September 2010

Dear Nurses PRN Employee:

Over the past two years, we’ve celebrated Nurses PRN’s Joint Commission Health Care Staffing Services (HCSS) certification. It is because of our commitment to Quality we will be having our recertification process soon. This fall, the Joint Commission will be randomly contacting employees to verify their experiences with PRN. Please be aware that you may receive a phone call.

Additionally, if at any time you have a concern about safety, quality of care, or sentinel event, please contact Nurses PRN at (888) 830-8811 or via email at prncares@prninc.com. If you feel your concern has not been resolved after reporting it to PRN, you are encouraged to contact The Joint Commission via email at complaint@jointcommission.org or in writing to the following address:

Office of Quality Monitoring, The Joint Commission, One Renaissance Boulevard, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181

Nurses PRN will take no retaliatory disciplinary action against employees when they do report safety or quality of care concerns to The Joint Commission.

We eagerly anticipate our recertification status as we continue to apply Joint Commission requirements to our daily operations. We thank you in advance for your support and please feel free to contact your Account Manager at (888) 830-8811 with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Christina Naylor RN, NHA - Chief Nursing Officer

Pete Hietpas - President

BJ S., one of Nurses PRNs traveling OR Techs is on assignment at Mount Desert Hospital in Bar Harbor, Maine. Just last month he received notification that he was selected to be on first call for President Obama and his family while they were in Bar Harbor over the July weekend! PRN is proud and excited that he was selected for this great responsibility. What a great representation of Nurses PRN and a testament to the quality of care BJ provides.

In the United States, Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July. This is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, when the US declared independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, political speeches, ceremonies, and various other public and private events. These events celebrate the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the national day of the United States.

Scleroderma, or systemic sclerosis, is a chronic connective tissue disease generally classified as one of the autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

The word scleroderma comes from two Greek words: sclero meaning hard, and derma meaning skin. Hardening of the skin is one of the most visible manifestations of the disease. The disease has been called progressive systemic sclerosis, but the use of that term has been discouraged since it has been found that scleroderma is not necessarily progressive. The disease may take several forms which will be explained later. There is also much variability among patients.

Scleroderma is not contagious, it is not infectious, it is not cancerous or malignant.

How serious is scleroderma? Any chronic disease can be serious. The symptoms of scleroderma vary greatly from individual to individual, and the effects of scleroderma can range from very mild to life-threatening. The seriousness will depend on what parts of the body are affected and the extent to which they are affected. A mild case can become more serious if not properly treated. Prompt and proper diagnosis and treatment by qualified physicians may minimize the symptoms of scleroderma and lessen the chance for irreversible damage.

How is scleroderma diagnosed? The diagnostic process may require consultation with rheumatologists (arthritis specialists), and/or dermatologists (skin specialists) and require blood studies and numerous other specialized tests depending upon which organs are affected.

Who develops scleroderma, and when? There are an estimated 300,000 people in the United States who have scleroderma, about one third of whom have the systemic form of scleroderma. Since scleroderma presents with symptoms similar to other autoimmune diseases, diagnosis is difficult and there may be many misdiagnosed or undiagnosed cases as well.

Localized scleroderma is more common in children, whereas systemic scleroderma is more common in adults. Overall female patients outnumber male patients about four to one, and the average age at diagnosis is in the forties.

Factors other than sex, such as race and ethnic background, may influence the risk of getting scleroderma, the age of onset, and the pattern or severity of internal organ involvement. The reasons for this are not clear. Although scleroderma is not directly inherited, some scientists feel there is a slight predisposition to it in families with a history of rheumatic diseases.

However, scleroderma can develop and is found in every age group from infants to the elderly, but its onset is most frequent between the ages of 25 to 55. When doctors say "usually" or "for the most part," the reader should understand that variations frequently occur. Many patients get alarmed when they read medical information that seems to contradict their own experiences, and conclude that what has happened to them is not supposed to happen. There are many exceptions to the rules in scleroderma, perhaps more so than in other diseases. Each case is different, and information should be discussed with your own doctor.

What causes scleroderma? The exact cause or causes of scleroderma are still unknown, but scientists and medical investigators in a wide variety of fields are working hard to make those determinations. It is known that scleroderma involves overproduction of collagen.

Is scleroderma genetic? Most patients do not have any relatives with scleroderma and their children do not get scleroderma. Research indicates that there is a susceptibility gene which raises the likelihood of getting scleroderma, but by itself does not cause the disease.

What is the treatment for scleroderma? At the present time, there is no cure for scleroderma, but there are many treatments available. Some are directed at particular symptoms like heartburn, which can be controlled by medications called proton pump inhibitors or medicine to improve the motion of the bowel. Some treatments are directed at decreasing the activity of the immune system. Some people with mild disease may not need medication at all and occasionally people can go off treatment when their scleroderma is no longer active. Because there is so much variation from one person to another there is great variation in the treatments prescribed.

Nurses PRN, Inc. announced it has acquired Med Source., a major regional provider of Medical Personnel in the San Diego and Orange County areas. This announcement builds on the aligned agenda of bringing extraordinary skilled staff to facilities which in turn, improves patient outcomes. The combined efforts will create a premier healthcare staffing agency that reaches from the east to the west coast. The acquisition combines already paralleled reputations built on quality, reliability and integrity.

"We welcome the Med Source employees to the PRN family," said Pete Hietpas, President of Nurses PRN, Inc., "We are confident that Med Source field staff and customers will be very pleased with the comprehensive functionality and advanced technology that they will benefit from as a result of this acquisition."

A key area of focus will be on combining the resources Med Source has established in San Diego and Orange County with the national presence that Nurses PRN, Inc. brings to the table. The combined portfolio will give both healthcare professionals and facilities more opportunities to reach a vast new audience. In addition, the agreement brings a larger office staff that will result in greater efficiencies and more seamless workflows. With previous service areas throughout the country, the acquisition will bring more opportunity by expanding its service to additional areas and states for travel, per diem and local contracts.

Established in 1995, Nurses PRN, Inc. is a privately held company with 13 operational offices in 12 states and a national presence for travel nursing.

Understanding the relationship between environmental health and people's well-being, nurses are leading health care organizations' initiatives to recycle, conserve energy and water, eliminate toxins, and eat more locally produced, organic foods.

Health Care Without Harm, co-founded in 1996 by Charlotte Brody, RN, has led efforts to virtually eliminate the use of mercury-based medical equipment, close thousands of medical waste incinerators, create markets for safer and healthier products, start a green building program, and develop a healthy food program for hospitals. Nurses serve on multiple Health Care Without Harm workgroups and hospital green teams. About 1,100 hospitals and health care systems, including the Veterans Health Administration, HCA Inc., and Kaiser Permanente, have joined Practice Greenhealth, a nonprofit membership organization associated with Health Care Without Harm, which provides education, tools and technical assistance to help hospitals implement pollution prevention and sustainability programs.

When Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore decided to build a new facility, its incinerator sat in the way of the construction project. The hospital formed a committee that came up with new ways to get rid of waste and started a greening program, called "Have Mercy on the Earth." Paper waste is shredded to protect patient confidentiality. Tons of cardboard are bailed and hauled away, at no cost to the hospital. Batteries and electronics are recycled. The hospital converted from a disposable sharps box to a reusable container, eliminating more than two tons of plastic waste annually, saving money and decreasing the risk of sharps injuries., Mercy also saved a significant amount of money when it switched to polyvinyl chloride (PVC)/ di-2-ethylhexyl

phthalate (DEHP)-free intravenous bags and tubing systems throughout the hospital, eliminating the risk associated with the chemical leaching into solutions or the blood.

Recycling also presents opportunities for hospitals to decrease their waste stream and break even or save money. Beaumont Hospitals, a three-hospital system in Troy, Mich., recycles ChemGuard, used to wrap sterile instruments; kitchen waste; paper; extra construction supplies; batteries; and other items. The health system estimates it has reduced waste by 40 percent since 2008.. "There are cost savings, too. As a hospital, we have reduced our trash pulls from every day of the week to three times a week, because of the recycling efforts."

Hospitals also are trying to become more energy efficient. Hospitals are the second-highest users of energy per square foot, following all-night grocery and convenience stores because they run 24/7. They have a tremendous amount of activities dependent on electricity, from ventilators and IV pumps to computers and lighting.

St. Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences Center installed a high-efficiency, low-emissions emergency generator, a geothermal heating and cooling system, and heat recovery units on the boilers.

Beumont's Troy hospital installed an energy-efficient air-handling system, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and occupancy sensors on the high-efficiency lighting, all contributing to saving energy, water and money.

Food services also offer opportunities for greening. Mercy purchases hormone-free milk, recycles cooking oil into biofuel, dispenses forks and condiments from bulk containers, uses corn-based to-go boxes, buys organic produce from a local farmer, and composts 9,000 pounds of food waste each month.

Some hospitals have gardens on site from which they pick vegetables to serve in the cafeteria or on patients' trays. She finds hospitals interested in buying meat and poultry without antibiotics and milk without hormones, because officials understand the implication of those things on peoples' health. Nurses understand the implications between health of the environment and health of people, and have a responsibility to the patients served to look at how they can make a difference in the workplace. Nurses PRN says thank you for helping conserve and saving the Earth!

The Joint Commission seeks:

---Performance measures for hospital inpatients by April 30, 2010

---Abstracts related to community-based aspects of care by May 23, 2010

The Joint Commission requests submission of performance measures for hospital inpatients for possible inclusion in a new measure set to improve care for patients with sudden cardiac arrest. In addition, abstracts will be considered for full paper submission and possible inclusion in a monograph of effective community-based practices for pre- or post-hospital care of sudden cardiac arrest. Complete details and submission instructions and forms can be found here.

The submission deadline for performance measures is April 30, 2010 and the deadline for abstracts is May 23, 2010.

Pringles fans beware! two of the more popular flavors of your favorite baked chip have been added to the HVP Salmonella recall. The Pringles recall includes two flavors: Cravers Cheeseburger and Taco Night. The flavors are being pulled from shelves and if you have any sitting in your cupboard, you should just throw them away.

This recall of Pringles flavors is a part of the larger, FDA-initiated recall of products that use Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein from a Las Vegas factory. According to the FDA, no illnesses have been reported from this salmonella outbreak. HVP is most often used as a flavor enhancer and texture improver, especially in vegetarian foods. Products manufactured with HVP (hydrolyzed vegetable protein) have been voluntarily recalled, because the ingredient has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

"Consumption of products containing Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms) endocarditis and arthritis."

Visit the FDA website for a complete list of items and other items recalled.

The DAISY Foundation is encouraging nurses seeking to improve treatment of patients with autoimmune diseases and cancer to apply for a research or evidence-based practice project grant awarded by the foundation. The deadline is April 2 to submit a letter of intent for the J. Patrick Barnes Research Grant.

The foundation offers two types of grants: research grants of up to $5,000 for projects that involve clinical research studies that directly benefit patients or families, and evidence-based practice grants of up to $2,000 that use patient-focused data to study and develop improved nursing practices.

For the first time this year, successful applicants also will be allowed to apply for subsequent funding to share their findings at professional conferences. This funding will provide grantees with up to $2,000 for expenses and fees for attending or presenting at a professional conference.

Additional information and the grant applications are available at DAISYfoundation.org.

CDC is working with others in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), various branches of the U.S. military, and other federal and international agencies to help communities in Haiti recover from the powerful earthquake that struck the country on January 12, 2010. CDC is collaborating with national and international partners to meet urgent public health needs and establishing liaisons and coordination needed for successful, long range public health programs in response to the earthquake. As of February 23, 2010, 323 CDC staff members are currently engaged in response activities, of these 23 are deployed to Haiti and other response agencies.

We're looking for a re-cap of your life changing day in the field: Hi, this is Carrie... the marketing gal at Nurses PRN. In the past few months our newsletter has included an easy-to-read, heart-felt story. It seems silly to gather these stories from various sources when you, our nurses, experience incredible life-changing events everyday. It is our mission to begin publishing your experiences in both the newsletter and on this page... with opportunity for others to comment and relate to what you're going through.

So please, take a few minutes - compose one of your most recent and powerful days in the field and send our way. We'll be certain to take good care of your experience and share it for others to learn from. (Keep in mind, your submission comes with expectation that we can use your name and experience in written and e-publications.)

Thanks. I look forward to hearing from you.Carrie

The following tips will help prevent you from getting scammed and get your donation into the right hands: Do not donate cash: Anyone asking to come to your home or office and pick up cash is a scammer. Any phone calls or emails received requesting cash or to wire money transfers is a scam.

Be suspect of all emails requesting donations: You should never click on a link in an email, especially short URLs. Always manually enter the domain name into the address bar. The best thing is to go directly to the organizations website.

Check with the Better Business Bureau: The first thing you should always do prior to making a donation to any charity is to check their credibility with the BBB. Go online to http://www.bbb.org/us/Charity-Reviews/ and search out the charity.

Give only to charities, not individuals: Any communication from someone requesting money because of their personal hardship is usually a red flag. While you may be savvy enough not to fall for these scams, someone in your life who may be naïve could.

Give now and consider giving to the Red Cross: The American Red Cross is the most known and credible organization on the planet for helping out those in despair. www.americanredcross.org.

This information is current as of January 27, 2010, 5:00 PM ET

CDC is working with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), various branches of the U.S. military, and other federal and international agencies to help communities in Haiti recover from the powerful earthquake that struck the country on January 12, 2010. CDC's current response focuses on collaborating with national and international partners to meet urgent public health needs and establishing liaisons and coordination needed for successful, long range public health programs in response to the earthquake. Two hundred seventy-four CDC staff are currently involved in the response.

CDC staff members in Haiti are serving on multiple international teams and projects to help mitigate and address public health issues. They are working with USAID, US Incident Response Coordination Teams, Haitian Ministry of Health, and PAHO to finalize public health surveillance instruments to assess cases of disease, injury, and other health conditions. Once finalized, CDC staff in Haiti will work with the government of Haiti and clinicians in Haiti’s health facilities to identify types of health conditions and numbers of cases among patients. As surveillance data from Haiti is available, CDC will be working with international partners to compile, analyze and interpret information about health conditions following the earthquake. Results of the surveillance will be used to prioritize public health interventions, project resources needed by health care facilities as they care for patients, and assist in long-range planning for the reconstruction of the country’s health care system.

As data is being collected in Haiti; CDC’s global health, environmental health, and injury specialists in the U.S. have compiled and summarized information about water issues, injury and trauma to create a preliminary portrayal of the public health situation in Haiti. These characterizations include estimates of current numbers and types of injuries, burns, and cuts. These estimations are being used to project the medical resources and public health interventions that will be needed to treat patients and prevent disease/injuries. The descriptions have been drawn from varied sources including previous disaster experiences and scientific reports. They are being shared with international partners responding to the earthquake.

CDC has also developed a set of resources for relief workers traveling to Haiti to respond to the earthquake. Topics included are vaccination recommendations; medicines, supplies, and equipment needed by travelers to Haiti; and steps to prevent diseases and other health hazards.

Information provided by www.cdc.gov

TIV: Dosage, Administration, and Storage The composition of TIV varies according to manufacturer, and package inserts should be consulted. TIV formulations in multidose vials contain the vaccine preservative thimerosal; preservative-free, single-dose preparations also are available. TIV should be stored at 35°F--46°F (2°C--8°C) and should not be frozen. TIV that has been frozen should be discarded. Dosage recommendations and schedules vary according to age group (Table 2). Vaccine prepared for a previous influenza season should not be administered to provide protection for any subsequent season.

The intramuscular route is recommended for TIV. Adults and older children should be vaccinated in the deltoid muscle. A needle length of 1 inch or longer (>25 mm) should be considered for persons in these age groups because needles of <1 inch might be of insufficient length to penetrate muscle tissue in certain adults and older children. When injecting into the deltoid muscle among children with adequate deltoid muscle mass, a needle length of 7/8--1.25 inches is recommended.

Infants and young children should be vaccinated in the anterolateral aspect of the thigh. A needle length of 7/8--1 inch should be used for children aged <12 months.

LAIV: Dosage, Administration, and Storage

Each dose of LAIV contains the same three vaccine antigens used in TIV. However, the antigens are constituted as live, attenuated, cold-adapted, temperature-sensitive vaccine viruses. Providers should refer to the package insert, which contains additional information about the formulation of this vaccine and other vaccine components. LAIV does not contain thimerosal. LAIV is made from attenuated viruses that are able to replicate efficiently only at temperatures present in the nasal mucosa. LAIV does not cause systemic symptoms of influenza in vaccine recipients, although a minority of recipients experience nasal congestion or fever, which is probably a result of effects of intranasal vaccine administration or local viral replication or fever.

LAIV is intended for intranasal administration only and should not be administered by the intramuscular, intradermal, or intravenous route. LAIV is not licensed for vaccination of children aged <2 years or adults aged >49 years. LAIV is supplied in a prefilled, single-use sprayer containing 0.2 mL of vaccine. Approximately 0.1 mL (i.e., half of the total sprayer contents) is sprayed into the first nostril while the recipient is in the upright position. An attached dose-divider clip is removed from the sprayer to administer the second half of the dose into the other nostril. LAIV is shipped at 35°F--46°F (2°C--8°C). LAIV should be stored at 35°F--46°F (2°C--8°C) on receipt and can remain at that temperature until the expiration date is reached. Vaccine prepared for a previous influenza season should not be administered to provide protection for any subsequent season.

Information provided by www.cdc.gov

Newsletter

 Posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2010 by Nurses PRN

As the new year is upon us make sure that are signed up to receive our newsletter. If you currently do not receive our newsletter and would like to please send us your mailing information to: wehirenurses@prninc.com.

In Illinois, text messaging is now illegal for all drivers. Fines are $75. The state also banned drivers from using cell phones in school speed zones and construction/road maintenance zones.

In New Hampshire, text messaging has been outlawed for all drivers. “It is clear that texting while driving poses a serious danger on our roadways,” Gov. John Lynch said. Fines are $100.

In Kansas, drivers with restricted (learning) licenses cannot use cell phones or texting devices. This is the state’s first restriction on mobile phone use.

In Oregon, drivers are not be allowed to text message and cell phone use will be limited to adult motorists using hands-free attachments. Tickets are pegged at $142.

As 2009 comes to a close and enter 2010 we just wanted to give a glimpse of the direction we will be taking to better serve our nurses and our clients.

Our social media presence will be increasing to offer our nurses and future nurses a means in which they can interact with our offices as well as allowing us to interact with you. We have implemented numerous profiles within Twitter and Facebook along with this blog. We want you to experience communication with us as if we were all sitting around the fireplace at your local coffee shop or the local martini bar…pick the one that works best for you.

Nurses PRN involvement in social media allows us to gather and share like interests as they pertain to your professional growth. We are here to create, share and consume content in a responsible and respectful manner. We want you to share and be enthusiastic about your work…we want to know what we can do better in order to serve you and make your time with us as rewarding as possible.

10 years of events, not in any order, a look back

1. We all held our breath as the clock ticked down to a new century. We sat next to our bottled water, duct tape & cases of soup and hoped that when midnight struck in Australia that we would still see Sydney.

2. We came to know that 9-11 can have two different meanings.

3. Martha Stewart went to jail.

4. Enron, one word says it all.

5. Record profits by the oil companies.

6. Wall Street losing billions, getting bonuses and then getting our money to pay for those bonuses.

7. General Motors goes bankrupt.

8. Global warming – real or not?

9. A tsunami that killed hundreds of thousands a day after Christmas.

10. Arnold becomes the Gover-nator.

11. Bush v. Gore

12. Bush v. Kerry

13. Katrina

14. A presidential election that re-wrote history.

1. Be patient and positive in your tone of voice.

2. Take a break. Just a few moments away will give you the energy to move forward.

3. Think about what makes a great day at work. The next time you have fun at work, take a moment to reflect. Write down what happened that made the day so great.

4. Sometimes you have to ask. If something is bothering you and causing stress, then speak up and say something. Most people will just stew or whine in the break room rather than speak up.

5. Be in the moment with your co-workers. Working in the moment means being focused and connected. Listen to each other. Make eye contact. Engage in the communication process.

6. Tell your co-workers you appreciate them.

7. Create opportunity. Figure out what kind of opportunity you want from your job. Make sure your employer understands what you need to be happy.

8. Be a better listener. When we listen, we are more effective as a team; we are better communicators; we are more productive; and we have more fun.

9. Be flexible to change.

10. If you really want to reduce your stress, make a list of everything that caused you stress and frustration in the last week. Most of the things on that list don’t matter.

11. Help your teammates take ownership of their happiness and passion. Too many times, employees let other people’s actions or words determine their happiness. Happiness is a choice.

How can tea help boost my immunity through the Influenza season? The two best types of tea for fending off microinvaders are Matcha green tea and tulsi tea.

Green Tea and Matcha: Matcha is the most nutrient-rich green tea and comes in the form of a stone-ground powder, completely unfermented. The best Matcha comes from Japan and has up to seventeen times the antioxidants of wild blueberries, and seven times more than dark chocolate. Green teas are rich in polyphenols, in the form of natural chemicals called catechins. The most powerful catechin in tea is epigallocatechin (EGCG), which was found in one study to be 25 to 100 times more potent than antioxidant vitamins C and E. And Matcha is more than 100 times as potent in EGCG as regular brewed green tea.

Tulsi: Tulsi tea, coming from the holy basil herb, has been used for thousands of years in the Ayurvedic medicine of India. Not only is this tea loaded with antioxidants, but it has multiple positive health benefits, including supporting your immune health, memory, heart health and vision.

Nurses PRN welcomes some new faces to its family: Appleton office welcomes Kelly Borman as its new Branch Manage, Chicago welcomes Marcheta Hamilton and Hector Ortiz as Account Managers, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island offices welcome Kris Hardin as an Account Managerand our Travel division welcomes Sally Lakdawala as an Account Manager. With these additions we have enhanced our ability to better serve these markets.

People should disregard e-mails urging them to register personal information on an H1N1 flu vaccine registry with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, health officials warned Wednesday. The registry is bogus, and people who try to send the information to the CDC may instead get a virus installed on their computers.

CDC officials have posted a warning about the e-mail scam on the CDC Web page, and state officials planned to do the same.

"We have no (registration) requirement for anybody, and neither does the federal government, in any way, shape or form," said Dr. Megan Davies, state epidemiologist. "People can just show up if they want a vaccination." Officials urged people to beware of e-mail solicitations that ask for personal or medical information.

It's unclear how widespread the phony registration messages are, but Davies said it is similar to false rumors that the federal government was going to mandate H1N1 vaccinations for everyone.

"That's not correct, but it plays into those perceptions," she said.

If you have any questions go to www.cdc.gov.

I want to let you how surprised I was and how appreciative I am for the box of cookies you sent in honor of Nurses Week. I have worked for many years and have experienced the good and the not-so-good of employer's attempts to motivate staff and build relationships. I am very impressed with Nurses PRN.

I have only met a couple of people in the Atlanta office and both Diandra and Cassandra were amazing at helping me get through the maze of paperwork of a first-time traveler as well as staying in touch constantly by phone. Robin, Lisa, and Adam have been a great help keeping me motivated while I wait for that perfect assignment. I told all my friends I could not believe you sent me business cards and my ID Badge along with a note from the President before I even accepted an assignment. I was impressed and pleased by all your personal touches!

Making the transition from staff to agency nurse was a bit intimidating at first, but now I love working for PRN! I enjoy the flexibility and the challenges of working at different facilities. My agency schedule even allowed me to take a four day, three night vacation to Florida for spring break! Believe it or not, I went with a nurse who works at a facility where I have been picking up shifts on a regular basis. We dubbed it our "old lady" spring break, because we went to a spa, had pedicures and facials, and basically rested and relaxed as we escaped the cold Indiana spring. We came back rejuvenated, and have plans to go again next year. I never would have dreamt that as an agency nurse, I would be able to make friends with the staff nurses, but PRN has such a great reputation I was welcomed and embraced almost as if I were a staff member myself. What a great experience this has been for me. I am glad I didn't let fear of the unknown hold me back from a fulfilling career as an agency nurse.

I have worked for Nurses PRN for 9 months now and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made! I worked on a medical unit for many years and was starting to get the ole burn out, a friend of mine recommended Nurses PRN, and I was decided to give them a call. Everyone at the office was extremely helpful and kind- they helped me with every single question I had and directed me in the right direction. I’m on my 2nd assignment and I am so happy. They have changed my life, and helped me gain confidence and brought joy to my career. Thank you Nurses PRN!

Working with an agency has allowed me to grow professionally, but also personally. I have been able to do more in my career than I would have ever imagined. I learn new things everyday I go to work. Each and every place does things just a little differently and I take that with me from each place. Not only have I learned and improved my nursing skills, I have also learned flexibility and organization skills.

I joined Nurses PRN in March 2008 doing a four month contract on the renal/diabetic unit at Providence Portland Medical Center. Since then I have been working per diem at several local hospitals. Staff at Nurses PRN are always professional towards me and the hospitals we work with. They are also patient and respectful on the phone, which makes me feel appreciated - not to mention the unexpected gifts and cards I get in the mail! When Nurses PRN became Joint Commission certified, I got an automated announcement from the president on my cell phone. I was on vacation in Hawaii at the time, and remember feeling very proud! I am excited to begin working as a nurse from a Joint Commission certified agency.

I feel a lot less pressure and stress than I did working a regular job. I have much more flexibility with my schedule and it works out better to be able to have more family time. The pay is also higher and I have found I don't have to work as many shifts and can still make what I would have working a facility job.

Working as an agency nurse was a little scary at first, but after I became more confident I love it! My hours and schedule are so much more flexible than before. I can be there for my family and not miss out on important events. It also has given me experience in working at other facilities and learning that there are other ways of doing things other than the way I was taught and it's still alright.

We're getting close. Oh, we have seen so much in the last two weeks...I think my brain is tired. If you are ever in New Mexico , you must see Taos because it is the most incredible place. Mountains, food, shopping, and a little village called Taos Pueblo. It's an active Pueblo Indian village with no lights or gas. Since the 1820's there have been active tribes living there and they still live off of the land with no running water... they're such happy people. We also saw the Gorge and it's very overwhelming to think about how long it's been there and how amazing it is that it was created naturally. We've seen most of the Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert... what sites to see. Next, we will land in Flagstaff, AZ and then go on to Tuba. I am looking forward to staying in one place for a while and getting to work! Arizona is incredible and I'm excited to get to travel here for work. I'm already thinking of my next destination. We're loving it...and appreciating the chance to see the world!

Paul, Dawn & Bella

I would like to say how much I have enjoyed working for Nurses PRN over the last 6 months. I have never worked for a company so dedicated to making and keeping their employees satisfied with their experience. I have worked for three different offices and have enjoyed working with all of the different recruiters and office staff. Thanks again for all of your hard work! Janine B, RN

I really like working for PRN. The Madison Office always works hard to get me my hours. I feel truely valued as an employee. Thanks for all the support. Teresa Adams RN

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Nurses PRN provided a pink ribbon name badge holder to our current employees reminding them of our commitment to Breast Cancer Awareness. A percentage of the proceeds from this gift will go the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund. Many of us have been or will be affected by Breast Cancer in some way. Please support Nurses PRN by wearing your pink ribbon name badge holder not only in October, but year round.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States, and the second leading cause of cancer death in women (after lung cancer). According to the American Cancer Society, it's estimated that approximately 178,480 women in the United States will be found to have invasive breast cancer in 2008. About 40,460 women will die from the disease this year alone. Right now there are slightly over 2 million women living in the United States who have been treated for breast cancer.

You can find the five basic steps to a breast self-exam, at www.breastcancer.org.

Nurses PRN has from the beginning cared about me as a person and what I needed in my career. The process to apply and get started working was efficient and easy to do. My recruiter, Emily, is always there and wants to sincerely know how my experiences are with the company. Everyone is friendly, helpful and easy to deal with. I love working for this company and plan to stay with them for a long time!

You are not an employee of PRN, you're family to them. The staff is super to work with, very caring, supportive and a real go-getter at finding shifts for you. The online newsletter keeps us all informed of happenings with each other, the staff takes time to catch up with you and your family while they call for shifts... they're always grateful and let you know it for helping out facility staffing needs. I consider myself a lifetime PRN family member, will never go anywhere else!

Those of you that have been with us through the years know that our website has been a journey. We feel as if the adventure is just beginning. There are no intentions of reaching our destination, because keeping you informed and connected to the PRN Family is an unending journey. As new windows of opportunity continuously open, our underlying commitment remains to stay committed you. Our new website will be updated on a regular basis, as it is a venue to keep you updated with the most recent happenings in the healthcare industry and at PRN.

We all have things in common and being part of the PRN family is one of them... Although hospital walls and locations across the country divide us- our hope is that this blog will keep us connected.

Here's to our journey...