How To Start A Great Topic

Here is a quick tutorial on how to start a great topic on allnurses.com. A great topic is 1) Helpful to the community 2) Gets a lot of replies. To make a topic stand out from the thousands that are created daily it must have a "stand out" title. One that makes the reader take action. This article is targeted to new and repeat visitors. Read

End of shift blessings

This one is funny. I can see this happening every shift change. Do you have any stories to share regarding a shift change? Read

Note to teachers about visits to the nurse....suggestions welcome

The new school year is fast approaching and was wanting to implement some "rules" regarding students visiting the school nurse. We have a form that is supposed to be completed and sent with the student each time he/she visits the nurse, however this has not been enforced. Didn't really want to offend anyone by enforcing it too much. Thus the paperwork has become outrageous as with the walk-ins, scheduled meds and other procedures. So, enforcing the use of the nurse forms is necessary at this point! Read

Psych Nursing: A unique field of nursing

Bev's life was changed by an illness that stole her sanity. She went from being a spirited, joyful teenager to a terrorized young adult battling confusion, fear, and paranoia. Though the typical joys of life will never be experienced by Bev, she displays determination, love, and hope. Intertwined within Bev's story are some of the realities of mental illness. Read

Medication Mistake

This is my first job as a new grad RN. It's a home health job. My client gets all her meds through her tube feeding (she has many meds) and I decided to prepare all the meds in advance for the next nurse coming on.

The next nurse (day) dispassionately stated, "I can't give those meds. It's against policy. You never give meds that another nurse has drawn up." It wasn't until after she said this that it made perfect sense. I was thinking that I was doing her a favor... Read

Keeping Seniors Safe in Their Own Homes: Disaster Preparedness

Disaster can strike suddenly and without warning. It can force an elderly person to hurriedly evacuate the familiar surroundings of his neighborhood or confine an elder to his home for days, if not weeks. Home health nurses must participate in disaster planning to support older people during these times. The best way to protect at-risk elderly adults is to plan proactively, anticipating situations before they happen and making plans to deal with whatever happens. Read

Pay Off My Student Loans In Full or Make Monthly Payments?

I have the ability to pay off my student loans completely now and be done with it. It would almost completely wipe out my savings, but I would be debt free. Also I would save about $8,000 in the 20 years if I paid it off in full now. Just asking for feedback. I hear three main theories from friends/family... Read

Stamps Commemorating Nursing

While rummaging in my parents basement after my mothers death, I ran across a scrapbook of stamps with a loving note from Mom " these are for Karen"... Read

Nurse Burnout Linked to Health Care-Associated Infections

Nurse burnout correlates with increased health care-associated infection rates of the urinary tract and surgical sites, according to a study published in the August issue of the American Journal of Infection Control.

Using nurse survey data linked to the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council report on hospital infections and the American Hospital Association Annual Survey, Jeannie P. Cimiotti, D.N.Sc., R.N., from The State University of New Jersey in Newark, and colleagues examined the correlation between nurse staffing and the spread of infections within hospitals. Read

Nursing positions deeply embedded in science

After scouring the internet and as much of AN forums as I possibly could, to no avail, I've come to you all with a question.

I currently have my BS in Biology and work in an andrology lab at a major reproductive medicine. I've been considering two routes. One is to pursue a Masters in Science concentrating on genomics or neuroscience, and going on to do research in industry. Two is to matriculate into one of the ABSN programs I was accepted to and be an RN in an ICU... Read

First Travel Assignment... Advice needed...

I'm totally new to the forums here but I really had nowhere else to turn. I'm taking my first travel assignment in a few weeks. I've been a nurse for a little over 8 years now. Some things don't seem right with the agency I signed up with so I was hoping I could get some advice. They advertised that there would be travel, certification, and licensure reimbursement... Read