The University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma City Community College are hoping to lighten the financial burden for nursing students in the state. The two schools have combined on a partnership that will allow nursing students to spend an extra year at the community college. This will allow the students to pay less money for tuition during the third year of schooling, while still earning credit at the University of Oklahoma (OU). Then, for the fourth year, students...  Read More »

As graduation time nears and decisions about what jobs to take loom on the horizon, it’s helpful to know what matters to nursing students. Money? Sure. Location? Of course. But what is No. 1 on the list? Positive working conditions, according to a recent survey of 1,626 nursing students by AMN Healthcare. Having low nurse-patient ratios was second on the list, while favorable work hours, pay rates, and geographic location rounded out the top five. AMN...  Read More »

Persons with diabetes require special medications, treatments, and lifestyle changes to live normal lives. Because diabetics cannot secrete insulin themselves, or use the insulin they secrete properly, they need daily medications to lower their blood sugar and allow glucose to be absorbed by the body. Insulin is one of the medications most commonly prescribed for diabetic patients. Insulin is measured in units, as with heparin. When you are drawing up insulin,...  Read More »

Roll out the red carpet. Cut the ribbon, pop the cork, and put on your best outfit. It’s time for the premiere of the new book in our series, Stressed Out About Drug Interactions. In this informative and entertaining publication, author Sheri Lynn Jacobson, MS, APRN, takes readers on a journey through the complicated world of drug interactions and provides tips and tools to help nurses like you deliver safe patient care every time. Hot off the presses,...  Read More »

In classic Texas style, officials are making big changes to curb the growing nursing shortage in the state. The Nursing Shortage Reduction Act, which was proposed in February, seeks to double the number of nursing students in the state from 5,000 to 10,000. The bill, which has drawn support from groups across the state, would also encourage nurses to work as instructors, providing financial assistance to Master’s and doctoral candidates. Hospitals,...  Read More »

Phew! I just flew in from the annual convention in Anaheim, CA . . . and boy, are my arms tired! Wow, that was bad. See, I am tired. Anyway, after enjoying a few days over on the other side of the country, I’ve decided to evaluate the trip. What were the best parts? What parts had me wishing I was back home in rainy, windy (and snowy) New England? Check out the best and worst of the National Student Nurse Association Conference. Before we begin, let’s...  Read More »

To make some new friends and get my anxious face out there a little bit more, I (it’s me, Fran) looked into setting up pages on both MySpace and Facebook. I did a little research, asked a few friends I already had, and decided to put myself on both social networks that help this computer generation stay in touch. I put up some of my favorite pictures, wrote down some of my interests, and decided the whole process was pretty easy. But then something hit...  Read More »

Don’t let Hollywood fool you; making a movie is hard work. Fran, the Stressed Out nurse, recently made her cinematic debut. Maybe you’ve seen it? If not, click the link at the bottom of this story and get ready to chuckle. Anyway, we were able to negotiate with Fran’s “people” and get a quick interview with the new star. Because of Fran’s busy schedule, we only got a few minutes of her time. Luckily, she’s always pretty...  Read More »

The reason critical thinking is so important in nursing is based on what nursing does as a profession. Because we deal with people, there is much we must take into consideration and there are direct consequences to our nursing actions. Here are some strategies for you to use to improve your critical thinking: Clarify your own thinking. Summarize in your own words what others have said. Stick to the point. Look out for fragmented thinking, or thinking that...  Read More »

Need a quick review of last week’s lecture from your advanced health assessment class? Just get out your iPod. Sound far fetched? It’s not. Some schools, including Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, TX, have started using iPods and podcasts to teach nursing students. Graduate students in some of the classes taught by Anne-Marie Williamson, MSN, FNPC, are experiencing a whole new world of learning thanks to a one-year pilot educational...  Read More »