The latest edition of the Best In Nurse Blogs-my bi-weekly focus on the best writing by, for, or about Nurses

I’ve just finished reading a great, great, great book about raising kids, getting along with others, and geo-politics.  All in one place, yep in one book.

The Peace Dove

If you are in a relationship (which means everyone because we have to relate to relatives, co-workers, bosses, and to our society as a whole) then this book can help you relate with a more loving heart.

I will do a more complete review soon, but for now…..

Find it, read it, and live it.

The Anatomy Of Peace

Let’s get started with:

The Best In Nurse Blogs:

Check out JParadisiRN’s Radio MD interview. Going big time are we J? Good stuff!

Nerdy Nurse gives us 7 tips on staying awake during the night shift.  I was never good at working nights-I have trouble sleeping during the day.

Lorry at Correctional Nurse discusses courage in, wait for it, correctional nursing.  There is no doubt you gotta be brave to go behind locked doors.  I  did some time in prison, (seeing patients during residency) and it was always an eerie feeling.

Data breaches and big HIPPA fines are discussed at the NP Business Blog. Scary stuff.

Bones: A great study diagram is at Nurse Kitty’s.

Finding new providers after a move is the topic at The Making Of A Nurse.  When patients move to a new community and they want to know what practitioner to see in that area, I always tell ‘em to find a nurse and ask ‘em. They always seem to know the dirt right stuff.

Nurses as commodities is the thoughtful post at Nursetopia.  When bottom line only administrative types are making bottom line only personnel decisions you tend to get bottom  line results.  Just my opinion.  Nurses not thinking of themselves as part of the healthcare team, but as hourly workers with no ownership, is a problem as well.

St John’s Wort is discussed at Nurses Network.  The name makes me gag-yes I know the difference between wort and wart, still….  But I do recommend it as an option for those with mild symptoms.

Not Ratched explains the process of uploading books to Dropbox so she can read them, highlight ‘em, and bookmark ‘em even when reading between different devices and book sources.  I was lost, but those of you who understand the problem and are motivated to do this will find it helpful.

AJN has a summary of misconceptions about state nursing boards.  You need to read this if you’re a nurse.

If you are feeling down, just go read Nancy’s blog: In The Shadow Of The Steeple.  She is such a positive person.  And beautiful grandkids! I couldn’t pick just one post.

Hope you have a wonderful week, and as always…..

Thanks So Much For Reading and For What You Do To Help Others!

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The latest edition of the Best In Nurse Blogs-my bi-weekly focus on the best writing by, for, or about Nurses

Dr Dean

I’m a self-help nerd.  Some supposed intellects poo pooh self-help with drivel such as “You can’t change your personality.”

Now is it just me, but are they practicing self-help when they tell you not to bother with self-help???

I recently heard a short self-help gem that really resonated with me.  The quote was attributed to Jim Rhon, a late self-help guru:

The Quote: Learn how to turn frustration into fascination.

When your ideas, plans, or answers are questioned by others it’s easy to become defensive and hurt.  I, like most people, am filled with self-doubt and when someone criticizes or questions me it is easy for me to become hurt or angry.

Frustration: Is This You?

I’ve been practicing the frustration/fascination paradigm shift.  When I’m feeling that reflex of anger or hurt, I remind myself to be fascinated by the differing opinion. Like a scientist, start asking questions to yourself:  “Where did that thought/opinion come from?” Why does he/she think the exact opposite from me?”  “What did I miss, or why does he look at that differently than I?”

If you practice these thoughts and questions  instead of spending time “hurt” or “angry” or “mad” or “sad” or “defensive” you’ll be much happier.  And you might even learn something.

You may learn to pity someone who has such a small mind instead of being angry, or you may learn you were completely wrong in the first place.

But you’ll learn something.

Let’s get started with:

The Best In Nurse Blogs

The Nerdy Nurse outlines the true cost of an iPhone 5.  It is kinda’ amazing, but I notice she isn’t sending hers back….

See you in heaven, is an emotional story at Not Nurse Ratched.  These challenges are why we have to take time off-to help you deal with this stuff.

The Yoga Nurse asks: Is stress increasing your cancer risk?  I think the answer would be YES!

Lorry reviews a new book at Correctional Nurse.

Barbara is preaching patience at the Nurse Practitioner Business Owner Blog.

Nurse Kitty gives a great flu shot.

Hydrocarbon toxicity it the subject at The Nurses Show podcast.

Nurse Teeny at The Makings of a Nurse describes the difference a hospital culture makes in your nursing fulfillment.

Joni at Nursetopia nominated me for a Leibster award along with several other great nurse bloggers-many noted here.  It may take a few weeks but I will definitely be paying it forward.

Jessica at Nurses Network emphasizes the need for cross-training-not in fitness but at work. There is much wisdom in being able to function in several areas of any field.  Of course, I also believe in deep learning of other non-medical areas (in my case personal finance) as I think it provides an emotional release and prevents burnout.

Impacted Nurse Ian asks if there is a place for cute puppies in the emergency department.  Hmm, I’m just glad it’s not cats he’s asking about.

JParadisi describes the horror of a dead coffee maker in her household.  I love the MacGyver reference, though you have to be of a certain age to get it….What kind of coffee maker did you get to replace the dead one?

Celiac disease and its underdiagnosis is discussed at AJN.  If you have any chronic GI and other symptoms it’s well worth getting tested.  We are finding it more and more in my practice.

Life In The Clinic describes the advantages of being able to do more acute care in the office to keep kids out of the ER.  My question would be, who wouldn’t want to??? ER’s are to be avoided at all costs, except for the seriously ill….

Isn’tshelovlei has a new blog, The 3 C’s: Coffee, Children, and Cancer.  Check it out-love the name!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Thanks for being a reader, and hope you’ve enjoyed this version of The Best In Nurse Blogs. Welcome the new faces here today and let me know if you have an active nurse blog, not on my blogroll.

{photo credit: srlegynnek c.c.}

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The latest edition of the Best In Nurse Blogs-my bi-weekly focus on the best writing by, for, or about Nurse

Procrastination: Useful at times?

Procrastination: I know you do it too. Don’t stand there with your hands on your hips pretending you never put things off, ’cause I know better.

If you’re human you put things off that you don’t like to do.

I have procrastinated reading a certain book.  It has been staring at me from my bookshelf for a long time.

Those that know me well would be thinking, “he keeps his nose in books, what the hell?”

But I’ve been putting off this book.

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch.  If you don’t remember this one, it’s a book by a Carnegie Mellon professor of Computer Science who learned he had terminal pancreatic cancer.  He used his ‘last lecture’ to review his life, his dreams, to credit those who helped him reach them, and to leave a legacy of remembrance to his three very young children.

The book is packed with wisdom in it’s 200+ pages. So much so that I will review it in greater detail here later on.  Those of you who read it years ago, you can say “Man, that’s old stuff, old news.” That’s ok.  I think the book was read by me at the right time.  When I was ready. Ready to learn rather than just nod my head.  Ready to teach others and not care what some might think if my actions don’t fit in some sort of box they’ve drawn for me.

Ready to write those handwritten thank you notes which I know I need to do, and actually do execute occasionally but not nearly enough.

Thanks Randy for leaving your legacy so others can learn from your story.

Let’s get started on the

Best In Nurse Blogs

An interesting essay on football and injuries by a nurse and mom of a quarterback is at AJN.

At Your Cervix is excited about providing continuity of care as she finishes her training.  It is exciting, but with it comes continuity of responsibility.  I see the loved ones of those lost to cancer walking around in my small town. I see the patients whose infertility we weren’t able to overcome.  I see those whose stillborn babies I delivered.  I shiver even now with remembrances of clinical events 25 years ago.  Good luck, it is an honor to be trusted to care for others,  but be prepared to deal with your own emotions when things go wrong.  ‘Cause they will.

Lorry at Correctional Nurse discusses music and inmates.  I can see soothing music helping encourage calmness.  The opposite is also true, which I’m sure those taking care of the incarcerated are well aware.

Nurse Practitioner’s Place discusses burnout and the frustrations of practicing medicine.  My un-asked for advice: Self-care is as important as patient care. Don’t forget to schedule down time.  It doesn’t have to be an expensive vacation or a 6 month sabbatical.  Walking to a park and watching kids play for 30 minutes can erase hours of stress, and costs you nothing.

Choices was my choice of Joni’s meandering of mind at Nursetopia.  Don’t stop there, she writes short meaningful posts regularly, so browse a little while you’re there.  You can’t help but smile while you do, I know I did.  You can ‘choose’ which one you like best.

A Tragedy Prevented: The Back Story on Nerdy Nurse’s iPhone 5 adventure.  A modern fairy tale with a happy ending. Having nice things to say about your boss is so refreshingly nerdy, Nerdy Nurse!

Sean at My Strong Medicine explains his Re-Birthday celebration.  I’ve never met Sean, but he was one of the first Nurse Bloggers who reached out to me when I started.  Sean I hope you have many more Re-Birthdays and thanks for the way you celebrate life in all you do. From Twitter to blogging to fitness to nutrition.  Happy RB from Me.

Veins and Arteries are revisited, reviewed and rewound at Infusion Nurse.

Patients and Self Advocacy is on Keith’s mind at Digital Doorway. Thought provoking, as usual.  A “please remind me to wash my hands” badge huh?

Julianna at JParadisiRN  explains better than I could the juxtaposition of providing health care and being a normal member of the human race all in one day.  Bubbles and Small Plates sounds delightful.  Especially the bubbles after a hard day….Maybe I should try the red lipstick…

Weekend plans are on Nancy’s mind at In The Shadow Of The Steeple.  Cool stuff, Mom Mom…

Nursing Professionalism is discussed by Donna at Nursing Power.  I agree with her assessment.  Nurses to their detriment frequently have an ‘hourly employee’ mentality, but want to be treated as a professional.  Professionals have an ‘ownership’ mentality even when they are paid hourly.

Thanks!

This weeks edition of Best In Nurse Blogs has been one of the best ever.  Great writing on important subjects.  Thanks to all of you for toiling away, writing when you could be doing other things.  I appreciate it.

Carnivals

Ramblings at Young and Thrifty

Carnival of Money Pros is at the Art of Saving.

Canadian Finance Carnival at Canadian Finance Blog

Yakezie Carnival at Earth and Money

Mentions: Thank You!

WiseBread

Len Penzo‘s Black Coffee

Blog Post of the Week at Free Financial Advisor-mine was honorable mention.  And don’t forget the best money podcast on the planet: Two Guys and Your Money.

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The latest edition of the Best In Nurse Blogs-my bi-weekly focus on the best writing by, for, or about Nurses!

Best In Nurse Blogs:

by Cil Burke BSN

Only octogenarians would think I’m a spring chicken.   I’ve been working for many years with almost all of my working life spent as a ‘corporate cog’.  That’s who I am.

Dr Dean is the adventurous one, so I get to live capriciously through him and his ventures:

• Building this blog

• Owning rental property

• Running for public office

• Learning to sail

Yes, those are ventures-just a few of those we’ve enjoyed (well mostly….)  Each require not only a great deal of time, but energy and devotion. Though great fun and filled with learning, it was not my passion that moved those projects forward.

All I had to do was tag along.  I tag along very well.

Do you want to see “Fireworks”? Find your passion!

Then, slam!  A venture slipped into my life and there is no turning back.   At first I saw it only as something that piqued my interest with that little bit of hope that we all want but no longer believe in.

I have a few health issues, as does Dr. Dean, and we battle them with  available meds and stay up to date on advances in treatments and try to live healthy.  But we had come to accept our fate.  We were growing older with diminishing physical resources, and daily aches and pains.

Whoa! Not so fast.  Like ‘Days of Our Lives’, we’re turning back the hands of time.

As I walk along this ‘new venture road’,  I’ve begun to wonder “why is this different?”

I still help with the blog, I still work at my day job as a public health nurse. Why am I embracing this new venture?

Why is this different-why am I grabbing onto  “something else to do” when I could be maintaining the status quo?”

Passion.  My new venture takes all my strong feelings on wellness, nutrition, exercise, family and friends and embraces them.  It’s who I am.  It’s like I’ve been born again I feel so alive!

Do you have a “passion” hidden inside?  Find it, your life will be so much fuller.

If you’d like to know more about my new venture/passion, email me: cil at the millionairenurse.com.

Passion loves to share.

Let’s get started on

The Best In Nurse Blogs!

Lorry presents a podcast with two well qualified guest nurses joining her to discuss Correctional Healthcare News Roundup at Correction Nurse.    

Toronto Emerg  gives us the down and dirty on a course of nortriptyline to treat pain related to a fall which aggravated an old injury from a previous fall in Those Nortriptyline Blehs at Those Emergency Blues.  Oh, the side effects of pain relievers.  We’re glad she recovered and is back at writing.

NP Business Owner Blog- Barbara gives us 5 Reasons You NEED to Learn the Business of Healthcare.

Amazon.com Will Pay for You to Go to Nursing School is an interesting post by Brittney over at The Nerdy Nurse.  You have to be an employee, but still, that’s pretty good stuff.

Celebs Have Them Too.  The Infusion Nurse Blog knows what a PICC line arm band looks like and shares she’s seen them on lots of folks, even celebs.

Kevin of Innovative Nurse makes the case for more of us nurses becoming NPs at The Nurse is In.

Overtime or Overworked? is Nurse Kitty’s subject at Real New Nurse.  She sounds like one tired nurse at the end of 6 straight shifts.  That’s a tough stretch-probably most of us have done the same and know where she’s coming from.

Nurse Teeny has a guest post about the ‘T’ of LGBT community-who begins by explaining the confusion of ‘community’ in this context.  Interesting post:  The Holistic Nurse: Gender Transitions. at The Making of a Nurse

Sympathy Pains at Nursetopia.  Well said.

Wow.  Some very touching stories at Gina’s site: Code Blog, Asking for Stuff.  We are so fortunate in this country.

Nurse K is dealing with schizophrenia at Crass-Pollination in Mid-Century Modern Delusions. Hers is a deep subject: how fixed is a fixed delusion, anyway?  The life of an ED nurse.

The tragedy in Aurora, Colorado is the background of Nurse Keith’s post Of Tragedy, Heroism and Recovery at Digital Doorway.  He offers suggestions for healthcare workers who treat the victims of such horrors.  These mass tragedies call for more from the human spirit and then more attention needs to be given for recovery.

Some Shocking Facts About Nursing Around the World is the subject at ER Nurses Care

Impacted Nurse wants to push us to do more to learn more to share more at Nurseversity.  I love the idea.  Check it out at Nurseversity: Building at supportive Learning Community.

My Weekend in Portland:  What if You Can’t Drink the Water?  JParadisRN’s Blog described what it was like:  no big deal for those with resources, a very big deal for the less fortunate.

THANK YOU!

Thanks for reading!  And please share by sending  this link to your nursing friends.  Remember if you have a passion, I interview nurses and highlight their unique stories here twice a month.  Don’t be shy…

Hope you find your passion!

Cil

Recent Carnivals we’ve been accepted into:

Yakezie Carnival at Financial News Blog 2012

A Gardening Carnival at Successful Gardening

Carnival of Retirement at The Frugal Toad

Carnival of Road to Financial Independence at One Family’s Blog

Christian Family Online Information Exchange at Olin’s Blog

{photo credit: anuj biyana c.c.}

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The latest edition of the Best In Nurse Blogs-my bi-weekly focus on the best writing by, for, or about Nurses!

Best In Nurse Blogs:

Preventive Healthcare

We talk so much about preventive healthcare in the USA.  But we define it with words like mammogram, colonoscopy, and  pap smear.  Not to mention blood tests such as CA 125′s, CEA, and the PSA.

The sad thing is none of the ‘preventative’ tests described above are truly preventative.  They may be an early warning device, similar to a smoke detector, triggered before things get worse.  Not true prevention, however.

What is true prevention?  Well, that’s not quite as sexy. Picking your parents maybe.  Since that’s not possible….

Smoke detector DOESN”T prevent fires

• It’s eating fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Limiting sugar, alcohol, and other simple carbs.
• It’s avoiding toxins in the world such as excessive alcohol (yes, I know it’s in the other one, ’cause it needs to be) and tobacco.
• It’s feeding our mind healthy food along with food for thought.  Lifelong learning and mental stimulation rather than mindless TV watching or Net surfing.
• It’s becoming fit.
• Learning and practicing stress reduction. This doesn’t come pre-programmed with this tool, in fact many people are pre-programmed to self-destruct with stress.

A friend in the personal finance  world, Len Penzo, stresses personal responsibility in managing your money.  Personal responsibility in health prevention could go a long way, too.  Then we wouldn’t need to outlaw 32 ounce big gulps. They would just die a death in the market place of healthy choices.

You can’t outlaw stupid…

I’m just sayin…

Let’s get started on:

The Best In Nurse Blogs!

Eating disorder detection is on Lorry’s mind at The Correctional Nurse. A dangerous situation in the best of circumstances.

Treating the patient and not the disease is the subject at Those Emergency Blues/ Toronto Emerge

At Your Cervix is making great strides towards her goal of midwifery! Congrats!

Barbara at The Nurse Practitioner Business Owner Blog writes about the importance of websites to NP practices.   Presence on the net and social media is a must these days.

Ovesharing on the interwebs is the topic at The Nerdy Nurse.  Thanks for sharing….but not overly.

IV acetaminophen, yep it comes IV, says Infusion Nurse.

Kevin discusses incivility in health care at Innovative Nurse.  It gripes me no end when folks can’t use simple manners  such as “thanks, you’re welcome, how can I help”.  It’s really not that hard.

Nancy has a few storm pics, along with a beautiful mojito at In The Shadow Of The Steeple.  Cheers!

Nurse Kitty has a cupcake recipe that look delicious.  Don’t go look at the picture if you are trying to lose weight.

Grateful and appreciative seems to describe Nurse Teeny at the Makings of a Nurse. Go see how much she honors her spouse for all the support she received while going to school.

Nursetopia describes those first moments of nursing school and the excitement/fear, along with a big pile of books.

Rita at the Nurses Network describes the art of communication.  A valuable skill in all professions, but especially in the health care delivery.

A chilling short story is at Code Blog.  Good stuff!

An opinion on gastric bypasses is at Crass-Pollination. You don’t have to wonder where Nurse K stands on most issues….

An overview of recent ANA resolutions are dissected by Keith at Digital Doorway.

The choking game, which is certainly no game, is discussed at ER Nurses Care.  Death or brain damage isn’t anything to laugh about, especially in an adolescent.

Impacted Nurse: Ian beautifully describes Nursing At The Edge, which could easily be described as living on the edge, in a positive way.

JParadisi RN has a fortune cookie with the truth.

Thanks

Thanks, Thanks, Thanks for being a reader and supporter.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this great edition of The Best Blogs in Nursing, our humble opinion, of course.

If you don’t see your favorite blog leave a comment and we will try to get ‘em added to my list.

Have a great week. And remember to follow Kevin’s advice, let’s be civil.  If we show the way, others will follow!  Make good healthy choices today, ya need to start sometime, why not today?

Cil and Dean

{photo credit: mulad c.c.}

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The latest edition of the Best In Nurse Blogs-my bi-weekly focus on the best writing by, for, or about Nurses!

Best In Nurse Blogs:

She’s baaaack…

Kim at Emergiblog, one of the first bloggers to welcome me to the blogosphere,  has posted after a several months absence.

I thought it would be fitting to honor her today with a picture of her favorite NASCAR driver, Kasey Khane.  I hope we all see a lot more of Kim’s writing in the near future.

Kasey Kahne

Let’s get started with this weeks…

The Best RN Blogs:

Nancy at In the Shadow of the Steeple shares the story of her recent break-in and the losses she has felt.  Sad story….Thanks Nancy for agreeing to be interviewed for our latest project, and on a day when I know you didn’t feel like it!  Hope you get your stuff back.

Homelessness is passionately discussed by Keith at Digital Doorway.

Facebook is a mess according to Phil at Health is Social.  And no he’s not talking about the stock price, though if his premise is correct the stock is probably hopeless too!

J.ParadisiRN explains what it takes to be a great nurse. (actually crosses professional lines imho)

Kevin at Innovative Nurse gives tips for nurses who would like to begin their own business. Some of which don’t even realize it yet. Could that be you?

Brittany at The Nerdy Nurse gives 7 tips for those interested in being a clinical informatics nurse.  She starts by telling us there are 100 or so names those nurses are called.  All positive I’m sure.

Screwing someone over can save your life is explained at Crass-Pollination.  A sad tale…

The bath salts/cannibalism connection is reviewed at ER Nurses Care.  We keep you well informed here at the Millionaire Nurse Blog.  It’s not Zombies, just Druggies…(at least the puppy eating puppy pic was cute….(scroll to bottom of post)

Impacted Nurse bemoans the lack of use of experienced nurses in sharing the wealth of their experiences with the young.  What would that look like, how would it be accomplished?

Vein palpation pre veni-puncture. “With or without gloves?” was the question.  Cora has the answers. How bout you? I’m old school and don’t use gloves to palpate…

Toronto Emerg explains how nurses practice on one slide.  Which side do you choose?  (the same can be said of us Docs of course…)  As you age it becomes easier to use the “war story” route.  I try hard to be conversant in current medical literature with I’m talking to the kids junior colleagues…and not just relate “my experience.”

Dealing with abused women is the topic at Correctional Nurse.

Selling your Nurse Practitioner practice? Tips at The Nurse Practitioner Business Blog.

Nursetopia is all boxed up.  Congrats on your new office and new home… Not sure both the same week is a good thing, but at least you’ll get it all behind you.

Nurse Kitty has a giveaway. Check it out-free stuff is cool. As to trip, I would vote beach!

CPR and Vaginas?  Not Nurse Ratched is also amazed….

Networking tips are discussed at Transitions in Nursing.  Great advice.

Thanks for reading.

Happy Fathers Day to all you dads out there. Mine has been gone for 30+ years, but I think of him daily, in some form or fashion.  Let yours know you care.

If you have a favorite nurse blog, make sure you let me know in the comments so I can add it to my list too!  (self-nominations are welcome!)

{photo credit; digitalredeye c.c.}

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