Westways News

Westways Home Run

I don’t pretend to know or care about baseball. Yes, I know the Yankees from the Angels, but that’s due to being married to a die hard Yankee fan. I do, however, know a HOME RUN when I see it, and that’s exactly what Westways Staffing Services, Inc. did during our second Joint Commission survey.

The Joint Commission reviewer spent two days at Westways corporate office, and on the third day she traveled for a surprise visit to our San Bernardino office. Arlene and her staff did an amazing job despite their nerves. Additionally, Kimberly in the San Diego office remained very calm as she spoke via phone with the representative from the Joint Commission.

All Westways nurses should be extremely proud, as the word from the hospitals who were polled was that “Westways is our first call”. So, thank you one and all…good game! - Donna Couturié, Director of Clinical Operations

Cultural Diversity in Healthcare

…What is it? Do I understand it?

All hospitals and every healthcare staffing agency require their nurses to complete competency testing on Cultural Diversity. This topic has become what is known as Core Competency. But how many of us really think about cultural diversity in our healthcare positions, let alone understand it?

Seven Lessons to Learn About Cross-Cultural Communication:

  • Don’t assume sameness

  • What you think of as normal behavior may only be cultural

  • Familiar behaviors may have different meanings

  • Don’t assume that what you meant is what was understood

  • Don’t assume that what you understood is what was meant

  • You don’t have to like or accept different behavior, but you should try to understand where it comes from

  • Most people do behave rationally; you just have to discover the rationale

    • How can you evaluate your own attitude towards diversity? Ask yourself these questions about your feelings towards other cultures:

  • Do you react adversely to patient’s accents?

  • Are you open to differences between cultures and different ways of doing things?

  • Do you respect diverse practices and requests without judgment?

  • Do you recognize that patients require equality of care irrespective of their cultural or linguistic background?

  • Do you recognize and actively accommodate patient’s choices about their care?

  • Do you assume you know what a patient wants or needs?

  • Do you identify the need for resources to overcome barriers such as poor or insufficient English proficiency or lack of support networks?

  • Do you identify the need for and obtain knowledge of sources of extra social support, for example community organizations?

    • Being culturally sensitive in the healthcare arena means more then working beside a foreign nurse and enjoying the different foods brought in to share at break time. Hopefully this article has provided some food for thought and the next time you complete the Core Competency on Cultural Diversity, what you’ve learned will carry over into the workplace. And, as a Westways nurse, you will lead by example.- Donna Couturié, Director of Clinical Operations

    Common Sense Isn’t So Common…Anymore

    I was shocked while browsing a common nursing website to see the following headline.

    Hospital Seeks To Fire Five Hospital Employees For Privacy Breaches On Social Network.

    Since I am part of the baby boomer generation that doesn’t understand Facebook, Twitter, etc., I have a hard time with what I hear people post on these sites. I do, however, understand HIPPA laws, and I’m astonished that some nurses, judging by this article, do not.

    Do we need a review of exactly what Patient Privacy Information Means? Sharing thoughts on how hard you’ve worked during a particular shift is harmless, but naming a patient or even a diagnosis is considered a violation and will lead to disciplinary action that could include termination.

    This seems like Common Sense to me. I was educated in the dark ages before HIPPA, but I was schooled in Patient Confidentiality and what that means.

    So please, THINK before you Post anything related to your patients, their diagnosis, their problems, the doctors attitude…this includes pictures of unusual conditions, wounds or you and your colleagues sharing cake in the break room.

    Remember, once you send something into cyber space it’s out there! Let’s all use COMMON SENSE! - Donna Couturié, Director of Clinical Operations

    Is Your Professionalism Showing?

    Business professionals have known for years that professional image is an important aspect to success. Numerous books and articles have been written about business attire and social skills. The closing of a business deal often relies on the relationship, rather than the performance of excellent work. Because health care is a form of business, successful professionals must attract a stable, growing patient population in order to survive. Whether it is during an initial phone interview for a travel position, during their day-to-day practice, or their interactions with staff and ancillary team members, nurses must consider the importance of the first impression.

    Appearance, behavior, and communication have a cumulative effect on the professional image.

    Nurses employed by Westways Staffing Services, Inc. are given reminders during their initial orientation with the company that they are not only representing Westways, but more importantly, they are representing themselves.

    Often, the basis for a DO NOT RETURN complaint is the attitude displayed by the nurse to fellow colleagues during the shift. The cardinal rule of an agency nurse is to remember that you are a guest in the facility and one that is welcomed back. - Donna Couturié, Director of Clinical Operations

    New Policy for Clinical Staff

    This week all active Westways Staffing Services, Inc. employees will receive the following policy in their paychecks. This policy has been developed to meet the community and industry standards regarding Workman Compensation Injuries.

    Please note the following:

    It is the policy of WESTWAYS to request an immediate drug screen on any employee who reports a work related injury while on duty for WESTWAYS. Any employee who refuses to take a drug screen test will be placed on suspension pending further investigation.

    Please feel free to contact either your Branch Manager or myself at 800.575.9674 with any questions.

    Remember Safety First…Protect yourself! - Donna Couturié, Director of Clinical Operations

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