or spending time outside of the home – at church, a restaurant, the mall or the local park.
Here are the Top 5 Tips for choosing the right breastfeeding cover:
Are you nursing a new born, or do you plan to nurse for an extended period of time? Generally nursing covers are geared for the first year of nursing and extended nursing may require you to move up to a more generous nursing wrap. There are also plus sized options available these days that will fit the bill for curvy moms, those expecting twins, and those who plan longer term breastfeeding.
How does your baby nurse? Does your child nurse from both breasts in one sitting, or do they generally feed on one side at a time? A lightweight, comfortable option should be chosen in either case, but it is extremely important if your baby has extended feeding sessions since the baby may become overheated and uncomfortable if the nursing wrap is not breathable and soft.
Nursing covers and wraps come in a variety of styles, fabrics and colors / prints – so you can buy a few and then mix and match with your outfits. If you wish to buy only one, consider the most predominant color in your wardrobe, and then select a print or solid that is complimentary to most of your outfits.
Do you want a full coverage nursing wrap that will cover your front, back and sides? Or is a nursing cover that only provides front coverage perfect for your needs? Chic styles are available in partial coverage shawl and apron styles that cover the front and sometimes sides, as well as full coverage poncho styles that give you 360 degrees of coverage front, back, and sides.
Have patience with learning the best positions and methods for feeding your baby with your new nursing cover and know that you are offering your baby the best nutrition possible.

If you take a position as a travel nurse in the area of the hospital you normally work in, the tools and equipment will be familiar to you. But if its a cutting edge hospital there may be new equipment you haven’t used before. In either case below you will find some tips for navigating your way through of these tools and equipment as a travel nurse.

There are websites like Nursing Center, Nursing World, and discover Nursing that you can use to do some research on tools and equipment the travel nurse will come across.

Ask questions about where you will be placed when you receive a new travel nursing assignment. Be sure to inquire about additional training if you will be confronted with a new situation. Pay close attention during the orientation given by the hospital where you will be working. If any of your questions are not answered during orientation, be sure to find someone in charge to answer your questions.

Technology changes constantly, so the travel nurse isn’t expected to know every piece of equipment they will come across in their travels. You can always do your own research on the various types of equipment and tools you may be confronted with. A lot of hospitals will have developed their own handouts and charts on their specific equipment. And in many cases have designated trainers for new staff and travel nurses.

You might also have to ask about the shorthand used by different doctors and the notations made for future reference.

Don’t panic if you are faced with a tool that you have never used before. The hospitals that use travel nurses are aware that their nurses won’t always be informed.

The travel nursing agency you work with will help guide you through the learning curves of a new assignment. So relax, and go have some fun as a travel nurse!

Learn more about being a travel nurse. Stop by Steven Swihart’s site where you can find out all about the nursing career, and what it can do for you!

Oh, it seems you’ve stumbled onto another fascinating edition of To Study or Not to Study. This series is designed to inform the reader about the various study programs that exist and the pros and cons of each. The goal is to help people who struggle to pick a major or career – which can be a problem for many high school graduates and adults alike. Today we continue what was started in TSONS: Healthcare : Part 1. If you have not read it yet then I highly suggest you do.

As we saw last time, the medical field is and (and will always be) a very high demanding field. In Part 1, we addressed the issue of healthcare being too wide a field to analyze completely in one article. We already learned about Allied Health professions and the administrative medical jobs. Today we will look at Nurses as a career choice. I was originally planning to include doctors and nurses in the same article, but I found that Nursing is such a popular and interesting career that it needed it’s own article.

Hellooo Nurse!

Many people associate the word “nurse” with a young woman hesitantly trying to help a doctor by handing him equipment. We can all thank TV and movies for this kind of portrayal. In reality, nurses are highly competent and essential parts of hospitals and clinics. These trained workers are more than just assistants, at the end of the day, they put in time and effort equaling that of a doctor. The doctor’s role mainly consists of examining and diagnosing patients. The nurse, on the other hand, has a more hands-on role, usually physically treating the patient based on the doctor’s diagnosis.

How do you become a nurse?

There are different paths to becoming a nurse. The main one is also the most obvious; go to college and get a nursing degree. Although there are some nurses who obtain specialized degrees in a graduate program, the minimum requirement to becoming a RN (Registered Nurse) is an Associate’s degree in nursing. These college programs are specifically designed to ready the student for the working field offering 50 per cent theory and 50 per cent practical training. Many RNs with an an ADN or Associate Degree in Nursing will choose at some later point in time to work toward the BSN or Bachelor of Science in Nursing by completing a RN-to-BSN program which prepares them for a broader range of nursing practice.

Those who are less committed to the idea or have less time to dedicate to study, can take another approach. Many people in the nursing industry start their careers by becoming a nursing assistant or nursing aide. Later, they can become a LPN/LVN or Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse which usually requires a one year course of study from a vocational school or junior college. These work under physicians and RN’s, which have more advanced skills and experience. Afterwards there exist many colleges that offer LPN/LVN to RN classes, some even providing the course online.

What are the ups?

Aside from all other benefits of entering the healthcare field; feeling that you’re saving lives, sense of accomplishment, excitement…etc, there are other advantages favoring nurses. One would be the amount of time spent studying. As opposed to a doctor needing almost a decade going through colleges and medical schools to enter an internship, nurses can get an ADN through a two year degree program, while the BSN requires a four year degree. This also means a significant reduction in tuition costs compared to medical school students.

Nurses also have a wide variety of roles and are not limited to hospitals. As a nurse it is possible to work in surgeries, clinics, nursing and residential homes, voluntary work and the pharmaceutical industry. Nurses also have been known to work in the prison service, universities, and even on cruise ships. They also have many options, because of the various specialization opportunities.

As mentioned earlier, the demand for healthcare professionals is quite high. This is more so with nurses. Currently, nursing jobs are considered the most sought-after career worldwide. Colleges and universities can hardly keep up with the number of people looking to enter that career. That’s a good sign but it also brings us to…

What about the downs?

Because nursing is so popular and there is an incredibly high demand for it, many people would think that nursing education is readily available. Well it is. The problem lies with the shortage of nursing educators, which make these programs hard to get into. Some colleges even have waiting lists.

Another thing to remember is that, although nurses work as hard and as long as most doctors (about 40 hours a week on average), the salary is drastically different. What we mean by “different” is that it’s lower, much lower.On average a hospital staff nurse earns $45,000 a year. A hospital staff doctor, however, earns more than six figures for his practice.

Even though certified specialists (medical assistants, radiology technicians) have some contact with patients, they do not carry the weight of responsibility that nurses do. Frankly put, nurses, alongside doctors, have people’s lives in their hands. And although they save many, there will be casualties along the way. Those looking into pursuing a career in nursing should be well aware of the physical and psychological responsibilities associated with this line of work.

Although doctors and nurses play different roles, they are of equal importance in the workplace, completing one another in the process of healing patients. That statement in turn is the perfect transition to the next part of this healthcare series. Next time we will analyze what it takes to become a doctor. Stay tuned for To Study or Not to Study : Healthcare Part 3: Doctors!

Alex Muro, Collegehelpcenter.org – Go to college

If you are considering an advanced education in the nursing field, you probably have a lot of questions about where this occupation could take you. Not all nurses are the same, and choosing just one area for a specialty can be extremely difficult. From long-term care to emergency room nursing and everything in between, learning about different options available is crucial to your search for the nursing specialty that is best suited to your strengths. Here are some tips to help you determine which area of nursing to specialize in:

Tip #1: Choose a specialty based on how you handle stress.
Do you thrive in a high-energy environment? If so, working in surgery could be right for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a more relaxed environment, becoming a staff nurse at a hospice is might be a better fit. Stress is a huge part of every nursing job, but different people find different situations stressful. For example, you might be under too much pressure to become a nurse that requires a lot of technical skill. Alternatively, you could become bored in a nursing specialty where you do not have much responsibility. When choosing to specialize, keep in mind the stress you may experience performing the day-in-day-out responsibilities of the profession.
Tip #2: Think about where you want to work.
Not every kind of nurse works in a hospital. According to your specialty, you could also work a number of other places, including in school, in prisons, on an ambulance, for a sports team, or in patients’ homes. Where would you like to work most? Who do you want to help? This also relates to the “pressure” aspect of a job. For instance, working in a prison could be much more stressful than working in a school. If possible, visit some of the available facilities to get an idea of the atmosphere.
Additionally, although nurses are in high demand across the country, it is also important to remember that certain specialties may be in higher demand in certain areas. Think about your dream location and then do a bit of research to find out where you could potentially get a job and what specialties are in demand.
Tip #3: Test the waters.
Many nursing programs offer short, voluntary opportunities to test out certain specialties. You may not get class credit, but you should take advantage of these options whenever possible. You might find out quickly that there are certain nursing responsibilities you dislike and certain responsibilities you enjoy. By testing the waters, you can figure that out before you spend a few months or years training to become a type of nurse not compatible with your likes and dislikes.
Testing the waters includes job-shadowing, hands on training and mini daylong courses. Ask plenty of questions. The more questions you ask the more information you will have when you make a final decision in choosing a specialty. Tip #4: Research education requirements.
If you are interested in nursing, you will probably spend your first few years in college working toward a general nursing degree. After that, all of the medical majors will go their separate ways. Some nursing specialties, because of their more technical or high-pressure nature, require more training than others. In addition, not every college offers every program. Pick a specialty based on how long you want to be in school, as well as what is offered by colleges you are interested in attending.
Tip #5: Talk to nurses in prospective fields.
Once you have narrowed your list to your three or four top choices, interview some working nurses. Come up with some basic questions, then contact nurses in your potential fields to ask more questions about each specialty. If you do not personally know nurses in these fields, talk to a nursing professor or simply call your local hospital. Most people are more than willing to take a few minutes of their time to answer some questions either in person or over the phone. Asking questions is a great way to figure out if this is what you really want to do.
Nursing is a broad field, and it is rare to know immediately in which field you would like to specialize. The key is to do your homework. By learning about the different nursing fields available, you can choose one that will be right for you. Remember, you can also change your course of study or go back to school for certification in a second specialty, but with a little research you can hopefully make the right decision the first time around.
About Author:
Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about topics pertaining to nurses and the nursing profession such as Nursing Uniforms Nursing Scrubs

INTRODUCTION:
The field of
nursing attracted me for several reasons. The first reason being, that
a nurse is the front line person in caring for others and saving lives.
The nurse will in many cases such as in the hospital or homecare
environment discover the patient who needs emergency attention before
the physician. It will be up to the nurse to respond accordingly within
the scope of their practice and hospital procedures. Why does this
facet of nursing attract me? Well, it is because that this type of
responsibility is not too far off from the type of responsibility that
a physician has, which is what I had hoped to become many years ago.
Nurses did not have that crucial level of responsibility initially.
Because of this, many patients died. For instance, a nurse from the
past may not have known the therapeutic values of electrolytes and
blood gases thereby putting the patient’s health in jeopardy. Now, in
present times, the nurse must know all of the pertinent lab values and
act upon any change immediately, either by calling the physician or
implementing standing orders.
The other aspect of nursing that is
also attractive to me in becoming a nurse, is that the nurse uses
therapeutic communication and treats the patient’s response to real or
perceived illness. This is the corner stone of which nursing is based
on. The holistic approach is so successful in helping patients to heal.
I am a firm believer that for an individual to be able to heal from
without, they must first heal from within. Therefore the nurse can help
clients to adapt and grow in a positive way rather than negative. Since
all of nursing is now based on evidenced practice, it is exciting to be
able to put the scientific method to use. There are now logical and
provable reasons that a nurse should take a particular course of action.
These are just some of the reasons which have attracted me to the profession of nursing.
SHORT-TERM CAREER GOALS:
My
short-term career goals consist of successfully passing Nursing 255,
then passing the national board exam. Once this is accomplished, I hope
to be work on a medical-surgical floor and hone my skills as a graduate
nurse. I have chosen medical-surgical nursing as a starting point
because this particular field will help me to develop my clinical
skills.
LONG-TERM CAREER GOALS:
I hope to be an active
member in the profession of nursing, joining the American Nurses
Association, attending seminars and lobbying for the advancement of
nurses to prescribe medication independently. Hopefully within the next
five years or so I will have a degree as an advanced practice nurse in
the field of family healthcare and be working in an emergency room.
PERSONAL GOALS
My
personal goals are humble. Money has never been a goal, rather doing
that which enriches the soul. I am thankful to my Lord that I have been
given the opportunity to have made it thus far. I take care of my
mother and help my family as best I can. I am happiest when I am
helping others, and owe a large debt of gratitude to my instructors,
who have given of themselves their wealth of knowledge and experience
to help produce competent nurses. I hope to make them proud.
The
nursing entrance test study guide provides nurses the assistance they
need with the nursing entrance test. The nursing study guide helps
nurses. Visit http://www.nurseslearningcenter.com for more information.

Let’s first visit practicality.  In the E.R. – or any wing of the hospital, for that matter – doctors, nurses, and anyone who comes into contact with a patient is bound to, at some point, get soiled by some sort of fluid.  It is inevitable that this will occur.  If the fluid is blood, well, blood stains and so the soiled scrubs are now the discarded scrubs.  Long hours are a well-known tradition in medicine, so it only makes sense to wear comfortable clothing.  Plus, there is a need to be able to move freely and quickly.  Hospital staff should be easy to recognize by both the patients as well as their fellow staff members.  So, there it is:  the decision is clear.  Scrubs should be comfortable and cheap – because why wear an expensive pair of (let’s face it) pajamas to work when you know you are possibly going to be throwing them away that same day.  Besides, everyone else is wearing the same thing, there isn’t going to be a “best dressed” award announced at the end of the year.There is always a flip side.  When is a person most productive?  For example, someone in a regular office – not necessarily medical.  For the sake of the debate, let’s say the person comes into contact with a lot of people at all times of their shift; perhaps this individual is an office manager.  Is this office manager going to do his or her best work when they are dressed nicely and confident with what they are wearing?  More than likely, the answer will always be ‘yes.’  And, if you had to wear the same thing to work every day, wouldn’t you want some sort of alternative?  Do you think your nurse loves walking into the patient’s room thinking, “Hello, I am your nurse, and I am dressed like a box!”  The scrubs have to be worn every day and many other members of society spend a good amount of money on work attire so that they can look and feel good.  Are doctors and nurses really that different from the rest of the public?  They should be able to wear their required uniform, but still have an added yet subtle touch of personality and flare (and I don’t mean Spongebob-printed scrub tops.)  Your typical set of scrubs costs about $20.00, give or take.  A pair of designer scrubs, on the other hand, runs $60.00.  The difference seems pretty vast, perhaps even a waste of money.  Think about this, though: how much did your jeans cost you?  Is a $30 pair of scrub pants that get a lot of use really that expensive?  At the end of the day, it is a matter of personal preference, vanity, style, comfort, and habit.  Luckily, there is no right or wrong answer and there is not usually a mandatory brand for hospital uniforms.  Plus, a little of both is a good thing.  Everyone has days when they just want to be comfortable, but there are also the days when it feels good to look good.  The important thing is that the individual wearing the scrubs feels good and is able to perform the tasks at hand.  Everything else is small potatoes.About the Author:Andrea Mueller lives in Austin, TX and has worked for the nursing scrubs company blue sky scrubs for the past 6 years. 

There are many nursing professionals who love the satisfaction of helping others but get tired of working in the same office day in and day out. For those people, becoming a travel nurse may be the perfect career choice. Although there is a huge range when it comes to the average travel nurse salary, there are many other benefits on top of the base pay.

On the low end of the pay scale, a travel nurse can expect to make approximately forty-four thousand dollars per year. On the higher end of the scale, many traveling nurses are making upwards from ninety-thousand dollars per year. The exact salary depends greatly on education, experience and the particular practice for which a nurse decides to go to work.

Of course, a big part of the nurse of a traveling job is driving from one patient to the next and most traveling nurses use their own cars. With the rising costs of gas, this is often enough to deter nurses away from opportunities to travel for their work. However, most traveling nurses can expect to be reimbursed for travel by their practice.

Anyone who spends a lot of time driving knows that anything can happen on the roads and it is important to be prepared. Many traveling nurses are enrolled in some type of roadside assistance program through their employer. This helps to ensure that they will always be safe and on time for their appointments at no additional out of pocket cost to the nurse.

It is important to keep in mind that the license to become a traveling nurse is not the same as a normal nursing license. Most registered nurses will need to take an additional course or two and then apply for the license that allows them to travel for their work. Although the process can be costly, most practices will reimburse their traveling nurses for the expense of getting the proper license.

Becoming a traveling nurse is a great way to visit new areas while still enjoying the opportunity to take care of those in need. The average travel nurse salary varies depending on the location and the exact circumstances of each nurse. However, there are many other benefits on top of the salary that a nurse pulls in for their work. They can expect to be reimbursed for their work expenses and to be enrolled in the programs that will keep them safe on the job.