NursingLink

May I Please Have Your Attention. The Hospital Will Be Closing Shortly.

Sean Dent | Scrubs Magazine — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:08:00 -0800

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 doesn’t have ‘Holiday Hours’. The doors are always open. Some departments may not be operating during certain times, but as a whole, the hospital is always ‘open’.

This hits ‘home’ for the nursing staff. Nurses who work for the hospital are required to work at all hours of the day, working odd shifts and functioning at times of the day when the normal human being is sleeping.

Yes, I’m talking about the dreaded ‘Night Shift’ or the ‘NOC’ as some like to call it. It’s the shift that can start anywhere after 6pm and last till 8am the next day. While you are sleeping, some of us have to ‘work’.

Now this is not unique to the field of nursing, or even to health care. There are many occupations out there that work and operate on a 24 hour schedule. I’m simply referring to my lil’ circle of life.

The night shift is hard. Well, at least hard for me. There are some out there that do this on a full-time basis. The ‘live’ their lives when the sun goes down. I tip my hat to all of them, because without them-we as a society would not, and could not function.

I myself loathe the night shift simply because my body and my mind seem to … uhh… shut-down during those hours. No matter how hard I try to prepare I always seem to end up ‘half-empty’.

I know all the tricks. I’ve done the research. I’ve asked the questions. I’ve taken tips from the experts. No matter how I handle it, no matter how I plan. I always have a difficult time ‘functioning’ on the night shift.

The source of my ‘pain’ is my sleeping pattern. I am an extremely light sleeper. Let me be clear – there is a ‘light sleeper’ then there is me.

You name it, it wakes me up. The wind, the dog barking down the street, cars driving by the house, the rain, etc. Every noise wakes me up. I used to tell the story of how a kitten walking into a carpeted bedroom woke me up (true story).

Here are the things I do to ‘enhance’ my odds of sleeping during the day:

* Cardboard covered the bedroom windows (not a speck of light gets in)
* Background soothing music playing
* No TV
* Temperature in the room is just ‘cool’ – not too warm
* I ‘try’ not to have anything to eat or drink an hour before I know I’m going to lay down
* Limit my caffeine
* Silence all the gadgets in the house (the phones especially)

I think that covers it all.

It’s a necessary evil I know I have to accept. But accepting it and liking it are two different things! I’ll continue to do my part, but trust me. I’m gonna keep on whining about it.

Anyone have a tip or trick that helps you survive the night shift?

More on ScrubsMag.com:

• *In Nursing Blogs:* How Do You Recognize Excellence?

• *In News:* Recession Keeps Shortage in the Shadows

• *In Career:* Yes, We Can! (Find a Job, That Is)

3 Perks of an NP Degree

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:59:00 -0800

Having been a nurse for the past 30-plus years and about to complete my DNP, I wanted to reflect on my career path. I’ve come to the conclusion that returning to school for my MSN and NP was my most satisfying career move. Once I completed my NP, several new career opportunities became available.

I’ve been an Emergency Department NP for the past nine years. Having the autonomy to perform procedures and diagnose and treat thousands of ED patients, in collaboration with an incredibly supportive ED physician group, has been one of the highlights of my nursing career.

Since my graduation ten years ago, I’ve had the privilege of teaching in the College of Nursing at New York University. Imparting my clinical knowledge while mentoring thousands of students has allowed me tremendous pleasure in teaching the future providers of our profession. There is nothing more satisfying than hearing back from our graduates and being told that one’s teaching has positively impacted their own patient care.

I’ve also had the unique experience of being a provider in a new primary care model at the NYU College of Dentistry. I’m a primary care NP in the NYU Faculty Practice, which is staffed by NP faculty from the College of Nursing. We provide primary care to our dental patients and community. We also conduct health screenings, give lectures to the dental community and work collaboratively with the College of Dentistry to increase awareness on the oral-systemic connection.

The last ten years since graduating with my MSN and NP have allowed me to expand my role as a healthcare provider. I’m able to touch the lives of my patients as a skilled advanced practice nurse. I’ve also been able to serve as a role model, a mentor and an advisor to my students. I would highly recommend this career path to any of my colleagues.

In summation, here are five basic perks of being an NP:

“A” – Autonomy: You’ll be able to independently assess, diagnose and treat your patient population.

“E” – Education: Advanced education enhances one’s ability to care for our patient population.

“I” – Impact on profession: The ability to teach, mentor and expand one’s practice impacts the future of nursing.

“O” – Opportunity: An advanced degree opens the door to more earning power and career paths.

“U” – Unique: Advancing one’s role provides the opportunity for a unique role in nursing that will increase job satisfaction.

More on ScrubsMag.com:

• *In Nursing Blogs:* How Do You Recognize Excellence?

• *In News:* Recession Keeps Shortage in the Shadows

• *In Career:* Yes, We Can! (Find a Job, That Is)

9 Hilarious and Horrifying Nursing Tales

NursingLink — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:27:00 -0700

Question: What involves lots of blood, guts, and gore, can be extremely scary at times, and requires a costume?

Answer: Why, nursing, of course!

Halloween and nursing go hand in hand. After all, they involve a lot of the same things: blood, guts, terrifying outfits. We’ve rounded up the best nursing horror stories straight from the trenches and just in time for the scariest holiday of all — but don’t worry, these stories are more hilarious than horrifying!

As one nurse wisely said, “If I had known the medical field was this comical, I would have gotten into it years ago!”

Next: Just for Giggles ->

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"Just for giggles once... I bought a pack of condoms and left the empty wrappers in the Anesthesia call room one night."

Next: Lead Singer of KISS ->

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"At about 4am, I got an ETOH patient up from the ER on my floor. I had to do an assessment and all that admission paperwork on him which was basically like me interviewing him. This guy (who had a blood alcohol level of .45) decided to tell me that he was the lead singer in the rock band KISS. Yes, KISS. So I continue to try to be professional with him but he kept standing up in the hallway singing, "I want to rock and roll ALL NIGHT!" and the whole floor of us nurses were just cracking up. I can still see him in his hospital gown, singing in the hallway with his naked bare butt hanging out. SO FUNNY!!"

Next: A Special Dance ->

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"I was walking through the DCU and this woman that had to be 90 years old comes strolling out of her room buck naked… and asks me if I want a special dance."

Next: Italian Sausage ->

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"I was helping out in ER on a busy Saturday night about 20 years ago. A guy was brought in from a local disco club via the squad. Seems he had danced around so much that he passed out. When he came in, he had on those skin tight PVC pants and the "bulge" was huge. The pants were so tight that they had to be cut off him (he was still unconscious at this point). After cutting the pants off, we discovered what the huge bulge really was — he had taped an Italian sausage to his thigh!!!!
When he woke up and discovered where he was, well, needless to say his face was very red!!! He did not even ask for his sausage back when he was dismissed!!!!"

Next: Pile of [Censored] ->

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"An old man walks out of his room (clothes on) with a pile of [censored] in his hand - says to me - "This is the finest chocolate in the world, would you like a bite?"

Next: A Dead Man ->

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"I work maternity with an arrogant doctor who also doesn’t have any issues letting people know what he thinks. For a time, we had gyn surgeons on our floor during a remodel. We had an extremely obese woman come in, large pannis, large sections of heaving hanging skin from the thighs. She was having pelvic pain and the doctor needed to take a look, so he pulled me and another nurse in to help hold legs, etc. When we had gathered as much as we could to facilitate his exam, he puts his gloves on and in front of this perfectly cognitive 40 year old woman (not that it would be appropriate under other circumstances) the doctor says, “Ladies… I’m going in. If you slip or let go, I am a dead man.” We were both stunned that he could say such a thing! After a moment’s recovery, the other nurse and I must have both been on the same wavelength because at the same time we both said, "Hmm… tempting."

Next: John Thomas ->

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"Years and years ago I had a patient come in for "minor surgery." Since he doctor thought he would be "in and out" he let her keep her panties and sweat pants on. Well, the surgery was taking much longer than the MD had anticipated so at the end he asked us to do a quick in and out catheter to empty her bladder. Well to our disbelief our patient was only a female from the waist up- down below she/he was all male. Yup, there was a "John Thomas" in her panties. To this day I will never forget the look on her doctor's face. It was priceless."

Next: Dementia Patience ->

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"Best dementia line EVER: Crazy old lady comes into our unit. Like, really crazy. Constantly yelling out from her room, "IS EVERYONE OK? ARE YOU OK?" etc.

Conversation goes like this:

Patient: [frantic] “Where's my body??”

Nurse: [aggravated grunt] “It's in the bed attached to your head!”

Patient: [pause] “Oh... ok.”

Next: Court Committed ->

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"I work in an acute psychiatric hospital and many of our patients are court committed. On one of the units we have a patient who has been there about 4 months. This is unusually long and she is always up at 4:30 am and talks to us all. She is a difficult patient to place as she is mildly MR and has a severe mental illness. One of our night supervisors was terminated earlier this week and when the patient was talking to me the other morning she stated, “I am sooo proud of John, he went to court and finally got the judge to let him go.” Apparently, she thinks that we are also committed here and cannot leave unless the judge lets us. It just cracked me up."

Have You Seen These Other Great NursingLink Features?

Medicine is the Best Laughter: Hilarious Nursing Jokes

8 Things You Should Never Say to a Patient

Inspirational Quotes Every Nurse Should Read

Florence Nightingale's Resume

Quiz: Which Halloween Candy Are You?

7 Things to Learn from a "Lifer" Nurse

Scrubs Magazine | Prisca Smith — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:51:00 -0700

You've got a lot to learn, grasshopper!

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the differences between seasoned nurses, whom we call "lifers" because they will likely retire on our floor and have been around a long time, and new nurses.

This probably has something to do with the fact that, in my new job, I am working with nurses who have been in the profession and specialty for 10+ years—there are not many newbies around. Some of these nurses will retire in a few years having been on the same unit their whole career!

The other night I watched a 25+ year nurse as she calmly took a verbal berating from a doctor — only to put him in his place using some evidence-based jargon that had my head reeling!

This is so different in that I am coming from a hospital where new grads moved up the ranks and ran the show at three to four years in, only to burn out and move on. In fact, when I was hired as a new grad, my previous manager told me that the unit had a “burn-out rate” of one year—new grads got their initial experience then moved on.

So, what does my future look like as a seasoned nurse? What can you expect if you're planning on being a "lifer?"

What are the common traits in nurses with loads of experience?

#1: Lifers are Calmer ->

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1. Lifers are calmer in emergencies. Whereas I tend to still freeze up a bit during true emergencies, the experienced nurse moves with a fluidity and assuridity that is remarkable. They don’t seem to question their actions and I can see how refined their critical thinking has become.

Stressed Out? How Nurses Can Regain Some Calm

#2: Communication That Works ->

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2. Communication is more effective. These nurses say what they mean, concisely, clearly and accurately. When they are questioned—by docs, other nurses or patients, they answer without hesitation and seem so sure of themselves.

Do you struggle with communication? Try reading Tips for Effective Patient-Provider Communication.

#3: Admitting Mistakes ->

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3. Nurses who have been around know when to admit they are wrong and take responsibility for their mistakes. They also rely on the nurses around them as sounding boards when things are questionable or difficult.

#4: Advocating for a Patient ->

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4. Advocation comes more naturally. Standing up for a patient takes some bravery and some skill—especially when advocating for a patient in front of a doctor (or doctors) who believe the nurse is in the wrong. I am getting better about this, but have noticed that seasoned nurses win more battles for their patients because they are better advocates. They have so much knowledge to draw on!

Be a Pro: All About Being a Patient Advocate

#5: Educational Differences ->

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5. The long-term nurses I know have their education—many of them have master’s degrees—and they have tried out other specialties and other avenues of nursing. Most of these nurses are where they want to be, on the shift they like, and they are going to stick it out. They know what they know, they continue to learn and teach, and they like where they are.

Explore your specialty: Top 10 Highest Paying Nurse Specialties

Higher Education: Nursing Career Profiles

#6: Taking Care of Yourself ->

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6. In general, they take care of themselves. I am one to skip breaks and meals when I am in a rush, but the nurses I am working with know to take their breaks, to go to the bathroom—they know that “the work will always be there.” They also take care of themselves outside the hospital and make sure they sleep, go to the doctor, work out.

Start taking care of yourself now! 22 Affordable Ways to De-Stress

#7: People and Leadership Skills ->

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7. Nurses with longevity know how to handle management, the doctors, and the patients. They have become interpersonal experts and can navigate all the drama of the hospital in order to take good care of their patients. I see seasoned nurses at staff meetings, on committees and in charge. They have learned that in order to effect change, they have to take an active leadership role in what’s happening—on and off the unit!

Experienced nurses are an example of how to avoid burn out as they have found ways to cope with and love the profession for the long haul. And yes, I believe that time makes a good nurse even better! There of course is always an exception to the rule, but for the most part I am in awe of the nurses I am working with and am enjoying watching them in action. As always, I am realizing I have a lot to learn—much of which will take a lot of time. One day I hope to be a “lifer” who is an example of the excellence our profession has to offer.

Are you a nursing lifer? Share your advice in the comments below!

A Life in Nursing: Meet Pattie Jakel, Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist

Scrubs Magazine — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:44:00 -0700

This article originally appeared in Scrubs Magazine.

In nursing, like all vocations based on serving others, the best practitioners are those who do it not for recognition or financial gain, but rather out of a sense of responsibility.

As a young girl in upstate New York, Pattie Jakel felt the calling. At the age of 15, she found herself caring for her grandmother, who was stricken with colon cancer. Years before that, around the seventh grade, Jakel took one of those career aptitude tests, which—no surprise to her—revealed that her interests pointed toward nursing. “The man [who administered the test] was condescending,” she recalls now. “He told me, ‘All little girls want to be nurses—you’ll change your mind.’” Luckily for the countless patients and colleagues who have either been under her care or have worked with her during an emotional and challenging 27-year career, the man was wrong.

Earning her RN from Hartwick College in 1982, Jakel found work as a traveling nurse as part of a program instituted in the 1980s to combat a nationwide nursing shortage. She spent three years working in nine cities, in regions of the country as varied as the deep South, New England and the west coast. Her sojourn came to an abrupt halt when she reached Los Angeles. “I stopped because I fell in love,” she recalls. She met her husband, a French architect, at Kaiser Permanente in Woodland Hills, where his business partner was hospitalized with cystic fibrosis. “[His partner] played matchmaker…he died a year before [my husband and I] were married,” she remembers wistfully.

Nineteen years later, Jakel is still married to the architect and is the proud mother of two teenagers. They’re a very physically active family, enjoying recreational activities such as snowboarding. Jakel recently spent eight days in New York with her daughter Mackenzie, who won several awards at a dancing competition. Her children join her in volunteer work at a no-kill animal shelter, located not far from their home in West Hills, Calif.

Nursing and family have been the focal points of Jakel’s life, and she has found a way to balance words and deeds. On top of her many years on the floor in scrubs, she has been an outspoken advocate for nursing. “I have one talent in this world,” she modestly proclaims, “and that is being a good public speaker.” Jakel makes regular presentations at national and local conferences, teaches oncology classes for nurses in training at UCLA and volunteers for the American Cancer Society and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Association, educating parents and volunteers. She’s also coauthoring a chapter for a book being written for primary care physicians on the challenges of caring for geriatric cancer patients in the home.

Jakel left nursing for a nine-year period to work on a NIH-funded research project, where she was involved in studies on cancer, Alzheimer’s, memory, methamphetamine addiction and cocaine addiction. Due to spending cuts, her position was eventually eliminated. Jakel was stung by this turn of events, especially as it happened a week after receiving her 20-year pin for service. “The administrators had no idea what I was doing,” she says. “It showed me I needed to be more verbal. I had to tell them that I had patients I had worked with for nine years that I needed to say good-bye to, like one woman with brain cancer.”

Continue reading on the next page->

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Today, Jakel is the CNS in a 26-bed Oncology Unit at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital. Following her around for a day, it’s obvious that she has earned both the respect and friendship of her staff, blending professionalism with a lighter, personal touch. During a typical morning shift, she jokes as she looks over statistics with Terry Taylor, the ACP who is on the verge of retirement. Roaming the halls, Jakel makes frequent stops for consultations with nurses, orderlies and resident doctors. As expected, not everything runs as smoothly as she would like. She rubs her forehead in frustration when given some bad news about a mistake almost made in a patient’s medication. She knocks on the door of a patient she describes as particularly elderly and frail, to make sure he hasn’t had an accident. “Falls are a huge issue,” she explains. “Medicare will not cover falls, bedsores, things like that. The hospital is responsible if someone hits their head, gets a hematoma and dies.” Emerging from the patient’s room, she continues, “The first line of defense is the family, to remain at the bedside, but sometimes it’s hard to get family members to stay here. It’s like a break for them.”

Jakel stops to mentor Monique Acosta, an RN, and Monica Coles, a nursing student. The conversation turns to a 19-year-old patient who recently died from gastric cancer. As they speak, a condolence card is being passed around and signed by everyone in the unit. “Ashley was an angel, and that’s a word I don’t often use to describe patients,” says Jakel. “She was so sweet and so brave, she never once complained….”

Dr. Michael Marra, a professor of Asian Languages and Culture at UCLA, is in the advanced stages of Leukemia. In a soft voice, he describes the treatment he is receiving as “stunning, just stunning,” praising the compassion he has found. “You’re in the dark tunnel now, “ Jakel tells him. “We’re going to get you through it.” She listens intently as Marra shares his views on life and death, which have been influenced by his interest in Eastern philosophies. “What is life? Life is something beautiful that you experience, and then it’s gone. There’s nothing strange about it.”

Their conversation turns to issues of quality of life and mercy. Jakel tells him that she has worked with elderly patients who, in the advanced stages of illness, are ready to die, but whose families influence them to do everything possible to prolong their lives. “We don’t let people die anymore. I struggle everyday with people well into their 80’s.” Marra shakes his head sadly. “It’s a natural process,” he says quietly.

Jakel estimates she has seen “hundreds of deaths in 27 years” on the job. “It doesn’t get easier; it gets different,” she says. “I have other areas where I can put my emotions now. I still cry. When Ashley died, I cried for days.” She shares stories about work with her children, believing it will help make them more compassionate. At the hospital, this open expression of feeling for her patients is not lost on her young mentees, who quickly discover that in the life-and-death world of oncology, tempering one’s compassion with the steely resolve to persevere is perhaps the greatest skill they can develop.

View Pattie's slideshow "A Day in the Life" on the next page->

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Pattie Jakel, Clinical Nurse Specialist in the Oncology Unit at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center.

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Pattie consults with one of her orderlies.

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CNS Pattie Jakel greets Leukemia patient Michael Marra, a professor of Asian Languages and Culture at UCLA.

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Pattie gives personal attention to Leukemia patient Michael Marra, a professor of Asian Languages & Cultures at UCLA.

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Pattie enjoys a lighter moment with RN Monique Acosta.

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Pattie Jakel, CNS of Oncology unit, goes over scheduling with ACP Terry Taylor.

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Pattie knocks on the door of a cancer patient she checks on regularly.

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Pattie signs some paperwork for Joseph Albert, a former UCLA grad student. The pair are writing a chapter together about caring for geriatric cancer patients at home, for a book for primary care physicians.

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Pattie mentors nursing student Monica Coles, while RN Monique Acosta signs a condolence card for the family of a young woman who recently succumbed to Gastric Cancer.

Medicine is the Best Laughter: Hilarious Nursing Jokes

NursingLink — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:27:00 -0700

Everyone needs a good laugh now and then. It can brighten your day or help you cheer someone up. A joke can help you develop a relationship with a patient or cool down a hostile situation at work.

Whether you are looking for something to make you smile or you need a few tidbits for your humor arsenal, you've come to the right place! Check out our favorite nursing jokes and then add your own in the discussion thread!

Three Nurses Went to Heaven...>>>

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Three nurses went to heaven, and were awaiting their turn with St. Peter to plead their case to enter the pearly gates.

The first nurse said, "I worked in an emergency room. We tried our best to help patients, even though occasionally we did lose one. I think I deserve to go to heaven." St. Peter looks at her file and admits her to heaven.

The second nurse says, "I worked in an operating room. It's a very high stress environment and we do our best. Sometimes the patients are too sick and we lose them, but overall we try very hard." St. Peter looks at her file and admits her to heaven.

The third nurse says, "I was a case manager for an HMO."

St. Peter looks at her file. He pulls out a calculator and starts punching away at it furiously, constantly going back to the nurse's file. After a few minutes St. Peter looks up, smiles, and says, "Congratulations! You've been admitted to heaven ... for five days!"

How Many Doctors Does It Take... >>>

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How many doctors does it take to change a light bulb?

Only one, but he has to have a nurse to tell him which end to screw in.

3 Nurses and a Wish >>>

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A nursing assistant, floor nurse, and charge nurse from a small nursing home were taking a lunch break in the break room. In walks a lady dressed in silk scarfs and wearing large polished stoned jewelery.

"I am 'Gina the Great'," stated the lady. "I am so pleased with the way you have taken care of my aunt that I will now grant the next three wishes!" With a wave of her hand and a puff of smoke, the room was filled with flowers, fruit and bottles of drink, proving that she did have the power to grant wishes before any of the nurses could think otherwise.

The nurses quickly aurgued among themselves as to which one would ask for the first wish. Speaking up, the nursing assistant wished first. "I wish I were on a tropical island beach, with single, well-built men feeding me fruit and tending to my every need." With a puff of smoke, the nursing assistant was gone.

The floor nurse went next."I wish I were rich and retired and spending my days in my own warm cabin at a ski resort with well groomed men feeding me coccoa and doughnuts." With a puff of smoke, she too was gone.

"Now, what is the last wish?" asked the lady.

The charge nurse said," I want those two back on the floor at the end of the lunch break."

Doctors on Strike... >>>

Courtesy of NursingFun.com.

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"Doctors at a hospital in Brooklyn, New York have gone on strike. Hospital officials say they will find out what the Doctors' demands are as soon as they can get a nurse over there to read the picket signs!"

The Ranks of a Hospital>>>

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Surgeon:

Leaps tall buildings in a single bound

Is more productive than a train

Is faster than a speeding bullet

Walks on water

Talks with God

Internist:

Leaps short buildings in a single bound

Is more powerful than a switch engine

Is faster than a speeding BB

Walks on water if the sea is calm

Talks with God if special request is approved

General Practitioner:

Leaps short buildings with a running start and favorable winds

Is almost as powerful as a switch engine

Nurse Practitioners:

Can fire a speeding bullet

Walks on water in an indoor swimming pool

Is occasionally addressed by God

Resident:

Barely clears a picket fence

Loses tug-of-war with a train

Can sometimes handle a gun without inflicting self-injury

Swims well

Talks with animals

Intern:

Makes high skid marks on a wall when trying to leap buildings

Is run over by a train

Is not issued ammunition

Dog paddles

Talks to walls

Medical Student:

Runs into buildings

Recognizes a train 2 out of 3 times

Wets himself with a water pistol

Cannot stay afloat without a life preserver

Mumbles to himself

Nurse:

Lifts buildings and walks under them

Kicks trains off the track

Catches speeding bullets with her teeth and eats them

Freezes water with a single glance

The Nurse IS God!!!!

Get Well Message from a Nurse...>>>

Courtesy of geocities.com/medicaljokes.

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A motorcycle patrolman was rushed to the hospital with an inflamed appendix. The doctors operated and advised him that all was well. However, the patrolman kept feeling something pulling at the hairs on his chest. Worried that it might be a second surgery the doctors hadn't told him about, he finally got enough energy to pull his hospital gown down enough so he could look at what was making him so uncomfortable.

Taped firmly across his hairy chest were three wide strips of adhesive tape, the kind that doesn't come off easily. Written in large black letters was the sentence.

"Get well quick..... from the nurse you gave a ticket to last week."

A Very Simple Operation...>>>

Courtesy of BasicJokes.com.

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A man was wheeling himself frantically down the hall of the hospital in his wheelchair, just before his operation. A nurse stopped him and asked, "What's the matter?"

He said, "I heard the nurse say, 'It's a very simple operation, don't worry, I'm sure it will be all right.'"

"She was just trying to comfort you, what's so frightening about that?"

"She wasn't talking to me. She was talking to the doctor!"

Never Anger Your Nurse >>>

Courtesy of BasicJokes.com.

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A big shot business man had to spend a couple of days in the hospital.

He was a royal pain to the nurses because he bossed them around just like he did his employees. None of the hospital staff wanted to have anything to do with him.

The head nurse was the only one who could stand up to him. She walked into his room and announced, "I have to take your temperature."

After complaining for several minutes, he finally settled down, crossed his arms and opened his mouth.

"No, I'm sorry, the nurse stated, "but for this reading, I can't use an oral thermometer."

This started another round of complaining, but eventually he rolled over and bared his behind.

After feeling the nurse insert the thermometer, he heard her announce, "I have to get something. Now you stay JUST LIKE THAT until I get back!"

She leaves the door to his room open on her way out. He curses under his breath as he hears people walking past his door, laughing. After almost an hour, the man's doctor comes into the room.

"What's going on here?" asked the doctor.

Angrily, the man answers, "What's the matter, Doc? Haven't you ever seen someone having their temperature taken before?"

After a pause, the doctor replies, "Yes, but never with a daffodil!"

Courtesy of JokesAboutNurses.com

Got a great nursing joke? Share it in the Nursing Humor forum!

8 Things You Should Never Say to a Patient

Nina Kim, Georgia Price | NursingLink — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:35:00 -0700

You don’t get to choose your patients. So your relationship with them can range anywhere from “match made in heaven” to “your worst nightmare.”

Any appointment can be a potentially difficult situation, mainly because when patients come to see you, they’re probably already anxious. They may be concerned about what’s ailing them, be uncomfortable with the sterile atmosphere, or have a general distrust of medical practitioners.

Regardless, proper patient care requires utmost clinical professionalism and good communication.

But “good communication” doesn’t necessarily mean “tell all.” While transparency is important, there are certainly things nurses should never say to their patients. Ever.

To help you keep your patients at ease, NursingLink came up with 8 things you should never say to them. We’ll also offer suggestions for what to say instead.

Next Page: #1 “This won’t hurt at all.” >>

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1. “This won’t hurt at all.”

As a trained healthcare professional, you of course want to put your patient at ease and avoid inflicting any unnecessary pain. But promising no pain is usually an outright lie and a bad habit of practice. The reality is that most procedures do hurt or at least cause some discomfort, so it’s important for you to be upfront and honest with your patients if you want to build a good rapport with them.

Instead of falsely reassuring your patient, try saying something more straightforward, like “This will hurt a little, but don’t worry, I’ll try to do it as quickly as possible” or “This might be a bit uncomfortable, but it’ll be over before you know it.” Your patient will appreciate your sincerity.

Next Page: #2 “I can’t seem to find your records.” >>

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2. “I can’t seem to find your records.”

Though being truthful with your patients is imperative, you also want to convey the utmost professionalism and the impression that they are receiving the best care possible. No patient likes to hear their records are missing, especially if they’re already in a physically vulnerable or painful situation.

This type of information is kept best to yourself and your staff, particularly because your patient has nothing to do with their missing records. Figure out where they went as quickly as possible and get on with the procedure, otherwise, you’re going to needlessly stress out your patient over a silly and easily preventable administrative hiccup.

Next Page: #3 “Whoops!” >>

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3. “Whoops!”

You always want to keep in mind how psychologically and physically vulnerable patients feel when they visit you for healthcare services. It’s a sterile environment, they’ve been anxious about their symptoms, and they may not understand everything that’s going on both medically and administratively amongst you and your staff.

That’s why you want to avoid any exclamations or sudden disruptions in your behavior or speech. Instead of immediately reacting to something that went wrong, wait until the end of the procedure to tell your patient what went wrong as eloquently and professionally as possible.

Next Page: #4 “I completely understand what you’re going through.” >>

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4. “I completely understand what you’re going through.”

Unless you’ve been in the exact same position as your patient – and let’s be honest, there’s no chance of that happening – you don’t understand what he/she is going through. You might have had a family member who battled breast cancer, but that doesn’t mean your experience is anything like that of your patient’s. What’s more, some patients don’t want to know how you are personally relating to them at this moment - they want you to help them heal.

Some patients respond well to personal anecdotes, but wait until you are more familiar with them and their diagnosis before you launch into your story about breaking your leg when you were 15.

Next Page: #5 “We’re very busy. Please wait.” >>

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5. “We’re very busy. Please wait.”

Whether it’s a busy ER or a peaceful dermatology department, one of the most frustrating things a patient can here is “We’re very busy. Please wait.” Of course, patients don’t always understand everything that is going on behind the scenes, but their irritation is still warranted. If you can, try to give patients a maximum number of minutes they could be waiting.

Trying to brush off a patient’s aggravation by saying you’re busy only makes things worse. Apologize and make your best attempt to smooth things over once the patient is able to be seen.

Next Page: #6 “Would you look at that?!” >>

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6. “Would you look at that?!”

Any exclamation of shock or awe is a major no-no in nursing. You may run into a patient with an injury or symptom you’ve never even heard about, but refrain from actually telling them that. Patients are putting their lives in your hands and they want to know (or at least think!) that you’ve been around the block and back.

Next Page: #7 “It could be worse.” >>

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7. “It could be worse.”

Of course it could be worse, the patient knows that! Whether they have the common cold or a terminal illness, they aren’t likely to be focusing on how much worse things could get. Instead, patients are worried about the diagnosis, the healing process, the cost of care, if they can still work and an assortment of those fears. Plus, it could get worse.

Next Page: #8 “I doubt it’s anything serious.” >>

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8. “I doubt it’s anything serious.”

You might think you’re quelling any fears, but what if you’re wrong? Sure, you have tons of medical knowledge and probably see terrible injuries every day, but the one thing you can’t do is predict the future. Will that wound become infected? Will that benign mass turn malignant? You never know. And while 9 out of 10 times you might be right, that one mistake can come back to haunt you.

Instead of trying to comfort a patient by brushing off their fears, be honest about their diagnosis and the amazing level of care they will receive in your facility.

Bonus: 10 Things to NEVER Say to a Nurse

Sound Off! Things You Should Never Say to a Patient

Inspirational Quotes Every Nurse Should Read

NursingLink — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:59:00 -0700

A good quote can lift you up when you're feeling blue. It can inspire you to reach your goals. It can even make you laugh out loud. NursingLink members shared some of their favorites and we'd like to share some of ours.

As a nurse (or aspiring nurse!), you probably face obstacles every day - whether it's helping a patient overcome pain, studying for your boards, or facing off against a doctor. If you need to be reminded of why being a nurse is such an amazing experience, take a look at the following quotes for some inspiring words.

Get Inspired Now!

Inspirational Quotes Every Nurse Should Read

NursingLink — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:57:00 -0700

"Constant attention by a good nurse may be just as important as a major operation by a surgeon."

- Dag Hammarskjold

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Submitted by AustinNurse12

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"To do what nobody else will do, a way that nobody else can do, in spite of all we go through; that is to be a nurse."

- Rawsi Williams

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Submitted by nurseaisha

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"The trained nurse has become one of the great blessings of humanity, taking a place beside the physician and the priest."

- William Osler

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"Panic plays no part in the training of a nurse."

- Elizabeth Kenny

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Submitted by BlueGrassNurse

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"The most important practical lesson than can be given to nurses is to teach them what to observe."

- Florence Nightingale

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"Nurses may not be angels, but they are the next best thing."

- Anonymous Patient

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Submitted by RED2000

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"Nurses dispense comfort, compassion, and caring without even a prescription."

- Val Saintsbury

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N-uturing

U-understanding

R-eally great

S-uper smart

E-ager to work hard!

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Submitted by MAMADAWN

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"Nursing encompasses an art, a humanistic orientation, a feeling for the value of the individual, and an intuitive sense of ethics, and of the appropriateness of action taken."

- Myrtle Aydelotte

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"Nursing is an art: and if it is to be made an art, it requires an exclusive devotion as hard a preparation, as any painter's or sculptor's work; for what is the having to do with dead canvas or dead marble, compared with having to do with the living body, the temple of God's spirit? It is one of the Fine Arts: I had almost said, the finest of Fine Arts."

- Florence Nightingale

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Submitted by nurseaisha

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"Whether a person is a male or female, a nurse is a nurse."

- Gary Veale

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"We often think of nursing as giving meds on time, checking an X-ray to see if the doctor needs to be called, or taking an admission at 2:00 a.m. with a smile on our faces. Too often, we forget all the other things that make our job what it truly is—caring and having a desire to make a difference."

- Erin Pettengill, RN, quoted in RN Modern Medicine

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"Bound by paperwork, short on hands, sleep, and energy… nurses are rarely short on caring."

- Sharon Hudacek

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"Our job as nurses is to cushion the sorrow and celebrate the joy, everyday, while we are 'just doing our jobs.'"

- Christine Belle, RN, BSN

Is your favorite quote missing? Submit it now and we'll add it to the last!

Become a Nurse - Career Specialties

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:49:00 -0700

Most registered nurses choose to follow a career path focused on a specific nursing specialty that fits their personality and intellectual interests. Some specialties involve being certified by a professional board or association which will often increase a nurse's wages and long-term promotion potential. Below are links to several profiles of popular nursing specialties. Each profile includes the average salary and educational requirements for nurses in that specialty field. Links to related professional organizations are also provided. For more generalized information on choosing a specialty, see "Find your nursing niche" and "Find a Nursing Specialty".

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Advanced Practice Nurse

Ambulatory Care Nurse

Camp Nurse

Cardiac Care Nurse

Case Manager

Certified Nursing Assistant

Clinical Nurse Specialist

Community Health Nurse

Correctional Nurse

Critical Care Nurse

Dermatology Nurse

Developmental Disabilities Nurse

Diabetes Management Nurse

Gerontological Nurse Practitioner

Gynecology/Obstetric Nurse

Hematology Nurse

HIV/AIDS Nurse

Holistic Nurse

Home Health Care Nurse

Hospice/Palliative Nurse

Infection Control Nurse

Informatics Nurse

Infusion Nurse

Labor and Delivery Nurse

Lactation Consultant

Legal Nurse Consultant

Licensed Practical Nurse

Long-Term Care Nurse

Managed Care Nurse

Medical-Surgical Nurse

Occupational Health Nurse

Oncology Nurse

Ophthalmic Nurse

Orthopaedic Nurse

Otorhinolaryngology (Head and Neck) Nurse

Pain Management Nurse

Parish Nurse

Pediatric Endocrinology Nurse

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Plastic Surgery Nurse

Poison Information Specialist

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Sports Medicine Specialist

Sub-acute Nurse

Substance Abuse Nurse

Supplemental Nurse

Surgical Nurse

Telemetry Nurse

Telephone Triage Nurse

Wound and Ostomy Nurse

Questions You Must Ask Yourself Before Entering Nursing School

Arianna Jordan / ArticlesBase — Tue, 26 May 2009 11:17:00 -0700

Are you considering a career in nursing? Before you enter nursing school, there are a few things you should know. Most of them have to do with getting to know yourself, and a few have to do with understanding the nursing profession. If you are thinking of entering nursing school, here are some of the things you should be considering.

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What nursing field do you want to specialize in?

There are many different fields within the nursing profession, and most of them have very specific requirements for education and licensing. If you’re dreaming of being a Public Health nurse, for instance, there are licensing requirements and special courses that you’ll need to take. Knowing those things will make your decision of where to go to nursing school far easier, you can eliminate any nursing school that doesn’t offer the required courses.

If you do not know what kind of nursing you want to do, or even whether you really want to be a nurse, there are many different ways to get some practical experience in nursing before you start nursing school. Volunteer in a hospital or nursing home to see what nurses do first hand. Talk with neighbors and relatives who are nurses and learn more about their jobs. Ask specific questions. Find out what they like about their positions, and what they would like to see improved. Becoming knowledgeable about these aspects, yourself and about the career as a whole will make it easier for you to start planning your education and your career.

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What are your short term and long term career goals?

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One of the advantages of choosing a career in nursing is that you can often work your way up the career ladder while you gain more advanced degrees. Setting up a plan to do that will make it far easier to take advantage of opportunities like tuition reimbursement. It’s fairly easy these days to get an Associate’s Degree in Nursing, which is your first step on the career ladder. That ADN will be your main requirement for a job in nursing, which will often include tuition reimbursement and other assistance from your employer in pursuing a more advanced degree. That kind of advance planning can help you decide which schools to attend, which ones your company will reimburse, and which courses to take. You may also find that your job experience gives you a leg up on your practicum that’s required to advance in some nursing courses.

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Do you intend to get an advanced nursing degree?

If you already know that you intend to get an advanced nursing degree, find out what is exactly required to reach that level before you start your nursing school education. It is far easier to map your education from the end backwards, so to speak, because you will be able to plan your courses and classes to fulfill as many requirements along the way as you can. You can also use that knowledge to try to arrange work in the field where you want to end up. If you know that you’ll need to do a turn on a med-surgery floor as part of your requirements for a degree next year, you can try to arrange that in advance through your work. If you know that a class you want to take in two years has a prerequisite, you can try to take it before you even enroll in nursing school.

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The three major nursing degrees are:

LPN – Licensed Practical Nurse - An LPN program is a diploma program that takes about a year. As an LPN you’ll be able to do some patient care under the direction of doctors and registered nurses.

ADN – Associates Degree in Nursing - An ADN typically takes about two years to complete and is generally given at a community college. As an ADN, you will often be able to apply for licensing and registration in your state and will be able to do direct patient care in most settings.

BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing - A BSN is a four year program that prepares you to work in most care settings. If you intend to eventually get a Masters in Nursing, or would like to get into nursing management, a BSN is your best choice.

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What kind of nursing degree do you need to do the work you want to do?

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Find out the requirements for the kind of nursing that you want to do. Will you need a BS in Nursing? Can you learn what you need in a hospital certificate program? Is an LPN course right for you? Once you have figured out which degree you want to get, you can start looking at nursing schools that offer that degree. Some things you might consider when choosing are:

- Am I academically equipped for this program?

- Can I get financial aid for nursing school?

- Can I get tuition reimbursement from my employer for nursing school?

- Is the school you’re considering accredited?

- Do you want to attend nursing school online?

Arianna Jordan is a freelance writer who writes about the nursing profession.

Answers to the Would You Pass the NCLEX? Part III

Tue, 19 May 2009 12:08:00 -0700

NursingLink created the Would You Pass the NCLEX Quiz, Part III to test how much you know about eating right. We listened to your feedback and are providing the answers so you can learn from the quiz.

h4. Don't cheat! If you haven't taken the Would You Pass the NCLEX Quiz, Part III yet, go take it first.

See answers on the next page...

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1. Situation– Mr. Dizon, 84 years old, brought to the Emergency Room for complaint of hypertension, flushed face, severe headache, and nausea. You are doing the initial assessment of vital signs. You are to measure the client’s initial blood pressure reading by doing all of the following EXCEPT:

* Take the blood pressure reading on both arms for comparison

* Listen to and identify the phases of Korotkoff’s sound

* Pump the cuff to around 50 mmHg above the point where the pulse is obliterated- Correct answer!

* Observe procedures for infection control

2. A pulse oximeter is attached to Mr. Dizon’s finger to:

* Determine if the client’s hemoglobin level is low and if he needs blood transfusion

* Check level of client’s tissue perfusion

* Measure the efficacy of the client’s anti-hypertensive medications

* Detect oxygen saturation of arterial blood before symptoms of hypoxemia develops- Correct answer!

3. In which type of shock does the patient experiences a mismatch of blood flow to the cells?

* Distributive- Correct answer!

* Cardiogenic

* Hypovolemic

* Septic

4. The preferred route of administration of medication in the most acute care situations is which of the following routes?

* Intravenous- Correct answer!

* Epidural

* Subcutaneous

* Intramuscular

5. After a few hours in the Emergency Room, Mr. Dizon is admitted to the ward with an order of hourly monitoring of blood pressure. The nurse finds that the cuff is too narrow and this will cause the blood pressure reading to be:

* inconsistent

* low systolic and high diastolic

* higher than what the reading should be- Correct answer!

* lower than what the reading should be

6. Through the client’s health history, you gather that Mr. Dizon smokes and drinks coffee. When taking the blood pressure of a client who recently smoked or drank coffee, how long should the nurse wait before taking the client’s blood pressure for accurate reading?

* 15 minutes

* 30 minutes- Correct answer!

* 1 hour

* 5 minutes

7. While the client has pulse oximeter on his fingertip, you notice that the sunlight is shining on the area where the oximeter is. Your action will be to:

* Set and turn on the alarm of the oximeter

* Do nothing since there is no identified problem

* Cover the fingertip sensor with a towel or bedsheet- Correct answer!

* Change the location of the sensor every four hours

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8. When taking blood pressure reading, the cuff should be:

* deflated fully then immediately start second reading for same client- Correct answer!

* deflated quickly after inflating up to 180 mmHg

* large enough to wrap around upper arm of the adult client 1 cm above brachial artery

* inflated to 30 mmHg above the estimated systolic BP based on palpation of radial or bronchial artery

9. To ensure client safety before starting blood transfusions the following are needed before the procedure can be done EXCEPT:

* take baseline vital signs

* blood should be warmed to room temperature for 30 minutes before blood transfusions is administered- Correct answer!

* have two nurses verify client identification, blood type, unit number and expiration date of blood

* get consent signed for blood transfusion

10. Mr. Bruno asks what the “normal” allowable salt intake is. Your best response to Mr. Bruno is:

* 1 tsp of salt/day with iodine and sprinkle of MSG

* 5 gms per day or 1 tsp of table salt/day

* 1 tbsp of salt/day with some soy sauce

* 1 tsp of salt/day but no soy sauce- Correct answer!

11. Which of the following methods is the best method for determining nasogastric tube placement in the stomach?

* X-ray- Correct answer!

* Observation of gastric aspirate

* Testing of pH of gastric aspirate

* Placement of external end of tube under water

12. Which of the following is the most important risk factor for development of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease?

* Cigarette smoking- Correct answer!

* Occupational exposure

* Air pollution

* Genetic abnormalities

13. When performing endotracheal suctioning, the nurse applies suctioning while withdrawing and gently rotating the catheter 360 degrees for which of the following time periods?

* 10-15 seconds- Correct answer!

* 30-35 seconds

* 20-25 seconds

* 0-5 seconds

14. The nurse auscultates the apex beat at which of the following anatomical locations?

* Fifth intercostal space, midclavicular line- Correct answer!

* Mid-sternum

* 2” to the left of the lower end of the sternum

* 1” to the left of the xiphoid process

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15. Which of the following terms describes the amount of blood ejected per heartbeat?

* Stroke volume- Correct answer!

* Cardiac output

* Ejection fraction

* Afterload

16. You are to apply a transdermal patch of nitoglycerin to your client. The following are important guidelines to observe EXCEPT:

* Apply to hairless clean area of the skin not subject to much wrinkling

* Patches may be applied to distal part of the extremities like forearm- Correct answer!

* Change application and site regularly to prevent irritation of the skin

* Wear gloves to avoid any medication on your hand

17. The GAUGE size in ET tubes determines:

* The external circumference of the tube

* The internal diameter of the tube- Correct answer!

* The length of the tube

* The tube’s volumetric capacity

18. The nurse is correct in performing suctioning when she applies the suction intermittently during:

* Insertion of the suction catheter

* Withdrawing of the suction catheter- Correct answer!

* both insertion and withdrawing of the suction catheter

* When the suction catheter tip reaches the bifurcation of the trachea

19. The purpose of the cuff in Tracheostomy tube is to:

* Separate the upper and lower airway- Correct answer!

* Separate trachea from the esophagus

* Separate the larynx from the nasopharynx

* Secure the placement of the tube

20. Which priority nursing diagnosis is applicable for a patient with indwelling urinary catheter?

* Self esteem disturbance

* Impaired urinary elimination

* Impaired skin integrity

* Risk for infection- Correct answer!

21. An incontinent elderly client frequently wets his bed and eventually develop redness and skin excoriation at the perianal area. The best nursing goal for this client is to:

* Make sure that the bed linen is always dry

* Frequently check the bed for wetness and always keep it dry

* Place a rubber sheet under the client’s buttocks

* Keep the patient clean and dry- Correct answer!

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Take more quizzes:

Comprehensive NCLEX Study Guide Quizzes

And more!

5 Reasons You Should Become a Nurse in 2009

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:21:00 -0700

Have you always thought about becoming a nurse? Make your dream profession a reality! Read more about the top 5 reasons why 2009 is the year to break into the nursing profession.

#1: Demand

#2 Recession Proof

#3 Salary Raise

#4 Rewarding Profession

#5 The Best Time to Go Back to School

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#1: Demand

While the economy might be headed towards a recession, the nursing industry is booming. Employment of registered nurses is expected to grow 23% in the next seven years, a much faster rate than the average profession.

As baby boomers retire from their jobs they increasingly rely on people to care for their health. Growth will also be driven by technological advances in patient care, which permit a greater number of health problems to be treated, and by an increasing emphasis on preventive care.

However, employment of RNs will not grow at the same rate in every industry. The projected growth rates for RNs in the industries with the highest employment of these workers are:

Percent

Offices of physicians 39

Home health care services 39

Outpatient care centers 34

Employment services 27

General medical and surgical hospitals,
public and private Nursing care facilities 22

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Overall job opportunities are expected to be excellent for registered nurses. Employers in some parts of the country and in certain employment settings report difficulty in attracting and retaining an adequate number of RNs, primarily because of an aging RN workforce and a lack of younger workers to fill positions. Enrollments in nursing programs at all levels have increased more rapidly in the past few years as students seek jobs with stable employment. However, many qualified applicants are being turned away because of a shortage of nursing faculty. The need for nursing faculty will only increase as many instructors near retirement. Many employers also are relying on foreign-educated nurses to fill vacant positions.

Although faster employment growth is projected in physicians’ offices and outpatient care centers, RNs may face greater competition for these positions because they generally offer regular working hours and more comfortable working environments. There also may be some competition for jobs in employment services, despite a high rate of employment growth, because a large number of workers are attracted by the industry’s relatively high wages and the flexibility of the work in this industry.

Generally, RNs with at least a bachelor’s degree will have better job prospects than those without a bachelor’s. In addition, all four advanced practice specialties—clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, nurse-midwives, and nurse anesthetists—will be in high demand, particularly in medically underserved areas such as inner cities and rural areas.

- by bls.gov

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#2 Recession Proof

Markets may go up and down like a rollercoaster, , but people will always get sick. Nurses are on the front-line of healthcare and it is for this reason that Nursing is a recession proof job. More so than another other industry in America, the healthcare industry is has air-tight job security.

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Because nursing is so recession-proof, now is the perfect time to switch careers. To help fill the dire need for nurses, the industry is turning to males (nurses are currently 90% female). According to John Rossheim, a Senior Contributing writer at Monster, “Men who choose nursing as a second career will join the ranks of the country's 2.9 million licensed RNs - of whom fewer than 200,000 are male, according to government figures. "Very few male teenagers have the nerve to buck social trends and tell their peers that they want to be a nurse," says Sandy Summers, RN, executive director of the Center for Nursing Advocacy.

Men who go into nursing will quickly learn social pressure isn't the only challenge their career change might raise. "Firefighters and police officers who train to be nurses all come back and say nursing is the hardest thing they've ever done," says Richard S. Ferri, author of the novel Confessions of a Male Nurse and a nurse practitioner who has led national AIDS nursing organizations.”

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#3 Salary Raise

As the most in-demand healthcare occupation, and one of the fastest growing careers in the nation, registered nurses can expect to see their salaries, and other benefits, grow in 2009. More and more employers are offering sweet incentives such as sign-on bonuses, tuition reimbursement, and more flexible hours in order to entice nurses to work in their facilities.

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Median 2008 Salary

$57,208

Projected 2009 Median Salary

With 4% Increase: $63,504

With a 3.8% Increase: $61,062

With a 2.7% Increase: $58,827

Projected Need, 2006 – 2016:

1,001,000

- by Georgia Price

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#4 Rewarding Profession

Monster contributing writer, Megan Malugani, shares what moments make become a nurse worthwhile:
Day in and day out, nursing can take a toll on even the most motivated RN. Staying optimistic while working long hours in less-than-optimal conditions - not to mention dealing with irate patients, colleagues and supervisors - can be a monumental challenge that may at times cause you to second-guess your choice of profession. Thankfully, though, a moment or situation occasionally occurs that makes it all worthwhile and validates your decision to become a nurse.

Three veteran nurses share memorable “aha” moments in their careers.

The Circle of Life

Karen Lowe, an emergency room/triage nurse at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, can tick off at least three such moments in her 26-year career. Her most recent one can be attributed to the impeccable timing of a laboring mother and her very vocal newborn.

Lowe was caring for an 82-year-old oncology patient who’d come into the ER with abdominal pain and needed pain medication before being sent to another unit. Despite her considerable pain, the patient - who’d previously undergone chemotherapy and radiation - had a positive attitude and a pleasant demeanor.

At the same time Lowe was caring for the oncology patient, a woman was in labor in the room next door. As the laboring mom screamed at the top of her lungs, her baby emerged at the same moment, also screaming. The elderly oncology patient “just smiled and said ‘thank you,’” Lowe said. “She’d just heard the birth of a baby, and it was very exciting and special for her.” For Lowe, a simple smile from a patient can work wonders in outweighing the negatives of nursing. “It’s kind of nice that another patient was able to help bring a smile to my patient’s face,” she said.

Life Lessons

Sandy Cochran, a certified wound ostomy continence nurse at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, says her life was touched by a strong-willed patient in 2007. The 42-year-old woman, who had used a wheelchair since childhood, had a chronic disorder that caused frequent hospitalizations due to infections. She went to Fox Chase for an ostomy surgery, and was expected to stay in Cochran’s unit for a month at most. The patient ended up staying for nine months - almost unheard of in an acute-care setting - and her wounds and ostomy care needs were very complicated.

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“It was very challenging to care for her, and she had this strong-willed personality,” Cochran said. “Nine months in the hospital with us - the majority of her time in bed - was not her plan.” Cochran doesn’t sugarcoat the experience of caring for the patient, who had a supportive husband and had held a full-time job prior to her hospitalization. “She had a sweet side, but she got where she was in life because of her strong personality,” Cochran said. “She drained us, physically and mentally.”

The “aha” moment in Cochran’s experience of caring for this patient came when it was finally time for the patient to leave the hospital for a rehabilitation facility. The last time Cochran saw the patient, they hugged. “She said, ‘I’m never going to forget what you did for me,’” Cochran said. “She said, ‘I wasn’t joking when I said that I’m going to cook you a meal. You don’t know what I can do.’”

Two weeks after her discharge, the patient unexpectedly died at the rehab facility. Fox Chase staff filled an entire pew at the funeral. “She taught us a lot of life lessons,” Cochran said. Thanks to this patient, “we did a lot of learning in our profession and our lives.”

Serving the Underserved

Carl Helvie’s “aha” moment is equally bittersweet. Helvie, an RN who holds a doctorate in public health, received a grant from the Division of Nursing at the National Institutes of Health to run a healthcare center in a homeless shelter in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in the late 1990s. More than 120 people per month - with conditions including diabetes, hypertension and cancer - were served by the center.

Helvie’s grant expired after just over three years and was not renewed. However, there was a silver lining to the center’s closing: When former patients of the center heard its days were numbered, they came to tell Helvie their stories.

“One woman in her early 40s came and said she was so sorry that we were closing and that she would not have survived without our center,” Helvie said. “She had never had any kind of healthcare in the past, and without our services she never would have been diagnosed with breast cancer. It was definitely an ‘aha’ moment. At times like that I feel like we have done something to honor God and to honor our profession of nursing.”

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#5 The Best Time to Go Back to School

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Before you realize your dream of becoming a nurse, you must first earn your nursing degree. With the current recession, now is the perfect time to go back to school. Monster writer, Peter Vogt, explains the difference between all the different kinds of nursing degrees.

Diploma in Nursing: Heavy on clinical experience and light on theory, diploma programs are usually hospital-based, although these days some hospitals run programs in collaboration with local community colleges, Turner says. You’ll need a high school diploma or GED to enroll, but whatever your educational background, you’ll need two to three years to get your diploma and become eligible for RN status.

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN): Offered through community and technical colleges, an ADN can be completed in as little as two years if you took all the science prerequisites (typically microbiology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, algebra and psychology) in high school. It will take you three or even three-and-a-half years if you need the science prerequisites, which are part of every nursing program, to complete your ADN. Once you’ve finished your ADN, which is also known as an associate of science (AS) or associate of applied science (AAS), depending on the school, you’ll be eligible to become an RN.

Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN): Because of its educational depth, the BSN has become the degree employers prefer. As Turner points out, it often takes about the same amount of time to complete, practically speaking, as it would for you to fulfill all of your science prerequisites and get an ADN. So in the end, she says, the BSN gives you “more cluck for your buck.” If you don’t already have a bachelor’s in another field, you’ll need four years to complete a BSN. But if you do have a bachelor’s, look into:

Accelerated Programs: If you have a bachelor’s in a non-science-oriented field like English and want your BSN as quickly as possible, you can enter one of the country’s more than 160 accelerated BSN programs and earn your degree in two to two-and-a-half years. If your first bachelor’s is in a science-oriented field like biology, you’ll probably be able to complete an accelerated BSN program in 12 to 18 months, since you already will have taken some or all of the BSN program’s science prerequisites.

Regularly Paced Programs: These programs cover the same ground as the accelerated BSN programs at a normal pace. If your first bachelor’s is not in a science-oriented field, you’re looking at three years to completion. With a science-oriented bachelor’s, you can finish in two years. Of course, you’ll also need to pass your state’s National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) to get your state RN license.

2009 Registered Nurse Salary Projections

Georgia Price / NursingLink — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:20:00 -0700

As the most in-demand healthcare occupation, and one of the fastest growing careers in the nation, registered nurses can expect to see their salaries, and other benefits, grow in 2009. More and more employers are offering sweet incentives such as sign-on bonuses, tuition reimbursement, and more flexible hours in order to entice nurses to work in their facilities.

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Median 2008 Salary

$57,208

Projected 2009 Median Salary

With 4% Increase: $63,504

With a 3.8% Increase: $61,062

With a 2.7% Increase: $58,827

Projected Need, 2006 – 2016:

1,001,000

More Nursing Career Help

5 Best States for Nursing Jobs

10 Hottest Nursing Specialties for 2009

10 Highest Paying Nursing Specialties

5 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Nursing Education

5 Top Hospitals That Will Pay for Your Education

Five Nursing Specialties That Offer Promise and Excitement

Jeff Morrow / Articlesbase — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:56:00 -0700

It is no big secret that the upcoming retirement of the baby boomers will put enormous strain on the health care industry. While this may not be great times for hospital management, qualified nurses are in high demand and enjoy many job benefits including sign on bonuses, tuition reimbursement, and retention bonuses.

There are hundreds of career avenues for nurses, but here are five career paths that show an especially high social need and can offer nurses both financial and career satisfaction.

      1. Home Health Care Nurses

      2. Staff Nurses

      3. School Nurses

      4. Forensic Nurses

      5. Legal Nurse Consultants

      See more nurse specialties

[page]

When you work as a home health care nurse in private homes, you prepare meals, offer basic bedside care, and emotional comfort. You track vital signs such as blood pressure, respiration, and pulse. You can help family members learn basic nursing tasks.

The average income for a home health nurse is about $35,000 for this nursing position. To work as as a home health care nurse, you need to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN). You can attend a community college or vocational schools for about a year. The need for geriatric care is projected to drive up the demand for LPNs and should offer you good job prospects.

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Next: Staff nurses

See more nurse specialties

Back to main page

[page]

Staff nurses work in all the places you normally think of when you think of nurses like hospitals, clinics, and doctor's offices. As a staff nurse, you generally work alongside physicians in all specializations. You record medical conditions, treat patient symptoms, perform tests and analyze their results. You also administer treatments and medications. The median salary for a hospital staff nurse is about $53,500 per year.

To open the door to a staff nursing career, you need a registered nurse (RN) certification. To get there you need to earn bachelor of science in nursing degree (BSN) , an associates' degree in nursing (ADN), or graduate from a certificate programs. With a more advance degree, you have more job options and you are more likely to get a job at a higher caliber facility.

Next: School nurses

See more nurse specialties

Back to main page

[page]

Much has changed since 1902 when school nursing began in the United States. A school nurse's duties have greatly expanded since then. Today's school nurse provides health assessment, intervention, and follow-up with students. You ensure the health and safety of the schools staff and students by helping to maintain the school's compliance with health care policies. School nurses can also refer students for more medical help when hearing, vision, and other issues become inhibitors to successful learning.

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Generally, you should already be a Registered Nurse (RN), and ideally, you should also hold a bachelor's degree in nursing. Furthering a career in this field, a master's degree in nursing or a MBA in health care will provide you career mobility and offers of policy-level positions. Many school nurses hold not only a Nurse Practitioner (NP) certification, but an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) certification.

Next: Forensic nurses

See more nurse specialties

Back to main page

[page]

Help solve crimes by becoming a forensic nurse. If you hold your your RN certification you can begin a career in forensic nursing. Forensic nurses assist in criminal investigations of accidental death, sexual assault, homicide, and other criminal cases. Then, forensic nurses testify about their findings in court. When specializing in this field, you will spend the least amount of your time in patient contact.

You must hold a current RN certification, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Further course work or a degree in law enforcement or criminal justice will offer you an added edge for forensic nurse job openings. Specialized forensic nursing certifications are available online.

Next: Legal nurse consultants

See more nurse specialties

Back to main page

[page]

If you have an interest in law and if you are a registered nurse you can enter the lucrative field of legal nurse consulting. A legal nurse consultant acts as a health care liaison with attorneys, physicians, and other clients. Legal nurse consultants are needed in law firms, government offices, hospital risk management departments, and other health care or legal-related business.

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Probably the quickest path into this profession is to earn a legal nurse consulting certificate. Otherwise an RN certification, or ideally a bachelor of science degree in nursing, and a solid educational background in the legal system is necessary to become a legal nurse consultant. Earning a See more nurse specialties

Back to main page

Jeff Morrow writes about employment issues for nurses. Find a community of nurses, all advertised nursing jobs, and many free RN resources at My-Nursing-Career.com.

Nurses Can Enter Legal Field As Expert Witnesses

Elizabeth Rudolph, JD, MSN, RN — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 14:19:00 -0800

Nurses can now become expert witnesses, a field previously dominated by physicians. All nurses, regardless of education or specialty, interested in expanding their career options to be nurse expert witnesses will learn skills for this new career at a two-day legal nurse certification course in four locations this spring which are offered by Jurex Center For Legal Nurse Consulting, www.jurexnurse.com.

The Professional Legal Nurse Consultant^TM 2-Day certification live course locations are:

• March 21 & 22, Nashville, TN

• March 28 & 29, Miami, FL

• April 25 & 26, Phoenix, AZ

• May 30 & 31, Washington, D.C. area

The two-day certification course, Be a Professional Legal Nurse Consultant^TM, teaches nurses how to partner with attorneys to review medical records in medical-legal cases as well as how to market their skills to the legal community.

Professional Legal Nurse Consultants^TM provide an invaluable service to the legal community. PLNC^TM certification courses are designed to give nurses more choices and the tools they need to exercise those choices.

In addition to the live course, PLNC^TM certification is available by e-course, audio Course and video Course. Each course can be completed in two days and covers the basics of starting a legal nurse consulting business plus a general primer on the law.

For more information or to register, go to www.JurexNurse.com or (901) 496-5447.

The Pros and Cons of Travel Nursing

C. Mike Emery, RN — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:53:00 -0800

Many nurses wonder with excitement what it would be like being a travel nurse? Like any career choice, the decision to become a traveling nurse should be a decision made with care and consideration. The truth is that there are many great things that a travel nursing career offers. However, travel nursing does have a downside and is important that nurses know both the downsides and upsides before committing to an assignment. The purpose of this article is to expose the pros and cons of travel nursing.

h4. The Pros of Travel Nursing

• 1) Hospital Politics. The typical travel assignment is for 13 weeks. Therefore, it is very difficult to get sucked into the politics that tend to unfortunately creep into many nursing units. There is probably not an experienced nurse anywhere that doesn't understand the frustrations associated with the negative dynamics or "politics" that can take place between fellow nurses, managers, administration and physicians. Travel nurses have no obligation to stick around and deal with these dynamics.

• 2) A Working Vacation. Travel Nurses can truly see the country. If a nurse is tired of snow, cold and sleet then how about Florida, Arizona, California or Hawaii? On the other side if the nurse doesn't care to work in the blazing summer heat in Arizona then how about Alaska or Maine? Travel nursing makes the nursing profession portable. Therefore travel nurses can vagabond across the country and have the luxury of having their job follow them.

• 3) More Money. Many nurses that become travel nurses enjoy a pay increase. There are contract completion bonuses, tax breaks, loyalty and referral bonuses. Most travel companies also pay weekly, with some offering daily pay.

• 4) Resume Enhancement. A travel nursing career can allow nurses to become part of a team and work side by side with some of the greatest healthcare minds in the world. Travel nurses can work on the cutting edge of medicine.

• 5) Relocation. We've all heard the old saying "try it before your buy it". Well, travel nursing does just that. Nurses considering relocating can take short 13 week assignments in areas they are considering. Travel nursing gives these nurses a short stint of what it would actually be like living in the area.

h4. The Cons of Travel Nursing

• 1) Advancement. Travel nursing careers tend to be more bedside, hands on clinical nursing. It is difficult to move up the corporate ladder as a travel nurse. If nursing management is your career goal, then that will be difficult to find as a travel nurse. However, travel nursing can provide a great skill set to help make nurses better mangers.

• 2) Cross Training. Travel nurses tend to work in their current area of specialty only. Nurses that wish to travel under a specialty that is different than their experience will be sorely disappointed. Hospitals expect travel nurses to be able to hit the floor running with minimal orientation and will not invest several weeks of orientation into a travel nurse with a desire to try a new clinical specialty. Some hospitals require one year current experience in a specialty, however, most require a minimum of two and prefer three or more year's experience.

• 3) Experience. Travel nursing opportunities are rarely, if ever, available to new graduates or nurses with less than one year experience in their area of specialty. Most hospitals prefer two or more years. Nurses with less than one year experience should expect to put travel nursing on hold until the amount of experience is achieved.

• 4) Loneliness. Travel nurses that go it alone can become lonely or homesick. Many travel nurses bring their family or pet along with them to keep them company.

Four Skills You Can Transfer to a Nursing Career

Megan Malugani / Monster Contributing Writer — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:31:00 -0800

If you’re a newcomer to healthcare or are considering entering it, you may think your job history and experiences outside the field are irrelevant. You’re wrong. Many of your strengths and skills - whether they include customer-service expertise or the ability to multitask under pressure - are probably more relevant and transferable to healthcare than you realize. A healthcare professional and two recruiters offer a rundown on some valuable transferable skills as well as advice on how to showcase such attributes during your job search.

Compassion and Empathy

Strong Communication Skills

Customer-Service Know-How

Grace Under Pressure

How to Showcase Your Transferable Skills

[page]

Compassion and Empathy

Tony Rush, a nurse in the orthopedic trauma unit at a major medical center in Rochester, Minnesota, was in the seminary for several years after high school but ultimately decided not to enter the priesthood. He then worked as a counselor for troubled and refugee youth before entering nursing. Rush says his seminary training and counseling experiences sharpened some of the strengths - empathy and compassion for the poor and troubled, good listening skills, an understanding of different cultures, and a respect for teamwork - that make him a good nurse. “If I [had] gone into nursing right out of high school I wouldn’t be the RN I am now,” he says.

[page]

Strong Communication Skills

Speaking clearly and listening carefully are other transferable skills that are indispensable for people who hope to be at the bedside providing quality healthcare, says Gabriel Heckt, a vice president at healthcare recruiting firm Martin, Fletcher. Clinicians must communicate effectively not only with patients, but also with physicians, managers, colleagues and patients’ families. The ability to provide accurate and concise documentation is also very important in healthcare, Heckt notes. A new clinician’s communication skills could have been tested and improved in many nonhealthcare job situations, such as speaking up in meetings, writing stellar memos and understanding the verbal and nonverbal language of the 2-year-old child she nannied.

[page]

Customer-Service Know-How:

Rush jokes that every nurse should have worked as a waitperson before entering nursing (although he never waited tables himself). Good servers must be organized and able to multitask, as must good nurses, Rush says. More importantly, good wait staff, like good front-line healthcare workers, must provide satisfactory customer service. “Hospitals are judged on patient satisfaction,” Heckt says, noting that outgoing hospital patients evaluate workers on whether they were “friendly/not friendly,” “helpful/not helpful” and other measures. Candidates for clinical positions often set themselves apart if they can demonstrate that they provided good customer service in a restaurant or “in an office when seven phones were ringing and you had to greet people,” Heckt says.

[page]

Grace Under Pressure

Healthcare organizations are usually overjoyed to employ people with military backgrounds. Veterans who have been on the front lines of a war or conflict have undoubtedly accumulated skills transferable to a fast-paced, high-stakes healthcare job. “Obviously time is of the essence, and they’ve had to quickly think on their feet,” says Douglas C. Ansary, Arizona regional director of recruiting for Banner Health’s Talent Acquisition Group. The consequences are far less dramatic in most jobs than in the life-or-death setting of the battlefield - or emergency department. However, people with experience working in other pressure-cooker settings where their adrenaline is regularly pumping - like the stock trading floor - probably have a leg up when it comes to managing the stress of a healthcare environment.

[page]

How to Showcase Your Transferable Skills

Once you’ve identified your transferable skills, you still need to impress potential employers with them. You’ll catch the eye (and prevent an employer’s online application system from weeding you out) if you use keywords on your resume that showcase your transferable skills and that match the keywords in the employer’s job posting (such as “effective listening skills”).

Then, expect open-ended behavioral questions in an interview, since healthcare employers today generally identify behaviors important to a specific job and then try to ascertain through interviewing where and how job candidates have applied those behaviors in other jobs or through past experiences. Take advantage of the opportunity to give thoughtful answers referencing the skills and strengths you gained through previous jobs, volunteer work and life experiences that will help you in your new line of work.

Healthcare hiring managers know that if job candidates have “demonstrated behaviors in the past they will do it again in the future, and their behaviors would be applicable from one industry to the other,” Ansary says. “It doesn’t matter where they’ve come from as long as they’ve shown the same aptitudes they’re going to use in healthcare.”

An Important Message from the Editor of NursingLink

Georgia Price / NursingLink — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:51:00 -0800

In today's uncertain economic times, you - like many others - are probably focusing on saving more and spending less. You may be anxious about your job security, salary and employment opportunities. Over the years, I've found the best way to combat stress is to put together a plan and stick to it.

Here at NursingLink we are 100% focused on helping you achieve your career goals. We were purchased by Monster.com a year ago because of our unique insight into the nursing community, and we continue to provide our members with the essential resources they need to successfully manage their careers.

During the next few weeks we'll be sending you important information on how to survive and even excel in a tight job market. In addition to terrific career guides, industry news and job profiles, we've also recently added $178,500 in new scholarship listings so you can get help paying for your degree.

We want you to consider NursingLink your career partner and hope you find the new resources helpful. Please don't hesitate to contact me directly if you have questions or suggestions about additional resources we can provide you with.

Sincerely,

Georgia Price

Editor, NursingLink

a division of Monster Worldwide

Top 10 Best and Worst States to Be a Nurse

NursingLink.com and CareerVoyages.gov — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:59:00 -0700

There is a projected need for 1,001,000 nurses needed in the United States by 2016. Nurses are one of the most in demand professions in America, but with so many job openings, it begs the question: Where should you work? NursingLink is committed to providing its members with the most most pertinent career research available. Below is the 10 best and worst places to be a Nurse based on salary and job openings.

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Top 10 Highest Nurse Paying States

State Salary (hourly)

1. California $25.45

2. Hawaii $24.76

3. Massachusetts $23.38

4. New Jersey $23.33

5. Alaska $23.09

6. Delaware $22.98

7. Oregon $22.91

8. Nevada $22.83

9. Maryland $22.79

10. Connecticut $22.62

[page]

There is a projected need for 1,001,000 nurses needed in the United States by 2016. Nurses are one of the most in demand professions in America, but with so many job openings, it begs the question: Where should you work? NursingLink is committed to providing its members with the most most pertinent career research available. Below is the 10 best and worst places to be a Nurse based on salary and job openings.

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Top 10 Lowest Nurse Paying States

State Salary (hourly)

1. North Dakota $17.60

2. Louisiana $17.50

3. Wyoming $16.88

4. Oklahoma $16.76

5. Kansas $16.74

6. West Virginia $16.52

7. Arkansas $16.44

8. Mississippi $16.42

9. Iowa $16.36

10. South Dakota $16.35

[page]

There is a projected need for 1,001,000 nurses needed in the United States by 2016. Nurses are one of the most in demand professions in America, but with so many job openings, it begs the question: Where should you work? NursingLink is committed to providing its members with the most most pertinent career research available. Below is the 10 best and worst places to be a Nurse based on salary and job openings.

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Top 10 States with the Most Nurse Job Openings

State Average Annual Job Openings

1. California 10,900

2. Florida 7,440

3. New York 6,360

4. Ohio 4,630

5. North Carolina 4,093

6. Illinois 4,020

7. New Jersey 3,700

8. Michigan 3,500

9. Georgia 3,340

10. Massachusetts 3,290

[page]

There is a projected need for 1,001,000 nurses needed in the United States by 2016. Nurses are one of the most in demand professions in America, but with so many job openings, it begs the question: Where should you work? NursingLink is committed to providing its members with the most most pertinent career research available. Below is the 10 best and worst places to be a Nurse based on salary and job openings.

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Top 10 States with the Least Nurse Job Openings

State Average Annual Job Openings

1. Rhode Island 570

2. New Mexico 520

3. South Dakota 500

4. Montana 420

5. Delaware 410

6. Hawaii 390

7. North Dakota 280

8. Vermont 270

9. Alaska 260

10. Wyoming 210

	Percent
Offices of physicians	39
Home health care services	39
Outpatient care centers	34
Employment services	27
General medical and surgical hospitals, public and private Nursing care facilities	22

	5 Best States for Nursing Jobs
	10 Hottest Nursing Specialties for 2009
	10 Highest Paying Nursing Specialties
	5 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Nursing Education
	5 Top Hospitals That Will Pay for Your Education

State	Salary (hourly)
1. California	$25.45
2. Hawaii	$24.76
3. Massachusetts	$23.38
4. New Jersey	$23.33
5. Alaska	$23.09
6. Delaware	$22.98
7. Oregon	$22.91
8. Nevada	$22.83
9. Maryland	$22.79
10. Connecticut	$22.62

State	Salary (hourly)
1. North Dakota	$17.60
2. Louisiana	$17.50
3. Wyoming	$16.88
4. Oklahoma	$16.76
5. Kansas	$16.74
6. West Virginia	$16.52
7. Arkansas	$16.44
8. Mississippi	$16.42
9. Iowa	$16.36
10. South Dakota	$16.35

State	Average Annual Job Openings
1. California	10,900
2. Florida	7,440
3. New York	6,360
4. Ohio	4,630
5. North Carolina	4,093
6. Illinois	4,020
7. New Jersey	3,700
8. Michigan	3,500
9. Georgia	3,340
10. Massachusetts	3,290

State	Average Annual Job Openings
1. Rhode Island	570
2. New Mexico	520
3. South Dakota	500
4. Montana	420
5. Delaware	410
6. Hawaii	390
7. North Dakota	280
8. Vermont	270
9. Alaska	260
10. Wyoming	210

NursingLink

May I Please Have Your Attention. The Hospital Will Be Closing Shortly.

More on ScrubsMag.com:

3 Perks of an NP Degree

More on ScrubsMag.com:

9 Hilarious and Horrifying Nursing Tales

Question: What involves lots of blood, guts, and gore, can be extremely scary at times, and requires a costume? Answer: Why, nursing, of course!

Have You Seen These Other Great NursingLink Features? Medicine is the Best Laughter: Hilarious Nursing Jokes 8 Things You Should Never Say to a Patient Inspirational Quotes Every Nurse Should Read Florence Nightingale's Resume

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Are you a nursing lifer? Share your advice in the comments below!

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Got a great nursing joke? Share it in the Nursing Humor forum!

8 Things You Should Never Say to a Patient

Next Page: #1 “This won’t hurt at all.” >>

1. “This won’t hurt at all.”

Next Page: #2 “I can’t seem to find your records.” >>

2. “I can’t seem to find your records.”

Next Page: #3 “Whoops!” >>

3. “Whoops!”

Next Page: #4 “I completely understand what you’re going through.” >>

4. “I completely understand what you’re going through.”

Next Page: #5 “We’re very busy. Please wait.” >>

5. “We’re very busy. Please wait.”

Next Page: #6 “Would you look at that?!” >>

6. “Would you look at that?!”

Next Page: #7 “It could be worse.” >>

7. “It could be worse.”

Next Page: #8 “I doubt it’s anything serious.” >>

8. “I doubt it’s anything serious.”

Bonus: 10 Things to NEVER Say to a Nurse Sound Off! Things You Should Never Say to a Patient

Inspirational Quotes Every Nurse Should Read

Inspirational Quotes Every Nurse Should Read

"Constant attention by a good nurse may be just as important as a major operation by a surgeon."

"To do what nobody else will do, a way that nobody else can do, in spite of all we go through; that is to be a nurse."

"The trained nurse has become one of the great blessings of humanity, taking a place beside the physician and the priest."

"Panic plays no part in the training of a nurse."

"The most important practical lesson than can be given to nurses is to teach them what to observe."

"Nurses may not be angels, but they are the next best thing."

"Nurses dispense comfort, compassion, and caring without even a prescription."

N-uturing U-understanding R-eally great S-uper smart E-ager to work hard!

"Nursing encompasses an art, a humanistic orientation, a feeling for the value of the individual, and an intuitive sense of ethics, and of the appropriateness of action taken."

"Whether a person is a male or female, a nurse is a nurse."

"Bound by paperwork, short on hands, sleep, and energy… nurses are rarely short on caring."

"Our job as nurses is to cushion the sorrow and celebrate the joy, everyday, while we are 'just doing our jobs.'"

Is your favorite quote missing? Submit it now and we'll add it to the last!

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More Nursing Career Help

Five Nursing Specialties That Offer Promise and Excitement

Nurses Can Enter Legal Field As Expert Witnesses

The Pros and Cons of Travel Nursing

Four Skills You Can Transfer to a Nursing Career

An Important Message from the Editor of NursingLink

Top 10 Best and Worst States to Be a Nurse

Top 10 Highest Nurse Paying States

Top 10 Lowest Nurse Paying States

Top 10 States with the Most Nurse Job Openings

Top 10 States with the Least Nurse Job Openings

Question: What involves lots of blood, guts, and gore, can be extremely scary at times, and requires a costume?

Answer: Why, nursing, of course!

Have You Seen These Other Great NursingLink Features?

Medicine is the Best Laughter: Hilarious Nursing Jokes

8 Things You Should Never Say to a Patient

Inspirational Quotes Every Nurse Should Read

Florence Nightingale's Resume

Read More from Scrubs Magazine:

New R.N.; Phone Home?

“Perfect Fit” Nursing

To Be? Or Not to Be?

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Sound Off! Things You Should Never Say to a Patient

N-uturing

U-understanding

R-eally great

S-uper smart

E-ager to work hard!

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