FREE NURSING CE COURSES

Check this link out for free nursing CE's

http://ce.nurse.com/FreeCE.aspx

CE Requirements by State

http://ce.nurse.com/state-nurse-ce-requirements

Helping Nurses with Finances

Check out this blog, The Millionaire Nurse: Helping nurses build and grow wealth.
http://blog.themillionairenurse.com/

Other books that may be helpful...

A Practical Guide to Finance and Budgeting: Skills for Nurse Managers, Second Edition (Core Skills for Nurse Managers)

The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness

NURSES NEED VACATION TIME!

TOP 5 REASONS NURSES NEED TO TAKE A VACATION!

In recent news coverage there have been several segments on vacation time and how the United States compares to other countries in amount of vacation time taken.  It was even noted that the USA has become the "no vacation nation".
For a recent news segment on CNN on Americans and vacation time compared to other countries visit http://articles.cnn.com/2011-05-23/travel/vacation.in.america_1_vacation-germans-long-holiday?_s=PM:TRAVEL.

We believe in vacation time and believe that NURSES SHOULD TAKE THEIR VACATION TIME!!!   In almost every nursing shift that a nurse works he/she will experience almost every emotion known to man and work hard physically as well as mentally.  Because of the nature of the business nurses are the first to forget about themselves and worry about taking care of others, allowing themselves to become tired and worn down.  It is important for nurses to take a break so that they can continue to provide excellent care and have compassion.

Here are the top 5 reasons we think NURSES NEED VACATION!!!!

1.  Nurses are required to be quick thinkers.  In a constantly changing environment their brains are working all the time.  Their BRAINS need a break.


2.  Nurses are physical work horses.  They lift, pull, push, walk, run, and are in constant physical motion.  This means their bones and muscles need time off.  They need a PHYSICAL break.



3.  Nurses experience every emotion under the sun with their patients, families, coworkers, employers, and anybody they come into contact with.  Nurses have HEARTS that need time off to heal.


4.  Nurses often work holidays, weekends, and nights while others are off so that they can take care of others loved ones.  They often miss out on their own family events to perform their duty.  This can cause tension and be unnerving.  Their NERVES need a vacation to refuel.


5.  Nurses are required to be adapatable at all times.  They have to be adaptable to situations with patients, coworkers, and employers.  This means their "ADAPTORS" need time off to rest so they can be ready for the next situation they will have to adapt to.

SO GET YOUR FLIP FLOPS ON , GET YOUR CAMERA READY, GRAB YOUR BEACH TOWELS, OR DO WHATEVER "TRIPS YOUR TRIGGER" AND TAKE THAT VACATION!

Here are a few items we found that might interest you to use on your vacation. 

Nursing golf towels
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0086GDPCK/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=soyothyowatob-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0086GDPCK



A carry on
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006X17AVC/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=soyothyowatob-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B006X17AVC


A night shirt
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002L82TG2/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=soyothyowatob-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002L82TG2

What Shoes Do YOU Wear?

The majority of nurses and certified nursing assistants work twelve hour shifts, and we all know its really more like thirteen hours, it is important to have a good shoe!

Here is a wonderful article on taking care of your feet!

The Right Foot Care and Wear- Getting nurses through the busiest 12-hour shift

http://www.workingnurse.com/articles/The-Right-Foot-Care-and-Wear

What shoes are nurses wearing?

Dansko- You either love or hate them. I personally LOVE them! Dansko's are the only shoes I can wear to work for twelve hours and my back and feet aren't killing me at the end of the day. They have tons of colors and patterns, very cute style that you can wear outside of work too!

You can find Dansko's here http://www.dansko.com/Womens/Footwear/Styles/Clogs/






Tennis Shoes- A lot of nurses wear nike, reebok or new balance. You have to find what works for you.

Discounted Nike http://www.discount-nike-shoes.com/

Discounted New Balance http://www.joesnewbalanceoutlet.com/

Discounted Reebok http://www.shoesontheweb.com

Nurse Mates- Another popular brand in nursing is Nurse Mates.

http://www.nursemates.com/

CROCS- Many nurses also wear CROCS, but check your hospital dress code policy, in some facilities the CROCS are against hospital policy.

Find CROCS for healthcare professionals at
http://www.crocs.com/nursing-shoes/nurse-shoes,default,sc.html?adid=google_ppc_Footwear-Branded-Terms-Functional_Hospital&gclid=COe84bSZvLACFYR9OgodkX1doQ

Hospital staff banned from wearing Crocs on health and safety grounds
Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/09/13/crocs-ban-for-hospital-staff-91466-29410378/#ixzz1x76VC4SA

Nurses, Patients Voice Frustration Over Avoidable Hospital Staffing Crisis

In the news...

Very interesting article about "Nurses, Patients Voice Frustration Over Avoidable Hospital Staffing Crisis"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michelle-chen/nurses-patients-voice-frustrations_b_1561426.html

Please comment and tell us what you think about this situation!    

Nursing- to be or not to be? That is the question!

So you think you want to be a nurse? Thinking is always the first step. Hopefully you have started doing your research on what the word "nursing" entails and have a career path in mind. If not, you had better start working on it.

I have been a registered nurses for 13 years and when I made the decision to go to nursing school there were not many resources out there to help me make decisions. I was on a wing and a prayer and thankfully I attended a nursing school that helped me acheive my goals and enter into the wide open world of nursing. It is a constantly changing career path that has the opportunity to take you many places if you so desire.

With the invention of blogging and the internet we have the ability to research many sites and review the experiences of nursing students, new nurses, old nurses, and get a look into nursing careers all over the world. I encourage each and every person who is considering becoming a nurse to DO YOUR HOMEWORK.
Visit websites, research schools, research career paths, research companies, research student loan facilities and grant availability, research the good, the bad and the ugly. In other words RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH!!!!!!

One recommendation is to start out with a career path survey to see if your interests and talents reflect that of what is required in the nursing field. Some examples of these surveys can be found on sites like www.careerpath.com and www.myersbriggs.org. These sites have career path surveys that will help you distinguish your strengths and weaknessess and help you determine if nursing may be the correct path for you

A second recommendation is to sit down and write a brief summary of why at this moment you think you want to be a nurse. Just simply do a rough draft starting out with "I want to be a nurse because......" and see where this leads you. You will also eventually be able to use this in an essay that may be required by the nursing school you plan to attend to get accepted into a program. An example of nursing essays can be found at www.allfreeessays.com/topics/why-i-want-to-become-a-nurse so you can see how just writing a rough draft of why you think you want to be a nurse may be beneficial to you in the future.

There are many, many resources on the internet that can help you decide whether or not to make this career choice and help you decide what path to take. Our advice is simple: DO YOUR RESEARCH! You may find that your original plan can take you in 1,000 different directions!

New Grad Nurse Panic

While in nursing school I just couldn't wait to graduate, then graduation was finally nearing and I distinctly remember feeling panic setting in. What! Graduating? I can't graduate! I don't know anything!

I am here to tell you, everyone feels this way. The truth is you learn the basics in nursing school, however, you don't really learn until you start your first job and you are actually taking care of patients. You cannot possibly put together what COPD looks like from a book, you have to see it. Once you see many of the things you will encounter as a nurse, you will not forget it. You will recognize it immediately the next time you see it. Do not feel overwhelmed (easy for me to say, right?). Take each day in stride and put those fears and anxiety's aside. This will assure that you can learn as much as possible each day during your job orientation.

Check out this site http://www.nursetogether.com/Lifestyle/Lifestyle-Article/itemId/2663/6-Tips-on-Stress-and-Anxiety-Management-in-Nursing.aspx for 6 Tips on Stress and Anxiety Management in Nursing.

Another great article is at http://www.healthyplace.com/anxiety-panic/articles/anxiety-and-work/ . Article excerpt, "Her initial observation was that the work of nursing is itself exceptionally anxiety-producing. Nurses work with people who are ill or dying. Wrong decisions can have devastating consequences. Nurses must respond to the distressed family of the patient. Many tasks are distasteful or repulsive."

****To be a nurse you must be prepared and open to a career long learning experience.****