Independence Plus Blog
Join our Home Nursing Residency, with cohorts beginning the first Monday of each month in 2018!
Independence Plus, Inc. (IPI) is not just a staffing or equipment agency. Our niche is that we serve people with complex medical and respiratory needs at home, where they want to be. One aspect of our company that makes us very proud is our commitment to hiring newly-graduated nurses. If you like the idea of working in home healthcare while making a huge impact on patients and their families, IPI may be the place for you.
Someone You Should Know: IPI’s Talent Acquisition Manager, Sam
Independence Plus, Inc. (IPI) is unique in the home healthcare field because we specialize in providing home care for medically complex, ventilator-dependent adult and pediatric patients. Our entire company takes pride in the challenging role our nurses fulfill. At hire, IPI nurses are trained by immersion in days of hands-on training and education program designed to prepare them to provide the best possible care for our patients. IPI is always searching for great RNs and LPNs who want to join our team, and leading our recruiting effort is our Talent Acquisition Manager, Sam.
Retiring for a second time!
Juanita C., BSN, MS, became a nurse in 1972. It was the only thing she ever wanted to do. From stints in trauma and neurosurgery, to more than 30 years at a children’s hospital, her career was full. She retired for the first time in 2012, but wasn’t quite ready to hang up her stethoscope. After working for the past several years with Independence Plus, Inc.’s pediatric patients, Juanita is finally settling in to retirement for the second time. We sat down with her to talk about her 45 years in nursing, what she has learned from working in home healthcare, and her plans for the future.
Now hiring new grad nurses!
2018 is just around the corner and at Independence Plus, Inc. (IPI) we are kicking off the New Year with two Cohorts for our Home Nursing Residency, a unique employment opportunity for RN’s and LPN’s with less than one year of experience. If you fit the bill and are available to begin work on Monday, January 9th or Monday, February 5th, we welcome you to apply for our Residency. This program will prepare you to be a trained specialist in caring for our medically complex, ventilator-dependent patients at home, where they want to be.
Learning from the best: world-class cardiopulmonary care expert visits IPI
Over the course of Independence Plus, Inc.’s over 30 years in business, we have provided the best home care possible to medically complex, ventilator-dependent adult and pediatric patients. One of the things that make us incredibly proud is our dedication to ongoing clinical training and education. Recently, we were thrilled to welcome world-class cardiopulmonary care expert Adel Bougatef, MD PhD, to our Oak Brook office to share his vast clinical and scientific knowledge with our nurses and respiratory therapists. Dr. Bougatef, a neonatologist, professor, and researcher who has worked at various international medical institutions gave a lecture titled, “Mechanical Ventilation: Non-conventional Approach to the Treatment of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).”
ModoSpira: Offering hope and a brighter future to those suffering with COPD
For more than 30 years, Independence Plus, Inc. (IPI) has provided the best homecare to medically complex, ventilator-dependent patients. Over the years, many of those patients have been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a progressive condition that makes it difficult to breathe. An estimated 30 million individuals in the U.S. are affected by COPD, and over half of them suffer from symptoms and do not know they have the disease.
IPI’s Respiratory Therapy Team: 200+ Years of Experience
At Independence Plus, Inc. (IPI), we deliver the best possible care to help medically complex, ventilator-dependent adult and pediatric patients reach their full potential at home. An integral part of our team is our licensed Respiratory Care Practitioners (RCPs), whose combined 200+ years of experience managing complex respiratory equipment remains unsurpassed.
Supporting charity at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon!
At Independence Plus, Inc., we know Oto (Hadid) for his helpful attitude and his ability to work with our HME equipment and supplies. But now we have more reason to be proud of our colleague – for running the Bank of America Chicago Marathon to raise money for his church and for World Vision, an organization dedicated to bringing clean water to children in Africa. We sat down with him earlier this week to ask him a few questions about the motivation for his upcoming race.
Congratulations Erin!
Eighteen years and six months ago, Erin came home from the hospital for the first time. Independence Plus, Inc. (IPI) founder, Tami Müller, remembers Erin well. Tami spent several days on-site with Erin, her parents, and IPI nurses. Erin was able to be cared for at home, away from the hospital, and with IPI skilled home nursing care. Erin was born premature at 33 weeks, and after spending almost 12 months in the hospital, she was able to be home 18 days before her first birthday. She weighed less than 19 pounds, had a tracheostomy tube in place, and she required free-standing CPAP when exhausted and sleeping. Fast forward 18 plus years – prom and a high school graduation have never been sweeter!
Someone You Should Know: IPI’s Director of Clinical Services for Home Health and Home Nursing, David Miller, DNP, MSN, BSN, CNL, CRRN
Last week Independence Plus, Inc. (IPI) brought David Miller, DNP, MSN, BSN, CNL, CRRN, onboard as the company’s Director of Clinical Services for Home Health and Home Nursing. Celeste Clarke, PhD, LCSW, IPI’s Director of Human Resources, asked David some questions to help us all get to know him better.
Someone you should know: Danilo Coité, MD, IPI’s CEO
Just over a month ago Independence Plus, Inc. (IPI) brought Danilo Coité, MD, onboard as the company’s new CEO to help drive success and growth while continuing the mission and passion for providing complex patient care in the home. Dr. Coité brings a unique blend of medical and business expertise and looks forward to embarking on projects aimed at developing IPI’s brand and helping to establish new and innovative ideas to embrace opportunities that lie ahead. Earlier this week we asked him a few questions to allow all of us to get to know him better.
Are you up for the challenge of high acuity specialty home care?
For nearly 30 years, Independence Plus, Inc. has been providing people with complex medical and respiratory needs the opportunity to live fulfilling lives at home.
A new year and another opportunity for new grad nurses!
Happy New Year from all of us at Independence Plus, Inc. (IPI)! As we begin 2017 we are grateful for our patients and their families and we look forward to another year of providing people with complex medical and respiratory needs the opportunity to live fulfilling lives at home. One aspect of IPI that makes us very proud is our commitment to hiring newly-graduated nurses. We are kicking off the year with the 16th Cohort for our Home Nursing Residency, a unique employment opportunity for RN’s and LPN’s with less than one year of experience.
Leadership changes at Independence Plus, Inc.
Independence Plus, Inc. (IPI) is pleased to announce an executive leadership change that will help drive the success and growth of the company while continuing our mission and passion for providing complex patient care in the home. After 30 years at the helm of the company she founded, IPI’s President & CEO Tamara M. Müller will transition to a new role in order to dedicate more time to outside projects primarily related to chronic pulmonary disease management and innovative medical devices. She will remain IPI’s Chairman of the Board.
Giving Thanks for Family Caregivers
Family caregivers are an essential component of the work that Independence Plus, Inc. (IPI) does to provide the best possible care for our medically complex, ventilator-dependent patients. While their job is not always easy, the devotion they show can make a profound difference in the lives of their loved ones. Kayla and her husband Kevin are two such people. Their son KJ was born just shy of 26 gestational weeks. He spent a year and a half in the hospital, before coming home with IPI’s skilled hourly home nursing in May 2015.
![Tips and tricks to help nurses work a successful night shift [INFOGRAPHIC]](https://www.independenceplus.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/finalinfographic_square-400x250.jpg)
Tips and tricks to help nurses work a successful night shift [INFOGRAPHIC]
Whether you’re a night nurse by trade or pick up an overnight shift every now and then, check out our “Tips and Tricks” for surviving the night shift in home care.
Educating our nurses on cardiopulmonary dynamics and the principals and benefits of Percussive Ventilation
Almost three years ago Independence Plus, Inc (IPI) began an education and training initiative known as ‘IPI Connect’. Administrative and field clinicians are invited to monthly IPI Connect meetings to help build a more connected professional network for our clinicians and offer open discussions on topics directly related to the care we are responsible for delivering to our medically complex, ventilator-dependent adult and pediatric patients. To allow more of our nurses to participate, we are providing a wrap-up of each topic via our blog.
Preserving Your Moneymaker: Nurse Edition
A great friend of mine sent me a wonderful message attached with a photo titled “Anatomy of a Nurse.” It included “a mind that’s always assessing,” “warm heart,” “warped senses of humor,” “eyes that have seen it all.” It also included “aching back,” “empty stomach”, “full bladder,” “tired feet,” and “dry, chapped hands.” As I continued to read, although my friend was thoughtful with great intentions, the nurse in me said “wait a minute, that’s not a good anatomy.” It is not okay to be hungry, have back pain, nor a full bladder. We would not tell our patients that those things were “okay.” Most of us would use these as teaching opportunities and educate our patients on the risks and benefits, as well as alternatives to positive self-care. So why do we think it is acceptable for us?