Is there a flu outbreak in your area?

Are you experiencing a flu outbreak in your area? There seems to be a lot of news about this lately. Please share your experience below. Read More

Running off Grief

Although, I've been a nurse for a few years now, I experienced my first patient loss in my career recently as a NICU nurse. My outlet for my grief, and source for reflection, became running. Although I wouldn't call myself a writer (or a runner, for that matter), I was bitten by the most peculiar creativity bug during my work out, and wrote this immediately after I finished exercising. Read More

Happy to be an NP

I joined Allnurses in 2005 and have always enjoyed reading others' posts and asking my own questions over the years. In 2005 I was a new BSN nurse. I hadn't been on here in a few years. But I am glad I am back. I got my MSN and NP 4 years ago and love seeing my patients. I am also precepting NP students and will be in a DNP program soon as well. I am so happy to be where I am. Read More

Forced to Take an Assignment You Can Not Handle

I am a nurse who has been practicing in MO for a little over a year. This is a new profession for me in a new state. I previously attended nursing school in Texas and learned about Safe Harbor there.

Safe Harbor applies when a nurse believes an assignment may place patient's at risk of harm, thus violating the nurse's duty to the patient and also protecting the nurse's license. I searched the Missouri BON site and could not find anything regarding laws that govern duty to the patient such as this one. So, what options does the nurse have regarding this issue? Chain of command? Read More

Challenges of IV starts in the Pediatric Population

One of the biggest challenges we face as pediatric registered nurses is how to alleviate the fear and anxiety associated with getting an intravenous catheter or IV. As a pediatric nurse for over a decade, this RN has been witness to many different reactions when it comes to needle sticks. There is kicking, screaming, hiding in the bathroom, and the one that is truly heartbreaking is the genuine fear in the faces of our sweet little patients that we treat. The good news is that there are many options available to us as caregivers to help our patients get the treatment they need, while alleviating the fear and anxiety that may go along with it. Read More

Why do we eat our young?

All I could do was console her. Put my arm around her and let her cry it out then reassure her that NO, you don't hate being a nurse. And YES, you are a GREAT nurse because you recognize when you need help and you are trying to seek it out... what makes you great is because you are thinking of the patient first, whether you realize it or not, you are putting your patient first because you don't want to do the wrong thing or make a mistake! That, to me, makes a phenomenal nurse. How in the world is a new nurse supposed to learn how to take innitiave if the new nurse can't ask for the help she needs out of fear of being ripped apart for it. Yes, we all need to be autonomous, but, we have to learn... I know we are all busy and all stressed, but come on, we've all been new nurses... We've all been there, why do some (not all) nurses forget where they came from and how they started? Read More

What to expect in patient's "Progress Notes"?

Med/surg new grad here. My biggest challenge right now is communicating with different health care members because I don't get informed with every information. I've seen nurses look in the patient's "progress notes" in the chart for answers... so I'm wondering, who typically writes in "Progress Notes" and what useful information can I expect from that section of the patient's chart? Read More

Pay vs. specialty

Seems like ED and especially ICU start off with lower wages than fields like school/rehab/mental health. Why is this? Not to belittle rehab or mental health nursing, but isn't there a lot more critical thinking and stress involved for a nurse in the critical care setting? Read More

CDC: Flu Activity Remains High in the United States

Flu activity remains elevated, according to FluView, a weekly influenza surveillance report prepared by the Influenza Division of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; however, the annual flu vaccine is moderately effective at preventing the disease, according to a report published in the Jan. 11 early-release issue of CDC's Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report. Read More

Phone Call

You never know how much value can be placed on the ‘little things’ in nursing. Things like a phone call or a hug. Sometimes I get so caught up in the stress and the environment that I forget to remember the value of the little things. If you have little moments of nursing that made you happy, please share at the end of the article! Read More

Entering Air Force Nursing…how to prepare?

I have been an ER nurse for a year and just finished my RN to BSN program. I am currently #2 on the alternate list for ER Air Force nursing…fingers crossed. Anyways, while I have this extra time, I was wondering if there is anything I can do to prepare me for my future. Any books on leadership or perhaps trauma nursing?? Read More