Community

One Year Later: My First Year in Nursing

Community, Education, General, Our People

October 14th marked the first anniversary of me working as a Registered Nurse. Time has surely flown by and I can definitely say that I made the right career choice. When asked “do you like it?” I instantly smile, nod my head, and then I tell them, “I love it!” My first year as an RN has been eventful, emotional, and satisfying. I provided care for patients that passed away—expected and unexpected—and each death affected me in different ways. After one patient’s death, I was so devastated that I considered shifting paths in nursing. No longer wanting to build close relationships with patients, I solely wanted to provide care from a distance—health fairs, forums, and increased participation in health care reform. However, being personable and relationship-building is the reason why I wanted to become a nurse in the first place.

Someone You Should Know: Shineka, MHRM, IPI’s Scheduling Manager

Community, General, Our People

If you have been a patient, a patient’s family member, or an employee of Independence Plus, Inc. (IPI) in the past decade, you may already know Shineka. Although she spent her first 10 years at IPI working within payroll and benefits, for the last few years she’s also been assisting with our after-hours on-call scheduling. In May, she was promoted to Scheduling Manager, a challenging role that has her at the helm of a department that works 24/7 to ensure that the needs of our nurses and patients are met.

Annual Skills Competency Training: IPI’s Commitment to Ongoing Education

Community, Education, General, Our People

Education is at the forefront of everything we do at Independence Plus, Inc. (IPI). Upon hire, our nurses are immersed in a hands-on training and education program designed to prepare them to provide the best possible care for patients with complex medical and respiratory needs living at home. Once they are working in the field, the education keeps on going. Each fall, IPI nurses and clinical educators come together over the course of six days to take part in our Annual Skills Competency Training.

5 Keys of Effective Communication in the Workplace

Community, Education, Our People

Communication is inevitable. Why is miscommunication an ongoing issue–with your family, friends, co-workers, and even patients? Effective communication is necessary for healthy relationships and to function as an employee. Having a plethora of benefits, effective communication impacts our well-being, including our mental health. Consider the stressors that can result from mal and miscommunication.

Keeping José at home with his family

Community, General, Our People

Someone You Should Know: Bronwyn C., BSN, RN, IPI Clinical Transition Manager

Community, Education, General, Our People

At Independence Plus, Inc. (IPI), we expect the VERY best from our nurses, and that is exactly what we have found in Bronwyn C., BSN, RN. After starting as a Nurse Resident in IPI’s Home Nursing Residency program in late 2014, Bronwyn has continued to work as a nurse with our medically complex, ventilator-dependent patients. Now she has switched hats and taken on a new role with IPI, as our Clinical Transition Manager.

What Sets IPI Apart

Community, Education, General

The word “choice” is something we often hear in conversations and news about the ever-changing world of healthcare. “Choice” relates to types of care, clinicians, insurance, cost, and so on. When it comes to home healthcare, the most basic decision is which provider you choose.

IPI at AccessChicago 2016

Community, Events, General

Independence Plus, Inc. (IPI) was proud to take part in AccessChicago, an expo for people with disabilities, held earlier this week at Navy Pier. The event, put on by the Chicago Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD), showcases the latest state-of-the-art products and services for the disabled community.

Someone You Should Know: Shannon L., IPI Healthcare Recruiter

Community, General, Our People

One thing that makes Independence Plus, Inc. (IPI) unique is in the home health care field is that caring for our adult and pediatric patients is extremely challenging. Nurses hired at IPI are immersed in a hands-on training and education program designed to prepare them to provide the best possible care for patients with complex medical and respiratory needs living at home. IPI is always searching for great RNs and LPNs who want to join our team, and at the forefront of that effort is our new Healthcare Recruiter, Shannon L. Although she has only been on the job for a few days, Shannon has hit the ground running and will soon be attending career fairs, hosting college information sessions, and networking to help bring IPI the VERY best nurses who want to learn ICU skills while working in the home.

An exciting employment opportunity for new graduate nurses!

Community, Education, Events, General, Our People

“Once I emerged from the depths of futility, I viewed my diagnosis as an opportunity to spread awareness.”

Community, Education, Featured, General, Our People

Three years ago Eric Von Schaumburg was at that sweet spot in life. He was 29 years-old with an amazing job, a wonderful girlfriend, and a future as bright as one could hope for. Then in early summer of 2013 he received the shocking news that he has ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Faced with a devastating progressive neurodegenerative disease that has little treatment option and no cure, the Chicago man says he spent a short amount of time coming to terms with the battle ahead of him, and then quickly turned his focus to doing whatever he could to inspire others.

Fighting Like a Champion Against ALS

Community, Events, General, Our People

It’s the end of May and a time for graduation and life change for many high school and college students. It’s also a time for inspirational speeches. At Independence Plus, Inc., we were recently honored to hear a speech given by our patient Eric Von Schaumburg, who was diagnosed with ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) nearly three years ago at the age of 29. Since then, Eric and his family have become amazing advocates to raise awareness of this devastating progressive neurodegenerative disease.

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