For many, summer officially comes to an end when Labor Day Weekend hits. Cooler temperatures, the start of football, and fall fashion drift into people’s lives and people’s minds. And, of course, it’s time for class. It’s time to sharpen the pencils, get out your old pharmacology book, and head across the quad for your 8:30 lesson with that professor who scares everyone. We’re here to ease the transition back to the daily grind...  Read More »

Let’s face it: Nurses can be pretty tough on physicians. They often paint physicians as self-centered, egotistical, golf-loving know-it-alls who care more about their new toy in the parking lot than the patient down the hall with a cough. Of course, there are two sides to every story. Physicians spend half of their 20s cooped up studying. Physicians work long, hard hours. Physicians hurt, too. Let’s take a closer look. Physician morale has decreased...  Read More »

If you are the type of person who does not like to talk about themselves, you need to read this! You have skills and accomplishments. The interviewer will almost always ask you to talk about an accomplishment or something of which you are proud. Look at the achievements and successes that have helped you define your skills and traits. Those are the important qualities for which a potential employer is looking. The following exercise, called SOAR, will help...  Read More »

Patients with addictive behaviors, whether it is problem drinking, drug addiction, or any other kind of addiction, can be quite persuasive in their arguments. They might try to pin you down, often turning the conversation around to you rather than dealing with the addictive behavior. As a nurse, you need to avoid the common pitfalls. An excerpt from Stressed Out About Difficult Patients, the newest book in the series, provides some quick tips. Having pat answers...  Read More »

The national nursing shortage is attracting so much attention that states are now working together to help control the numbers. The University of Oklahoma College of Nursing recently launched a 14-month accelerated bachelor’s degree program that will allow students from California (where the shortage is severe) to earn RN certification without leaving the west coast. The program is aimed primarily at students who already have bachelor’s degrees...  Read More »

All of us have felt sad and blue at one time or another in our lives. It can be a normal reaction to the stresses of life. It certainly is an expected reaction to loss, such as the death of a loved one. However, if the condition lasts for a long period and interferes with a person’s well-being and ability to care for him or herself, it is more likely a treatable physical condition: depression. Nurses rally around a particular patient or coworker who...  Read More »

Patients with addictive behaviors, whether it is problem drinking, drug addiction, or any other kind of addiction, can be quite persuasive in their arguments. They might try to pin you down, often turning the conversation around to you rather than dealing with the addictive behavior. As a nurse, you need to avoid the common pitfalls. Having pat answers to some of their statements can help. For example: “I need alcohol (cigarettes, drugs, to shop, etc.)...  Read More »

“Sir, now is not the time to update your E-Harmony profile!” And the winner is . . . (drum roll, please) . . . Bethany Rouse! Congratulations, Bethany! Thanks to everyone who submitted a caption. They were all hilarious! And, we’ll be back next week with a brand new cartoon! Will YOU be the next winner?   Read More »

Yoga, tai chi, and breathing exercises are linked in that they focus on relieving the body of stress and increasing mindfulness. Another way of doing this is through meditation. Studies of meditation in college students reveal that those who meditate get better grades, increase their IQ, improve their memory, learn quickly, and expand the amount of their brain that is responding to stimuli. Try this meditation technique: Get in a comfortable position, in...  Read More »

One of the best parts of going to any conference is exploring a new place. Sure, you meet people, get free stuff, and learn a few things, but getting a taste of life in other parts of the country unquestionably stands out as one of the highlights. In the past two years, the National Student Nurses Association (NSNA) has taken its members to Atlanta, Anaheim, and this fall, will take them to Kansas City. Next March? Thousands will converge on a place called...  Read More »