4 Problems Businesses are Facing and How to Solve Them

In today’s ever-changing world, running a successful business is increasingly difficult, especially for smaller companies. If you are trying to run a good business, read on to learn about four of the most significant issues you might face and how to solve them!

1. New Hires

Due to sweeping social changes and many jobs becoming automated, many people are not working as much. They find other means of income, such as welfare plans, to take care of themselves. This results in many businesses being short-staffed.

Finding good staff who will work hard is becoming increasingly difficult. However, it is not impossible. One of the best ways to find hard-working staff is by searching online for a “staffing agency near me.” A website like that can not only help you find employees, but it can help you find employees who are professional, experienced, and know what needs they need to fulfill for your business.

2. Staff Retention

Not only are businesses having trouble finding employees, but many are also struggling to keep the employees they already have. The last thing you want for your company is a high turnover rate.

To combat the increasing turnover rate, there are a few things that you can do. The most important thing you can do is pay your employees well. Inflation is rising, and many people are struggling to make ends meet. So, they will often move to different employers based on which one is paying the best.

Also, a pleasant work environment will make staff want to stay longer. A good work environment is the second most important thing to employees behind good wages. People do not want to be miserable every time they go to work.

3. Decreasing Productivity

Another issue facing many companies is a decrease in productivity. Many different things can cause this.

One of the most significant issues causing this might be a lack of training. If your employees are unsure how to do their jobs properly, they will not do the job well.

It could also be because managers are not supervising well. They could not be assigning tasks appropriately, or they may not be keeping employees focused on their work.

Also, a lack of proper equipment may be causing some of this decrease. Technology and equipment are constantly developing. This means that there may be equipment that will make your staff’s job more accessible that they may not have. If you can find and provide your team with the best technology and equipment that your business can afford to get, you may be able to increase your productivity.

4. Preparing for Change

The business world is constantly changing. Popular products come in and out of style. New sales strategies emerge and evolve. Market trends and forces continually shift. If you refuse to be flexible, your business won’t survive these changes.

Sometimes you may have to cut ties with business partners, pick up new ones, or move locations. It is these types of things that you, as a business owner, might have to do to stay in business.

You will also want to understand how the market works. Understanding these trends can help you change your business strategies to keep up with competitors.

Summary

Keeping up with changing times doesn’t have to be a headache. Running a business well is never easy, but you know you’re up to the challenge.

If you can find reliable, long-term staff and embrace changes as they appear, you’ll consistently grow your business and find it a far less stressful task. Best of luck!

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Brighterly – The Best Service for Teaching Children Online

1.Introduction

The number of online training platforms has increased since the COVID -19 pandemic. Children had to study to meet learning requirements even while at home, and so many online startups sprung up to meet that need. One of them is Brighterly, the best online learning platform with professional tutors holding maths classes for kids.

As a company of the 21st century, this online learning platform is changing the education industry by introducing simple and exciting methods like games and hands-on activities to teach kids math. To convince you that Brighterly is the best service for teaching children, here are some reasons that make it stand out:

2. The tutors interact with children

Unlike some learning platforms that focus on a child’s learning through levels, grades, and points, Brighterly.com has tutors wholly invested in a child’s knowledge. Every tutor has a one-on-one interaction with a child and also maintains personal relationships. The educators at Brighterly understand the need to have small talks with students and win their trust before teaching kids math. Due to this approach, kids find lessons exciting and not monotonous.

3. The instructors motivate kids

Understandably, most children can find math challenging and feel like giving up. But the educators at Brighterly take time to help kids understand math. The tutors never use harsh words for students; instead, they always have kind and loving things to say. 

Even when a child seems discouraged because they don’t get answers correctly, the tutors never make them feel bad. Instead, children learn that mistakes only get them closer to the goal of understanding math.

4. There are placement tests for prospective students

Nothing damages a child’s sense of accomplishment and confidence more than learning educational material that is much above their capabilities. The platform can provide your kid with placement tests to understand their level of understanding to avoid these outcomes.

The educators understand that even if a student is in Grade 5, it doesn’t mean they have a perfect understanding of Grade 4 math. So, after the tests, the educators know better what instructional materials are needed to solidify a child’s understanding of math.

5. The educators provide valuable insight into math concepts

Not every educational resource on the internet is beneficial to children. Some students may focus on educational YouTube videos and become passive learners who don’t ask questions in class even when they find math concepts challenging.

To promote active learning, the educators at Brighterly provide students with valuable insights into math concepts. As kids learn, they can interact with tutors and hold discussions that could be helpful in understanding the subject.

6. Brighterly’s developers understand children’s love for gadgets

Brighterly is the best online math platform for teaching children because its educators recognize that children enjoy screen time. So, they introduce kids to online educational games, worksheets, and other resources that can capture their attention for long hours.

Also, kids willingly do some hands-on activities offline without their phones, tabs, or PCs. By exposing kids to online and offline fun learning methods, Brighterly’s tutors do kids a lot of good.

7. The educators use customized teaching methods

The tutors at Brighterly are professional, attentive, and empathic, so they understand how children work. Every child has a distinct way and speed of learning and understanding of math concepts. 

So, the tutors use customizable teaching methods until a child is able to understand math concepts in their entirety. The tutors are willing to take their time to identify what works best for your child.

8. There is an effective feedback system

Feedback is an essential feature for every parent whose child is learning math. Through placement tests, parents know their child’s development trajectory. After that, the tutor can see how much the student has learned.

If there is a need for improvement, a tutor can ascertain how much work still needs to be done. Brighterly’s tutors give parents constant reminders and feedback on the child’s performance, proof that it’s an online learn service that carries the parents along.

9. The teachers work with the flexibility of students’ schedules

The educators at Brighterly understand that kids have their own schedules and daily activities. Thus, the tutors are flexible and tailor each class to your child’s needs. They work together with parents to create personalized timetables for students.

Parents are free to cancel the class for the day and reschedule it to another time in case of emergencies.

10. The educators provide homework help to students

Once, there comes a time in a child’s life when parents can no longer meet the homework requirements. Sometimes, parents are too tired after a long day at work and just want to take a breather. Other times, parents can be at a loss with complex concepts like geometry, trigonometry, logarithm, etc.

No matter the scenario, Brighterly’s instructors are always eager to help out their students.

Conclusion

When you need professionals to care for the children’s educational needs, look no further than a Brighterly’s instructor. Brighterly is the best online math learning platform with professional tutors that can make learning math an exciting experience. The educational requirements of children can be different, and the instructors understand that part clearly.

Also, the tutors provide their students with fun, exciting, and lovable games that can make kids have only the best experiences. With all these benefits listed, what are you waiting for? Register your child on the Brighterly platform today.

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9 Essential Factors to Consider When Choosing a University

University education is the most significant investment people will make in their lifetime and the most important decision they’ll ever make. The wrong choice can lead to years of wasted time and money, while the right choice can set you on the path to a successful and fulfilling career. While many people choose a university based on its reputation or graduation rate, you should consider several other factors when making your decision:

1. Location

The location of a university can have a big impact on your experience. If you want to be in a big city, there are plenty of options. If you’re looking for a more rural setting, you’ll need to narrow your search. Consider whether you want to stay close to home or venture out into the world. There are pros and cons to both choices. Staying close to home can be more affordable and provide support from family and friends, but going away to university can also be an excellent opportunity to meet new people and experience new things.

2. Rankings

Rankings can give you an idea of the quality of an institution and how it compares to other universities. They can also help you to narrow down your choices. There are different ranking systems, such as the QS World Report rankings and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. These rankings account for student satisfaction, graduation rates, and research output. However, university rankings from some platforms may not accurately reflect the institution’s quality. In some cases, they may be biased or based on outdated information. Additionally, rankings can change yearly, so it’s important to look at multiple years’ worth of data to get a more accurate picture of a school’s quality.

3. Courses Offered

The courses offered by a university should be your primary concern when making your decision. You will spend the next few years studying for a degree, so ensure the subjects you are interested in are available. Many universities offer a similar range of courses, but it is still worth doing your research to find out exactly what is on offer. Schools like American International College offer a wide range of academic programs, from engineering and computing to art and science. You are sure to find one that fits your needs. You may also consider whether the university offers any specialized courses that appeal to you. For instance, if you are interested in studying law, check whether the university has a law school. Once you have a list of potential universities, take the time to look at their individual course catalogs and find out what is on offer. 

4. Entrance Prerequisites

Every university has different entrance requirements. It’s important to ensure you meet the criteria for the school you’re interested in. For example, some schools require applicants to have a certain GPA or score on an entrance exam. Others may have specific course requirements that must be met. Be sure to check with the university to determine their entrance requirements. 

Remember meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Many schools receive more applications than they can accept. There’s no guarantee you’ll be admitted even if you meet the requirements, which is why it’s crucial to have a backup plan in case your first choice doesn’t work out.

5. Globalization

With the expansive growth of the internet, globalization has become more common than ever. Businesses are now international, people are more mobile, and knowledge sharing has never been easier. When choosing a university, it is crucial to consider the globalization of the institution. Does the university have students from all over the world? Are there opportunities to study abroad? Is the faculty internationally diverse? A university with a strong global focus can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in today’s economy. Global education will also prepare you to live and work in an increasingly diverse world

6. School Size

The size of a university can have a big impact on your experience. For example, large universities often have more resources and facilities than small schools. They also tend to have a more diverse student body. Additionally, large schools usually have a greater selection of courses and programs. However, large universities can also be overwhelming and impersonal. Smaller schools often have a more intimate and close-knit community feel. And because there are fewer students, you’ll likely get to know your classmates and professors better. 

7. Cost of Education

Universities can be very expensive, and you’ll need to ensure you can afford the tuition and fees. Additionally, remember that other costs are associated with attending university, such as housing, food, books, and transportation. Be sure to factor all of these costs into your decision. There are a few ways to offset the cost of university. You can apply for scholarships and financial aid. Many universities also offer payment plans so you can spread out the cost of tuition over time. Some employers will reimburse employees for their education expenses. If you’re already employed, check with your employer to see if they offer tuition assistance.

8. Accreditation

Accreditation is a process by which a school or program is evaluated against established standards to ensure quality. In the United States, accreditation is voluntary, but choosing a school accredited by a recognized accrediting body is important. Accreditation can guarantee that a university has met high standards for its curriculum, faculty, and facilities. It can also make it easier to transfer credits if you decide to change schools. 

9. Extracurricular Activities

One thing that makes the university so great is the opportunity to get involved in extracurricular activities. These activities can range from sports teams, to student organizations, to on-campus jobs. There are hundreds of different ways to get involved on campus, and it’s a great way to have fun. Additionally, extracurricular activities can help you build important skills that will benefit your future career. For example, joining the campus marketing club would be a great way to gain experience and build your resume if you’re interested in marketing. 

There are many factors to consider when choosing a university, but if you take the time to do your research and ask the right questions, you’ll be able to find the school that’s right for you.

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How to Make Perfect Cover Images for Your Publications

Are you pleased with your social media cover images? Do you want to discover how to enhance them? Remember that a cover photo is the first thing visitors see when they access your channel. 

Therefore, it is essential to make a positive first impression. Here is how you can improve the quality of your cover image.

Assess Dimensions

A large, banner-sized cover image lets you talk about your brand, express your online persona, and inspire action. When designing a cover photo, you need to think more about layout and design than how beautiful the image appears. Irrespective of your platform, using the recommended cover photo size is crucial.

The appropriate sizing ensures the photo works correctly within the space without overlapping other content. You must ensure the photo does not seem cut off or distorted.

Change the Photos Frequently

Changing the cover image is artless, as it only needs a few clicks. It, therefore, makes sense to change the image often so that it highlights or complements your current promotions or upcoming local or season event.

Use Consistent Brand Colors

A cover photo tells a lot about your profile. Due to this, it must seamlessly fit your branding. Your profile will appear disorganized if the cover photo and logo colors don’t match. Most visitors will think you don’t want to entice them.

If possible, create a cohesive, fun photo that matches the modern, comedic style without relinquishing professionalism. Your profile and cover photo should not necessarily match, but they must have a complementary color palette.

Prioritize Space Over Text

Think like a marketer when designing a cover photo, and ask whether the photo can relay your message without adding unnecessary words. If not, look for ways you can add only a few words to the photo.

A cover photo is a place for eye-catching themes and ideas, not to publish content. It’s proven that human brains process pictures faster than text. Thus, using no or minimal text on your cover photos is sensible. Also, use an app to remove background to appear professional.

Maintain a simple design

You should maintain a clean and simple design if you use the cover image for promotional purposes. Try to design a compelling photo with a simple call-to-action (CTA) button and precise content.

Have a Visually Engaging Design

In addition to creating a visually consistent design, you should also make the design visually appealing. After all, your objective when publishing content is to engage and connect with the target audience. You can increase social media engagement by using images that generate humor. 

Still, you can boost customer loyalty by using the latest inventions in the market.

Consider mobile phone users

The high increase in smartphone users means you should consider them when creating a cover photo. A stunning image on a laptop or desktop may not look incredible on a mobile phone. Therefore, you should test it on all gadgets before publication.

What Makes a Great Cover Image?

A good cover photo is readable, eye-catching, and conveys the brand’s message. The best cover photo must include your brand’s name and logo. Most covers include high-quality graphics and photos to create visual interest. 

Regardless of how incredible your publication seems, the last thing you wish to have is a cover photo that resembles your competitors’ cover images.

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3 Ways to Improve Your Growing Business

At some point in time, you will notice that your business is outgrowing your resources. This is a good thing! However, you need to make sure that you know what you are doing to help your business grow.

Read on if you have a growing company and need help knowing what to do.

1. Ensure You Have Enough Staff

As your business grows, you will find that there will be too much work and insufficient staff. This can become an issue because you and the few employees you have will quickly burn out. When you and your team are burned out, it can lead to people quitting and lousy work.

Sadly, there is a significant labor shortage, causing all businesses, no matter the size, to struggle with filling roles. This has many consequences:

  • Customers have to wait longer
  • Work is not getting done on time
  • Employees are being overworked
  • Businesses are stuck trying to figure out how to compensate for this issue

This is why finding a “staffing agency near me” is a critical moment in your company’s life. Finding enough well-trained and well-equipped staff members can be a bit of a challenge. Thankfully, there are plenty of websites and tools to help you find the right employee for your company.

Working closely with an agency can help direct the right people your way. This way, you get in contact with people who are genuinely interested in working for your organization and waste less time scouring through half-hearted cover letters.

2. Use Technology to Your Advantage

Technology is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States, and it isn’t slowing down. It has been especially useful for businesses of all sizes. With technology being able to do many of the tasks that human employees were able to do, many companies can make up for the labor shortage.

Having the best technology and equipment for you and your team to use is crucial for your business. You want your team to work well and efficiently. It is much easier if you all have the correct tools to complete your work. Whether that means you need the best lawn care machines or the latest and greatest computer software, ensure your team is only working with the best equipment so they can give their best work.

3. Advertise on Social Media

Technology hasn’t only proven helpful in automating complex tasks; technology supports your advertisement design and public relations work through social media.

Apps like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube have greatly helped businesses increase brand visibility and boost the number of eyes on their products. YouTube is an exceptionally engaging way of advertising because you can make a short video advertisement instead of just a poster or photo for your company and products.

Social media platforms make it much easier for your clients to connect, engage, and communicate with you and your team while giving you the potential to reach billions of people.

Making a name for your company and becoming well known are crucial parts of your company’s development. Social media is the newest and best way to do that. Make sure you become well acquainted with all the social media apps and use them to your advantage.

Don’t Hesitate to Improve Your Business

Improving your business can be scary as there is often a considerable amount of risk involved. However, it’s even riskier not to take the steps mentioned above.

By having a solid team, using modern equipment and software, and getting your name out there through social media, you can see tremendous growth for your company.

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Top 8 Reasons Why Stricter ID Verification Is Helpful for Business

A strict ID verification system is important for your business. Strong security, top-notch customer service, and having a reputation as a reliable company help your business grow. We have some tips for you about why business ID verification is essential.

What is ID Verification?

ID verification is an offline or online process to check a person’s identity. Verification is necessary for common transactions such as opening a checking account or IRS tax documentation. Some ways to verify identity are:

Knowledge-Based Authentication

Knowledge-based authentication (KBA) verifies identity with answers to security questions. Additional measures for KBA safety include requirements to answer questions within a time limit. The advantage of using knowledge-based authentication processes is an easy verification method for users to use and understand. A big disadvantage of KBA is it is easy to discover personal information through social media and use this knowledge for identity theft.

Document Scan and QR Code Scan

ID verification is useful when you want to link a document or card with your online account. Banks and other financial institutions often use document scans or QR codes. A QR code is a machine-readable graphic code consisting of black and white squares. These typically store URLs or other information. For ID verification, users scan the QR code with their smartphone camera to unlock the information.

Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication requires users to have personal identification called a token as well as usernames and passwords. A token is a code messaged or emailed to a user. Two-factor authentication has been used for various tasks such as creating accounts and resetting passwords. This ID verification is useful for strong security because authentication takes two security steps. Two-factor authentication is a difficult verification method if users don’t have smartphones or other accounts for the token authentication process.

Biometrics Authentication

Biometrics uses a person’s physical traits to verify identity. The biometrics include fingerprints, voice recognition, retina and iris scans, and facial characteristics.

Benefits of ID Verification Process

Security is essential for your business, and ID verification can help keep your business secure. Among the reasons and benefits for using ID verification are customer experience, hacking, staff security, business reputation, and insurance requirements. Data protection laws, due diligence, and risk management are other benefits of the ID verification process.

1. Customer Experience

Strong security systems like ID verification are vital to retaining customers for your business. Having a reputation as a reliable company helps you know your customer (KYC) and deliver secure customer experiences. Your customers are essential to your business. They need confidence you can keep their data safe when they use your website and give their data to you. Having a strict ID verification system is a good KYC practice that helps protect your customers against fraud. Safeguarding their personal information with the most up-to-date methods assures them your business is reputable.

2. Preventing Crime

Strong ID verification is critical to staying ahead of sophisticated criminals who can steal customer data. Scams and cybercrime are on the increase, ruining customer trust, compromising data protection, and destroying business reputations. Staying ahead of hackers, phishers, and scammers with ID verification is vital to keep your data safe. Using ID verification such as biometrics or two-step authentication can bolster your safety against hacking, phishing, and scammers.

3. Trusted Staff

Stricter ID verification is important to assure your customers you have checked employee backgrounds. If your company provides, for example, repair people, your customers should be comfortable with allowing them in their homes. For those who work onsite, this staff may have access to customer and business records, budgets, personal data, and other information essential to your business. Customer data is vulnerable to attack when employees without ID verification work at a business. You need to know your employees have the correct identification, credentials, and qualifications.

4. Data Reliability

To protect your business, having up-to-date and secure ID verification systems will help your data protection and keep customer data safe. Up-to-date ID verification can help you know your customer and keep track of best KYC practices. Taking time to review your security to keep your technology current will make a positive difference to your business security.

5. Insurance Requirements

Business insurance is a standard requirement, but claims for security breaches are commonplace. Insurance companies are tightening up their clauses for claims when selling you policies. More often, insurance brokers require that businesses have processes for stricter ID checks. Companies without processes or adequate ID verification arrangements could void a policy. Not only should you check the small print and make sure you are covered, but be forward-thinking and have an ID verification policy for your business. 

6. Data Protection Laws

Data protection laws require you to protect customer data and prevent cybercrime. Your staff should have ID verification and be trained in data protection and compliance to keep data secure. For example, data protection laws make it illegal to share data without permission. A serious data breach can lead to legal problems. ID verification can help you hire staff that understands how to manage sensitive data, compliance, and keeps breaches from happening.

7. Anti-money Laundering Compliance

Money laundering is the illegal processing and movement of money to hide its source. With ID verification, you can know your customer and strengthen your anti-money laundering (AML) compliance and processes by proving staff and customers are who they say they are. Your KYC practices can help track their financial data better. Businesses should check the source of their funds with AML compliance and processes and ID verification to retain customer trust. Using a system to detect financial irregularities such as AML compliance can help your customers as well as your business from fraud and financial loss.

8. Managing Risk

ID verification can help you manage risk. Assessing levels of risk is useless without data. Knowing who has access to your data, the competency of those people who have access to your data, and the verifiable status of those who have access to your business data can keep your business free from data breaches and data misuse. Having stricter processes such as ID verification are part of your risk mitigation. With staff training, encryption, and ID verification, you give your customers peace of mind that their data is secure. Working to mitigate data breaches and fraud through ID verification and other processes, you will have the confidence of customers and protect your business from damaging hacks and scams.

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How to Help Your Child Prepare for the SATs

The SAT exam is one of the most important exams a student will take in preparation for college. With a solid SAT score and a robust academic and extracurricular background, your child could have the opportunity to attend almost any university they want.

Much of the responsibility is going to fall on your child. They’re the ones who will have to attend the exam, read the questions, and perform under pressure. But there’s a lot you can do as a parent to support your child in getting higher SAT scores – and help them prepare more effectively.

Get a Baseline Score

Before you do anything else, get a baseline score. You can take a practice test or an iteration of the SAT itself (though a practice test is recommended) to see how your child performs. This is important for several reasons.

First, you’ll get exposure to what the test is like and you’ll learn some of the strengths and weaknesses your child has; are they very familiar with math, while struggling with English? Do they feel confident about the level of knowledge they have, while struggling with performance under pressure?

Second, you’ll have a number you can focus on improving. If your child scores a 1000 on the first SAT exam they take, you can set 1200 or 1300 as a reasonable goal. From then on, you can continue taking practice exams to see how the score improves.

Enroll Your Child in a Prep Course (or Create One of Your Own)

Exam prep courses are excellent tools for teaching students all the knowledge they need to perform better on standardized tests. Consider enrolling your child in one of these preparation courses, so they have accessible materials and individuals to teach them all the fundamentals. If you don’t want to enroll your child in a formal prep course, you can create a preparation course of your own, pulling online studying materials and getting involved in both education and practice.

Help to Manage Timelines

The SAT is available seven times per year in the United States, which means you’ll have plenty of opportunities to sign up for the exam and plenty of time to study. However, most teenagers aren’t especially good at time management. It’s your responsibility as a parent to help your child manage timelines, making sure they study consistently in the weeks and months leading up to their target exam date.

Set Mini Goals and Milestones

As a parent, you can also help your child by setting smaller goals and milestones. Studying for the SAT can be daunting, especially if you’ve never taken a standardized test before. It’s much easier and much less stressful if you have smaller goals to focus on along the way.

For example:

  •       Reading and studying objectives. Instead of only striving for a specific score on the exam, focus on achieving reading and studying objectives. For example, can you challenge your child to study for one hour each day for a week?
  •       Practice exams. Set dates for practice exams and follow through on them. Can you set an attainable score goal for each of them?
  •       New areas of competency. You can also set goals and milestones for new areas of competency. For example, you can set the goal to learn a new skill or master a certain type of question.

Avoid Adding Too Much Pressure

As a parent who cares about your child’s future, it’s only natural to add some pressure to the situation. But it’s important not to go overboard. Adding too much pressure will add significant stress to your child’s life in an already stressful time.

Here’s how you can better support your child:

  •       Don’t focus too much on objective scores. The average total SAT score for the class of 2021 was 1088, with a 541 in ERW and a 538 in Math. A score of 1350 puts a student into the top 10 percent of test takers. A 1600 is a very rare perfect score. It’s totally fine to understand these scores and strive for a specific score, but it’s often more effective to focus only on improvement.
  •       Watch your child’s emotions and reactions. Pay attention to how your child is feeling and how they react to things. Watch for signs of stress and back off if they’re starting to feel overwhelmed.
  •       Take breaks. Take days off and spend some time doing things other than studying.
  •       Celebrate wins. When your child achieves a breakthrough, take the time to celebrate!

There’s no guarantee that your child is going to get a perfect score on the SAT exam just because you had an effective studying plan. But suffice it to say, students with supportive parents and consistent studying patterns tend to perform better than their counterparts.

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3 Things Every Nursing Student Should Have

The rising demand for qualified Nurses has been accentuated after the onset of the pandemic. Post-covid, the rise in demand for caregivers and registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) has increased. The population of the United States and most other developed countries are aging and expected to create a patient demand. The requirement for a qualified workforce in hospitals, especially Nurses, is also on the rise.

With the continued rise in patient demands and the need for qualified medical workers, good nurses will always be in high demand. As per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 9 percent annually till 2030, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Though there is a growing need for qualified nurses a fact remains that nursing albeit a noble profession is not easy.

Nursing is hard

It is very very hard, but doable. Now the question remains, whether one has what it takes to make a good nurse.

A registered nurse (RN) usually obtain one of three educational degrees: a bachelor’s degree in nursing, an associate’s degree in nursing, or a diploma from an approved nursing program. However, Nursing is a tough profession, and nurses need to be both technically and emotionally skilled.

The nature of nursing is that one never knows when what will happen, and it is perfectly fine. So, to stay in sync with the surroundings, a good nursing student should be prepared to study hard but still not give undue importance to the GPA. It does not matter whether one holds a 3 or 4 GPA. What matters is how efficient and fast they are when faced with critical patient cases. This is true, as most of the learning for a nurse happens on their feet, during their clinical rotations They need to be highly alert and quick to respond to emergencies.

Considering that a Nurse is always employable, a person diligently pursuing Nursing as an occupation should be mindful of a few things every nursing student should have. These things are inclusive but not limited to the handy essentials. If one is walking this path, the following points can be a good start to learning more about this profession:-

Education Related 

College

Be it a Bachelor’s, an associate or a Diploma Program in Nursing, choose a program that is close to where you live. Most Nursing programs are demanding and have a clinical rotational program, to make the nurses adept at handling patient emergencies. Most of these clinical rotational programs or clinicals for short, start early in the morning. So, if one needs to commute for one hour, on the days when clinicals are held, one has to wake up even earlier. 

Most students tend to choose the top colleges that are situated miles away from their place of residence. However, it does not matter whether one has graduated from a top college in the county or a community college, as long as the school is accredited, then graduation will ensure that one can take their NCLEX. So, always choose a college or a program that is closer to where you live and save the commute time for your studies.

Books and Study Groups

Spend wisely, even for the books listed in the curriculum. Thousands of dollars worth of books for every semester can be avoided by approaching the professors and instructors. Ask the course instructor for the essential books that need to be purchased.

After drawing up the final list of books, divide the cost of the books among the group members of your study group. And rotate the books amongst your study group. This way, you not only reduce buying expensive books but can stick to the course with a study group that can help you with the knowledge-sharing aspect.

When in doubt, Shout

Ask questions, and ask a lot of them. With lives at stake, it always helps to get a second opinion if one is unsure about a procedure. Also when a patient or a family member is not able to communicate about their ailments, it is a better practice for the nurse to entice the correct information by asking more probing questions.

NCLEX answers are not perfect, only the most accurate

The NCLEX questions are set to test the cognitive skills of a nursing student. Only students who think critically can come up with the most accurate answer for NCLEX questions. These questions are based on knowledge and application and are not based on any facts that have to be memorized.

Behavioural Related

Emotional Intelligence

Nurses witness a lot of pain and emotional distress of patients and their family members. Albeit they are respectful of the situation nurses simply cannot take the tragic experiences to their mind. Otherwise, they will experience burnout and breakdown midway. To avoid such a stage most nurses use strategies that best work to keep themselves sane. It can be humor, sufficient breaks with family or friends, yoga, or meditation.

Find your path for elevation or choose them all, but try to distance yourself from the emotional drain of the pain. Understand the subtle difference between responding to the situation and reacting to it.

Nursing Supplies and Essentials

Let’s start this list with a good pair of shoes and comfortable scrubs. Nurses need to be on their feet for long durations. Comfortable clothing with the right shoes will top the list of any nursing school supplies list. One can consider adding a pair of compression socks to this list. In the long run, a nurse can avoid swollen feet by using a pair of compression socks.

A pair of good stethoscopes, with a case that fits for storage and an identification tag that can help one locate their stuff, will prove very useful.

A nursing bag to carry all the books and essentials will come in handy in the long run. A medical watch may not be on the list of every nursing school, but it is a good investment and proves handy at work. Curriculum books and a laptop are must haves for most courses and are likewise for nursing as well.

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Tips for Writing a Successful Journal Entry

If you’re an international scholar whose first language is not English, you may be struggling to get your journal entries published.

Many times, even if you are a scholar with English as your first language, you can struggle even if you went to one of the top schools that publish the most academic journals, whether stateside or international.

Whether you’re writing for a medical or a scientific journal, you need to know how to get the job done and then get it accepted. This blog will give you a few tips for writing a successful entry for an academic journal.

Take Advantage of Modern Tools

The first thing you’re going to want to do is take advantage of the modern tools offered today. If you’re unsure about translating your journal entry into English, then take advantage of the wealth of technical translation services out there today. It’s better to pay for translation services than to have language mistakes in your entry that will keep it from being accepted by academic institutions.

Write With Others

When it comes to journal entries in a language that isn’t your own, it’s a good idea to write with others. Not only can they help with your research, but many of the group may speak English, which will help you learn the language and also allow you to ask them questions as you write your journal entry.

Always Fact Check Your Journal Entry

No matter what type of content you write, you always need to fact-check your entry before submitting it. For example, if you are an international scholar, then you might not know the ways and customs of the English language. Also, the facts that are true in your country might not be correct in the United States.

On top of that, your reputation is on the line, and it only takes one journalist, one online critic, or even one academic that is suspicious of your journal entry. After that, your whole journal and career can be called into question.

Always Avoid Plagiarism

Under no circumstances, no matter what type of writer you are, should you skip the plagiarism check of your journal entry. This is the fastest way to ruin your career as a scholar and your reputation as well. Plagiarism can lead to expulsion, being fired, and in some cases, being sued and prosecuted for stealing someone else’s hard work and passing it off as your own.

You can avoid being accused of plagiarizing your international journal entries by fact-checking, keeping track of your sources, quoting and paraphrasing correctly, and citing your sources correctly as well. Finally, when your entry is done, check your work, run it through a reputable plagiarism checker, and then check it again.

Plagiarism is a very serious offense, so be diligent and don’t let it happen to you.

Implement Changes From Feedback

Once your journal entry is complete, it’s always a good idea to let someone you trust read it. Letting someone read your work can help you spot facts you might have missed, whether it’s a colleague, a trusted teacher, advisor, or employer, or someone else.

It can also help you to pick up on grammar and word choice mistakes you might not be used to, especially if your first language isn’t English. Finally, make sure to use and implement changes that make sense from the feedback you are given.

These are just a few tips to help you write a successful international journal entry. Make sure that you use a translating service to ensure that the language you don’t understand is right, and then have someone read it over for you when the entry is done for the best results.

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Duties and Responsibilities of Nurse Practitioners

When asked to name a type of frontline healthcare professional, most people will say doctor. The rest will probably say nurse. While doctors and nurses are the most commonly known types of frontline healthcare professionals, they aren’t the only ones. Others include physician assistants, pharmacists, and nurse practitioners.

Generally speaking, nurse practitioners are part-doctor and part-nurse. In fact, virtually every nurse practitioner was once a registered nurse. Due to the relatively fast turnaround time from school to certification compared to doctors and the resulting affordability from the point of view of healthcare facilities, nurse practitioners are in high demand.

For those interested in entering the healthcare profession, pursuing a career as a nurse practitioner could be the right decision. The academic process is not nearly as long and strenuous as medical school, nor is it as expensive. All the while, the high demand for licensed NPs means employment opportunities are plentiful. It all adds up to being a rewarding as well as a lucrative career.

But what do nurse practitioners do, exactly? To provide a sufficient explanation, we must first look at what it takes to become a licensed NP:

Requirements

Those looking to become nurse practitioners must first earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and become registered nurses. While it’s theoretically possible to transition directly to NP certification, it’s considered ideal for aspiring NPs to work as RNs for at least two years.

The next step is to go to graduate school and earn a master’s in an NP-related program. The most common is the doctoral nursing program. Upon graduation, you’ll need to pass a national nurse practitioner certification exam.

By then, you should be thinking about which specialization you prefer. That’s because you’ll want to go for specialized certification rather than go back and retake the test at a later date. For instance, if you want to become a family nurse practitioner (FNP), you’ll want to take an FNP review course before your exam. That way, you gain specialized certification right out of the gate.

Employment outlook

Demand for nurse practitioners is expected to grow dramatically over the next decade. It’s estimated there will be 29,400 job openings each year for the next ten years. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for NPs in the United States is $123,780 per year. That breaks down to $59.51 per hour.

Now that we have that out of the way, it’s time to dive into the duties and responsibilities of nurse practitioners:

Physical examinations

Many nurse practitioners handle the physical exam tasks once performed by doctors. Once the nurse checks your vitals and asks a series of basic questions, the NP will come in and probe further. If they’re unsure of what’s wrong, they consult the doctor on duty. But chances are the NP will get to the bottom of the problem via physical examination. While the doctor will make the official diagnosis, that decision will be mostly based on the assessment of the NP.

Write prescriptions

While it varies from state to state, most NPs have the authority to prescribe medication to patients. This is perhaps the greatest distinction between registered nurses and nurse practitioners. RNs cannot prescribe medicine, but most NPs can. This effectively gives doctors more time to work on more pressing issues than writing prescriptions for patients.

Diagnostic testing

When an NP is stumped, they often consult the doctor on duty. However, they may decide to authorize or conduct diagnostic testing in order to get a better sense of what’s wrong. In theory, a patient may only see the doctor once for a few minutes while the NP handles the bulk of the responsibility in diagnosing and treating patients.

Care plan development

Nurse practitioners have the power to devise and authorize various treatment plans for patients. They also have the authority to make medical recommendations to patients regarding lifestyle in an effort to help them achieve better health and wellness. Again, the doctor will always have the final say, but the doctor will typically allow their NPs to call the shots unless the situation is life-threatening or especially complex.

When it comes to frontline medical workers, MDs and RNs get most of the credit. While that credit is deserved, it fails to consider the other healthcare professionals working to help patients, like nurse practitioners. They’re one of the unsung heroes of modern medicine. But in due time, they’ll get the recognition they deserve.

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