Many of us are in a rut in our lives and careers. We’ve become so complacent that we’ve stopped learning, growing, and moving forward. We need "disturbing." Start shaking things up by reading this edition of Nursing Connections™.

Donna's Book Pix: Eyebrows and Other Fish by Anthony Scally Eyebrows and Other Fish is an honest patient’s-eye-view of schizophrenia. Funny and frank, it’s perfect for anyone who wants to understand mental healthcare from a patient’s viewpoint. The book is gaining cult status with patients, and healthcare professionals are using it to improve their practices. One caveat: Scally isn’t a professional writer, and there was minimal editing before publishing. Just go with the flow; you won’t even notice after a few pages.

Cool Nursing Web Site:
MinorityNurse.com
MinorityNurse.com provides resources and information pertaining to education, career development, and minority health for the growing population of minority nurses in America. For more information, visit www.MinorityNurse.com.

Career Article:
I Save Lives. You?
While recently traveling on business, I noticed a billboard with a picture of a police officer on it. The caption read, "I save lives. What do you do?" What a powerful statement and a great way to illustrate the significant work police officers do. The same billboard could be used for nurses. Because, when all is said and done, that is the essence of what we do. Read more.

News You Can Use:
ANA Endorses Obama for U.S. President
The American Nurses Association recently announced its endorsement of Senator Barack Obama in the 2008 Presidential Election. According to an organization press release, ANA chose Obama because he is committed to signing universal health legislation by the end of his first term in office, he recognizes that nurses play a critical role in every aspect of patient care, and he believes that the nursing shortage ranks as one of the most pressing issues facing our healthcare system. More information about the ANA’s endorsement is available at ANA NursingWorld.

Quote of the Month:
Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.
— Dr. Seuss

Donna's Blog: In Need of Some Disturbance?
We all need a little disturbing from time to time — whether it involves trying something new, stepping out of our comfort zone, doing things differently than we’ve always done them, learning something new, making changes for the better, shifting our priorities or our focus, or just doing something we’ve always wanted to do. Read more at http://www.nurse-power.net/blog.

Entrepreneur Spotlight:
Catherine Mullahy, RN, BS, CRRN, CCM, is owner of Mullahy and Associates, LLC. Her company provides educational assistance to individuals employed as case managers in a wide variety of practice settings, to corporations seeking to achieve confidence and competence for their employees, and to those individuals interested in pursuing direct-to-consumer case management services in their own communities. Catherine is author of The Case Manager's Handbook (3rd edition).

Catherine has had a passion for case management for many years. She started a national case management company in 1983 because she recognized "a need for a more personalized, high-touch management of those individuals increasingly challenged and frustrated by a convoluted healthcare delivery system." Following the sale of that company in 2003, she began the "next chapter": Mullahy and Associates, LLC. It is her hope that she will "be able to raise the awareness of case management services to consumers and their families — and then fill the pipeline with qualified professionals to meet this need."

In her more than 20 years of business ownership, Catherine has had her successes and failures. The biggest lesson she learned over the years is that it takes more than a "vision" to create a viable, successful business. And, she cautions, being a good nurse (even an excellent one) doesn’t necessarily translate into success in business. "Some of the things that were the most difficult to learn were those outside my ‘comfort zone,’" she says. "And I learned so much more from the failures along the way than the successes."

To learn more about Catherine Mullahy’s services, and products, go to www.mullahyassociates.com.

Upcoming Seminars:
Extreme Career Makeover with Dear Donna
October 27, 2008 - Las Vegas, NV

Career Alternatives For Nurses®
October 28, 2008 - Las Vegas, NV

Learn to Speak With Style for Fun and Profit
November 11, 2008 – Red Bank, NJ

Nursing Spectrum/NurseWeek Career Fairs
October 27, 2008 - Las Vegas, NV
November 6, 2008 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Come Meet Donna:
Power Networking – The Key to Your Success
November 13, 2008 – Spring Lake Heights, NJ
Wall Township Chamber of Commerce Networking Event

Live Chat:
An Evening With Dear Donna
October 15, 2008
Time: 8 PM to 10 PM (Eastern Time)
Topic: Career Opportunities for Nurses!
Chat URL: www.nurse.com/chat

For additional program info visit http://www.dcardillo.com/events.html.

Teleseminar:
How to Use Public Speaking to Promote Your Business
October 13, 2008
For more information and to register, go to http://powerfulyou.com/Speakers/Speakers.htm

Book Donna Today
Donna has some great programs to get nurses feeling pumped up and positive about nursing. Call (800) 801-5796 or e-mail donna@dcardillo.com for rates, availability, and program topics. Fill out an inquiry form if you prefer. 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.

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.

Available now!

Donna’s long-awaited second book, The ULTIMATE Career Guide for Nurses, is available now. To order, call (800) 866-0919 or visit http://www.nurse.com/CE/7250.

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