About six weeks ago, we here in Stressed Out land sent out a survey to get your input on a variety of topics. We asked you about everything from where you purchase your books to how many hours per day you spend in front of your computer. Along with providing some pretty interesting information for us, the results can also serve as a benchmark for those of you wondering about your peers. How do you compare? Let’s check it out.

More than 100 people completed the survey, and respondents ranged from student nurses to experienced nurses to faculty, with a dash of “others” mixed in for variety. Here’s what you guys had to say:

• Forty percent of you spend between 4-5 hours in front of your computer each day. Exactly a quarter of you really love banging away at the keyboard, logging an average of more than six hours per day in front of the computer. A good number (26%) spends 2-3 hours, while only 9% use the think box for less than an hour each day.
• Concerning the next Stressed Out book you’d like to see, 80% of you said you’d be interested in getting your hands on one about pharmacology. (We’ve listened. We’re planning to put one out early next year.) Even more (81%) said you’d be interested in seeing a book that helps you deal with physicians. Stressed Out About Communication Skills devotes an entire section to the topic, so be sure to check it out here. Lastly, 64% of you would like to see Stressed Out books tailored to your specific unit.
• Wondering where everyone purchases nursing books nowadays? You guessed it: Online. More than half of you (58%) log on to shop. College bookstores (18%), trade bookstores (10%), and medical bookstores (6%) also play a role in your purchasing prowess.
• Wondering why your peers buy certain books? Reading lists from organizations is the biggest reason, with 29% of the vote. Advice from peers (24%), cost (17%), and advice from professors (6%) all play a factor, as well. Individual interest rated high among the “other” responses.
• Web site discussion boards are still catching on among you and your peers, as only 12% said they logged on daily to exchange information. The bulk of you (49%) never do it, while 25% do it monthly and 15% find some time for it weekly. You can check out our growing discussion board here by clicking on the link at the top of this page.
• And lastly, more than one-third of you said you might be interested in writing an article or two for our Web site. To learn more about becoming a Stressed Out columnist, shoot us an email at mbriddon@hcpro.com.

Thanks for being part of the Stressed Out community. There’s more nursing fun to come!