Nurses’ tasks are a really one tough job. Every shift, nurses are exposed to different situations wherein they can get stains from their patients fluid discharges. They are always expected to move fast yet swift in order get the task done in no time during emergencies. These tough tasks require them to get themselves into great apparel that does not make them look awkward or hamper their jobs for comfort issues. Here we unfold the 5 things to be watchful about when choosing your nursing scrubs because...

In a chilling case of untoward abuse, Delaware pediatrician, Earl Bradley, was indicted on 471 counts of rape, assault, and child endangerment involving 103 children. I find the shear magnitude of this case overwhelming, particularly when the following warning signs dated back to 2005 or earlier.

• Former patients shared stories of Bradley’s unusual practices with other pediatricians.
• The hospital, where Bradley served as chief of pediatrics, restricted his practice at one point.
• Bradley’s

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When Winkler County nurse Ann Mitchell was acquitted of all charges on February 11th, I joined nurses across the country in breathing a huge sigh of relief. Mitchell was facing third degree felony charges after she and fellow nurse, Vicki Galle, reported a physician to the Texas Board of Medicine for unsafe practice. The more I followed the case, the more I wondered how efforts to stop unsafe practice could possibly result in jail time.

As nurses, we are familiar with the Nurse Practice...

and I thought chem was hard. It didn't hold a candle to A&P 2 and lab. The weeding out has begun, most struggle not to be one of the weeds.

Just a couple of weeks ago, snow fell in 49 of the 50 states. Today I talked to a colleague in Dallas who is expecting more snow this week. It has been a frosty winter and spring isn’t due to arrive until March 20th.

With the possibility of more snow on the horizon, I thought I would share a few tips from nurse leaders in the Washington Metropolitan area who survived the Blizzard of 2010.

YouTube- Washington DC Blizzard of 2010 Time-Lapse

YouTube- Washington DC Blizzard of 2010 Time-Lapse

1. Bring in your staff before...

In doing some "catch up" with some things on my desk the other day I was reminded that it's that time of year in many of our professional nursing organizations to ask members to renew memberships and send in dues...and so I've been taking care of the necessary paperwork to do just that. And as I've done so, I've thought about what a privilege it is to have these nursing organizational memberships, and to be asked to renew and stay on, or to be encouraged to bring a new member, or maybe...

The NY Daily News reported recently (Jan. 26) that anti-smoking laws are being given some of the credit for the fact that New York City life expectancy numbers have hit an historic high. Its residents are living longer (a baby born in 2007, the report said, can expect to live 79.4 years) and the experts say that the city's tough smoking laws may in part have contributed to this. Although we all know there are numerous factors that bring about increased life expectancy rates, to the degree that those...

I was dismayed and alarmed at the prosecution of a nurse living in Texas, who had reported a physician to the state's medical board because of her concerns regarding his care of patients. Last week, after a four day trial, the nurse was found not guilty of the third-degree felony charge of "misuse of official information" charge brought against her. It is gratifying that the jury took less than one hour acquit Anne Mitchell of the charges, and in fact the jury foreman said members of...

Working on adding Hospice sites to clinical sites for Nurse Refresher Program. It is challenging to continue to meet the requests and needs of the various nurses trying to return to practice. I am glad to see so many returning and hope there remains positions for all that want to return.

The other day an interview with Rebecca Skloot on National Public Radio (NPR) caught my attention. Ms. Skloot recently published a book about an African-American woman who made an unknown contribution that changed medical research forever.

In 1951, Henrietta Lacks was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cervical cancer. While undergoing treatment, cells from her cervix were removed without her knowledge. The unique thing about her cells is that they could be kept alive and grown indefinitely...