Calling In Sick: Dealing With Mental Illness At Work, Part 1

I am an intern at a pediatric cardiologist’s office. On clinical days I get to run ECGs (electrocardiogram) on tiny patients.

Inspired by discussions with Allnurses members and others, this is the first in a brief series of articles about how anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions affect nurses in the workplace. These illnesses are among the most common reasons we miss work, and they contribute to billions of dollars in lost productivity each year. They also carry a high cost to sufferers in terms of stigma, loss of job security, and self-esteem issues. Read More

Student Seeking Advice - Is NICU for me?

I'm seeking some life/specialty advice/encouragement! I am in my fourth and final year of a BSN program in Washington state. My long-term goals include earning my doctorate and possibly becoming a Psych NP, but I'm trying to focus more on the "here and now." I feel comfortable supporting patients in tough situations and I love advocating for them. I love the idea of being a nurse but I have often struggled with the thought that my fears and self-doubt will keep me from being a strong nurse. Read More

[Toon] Therapy for nurses ... Cartoon Contest Winner

Get off your feet ... relax ... take a nap. You deserve it. Nothing wrong with a little rest.

Just don't do it in the doctors office! HAHAHA. Here's 3 reasons why you should take a break...

1. Refocus on what's important
2. Recharge for that long day ahead
3. Gain perspective of what's going on Read More

What Baffles You?

I have come across this a few times. I am holding a straw to a persons lips and they drink and drink and drink and pretty soon they are waving their hands for me to stop. Stop what?! You don't have to keep sucking on the straw just because it is in your mouth. I think the universal sign of I'm done please remove the straw should be to stop sucking on it and open your mouth! I have had a few people have to catch their breath and make comments about me giving them too much! What? I don't get it. Read More

Hospital Marketing FAIL

Ouch! How many times have you seen poorly planned marketing in healthcare? Please share your thoughts... Read More

New Graduates who don't welcome feedback

Looking to get some advice on how to work with New grads coming through our Emergency department. For some years, 1st year nurses were not employed directly into emergency, but recent changes mean that within months of graduating from university, young nurses are coming straight to a fast-paced often stressful department. My challenge is this, while I was terrified for my first year in ED and extremely respectful of the senior nurses, these new grads are not. Read More

Tactical Nudity and Other Fun Aspects of Deployed Army Nursing

For the latter half of this year I've had the wonderful opportunity of being deployed as the only ER RN with a Forward Surgical Team (FST). One of the interesting things about being with these folks is the "forward" part. That means we're a little further forward (i.e., in austere locations) than your typical Role 3 facility, which is a Combat Support Hospital (CSH). CSHs tend to be located on larger Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) like Bagram and Kandahar, where they even have cafes and sit-down restaurants and crazy things like paved roads. Heck, even our transient base in Kuwait had a McDonald's and a Subway, among other things. But even the larger FOBs have their drawbacks, despite a few extra amenities. It's still a war zone. Read More

Would you commute an hour to a job you wanted?

Currently doing 12 hour overnights in a job I'm not very fond of, mostly clock watching. But this job is 15 minutes away. I have been offered a position I'd really enjoy, on the day shift, but requires a one hour commute each way. Live in an area where the winters can be dreadful. Any thoughts? Read More

Mobile/Cell Phones at the bedside?

Do you think it's OK for staff to have personal mobile/cell phones with them at the bedside during their shift? Does your unit have a policy regarding this? Read More!

I am passionate about nursing, are you?

Being passionate about nursing is something I am not ashamed of, it can frighten some people but mostly it has been received well. I thrive on knowledge and I have never been afraid to challenge, I hate to be dismissed so I am like a dog after a bone. What I have found along the road is that the majority of people hate to be challenged, but we are not sheep we need to challenge because not everything is as clear cut as the upper management believe it should be. We should challenge stupidity in nursing, we have patients lives at our fingertips and if we don’t challenge and stand up for what is right , then we are not only letting down our patients but we let down ourselves. Read More

Should I take compliment letters to a new job interview?

I will be interviewing soon for a position in the MICU of a tertiary care hospital in Pittsburgh. I have received several e-mails from my supervisor regarding patients who have called/written complimenting the care that I provided them & their families. My question is whether or not to take some of them to MICU interview. I had one interviewer in the past ask about them. Read More

Losing my religion

Ah, the lively religious debate. As nurses, we all take care of a multitude of patients, all with specific, and sometimes not so specific, emotional/spiritual needs. And unless one works within a religious entity, here's my take on why a nurse's own religion needs to stay in the nurse's personal life. Read More