Procrastination is defined as the avoidance of an action or task to . . . ah, let’s just finish the definition later. Let’s go see what’s on TV. Or maybe we could toss in a movie? Hmmm, I haven’t seen “American Beauty” in a long time. Kevin Spacey was great in that. So was Annette Bening. Oh, right, anyway, back to procrastination. Procrastination is defined as . . . Does this sound familiar? Does your mind wander? Do you...  Read More »

Understanding where your peers are coming from is critical. And awareness of your personal boundary line allows you to identify when someone has stepped over it–the moment you must say something. This honor code of communication will increase your sense of self esteem and confidence tremendously, while role modeling the behaviors that make a healthy work environment. Two other skills are critical to great peer communication: knowing your own story and...  Read More »

“Just say no to drugs.” And the winner is . . . (drum roll, please) . . . Linda Rowland! Congratulations, Linda! Thanks to everyone who submitted a caption. They were all fantastic! And, we’ll be back next week with a brand new cartoon! Will YOU be the next winner?   Read More »

We can learn a great deal from nurse leaders. Aside from clinical and managerial skills, those in leadership positions have been around the industry for years. They can provide a great deal of insight and perspective into some of the most important issues facing nurses today. So, we asked them to do that. Last year, HCPro put together a survey about everything from preceptors and staff meetings to technology and why nurses are leaving their jobs. After nearly...  Read More »

You know everyone talks about critical thinking, but you may be confused about what it actually means. Well, the good news is that critical thinking is so fundamental to nursing practice that nurses do it automatically. Critical thinking can be defined as an organized, cognitive process; a way of identifying underlying assumptions in a situation; and a method for exploring alternatives and selecting the best approach to a situation. Characteristics of a critical...  Read More »

We’ve all been there. You’re sitting on one side of a desk. Someone, who happens to be judging everything you do, is sitting on the other side. Thoughts are rushing through your head at dizzying speeds: “What are they thinking? Did they like that answer? Does my hair still look good? Should I check my breath?” Right up there with public speaking and snakes, interviewing is one of people’s biggest fears. But it doesn’t have...  Read More »

Mandatory overtime for nurses may soon be an idea of the past in New York. By a 137-2 vote, the state Assembly recently approved a bill banning mandatory overtime for nurses. The bill now goes to the Senate. If passed, the measure would not prevent nurses from voluntarily working overtime, but it would limit the number of consecutive hours a nurse could work. Proponents of the bill see it as a way to improve patient care and attract more professionals to...  Read More »

It’s quite possibly the most exciting non-holiday on the calendar: the first day of summer. Thursday, June 21 marked the official beginning of bathing suits, flip flops, backyard barbecues, and over-hyped movies. The pace of life, even here in the Northeast, slows down a little bit. We all have different things on our to-do lists this summer. Some of us might be getting in shape, some may be taking the vacation of a lifetime, and others could...  Read More »

It used to be that teaching a class meant standing in front of your students, lecturing from your handwritten notes while scribbling on a blackboard. Although that is still the preferred method of many educators, the benefits of teaching a course online are catching on. Online learning provides a high level of education on many topics,” says Pamela Jeffries, DNS, RN, FAAN, associate professor at the Indiana University School of Nursing in Indianapolis,...  Read More »

You will find nursing a rewarding profession, but it does have its sources of stress. The key is to get this stress under control from day one. Start out by identifying what areas of your work are causing you the most stress. Is it something you can change? If so, develop a plan and put it into action. There are various ways you can manage on-the-job stressors, such as: Avoiding the stressor (e.g., a nurse who is rude to you) Eliminating the stressor (e.g.,...  Read More »