Having just celebrated July 4th, take a moment to think back to 1776 and the signing of "The Declaration of Independence," which states that all people have "certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Take Thomas Jefferson’s words to heart: Isn’t it time for you to make some declarations of your own?

Donna's Book Pix: Daily Miracles: Stories and Practices of Humanity and Excellence in Health Care by Alan Briskin, PhD, and Jan Boller, RN, PhD For two years, a group of nurse leaders at a community hospital came together to discuss ideas about caring and compassion. Daily Miracles was the result. The book tells stories that reflect the compassion of those who offer a healing presence in the world.

Cool Nursing Web Site:
The Nightingale Declaration Campaign
Add your John Hancock to the Nightingale Declaration, in which nurses promise to "dedicate ourselves to the accomplishment of a healthy world by the year 2020. We declare our willingness to unite in a program of action, sharing information and solutions to resolve problems and improve conditions - locally, nationally and globally - in order to achieve health for all humanity."
More than 10,000 people have already signed the declaration.

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

Career Article:
Moving Beyond Hospital Walls
Have you ever wondered how far you could move from the bedside in your career pursuits and still call yourself a nurse? Have you ever questioned whether your colleagues who work in nontraditional areas, such as quality assurance, are still working as nurses? Is your identity as a nurse tied up in the traditional realm of hospitals and direct patient care? Read more.

News You Can Use:
$50,000 Available for Undergrad Nursing Scholarships
A $50,000 grant from McKesson Corp. to the Foundation of the National Student Nurses’ Association will provide 25 undergraduate nursing scholarships worth $1,000 each in the 2007–2008 and 2008–2009 academic years.

Applications for the scholarships, which will be awarded based on financial need, are available through the NSNA foundation www.nsna.org.

Quote of the Month:
Laughter is wine for the soul — laughter soft, or loud and deep, tinged through with seriousness. The hilarious declaration made by man that life is worth living.
— Sean O'Casey

Donna’s Blog:
I just read a great article in my local newspaper about self-healing for nurses. The article mentions how stressful nursing can be, leading to burnout. It goes on to say that nurses must be present with themselves in order to be present for their patients. Read more at http://www.nurse-power.net/blog/

Entrepreneur Spotlight:
Linda Bridge, RN, and Kathy Knowles, RN, are coauthors and copresenters of The Hopelessly Human Nurse book series, newsletters, and Hopelessly Human™ seminars and presentations. All are designed to inspire nursing professionals to increase their self-respect, thus positively affecting those around them and igniting the healing process within the healthcare system. Their business idea was hatched over tea in 2004. Here’s how it happened:

Kathy: "I had left my position at the hospital to follow a passion in fiction writing. Linda said that it was sad to see me leaving the profession because I was still so passionate about nursing. She suggested I write a book about nursing and I suggested she help. This is where it began."

Linda: "It was never my intention to own a business. What started as one book quickly turned into a series and speaking engagements seemed the natural progression. I eventually quit my hospital job when I realized that our message was having an impact and that we needed to be on the move promoting our vision."

Kathy’s advice for other nurse entrepreneurs: Raw authenticity is my key along with the words of Winston Churchill: "Never, never, never, never, never give up."

Linda’s advice for other nurse entrepreneurs: Keep your vision clear and concise, and believe in yourself! Whenever I doubt what I’m doing, I remind myself of my vision and hold on to my belief in myself. Having a clear picture of what I want to accomplish keeps me moving forward.

To learn more about Kathy and Linda, their business, books, and services, visit their web site at http://www.hopelesslyhuman.ca/.

Upcoming Seminars:
Career Alternatives for Nurses®
July 16, 2007 – New York City, NY

How to Start Your Own Business or Consulting Practice
July 17, 2007 – New York City, NY

Come Meet Donna:
Nursing Symposium 2007
July 10, 2007 – Las Vegas, NV

Nursing Spectrum Career Fair
August 14, 2007 - Ontario, CA

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.

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