Publicity and media coverage about the impending nursing shortage isn’t in short supply, yet the crisis still looms. In hopes of garnering more attention for the cause, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation recently gave $10 million to the AARP to create a center to address the nursing shortage. The Center to Champion Nursing in America will devise innovations to improve quality care and continuously publicize the impending shortage in the country. The...  Read More »

Sick of candy? Tired of new stethoscopes? Bored with another pair of Crocs? Holiday shopping for a nurse can be physically draining, emotionally exhausting, and often disappointing. We can’t seem to find the right thing for our friends and colleagues and our family and friends can’t seem to find the right thing for us. Well, full of holiday spirit, we are here to lend you a hand with seven fantastic gift ideas. We’ve compiled a list of gifts...  Read More »

There’s no feeling in the world quite like the one you have as a senior nursing student in college. It’s a time when excitement and nervousness crash into each other on a daily basis. You know your way around campus, but you miss those days as an exploring freshman. You want to hang out with your friends as much as possible, but you know you need to ace that upcoming test. You can’t wait to be a grown up, but you worry constantly about your...  Read More »

“So if you are ready to start, we will complete your orientation today and you can work your first shift tonight . . .” And the winner is . . . (drum roll, please) . . . Mona Kelley! Congratulations, Mona! 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 »

Patients don’t always have patience in a waiting room. Seconds slowly tick off the clock. Pains and sicknesses seem to get worse. Kids’ screams continue to get louder. Pages of outdated magazines get flipped at a dizzying pace. There has to be a better way, right? Thanks to Robin Zee, a nurse from North Kingsville, OH, now there is. Zee, who has been an RN for 12 years, recently launched DoctorDelayed.com, a site aimed at reducing time in the waiting...  Read More »

When preparing to administer any drug to a client, consider what is often referred to as the “Five Rights” of medication administration: Right client Right route Right drug Right dose Right time A sixth right often mentioned, but not part of the original five, is the right documentation. Don’t forget to administer the drug to the client first, and then document. Documenting beforehand is considered falsification of documentation and is...  Read More »

One of the best ways to fit in at your first job is to talk to people, to learn about their lives outside of the hospital walls. Do they have children? Where did they go to school? Do they root for a favorite sports team? How do they relieve stress? The answers to some of these questions can create connections and lay the foundation for a great friendship. Today, we sit down with a new nurse from Ohio to hear about CSI, microbiology, and The Cheesecake Factory....  Read More »

Schools and states around the country are chipping away at the nursing shortage, adding some money here and cutting some waiting lists there. In Maryland, a new plan has state hospital and university leaders seeking to double the number of new nurses educated within two years. Estimating the cost of the initiative at $59 million, officials are hoping private foundations can help the state foot the bill. Much of the money will go to hiring 360 new faculty members...  Read More »

When holiday stress is placed on top of already excessively high stress levels individuals feel year-round, it’s no wonder the holiday season is one of the most demanding times of the year.  Just type “holiday stress” into the Google search bar and more than 5 million results pop up. Go ahead; try it. The Mayo Clinic Web site has some great tips for coping. Consider these findings:  According to an Opinion Research study conducted...  Read More »

One of the best ways to fit in at your first job is to talk to people, to learn about their lives outside of the hospital walls. Do they have children? Where did they go to school? Do they root for a favorite sports team? How do they relieve stress? The answers to some of these questions can create connections and lay the foundation for a great friendship. Today, we sit down with a new nurse from Ohio to hear about CSI, microbiology, and The Cheesecake Factory. A...  Read More »