Alpha Health Source

Difficult Bosses - A new book for self-help

2009-09-28T19:03:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, there are some who find themselves working for a difficult boss for a time. Instead of being a victim by the situation, learn some insightful and powerful tactics to turn a lemon into lemonade. This book allows for self-reflection and reminds us - our happiness is a choice, not an effect of what is going on around us. Read below for a short synopsis of the book and then run out to your local bookstore to pick up a copy!

A groundbreaking guide to dealing with difficult bosses by two bestselling experts.

Working for You Isn't Working for Me: The Ultimate Guide to Managing Your Boss

by Katherine Crowley, Kathi Elster

In their bestseller Working with You Is Killing Me, Katherine Crowley and Kathi Elster taught readers how to free themselves from emotional traps created by difficult colleagues. Now they apply their research and insights to the challenges of "toxic bosses." Sooner or later, we all work for someone we can't stand. When that happens, some people quit, some suffer in silence, and others cope by sulking, obsessing, avoiding, or retaliating. But it's better to take control by applying the four-step process in this book:

• Detect: Am I crazy or is my boss driving me crazy?

• Detach: Accept that you can't change your boss, but you can take back your power.

• Depersonalize: Learn to take your supervisor's behavior less personally.

• Deal: Devise a plan to get what you need, manage your boss, and move your career forward.

AASPA - American Association of Surgical Physician Assistants 9th Annual CME Meeting Oct 8-11, 2009

2009-09-28T18:33:00.000-07:00

The American Association of Surgical Physician Assistants is hosting their 9th Annual CME meeting in Chicago October 8-11, 2009. From what I have read about the event, it should be one worth your while to attend. There are numerous beneficial workshops and lectures within the 4 day meeting. While it is uncertain exactly how many hours of CME credits this will get you, but organizers are planning on requesting over 30 hours of Cat 1 credit from the PA review panel. Please go to the AASPA homepage http://www.aaspa.com/ to register and read more information for this fabulous workshop!

Physician Assistants in Orthopaedic Surgery Conference

2009-09-24T20:05:00.000-07:00

I would like to promote a well balanced informative PA Orthopaedic Surgical conference coming up in just a couple of short weeks in Scottsdale, AZ, Oct 19-23, 2009. Posted from their online brochure:

PURPOSE: The Physician Assistants of Orthopedic surgery has recognized the need for this lecture series in orthopedic topics. Our membership has identified that they require concentrated and updated topics in orthopaedics. Our program has grown in attendance over the past few years and we expect 150 –200 attendees this year. Our faculty has been in the practice of orthopaedics for many years and will furnish you with the knowledge necessary to manage orthopedic problems with confidence. Concentration will be on historical data, physical exam findings, interpretation of special tests and studies, and the initiation of therapy.

NEW this year is an ACLS refresher course. This will make it easier for the attendees to maintain their ACLS Certification without taking time from work. It will be offered on Friday, October 23 from 9:00 – 12:00 during the golf tournament. Attendees will be sent a completion card and can claim the customary CME for the refresher course through the NCCPA.

Visit their site for registration and additional information. http://paos.org/

Healthcare Jobs!

2009-09-24T13:53:00.000-07:00

Even during the weakened state of the economy there are great healthcare jobs to be found! Please visit our website at http://www.alpharn.com/ to see some of the current job openings. Submit your resume and contact us to let us know exactly what you are looking for so we can do the leg work to find your next great position!

Army Soldier PA, Killed in Afghanistan While Serving Others

2009-08-31T07:29:00.000-07:00

Cory Jenkins, 30, a dedicated Physician's Assistant and living husband and father, going the extra mile to serve his fellowman.

Cory Jenkins was killed recently while serving selflessly in Afghanistan leaving a wife and a 9 week old son. This young man chose to be in the army to serve in trauma and felt the military would be the place for him. He led an exemplary life as he earned his Eagle Scout and later served as Scoutmaster. His education was gained at Brigham Young University and A.T. Still University.

We at Alpha Resource Network want to salute Cory Jenkins for his sacrafice, dedication and heart for service. To his family and friends - you are in our prayers for comfort during this difficult time.

To read the complete article, click on the link below.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/143654

America's Primary Care Physician Shortage

2009-08-26T09:39:00.000-07:00

First nursing shortages and now physician shortages?? Yes, that is correct. There have been a series of events that have led up to this shortage including the possibility of universal health care that will cause the shortage to exponentially grow to 500,000 by the year 2020.

The Examiner had a great article on this earlier this week (see link below for full article) highlighting some of the catalysts for the physician shortage. In short, the reasons are as follows:

In the 1980s, US medical schools were graduating twice as many physicians as were retiring. Physicians began to worry about their income and future job market. In 1987, Congress capped residency programs at 23,000 per year, a level that is still in effect this day. The influx of physicians into the market never happened. Now realizing the upcoming dilema, schools are ramping up to fill the gap, however with the years of education, lack of facilities, educators, clinical opportunities the opportunity to play catch up is not viable for quite some time.

What is the solution? Enter the Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant. More times than not when I make an appointment to see a doctor, I am asked if an NP or PA would be okay, and therefore I am able to get an appointment faster. The quality and knowledge of service has always ranked high on the scale.

We are seeing more hybrids on the roads for efficiency, now we will be seeing more NPs and PAs in the healthcare offices for efficiency, faster service without sacraficing quality and knowledge. A positive, reliable and cost productive solution for America's Primary Physician Shortage.

http://www.examiner.com/x-5968-DC-Public-Policy-Examiner~y2009m8d24-Physician-shortage-spurs-search-for-alternatives

Go ahead...get yourself a Blog!

2009-08-25T10:24:00.000-07:00

As a healthcare professional, why should I have a blog you may ask. As illustrated in more detail in the article link below, a potential employer can be pointed to your blog to give a larger view of your expertise in your field. The employer can read the posts to gain more insight than can be given on a resume and even during an interview.

In the article referenced below, the designer was able to stand out from the rest of the candidates due to her high level of knowledge and expertise she was able to share through numerous blog posts.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Hired-From-a-blog-to-a-cnnm-1816259633.html?x=0&.v=2&.pf=career-work&mod=pf-career-work

Social Networking

2009-08-06T17:33:00.000-07:00

Social networking seems to be streaming from all facets of our lives. We have progressed from what is now considered a simple and everyday use of emails and text messages to setting up our profiles on LinkedIn, ZoomInfo, MySpace, Facebook, and can't forget the blogs to the ever so quickly catching momentum Twitter. I suppose a lot of jobs have been created at companies to keep them up to date with all of the online internet media available. We certainly can find ourselves rather up to our elbows in the middle of all of it if we aren't careful.

Personally, I find it difficult to be on the computer and not take a peek at the tweets and facebook, to say the least. Or how about the blackberry browsing in between errands or waiting for an appointment. Yes, technology is invading our lives in many facets and what fun we are having!

Being rather new to twitter, I am trying to learn the terminology and variations of tweets. Today the topic has been hash tags. The words can be so usual, it is almost like learning a foreign language.

The benefit of all of these networking tools is the ability to keep in touch with people, news in the world around us. We've come a long way since the pony express days!

Enjoy your technology!

Character does matter!

2009-06-25T15:46:00.000-07:00

Humility, Faith, Optimism: 3 Surprising Career Boosters

by Heather Boerner, for Yahoo! Hot Jobs

Job coach Nance Rosen hires people based on their resumes, but promotes them based on their personalities.
Talented employees who are pessimistic, doubtful, or put their needs before her company's don't get far.
"These people lacked the qualities that represent good character: Humility, faith, and optimism," she says. "The people I nurture, promote, and give the best work to are the people who have something I can't teach them: character."
But these virtues can be honed. Consider these suggestions for applying them in your workplace.
Humility
Few people became CEOs without supportive mentors, colleagues, and supervisors. To get that support, you can't hog the limelight and undermine coworkers, says Linda Seger, author of "Spiritual Steps on the Road to Success: Gaining the Goal Without Losing Your Soul."
Instead, advocate for your coworkers:
Recommend them for jobs not right for you.
Connect them to those who might advance their careers.
Acknowledge and promote your coworker's successes as much as your own.
"That generates a lot of good will," she said. "As a result, coworkers will often also recommend you for jobs, because you are not overly prideful, and because you are humble enough to recognize the talents of others."
Faith
Have faith in your company's mission and its management, and you're more likely to avoid layoffs. But faith is more than believing in your company. It's trusting your career path, even if you aren't advancing at the pace you'd like.
"Exercising faith in the process of career advancement is believing that your career development unfolds in a series of challenges that equip you for a purpose higher than what you can see," says Shai Littlejohn, a career development coach from Washington, D.C. "These challenging situations very often require us to humbly serve others by helping in areas where they fall short."
Such faith frees you to take risks you wouldn't otherwise.
"You're far more likely to risk, to leap, if you have faith in where you're going," says Jackie Freiberg, coauthor of several books on successful companies. "You cannot succeed by waiting."
Optimism
It turns out that if Pollyanna were your coworker, she might have the fastest career advancement of anyone you know.
But optimism isn't just hoping for the best. It's a thought process. If you assume the best in a situation where you don't know the other person's motivation, you're optimistic, said Acacia Parks-Sheiner, a psychology lecturer and researcher at the University of Pennsylvania.
Ask yourself:
When a coworker walks past without acknowledging you, do you assume she's distracted or she's mad at you?
When a new boss gives you a negative performance evaluation, do you assume he's out to get you, or do you think there might be a miscommunication?
If you assume the best, you're probably going to get further in your career, Parks-Sheiner says, even if you're wrong.
"People who are more positive are viewed more positively by others," she says. "They get better performance reviews, their bosses like them better, colleagues like them better, and they're considered more competent."

Economy Impact on Healthcare Employment

2009-01-09T08:01:00.000-08:00

As we start 2009, the economy continues to spiral down to a place investors, consumers, employers, and economists can only guess the bottom is located. Each day we hear of businesses in financial trouble, workers being laid off, and homes being foreclosed. Even in times such as these, there are careers and businesses that do not see the downturn quite as badly as others. As published in the news today, there are 10 hot professions with a bright future, even as the economy weakens. See below for full article.

10 Hot Professions for 2009

by Joy Victory, Payscale.com

As the global economy continues to falter, job prospects for 2009 are expected to slow. But if you're lucky enough to be in one of these top fields, your job future is still quite bright. Take a look at this list below and either thank your lucky stars that your job is already on it, or consider seeking the education and experience for the career that most interests you.
Auditor. With all of the economic upheaval, businesses are being watched more carefully than ever. "There is a lot of money flowing into companies right now due to the stimulus package," says Ron Mitchell, CEO and co-founder of GottaMentor, a career coaching service located in New York City. "And, we've all seen some issues with, 'Where is this money going to?'" He adds that auditors are mostly working for the big four [accounting firms] and also as internal auditors. Average Yearly Salary - $64,914
Career Counselor. More folks than usual are starting off the new year without a job in sight. How can the out-of-work find gainful employment? From outplacement agencies to government programs, career counselors and coaches will be very busy in 2009 helping make things easier. Mitchell encourages those seeking work to get professional help, saying, "Many individuals will need to completely re-engineer their careers. In order to do that, people need personalized guidance and feedback from an expert counselor." Average Yearly Salary - $54,426
Counselor. Besides their bank accounts, people's self-esteem and confidence are getting hit hard these days. "People's self worth is tied up in their job, so you have a huge identity crisis happening. Counseling and mental health services will be in high demand," says Mitchell. Guidance and some soul-searching can result in new and better careers for those in transition. Average Yearly Salary - $40,275
Public Relations Specialist. Rather than promoting a line of sparkly, new products or an exciting initiative, many public relations professionals will spend the upcoming year smoothing over unfortunate events. Mitchell predicts: "Being able to tell a story about major layoffs, reduced sales, and failed mergers, without causing a panic in the market, will become even more important." Average Yearly Salary - $44,334
Factor. A what? Didn't you study those in algebra? While this career is fairly foreign to most folks, now that bank loans are hard to come by, factoring allows small business to get funding based on their current accounts receivable -- the money they expect to have coming in. Factoring works well for retailers and other businesses that have big receivables. Mitchell explains that factoring is a legitimate source of funds in hard times. He says, "It's a huge business and, at a time when people can't get other types of lending, factors are skilled experts at lending against accounts receivables." Average Yearly Salary - $79,846
Health-Care Technician. You may know that nurses are in demand, but what about the folks they work with? "There's never enough of them, like radiology technicians, lab assistants, and home health aides. Health-care is the largest industry in the country, and in the more technical aspects of those careers we have a huge shortage of personnel," says Mitchell. Average Yearly Salary (Pharmacy Technician) - $32,531
Mechanical Engineer (and all engineering fields). With every passing year, more skilled-labor jobs are replaced by complex automation or robotics systems. For example, some hospitals have turned to "robotic pharmacies" to help dispense medication. It's the engineers who help build these automated systems, says Jim Turnquist, director of career services at Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Mich. "In the U.S. we only graduate 70,000 engineers per year, but we're going to need 100,000 per year. The demand is going to go way up." Average Yearly Salary - $71,490
Networking/System Administrator. Since almost all business transactions these days are done with the assistance of a vast computer network, the people who understand how to keep computer networks running smoothly are critically important -- and consequently, in high demand. "Network and system administrators maintain the company's infrastructure. People need people to fix and monitor their infrastructure, keep them updated," Mitchell says. Average Yearly Salary - $54,193
Nurse. The health-care field has been booming for a long time, and all signs indicate it will continue to do so, says Turnquist. He also says college students and people looking for a new job field would be wise to consider physical therapy and similar "exercise science" fields, since aging Baby Boomers will be looking for ways to remain active long into their later years. Average Yearly Salary (Registered Nurse) - $53,840
Software Designer/Developer. Companies from all sectors of the economy are looking for software engineers and programmers, says Turnquist. This is because society in general is becoming more tech-dependent -- just think of how rapidly cell phones change with each passing year -- requiring software developers that can stay abreast of all the changes. Average Yearly Salary - $72,070
Source: All salary data is from PayScale.com. The salaries listed are median, annual salaries for full-time workers with 5-8 years of experience and include any bonuses, commissions or profit sharing.

7 Tips for a Better Resume

2008-11-12T07:53:00.000-08:00

7 Tips for a Better Resume
by Alesia Benedict, GetInterviews.com
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Buzz up!
Print Want more interviews? Job searches in tough times like now demand polished resumes more than ever. If you are attempting to write your own resume, these seven tips are important to follow:
1. Select the best format.While most resumes are written in a history chronological format, often a better technique is to evenly balance between skill-set description, achievements, and employment.
2. Make certain your document is error free.Since you are familiar with your own writing, you will "see" what you were thinking and not what is actually on the page. Do not rely on yourself to proofread your work and do not rely on spell-check. Find a friend who has strong grammar skills to check your work.
3. Find a balance between wordiness and lack of detail. Employers need to see details about your work history and experience, but they don't need to know everything. The fact that you were den leader in your Cub Scout troop is irrelevant. Keep information germane to the goal of attaining an interview. Eliminate information that is not related and will not have a direct impact on winning the interview.
4. Do not use personal pronouns."I," "me," "my," "mine," and "our" should not be on a resume. Resumes are written in first person (implied). Example: For your prior job description, instead of writing: "I hired, trained and supervised a team of assistant managers and sales associates" you would instead state that you "Hired, trained and supervised a team of assistant managers and sales associates." Fragment sentences are perfectly acceptable on a resume and actually preferred.
5. Use numerical symbols for numbers.While we are taught in school to spell out numbers less than ten, in resume writing, numerical symbols serve as "eye stops" and are a much better method. Instead of writing "Developed a dynamic team of eight consultants." it would be much more advantageous to state "Developed a dynamic team of 8 consultants."
6. Think "accomplishments" rather than "job duties."What makes you stand out from the crowd? How did you come up with a way to do things better, more efficiently, or for less cost? What won honors for you? Information such as this is vital, will grab attention, and put your resume at the top of the list.
7. Keep it positive.Reasons for leaving a job and setbacks do not have a place on a resume. Employers are seeking people who can contribute and have successfully performed in the past. Concentrate on communicating these issues and avoid any detracting information.
Remember, many first-time job interviews are conducted via telephone rather than in person. Make sure you are prepared for that telephone call when it arrives. And make sure you have a resume that will make the phone ring!
Alesia Benedict, Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Job and Career Transition Coach (JCTC), is the president of GetInterviews.com, a resume writing firm that provides mid-management and senior level professionals with customized, branded resumes and career marketing documents. GetInterviews.com offers a free resume critique and their services come with a wonderful guarantee -- interviews in 30 days or they'll rewrite for free!

Nurse helps save toddler's life after accident in Mpls.

2008-11-08T14:22:00.000-08:00

A section of Broadway Street in Minneapolis was shut down for hours Monday morning, after a truck and car collide, critically injuring a 19-month-old boy.
According to police, the child is still alive thanks to a nurse, who was in the right place at the right time.
"I happened to look over and heard a smash," said Chris Barsness.
Barsness, a registered nurse, was at the scene as a delivery truck slammed into a car with the toddler strapped in a car seat. Investigators believe the car was turning left through the intersection, trying to beat the truck.
"Nobody was even trying to stop. There was no sound of breaks, nothing," Barsness explained.
"There was a guy outside of the car saying call 911…I ran over there with my blankets and didn't realize there was a baby in the back," explained Barsness.
Police said the driver of the car was not seriously hurt, but the little boy was.
"We did what we could. Cut the belt to get the car seat away from the door so paramedics could grab him and go," Barsness said.
The delivery truck driver works for Neenah Springs, a St. Paul-based beverage retailer.
A person who answered the phone at the company said, "What happens to a co-worker happens to all of us" and stated the company was praying about the situation and for everyone involved.
Police spent much of the morning reconstructing the scene and said it could be several weeks before they know the exact cause of the accident.
The toddler is being treated at an area hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

Choices

2008-11-06T19:48:00.000-08:00

There are two ways to look at the world: the benevolent way or the malevolent way. People with a malevolent or negative worldview take a victim stance, seeing life as a continuous succession of problems and a process of unfairness and oppression. They don't expect a lot and they don't get much. When things go wrong, they shrug their shoulders and passively accept that this is the way life is and there isn't anything they can do to make it better.

On the other hand, people with a benevolent or positive view see the world around them as filled with opportunities and possibilities. They believe that everything happens as part of a great process designed to make them successful and happy. They approach their lives, their work, and their relationships with optimism, cheerfulness, and a general attitude of positive expectations. They expect a lot and they are seldom disappointed.