You’re Going to be Alright

Years ago, following an art reception, my husband and I were enjoying dinner at a restaurant. As the server set … More

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Tips for Learning Chemotherapy Administration

I attended a chemotherapy and biotherapy course. Most of the nurses attending had administered chemotherapy for years, but a group … More

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Advice for Transition From Nursing Student to Professional

Last week RealityRN.com asked me to respond to a new nurse’s post about the difficult transition from student to professional … More

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How I Became a Nurse Part III: It’s An Ongoing Process

One shift, Roz and I worked alone. That night, there were only two patients in the pediatric intensive care unit. … More

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Of Med Errors and Brain Farts

I read the physician’s order carefully, looked up the medication in the nurses’ drug book, and consulted with our pharmacist before … More

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I Wish I’d Said It

“As a nurse, I am the patient’s last line of defense.” -Lee S. Shulman, President Emeritus, The Carnegie Foundation for … More

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Learning to Observe, Observing to Learn

Here’s a collection of loose observations I made last week: People who lie or cheat believe that everyone else in … More

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Let Me Tell You One More Thing You Already Know

Maybe it happened because I was tired after working a string of long, busy shifts. Maybe Mercury, the communication planet, … More

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Whistle Blowers & Patient Advocates: When the Nurse Stands Alone

A colleague and I discussed the Winkler County Whistle Blowers case and our admiration for Registered Nurses Vicki Galle and Anne Mitchell. They brought the nurse’s role of … More

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Advanced Precepting, Part II

In my last post, I promised to tell the story of another preceptee who didn’t remain in the PICU after orientation. A new … More