Monthly Archives: March 2012
Should Nurses Lie?
Should I lie? This is a question that I, at least, was raised to always respond to as “no.” My parents even told me what most parents do: “if you tell the truth, you won’t get in as much trouble.” … Continue reading
Trend: Dress Codes for Nurses
I get uniform catalogs all the time in the mail. I used to page through them eagerly, looking at the prints and adorable gathered tops and the bottoms with flared legs and various slits, pockets, and loops. When I was … Continue reading
Reasons to Get Specialty Certification
A few days ago, March 19, was annual Certified Nurses Day (there is even a Web page). Apparently, this is the birthday of Gretta Styles, a nurse who really plugged specialty certification; apparently, it needs more plugging, because I never … Continue reading
“It’s Not My Job”
As busy nurses, we sometimes forget being new, either to a job or to nursing itself, and we adopt the mindset that mentoring or even helping someone out is not our job. It’s not in our job description, is it? … Continue reading
Functioning in the Midst of Fear
Dealing with life-and-death issues (especially the death ones) inspires fear. Nurses can kill people by accident, and we always know that in the backs of our minds. That’s the big, bad fear. But there are other things to be afraid … Continue reading
Save Time on the Floor
Nurses, when was the last time you had a leisurely shift with plenty of time to do what you needed to? Probably quite a while, if ever. Being a successful nurse these days entails being a time-management ninja. Hospitals are … Continue reading
“Have You Done This Before?”
I had a student recently, and before she dropped an NG tube, our patient asked her, “Have you done this before?” She looked at me with a big thought bubble containing a question mark hanging over her head. That answered … Continue reading
When Nurses Make Mistakes
Most nurses become nurses so that we can help people. At least, I hope that’s why most of us do. We do all kinds of technical scientific brainiac stuff too, but at base, we like making people feel better. However, … Continue reading
How to Nail the NCLEX, Starting…Now
Any nursing students in their last semester out there? Hi. You’re probably drowning in clinicals and last-semester finals, including those comprehensive ATI tests you have to take so that you can even receive permission to take boards. (If you don’t … Continue reading
