The reality is that we have operated for years in an environment where people were punished or looked down upon for making errors. Such negative energy around mistakes has decreased our sense of self-esteem. Therefore, many nurses find it hard to receive feedback and even harder to give feedback directly to the person involved. The culture is changing, however, and your response to mistakes in the workplace is critical to creating a safer...  Read More »

The reality is that we have operated for years in an environment where people were punished or looked down upon for making errors. Such negative energy around mistakes has decreased our sense of self-esteem. Therefore, many nurses find it hard to receive feedback and even harder to give feedback directly to the person involved. The culture is changing, however, and your response to mistakes in the workplace is critical to creating a safer...  Read More »

Can writing really reduce stress? A nursing researcher from the University of Iowa is hoping to find out. Howard Butcher, an associate professor of nursing at the school, is conducting a study to see if adults over the age of 55 can use writing to manage stress. The study, which will take a close look at the effect of writing, will focus on individuals who care for cancer patients in their own families. Participants will be asked to write...  Read More »

Can writing really reduce stress? A nursing researcher from the University of Iowa is hoping to find out. Howard Butcher, an associate professor of nursing at the school, is conducting a study to see if adults over the age of 55 can use writing to manage stress. The study, which will take a close look at the effect of writing, will focus on individuals who care for cancer patients in their own families. Participants will be asked to write...  Read More »

Editor’s note: Author Kathleen Bartholomew will be speaking at the 26th annual NSNA MidYear Conference in November in Reno, NV. Until then, we’ll occasionally be featuring excerpts from some of Bartholomew’s captivating and influential publications. Here’s one from Stressed Out About Communication Skills: Of all the professions on the planet, those of us in nursing have the honor of dealing with the most challenging...  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...  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...  Read More »