It’s easy to feel like you’re trapped in a bubble in nursing school. Long nights of studying, never-ending care plans, and the occasional boring lecture can make the outside world seem as far away as Mars. But more and more nursing schools are finding ways to give back to the communities around them. Caitlin Mulligan, a student at the University of Connecticut, filled us in on how some Huskies are doing it in their neighborhood. In recent weeks,...  Read More »

Effective time management will help you achieve your professional goals and meet your own needs. Managing your time is a necessity in nursing, as there are many demands on your time. Time management will also help you with organizational skills, make you feel like you have more control, and reduce wasted time. The following are some time-management tricks you can incorporate into your work style: Use the 80/20 rule. Twenty percent of your effort produces...  Read More »

Summer, for some, is a time for fun in the sun. For Amy Alderson, a soon-to-be graduate of the nursing program at the University of Texas Health Science Center, summer means lots and lots of hours in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). And she couldn’t be happier about it. Alderson took some time to share her story about landing the job of her dreams: I am a nursing student with just one semester left before graduation and am trying to get my foot...  Read More »

A lack of nursing faculty and a lack of nurse training are putting a spotlight on the nursing shortage in northern Virginia. Hospitals, desperate for capable RNs, fight each other for the best and brightest. To change the worrying trend, Northern Virginia Community College and nearby universities and hospitals have joined forces to establish the Northern Virginia Health Care Workforce Alliance. The alliance has raised $4 million from participating hospitals...  Read More »

“That’s the breakroom. . . . I’d give you the pass code, but you’ll never get to use it anyway.” And the winner is . . . (drum roll, please) . . . Casey Batson! Congratulations, Casey! Thanks to everyone who submitted a caption. They were all hilarious! And, weíll be back next week with another new cartoon! Will YOU be the next winner?   Read More »

Good communication is essential in every relationship in healthcare. As a nurse, you interact with patients, physicians, other nurses, and managers on a daily basis. How comfortable are you with dealing with each group? Are physicians intimidating sometimes? Are other nurses cliquey? Are you unsure of what to expect from your manager? With an excerpt from our upcoming book Stressed Out About Communication Skills, we’ll help you get a handle on working...  Read More »

Many a tear has fallen over the past few weeks. Tassels have been tweaked, robes have been ironed, and bouquets of beautiful flowers have exchanged hands. Following all of your hard work, determination, and long, sleepless nights, many of you just graduated from nursing school. Now, you have a diploma, a new sense of self, and . . . a nice, big test to take. Along with warm temperatures and budding flowers, the NCLEX is staring many of you in the face. Hey,...  Read More »

Summer, for some, is a time for fun in the sun. For Amy Alderson, a soon-to-be graduate of the nursing program at the University of Texas Health Science Center, summer means lots and lots of hours in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). And she couldn’t be happier about it. Alderson took some time to share her story about landing the job of her dreams: I am a nursing student with just one semester left before graduation and am trying to get my foot...  Read More »

Like the scenes that make up a movie, nutrients such as vitamins and minerals are essential building blocks. Nutrients promote the healthy functioning of all systems within the body. Deficiencies of vital nutrients and minerals can lead to malnutrition, chronic conditions, and be the precursors to many diseases. Thus, as a nurse, you must consider the scheduling of medications that could potentially cause drug-nutrient interactions at times relative to meals....  Read More »

During the last six months or so, many of you have gotten to know Stressed Out Nurses. Maybe you’re a regular visitor to the Web site, maybe you receive the weekly Ezine, or maybe you’ve stopped by the booth at one of the National Student Nurse Association (NSNA) shows. Maybe all three apply to you. Either way, we want you to know we’re always growing, always changing, and always thinking of new ways to relieve your stress. Here are some of...  Read More »