Education

Someone You Should Know: Rowan, RN

Rowan, RN, has always known she wanted to become a nurse. After graduating from Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she saw another learning opportunity in IPI’s year-long Home Nursing Residency Program. Now, just two months shy of completing the program, Rowan says she has learned a great deal from caring for medically complex, ventilator-dependent patients at home, and looks forward to a long career in nursing. We recently sat down with Rowan to find out about her time in the program, what she plans to do next, and what she has learned from her patients.

Raising Awareness of Rare Diseases

Community, Education, General

Rare Disease Day is an annual observance day focused on raising awareness about rare diseases and their impact on the lives of patients, caregivers, healthcare, and public policy. Those diseases affecting less than 200,000 Americans at any given time are considered rare. Approximately 80% of rare diseases have genetic origins and 50% affect children.

Tips from Nurses on Staying Heart Healthy

Education, General, Health News

Heart disease has been the leading cause of death among Americans for over 15 years. It’s important to remember that stress is a crucial component that can jeopardize a healthy heart. Nurses encounter countless psychosocial risk factors that can lead to occupational stress – a type of stress that is work-related and affects many professionals daily.

Someone You Should Know: Christa, RN, IPI Clinical Educator

Education, Our People

One thing that makes Independence Plus, Inc. (IPI) unique is our unwavering commitment to education. Nurses hired at IPI are immersed in a hands-on training and education program designed to prepare them to provide the best possible care for patients with complex medical and respiratory needs living at home. At the forefront of our training process is our Clinical Educator, Christa, RN.

Home Nursing Residency: 12 Cohorts Strong

Education

Independence Plus is proud to be well into the second year of our Home Nursing Residency Program. To celebrate the success of our program, we are rerunning one of our more popular blogs on our Home Nursing Residency, which featured our first cohort.

How To Respond During Emotional Situations

Education

Our patients experience a full range of emotions—from sadness and anger to fear and joy. As the trusted nurse, what do you do if your patient begins to cry? What if your patient is filled with anxiety or anger? How should you react when your patient receives bad news?

Saving My Brother’s Life: Exposing the Cause vs. Treating Symptoms

Education

Carol, our Vice President of Operations for Home Health and Home Nursing, recently saved her brother Neal’s life. She was determined to expose the cause behind the problems her hospitalized brother was experiencing, as he deteriorated in front of her own eyes. Read more about how she refused to allow the “healthcare establishment” to continue their practice of simply treating symptoms while the underlying cause continued to brew.

12 Rules of Body Mechanics [INFOGRAPHIC]

Education

Earlier this week, we hosted an educational event for our nursing team focused on proper body mechanics. For those of you who missed it – and for anyone looking for more information about body mechanics – this infographic is for you!

Home Nursing Skills Not Taught in the Classroom

Education

Last week, our Home Nursing Residency Manager, Brittany R., RN, spoke to a group of our employees about what our new graduates learned in their first year of nursing. This is what all home care nurses can expect to learn—whether you’re a new graduate nurse or a hospital nurse who is looking for a new opportunity!

How to Conquer Complacency in Home Healthcare

Education

One piece of advice that is often given to new nurses during orientation and training at Independence Plus is: Whatever you do, do not become a complacent nurse! So, for any nurse who feels like they may be feeling complacent or bored, these tips are for you!

8 Tips from Our Respiratory Care Practitioners

Education

We’re celebrating Respiratory Care Practitioner Week early with 8 tips from our Respiratory Care Practitioners (RCP). Our RCPs are our go-to experts when it comes to respiratory care and services at home for our patients with complex medical and respiratory needs.

Nurses Helping Nurses: What’s Home Nursing Really Like?

Education

Our industry is a bit of a mystery for those who aren’t directly involved, so we asked our nurses to shed some light on the incredible work they do every day. We asked them one simple question: What’s one thing about your job that would surprise a hospital nurse?

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