As a nurse just entering the workforce, she provided insight on the fears, anxieties, and successes of her transition. Now, with a little experience under her nursing belt, our contributor Chelsea is starting a new column where she’ll be providing weekly insight to help new nurses get a glimpse into their futures and to help experienced RNs and managers learn about their newest generation of colleagues. Q: It seems like a lot of new nurses are asked to...  Read More »

The State University of New York (SUNY) New Paltz will say goodbye to 167 graduating nursing students over the next couple of years, and then, goodbye to its nursing program. Due to a $6 million deficit under the state’s recently-enacted budget, the university will phase out its nursing program by May 2011—when all currently enrolled students complete their course of studies. SUNY New Paltz announced it will also eliminate 70 jobs and delay admission...  Read More »

Ever seen the charts that say how much you should weigh based on your age and height? Much of the research on what is a healthy weight is based on self reported values. Studies show that most people underreport their weight by 10 to 20 lbs. The first weight charts came out of telephone surveys done by insurance companies collecting data on health risk related to weight. Body mass index (BMI) has become the gold standard for determining healthy weights because...  Read More »

Relaxation breathing can help people to deal with and reduce stress, anxiety, and pain. It can be used in conjunction with other therapeutic techniques such as guided imagery and meditation. Relaxation breathing is a simple technique that you can initiate in times of stress or immediately following a stressful event such as a cardiac arrest or death of a patient. According to the Nurses Handbook of Alternative & Complementary Therapies, the following are...  Read More »

Florence Nightingale is regarded as the founder of modern nursing. She helped establish the profession in its modern form and became a personal hero to nurses of all ages. Her pioneering work during the Crimean War led her to understand that keeping hospitals clean and free from infections improved patient outcomes. Her lifelong devotion to nursing—and her tireless efforts to reform military hospitals—forever changed patient care. Nightingale is on our...  Read More »