The approach of spring always triggers a desire to start cleaning up and cleaning out whether the yard, the closets, or the garage. It’s also a good time to "clean up" your career as well. Consider updating your resume, joining that professional association you’ve been meaning to join, make plans to attend a local career fair, and stop procrastinating on an important goal you set earlier this year. Nursing Connections™ is here to inspire and motivate you to get started.

Donna's Book Pix: The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Etiquette by Mary Mitchell Although some people think of etiquette as only related to tea parties and thank you notes, the truth is that etiquette encompasses all areas of life and work. Etiquette, broadly defined, represents the rules of a civilized society. This handy guide covers subjects particularly pertinent to nurses such as dealing with the disabled, handling conflict and criticism, making conversation, correspondence, use of business cards and so much more. Once you understand the rules of etiquette, you will be much more confident, credible, and effective. In short, it can help you to get more of what you want and need.

Cool Nursing Web Site:
National Nurse Blogspot
There is a movement underfoot to create the Office of the National Nurse within the federal government. This position would help to make nursing more visible and would promote and provide health education. Visit the blog site to learn more about the campaign and how you can support it. Note the Articles & Links section as well as Previous Posts.

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 Past Fear
You probably have dreams, hopes, and aspirations for your life. There are things you’d like to do and things you’d like to try. Maybe you imagine writing or teaching or moving into another specialty or applying for an interesting position at work. Maybe you’ve even contemplated moving up the management ladder or taking on some added responsibilities. And yet, many of us never follow our dreams, never do many of the things we want to do, and never venture far from where we are right now. Often, our fears hold us back. Read more.

News You Can Use:
The Institute for Safe Medication Practice (ISMP) has recently joined forces with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help end confusing drug orders. In partnership, the two organizations plan to launch a massive drug education campaign this spring. ISMP is a non-profit organization devoted to medication error prevention and safe medication use. Visit their web site for information about common drug name confusion, errors found in textbooks and on packaging, a list of error prone abbreviations, symbols, and dose designations and much more.

Quote of the Month:
Death is not the biggest fear we have; our biggest fear is taking the risk to be alive -- the risk to be alive and express what we really are.
— Don Miguel Ruiz

Encore Entrepreneur Spotlight:
Amy Bosich, RN, CCRN, is a nurse with her head, and her business, in the clouds. She is founder and owner of Flying Nurses International Medical Transport Service. Flying Nurses provides medical travel services for patients in transition between healthcare facilities and home, both domestic and abroad.

Originally from Cleveland, Amy visited Hawaii in 1989 as a travel nurse. She fell in love with the state and never left. A single mom, she worked as a trauma ICU nurse, moonlighting on an air ambulance and occasionally accompanying patients on commercial flights. She saw a growing need for high quality medical air transport services and started her own business in 1996. Not surprisingly, Amy has always had an interest in flying and took a few flying lessons in her life. What a creative way to combine nursing with another passion!

Amy says she had no real model to follow in starting the business and had to figure things out on her own. "I was flying by the seat of my pants when I first got started." No pun intended. Her hard work and determination, not to mention quality service, has obviously paid off. The company, originally called Flying Nurses of Hawaii, has expanded rapidly and now offers services extending to all four corners of the country. Amy works with 4 other RN flight coordinators to run the business. She contracts with 50 nurses across the country to provide the service. Learn more about Amy and her company at http://www.flyingnurse.com/index.html.

Come Meet Donna:
Recruitment Event
Communicate with Confidence
April 3, 2006 – Sheraton Parsippany, Parsippany, NJ
Atlantic Health System – Spring Hiring Event

Conferences/Conventions
Nurse Power!™
April 27, 2006 – Miami Beach, FL
Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs (NOVA) – 26th Annual Meeting

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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