The Nurse's Personal Dashboard
On a recent episode of RN.FM Radio, we were discussing nurses' wellness--both spiritual and physical--and the concept of one's personal "dashboard" came up in the course of the conversation. Are you aware that you have your own dashboard, and if so, do you heed the warning lights that occasionally light up?We all know what a dashboard is, and we also know that a dashboard--like the cockpit of a plane, train or bus--gives us relevant and crucial information regarding the safety and function of the vehicle in question. Now, we humans have dashboards too, but these dashboards are virtual rather than physical, and we have to l...
Source: Digital Doorway - April 23, 2013 Category: Nurses Tags: nurse wellness nursing nurses nurse self care work-life balance self-care Source Type: blogs
Heroes, Courage, Trauma and Recovery
Yesterday, April 15th, 2013, two explosions rocked the Boston Marathon as runners and their supporters gathered in the afternoon near the finish line. As the race was winding down, the sense of celebration was palpable in the air, only to be replaced by shock and panic as a scene including dozens of injured and three dead emerged through the smoke.None of us want to live our lives in fear of terrorism or unexpected trauma, yet in the reality of life in the 21st century, we are periodically reminded of our vulnerability. And while millions in places like the West Bank, Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Israel live with the threa...
Source: Digital Doorway - April 16, 2013 Category: Nurses Tags: compassion emergencies disasters Source Type: blogs
Book Review: "Do No Harm Applies To Nurses Too!"
Renee Thompson, MSN, RN, CMSRN, is a widely recognized national specialist on horizontal violence (also known as bullying) among nurses, and her new book, "Do No Harm Applies to Nurses Too" is a step-by-step guide to confronting this pernicious issue that impacts many aspects of 21st-century healthcare.We've all heard stories of nurses "eating their young", nurses being bullied into resigning from their positions, and other nurses simply living with the fear of a known bully in their midst. Sometimes, it seems that bullies don't even know that they're bullies, and it takes an empowered (and somewhat fearless) colleague to ...
Source: Digital Doorway - April 15, 2013 Category: Nurses Tags: compass fatigue nurses health nursing new nurses nurse-nurse relationships bullying Renee Thompson communication burnout prevention horizontal violence Source Type: blogs
The Nurse, The Martyr and The Oxygen Mask
(Source: Digital Doorway)
Source: Digital Doorway - April 11, 2013 Category: Nurses Tags: nurse burnout nurse-patient relationships nurse wellness nurse self care healthcare burnout prevention nurse identity nurses health nursing work-life balance nursing roles Source Type: blogs
The Nurse and The Razor's Edge
When she looks at me and smiles, it’s a small victory. When she moves her bowels, there's much rejoicing. When a shower is accomplished, there’s a sense of satisfaction. When her condition remains stable for weeks on end, we relax. When things become more tenuous, we’re vigilant. And when we're vigilant, we can lose sight of ourselves. It’s sometimes a tender dance to weigh the good with the bad, the backward movement with the forward momentum, and the feelings that arise when a patient’s condition seems to be going south. We get attached to outcome, and we hope for the best while preparing for the w...
Source: Digital Doorway - April 10, 2013 Category: Nurses Tags: nurse burnout patient care nurse wellness nursing nurses nurse self care self-care burnout prevention Source Type: blogs
A Self-Care Extravaganza for Nurses!
Are you a nurse ready for a solid dose of self-care and wellness support? Would you like to learn some applicable strategies for injecting your life with wellness? This month, I'll be taking part in the third Rejuvenation Collaboration, and I implore you to do the same! Some readers of Digital Doorway may be aware of the upcoming Rejuvenation Collaboration III in which I will be participating, along with my RN.FM Radio co-host Kevin Ross of Innovative Nurse. For those who are unaware, the "RC III" is an awe-inspiring two weeks of web-based interactive learning centered on the notion of self-care and wellness for nurses, an...
Source: Digital Doorway - April 5, 2013 Category: Nurses Tags: nurse wellness nurses nurse self care work-life balance self-care Source Type: blogs
"The "Twelve Rooms of the Nile"
(Source: Digital Doorway)
Source: Digital Doorway - March 27, 2013 Category: Nurses Tags: Simon and Schuster nursing Enid Shomer books The Twelve Rooms of the Nile Florence Nightingale book reviews Source Type: blogs
And So It Was....
She breathed her last breath in her own home, surrounded by family, held in the bosom of love.And so it was.She turned to me as I held her hand, and the affection between client and nurse was palpable.And so it was.He turned in bed, his nasal cannula wrapped awkwardly around his face. I straightened the tubes and asked, "Would you like some cake?" He grinned like a child.And so it was.The home health aide was replacing the pain pills with Vitamin C. We noticed.And so it was. She fired the home health aide because she was "too fat", and she fired the other home health aide because she was "too dark", and the next one ...
Source: Digital Doorway - March 25, 2013 Category: Nurses Tags: nurse-patient relationships patient care personal nursing nurse practice nursing care Source Type: blogs
Where Were The Doctors?
Last week, I attended an all-day conference on mind-body medicine here in Santa Fe. At the beginning of the day, the speaker obviously wanted to know the professional make-up of her audience, so she called out various professions and had us raise our hands in response. Of course, nurses made up the majority of the approximately 225 people in the crowded room, and psychologists, counselors and social workers were also very well-represented. And when she asked about doctors, only one person raised his hand. A murmur rippled through the crowd, and there was much ironic laughter. So, where were the doctors?The presenter for th...
Source: Digital Doorway - March 20, 2013 Category: Nurses Tags: nursing education health care mind-body medicine nursing care nurse physicians Source Type: blogs
A "Silver Tsunami" Among The Homeless
We all know that there are millions of homeless Americans of all ages. According to some recent studies, approximately 21 out of every 10,000 citizens is homeless. So, as the population ages across the board, how do we address the fact that a great number of homeless Americans are reaching the time when they should be retiring and enjoying the remainder of their lives rather than struggling on the streets? On my way to work this morning, I heard a story on National Public Radio (NPR) about the aging homeless population in our country. Although it should come as no surprise, we all need reminders of these harsh realities.A ...
Source: Digital Doorway - March 13, 2013 Category: Nurses Tags: healthcare disparities public health homelessness Source Type: blogs
