Imagine having the opportunity to stand in front of a television camera and declare your love for nursing. That’s just what happened to three individuals at tiny Lakeview College of Nursing in Danville, IL. Student Katie Marlatt, recent grad Erica Dixon, RN, and Sarah Rich Wheeler, DNS, RN, PMH, BC, LCPC, the school’s dean of nursing, all shined under the bright lights. “It was neat to think that such a small school would...  Read More »

by Deanna R. Miller, RN, MSN/Ed, HCE, manager of inpatient units at University Hospitals Geneva (OH) Medical Center My experiences as a hospital patient—in relation to nursing care—have never been negative. I received my medications on time, and the nurse came in each shift and assessed me. But what was lacking with my care was complete and effective patient education. Each day, as my nurse was performing an array of tasks, I often asked...  Read More »

Nurses who have good organizational skills can manage even the worst of days. They always look like they are in control and are never at a loss locating what they need. How do they do it? Some use a clipboard with a built-in calculator. On this clipboard is also their patient assignment, as well as quick references or “cheat sheets,” which are laminated and attached to the back of the board. Others develop a paper worksheet...  Read More »

Working in healthcare is dangerous for your health, says Daniel Johnson, PhD, a clinical psychologist in Macon, GA. The profession is dangerous because of the enormity of the daily challenges staff face (e.g., the responsibility of caring for seriously ill people, lack of support, shift conflicts, resource constraints). These daily challenges can build up and affect resilience to stress and strain.  Read More »   Read More »

Staff at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, IL, always put the patient care experience first, but they wanted to do more. They wanted to spend more time, pay more attention, and have time for more care. At Loyola, they call this “magis.” Magis is a Latin term meaning “to do more,” which is a perfect description of the new patient care model they developed to reflect the organization’s values. “We...  Read More »

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is usually seen in preschool children and those in their early school years. Treatments include medication management and behavioral treatment. Structuring a patient’s environment and being consistent in your approach can be helpful. Here are some hints to use when working with children with ADHD: Provide a schedule and routine in their day. Post the schedule where it can be readily...  Read More »

Editor’s note: Author Kathleen Bartholomew will be speaking at the 26th annual NSNA MidYear Conference in November in Reno, NV. Until then, we’ll occasionally be featuring excerpts from some of Bartholomew’s captivating and influential publications. Here’s one from Stressed Out About Communication Skills: Of all the professions on the planet, those of us in nursing have the honor of dealing with the most challenging...  Read More »

Nurses aim to spend the bulk of their time in direct contact with patients. Other responsibilities, such as paperwork and gathering supplies, often get in the way. To remedy the problem, 21 hospitals across six Rocky Mountain states are joining a Rapid Adoption Network (RAN) that will allow them to share information about clinical practices and seek ways to improve them. The RAN was created in response to a recent Veterans Health Administration...  Read More »

Six months after the telemetry unit at Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital in Louisville, KY, implemented hourly nurse rounding, the number of patient falls decreased, patient satisfaction increased, and call light use dropped by more than 3,000 per month. “The managers round on all of the patients every day,” says Amy Robinson, RN, a nurse manager at the 200-bed facility. “One of the questions we ask the patient is, ‘Does...  Read More »

Editor’s note: Author Kathleen Bartholomew will be speaking at the 26th annual NSNA MidYear Conference in November in Reno, NV. Until then, we’ll occasionally be featuring excerpts from some of Bartholomew’s captivating and influential publications. Here’s one from Stressed Out About Communication Skills: Of all the professions on the planet, those of us in nursing have the honor of dealing with the most challenging...  Read More »