When communicating with physicians who are negative or intimidating, remember the classic scene in the movie The Wizard of Oz when Dorothy finally meets the wizard. Dorothy shivers in fear as the wizard’s voice booms in stereo sound while lights flash dramatically from every direction. Suddenly, Dorothy’s dog, Toto, runs over to the curtain and pulls it to one side, exposing the wizard as an imposter. Why, the big, booming wizard is just a man! Never...  Read More »

by Colleen Claffey, RN, MSN, CEN The hospital ED has become the major diagnostic and resuscitation site of the American healthcare system. As noted in the September ENA Connection newsletter, a publication produced by the Emergency Nurses Association, ED visits rose 18% from 1994 to 2004–from 93 million to 110 million–whereas the number of 24-hour EDs declined by 12%. Serious overcrowding has put emergency medicine in crisis, challenging ED nurses...  Read More »

“Seriously, honey, I don’t know how you find anything in that room of yours. I was never like that as a child. Have it cleaned up by the time I get home . . .” And the winner is . . . (drum roll, please) . . . Debra Zimmerman! Congratulations, Debra! Thanks to everyone who submitted a caption. They were all hilarious! And, we’ll be back next week with a brand new cartoon! Will YOU be the next winner?   Read More »

The support and involvement of family and friends can be crucial in helping someone who is depressed. As a nurse, you can help family members of people with depression. Suggest that family members: Educate themselves and others about depression to help them understand what their loved one is experiencing. Help their loved one with depression to stick to his or her treatment plan. This means making sure medicines are available if prescribed, attending therapy...  Read More »

These days, it’s no secret professional nurses are in high demand. Due to the rapidly expanding healthcare industry and nationwide nursing shortage, it’s estimated the nursing field will grow more than 27% by 2014. In fact, registered nurse is the healthcare career in highest demand, currently accounting for 2.4 million jobs, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Many nurses would like to pursue higher education, but don’t have the time...  Read More »

The difference, on paper, is only four letters. But in reality, the difference between a nursing school and a nursing department is tremendous, according to faculty at the University of Towson in Baltimore. The nursing department at the Maryland school is seeking to shed its former distinction and become a “school,” giving it a better public image in the process. According to a story in the campus newspaper, The Towerlight, a change would help...  Read More »

Here we go again. All of a sudden, like an enormous stack of papers covering your desk on a Monday morning, the holiday season has arrived. Ugh! But hey, look at the bright side: You made it through Thanksgiving and you didn’t eat too much. Okay, maybe you did. And you weren’t one of those people who got up at 3 a.m. to shop on Black Friday. Okay, maybe you were. Either way, now is the time when shopping, eating, and stress really pick up. We’re...  Read More »

Last week, the Stressed Out Nurses Team headed to Kansas City for the 25th National Student Nurses Association MidYear Convention. About 1,500 student nurses, nursing faculty, and other administrators were greeted by about 130 exhibitors giving away free pens, water bottles, candy, calculators, and, of course, T-shirts. Did you miss out on all the fun? Was it too far to travel? Did classes get in the way? Well, we’re going to give you a run down of the...  Read More »

The NCLEX is both similar to and different from every test you have taken in nursing school. It’s similar because the format comprises mostly multiple choice questions in which you must select the best answer. It’s different in that so much is riding on it. Let’s take a closer look. It is computer-based and timed, and every NCLEX is unique; no two candidates receive exactly the same test. You will not know how many questions you will have...  Read More »

These days, it’s no secret professional nurses are in high demand. Due to the rapidly expanding healthcare industry and nationwide nursing shortage, it’s estimated the nursing field will grow more than 27% by 2014. In fact, registered nurse is the healthcare career in highest demand, currently accounting for 2.4 million jobs, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Many nurses would like to pursue higher education, but don’t have the time...  Read More »