With gas prices hovering around $3 a gallon, many people will be staying close to home rather than driving cross-country this vacation season. But staying home doesn't have to be boring: invite some friends over for a "spa party," travel via armchair by reading books with exciting locales, or, research overseas volunteer opportunities for later in the year. Whatever you decide, enjoy your summer!

Donna's Book Pix: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert Subtitled One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia, Eat, Pray, Love follows Gilbert's physical and internal journey after divorcing her husband. Suffering from loneliness and depression, she decided to take a year and visit three places where she could examine one aspect of her own nature in a culture that has traditionally done that one thing very well. In Italy, she focused on pleasure, enjoying gelato and learning Italian. Her journey turned inwards at an Indian ashram, where she learned the value of meditation. At her final destination – Bali – she achieved balance. Gilbert's self-deprecating wit makes this articulate and moving memoir of self-discovery a joy to read.

Cool Nursing Web Site:
Operation Smile
As an organization that brings together medical volunteers from around the world, Operation Smile International has been making surgery for cleft lip and palate defects available to children around the world for more than 20 years. The website offers information on volunteering and upcoming missions, a list of companies that offer portions of their product proceeds to Operation Smile, opportunities to donate, and more.

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

Career Article:
The Value of Volunteering
Most people think of volunteering as charitable work, something you do to help others on your own time. However, volunteering is a valuable career resource that can enhance your career in numerous ways. Here are just a few of them.

Volunteering in an area you're trying to break into is a great way to gain experience. For example, you may want to do more health education but can't get a job in that area because of "lack of experience." Consider volunteering for the American Red Cross and becoming a first aid or CPR instructor. Read more.

News You Can Use:
On April 27, The World Health Organization (WHO) released its new international Child Growth Standards for infants and young children. The standards are the first to provide evidence and guidance about how every child in the world should grow, according to a WHO press release. The new standards prove that differences in children's growth to age 5 are more influenced by nutrition, feeding practices, environment, and health care than genetics or ethnicity. With these new standards, parents, doctors, policymakers, and child advocates will know when the nutrition and health care needs of children are not being met and can address these at an early stage.

Quote of the Month:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference
— Robert Frost

Entrepreneur Spotlight:
Sue Tobin, RN, CPCC, an active oncology nurse, nurse entrepreneur, and mother of five, knows first hand about stressful work and life balance. So it’s not surprising to learn that her business, Coach4Nurses, helps nurses to understand and value balance. Sue's coaching practice specializes in helping nurses to rediscover passion in work and life. She helps reframe and restore positive perceptions about work, life, love, and family that get lost during nurses critical service to others. She offers both individual coaching and group workshops. Sue also recently ran a weekend retreat for nurses and is planning more retreats in the future.

Sue says that she loves coaching because she can utilize all of her creative abilities, as well as her clinical nursing skills, to help others navigate their way through some very complex challenges and problems. She explains, "Coaches do many different things including helping people break down big projects into smaller pieces and helping clients to create and move toward goals." Sue is passionate about the care of med/surg oncology patients, and is the first to say that having her own coach helped her thrive amid the challenges of working in our Managed Health Care system. She offers a free sample coaching session so you can see how the process works.

To learn more about Sue, her business, and coaching in general visit her web site at http://www.Coach4Nurses.com. You'll also find some fun and helpful self-assessment tools there to get you started.

Come Meet Donna:
Position Yourself for Success
Northeastern University School Health Summer Institute
June 27, 2006 - Hyannis, MA
For more information, visit http://www.ace.neu.edu/shi/pro grams/summer

Live Online Chat - Nurse Entrepreneurship
June 21, 2006     Time: 8 - 10 p.m.
Click here for a direct link to the chat.

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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