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Stressed Out Nurses Weekly

Our free, weekly, electronic newsletter (E-zine) provides nurses-aspiring, new, and experienced-with some respite from the fast-paced and demanding routines of daily life. Every Monday morning, a collection of humor, news, and other fun tidbits will find its way into your inbox to make you crack a smile or even laugh outloud.

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Stressed Out Nurses Weekly

Issue 51, December 31, 2007

• Driving under the influence of drowsiness

  It’s no secret that being a nurse can do a number on your health. For example, sore backs...

• How to develop assertiveness

  Graduation day is in sight for many nursing students. And whether you’re saying farewell to...

• Shining a light on schizophrenia

  Many nurses feel ill-prepared when it comes to working with some of the most difficult patients...

Issue 50, December 17, 2007

• Center to Champion Nursing in America will address shortage

  Publicity and media coverage about the impending nursing shortage isn’t in short supply, yet...

• New site aims to empty waiting rooms

  Patients don’t always have patience in a waiting room. Seconds slowly tick off the clock...

• A spoonful of tips helps the food go down

  To help enhance a patient’s appetite, make sure he or she has good oral hygiene before meals...

Issue 49, December 10, 2007

• State, hospital leaders unveil aggressive plan for new nurses in Maryland

  Schools and states around the country are chipping away at the nursing shortage, adding some money...

• A chat with a Buckeye nurse

  One of the best ways to fit in at your first job is to talk to people, to learn about their lives...

• Practice the six rights of medication administration

  When preparing to administer any drug to a client, consider what is often referred to as the "Five...

Issue 48, December 3, 2007

• Nursing shortage filling up in California

  The perfect storm created by retiring baby boomers and too few new graduates has concerned the...

• How to halt holiday stress

  Here we go again. All of a sudden, like an enormous stack of papers covering your desk on a Monday...

• Fitting into the work environment

  Socialization or fitting in on your unit is as important as increasing your nursing skills. If you...

Issue 47, November 26, 2007

• Towson nursing department wants to become a school

  The difference, on paper, is only four letters. But in reality, the difference between a nursing...

• Online nursing degrees 101

  These days, it’s no secret professional nurses are in high demand. Due to the rapidly...

• Lean on family when dealing with depressed patients

  The support and involvement of family and friends can be crucial in helping someone who is...

Issue 46, November 19, 2007

• Wichita State aims to cut into its waiting list

  The nursing program at Wichita State University (WSU) in Kansas, like many colleges in the country...

• Behind the scenes of a nurse recruitment event

  Myra Aldana is the HR director for Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, CA. Visions of recruitment...

• Use this script when choosing a route for drug administration

  The following questions may assist in developing a priority list for choosing an appropriate route...

Issue 45, November 12, 2007

• Have a staffing problem? Text it

  The process of finding a replacement staff member can be an all-day affair. The hassle of making...

• How to keep your cool in difficult situations

  Stressed Out columnist Heather Grondin, RN, has guided us through some intriguing topics in the...

• Practice defensive documentation

  Keep in mind that immediately following an adverse event, documentation may be reviewed by the...

Issue 44, November 5, 2007

• Online nursing degree program creates great expectations in Tennessee

  States across the country are going to great lengths to try the curb the critical nursing shortage...

• Trick-or-treating their way to Kenya

  On Halloween, they left their homes as a firefighter, a flamenco dancer, a scarecrow, and a blow-up...

• What if I don’t like my shift?

  Let your manager know ASAP. There is a lot of turnover and transition on the units these days, and...

Issue 43, October 29, 2007

• Missouri gets color coordinated for safety

  In the past, wristbands of all different colors would greet visitors at various hospitals across...

• It’s time for some time management

  There’s really nothing any of us can do about it. We can sleep, we can work, we can study...

• Get a grasp on intravenous pushes

  Medications may be prescribed as intravenous injections. These injections are also called...

Issue 42, October 22, 2007

• University System of Georgia pledges $3 million to increase nurse numbers

  The state of Georgia may be filling its nursing gap quickly with a plan to graduate 50% more new...

• A chance to be a kid again on Halloween . . .

  Remember when you looked forward to Halloween? Remember when it wasn’t just another made-up...

• Protect yourself when dealing with violent patients

  Anger is an emotion-nothing more and nothing less. It’s a very powerful emotion that can stem...

Issue 41, October 15, 2007

• Organizations convince company to pull ’naughty nurse’ gum ad

  The image of a nurse getting into bed with a male patient because of the freshness of his gum was...

• Tricks of the communication trade

  If you hesitate to approach your manager, ask yourself why. What is the fear or hesitation about...

• Six tips to evaluating a job offer

  When you are faced with a job offer, consider all options and make the best choice for you.

Issue 40, October 8, 2007

• Indianapolis hospital system opens another line of communication

  If a patient is in need of a glass of water or an extra blanket at Community Health Network in...

• When generations collide

  On one hand, we have a new graduate nurse. She grew up in the 1990s, had many material and...

• Let PMR put you on the path to relaxation

  Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) was described by Edmund Jacobson, MD, PhD, in the 1930s, and is...

Issue 39, October 1, 2007

• California set to outsource nursing students to Mexico

  The long waiting lists faced by prospective student nurses in California are well known across the...

• Stress reduction starts with a breath

  Hello everyone. My name is Diana Lang. I have been a writer and teacher of yoga and meditation...

• Improve your listening skills

  We grow up with the mistaken belief that listening is a "no-brainer," when, in fact, listening is a...

Issue 38, September 24, 2007

• Top nursing school will cut undergraduate spots

  The University of Iowa, pegged as one of the top nursing schools in the country by U.S. News &...

• How to create and use a professional nursing portfolio

  Have you heard the buzz about nursing portfolios? If you haven't, this article will give you some...

• Be assertive

  How you choose to handle yourself affects your state of mind. Being assertive allows you to...

Issue 37, September 17, 2007

• New scholarship program aims to increase minority educators

  According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), only 10.5% of full-time nurse...

• Hiroshima: Not your average summer vacation

  The ashes of 55,000 victims buried in a small mound. The tricycle helmet. The story of a...

• How to start a difficult discussion

  You are having difficulty with a coworker and need to discuss it with him or her. You want to...

Issue 36, September 10, 2007

• Two Tennessee nursing students make the most of summer vacation

  What did you do this summer? Whether you took an extra class, worked a few hours at a hospital, or...

• Experiencing the death of a child

  Being a nurse has its share of wonderful experiences. Saving a life, creating a connection with a...

• Help patients defeat depression

  People with depression feel exhausted, worthless, helpless, and hopeless. They often feel like...

Issue 35, September 3, 2007

• New training seeks to turn retention tide in Nevada

  If you take a severe nursing shortage and combine it with some scary statistics about retention...

• Through the eyes of an MD

  Let’s face it: Nurses can be pretty tough on physicians. They often paint physicians as...

• Learn to spot adverse drug reactions

  Adverse drug reactions (ADR) and drug interactions affect many clients’ lives each year with...

Issue 34, August 27, 2007

• California nursing students will earn degrees at Oklahoma

  The national nursing shortage is attracting so much attention that states are now working together...

• Finding answers for addicts

  Patients with addictive behaviors, whether it is problem drinking, drug addiction, or any other...

• SOAR to success in your next job interview

  If you are the type of person who does not like to talk about themselves, you need to read this...

Issue 33, August 20, 2007

• $100 million pledge set to launch nursing school

  A record $100 million dollar grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation will establish a...

• Hanging out in Grapevine, Texas?

  One of the best parts of going to any conference is exploring a new place. Sure, you meet people...

• Meditation can help you manage stress

  Yoga, tai chi, and breathing exercises are linked in that they focus on relieving the body of...

Issue 32, August 13, 2007

• Pennsylvania hospital chomps crocs

  Comfortable and colorful, they are. Allowed at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, they are not. Crocs...

• Delving deeper into the culture change

  Last week on StressedOutNurses.com, we focused on a culture change. We presented three unique...

• Take a communication inventory

  Communication is a complex exchange of information through verbal and non-verbal means. It starts...

Issue 31, August 6, 2007

• Summer nursing program shines in Tennessee

  Summer, for many nursing students, is a time to kick back and relax. It’s a time to take a...

• Sharing some Stressed Out results

  About six weeks ago, we here in Stressed Out land sent out a survey to get your input on a variety...

• Use communication CPR to resuscitate a conversation

  What if you have gone to your manager time and again without results? You’ve had all the...

Issue 30, July 30, 2007

• Wyoming hospital implements new measures to recruit, retain nurses

  Wyoming isn’t feeling the effects of the national nursing shortage as much as states such as...

• Defining your boundaries

  When should you speak and when should you be silent? What conversations should you engage in and...

• Put one foot in front of the other

  Exercise rejuvenates the body and the mind. A simple 30-minute walk has beneficial effects...

Issue 29, July 23, 2007

• Teaching robot may help stem nursing shortage in Ohio

  It’s no secret that a lack of instructors plays a big factor in the growing nursing shortage...

• The balancing act

  Are you stressed about how to balance work and family while becoming a nurse? For all you...

• Beware the dominant behaviors of physicians

  What are some of the ways physicians maintain their dominance? The majority of these behaviors are...

Issue 28, July 16, 2007

• Pennsylvania schools seek to stem nurse shortage

  In an effort to increase the number of highly trained nurses in the state, several schools and...

• 10 things I wish I knew before becoming an RN

  The transition from nursing school to the halls of the hospital can be quite difficult for many...

• Stress-proof your life

  Only you can determine what stress management techniques work best for you. Even finding one thing...

Issue 27, July 9, 2007

• Hillary Clinton helps introduce legislation to combat nursing shortage

  Along with Gordon Smith (R-OR), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) recently reintroduced the Nursing...

• The dangerous joy of procrastination

  Procrastination is defined as the avoidance of an action or task to . . . ah, let’s just...

• Help your patients avoid harmful OTC interactions

  There are many potential hazards with over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. Encourage clients to read drug...

Issue 26, July 2, 2007

• ’Grey’s Anatomy’ star launches new line of scrubs

  Katherine Heigl, who plays Izzie Stevens on ABC’s popular healthcare drama "Grey’s...

• Inside a nurse leadership survey

  We can learn a great deal from nurse leaders. Aside from clinical and managerial skills, those in...

• Your presence is a present

  By its nature, nursing involves a tremendous amount of multitasking. You assess the color and...

Issue 25, June 25, 2007

• Bill banning overtime passes first hurdle in NY

  Mandatory overtime for nurses may soon be an idea of the past in New York.

• The interview: Terrifying talk or comfortable chat

  We’ve all been there. You’re sitting on one side of a desk. Someone, who happens to be...

• Are you a critical thinker?

  You know everyone talks about critical thinking, but you may be confused about what it actually...

Issue 24, June 18, 2007

• Nearly $6 million will help Maryland increase nursing school capacity

  To help ease the growing nursing shortage in the area, the Maryland Health Services Cost Review...

• A nurse on the rooftop of the world

  Nurses have done some amazing things in the course of human history. Countless women and men have...

• Stress-proof your work

  You will find nursing a rewarding profession, but it does have its sources of stress. The key is to...

Issue 23, June 11, 2007

• New shared simulation lab will boost enrollments in three CA schools

  Mr. Sim may help curb the nursing shortage in California.

• Tips on landing a job you love

  It’s no secret. All the studying, all the long nights, all the money, and all that tireless...

• Find some time for professional development

  Once you have settled into your job, you need to consider joining a professional organization...

Issue 22, June 4, 2007

• New measure in CA would favor merit, not lottery for community colleges

  Dropouts are an enormous problem in nursing programs at community colleges in California...

• Tips to help you communicate with your manager

  Good communication is essential in every relationship in healthcare. As a nurse, you interact with...

• Provide parents with necessary information when dealing with drugs

  While you run the drug administration show for a child under your care, it’s necessary to...

Issue 21, May 29, 2007

• Hospitals, colleges team up in Northern Virginia

  A lack of nursing faculty and a lack of nurse training are putting a spotlight on the nursing...

• Landing a dream job in the NICU

  Summer, for some, is a time for fun in the sun. For Amy Alderson, a soon-to-be graduate of the...

• Essential tips for time management

  Effective time management will help you achieve your professional goals and meet your own needs...

Issue 20, May 21, 2007

• Mississippi University expands enrollment

  An extra 40 nursing students will soon be taking classes at the University of Mississippi Medical...

• Changes to our Stressed Out scene

  During the last six months or so, many of you have gotten to know Stressed Out Nurses. Maybe...

• Beware of dangerous drug-nutrient interactions

  Like the scenes that make up a movie, nutrients such as vitamins and minerals are essential...

Issue 19, May 14, 2007

• Unique program helps NJ nursing students earn degrees

  Got a free day? That’s all you’ll need to earn your nursing degree from Ocean County...

• Professor helps students de-stress . . . with exercise

  Masoud Ghaffari, PhD, RN, MT, an assistant professor in the college of nursing at East Tennessee...

• Working with IV pushes

  Medications can be prescribed as intravenous injections. These injections are also called...

Issue 18, May 7, 2007

• Grand Canyon University hopes to fill void in Arizona nursing

  A recently launched 20-month program at Grand Canyon University (GCU) is pumping more graduates...

• The long, hard search for a nursing job

  Tammy Adams, a senior in the nursing program at Salem State College in Salem, MA, took some time to...

• What type of stress affects you most?

  By identifying where your stress originates, you will be able to better take control of the...

Issue 17, April 30, 2007

• California VA hospital launches new training program

  In an effort to recruit more new nurses, the Veterans Administration (VA) Palo Alto Health Care...

• Making a valuable delivery

  Pink and blue balloons were everywhere. Gifts, a fantastic spread of great food, and smiling faces...

• Tips to prevent adverse drug reactions

  The key to reducing adverse drug reactions (ADRs) is through awareness and recognition of potential...

Issue 16, April 20, 2007

• Oklahoma schools address nursing shortage

  The University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma City Community College are hoping to lighten the financial...

• Work conditions move to the top of your list

  As graduation time nears and decisions about what jobs to take loom on the horizon, it’s...

• How to handle documentation errors

  What happens if you make a documentation error? In the past, charting errors were corrected by...

Issue 15, April 17, 2007

• Nursing changes are on the horizon in Texas

  In classic Texas style, officials are making big changes to curb the growing nursing shortage in...

• A new book has landed

  Roll out the red carpet. Cut the ribbon, pop the cork, and put on your best outfit. It’s time...

• Basic (but crucial) insulin knowledge

  Persons with diabetes require special medications, treatments, and lifestyle changes to live normal...

Issue 14, April 9, 2007

• Uniform company creates scholarship for student nurses

  Tafford Uniforms, a company that supplies nurses with scrubs, shoes, and medical accessories, is...

• Nursing professor uses technology to change the classroom

  Need a quick review of last week’s lecture from your advanced health assessment class? Just...

• Some helpful strategies to improve your critical thinking skills

  The reason critical thinking is so important in nursing is based on what nursing does as a...

Issue 13, April 2, 2007

• Utah schools change enrollment requirements

  Both Brigham Young University (BYU) and Utah Valley State College (USVC) are making a few changes...

• Nurses' Dream Day: Give it a try

  When the Baskin-Robbins ice cream franchise decided to let customers sample flavors before picking...

• Converting fractions may not be the best decision

  Many students quake at the sight of a fraction. Oh, no! We like to work with whole numbers the...

Issue 12, March 26, 2007

• Start it up: Missouri college earns initial approval for nursing program

  Let the nursing begin. This fall, the College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, MO, will enroll its...

• We’d like to introduce . . . Fran!

  When we kicked off our Stressed Out series, we thought of everything. We had some fantastic...

• Prevent serious drug interactions in children

  With infants and children at a high risk for prescription errors, administration errors, and...

Issue 11, March 19, 2007

• College, hospital join forces to help North Carolina nursing students

  One room containing a patient simulator can be a great learning tool for nursing students. Eight...

• The power of the poll

  Whether it’s for the President of the United States or the next winner of American Idol...

• How stressed are you?

  The good news is that stress in manageable amounts is actually a good thing. It speeds up the heart...

Issue 10, March 12, 2007

• Colleges team up to create nursing program in Wisconsin

  Two Wisconsin colleges-Green Bay-based Bellin and De Pere-based St. Norbert-are joining forces to...

• Good preparation leads to safe drug interactions

  Just like actors in a movie cannot be too prepared to deliver an award-winning performance, you can...

• Learn crucial conflict-resolution skills

  The best skill to have in your nursing tool belt is conflict resolution. Conflict resolution is the...

Issue 9, March 5, 2007

• California college expands nursing program

  The door at Palomar College in San Marcos, CA, is now open to night and weekend nursing students.

• Exchanging beads for nursing books

  They come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors. Some are big, some are small, some are...

• Tips on cutting doses in half

  Remember, a "scored" tablet is the only kind of tablet you should cut in half. These tablets come...

Issue 7, February 20, 2007

• Tennessee college expands in hopes of easing nursing shortage

  Many nursing schools grow in baby steps, adding a classroom here and a new lab there. Middle...

• Oops, I made a charting error

  The goal, of course, is to document perfectly every time. In an ideal nursing world, every...

• Take extra care when giving IV injections

  Some patients are more sensitive to intravenous medications than others.

Issue 6, February 12, 2007

• Idaho college aims to find more nursing educators

  The nursing shortage in Idaho is well known, but the solutions are not. With only one school in the...

• Communication breakdown: Dealing with docs

  Communication is the foundation of excellent patient care. Whether it is nurse-to-nurse...

• Helpful hints for managing conflicts

  If you find yourself in a contentious situation, try defusing the situation with some of the...

Issue 5, February 5, 2007

• Planned lottery upsets California nursing students

  With plenty of applicants and few seats, many see luck as a factor in getting into the nursing...

• Welcome to the future: New simulator seeks to change training

  Many nursing students have had some training with the help of a mannequin. Introduced several years...

• Be sure to double-check . . . one more time

  Are you familiar with the medication the physician has ordered? If not, look it up! You can...

Issue 4, January 26, 2007

• Arizona college offers fast track to nursing degree

  A new, 20-month program at Grand Canyon University will hopefully provide some quick help for the...

• Clinical training with a teddy bear twist

  Picture yourself as a focused, diligent nursing student. You’re preparing for a career in the...

• Get ready for some nursing surprises

  When you enter the nursing workforce, certain realities come with the territory. What are some of...

Issue 3, January 19, 2007

• Nursing program at Washington college stays on perfect track

  Eighty Clark College students sat down in front of the NCLEX-RN® exam after the fall 2005 and...

• Adjusting to those pesky late night hours

  So you’re the new guy on the block, eh? Suddenly you’re the smallest fish in this...

• Improve your critical thinking skills

  Here are some strategies for you to use to improve your critical thinking.

Issue 2, January 15, 2007

• Hospital, college combine to offer one-year program

  Equipped with a bachelor’s degree, but not sure where to turn? A new accelerated program...

• Fateful decision: 'Why I went back to school'

  Nursing school is no cake walk. There's nothing easy about the classes, nothing easy about the...

• It's your job to become educated on legal issues

  It is a nurse's responsibility to be informed on both the Nurse Practice Acts (NPAs) and Common Law...

Issue 1, January 8, 2007

• University of Kentucky doubles admissions to accommodate more students

  Beginning this fall, nursing classrooms will be chock full at the University of Kentucky.

• Alphabet soup: In the nursing industry, success can be a 26-letter ’word’

  RN is an easy one. BSN is pretty simple, too. But how about APRN, PNP, and DEd? Or CEN and QXLPTV...

• Learn to deal with bullying in the workplace

  If you experience bullying from coworkers-known as horizontal hostility-use open, effective...