Are you a new nurse? Do you find yourself bewildered by doctor-speak? Don't panic! Auntie Jo has your translation guide right here. Physician: "This will feel like a pinch." Translation: "This will feel like I'm shooting you with a small-caliber handgun in slow motion." Physician: "The patient presents with an interesting medical history…" Translation: "Way too much to go into here; ...

Does the idea of working on Friday the 13th make you squirm? Have you banned the "Q" word from ever being uttered on your floor? If you said yes to either of these, you're definitely a superstitious nurse. If you said no, let's see if you're really not superstitious, or if you're just not aware of it yet! 1. The "Q" ...

It was 11:30 p.m. on a rainy Friday night. I had just given in to my scheduler’s pleas and agreed to cover a night shift in Pediatrics. The secretary looked up from her computer as I approached the nursing station. Then: “You’re late,” sneered the charge nurse. Before I could answer, she shoved a packet of papers in my face. My ...

[photo:174206] I got a request for a post about role confusion (that awful feeling that comes from being a new nurse), and it sounded like a good idea. The transition from student to preceptored nurse isn't as hard as you'd think; you still have to show up on time for various classes and lectures, you still have somebody following you around, ...

Cold season is upon us, and the constant advice you will hear from doctors and friends it to keep washing your hands. Everyone claims they do, but do they really? A recent study found that although most people claim to wash their hands after dirty activities, when you observe them in person, the story (especially for men) is a little ...

Do you recognize anyone in this picture? The one wearing the nurse’s cap is yours truly. The cute little gentleman was my patient. This picture appeared in my nursing school yearbook, circa 1977. (Did we all have bad hair like that back then?) I remember loving my little geriatric patients. Yes, all patients need support and understanding, but nurses must know ...

by Joy Victory, special to PayScale.com It's normal to wonder how and why you get paid the salary you do. After all, most employers are not willing to share inside salary information and salary decision methods, without at least a little prodding. So how are wage increases determined in big companies? And how can you use that salary information to your ...

Look at this lucky man: He has a whole flock of young student nurses standing by to meet his every need. I bet this gentleman loved every single nurse in that picture. Enjoy his adoration, ladies; sometime during your nursing career, someone isn’t going to want you as their nurse. It happens to everyone and it feels like a slap in ...

How many night nurses have you met who swear they have, at one time or another, seen or heard something during their shifts that can’t quite be explained? According to a CBS News article in 2005, 22 percent of Americans believe they have seen or felt a ghost and 48 percent said they believe in ghosts. As healthcare professionals who deal ...

It happens every year. Nurses must write a self-evaluation when it's time to get their raise. No worries, right? Wrong! What you write can affect what your boss is willing to shell out of his or her pocket at the beginning of the fiscal year. Learn how to write a self-evaluation that will make your boss think you're the greatest nurse ...

As much as we may like nursing and the fun parts of our jobs, like talking to patients and getting to do procedures (yes, this is fun for us students!), there are the parts that make us feel sort of like the “Dirty Jobs” guy. Cleaning up after our patient’s is definitely low on my list of “why I love nursing,” ...

Have you ever wondered why certain patients act the way they do around nurses? Why some are pleasant and cooperative and some are disrespectful or difficult to engage? It is easy for a nurse to have expectations of patients because naturally we all want them to be kind, cooperative, and appreciative. But it is important for nurses to keep in mind ...

This one always humors me. Do I get angry because someone called me a ‘male nurse’? Some of the other versions of this story are when patients ask me, “How long have you been a male nurse?”, or “How bad is it being a male nurse?”. It honestly has everything to do with the tone of their voice when asking the ...

Providing excellent patient care is the most important aspect of nursing. Moreover, taking credit for the care given is also an important responsibility. Most nurses hate the paperwork more than any other aspect of their job, but it’s critical that it be done, and be done well. As with every aspect of quality patient care, charting should be exceptional; it should ...

Been asked to stay late — again — on the weekend? You lucky duck! Here are 10 humorous ways to see the silver lining! 10. Think of all the weight you'll lose from not getting to eat because of short staffing. 9. Think of the closeness you'll develop with your coworkers after being knee deep in Code 10s, Code Blues and ...

Working with a professional recruiter, also known as a headhunter, may be just what you need to kick your healthcare job search into high gear. Recruiters know about job openings that aren't widely advertised and can offer sage insight into current hiring trends and salaries for particular positions. But using a recruiter doesn't guarantee you'll easily land a job. Here's how ...

In the past, people often called Boston career coach Randi Bussin because they were thinking about changing careers. In 2009, most of her clients had to change careers due to layoffs, cutbacks or company closures. With whole sectors shrinking, from financial to automotive, many workers couldn't find another job in their current field and had to tweak their resumes to support ...

If you’re a retired nurse looking to keep your skills current and pick up some extra cash, you have an edge. With the current nursing shortage, the healthcare industry offers a wide selection of part-time, on-call and even seasonal job opportunities for retired RNs and LPNs/LVNs. Here’s a look at some of the options. Work in Home Health Lesley Peterson, office ...

We keep hearing the demand for nurses is expected to grow, but how much can we expect to earn in the coming year? Look no further! Whether you’re a nursing aide in Delaware or a registered nurse in California, we’ve rounded up salary projections for 2011 you don’t want to miss. Find out what you could be earning. Nursing Aides, Orderlies, ...

Editor's note: To commemorate National Boss Day (October 16th), Scrubs sent out a missive to nurses asking: "What makes your boss great?" One particularly enthusiastic nurse not only responded immediately, she and a colleague developed a list of wonderful things their manager does that wins universal adoration from her unit. Terri Engelman, LPN wrote, "I just talked with my co worker ...