The days are getting longer which means each day spring is getting closer. And while it is a little too soon to be planting seeds in your outdoor window box, it’s the perfect time to be planting career seeds for the coming year and beyond. Take some time to look ahead, decide what you’d like to accomplish this year, write down your goals, and take steps to get you moving in the right direction. I hope you enjoy this month’s edition of Nursing Connections™.

Donna's Book Pix: Legal, Ethical and Political Issues in Nursing, 2nd edition by Tonia Dandry Aiken This book, written by a nurse attorney, is a must read for all nurses. It covers key concepts related to nursing practice, standards of care, and the law. It contains important information about documentation, liability and negligence. There's also valuable information about workplace and employment issues, informed consent, ethics, and lobbying. Whether working in clinical practice, self-employed, or working in non-traditional areas, this book is a comprehensive guide to intelligent practice and professionalism.

Cool Nursing Web Site:
The American Heart Association
The AHA web site is a wealth of information and resources for nursing professionals. You’ll find practice guidelines, patient education materials, quality initiatives and much more. Find the latest CPR and ECC guidelines at http://www.americanheart.org and check out the Science and Professional page.

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

Career Article:
Celebrate the Diversity of Nursing
If you’ve been in nursing a while, you’ve no doubt heard debates about who’s the better nurse, what constitutes a “real” nurse, and whether or not nurses working in a nontraditional position are burnt out bedside nurses. Here are some common debates and misconceptions that need to get put to bed once and for all. Read more.

News You Can Use:
Every four years the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) conducts a comprehensive study known as the National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses. It is the nation’s most extensive and comprehensive source of statistics on all those with current licenses to practice in the United States whether or not they are employed in nursing. Data is collected on educational background, employment status, geographic distribution, specialty, gender, and ethnicity of over 35,000 nurses. A preliminary report on the 2004 findings was recently issued. The results are fascinating.

Quote of the Month:
Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.
— Mark Twain

Entrepreneur Spotlight:
Gloria is a nurse who does a great juggling act. She owns two separate businesses: Blackmon & Associates, a legal nurse consulting (LNC) firm, and Nutrira – Spa Retreats for Nurses. Gloria started her LNC practice in 1996 because she wanted to stay closer to home and have more flexibility to accommodate her family life. She has built a successful full-time practice consulting to attorneys and insurance companies. Her newest venture, Nutrira, is devoted to nurturing and rewarding nurses through life-changing retreats and guidance. Gloria says, "Nurses are starved for relaxation, leisure, self-care and, all-too-often, respect." Her goal is to put an end to that 'starvation' of time, spirit, direction and confidence. She started this business with her partner, Patsy Howard, RN in 2005.

What Gloria likes most about being self-employed: The autonomy and the flexibility. She notes, "I love being able to work from anywhere including the beach and in the company of my flower garden. When Hurricane Katrina hit (she's based in New Orleans) I was still able to carry-on once I got an AirCard." What Gloria likes least about being self-employed: The administrative responsibilities of the day-to-day operations.

Gloria's advice for other nurses contemplating entrepreneurship: "Be ready to work even harder. Accept that you will make errors in your decision-making, but rarely is it the end of the world. Find someone who will be your believing eyes to keep you focused. Use the care plan process to help you start your business plan and your personal self-care plan. I forgot about caring for myself when I began to grow my business and quickly became worn out." To learn more about Gloria and her businesses visit her web site www.nutrira.com.

Come Meet Donna:

Seminar Double Header - Atlantic City, NJ
March 6, 2006	– Career Alternatives for Nurses™
March 7, 2006	– How to Start Your Own Business or Consulting Practice
Nurse Power!™
February 10, 2006	– Dewey Beach, DE
Delaware School Nurse Association – Winter Conference
Nursing on the Cutting Edge
February 23, 2006	– Atlantic City, NJ
New Jersey Student Nurse Association Convention
Nurse Power!™ Skills to Survive in the New Millennium
March 3, 2006	– Van Nuys, CA
Nursing Resource Coalition – Annual Advisory Board Conference

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

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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