Those who say “quitters never win” are fooling themselves. If you stick something out just because you’re afraid of giving up—and it’s something that no longer serves you—you’re wasting your time. And ultimately, you lose. Sure, you’re not a quitter. But you sure as hell aren’t winning either. When it comes to work, quitting is sometimes the best move you can ...

As a healthcare provider, you know that a patient’s body language often tells you more than her words do about how she’s feeling. At the same time, you’re sending your patients messages with your own body language. Rarely do we think about what message our body language might be sending. If your body language is relaxed and confident, you can help ...

To say teamwork enhances nurses' performance and job satisfaction almost sounds too obvious. Teamwork is a requirement in nursing, otherwise nothing would ever get done. Of course that isn't the case for any nurse, especially nurses who work busy shifts in a hectic hospital setting. However, it's a lot easier when it comes to teamwork to look at others who ...

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 ...

NOTE: The information in this column is not to be construed as legal advice. Please see an attorney if you need legal assistance. This is for informational purposes only. Q: As a nurse, what is the single, most important legal issue I must be aware of as I take care of my patients? A: Today's nurse must manage complex situations both ...

The nurses at Washington Hospital Center in northwest DC put their employer on notice and staged a walkout on March 4, 2011. National Nurses United, the union representing the hospital’s 1,650 registered nurses, said the one-day strike was a response to many key issues including patient safety issues, unsafe staffing conditions, and violations of federal labor laws resulting in the dismissal ...

Once again, the dynamic ER duo Dr. Brady Pregerson and Nurse Rebekah Child are back and ready to compare notes on the superbug MRSA. But first, they release some of the tension surrounding this very serious issue with a frank and open discussion on the experience of treating ‘abscess al Kahuna.’ Is MRSA the most repulsive epidemic to find its way ...

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 ...

Celebrities. We love to hate them. We also love to watch their every move, laugh at their mistakes and scrutinize their decisions. Like them or not, their celebrity status means not only have they achieved career success, they’ve also got a hell of a lot to lose. And sometimes, whatever actions have helped catapult them to fame or rendered them ...

My clinical experience has been very eye-opening. I feel like I have learned so much about how a hospital functions, and yet know I have so much more to learn. To be embraced and invited into the executive meetings and to see the processes that occur to make change withing the organization with patient care as the the bottom line has ...

Even if you have the strength of a superhero and the stamina of the Energizer Bunny, bedside nursing is a tough job. It's especially grueling for the growing number of RNs 50 and older, who may not bounce back from 12-hour shifts and patient lifting as easily as their younger counterparts. Since 2001, the nurse workforce has added nearly 130,000 RNs ...

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,” ...

"May I Please Have Your Attention. The Hospital Will Be Closing Shortly." Ahh… If only this were true. (Insert dream sequence…) The hospital doesn’t function like the local town store with posted ‘Store Hours’. The hospital never closes. It operates in some capacity 365 days a year, 24 hours a day (and yes 366 days a year on leap year). It ...

It's no secret that nursing is dominated by women; as of 2010, only 5.4% of nurses were male. However, in a female-heavy industry, male nurses are often not given the appreciation they deserve. This may not be the popular opinion, especially when so many women these days go with the, "I don't need a man" attitude, but this nurse really appreciates ...

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; ...

So I know when you read the title all you could think about was ‘what is it??!’ Anyone who is a nurse or on their way to being a nurse can use this piece of advice! We live in the world of life and death. I don’t think anyone will argue with me on that. We can have many levels of ...

What kind of nerdy nurse would I be if I wasn’t an advocate of Electronic Medical Records (EMR)? Not worthy of my title, at the very least. As a nerd, I am pretty much required to preach the glories of my geeky infatuations. Not only to justify my obsessions, but also to promote more growth and innovation in the tech world. ...

We’ve all had bosses that we’ve either loved or hated. The boss who helped you get that promotion, or the one who clipped her toenails at the nurse's station. Some help us advance our career, while others seem to hold us back. Different leadership styles can lead to different results for each nurse. But certain styles seem to be good ...

An EMT instructed to transport a woman to an abortion clinic declines, citing personal beliefs. A nurse ordered to administer a large dose of morphine to a terminal cancer patient in pain refuses, saying the medication could hasten death. A physician turns away a gay patient, apparently on the basis of his sexual orientation. Are these scenarios examples of healthcare workers ...

[photo:168642] If you’re a seasoned nurse, you may be wondering: How can I be more efficient at my job? Have I really found the best pair of shoes? And if you’re a nursing student, you may be thinking: Can I get away with a cheap stethoscope? How do I shop for my first real set of scrubs? Get the tips, tricks ...