Even if you’re not interested in politics, political events affect your life as a nurse everyday. Politics affects our patients and the corporations or small business we work for. Like it or not, nurses need to become informed about the issues at stake in their homelands and how political candidates stand on these issues. Nurses need to make their voices heard and know who to contact. Most importantly, nurses need to vote! Livesmarter suggests The 10 Most Important Political Issues for Nurses in 2008 include such matters as health insurance, education, media image, staffing levels, and drug companies. A National Nurse in America is another suggested point.
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Gift Ideas for Nurses Week
If you are looking for inexpensive ideas to add to your celebration of Nurses Week with your staff, check out the options on my website HousecallsOnline.com. There are two different Print Your Own kits which includes a card, a bookmark, a certificate of appreciation and postcards. You can also print paper nurse’s caps for decorations. There are also options available from Cafe Press which include tote bags, journals, apparel, and an adorable Teddy Bear. Similar items are available from The Nursing Site shop at Cafe Press as well. Be sure to take the opportunity to celebrate the nursing profession. One of the best ways to do this is to devote…
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Happy Valentine’s Day!
It’s been a very busy day for me, but I want to be sure to wish all of you a Happy Valentine’s Day! Enjoy your chocolate coma!
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Nurses Day and Nurses Week Themes Announced
Annual celebrations of the nursing profession will take place in a few weeks. In the U.S., National Recognition Day for Nurses (aka Nurses Day) is May 6 and Nurses Week is May 6-12. In 1996, the American Nurses Association initiated National RN Recognition Day as May 6 as well. May 12 is the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale. In honor of this, the International Council of Nurses recognizes May 12 each year since 1965 as International Nurses Day. This year the American Nurses Association has set the theme for Nurses Week as Nurses Making a Difference Everyday. The Canadian Nurses Association will reprise its 2007 theme Think you…
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Nurses: Educate Your Patients About Medications!
Heath Ledger’s death from an acidental overdose of medications points out the need for patient education! Americans are often way too medicated. If one doctor won’t provide a prescription they seek out another. But the problem isn’t just with those seeking pain killers, sleeping pills and/or anti-anxiety medications and mixing them. As a home health nurse I have seen people with several versions of the same or similar medications such as anti-hypertensives or other cardiac drugs because they see so many different doctors and no one is overseeing the care. I’ve had many patients on Lisinopril for instance who were also prescribed Prinivil or Zestril by another physician. (These are…