How do you vent? Or don’t you? This month’s edition of Nursing Connections™ highlights a book that addressees the reasons for nurses' stress and anger — a must read for any nurse. Also featured are a blog cataloging the ups and downs of a neuroscience nurse, an article about professionalism in nursing, and a documentary in which Vietnam nurses reveal the horrors they witnessed, the care they provided, and the emotional scars they bear.

Donna's Book Pix: Transforming Nurses’ Stress and Anger — Steps Toward Healing, 2nd ed. by Sandra P. Thomas This insightful and sensitive book is based on the work and research of psychiatric nurse practitioner Thomas. The book explores the reasons for nurses’ stress and anger and addresses tough issues, such as the anger-depression link, consequences of mismanaged anger, and dealing with anger and abuse from others (patients, physicians, coworkers, family). It is a powerful self-help book for all nurses, but it's also a valuable tool for those who teach, manage, mentor, and lead nurses. It provides practical steps for managing stress, improving interactions with colleagues, caring for the self, modifying nonproductive anger styles, and working toward empowerment for individuals and for the profession as a whole. A must read for all nurses.

Cool Nursing Web Site:
Head Nurse
Jo, RN, a neuroscience nurse at a hospital in the South, catalogs the ups and downs of her personal and professional life on her blog, Head Nurse. Nursing blogs — short for "Web logs" — feature an insider's view of the highs and lows of nursing. It's worth skimming thorough comments about her personal life to get to the juicy nursing posts — including those in the archive section.

If you have a cool nursing web site you'd like to share, please send it to me at editor@dcardillo.com.

Career Article:
Signed: Desperately Seeking Professionalism
I work for an insurance carrier. Many of my peers (non-nurses) comment on the lack of professionalism among nurses. Even though I’d like to defend our profession, it's becoming increasingly hard to do so. I've had applicants wear Capri pants to interviews and short shorts to job fairs. I've seen staff refuse to follow direction by non-medical supervisors simply because a nurse didn't give them the direction and staff insist on wearing scrubs to work because they're nurses and shouldn't have to follow the business casual dress code. The problem is further magnified when nursing applicants demand higher salaries in spite of that. Nurses have a wealth of knowledge that is beneficial in many different work settings; however, it's difficult to persuade management of this fact when nurses are doing very little to promote themselves or display a team-player attitude. I'm not at all trying to bash the nursing profession, but I'd appreciate your thoughts on this subject. Read more.

News You Can Use:
In a documentary on cable television's Women’s Entertainment, Vietnam nurses reveal the horrors they witnessed, the care they provided, and the emotional scars they bear.

"Vietnam Nurses with Dana Delaney" debuts at 10 PM ET on Friday, August 18, 2006, and repeats the following day at 6 PM. Delaney, who portrayed an Army nurse on the TV series "China Beach," narrates the documentary.

The documentary is based on The Fine Art of Nursing Care: Lessons in Healing from War and Art, by Margaret Carson, RN, PhD, and Linda Finke, RN, PhD, according to publisher Sigma Theta Tau, the Honor Society of Nursing. The book should be released in spring 2007.

For more information, go to http://www.nursingsociety.org/media/vietnam_nurses.htm.

Quote of the Month:
Heat and animosity, contest and conflict, may sharpen the wits, although they rarely do; they never strengthen the understanding, clear the perspicacity, guide the judgment, or improve the heart.
— Walter Savage Landor

Entrepreneur Spotlight:
Faye Battiste-Otto, RN, is a sexual assault nurse examiner who has had numerous run-ins with the law — but all for good reasons! Faye is founder and president of American Forensic Nurses, which provides medical forensic services to law enforcement agencies. AFN also disseminates forensic information and education resources to those interested and practicing in the field of forensic sciences. Not surprisingly, Faye is also a founding member of the International Association of Forensic Nurses (www.iafn.org).

While an ED nurse, Faye noticed that law enforcement officers were wasting precious time and resources coming to the emergency department (and often having to wait) when they needed blood alcohols drawn, DNA testing, rape evidence collection, etc. So Faye came up with a way of saving law enforcement agencies time and money: She and her team provides these services on-site at police precincts and jails, and responds to the scene of a crime or accident. It took Faye two years to get her first contract, but today AFN contracts with 74 law enforcement agencies in California.

Her advice to other nurse entrepreneurs: "Never compromise your ethics. It’s not easy to be out there. I’ve had doors closed in my face. Persistence, honesty, and forthrightness do pay off."

As if all that isn’t enough, Faye also owns an assisted living facility called Chateau Battiste. "I've always loved the elderly," Faye explains. "They are our forgotten generation. They teach us everything we know."

To learn more about Faye and her businesses and services, visit www.amrn.com and www.chateaubattiste.com.

Come Meet Donna:

Nursing – The Next Generation
September 7, 2006 – Lake Lanier, Georgia
Grady Health Systems – Nursing Perspectives Conference

Take Your Career to the Next Level
September 14 – Parsippany, NJ
Atlantic Health Systems Recruitment Event

Take Your Career to the Next Level
September 16, 2006 – Dallas, Texas
21st Century Professional and Civil Society Conference

NursePower!™ and Take Your Career to the Next Level
October 13, 2006 – Tinley Park, IL
Nursing Spectrum Career Fair

Nurse Power!™
Learn to Speak With Style
October 25-29, 2006 – Cancun, Mexico
Educational Enterprises – Nursing Symposium

Seminar Double Header – Las Vegas, NV
October 16, 2006 – Career Alternatives For Nurses™
October 17, 2006 – How to Start Your Own Business or Consulting Practice

For additional program info visit http://www.dcardillo.com/events.html.

Book Donna Today
Planning a convention, educational conference, or leadership training program? Looking for a speaker for a new graduate orientation program, student nurse luncheon, or recruitment event? Donna has a program to meet your needs. Don't miss the opportunity to bring the country's leading career management expert and motivational speaker for nurses to your event. Call 800-801-5796 or e-mail at donna@dcardillo.com for rates, availability, and program topics. Fill out an inquiry form if you prefer.

Your 1^st Year As A Nurse Ordering Information
Order a personalized, autographed copy of Your 1^st Year as a Nurse directly from Cardillo & Associates. It makes a great personal or professional gift.

For colleges and healthcare facilities, Your 1^st Year as a Nurse can be purchased at a bulk discount from online booksellers and directly from the publisher. Contact us for more information at 800-801-5796.

Career Alternatives for Nurses™ Product Specials
The audiocassette and VHS versions of Career Alternatives for Nurses™ are being phased out, so we are offering you special close-out prices on those. Hurry — this offer is valid while current supplies last!

Video Cassette (VHS) – 2 tape set originally $149.95 now $105.99 plus shipping and handling
Audio Cassette – 4 tape set originally $99.95 now $69.99 plus shipping and handling
Order your copy today.

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