“Always thank your nurse. Sometimes the only one between you and a hearse.” ~ Carrie Latet

International Nurses Day is a chance to commemorate nursing and the contribution that nurses make in improving the lives of individuals and their families. Not to mention the impact they have on the health and well-being of whole communities and the wider population.(http://www.florence-nightingale-foundation.org.uk/events-nurses-day.php)   The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has celebrated International Nurses day since 1965. This year’s theme is Closing the Gap: From Evidence to Action(http://momentchannel.com/category/nurses-day/)

 In January 1974, the decision was made to celebrate the day on 12 May as it is the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, who is widely considered the founder of modern nursing. Each year, ICN prepares and distributes the International Nurses’ Day Kit. The kit contains educational and public information materials, for use by nurses everywhere. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Nurses_Day#cite_note-1)

 CCM RECRUITMENT INTERNATIONAL wishes all the nurses across the globe a happy International Nurses Day on Saturday 12th May 2012!

 BENEFIT FROM CCM’s 25 YEAR

 EXPERIENCE IN GLOBAL NURSE RECRUITMENT…

EXPERT ADVICE SO YOU FIND YOUR IDEAL JOB, AND ADVENTURE, ABROAD

 JOIN CCM AND SEE THE WORLD!

 For more information regarding job opportunities please email info@ccmrecruitment.com 

The Festival of fires is a huge cultural celebration. The festival’s held on the Hill of Uisneach in Co. Westmeath once thought to be the exact centre of Ireland and known as the Naval of Ireland.  From the Hill of Uisneach it is said that you can see 20 of the thirty two counties in Ireland (on a clear day!).  It was from here the island was divided into its provinces. Located on the side of the hill is the Cat Stone called such because its meant to look like a cat teasing a mouse. Legend says that the Mother Goddess Eriu who gave her name to the island of Ireland (Eire) is buried underneath the cat stone. http://www.lookaroundireland.com/celticinteractive/uisneach.htm

Smaller events take place in all 32 counties with fires lit on hilltops at the very moment the Uisneach fire parade begins. A modern replay of what occurred on the Hill and across Ireland thousands of years ago to celebrate the beginning of summer, the feast of Bealtaine.

This unique festival village features several musical stages, food & drink villages, art installations, heritage trails & guest lectures, comedy, spoken word, debates, hundreds of horsemen & women, arts & crafts workshops to name a few of the attractions and entertainments that make up this festival. (http://www.discoverireland.ie/whats-on/festival-of-the-fires/80352)

http://www.festivalofthefires.com/wp-content/gallery/festival-of-the-fires-2010/001.jpg

 
If you are a healthcare worker, engineer and the thought of sampling the exotic delights of the UAE and if the flames of heat for , Dubai or Abu Dhabi, or jumping across the pond to the UK is something, that tickles your fancy visit www.ccmrecruitment.com or find us on facebook.

MY EXPERINCE IN “THE SAND PIT”

by Lisa Altmann

When I decided to pack up and travel to the Riyadh I’m sure some people questioned my sanity. Others thought I was off to Iraq (the only part of the Middle East that seemed to be headlining the news for all the wrong reasons) and one person who I held in high regard said: “why would you go to a country that deprives you of everything you have here”. These opinions and thoughts didn’t change my mind, in fact they only made me more determined to “prove everyone wrong”.  I was off on an adventure, having packed up my house in Sydney and driven literally across Australia to leave all of my belonging in Adelaide until my indefinite return.

Having researched and been told many things from CCM about Riyadh I was excited but apprehensive about my journey. I arrived safely and smoothly in Riyadh and was met by two lovely housemates who had even cooked me a roast dinner the night I arrived and made my room so that all I had to do was fall into bed with a full stomach after a long journey.

 Arriving in August (Ramadan and ridiculous heat), the months that followed were a whirlwind filled with excitement, apprehension, adapting to a new place and a completely different way of life. Yes there were many frustrations adjusting to the weather, wearing the Abaya, catching Taxis, learning Arabic, working in a new environment and living on the other side of the world, but looking back these were all part of the challenge and most of these experiences I wouldn’t change. In fact many I now look back and laugh at. I now love wearing my abaya with my trackies underneath.  Just put on a nice pair of heels and no-one knows the difference! No need to match clothes or decide what to wear.

There are times I look around and say to myself “I live in one of the strangest places in the world… why the hell am I here?” There are days when I walk the shopping malls and think to myself “no-one would seriously believe the stories or the lifestyle unless you had physically been here and lived it”. On other days, I sit and laugh and reflect on how far I’ve come, how much I’ve learnt and the friendships I’ve made.

I came to Riyadh for an adventure. To travel the world. To experience something different. I have done all of these things and have learnt that I am stronger and more resilient than I thought. At work I have been given the opportunity to see and do things that I wouldn’t have done in Australia. I have been challenged on a regular basis and have just moved into a new role which wouldn’t have been possible had I still been in Australia.

Riyadh has given me the opportunity to broaden my nursing skills and knowledge, experience a different culture, travel internationally and to discover that life is what you make it. Whether it be shopping, eating out or a lazy Friday afternoon (equivalent to the Aussie Sunday) by the pool having a BBQ , location doesn’t matter it’s the company you have and the experiences that make the adventure!

Sidra Medical and Research Center will be an ultra modern, all-digital academic medical centre that is being designed and planned to the best international standards in sciences. It will offer specialty care for women and children.

Sidra will focus on three main areas:

World Class Patient Care
Biomedical Research
Medical Education

As part of a collaborative effort entitled “one program in multiple institutions,” Sidra will work closely with Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar and Hamad Medical Corporation concerning all three areas, raising the standard of health care throughout the country and providing valuable opportunities for research and learning.
 
First announced in June 2004, Sidra represents the vision of His Highness the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser.  The high tech facility will not only provide world-class patient care but will help build Qatar’s scientific expertise and resources. Sidra will be funded by a US$7.9 billion endowment from Qatar Foundation, the largest endowment of a medical and research centre anywhere in the world.
 
Located in Doha on Qatar Foundation’s 2,500-acre Education City campus, it is expected to open in 2013.  It will initially have 388 beds with infrastructure to enable expansion to 550 beds in a subsequent phase.

Sidra Medical and Research Center will be a beacon of learning, discovery and exceptional care, ranked among the top academic medical centres in the world.

Sidra Medical and Research Center will provide patients with world-class healthcare services in an innovative and ultra modern facility specially designed to promote healing. In particular, it will initially address the growing need for more comprehensive patient-focused medical services for women and children in Qatar and throughout the region. In collaboration with the premier medical school in Education City, leading research institutions worldwide, and Qatar’s health sector, Sidra will provide a diversity and quality of care conducive to training medical students and highly skilled clinicians and will be a pioneer in clinical and translational biomedical research of value to the population of Qatar and the world.
 

 QATAR:

Qatar is located on a small peninsula on the western shore of the Arabian Gulf, which covers approximately 4,247 square miles. Neighbouring countries include Bahrain to the northwest, Iran to the northeast, and the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to the south.

 Climate: Qatar has a desert climate of hot summer and relatively warm winter. In summer, the temperature ranges between 25 and 46 degrees centigrade. Rainfall in winter is minimal and on average does not exceed 75.2 mm per year.

Capital City: Doha is the capital city, the seat of government and the location of the main commercial and financial institutions. Situated halfway along the East Coast of the peninsula, the city is an important cultural and commercial centre with a vast commercial seaport and a modern international airport that link the country to the rest of the world. More than half of the population lives in Doha.

 The People: The people of Qatar are the descendants of Arabian lines of kinship. This relation resulted from the close proximity of their country to the Arabian Peninsula, and the deep-rooted historical and cultural background they share with the people of Arabia. In addition, the composition of the present population was formed by a major migration from the neighbouring areas of Najd, al-lhsa and the Omani mainland in 17th to 18th centuries AD.

Religion and Language: Islam is the official religion of the state and Shari’a (Islamic law) is the main source of legislation. Arabic is the official language. English is widely spoken.

Traditonal Souk

 Shop in the traditional souks/markets; bargain your way to owning exotic spices, jewelry, carpets etc or shop till you drop in the ultra modern, sleek malls of Doha, explore the city’s past.

Whether its sports, adventure or taking it easy, Doha has something for everyone

Middle East offers you such benefits as:
• Generous tax-free salary
• Free furnished housing provided (including all maintenance, free internet and all utilities except international and
mobile phone calls)
• Transport allowance
• Mobile/phone allowance
• Mobilization flights organized and paid for by Sidra
• Relocation allowance
• Annual airfare allowance (Cash in lieu of Economy Class return airfare to home)
• End of Service Gratuity (One month’s basic salary for each completed year of service)
• 40 days leave
• Plus Lots more!

SIDRA has an excellent accommodation with recreation facilities for its employees. International employees are housed in villas, apartments and housing units.

For more information on Sidra and working in the UAE please call 00353 1 83 66092.

Written By Karen Cague, RN

What a great privilege it is to live and work in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This culturally mysterious Muslim society is steeped in tradition but defined by paradox. The fabulously wealthy royals, oil wells, and modern technology, alongside fundamentalist clerics,  whose ideals date back 1400 years to the Prophet Mohammed.

Nursing in the Middle East is an experience not to be missed!

Living and working with a bunch of like minded people from all over the world is fantastic. Most of the nurses here are on a mission to either expand their knowledge, save money, or to travel. The most dedicated can do all three!

Patient care is both challenging and rewarding. The people of Saudi Arabia have health conditions and co – morbidities rarely seen in the western world.

Geographically Saudi Arabia is perfectly positioned for travel.  My first holiday after 3 months in the Kingdom is a 14 day tour of India.  To see the Taj Mahal is a lifelong dream, and easily affordable when earning tax free dollars in the Kingdom. I am already planning my next trip to Greece and the Greek Islands in September.

The food and the shopping here in the Kingdom are amazing. There are the most delectable sweets, pastries, and breads (definitely not for the diet conscious) as well as the very latest in designer clothes, and exotic jewellery. Even the humble abaya can be a fashion statement!

To all of those nurses looking to revive their career, meet new people, and have a life changing experience, come to the Middle East, there is no other place like it!

Under the direction and guidance of Raquel from CCM my transition from the west to the east was seamless. Every detail was taken care of by CCM.  All I had to do was pack my bags!

In 1825, the Eustace family opened a hospital on the present site in Whitehall.  For the past 187 years, the family has been deeply involved in the care of people with mental health and Alzheimer-related illnesses. Current family members working in the hospital represent the sixth generation of continuous involvement by the family. (www.highfieldhealthcare.ie)

Highfield’s philosophy is a simple one; to provide a strong caring environment and a dedication to meet the needs of all individuals within their care. They have continuously sought to modernise and upgrade its facilities.  Highfield Healthcare opened Ireland’s first dedicated Alzheimer Centre for residential care in 1991. They now run parallel services which provide critical support in all aspects of residential, day and respite care, out-patient and domiciliary assessment, information help-lines and support groups. (www.highfieldhealthcare.ie) And continue to grow.

 16th April 2012 Highfield Healthcare 200 bed facility was officially opened by Minister for Health Dr. James Reilly. The €35 million purpose built mental health and elderly care unit is located adjacent to the existing hospital on theSwords Road,Whitehall, Dublin 9. The facility will be a mix of 100 mental health beds and 90 nursing home beds. There will also be 10 beds provided for Acute Adult Psychiatric care.

Clinical Director Dr. Denis Eustace said “This new hospital will provide three specialist care facilities.  There will be a 100 bed Mental Health facility, a 10-bed Acute Psychiatric Unit and a 90 bed Nursing Home with dementia specific units for older people” he went on to say “We are now in a position to provide beds for the H.S.E. and all three private insurers and we are very pleased to be in a position to offer a fully modern facility, together with a care staff that operates to the highest professional standards”

RMN’S REQUIRED

• 1+ YEARS EXPERIENCE
• ABA REGISTERED

BENEFITS INCLUDE
• Subsidised Meals
• Free Parking
• Sports & Social Club
• Discounted Health Insurance
• PRSA’s or Pension
• Sick Leave Scheme
• Financial Support for career training and development

For more information regarding job opportunities please email breda.lanigan@ccmrecruitment.com or call 00353 1 8366092.

Fracking is seen as a controversial way of extracting gas or oil from the ground and could be used in UK/IRE.

It is a process where rock deep underground is split or fractured by forcing liquid into it to release oil or gas. A report on Tuesday confirmed minor earthquakes near Blackpool were caused by a fracking operation.

Although the earthquakes are tiny and unlikely to cause any damage on the surface, the report does make some recommendations that could further mitigate the risk.

These include setting an earthquake level so low that it would be unlikely to be detected on the surface.

If a fracking process causes more powerful tremors then it must be stopped immediately.

Effectively, the report suggests fracking could go head but with much tighter controls and safety levels.

But the measures are unlike to be accepted by lobby groups who have been demanding a total ban on any fracking operations in UK/IRE.

A comparison of indexed oil prices during the 50 months subsequent to peak employment reveals that oil is currently trading within the band of price movements seen over the prior four employment cycles (i.e. 1974 to 1976, 1981 to 1983, 1990 to 1993, and 2001 to 2005). We used 50 months because that is how much time has elapsed since the most recent employment peak of January 2008. America still needs another 5 million jobs before it surpasses this prior peak. As the red line in the graph above denotes how oil prices are tracking to the previous cycle, and considering America’s thirst for crude, the likelihood for oil prices to meander closer toward the upper-end of the band appears plausible as the country continues to recover.

In absolute terms, peak to trough reductions averaged 2.3 million workers in past cycles. During the recent downturn, which started in January 2008, 8.8 million employees were cut from the count by February 2010. Despite adding nearly 3.5 million jobs since the trough, hiring needs to increase by another 5.3 million before the country surpasses its previous peak in employment levels.

We have all heard that at the current pace of monthly employment gains it will take several more years to fully recover. While this may be true, what gets missed is that after 24 months of expanding employment, February’s non-farm employment was 2.7 percent higher than trough levels. The previous two employment cycles only needed gains of 1.6 percent and 2.2 percent, respectively, to return to full recovery.

Without getting into a history lesson, most comparisons between the current economic situation (while sub-par) and the Great Depression are more hyperbole than factually justified. Non-farm employment dropped by 7.6 million from 1929 until 1933. According to the 1930 Census, the labor force in total was 44.9 million. Combined, these figures suggest that the initial employment drop during the Great Depression was three times the magnitude of what we recently faced.

Employment did not fully recover until America entered World War II (in 1941), or roughly 12 years after the stock market crash. If the employment situation continues to recover at its current pace, the span from prior to peak to when employment surpasses those levels could be around 2015 or almost 7 years. Conversely, three of the past four employment cycles took less than 3 years on average to fully recover.

Recently CCM Recruitment International visitedSurrey and Sussex NHS Trust,

We received a very warm welcome from Senior Management on down to the Nursing staff,

Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (SASH) was formed on 1st April 1998 following the merger ofCrawley, Horsham and East Surrey NHS Trusts. A growing population of 420,000 residents of east Surrey and north-eastWest Sussexare served by the Trust.

3,300 people work for SASH. The major site is EastSurreyHospital. SASH also provides a range of services at Crawley, Oxted Health Centre, Dorking, Caterham Dene and Horsham hospitals in partnership with the Primary Care Trusts that own and manage those sites. East Surrey Hospital is the designated hospital for both GatwickAirport and the M25.

Each year:

• About 28,500 operations are carried out
• Over 4,300 babies are born atEastSurreyHospital;
• 224,000 outpatient consultations take place;
• About 180,000 Diagnostic Imaging examinations are provided

The Cancer unit had nearly 6,000 referrals in 2008. This is a higher rate of referral than any other acute hospital in Surrey.

A groundbreaking surgical procedure, the first in Europe, to operate through a tiny incision in the belly-button was performed at East Surrey Hospital.

The Maternity unit provides care for each stage of pregnancy.East Surrey Hospital has a dedicated Birthing Unit, with three birthing rooms and a birthing pool room.

Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (SASH) provides a comprehensive range of emergency and non-emergency services.

Their catchment area spans east Surrey, the north-east ofWest Sussex and south Croydon

CCM met with Irish nurses that they have been placing there since 2008, The Nurses are very happy and have settled in well, Quote ‘We are getting fantastic experience and we are well supported’

IF you are interested in applying for a position atSurreyand Sussex NHS Trust  please contact breda.lanigan@ccmrecruitment.com or call 00 353 1 8366092