New mothers face a number of changes and challenges when they bring a newborn home from the hospital. In Durham, NC, a new program is providing some much-needed assistance. Durham Connects, a program that provides free nurse visits to any Durham resident following the birth of a child, began in August. About a month after delivery, a nurse visits the new family to provide a physical, discuss important health issues, and provide a basket...  Read More »

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 »

You wouldn’t get accounting advice from a shoe salesman or a zookeeper. Sure, they may have some helpful suggestions for you, but when your neck is on the chopping block with the IRS, you’ll wish you had consulted an accountant, right? The same principle applies to medical and scientific information. You need to know where the information is coming from to decide just how valid it is. Ask yourself these things when finding information: Who...  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 »

By Richard Freedberg, RN, MSN, MPA My family is already asking me for advice! What should I do? Hmmm, only part of the way through nursing school and you are already being hit up for free healthcare advice. Anyone else out there running into this type of situation? Absolutely! This is a common circumstance. Think about your own experiences. There is a certain nice guy with construction experience in my family who saved me from disaster when...  Read More »

The phones were supposed to fall silent. Dial tones were supposed to replace the comforting voices of nurses. Ask-A-Nurse, the free call-in nurse service run by Centura Health in Colorado, was supposed to shut down due to financial pressure this summer. Not anymore. Calls and emails flooded in from the community since the plan to close was announced on July 9. Leaders from Centura, the largest family of hospitals and healthcare services...  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 »

Here’s where the rubber hits the road as far as drug names go. As a nurse, you need to know: The generic and common brand names for all medications frequently used in your area of practice How to look up any unfamiliar medication prior to administering it And, as a patient advocate, you must teach those under your care: To learn the generic and brand (if taking a name brand drug) names of their medications or at least keep a current...  Read More »