Adventures in Nursing Blog

Values are like fingerprints

Values are like fingerprints

Elvis Presley once said, “Values are like fingerprints, nobody’s are the same, but you leave them all over everything you do.” I can’t seem to find the context in which he said it, but I’m fascinated by it. Where was Elvis in his life when he said this, and to whom did he say it? It seems somewhat out of place for him, and for whatever reason it’s stuck with me for a few weeks now. 

Our industry is growing. Rapidly. Staffing Industry Analysts just published a study that stated the demand for RNs will increase 28% by 2030. There are a number of factors that play into the growth, but at its core it’s driven by baby boomers retiring and entering the healthcare system as they age. Additional, the number of full time RNs increased by 21% over the past 5 years. That number isn’t expected to grow, it might even shrink. That’s the root of the shortage. Demand increasing, supply not growing to match.

What does this have to do with what Elvis said? As demand increases, the number of companies in our industry will increase as well. This isn’t exclusive to what we do, this happens in every industry, every day, all across the world. I see it a lot on social media, newer travelers asking if anyone has heard of this new company or that new company. There are a lot of hungry recruiters out there ready to prove their worth. However, the proof isn’t in the referral bonus. The proof rests in the intangibles, the fingerprints. What does the company do when no one is looking? Do they walk the walk? Can you call and talk to their upper management or owners? If you ask a straightforward question, do you get a straightforward answer? Do you know where they came from or why they are in this industry? How much can you find out about them online?

The more questions you ask, the better off you’ll be. There are no stupid questions, everything is a learning experience. Look for the fingerprints. They shouldn’t be hard to find. Good or bad, they’ll be there. And when you find yourself in a facebook group and someone makes fun of you because you are asking questions, it might be time to find a different facebook group. It’s not your fault, you are learning. Keyboard courage is a real thing, and people will say some pretty mean stuff online. Ignore it. Don’t be afraid to leave a group if it has a reputation like that. Negativity has no place in the learning process.

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