Perfectionism: A Recipe for Burnout

Posted on June 13, 2013 by

This coming weekend, I’m speaking at a conference for emergency room nurses here in my home state of New Mexico, and the subjects of my two talks are burnout and work-life balance. And when it comes to burnout, one of the things I want to focus on is the notion of perfectionism.
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Nurses: Backbone or Connective Tissue?

Posted on June 6, 2013 by

It’s often said that nurses are the “backbone” of the healthcare system. However, yesterday someone suggested to me that they are actually the “connective tissue” of the system. These are interesting metaphors for the importance of the nursing profession. Let’s explore them.
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Navigating Boundaries

Posted on May 30, 2013 by

When relationships with patients and their families deepen over time, it’s easy to step over the line where boundaries are concerned.
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You Don’t Have To Tolerate Bullying

Posted on May 23, 2013 by

Nurse to nurse bullying is frequently cited in the contemporary nursing literature as a problem to be reckoned with, and it appears that many nurses–both novice and seasoned–experience bullying or harassment at some point in their careers.
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Nurses Week Is Over–And How Do You Feel?

Posted on May 16, 2013 by

When we celebrate Nurses Week, we take a moment to recognize our pride in this profession of ours, and if we’re lucky, perhaps we receive some acknowledgment from our employers, friends, or colleagues. Did you feel recognized this year, or did Nurses Week pass by unnoticed?
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99 Top Nursing Journals & Publications

Posted on May 15, 2013 by

Check out our latest featured article:

Nursing Publications99 Best Journals and Publications for Nurses

“Reading scholarly publications and new research about nursing is an important way for nurses at any stage of their career to keep up with the quickly transforming field. There are hundreds of nursing journals that cater to every possible nursing specialty, and some that are more general and relevant to nurses in every niche. Reading a broad range of journals and publications on nursing is a great way for students to choose their eventual area of specialization as well. By following the research trends and innovations in various fields, a student can see which specialties have the most interest and growth potential for them.”

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Happy Nurses Week!

Posted on May 9, 2013 by

This is the week when we annually celebrate nurses and the nursing profession, a profession with a long history of service, dedication, compassion, and the trustworthy care of millions around the world.
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Keeping Your Head: Self-Protection and Equanimity

Posted on May 2, 2013 by

Last week, we talked about depersonalizing when reacting to others and learning to take things less personally. This is a useful skill and can contribute to our own ability to stay clear, focused and free of the symptoms of burnout. Today we’ll talk about equanimity.
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Keeing Your Head: Depersonalization

Posted on April 25, 2013 by

When we serve our clients, patients and their families, the relationships can often be stressful and have the tendency to push our emotional buttons. Equally, our relationships with our colleagues–be they other nurses, doctors, physical therapists, or others–can also be “charged” with emotional energy and sometimes be prone to conflict. In order to remain professional, we also must learn to “keep our heads” and “keep our cool”. How do you do that when faced with a situation that challenges you?
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Responding to Crisis and Disaster

Posted on April 16, 2013 by

In light of the bombings at the Boston Marathon this week, it seems timely to talk about the ways in which we nurses can respond when disaster and crisis strike. Nurses have a broad range of skills that are inherently invaluable in times of crisis, so being prepared and acknowledging the ways that we can contribute at such times is an important exercise.
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