Empowering healthcare professionals to find and do their best work.
On Monday February 8, 2021, Incredible Health CEO, Iman Abuzeid, spoke with Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec of Bloomberg Businessweek Radio to discuss updates on the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccinations, and the daunting workload that nurses across the country are still facing.
To learn more, listen to the interview here:
Photo by Fringer Cat
Personal Finance / Thank You Gifts for Nurses
Nurses perform a vital role in our society, and many people have a nurse that they’ll remember forever. If you’ve had a nurse who went out of their way to provide you or a loved one with excellent care, you may wish to thank them.
Some people prefer words over buying gifts. If that’s you, writing a thank you note might be your best option.
However, many people enjoy buying gifts for others, and we’ve got you covered on that front.
Below you will find some of the best thank you gifts for nurses to purchase as a current or former patient.
Many nurses don’t have time to prepare food for themselves. They can end up spending a lot of money eating out. Consider purchasing a GrubHub, Uber Eats, or DoorDash gift card for your nurse to mitigate some of these costs. You can buy these online or at the grocery store.
Let your nurse indulge themselves with their favorite restaurant. They deserve it!
In addition to not having the energy to cook food, nurses rarely have the stamina to shop for groceries. Additionally, nurses may not feel comfortable leaving their house to go shopping and risk exposing themselves during the pandemic.
You can ask your nurse what their grocery list is, or you can send them a gift card for their preferred grocery delivery service.
Nurses spend the majority of their shift on their feet. Investing in a comfortable pair of shoes goes a long way toward helping a nurse stay on their toes throughout the shift. However, just as important as shoes are socks.
Many nurses wear compression socks while working. We suggest Bombas, which are known to handle pressure and provide comfort. Plus, with every Bombas sock purchase, another pair gets donated to a person who needs them. Your giving multiplies in this sense.
To combat a long and stressful shift at work, nurses need to get some sleep. The worst is tossing and turning after a long shift at work. Weighted blankets are known to help relieve stress by decreasing cortisol (the stress hormone). They also help improve melatonin levels, which helps people sleep through the night.
When nurses get a chance to rest from work, they want to relax and maybe tune the world out. Perhaps they want to watch Hamilton on repeat or WandaVision? Whatever their preference, Disney + has them covered. They can watch by themselves or with their kids.
The good thing about Disney + is that there are shows for both children and adults. It’s a dynamic service.
What’s a great way to keep a nurse going through a long shift? Coffee! A fun, creative gift for nurses is a personalized coffee mug. You can choose to make it simple and use their name, or you can write a fun message on it.
If there’s an inside joke between you and the nurse, here’s a great way to highlight that!
This isn’t the most exciting gift. However, it’s essential. Nurses go through scrubs rather quickly; paying for a nurse’s scrubs is a practical and helpful gift. You can buy them a gift card for a local scrubs retailer to just an Amazon gift card.
Working as a nurse, you don’t have control over what you will smell on any given shift. Trust us. Therefore, it’s essential to have control over the scents in your own home. An essential oil diffuser emits pleasant smells like sandalwood or lavender to help soothe the mind and calm the heart.
There’s real power in showing someone you appreciate their service. These gifts are just ideas. If you have other ideas, go for it! The key is gifting from the heart something that speaks to your connection with the nurse.
Do you remember that nurse who brought you chocolate pudding to take your medication with every night? Or the nurse who read “Where the Wild Things Are?” to help your daughter fall asleep?
Are you unsure of how you could thank the nurse for their kind service and commitment?
Writing a thank you letter to a nurse conveys your care and appreciation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses have worked diligently to provide services to patients. They deserve some recognition.
Below, we’ve outlined steps on how to write an encouraging thank you note for nurses.
[ More: How and when to celebrate National Nurses Week ]
Handwrite the letter: Handwriting a note on a card shows time and care. Also, you can pick a fitting card to give the nurse. Say you shared an inside The Office joke and want to choose a card that honors that–get one! Additionally, you can design your card if you’re feeling artistic. It’s up to you!
After you write your letter, you can send it off to the hospital requesting they give it to the nurse.
Use a proper greeting: Begin the letter with “Dear” [their name] rather than “Hey” or “Hi” or even “Yo.” This formal greeting helps underscore your sincerity in writing the letter and begins it on a positive, proper note.
Re-introduce Yourself: This step depends on how long it’s been since you’ve seen the nurse and how frequently the nurse helped you out. A good rule of thumb is to play it safe and re-introduce yourself.
If the nurse did something in particular in your mind that stuck out to you, mention it. This, along with your name, will help the nurse remember even if you have a common one.
For example, you can remark about how they gave you Jell-O pudding every day for your medication, or you can bring up reading “Where the Wild Things Are.”
Articulate what you’re grateful for: For this part, it’s best to be specific when giving out praise. Though you undoubtedly appreciate their care, emphasize why and how their care impacted you. If you specifically enjoyed the nurse’s banter as it helped distract you from your pain, mention that.
If your nurse’s expertise on your condition gave you a sense of safety and assurance, then include that. You want to make sure that your note targets how they touched you, as it can help propel them to continue helping patients in similar ways. When you write a thank you note for nurses, you help not only the nurse but other patients going forward.
Dear Alice,
Nobody likes to be in the ICU. Period. However, your humor brought me immense strength during my painful time. My name is Jill, and I was the patient you told reminded you of Pam from The Office and who you joked about my breakfast being prisoner’s food. I found it hilarious and fitting. Hopefully, I’m the only person you’ve told that to, or else this could be awkward. Just kidding!
I really enjoyed your care and attention. You went above and beyond to connect with me as a patient and listen to my concerns. Thank you so much for being such a caring, funny nurse.
Dear Christopher,
You may not remember me, but I remember you. My name is Robert, and I was the stubborn guy who didn’t want to take his medication. I couldn’t stand taking horse pills, but you worked with me. You decided to give me chocolate pudding to help me take the pills. I am grateful for that, and just so you know, I still do that to this day!
Thank you so much for your time and attention.
Dear Sally,
You are such a wonderful pediatric nurse. Our daughter, Desiree, had heart surgery, and you played a significant role in helping ease her fears about having the procedures. Before bed, you read her “Where the Wild Things Are” as a means of earning trust. I think you went above and beyond to make my daughter feel secure, and she appreciated it.
Thank you for you. I wish you well.
Nurse Types / Alternatives to Bedside Nursing
Not all nurses wear scrubs. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 60 percent of nurses work in hospitals. However, the nursing field offers alternatives to bedside or hospital work.
Some people don’t enjoy bedside work. That’s okay! Also, many new nurses struggle to find traditional work within the field.
Not everyone wants to become the next ER or pediatric nurse. Fortunately, we’ve provided an overview of non-bedside nursing roles to help with that issue.
These nurses work with businesses to make sure they are safe for employees. They look to solve health and safety hazards within the workplace. The duties include crisis care, risk reduction and case management.
Most employers hire professionals certified by the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses.
According to ZipRecruiter, the national average salary for occupational health nurses is $73,876 per year.
This role gives nurses a chance to use their creative juices.
Writers often publish content for medical or hospital websites, patient information and brochures. Some writers publish in medical journals as well.
Employers look for nurses with a bachelor’s or associate’s degree. That said, you don’t need a nursing license for this role. Writers can earn a Medical Writer Certified credential as well.
Academic nurse writers tend to make between $40,000 to $80,000 annually.
The mental health field can benefit from empathetic and skilled workers. Mental health nurses work with psychologists and psychiatrists to help with diagnoses, treatment plans and tests. There is currently a shortage of mental health nurses as well.
A master’s degree or doctorate, state licensure and specialized courses are required. However, by obtaining these credentials, you set yourself up to teach or perform research.
According to ZipRecruiter, a mental health nurse makes approximately $89,792 per year.
Some nurses prefer working with a more needy community. The public health nurse helps patients who don’t have proper resources. The job duties involve speaking on behalf of the community with the government to access more health services.
They also provide screenings and immunizations. Last, they share information about health care programs with the community.
According to Indeed.com, the average public health nursing salary is $68,449.
This role allows nurses to act as a liaison between the legal and medical professions. These professionals analyze and research malpractice claims and other healthcare-related issues for attorneys.
They also write up summaries of medical and health records. A legal nurse consultant can choose to work as a freelancer or at a law firm.
The position requires a nursing license and degree in nursing. Also, you must receive certification as a legal nurse consultant through a national organization.
A nurse-midwife helps women throughout their pregnancy. These professionals work in a variety of settings, from hospitals to private practice. Nurse-midwives can also help doctors discover health risks to the mother and unborn child.
Given the nurse-midwives role, it is crucial to receive specialized education. You need an undergraduate degree in nursing, licensure and a master’s degree in nurse-midwifery.
Last, you will also need to receive a nurse-midwifery license.
The average nurse midwife salary in the United States is $112,955, according to Salary.com.
For those drawn to working with kids, this role fits the bill. School nurses work with elementary all the way up to university students. The school nurse assesses the physical, mental, emotional and social health needs of students.
Their job duties include hearing and vision tests and assisting students who are sick or injured on campus.
To become a school nurse, you need to receive a bachelor’s degree in nursing and state licensure. Also, some jobs require certification through the National Board for Certification of School Nurses (NBCSN).
The average school nurse salary is $51,787 per year, according to Salary.com.
Nurses in this role can work as sales representatives or consultants for medical equipment manufacturing. Though manufacturing takes a lot of skill, nurses could make a difference in this field by providing their expertise.
Eligible nurses must have an RN license and a bachelor’s degree at least.
Similar to a travel nurse, cruise ship nurses have an opportunity to see the world and do what they love. This role requires nurses to provide care for guests and crew acting as first care responders, triage assistance along with patient treatment and assessment.
Along with room and board, as a cruise ship nurse, you’re eligible for free medical coverage under maritime law. According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual pay for a cruise ship nurse in the United States is $76,283 a year.
The only requirement for this position is a calm stomach and a bachelor’s degree.
According to the American Diabetes Association, 10.5 percent of the population has diabetes. That’s a significant number. Accordingly, there’s a need for nurses knowledgeable about the condition to help these patients.
The position aims to help people with diabetes manage their care independently. ZipRecruiter projects a median salary of $80,499 a year.
You’re required to have a bachelor’s degree in nursing and at least two years of experience before you can start this role.
Research nurses help improve medical treatments through their research and findings. They also can assist patients with studies performed by hospitals and medical facilities. The role helps the medical field move forward.
This position requires an undergraduate degree in nursing and state license.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, research nurses make on average 80,010 per year.
These positions provide people with nursing backgrounds an alternative to traditional nursing. Some positions require more specialization than others. Yet, the diversity within nursing can satisfy many types of nurses.
Boston, MA | $77,000 to $161,000 /year
Dublin, OH | $55,000 to $90,000 /year
San Diego, CA | $46,000 to $150,000 /year
Geneva, IL | $65,000 to $100,000 /year
Hagerstown, MD | $69,000 to $109,000 /year
Nurse Salaries / Negotiating Nursing Salary
You’ve crafted a beautiful resume, written a compelling cover letter, nailed the interview, and hopefully received an offer for your dream nursing job! But before you sign on the dotted line, you’ll want to consider it carefully. Negotiating a nursing salary will ensure you’re getting paid what you’re worth as a highly-skilled healthcare professional.
Why? Most people leave money on the table, which adds up over time. A recent study from Harvard Law School showed that a young employee who successfully negotiates a $5,000 increase in salary for a new role will earn hundreds of thousands of dollars more over the course of her lifetime than another employee who didn’t get the same initial increase.
Many people feel uncomfortable talking about money, but most employers expect negotiation to be part of the hiring process. It’s not uncommon for an initial offer to leave space for the bargaining that is likely to occur.
You already got the offer, and that means they want to hire you. You’re just working out the specifics.
Convinced? Great! Here’s how to go about negotiating a nurse salary that you’re comfortable with.
Do you know how the hospital or organization pays? Some institutions are unionized. The union sets the salaries in this situation, not the person or department you are interviewing with.
Many organizations have a tiered pay structure based on years of experience, years with the institution, certifications, education, and more. An employer calculates an employee’s salary based on their position within that tiered structure.
If you’re not sure about an employer’s pay structure, it’s ok to ask the hiring manager for the details at the offer stage.
Nurses in different regions or with certain specialties may command higher salaries thanks to differences in demand, cost of living, and other variables. Understanding these factors can help you determine a reasonable pay range before you begin negotiating.
Current data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that RNs make $82,750 a year on average, but it varies quite a lot by state, city, and specialty. Research salaries for your particular role and employer so you can come to the negotiating table armed with hard data on what other nurses in similar positions are getting paid.
Incredible Health offers a free salary estimator for nurses to make this research quick and painless. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is also a great resource with salary information across many industries and geographic locations.
Have you done research, received awards, earned advanced certifications, or have professional affiliations? These can all give you a leg up when it comes to asking for a larger salary.
Make a list of your best examples of these nursing credentials. Then use this list as proof that you’re an exceptional candidate, worth every penny you’re asking for.
Go into the negotiation knowing what salary range you’re comfortable with, and what you’re willing – and not willing – to compromise on.
“I’m asking for at least $X.”
Try saying them without any justification or explanation. A successful negotiation starts with a strong mindset and clarity of your wants and needs.
If you don’t make a clear decision in advance, you may find yourself agreeing to a number you don’t like, just to avoid the conflict.
A negotiation doesn’t have to be adversarial. You’re working towards a shared goal: getting hired and starting your new role. They’ve already invested a lot in just trying to find you, so ask for their help in coming to a fair offer. Your work is valuable, and the right hospital for you will want to compensate you fairly.
Negotiating a nurse’s salary doesn’t have to stress you out. You can satisfy your needs and make your employer happy at the same time.
