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 ...

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 ...

Saving the life of a murderer? Caring for a gang member? A prisoner? Treating a pedophile? Check your personal feelings at the door? All of these scenarios are very real, and can happen to you being a nurse. In fact, for me, they’ve happened. We all are trained, educated, re-trained, and re-educated on the standard of care. It’s called discrimination and ...

I’ve always envied those who can flip flop back and forth between day shift and night shift. How do they do it? I think I’ve nailed down some of their secrets, and in so doing have been able to work both day shifts and night shifts in succession. Happily! Nights are often a more peaceful time in the hospital and it’s ...

Last Valentine’s Day I decided to wake up early and make my beau a homemade chocolate chip cookie cake, all decorated with a cartoon picture of us. It was going to be perfect, but I had to get up super early to get started on it. The problem with that is: I am not a morning person. Nevertheless, I am mixing ...

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 ...

I have this problem with our health care profession. Wait, let me re-phrase that. I have this problem with some health care professionals. (Beware of impending rant to follow) We should practice what we preach. Or better yet, we should practice what we teach. Patient education is a corner stone of the health care profession. No matter what your medical specialty ...

Mad that you were passed over for a big promotion again? Livid that the bootlickers always seem to get ahead in your organization? Perhaps it's time to consider whether the anger itself, however legitimate, is holding you back. Evidence suggests many of us are walking around the office feeling resentful, though we may be unaware of the cumulative toll bitter actions ...

Not all managers are like me. Some are mean, arrogant and don’t care about their staff. That is not me…..I am better than that. There will come a time, at least once, in your career where you will hit a wall when you are trying to deal with your manager. They don’t listen to what you have to say, they don’t ...

While some people might be looking forward to a cruise or family trip this summer, many healthcare professionals plan to use their time off to volunteer their expertise at medically supervised summer camps that serve children and adults with medical conditions ranging from asthma to AIDS. These camps, typically held over the course of a week or weekend, rely on nurses, ...

Many of us think of hospitals as a safe haven from diseases. It’s a place where people “get better.” But would it surprise you to know that some of the nastiest, most difficult bacteria to conquer are found in hospitals, almost exclusively!!! According to recent studies, almost 2,000,000 infections per year are transmitted to patients in US hospitals, 90,000 of patients ...

There is so much violence in the world, and it can trickle down to anyone. I’m a nurse and I work in an emergency room, and I’ve been assaulted more than once by the very patient I’m taking care of. One of my most recent experiences with workplace violence was in July 2009. As I was taking report from the EMS, ...

Working conditions have always been a big issue for nurses. Floating to another unit can be one of the most irritating things nurses have to deal with on a fairly regular basis. Itʼs not just hospitals where nurses are most likely to float. Nurses in home health, clinics, and other ambulatory settings may also need to help cover other nurseʼs responsibilities ...

Congratulations, you landed the job! The hard part is over, right? Not exactly. Your first few weeks in a new company are crucial — they can determine whether your future is paradise or purgatory. And we're not talking only about mastering the technical aspects of your new job. How you behave in your new work environment is just as important — ...

What is a miracle? Among nurses, we may jokingly say it’s having a full roster of nurses on our shift or a shift without any “code browns,” but a true miracle—if there is such a thing—is much more than that. A medical miracle is one that can’t be explained by medical and scientific minds. They may have theories, but no one ...

I love 80% of the people with whom I work. Seriously. I think everyone tries to do a great job and everyone (myself included) has an off day where you just can’t get anything right. However, we all have the co-worker who drives us nuts for various reasons. Consider the following types: 1) The Spiritualist: This person is super nice. Super ...

ER doc Brady Pregerson and Nurse Rebekah perform a raid and bust on that sketchy personality, the “Candyman.” Why does he exist? And what is he thinking? In Part I of our Pain Management series, we looked at the challenge of gauging your patient’s pain. In this article, we examine the many consequences of taking a too-easy approach to a complex ...

First things first: Treat the STD. With few exceptions, all teens in the United States can legally consent to confidential diagnosis and treatment of STDs. Be professional. No teen wants to hear a sermon, and lecturing about responsible sexual behavior rarely does any good, so keep your judgments to yourself. Your job is to provide accurate information, compassionate care and appropriate ...

Unsure whether you should keep your job or seek greener pastures? While a shaky economy shouldn't keep you in a job you can't stand, you can watch for these 10 signs that could tell you you're fine right where you are. 1. You're Happy We're not talking mere complacency here, but genuine happiness. If you're happy, you're going to be more ...

Life is fleeting. We all know this. We only get one chance at it. I think it's safe to say that most individuals are very familiar with father time. As we get older, father time ‘visits' our life and all those around it quite often. No beating around the bush on this one – sooner or later we all die. Sorry ...