So now that you've found your way to NursingLink, what exactly is there do? There are many ways to be interactive and if you need some ideas, this guide will show you exactly what there is to do in each section. Careers You can search our job listings to see who is hiring nurses. We've partnered with Monster.com to bring you ...

Every healthcare professional encounters patients who are short-tempered, belligerent or just plain rude from time to time. But the frequency of these encounters may increase as the stress level rises among patients and providers. Experienced physicians and nurse practitioners offer five tips on keeping your cool when tempers flare: Give Patients the Benefit of the Doubt Most patients don't purposefully cause ...

Did you know that anyone – your employer, a co-worker, a patient, even a jilted lover – can file a complaint against your practice? Handle it well, and you could turn it into a valuable learning experience. Handle it poorly, and you could lose your license. NursingLink spoke to a Sheryl Oakes Caddy, a nurse, nursing faculty instructor and an attorney ...

If you ask 10 people to describe pain, you will get 10 different responses. Pain is a very individual sensation and it is interpreted differently depending on so many variables. For nurses, this means that not only do we need to understand the mechanisms of pain, we need to understand how pain is interpreted by others. Stub Your Toe, Do You ...

Men and women are feeling the squeeze: on one end from child care, for which, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 15 percent of workers had access to employer assistance in 2006, and on the other end from elder care as demographics shift toward an aging population. With these dual responsibilities in mind, some are looking to flexible ...

They complain, criticize, shout, swear and may even try to hit you. Difficult patients are an unfortunate fact of life in healthcare. But knowing how to identify, understand and respond to them can make your work life safer and less stressful. *+Identify Difficult Patients+* It's sometimes possible to predict which patients will likely become difficult, abusive or violent. Alzheimer's patients, for ...

This article describes the basics of a head-to-toe assessment which is a vital aspect of nursing. It should be done each time you encounter a patient for the first time each shift (or visit, for home care, clinic or office nurses). This assessment includes assessment of the physical, emotional and mental aspects of all body systems as well as the environmental ...

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Alzheimer’s doesn’t play favorites. The soccer mom who was president of a neighborhood volunteer organization in years past may now be an angry woman, pacing the floor, trying to “escape” from the facility where she now lives. The professor who held court in front of thousands of students over the years may now be unable to lift the spoon to his ...

Few things are more frustrating than working with a charge nurse who just doesn’t get it. But before you blow up, take a deep breath. Then ask yourself: What exactly is the problem? Are you frustrated because your charge nurse asks you to do one thing, then complains because you haven’t done something else? Do they refuse to help out on ...

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 a nurse, you’ll be expected to deal with various kinds of situations and many emergencies. However, while you might be prepared to deal with emergencies, dealing with difficult patients is what will tax your resources. You’re not alone in this. Every health care facility has its share of difficult patients. You dread seeing their names on your nursing schedule. The ...

All workplaces have people that you might not get along with. Hospitals and care centers are no different. The only difference is the stress levels can be even higher because you're dealing with actual life and death situations. For nurses who already have their hands full with multiple patients, long shifts, and the inevitable unexpected situations, the last thing they ...

Every interview has a unique focus, but some questions are asked so often, it makes sense to do all you can to prepare for them. In order to be successful, you need a strategy -- not scripted answers. Your goal should be to emphasize the experiences in your background that best fit what each interviewer is looking for. In this series, ...

There are several factors which need to be considered in choosing the size of a needle to use for an injection or “shot”. They include such issues as: • the type and viscosity of the medication • the size and age of the patient • the mobility status of the patient • the desired absorption rate for the medication In general ...

Maybe it’s the whiny colleague who makes your 12-hour nursing shift seem twice as long or the turf war raging between the nurses, physicians and technicians in your department. Or maybe you’re just tired of feeling overworked and underappreciated. Whatever the scenario, you sense that changes are needed before you lose your sanity or start looking for another nursing job. Whether ...

So, you’ve been asked to be a preceptor. It’s a challenge you’ve been waiting for and now it’s time to do it. So, what does it take to be a good preceptor? Being a good preceptor isn’t easy; doing the job well is invaluable. Do you remember when you were a student? Do you remember how you felt learning new things ...

One of the first patients I lost was an elderly man who had sent his wife home to get some rest after they shared his meal tray together. His concern was for her health and well-being, but as he began to feel his own death approaching, he called me in to his room and asked if I could sit and hold ...

It seems that your preceptee hasn’t quite mastered the art of time management and, well, efficiency. You have three patients assigned to you and it’s 10 a.m. and your preceptee has yet to even see the third. Come 6 p.m., there are two patients whose charts have been empty since 12 hours prior, and you have to wait around an hour ...

‘JT & Dale Talk Jobs’ is the largest nationally syndicated career advice column in the country and can be found at JTandDale.com. Dear J.T. & Dale: I was assaulted by a former neighbor. As a result, I suffered a stroke and have headaches that lead to seizures. I lost my job after suffering a seizure during a phone call. How do ...