WATCH worksWork Attributes Toward Careers in Health

For participants of CSIU WATCH Project SPRING 2012

My Story: WATCH gives tools needed to succeed“My name is Kim Campbell. I am 20 years old and I have a fiancée and a 20-month-old daughter named Lily. I graduated high school when I was eight months pregnant. My fiancée and I have been together for four years.

“My parents divorced when I was six months old. My mother was a drug addict and an alcoholic. Even though my mother had five children (with different fathers), she did not have custody of any of her children. I lived with my father and my paternal grandparents until I was 14 years old. I was very close with my grandmother and she became my ‘mom.’ At 14, I moved with my father, my stepmother and her daughters to another home, away from my grandparents’ house.

“When I was 18 years old, I decided to move back to my grandparents’ home. After living there one month, I found out that I was pregnant and enrolled in the CSIU’s Project ELECT, a teen parenting program. Kim Eroh from ELECT was a big help to me during that time. One month before my daughter was born, my fiancée and I moved into our own apartment through a referral from Nurse Family Partnership.

“My Nurse Family Partnership nurse, Donna, told me about some job opportunities at Bloomsburg Hospital. While interviewing for a job, I was told about another position in a doctor’s office as a file clerk. I was hired for a position with Dr. Kathy Baylor who suggested that a CNA license would be helpful in the office.

“WATCH gave me the tools that I needed to succeed.”

IN THIS ISSUe

Skills employers are looking for ............2WATCH participants honored .............2Congratulations, graduates! ...............3Time management tips ........................4

My mentor Kim Eroh suggested the WATCH program to me and said it could help me with CNA classes.

“I contacted WATCH in July 2011 and began taking CNA classes the next month through

Harrisburg Area Community College at The Emmanuel Center in Danville. I graduated in September 2011 and passed my exam in November to become a Certified Nursing Assistant!

“I started my full-time job as a CNA at Geisinger Medical Center in January 2012. I work with patients who have had

head injuries and also with patients who are recovering from surgery. Now I have a stable, better paying job where I can give my family what we need. And at Geisinger, I can advance in more opportunities to make my pay even better.

“WATCH gave me the tools that I needed to succeed. Because of this, we are able to buy our very first house and we are planning to get married next year.”

By Kim Campbell, Bloomsburg Harrisburg Area Community College, CNA Program

What skills are employers looking for?

WATCH participants receive special recognition

Having the knowledge and skills to perform a nursing or emergency medical services job correctly is, of course, a priority for anyone looking for work in these healthcare careers. However, employers are reporting that one of their biggest hiring challenges is finding skilled workers who also possess important “soft” and workplace skills.

“Soft skills” is a term often used to describe personal attitudes and work habits that lead to success in any job. Examples include:

These skills are extremely important in jobs where employees are tasked with providing quality services to vulnerable individuals like the injured, or to hospital patients and residents of long-term care facilities.

In a recent interview, Dan McGann, director of human resources at SUN Home Health and Hospice, explained the need for employees with effective soft skills and workplace habits:

“The challenge still lies with finding quality candidates who possess not only the correct technical skills but also have the right work ethic. Many employers have experienced individuals who have all the right skills, look great on paper and successfully complete their training...and then feel they don’t have to come to work, or don’t have to be on time. Fortunately, there are few of these individuals yet one of them who doesn’t work out costs the organization time and money and puts a burden on other staff members.”

Contact your WATCH Career Coordinator to learn how you can develop the skills that employers are looking for.

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Two recent WATCH graduates received awards at their recent commencement activities.

Lindsey Schell, Elysburg, received the Thomas Jefferson University School of Nursing’s Critical Care Nursing Award and Medicine Nursing Award. She was also chosen as a student speaker for graduation ceremonies and was a co-creator of “Student Reflections,” a slideshow that was shown during commencement. Lindsay achieved a 4.0 GPA while enrolled in the program.

Tess Schreffler, Aaronsburg, was the recipient of the Acute Care Nursing Excellence Award at Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology’s LPN graduation.

Tina Watkins, Williamsport, received Pennsylvania College of Technology’s 2012 Academic Honors Award in Nursing. Tina graduated in May 2012 from PCT’s RN program.

Another WATCH participant was recently recognized by her employer for providing exceptional customer service.

Sandra Andrus, Lock Haven, received two awards through Susquehanna Health System’s employee recognition program. She received an Initiative Award for consistently volunteering to fill open staffing needs and for taking the initiative to assist others. Sandra also received a Customer Satisfaction Award because she was specifically named in customer comments or satisfaction surveys and has gone above and beyond to provide great customer service. One of her patients described her as “always looking to see what needs to be done,” “recognizing needs even before being asked,” “being very pleasant and kind,” and “being an excellent nurse.”

• interpersonal or “people” skills

• team work• accepting feedback

• communication (speaking, listening, and writing)

• critical thinking

Congratulations to recent graduates!

Amanda Zimmerman, Lewistown (left), and Jamie Perkinson, Middleburg, graduated from HACC’s CNA program.

Pictured above are graduates of Thomas Jefferson University School of Nursing’s RN program (from L to R): Nicole Homicz, Mount Carmel; Lindsey Schell, Elysburg; Thilza Cordova-Martinez, Danville; Christine Showers, Winfield; and Dawn Kitchens, Port Treverton.

Graduates from Mifflin Juniata Career and Technology Center’s LPN program are (from L to R): Lori Schmidt, Lewistown; Ashley Murphy, Lewistown; Justina Marker-Shotzberger, Lewistown; Jennifer Milliken, Lewistown; Hilary Vogt, Lewistown; and Alan Doebler, Burnham.

Pictured is Danielle Batchler of Williamsport, a graduate of HACC’s CNA program.

Lucinda Bradford, Spring Mills, graduated from CPI’s CNA program.

Graduates from Pennsylvania College of Technology’s RN program are (from L to R): Andrea Valentine, Mifflinburg; Tina Watkins, Williamsport; Cassandra Leroy, Bloomsburg; and Emily Wilson, Lewistown.

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BloomSBURG UNIveRSITy

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Jamie Miller, Sunbury Amy Whitenight, Bloomsburg

CeNTRAl PeNNSylvANIA INSTITUTe oF SCIeNCe ANd TeCHNoloGy (CPI)

Licensed Practical Nursing Program

Andrea Fisher, Mill Hall Jessica Mayes, Bellefonte Kelie Nash, State College Chelsie Packer, Renovo Tess Schreffler, Aaronsburg Antonio Slaterback, Loganton Heidi Sneath, Mill Hall

HARRISBURG AReA CommUNITy ColleGe (HACC)

Certified Nursing Assistant Program

Amanda Fitzwater, Williamsport Fionna Fox, Williamsport Terra Gaul, Sunbury Angie Hamilton, Williamsport Ashley Neidig, Sunbury Patricia Thomas, Hughesville Morgan Traver, Bloomsburg Rashida Victor, Williamsport

PeNNSylvANIA ColleGe oF TeCHNoloGy

Registered Nursing Program

Dana Gennaria, Mt. Pleasant Mills Natalie Miller, Milton

Congratulations to the following WATCH Project participants (not pictured) who recently graduated from nursing programs at several regional educational institutions.

WATCH ProjectPO Box 213Lewisburg, PA 17837

managing stress in a stress-filled world

This document was supported by Grant #90FX0011 from the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of HHS. Work Attributes Toward Careers in Health (WATCH) is a Health Profession Opportunity Grant and is administered by the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU).

In our last issue, we learned how identifying and focusing our time and effort on priorities can help us manage our time and reduce stress. Here are some other time management strategies that may help ensure a more relaxed pace for the day.

First, give yourself plenty of time. Eliminate those last minute races to work or to your next appointment by scheduling more time than you might usually need to get from one place to the next. Plan to leave earlier for classes, work or appointments to allow for unforeseen delays.

Do a little “backward planning.” For example, if your shift begins at 8, plan to be at your work station by 7:55. Now think backwards. If it takes you 15 minutes to find a parking space, walk to your workstation, sign in, stash your belongings,

and gather your equipment for the day, then you should arrive in the parking lot no later than 7:40. If it takes 20 minutes to drive from home to work, allow yourself an extra 10 minutes for traffic delays. That means you need to be in your car ready to go by 7:10. If you have children to drop off at day care, allow extra time for possible delays there as well.

You can’t foresee every delay or disruption in your schedule, but you can anticipate a few and build in extra time to remain more relaxed and less stressed throughout the day.

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Part III in a series featuring suggestions for reducing and controlling stress in our lives