Q: Have you ever made a mistake or been involved in an accident at work? How did you tell your manager? A: Just the other day, I was involved in an incident that is going to cause me a couple months of headaches. Thankfully, no one was hurt (although maybe my feelings a little). It was a simple blood transfusion. I have given blood to hundreds of patients before and this time was no different. It was me and another nurse (you need two nurses...  Read More »

“Dear Deanna: My Nurse Manager is so unapproachable that she scares me. We never know what she is thinking or if she even likes the nurses that work our unit. What can we do?” Being a Nurse Manager is not the easiest position in our profession. You must first remember that your Nurse Manager is trying to make two groups of individuals happy. First there is the staff that she manages and then there are the administrators to which...  Read More »

Tip #1: Know the numbers You have accepted your first nursing position and will begin your orientation tomorrow. The first few days are very similar regardless of what facility you have chosen. Fire Safety, HIPAA, and an array of educational modules will be presented to you. Your head will be spinning with paperwork and introductions. Once you get through the Human Resources pitch and all of the other regulatory mandates, you will finally...  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 »

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 »

“Bullies scan groups for the weakest. Maybe it is an evolutionary remnant of our place in the animal kingdom. All predatory species select and attack the weakest pray.” - The Bully at Work Whether a new hire, a transfer from another department, or a new resident nurse, any member introduced into a powerless group is at high risk for experiencing horizontal hostility. Horizontal hostility is used to break nurses into the group...  Read More »

Happy Nurses’ Week! In any given year, nurses will have their share of bad days. This stress can affect their attitudes, their performance, and your ability to retain them. Take a look at some of these creative ideas below used in Nurses’ Week past. Incorporate them as last-minute ideas this year or stash them away for the future. Hot off the press Jennifer Clarke, director of education at Madison County Hospital in London, OH,...  Read More »