The gift of blood saves lives, and there is an increased need for blood during the pandemic since blood and platelets cannot be manufactured – they can only come from volunteer donors. Below, meet a couple of HCA Healthcare colleagues who’ve donated blood to help patients and their communities. If you have already donated blood or plasma, log your donation as volunteer service on our giving and serving platform.

Congratulations to James Mungai, RN, on earning a DAISY Award!

James was nominated by a patient's daughter at HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast. Read the full nomination below:

We are proud to share that HCA Healthcare, our parent company, has entered into a new joint venture business with A Plus International Inc. (A Plus), a global manufacturer of healthcare products, to expand access to personal protective equipment (PPE) by manufacturing surgical and procedure masks in the United States. Under the partnership, production of Level 1 and Level 3 masks meeting American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards for quality and safety is expected to begin in early 2021 from a manufacturing center in Asheville, North Carolina.

According to a recent Gallup poll, Nurses were polled as being the most honest and ethical professionals for the 19th year in a row, especially throughout their efforts to help fight COVID-19. Nurses received their highest ethics rating and earned an 89% overall score. We are thankful for the nurses who continue to excel with bravery in the midst of adversity and remain diligent in the goal to increase patient care. 

Choosing the right destination to relocate to for a travel nursing assignment or permanent opportunity may be difficult. However, Nurse.com's recent 2020 Nurse.com Nurse Salary Research Report showed three destinations that Nurses are likely to relocate to. Within the report, it was noted that nurses are more likely to relocate to: Florida, North Carolina, and Texas- three of HealthTrust’s most popular and in-demand cities for nurses. Find out below why these states are attractive for nurses across the country. 

We are excited to share that Erin Webb has been promoted
to Division Vice President of our MidAmerica Division!

Erin, who previously was in the role of Account Manager, excels at maintaining exceptional relationships with MidAmerica HCA Healthcare facilities. Erin goes above and beyond in meeting the contract labor needs of facilities and identifying the efficient way to enhance cost effective contract labor utilization. Due to the continuous value she adds to HealthTrust Workforce Solutions, Erin is a great fit for the Division Vice President role. 

Erin, who has been with HealthTrust Workforce Solutions for nearly two years, is appreciative of the opportunity to work with incredible colleagues and facilities. She is thankful that her relationships with facilities has grown stronger, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In speaking with Erin, she shared that she is grateful for the assistance that team members provide to each other and for how every colleague desires to work effectively in order to provide exceptional service. She is proud to work for an organization where team members are deeply supportive of one another, which can be seen through HealthTrust Workforce Solution's GREAT program. Within the GREAT program, team members nominate one another and share how their team members are making a difference in the organization by demonstrating Growth, Recognition, Engagement, Appreciation and Teamwork (GREAT). Erin went on to say, "When you feel valued, it motivates you to work really hard."

The motivation to work diligently is a factor that Erin is most proud of when reflecting on her journey with HealthTrust Workforce Solutions so far. Now that Erin is moving into her new role as a Division Vice President, Erin noted some major takeaways that she wants to continue to be aware of and work toward:

• Be respectful of everybody
• Count on your co-workers
• How can I bring value to HealthTrust Workforce Solutions with my new role?

We are thrilled to see how Erin will continue to build upon the value that she has created for HealthTrust Workforce Solutions!

If you are interested in working with HealthTrust Workforce Solutions, please click here.

The DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Award is an international recognition program that honors and celebrates the skillful, compassionate care nurses provide every day. Presented by the DAISY Foundation, the DAISY Award celebrates and rewards nurses for the extraordinary clinical skill and compassionate care that they demonstrate daily.

Currently, the DAISY Foundation is running a public campaign where people are encouraged to share their appreciation for the diligent work of extraordinary nurses. Through your nominations for the DAISY Award, nurses who have made an exceptional impact in your life and in the lives of your families and friends can have the potential opportunity to be recognized and acknowledged. 

The campaign, which kicked off with virtual signs in Manhattan's Times Square, will continue to be shared throughout the country. The DAISY Foundation's ultimate goal is to show the public's gratitude for the diligent work of nurses and to help reduce the burnout that many nurses continue to feel, especially during the fight against COVID-19.

We are standing alongside the DAISY Foundation and are asking for our community to make nominations, sharing how a nurse has made a meaningful impact on a patient or on a patient’s family. DAISY Award honorees receive a certificate of recognition, a DAISY Award pin, and a Healer’s Touch stone sculpture.

To learn more or to nominate an outstanding nurse, click here. 

The U.S. economy lost 140,000 jobs in the final month of 2020, according to the December U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Hiring Situation. This represented the first month of loss since the pandemic began impacting our nation early in 2020. The decline in payroll employment reflects the recent increase in COVID-19 cases and continued efforts to control the pandemic.

Travel nurses spend a considerable amount of time taking care of patients, but they also need to take care of their health as well. Stress and fatigue often becomes a side effect of the incredible work that nurses do and those feelings can often times lead to incredible burnout.

As shared by Healthline, "Burnout is a state of mental and physical exhaustion that can zap the joy out of your career, friendships, and family interactions." 

So if a travel nurse, how can you overcome the burnout that is caused by common stress and fatigue while on assignment? Find some tips below!

Take Time to Build Positive Relationships With Others While on Assignment

Whether you are adventuring with friends on the weekends or grabbing coffee on your time off, connecting with others and surrounding yourself with people who care is essential to maintaining your positive mental health. Having a strong support system is vital in maintaining stress and talking through emotions that you are feeling. Whether you reach out to family or spend time with others on assignment, taking the time to build a strong bond is valuable for making your assignment even more enjoyable. 

Create and Maintain Healthy Boundaries

Take the time to identify, instill, and maintain critical boundaries for yourself in order to prevent gaining stress or becoming too tired during your daily life. Whether emotional, physical or mental, make sure that you are not taking on more than what you can handle. By maintaining healthy boundaries, you can focus on making sure that your needs are ultimately being fulfilled and that you give yourself time to rest.

Find Your Comfort Zone

As a travel nurse, it may seem desirable to engage in new and adventurous activities while on assignment. However, taking the time to do activities that are comfortable for you can be an essential way to reduce stress or fatigue. Whether it is watching your favorite movie or cooking a special meal, doing activities that are within your comfort zone can help reduce stress and fatigue.

Lastly, make sure to stay connected with your recruiter and be candid about how your current assignment is going. Also, feel free to ask your recruiter for assistance whenever it is needed. We are here for you. 

For further resources on how to reduce burnout, click here or call (800)-480-1234. For Nurse Care, a confidential and free mental health service that is available 24/7.