SR-AHEC NURSE CONSULTANTS

Your AHEC Nurse Consultants in the Southern Regional AFEC area are:

Andrea Novak, MS, RN, BC Phone: (910) 678-7216 Email: Andrea.Novak@sr-ahec.org

Services available include:

Identification of career goals and available resources
Career Exploration
Resume Critique
Interview Skills practice
Each AHEC has a collection of career planning resource materials available for your use, and your AHEC Nurse Consultant will assist you in identifying resources to meet your goals. Additional Career Planning Service is available to help you identify strategies for career planning and professional development. This service is available in each of the nine AHEC regions.
The initial hour of consultation is FREE. Use of the AHEC resource materials is FREE. Continued career planning consultation services is available at all AHEC offices for a fee of $20.00 per hour.

Group/Agency Consultation is also available from SR-AHEC. Programs may be scheduled for agencies on the following topics:

Career Opportunities in Nursing
Resume Writing
Interview Skills

AHEC Location Web Address Phone
Area L Rocky Mount www.arealahec.dst.nc.us 252-972-6958
Charlotte Charlotte www.cltahec.org/ 704-355-3129
Costal Wilmington www.med.inc.edu/coahec 910-343-2180
Eastern Greenville www.hsl.ecu.edu 252-816-2219
Greensboro Greensboro www.gahec.org 336-832-7484
Mountain Asheville www.mtn.ncahec.org 828-257-4444
Northwest Winston-Salem www.northwestahec.wfubme.edu 336-713-7119
Southern Regional Fayetteville www.southernregionalahec.org 910-678-7273
Wake Raleigh www.wakeahec.org 919-350-8529

VALUE SETS

The following are Value Sets that many nurse recruiters look for in job applicants:

MISSION:
Having a strong sense of purpose in life that is related to caring for people, helping them recover from illness and attain good health. A person who is altruistic, and is motivated to put the needs of others first.

RESPONSIVENESS:
The need for, and capacity to take pleasure from, the recovery of patients. A desire to receive feedback from patients, to be responsive to patients as a "whole" person. The capacity to identify and respond accurately to the feelings of other people.

RESPONSIBILITY:
Having a strong sense of ownership for patient care, and for the support work necessary for patient care.

RELATOR:
The capacity for developing positive, mutual interactions with other individuals and maintaining a separate awareness of each. Recognizing the uniqueness of each person and responding appropriately.

ASSERTIVENESS:
The capacity and willingness to be direct and open in relationships. Having the courage to confront unpleasant situations directly. The ability to give instructions in a manner that results in acceptance.

ORGANIZATION:
A style of working toward completion, perfection; could be observed as neatness, promptness, orderliness, etc.

WORK ETHIC:
The capacity for attention to work, having enough energy to exceed minimum work requirements; seeing oneself as significant as a result of good work and achievements.

CONCEPTUALIZATION:
The ability to give consistent and logical explanations for issues related to nursing.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER PRIOR TO CAREER CONSULTATION

Before you sit down with one of the AHEC Nurse Consultants, please review carefully the following questions. It will help in identifying where you are and where you want to be in Nursing or another field.

Your demographics: Educational Background: Years employed in Nursing: Area of Specialty:
What do you like MOST about nursing?
What do you like LEAST about nursing?
What would you most like to do?
Where do you want to practice nursing?
What would the ideal job look like to you?
What short-term, long-term goals in nursing have you set for yourself
What additional knowledge, skills, or experience do you think you need in order to meet your goals in nursing?
What do you consider to be your desires, resources and opportunity in selecting a new career in nursing?
How much time/money are you willing to invest in order to achieve a new job/title/career field?
Do you plan to remain in North Carolina after you complete your goals?
Do you want to work alone, for someone else or as a member of a team?
Do you want to be supervised or unsupervised?
Complete the following statement: I want to (Passion, mission, or other compelling desire that's motivating you): so I will draw on my (gifts, talents, skills, experiences) of by (service you could offer to meet needs using the above)

MAJOR HEALTH CARE EMPLOYERS IN THE
SOUTHERN REGIONAL AHEC REGION

GENERAL NURSING CERTIFICATION INFORMATION
In 1974, the American Nurses Association (ANA) established a voluntary system for accreditation of continuing education in nursing. The essential purpose of this system is to provide professional nursing judgment on the quality of the continuing education offered. Accreditation is a peer review system based on designated standards and criteria for continuing education in nursing.

ANA's Center for Credentialing Services became the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) in January 1991. As a separately incorporated subsidiary of the association, ANCC administers the Credentialing programs of the ANA, which include both accreditation and certification and which are based on ANA's standards for nursing education, nursing practice and nursing service.

The ANCC Commission on Accreditation, utilizing the ANA's Standards for Continuing Education in Nursing, is responsible for developing and administering the operational policies, procedures, and criteria that govern the accreditation and approval processes. The commission defines accreditation as a voluntary process for appraising and granting recognition to an organization or institution that meets established standards based on predetermined criteria. There are two categories of accreditation available in the ANCC system, 1) accreditation as an approver of continuing education in nursing and 2) accreditation as a provider of continuing education in nursing. This directory lists all currently accredited organizations.

As a result of the changes in the accreditation program over the past several years, some organizations may still be using the accreditation statements given to them by the Commission on Accreditation's predecessor, the Board on Accreditation, or in a few instances a regional accrediting committee. While these organizations are working to implement the new terminology in their certificates and publicity materials, the Commission on Accreditation, the accrediting body, is responsible for all accredited organizations. The bylaws of the ANCC stipulate that an organization accredited by the ANA shall be deemed accredited by the ANCC. If there are any comments, complaints, or inquiries about accredited organizations, please contact the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

The American Nurses Credentialing Center Accreditation Program
600 Maryland Avenue, SW
Suite 1 00 West
Washington, DC 20024-2571
1-800-284-2378
www.anna.org/ancc

For information about other types of certifications see:
www.nursingcenter.com/career/norg.cfm?#22
www.nursingcenter.com/career/guide97/certification.cfm