You may not know everything about pharmacology. (In fact, it’s a safe bet that you probably will never know all there is to know.) But, by knowing where to turn to get information, you’ll be set up for a successful nursing career filled with safe practice. Let’s take a quick pharmacological tour. Pharmacists: This other group of professionals belonging to our healthcare provider team includes outstanding and willing information sources. Pharmacists...  Read More »

Time is winding down (doesn’t it just fly?) before graduation for our Last Semester columnist, Chelsea. In her last few installments, she has taken us through her search for a job and her thoughts after attending the National Student Nurses’ Association convention in Grapevine, TX. Today, she dives into her own personal nursing philosophy. How does it compare to yours? This past semester, we were given the task of defining our own nursing philosophy....  Read More »

“Looks like due to budget cutbacks, your needed in staffing today, sir . . .” And the winner is . . . (drum roll, please) . . . Kathy Garrison! Congratulations, Kathy! 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 »

Just like stress, there is no way to avoid conflict in our lives. It is a normal process of life. The causes of conflict stem from problems with communication, differences in what each person wants from a given situation, differences in how to get to an agreed outcome, and personality differences. Conflict resolution is the process of resolving a dispute or conflict. Successful conflict resolution occurs when each side’s needs and interests are addressed...  Read More »

After all the tears last Friday, I have come to the realization that I am not a nursing student anymore. What a weird feeling! This has been my identity for the past four years and, all of a sudden, I am without that title. I wouldn’t want to stay behind for another four years or anything, but I will miss nursing school. What am I going to do for the next four weeks? It’s time for me to really start my job search. Things have not been going exactly...  Read More »

Like here in the United States, the nursing shortage is spreading across Canada, and some residents are going to great lengths to lend a hand. Allan Muller, 61, an investment advisor in Calgary, is climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro—the highest peak in Africa—to support local nursing students. Friends and family are setting up a scholarship in his name to help single-parent nursing students at the University of Calgary. Muller has a history of supporting...  Read More »

“Healthcare professionals have estimated that more than 50% of their workday is spent dealing with conflict and that the majority of that is conflict with each other,” says Debra Gerardi, RN, MPH, JD. The chair of the Program on Healthcare Collaboration and Conflict Resolution at Creighton University in Omaha, NE, Gerardi says that in her experience, those conflicts affect everything from lengths of stay to staff retention. “Research repeatedly...  Read More »

While estimates of the number of students with mental health issues vary, there is no denying that action needs to be taken to reverse this upward trend. According to the American Psychiatric Associations, nearly 50% college students admit to being depressed, and 10% have contemplated suicide. According to the American College Health Association, 52% of students surveyed felt that things were hopeless, with 36% saying they have felt so depressed it was difficult...  Read More »

We are social creatures for the most part. Though hitting the books with someone doesn’t take the place of frequent, solitary study, it is a useful adjunct and can be a valuable strategy. The benefits include: Having someone to urge us on when we would just as soon put it off until tomorrow. Our partner(s) often give us a new perspective and prevent us from overlooking important information. Trying to explain something to someone else really helps us...  Read More »

Our Preceptor Place columnist, Sarah Jane, has given us some sound advice on how to get to know your preceptor. Today, she shows us the other side of the coin? What if you are the preceptor? How can you make a new nurse feel comfortable? When you are orienting new grads or nurses transferring from another unit, it is important to make them feel like they matter and count. Make them feel like you are glad to have them on your unit and that they will be a valuable...  Read More »