Nursing Registry specializing in Per Diem Nursing, Travel Nursing, Cardiac Cath Lab, International Nurses, Allied Healthcare, Employment Services and more.

January 2011 hasn’t started out to be a good year for me or my family. The second day of the New Year found me in a hospital emergency room, with my husband as the patient. As I left the hospital that night, leaving him in the hands of people I didn’t know and in an environment I am no longer that familiar with, I must admit to being more than a little unnerved.

However, the next morning, when I walked into his hospital room and was greeted by his nurse I felt immediate relief. This nurse had been trained by Westways as part of our International Nurse Program.

Riza Y., RN, is an outstanding example of how well prepared the foreign nurses are once they complete their training. As I watched how she cared for my husband and how well informed she kept me and my family of his condition, I had such a sense of pride in the company that helped this young nurse to be the professional she is today. – Donna Couturié, Director of Clinical Operations

Westways Staff News for January 2011 was sent out today. Did you get it in your inbox? If not, you can view it here. Make sure to visit our home page and fill out the subscription form on the right side of the page to receive Westways Staff News once a month in your inbox.

There is an old saying that goes: It is easy to change things, but it is hard to make changes to ourselves. The reason I bring this up is because a good friend of mine informed me that after 15 years at the same job they had resigned, saying it was time for a change.

This is the time of year when we step back to evaluate our accomplishments and failures, and figure out what needs to change to confront new obstacles without losing our nerve. Resistance to change is perhaps the biggest threat to progress a person can face. Remind yourself that change takes time. To be successful, people must look to the future, not short-term gains and losses. Once you’ve restructured, implemented new systems, and launched new strategies, give the learning curve time to achieve the progress you want.

Susan Dunn, a clinical psychologist, observed that to survive and thrive you need to master the resilience you generally need to do these essential things:

1. Learn from experience. Resilient people reflect on what happens to them so they can move forward without illusion.

2. Accept setbacks and losses. Face the reality of what happens.

3. Recognize emotions. Resilient people identify what they’re feeling and express their emotions appropriately.

4. Keep time in perspective. Past, present, and future are separate. Don’t mix them up by, for example, letting what’s in the past determine your choices in the here and now.

5. Think creatively and flexibly. Look for new ways to solve problems and face challenges.

6. Take care of yourself. Resilience is based on good physical and mental health. Get enough rest, eat sensibly, and spend time with people who support you.

7. Ask for help. Resilient people don’t try to do everything themselves. Ask others for assistance graciously and effectively.

As another year comes to an end and we think about the changes we are going to make in the New Year, remember that nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.

Best wishes for a wonderful New Year! – Harold Sterling, CEO

As the Christmas tree comes down and the last bit of New Year’s confetti is swept away, we all must face the looming issue of HOW TO PAY THE CHRISTMAS BILLS!

Maybe it’s been a while since you gave any availability and you’re wondering if you can just call and get right back in…the answer is YES! Westways always needs good nurses and if you’ve worked for us in the past, it only takes a simple phone call to update your file. If you have a favorite hospital, just let the staffing office know your preference and our friendly staffers will be sure to book you there. Maybe you’ve let your TB or physical lapse, no problem. We have clinics that we can refer you to that will get you in and out without an appointment.

Westways has accepted several new contracts with hospital systems both large and small, and with the addition of these facilities, the need for quality nurses is greater than ever. So, don’t stress when the Macy’s bill arrives in the mail and it looks like the NATIONAL DEBT…simply give us a call and tell us when you want to work. Don’t forget to bring a friend, because if your friend works…you can get paid. – Donna Couturié, Director of Clinical Operations

2011 is here. Have you sat down and come up with your resolutions or goals yet? Maybe this is the first time you’ve decided to make a New Years resolution or set a goal for the year to come. Remember, the year is a clean slate to try something new or advance your already honed skills. It’s a time to start over and do what we’ve always wanted to do, but never took the time.

So, what can we do in this year to better ourselves than the previous? We can further our education by taking a course that will move us to another career level. What about saving 10% of every paycheck? Of course, there is always losing weight, getting fit, and being more health conscious. We have a blank canvas in front of us to achieve many of those tasks we put aside and never went back to. How will you draw your year?

I don’t know about you, but one of the keys to achieving goals is to set specific objectives that you can track and measure progress against. Most people fail in keeping their resolutions past the first month. Do you know why? It’s because they don’t hold themselves accountable for it. Don’t just say you’re going to do it, write it down. Seeing your goals in writing will help make you accountable. So, get to work and make 2011 a productive year!