Harry Potter’s nasty relatives berate him for his differences and never bother to look below the surface to the great wizard within him. Disabled nurses may face the same kind of discrimination. Many who can and want to work are being denied the opportunity. This month, make it your goal to put aside preconceived notions and look for the wizard in everyone you meet.

Donna's Book Pix: Leave No Nurse Behind: Nurses Working with disAbilities by Donna Carol Maheady, ARNP, EdD In Leave No Nurse Behind, 11 nurses who defied disability tell their personal stories of courage and determination in the face of stigma and discrimination, proving that nurses with disabilities have the ability to successfully fill the jobs that so desperately need filling during this national nursing shortage. This book serves as both an inspiration and as a practical guide for nurses living and working with disabilities and for students with disabilities pursuing careers in nursing. Nursing with a disability is a challenge, but with proper planning, the right knowledge and perseverance, it is not impossible.

Cool Nursing Web Site:
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Patient Education Materials
Medical jargon is often confusing for patients and family members alike. But ensuring that patients understand their medical conditions is an important part of achieving successful patient outcomes. By providing easy-to-understand patient education material, vital information can be relayed in an understandable way. Examples of patient education material on the website include back surgery, chemotherapy drugs, ostomy care, cardiology, tests and procedures, and living wills.

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

Career Article:
Do Nurses Really Eat Their Young?
I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this any more. This famous line was spoken by Peter Finch in the 1976 movie classic Network. It also conveys how I feel about the fact that some of my colleagues love to perpetuate the notion that nurses eat their young.

This vile expression implies that experienced nurses do not treat new nurses kindly. My first problem with the statement is that it’s a generalization implying that all nurses are like that. Interestingly, whenever I hear someone utter the expression, I always say, "I don’t do that. Do you?" The person making the statement always says, "Oh no, I don’t, but many others do." Read more.

News You Can Use:
Fight Stress by Eating Right

Stress is a fact of life. However, there are ways to minimize its grip on your life, starting with your diet.

The Food and Mood Project, a nutrition research group in the U.K., identified "food stressors" (foods that exacerbate stress) and "food supporters" (foods that help people under stress). The lists were drawn on the basis of personal experience among 200 people surveyed.

Participants reported that cutting down or avoiding "food stressors" like sugar (80%), caffeine (79%), alcohol (55%), and chocolate (53%) had the most impact on mental health. So did having more "food supporters" like water (80%), vegetables (78%), fruit (72%), and oil-rich fish (52%).

So the next time you find yourself reaching for junk food to make a stressful day go away, try something nutritious that’s low fat, low sugar, and low caffeine instead.

Quote of the Month:
One cannot consent to creep when one has an impulse to soar.
— Helen Keller

Entrepreneur Spotlight:
LeAnn Thieman, LPN, became an unwitting entrepreneur as a result of a unique life experience. After volunteering to help with the Vietnam orphan airlift, LeAnn wrote about her harrowing adventure in This Must Be My Brother. As a result, she was invited to speak at a state chapter of a nursing professional association. Her reaction: "Me? Speak? About what?" Lessons from your airlift experience, they said. To LeAnn’s amazement, her presentation, "Balancing Life in Your War Zones," was well received, and other chapters asked her to speak as well. The rest, as they say, is history. Soon she was so busy with her speaking "hobby" that she quit her day job to speak and write full time.

Today, LeAnn travels the world speaking to nurses and caregivers and inspiring them to care for themselves as attentively as they do others. Additionally, she helps healthcare facilities with the recruitment and retention of nurses. LeAnn is also a prolific writer. Adrift in the Storms tells the story of one of the children rescued during Operation Babylift. She also coauthored seven Chicken Soup books, including Chicken Soup for the Nurses Soul, and has four more planned.

When asked what she likes best about being self-employed, LeAnn responded, "I love the flexibility and the no limit freedom to manage my business in a way that suits my life and priorities. That said, I’m the toughest boss I’ve ever had!" About the challenges of being self-employed LeAnn noted, "The responsibilities are huge — thousands of people are counting on me now. I have to work hard to work less and have time for all I love in my life."

To other nurses considering getting into business for themselves LeAnn offers, "Believe in yourself. Trust your inner voice. It worked for me to start small and slow and to grow at a sustainable pace. That may make the transition easier and less scary for others, too. And remember — you’re always a nurse, no matter what you do."

To learn more about LeAnn, her business, her books, and Operation BabyLift, visit her websites: www.leannthieman.com, and www.nurserecruitmentandretention.com.

Come Meet Donna:

Seminar Double Header – Las Vegas, NV
October 16, 2006 – Career Alternatives For Nurses™
October 17, 2006 – How to Start Your Own Business or Consulting Practice

NursePower!™ and Take Your Career to the Next Level
October 13, 2006 – Tinley Park, IL
Nursing Spectrum Career Fair

Nurse Power!™ and Learn to Speak With Style
October 25-29, 2006 – Cancun, Mexico
Educational Enterprises – Nursing Symposium

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. ONLY A FEW COPIES LEFT!

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