Examiner.com highlighted an interesting study from the journal Stroke that showed nurse-led behavioral interventions helped reduce depression in stroke survivors. The intervention, called Living Well with Stroke, involves treating patients who suffer from depression as a result of a stroke with counseling sessions. Nurses specifically trained in stroke rehabilitation played an important role in the intervention, helping patients improve their mood by teaching...  Read More »

Three major nurses’ organizations will be combining to form a new organization newly named National Nurses United, reports the San Francisco Business Times. The California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, the United American Nurses, and the Massachusetts Nurses Association are merging to form a membership that will be 150,000 strong. A founding convention will be held in December in Scottsdale, AZ, according to the Times. Leaders...  Read More »

Will you get vaccinated against the H1N1 virus this fall? According to the UK’s Daily Mail, many National Health Service (NHS) nurses across the pond aren’t so keen on getting vaccinated. The recent article cites a Nursing Times magazine poll of 1,500 readers, which revealed that 30% of those polled said they would not be vaccinated, 33% might get vaccinated, and 37% would definitely get the vaccination. The most common explanation for refusing...  Read More »

A lot of different reasons bring people to the field of nursing, but for Angela Ronquillo, RN, it was an accident that brought her back to her passion for her career. Ronquillo was already a nurse when an accident left her immobile for months, reports The Times-Picayune, and this accident brought Ronquillo to a place where she was able to discover her true calling. Twelve years ago, Ronquillo suffered a debilitating back injury after a porch swing in which...  Read More »

Being a nurse in the emergency department (ED) unfortunately involves treating patients who have been victims of crimes. Caring for these patients can be difficult, but if you had the chance to help the authorities catch the perpetrator of the crime, would you? A new program led by William S. Smock, MS, MD, professor of emergency medicine at University Hospital and Louisville Metro Police surgeon in Louisville, KY, is teaching nurses how to collect forensic...  Read More »

The American Nurses Association’s Nurse’s Career Center has now joined the National Healthcare Career Network. The Network brings healthcare associations together to provide job placement and advancement opportunities, as well as career development tools, training, and possible scholarships. The network currently has more than 136 professional membership and trade organizations. If you’re in need of a nursing job, remember, we have a great...  Read More »

Many nurses think they don’t have time in their day to think about evidence-based practice (EBP). But EBP helps us provide high-quality patient care based on research and knowledge, rather than on traditions, myths, hunches, advice of colleagues, or outdated textbooks. EBP changes the familiar saying "this is the way we have always done it" to "show me the evidence." Why is EBP important to nursing practice? It: Produces better...  Read More »

Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas has ended its 20-year relationship with McDonald’s, the nation’s leading purveyor of fast food. It’s a move that has many cheering as healthcare professionals have long argued that the presence of fast food restaurants in hospitals undermines the organizations’ efforts to promote healthy eating. The McDonald’s franchise will be replaced by restaurants owned by Puente-Brancato Enterprises Inc.,...  Read More »

A survey of more than 75 hospitals in four states has shown there are still gaps in many hospitals’ response to the H1N1 pandemic response, according to the California Nurses Association/National Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC). Facilities in California, Illinois, Nevada, and Maine participated in the survey. Some of the findings include: At least one-third of hospitals have had infected patients Nurses or other healthcare workers in more than 12% of...  Read More »

We all try to shape up our physical appearance at one time or another. But we sometimes forget to think about the professional image that we present to the world. Our actions, appearance, voice inflection, and ability to convey empathy and concern all play a role in our image. There are four categories we can focus on when considering as image makeover: Professional work environment and interactions Appearance Collegiality/team member role Professional accountabilities Here...  Read More »