Ever dreaded talking to people you don't know at an association meeting or finding the right words in a tough workplace situation? This month's issue of Nursing Connections™ will help you to beef up your communication skills.

Donna's Book Pix: Confident Voices by Beth Boynton, RN, MS Confident Voices - The Nurse's Guide to Improving Communication & Creating Positive Workplaces focuses on many challenges that nurses face in their daily practices. Combining stories, facts, experiences, and theories, Boynton tackles tough subjects such as workplace violence, organizational culture, and bullying. She helps readers understand the underlying issues and teaches us how to build healthy work relationships and workplaces. Practical and easy to read — Confident Voices is appropriate for managers and staff nurses alike. Can also be used as an orientation/in-service manual.

Cool Nursing Web Site:
Legal Eye Newsletter for the Nursing Profession
The publishers of the monthly Legal Eye Newsletter seek to "reduce nurses' fear of the law" and want to "minimize nurses' exposure to legal liability." Thus the site is full of concrete examples of how courts are applying the law to nursing practice in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other clinical settings. It also includes a topic index that features everything from "abandonment" to "X-ray tables." You do not need to subscribe to the newsletter to access much of the information on the site. For more information, visit www.nursinglaw.com.

Career Article:
Conversational Ice Breakers
Most of us were raised to not talk to strangers. It's natural to feel uncomfortable striking up a conversation with someone you don't know or just going up to people and introducing yourself. There's actually a style and proven techniques that will enable you to be able to talk to anyone anywhere. Here are some strategies that work. Read more.

News You Can Use: Florence Nightingale Medals Awarded Three U.S. nurses were among 28 worldwide to receive the 42nd Florence Nightingale Medal from the International Committee of the Red Cross. The medal, which is awarded every two years, was given to — Susan Hassmiller, RN, PhD, FAAN, of Princeton Junction, N.J., began volunteering with the Red Cross in 1975 after an earthquake in Mexico. She is the senior adviser for nursing with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and also is on loan to the Institute of Medicine as director of the RWJF Initiative on the Future of Nursing. She is a member of the board of directors of the American Red Cross of Central New Jersey. Meredith Buck, RN, of Chalfont, Pa., has responded to 55 local and 12 national disasters. She began volunteering for the American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. While running her own law office, Buck serves as captain of the disaster health services team and is a manager of disaster health services for the Red Cross. Diana Whaley, RN, of Rockwood, Tenn., joined the Red Cross in 2001. She has trained more than 150 public health nurses in the Knoxville, Tenn., region in disaster health services.

Quote of the Month:
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
— Leo F. Buscaglia

Donna's Blog
The (TV) Year of the Nurse
There is an interesting article on lemondrop.com by Laura Gilbert about the recent "run" of TV dramas featuring a nurse as the main character. She asks the question, "Why are we suddenly so obsessed with nurses?" and hypothesizes about the answer. Read more at www.nurse-power.net/blog.

Entrepreneur Spotlight:
Mary Ellen Jacobs, RN discovered she wanted to be a nurse when she was a child; she was helping to care for her grandmother, who lived with her family. Today, Jacobs is president and CEO of Graceful Seniors, LLC. Throughout her career, Jacobs worked in long-term care and critical care, as a consultant, and in the insurance industry. Although she worked at diverse organizations, the same theme seemed to prevail: Who is helping patients and their families navigate through the complex healthcare system?

Jacobs sought specialists in areas that would be able to assist seniors and their families. That was when she discovered the area of Care Management and Graceful Seniors was developed. Graceful Seniors is tailored to individuals and families who care for an elderly loved one and find it challenging to keep up with all of their care needs. Services focus on maintaining independence, wellness, safety, quality care, and peace of mind.

Jacobs is a member of the National Professional Care Management organization, New Jersey State Nurses Association, and the American Nurses Association.

For more information about Graceful Seniors, go to www.gracefulseniors.com.

Upcoming Seminars: Double Header Event
Career Alternatives for Nurses®
October 5, 2009 — Las Vegas, NV

How to Start Your Own Business or Consulting Practice
October 6, 2009 — Las Vegas, NV

Come Meet Donna:
Taking Care of You, Inc. - The Business of Self Care
September 9, 2009 — West Trenton, NJ

You Make It Happen!
September 25, 2009 — Arlington, VA

Transition to Leadership
September 29, 2009 – Somers Point, NJ

Teleseminar:
How to Be Your Own PR Agent and Get a Million Dollars Worth of Free Publicity
Powerful You! Tele-Network™
September 30, 2009 – 12:00 – 1:00 pm

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

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.

Your 1st Year As A Nurse Ordering Information
Order a personalized, autographed copy of Your 1st Year as a Nurse directly from Cardillo & Associates. It makes a great personal or professional gift.

For colleges and healthcare facilities, Your 1st Year as a Nurse can be purchased at a bulk discount 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 — Practical Advice for Thriving at Every Stage of Your Career, is available. Order now by credit card at 800-801-5796 or click here www.dcardillo.com for our secure order form.

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