When performing comprehensive health assessments, it is best to use a consistent approach, although there is no one correct order in which the assessment must be performed. However, by adhering to a predetermined and consistent sequence, the examiner is less likely to omit an important measure. For example, when gathering a sociocultural history, you can develop your own routine to ensure accuracy. When taking a socioculural history, it’s important to...  Read More »

They come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors. Some are big, some are small, some are purple, and some are green. To Lynda Nauright, EdD, RN, a professor at Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing in Atlanta, every strand of Mardi Gras beads is worth the same thing–a nursing book. “It’s been a busy time for the bead trade,” Nauright says with a laugh about Mardi Gras season. “There have been a lot...  Read More »

People have brought the nursing shortage into the spotlight in many different ways. Some groups and organizations have done studies, while some states have established task forces. Articles have been published, seminars have been held, and sessions have been taught. Patrick Hickey, RN, BSN, MS, MSN, Dr. P.H., CNOR, an assistant clinical professor at the University of South Carolina, is taking a different route. He’s going to the top of the world. “What...  Read More »

Some patients are more sensitive to intravenous medications than others. When given IV injections, these patients suffer greater discomfort, or pain, at the injection site as the medication is infused into their veins. For such patients, diluting the drug (making it less concentrated) often increases their comfort. Source: Stressed Out About Drug Math, HCPro, Inc., 2006. For more information on our series of Stressed Out books, visit www.stressedoutnurses.com   Read More »

The goal, of course, is to document perfectly every time. In an ideal nursing world, every patient’s chart would be an unblemished work of art. But, this is reality. As nurses, and as humans, we are prone to make mistakes. So what do we do when this happens? What are the appropriate steps to fix a charting error? Medical records, in hard copy or computer/digital form, are legal documents providing proof of the care patients received and their responses...  Read More »

Many nursing schools grow in baby steps, adding a classroom here and a new lab there. Middle Tennessee State University just took one giant leap. A $5.5 million expansion to the Cason-Kennedy Nursing Building, located in Murfreesboro, recently doubled the size of the facilities at the school and makes room for 64 new students. A 20-bed lab that mirrors a surgical floor is one of the highlights. Offices, classrooms, and new labs were also created during the...  Read More »

Becoming a nurse can be a lonely existence. Long hours of studying, sleepless nights worrying about that nagging multiple choice question, and trying to balance some semblance of a social life can be a tall task. Need some solace? Everyone is in it together. Everyone has a class they just hate. Everyone has mixed emotions about graduation day. Everyone has their own special reason for wanting to be a nurse. A second-year student from Virginia shares hers ....  Read More »

It can be easy to lose focus of why you became a nurse. Passing the boards, commuting to work, dealing with difficult patients, fitting in with coworker cliques, and struggling through exhausting days can drain anyone. Then your personal life, with your family, your car troubles, and that ever-expanding credit card bill, pile on to the mountain of stress. Simply put, life gets in the way. But what if there was a way to get that focus back? What if there was...  Read More »

As more and more ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®-designated hospitals sprout up throughout the nation, many facilities are asking themselves whether they should join the journey. For many, the decision may seem like a no-brainer, as proponents of the program tout better patient outcomes, higher percentages of certified and bachelor’s degree-prepared nurses, and reduced turnover as just a few of the benefits of designation. But while designation...  Read More »

If you find yourself in a contentious situation, try defusing the situation with some of the following techniques: Maintain an open and empathetic tone of voice Maintain eye contact (unless this would be perceived as culturally insensitive) Maintain an open body stance. Do not cross your arms. Listen and do not interrupt Avoid being defensive Use “I” messages, such as “I thought that . . .” or “I believe . . .” Source:...  Read More »