Nurses Week Begins May 5^th

Congratulations to our Nation's Nurses!

As we approach National Nurses Week, I embrace this opportunity to thank all nurses and healthcare professionals for choosing a life and career path that truly improves the quality of life for the individuals and the communities they serve.

Having started my career as a Favorite nurse in 1988, I understand not only the value our nurses provide, but also the flexibility and autonomy that nursing offers! It’s with you in mind that we proudly offer the industry’s optimum temporary healthcare staffing choices with our top pay, great benefits and flexible assignments. All of our corporate and branch employees are honored to be part of your lives.

Although our name reflects the broad spectrum of healthcare professionals we currently staff, our nurses have always been the backbone of Favorite. Since 1981, Favorite nurses have been recognized as the most qualified, competent and highest caliber temporary nursing personnel available.

Win an iPod Shuffle!

One Winner Every day in May!

As an extra bonus in honor of our Healthcare Professionals, we are giving away an iPod Shuffle every day in May. Simply visit our website at www.favoritestaffing.com and sign up for the drawing. Winners will be announced daily on our news page.

Continuing Education Reimbursement

Stay current and let Favorite help

Favorite will reimburse you up to $100 a year for CEU’s. On Favorite’s web site, click on the Benefits tab and then “Continuing Education Reimbursement” for details. This site provides information about our CEU reimbursement and provides the links to free and fee-based on-line Nursing CEU’s.

Free and fee-based CEU providers

• www.powerpak.com
• www.nurseceu.com/free.htm
• www.nursingworld.org/ce/cecatalog.cfm
• www.nursingspectrum.com
• www.CEU4U.com
• www.healthstream.com

Upcoming CEU Opportunity:

NursingSpectrum at www.nurse.com has a CEU opportunity on the newest Joint Commission Sentinel Event Alert concerning pediatric medications. Please log on to their site to get the important details.

For more information about the Sentinel Event Alert, see the related article in this issue of StethoScoop.

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Joint Commission Sentinel Event Alert

Alert Concerning Medication Safety for Small Children

Joint Commission has issued a new Sentinel Event Alert concerning medication safety for small children. Most medications are formulated and packaged for adults. A study in the April issue of Pediatrics says those medication mix-ups, accidental overdoses and bad drug reactions harm roughly 1 out of 15 hospitalized children. The Joint Commission’s Sentinel Event Alert covers steps that are critical to reducing pediatric medication errors. Please click on the link below to read the Alert.

To read more about this important Alert and previous Sentinel Event Alerts (tubing misconnections, medication mix-ups, healthcare-associated infections, MRI scans and wrong-site surgery) please log onto the Joint Commission Sentinel Event Alert site.

Chicago: A Great Place to Work and Play!

Choose Beautiful Chicago, Illinois as your next Favorite Travel Destination

Every season is the perfect one for travel to Chicago! Packed with beauty, culture, music and theater, as well as outstanding attractions, Chicago has something for everyone … all year round! Come see for yourself! Make Chicago your next Favorite Travel destination!

Nestled on the shores of Lake Michigan is Chicago's Navy Pier, and the historic boardwalk sporting the famous 150-foot Ferris wheel. Still in the heart of the city, you'll find beautiful Millennium Park, offering great jazz, blues and music festivals throughout the year, along with ice skating in winter and fountain splashing in the summer!

They say the skyscraper was born here, so don't miss the chance to look at Chicago's architecture from every angle you can find! Try a guided riverboat tour or ascend to the observation floor in the Sears Tower or to the Hancock Observatory for a birds-eye view of the Windy City!

Home to great transportation, from railroads to airplanes to the famous elevated city transportation, you'll find that Chicago is truly one of the world's great cities. Often called the friendly city, you’ll find it’s true whether shopping the famous Magnificent Mile or enjoying the museums and parks; it's a city with a swagger, but always a smile!

Let Favorite help you find just the right per diem, contract, or travel assignment in beautiful Chicago, Illinois! Today is the best time to travel! Travelers can email gotravel@favoritestaffing.com or call Travel Nurses Service at 800-755-1411 to explore Chicago travel opportunities! For local nursing and allied positions, contact our Chicago branch office at 630-368-1312 or visit our job site for up-to-date available assignments.

Walking - Great Steps in the Direction of Good Health!

Get out and enjoy the Spring-time!

Walking is a gentle, low-impact form of exercise that can reduce the risk of many diseases - from heart attack and stroke to diabetes and arthritis. It’s a natural form of exercise that can ease you into fitness and help you achieve important health benefits. For example, you can:

Manage your weight. Combined with healthy eating, walking is a great way to achieve long-lasting weight control and lower your risks of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, sleep apnea, and osteoarthritis.

Decrease your risk of heart attack. Walking keeps your heart healthy by lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) and raising high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol), as well as reducing your risk of developing high blood pressure.

Control your blood pressure. Walking helps strengthen the heart so it can pump more blood with less effort and less pressure on the arteries. Staying fit can be as effective as some medications in maintaining healthy blood pressure.

Lower your risk of stroke. Brisk walking for an hour a day, five days a week, can cut the risk of stroke in half.

Reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. If you're a woman, overweight and at a high risk of diabetes, walking can improve your body's ability to process sugar (glucose tolerance).

• Prevent depression, colon cancer, constipation, osteoporosis, and impotence
• Lengthen lifespan
• Lower stress levels
• Relieve arthritis and back pain
• Strengthen muscles, bones, and joints
• Improve sleep
• Elevate overall mood and sense of well-being.

Prepare yourself

Take time to prepare yourself to prevent injuries, such as blisters on your feet or muscle pain.

Wear walking shoes and comfortable, protective clothing

Be sure to select comfortable footwear. Dress in loose-fitting, comfortable clothing and in layers if you need to adjust to changing temperatures. Avoid rubberized materials, as they don't allow perspiration to evaporate. Wear bright colors or reflective tape after dark so that motorists can see you.

Warm up

Spend about five minutes walking slowly to warm up your muscles or simply walk in place. Increase your pace until you feel warm. Warming up your muscles reduces your risk of injury.

Remain alert of your surroundings

Personal safety should be your number one goal. Walk in well-lit areas and keep an eye on traffic and people around you. Music is a great way to pass the time while walking, but it can distract you. Keep the volume at a level that allows you to hear traffic or the footsteps of someone behind you. Consider wearing ear buds instead of traditional headphones, and only wear an ear bud in one ear so that your hearing is not completely obstructed.

Keep it Steady

A steady routine is the most important factor in getting the most out of your exercise program. Walking for at least 30 minutes a day, 5 or more days a week is recommended.

• During your walks, you should be breathing heavier than normal, but you should be able to maintain a conversation.
• At night, trade a half hour of TV for a brisk stroll around the block. Take a friend with you for company or get the whole family involved.
• Use a pedometer to measure how far you’ve walked. Wear it just during your walk breaks, or wear it all day and aim for 10,000 steps – the equivalent of 5 miles.