Thank you for a great year and for your ongoing support. I am sending my warmest wishes for a safe, happy, and peaceful holiday season. Nursing Connections™ will return in January!

Donna's Book Pix: Eats, Shoots and Leaves The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss This amusing little book teaches some memorable lessons about the proper use of punctuation. It’s amazing just how many of us misuse the comma alone! (And, the exclamation point for that matter). While the subject may seem dull at face value, the author has a dry, sarcastic sense of humor (she is British) that had me laughing out loud on airplanes and in other public places while I read the book. More importantly, I am now much more careful with my punctuation to make my meaning clear. Whether you are a stickler for correct punctuation or eternally challenged by it, like me, you have to love this book.

Cool Nursing Web Site:
Nursing on the Net: Health Care Resources Your Can Use
This is a web sampler of nursing resources from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine. You’ll find a little bit of everything here from evidence based nursing to disease resources to nursing standards and much more. Bookmark this one!

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

Career Article:
In Praise of Public Libraries
Where can you get free access to the Internet, have a personal research assistant, take classes, see an art exhibit, meet people, learn more about almost anything you want to know, or just spend some quiet time reading? Why, at your public library, of course! Read more.

News You Can Use:
According to the Department of Labor (DOL), more new jobs are expected to be created for registered nurses through 2012 than any other occupation. Find out what the DOL has to say about nursing at http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos083.htm.

Quote of the Month:
Your profession is not what brings home your paycheck. Your profession is what you were put on this earth to do with such passion and such intensity that is becomes spiritual in calling.
— Vincent Van Gogh

Entrepreneur Spotlight:
Karen Cebulko, RN, BSN, CLNC, CNLCP is a nurse with a business perspective. Her company, LNC Perspective, provides legal nurse consulting (LNC) and life care planning (LCP) services to attorneys and insurance companies. She also provides mentoring services to other nurses who wish to break into - or move forward in - an LNC or LCP practice. Karen lectures nationally on various topics relating to LNC and LCP and still maintains a clinical position in a critical care unit on a per diem basis. Karen got started in legal nurse consulting in 2001 after taking a home study course and doing a phone survey of area attorneys to assess their needs, finding that several attorneys were willing to hire her as soon as she was ready. (Ironically, she conducted a similar survey two years prior and could find no attorneys interested in her services). Karen had previously started a healthcare marketing consulting business in 1994 and developed a unique program to help healthcare facilities increase their business. When changes occurred in the industry that she wasn’t happy about, she closed that business and started her current business venture.

When asked what advice she would give to other nurses who want to be in business for themselves, without hesitation Karen states, "Volunteer your time in nursing and other organizations. Get on committees, on boards, and meet people. That’s my #1 reason for success - sitting on boards and being active in business and professional associations. Additionally, I always tell nurses that it is their responsibility to educate themselves – if you do, you’ll continue to empower yourself. I have 25 different subscriptions that I read, scan, and flag on a regular basis."

What Karen likes most about being self-employed, "There is so much flexibility. I can take 12 weeks vacation and I don't miss out on any events for my kids (ages 7, 10, and 16). I can be a full time mom and have a full time career." Her least favorite part about self-employment: "Learning how to manage my billing and collections." To learn more about Karen’s business visit her web site at www.lncperspective.com.

Come Meet Donna:

How to be a Star in Your Niche Market and Outshine the Competition
November 29, 2005	Hilton Garden Inn, Bridgewater, NJ National Speaker's Association - New Jersey Chapter Meeting For additional information, please contact Pat Bohse at 732-291-8038.
Optum Open House and Continuing Education Event
December 13, 2005	San Antonio, TX Nurseline/RN Open House: 11am-7pm Continuing Education Sessions: 5pm and 7pm: Position Yourself for Success
The 2005 Diva and Don in Nursing Gala by the New Jersey Institute for Nursing
December 1, 2005	Princeton, NJ Donna is an honoree

Live Chat
An Evening with Dear Donna
December 14, 2005    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.

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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