“Even the wall needs my support . . . “ And the winner is . . . (drum roll, please) . . . Elizabeth Nye! Congratulations, Elizabeth! 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 »

Our Preceptor Place columnist, Sarah Jane, has shared some captivating stories during the past few weeks. She gave us an inside look at her first experience as a preceptor, which included two memorable patients that changed a new graduate’s view of nursing. Today, Sarah Jane provides some sound advice for new nurses on how to get to know a preceptor. See what she has to say. First, I’d like to share an important piece of advice about the preceptor-new...  Read More »

We can expect many of our patients to be using complementary remedies, including herbs, vitamins, spices, or other “natural” substances. Some of our clients select their own remedies based on word of mouth from friends or relatives. Often people use them because lack of insurance or resources limits access to healthcare. Whatever the motivation, we need to know (to teach our patients): “Natural” isn’t synonymous with safe. Everything...  Read More »

As new generations of nurses enter the workforce, questions abound. What influences a new graduate’s job choice? How long do they expect to stay? Why do some of them want to leave? Professors Christine T. Kovner, PhD, RN, FAAN, and Carol S. Brewer, PhD, RN, are spearheading an in-depth study to find answers to some of these critical questions. And thanks to a recent $4.1 million grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the research is now funded...  Read More »

Long, physical days take a toll on a nurse’s body. Difficult patients and dealing with stress take a toll on a nurse’s mind. Combine the two, and it’s easy to see why more than one-third of baby boomer nurses plan to change their jobs in the next one to three years, according to a recent AMN Healthcare survey. The survey of 1,830 nurses ages 45-60 revealed that more than 33% are suffering from career burn out and plan to find a non-nursing...  Read More »

As new generations of nurses enter the workforce, questions abound. What influences a new graduate’s job choice? How long do they expect to stay? Why do some of them want to leave? Professors Christine T. Kovner, PhD, RN, FAAN, and Carol S. Brewer, PhD, RN, are spearheading an in-depth study to find answers to some of these critical questions. And thanks to a recent $4.1 million grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the research is now funded...  Read More »

By Charlene Gordon, RN Ever have a patient go bad and just wish at the end of the day you could get a chance to replay it and fix what went wrong? I just finished a three-day WMD (weapons of mass destruction) course that had a robot for a victim. And this guy was so real, it was scary. “The guy” was a mannequin that blinked, had pupils that were reactive to light, and emitted pulses from every place a real person would. He made different heart sounds...  Read More »

So you have your first job and are finally making your own money. But you are on the brink of drowning in student-loan and credit-card debt. What happened to the idea of earning money and spending it on fun things? Well, that idea is not completely out of reach-it just requires some planning. Practice the 3 Rs of money: reality, responsibility, and restraint. Reality: Recognize that unless you strike it rich, which is highly unlikely, you will have limited...  Read More »

For many nursing students, the last semester of college is a wonderful, memorable time. Classes are winding down, people start treating you like the adult you are, and free time and good friends are easy to find. Then a funny thing happens. Reality sets in. And you can spell reality with three letters: J-O-B. Our Last Semester columnist, Chelsea, gives us a glimpse into the anxiety. In the past few weeks of her clinical experience, Chelsea has been adjusting...  Read More »

A nursing faculty member from Indiana State University (ISU) was recently searching for some textbooks on eBay. She found what she needed-and something that shocked her. Carolyn Burns, an assistant professor of nursing at ISU, found test questions and answers that she would likely use on an exam for sale. She also found the teacher’s edition of certain textbooks. She reported the claim to eBay, which responded that their universe of products is too large...  Read More »