When I think of Carolyn, I remember her smile and her courage. Hobbled by breast cancer for years, it could not suppress her spirit.

I think about her especially during October-- National Breast Cancer Awareness month—when we are reminded once again by the National Breast Cancer Foundation of how important early detection is.

Carolyn was my brother-in-law’s older sister. I had long admired her when I was growing up in our small town in Iowa. In my eyes, Carolyn had ...

Advocates for preventing swine flu transmission are suggesting a hand bump instead of a handshake. Fine. But in my mind, this presents many questions and the huge potential for social dilemmas and discomfort.

We all know the hand bump, seen often on the athletic field. It’s bending the arm at the elbow and raising the wrist to knock knuckles with a similarly close-fisted colleague. That works well on the football field as an expression of mutual acknowledgment for a job well-done. ...

Last night, I was a guest at the mosque I drive by every day on my way to and from work. Long shrouded in mystery, I was able to see and experience what goes on there and – yes – even become a part of it.

My Muslim friend, an RN, had invited me to the religious observance of Iftar, the communal evening meal that occurs after the sunup-to-sundown fast every day during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Gihan did not arrive right away and I was early. Swathed from the ...

I just talked to my daughter on the opposite coast. She called to tell me she had just been diagnosed with H1N1 aka the dreaded Swine flu.

Other than a cough now and then, she didn't sound sick at all on the phone. In fact, she sounded as if she had just won the lottery. I don't think I have ever heard her that excited to be sick. But then, my daughter has always been a trendsetter ...

All at once this malady that has captured the attention of public health officials ...

Can someone who is a leader for policy to improve health and lifestyle in the U.S. be credible when he or she is a few pounds overweight—even obese? These are the questions critics are asking about the newly-appointed Surgeon General, Regina Benjamin, MD. *

As the Surgeon General of the United States, Benjamin will head the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and become the spokesperson on matters of public health in the federal government. As such, her role will include educating ...

Montel Williams loves his nurses. That’s why he came to New Orleans to speak to the chapter presidents of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses at their annual AACN conference last week.

Montel knows nurses. He has had more than average contact with the likes of us, both in and out of the hospital. He told AACN attendees stories about his ordeals and how nurses were there to ease the way. Emotions were flowing as he spoke to us from the heart.

We loved hearing ...

Purposely infect your child with chickenpox? Is that crazy or what?

This is not crazy for certain vaccine-averse parents who are immunizing their children against the varicella virus at the latest immunization venue—the chickenpox party.

This is a familiar concept to me. In the days before varicella vaccine, I did that, too.

As with many other things, what was old is new again, and, purposely infecting a child with chickenpox is making a comeback. ...

When I was a student nurse, one of my first patients was an 18 year old youth who had been paralyzed from the waist down only a month before. The other teens did not survive that New Year’s Eve car crash 30 years ago. My patient was “the lucky one.”

From that experience and others that showed me how quickly our lives can change, I understood perfectly the rational for including a discussion about advance directives during a routine history and physical exam, even with those who were ...

I'm always impressed when I learn an RN began his or her career as a nurses aid. This indicates to me that person was infected with a bad case of the nursing bug early on and just kept going.

Recently, I had the privilege of interviewing Mary Wakefield, RN, PhD, appointed by President Obama to be the administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).* HRSA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and on the same par as the CDC ...

A dear friend of mine has a granddaughter who has Down syndrome.

Just like any proud grandparent, Jane shows photos of an engaging and happy 4 year old decked out in a pink tutu and kissing her doting grandmother. Jane tells stories of Emma's antics and how she delights those who meet her.

It is obvious that Emma is dearly loved and a blessing, cherished by her family and friends. Ask anyone who knows someone with Down syndrome and they will tell you about the love ...

It was exciting to hear President Obama addressing nursing concerns at his town hall discussion of domestic programs and health care reform at the White House on Thursday, March 26. Nurses had been invited to participate and give a "nurse's perspective" on what is needed in health care reform. Obama, who agreed, that nurses should be included in health reform negotiations because they have a unique perspective on patient needs. He also told how he liked nurses and was biased towards them. ...

I just read that the ubiquitous "THEY" have discovered biomarkers that can detect Alzheimer's disease years before symptoms surface. These proteins, found in cerebral spinal fluid, predict Alzheimer's with 87 percent accuracy, long before dementia becomes apparent.

This may open up a whole new chapter in preventive testing. I am all ready to go out and get my CSF checked just to make sure I am clean. And I bet I wont be the only one.

Along with my mammogram, ...

In an effort to see the glass as half full, I find myself thinking our financial crisis may actually bring some good. This may be a chance to reevaluate what is really important to us and learn all over again what are the elements that bring satisfaction and fulfillment to our lives.

Before our financial system came crashing down, we had become a consumer-centered society. We filled up our lives and spaces with the things we bought and our dreams consisted of acquiring yet another ...

What motivates and sustains us is different for each person. For me, it’s achieving. My greatest satisfaction comes from successfully completing a project or reaching a goal. Once one challenge is met, I am off to take on the next.

Even though a paycheck pays the rent and is the primary reason most people are employed, there are many other things that bring satisfaction from working. Even in these uncertain times, it’s not just about the money.

Knowing what motivates ...

The American Nurses Credentialing Center has set aside March 19 as
Certified Nurses Day so nurses certified in their specialties can be
honored for their accomplishments. see www.CertifiedNursesDay.org

Why March 19? That day happens to be the birthday of Margretta “Gretta” Madden Styles, known as the mother of nurse credentialing.

I recently learned about Certified Nurses Day from Joanne Gucciardo, RN, MSN, NE-BC, Director of Professional Practice at ...