The Internet has become one of the most popular tools for researching all types of information and services. Practitioners who develop an online presence are far more likely to be found by potential clients who search the web for information. Private practice professionals who are reticent about marketing themselves online are missing out on an important marketing opportunity.

Blogging and social media are two of the most powerful tools for online marketing. Here are five ways you can leverage these tools to market your clinical practice online:

1. Create a Blog Instead of a Website

Private practice websites tend to be static and can end up looking like blatant advertisements. A blog, on the other hand, can be used to inform, educate and offer support to potential clients. By updating your blog on a regular basis with useful content, you can subtly market yourself as a knowledgeable and caring professional.

2. Reach Out with Free Informational Giveaways

You can use your blog to create a client contact list by giving away a free report or other resource via email. The resource should provide useful information that will be appreciated by a broad audience. Once you have started to create a list of email contacts, you can stay in touch with them by emailing additional reports and updates about your practice.

3. Use SEO Keywords to Improve Search Engine Ranking

Most of the readers of your blog will find it when they do an online search. If your blog doesn’t show up in search engine results, it won't be found by readers who are potential clients. You can use Search Engine Optimization (SEO) techniques, like inserting keywords, to improve the ranking of your blog posts. For example, when you write about a subject like depression, use keyword phrases such as "overcoming depression" and "treatment for depression," since these phrases will be used by potential clients who are Googling information. You can find out more about SEO strategies at SEOmoz.

4. Promote Your Blog on Social Media Platforms

Use social media platforms like Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook to establish yourself as an online expert and build a following. Each time you add new content to your blog, promote it on social media and include a link that will send readers to your site. This type of link building will help improve your search engine ranking and make it easier for clients to find your blog when they search. You can also enhance your online presence by using social media to share useful content by other authors.

5. Commenting on Blogs

Many professionals increase their sphere of online influence and establish relationships with other professionals by commenting on blog posts. Blog commenting is another area where back links can be used to attract readers to your blog. The key to effective commenting is to add value with additional information, rather than simply promoting your own practice.

Ethical Online Marketing

The professional code of ethics that governs private practice must extend to all forms of online marketing. Of primary concern is the need to respect patient privacy and confidentiality. Since social media messages have the potential to be read by large numbers of people for an indefinite period of time, care must be taken to avoid discussing information obtained during patient sessions. Practitioners must also remember to stay within the boundaries of their discipline during all online interaction and avoid commenting on issues outside the scope of their professional expertise.
 

This post is written by Erica Moss, who is the community manager for Georgetown University's online MSN programs, offering one of the nation's leading midwifery programs.

Photo credit: Alex E. Proimos on Flickr

While we wrap up National NP Week (Nov. 11-17), which celebrates the important role these health care professionals play every day of the year, we thought it would be fun to shine the spotlight on one specific advanced practice nurse: the Family Nurse Practitioner.

Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) are registered nurses who have completed a specialized graduate program that allows them to provide a blend of primary care and nursing services to individual patients and families. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the duties of family nurse practitioners include patient assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.

To support these duties, family nurse practitioners can order and perform diagnostic tests, such as X-rays and lab work. They can also prescribe medication. FNPs currently serve as primary health care providers for millions of patients, especially in areas that are experiencing shortages in primary physicians.

The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners reports that there are currently about 155,000 nurse practitioners across the nation; nearly half of these NPs are family nurse practitioners. FNPs may work independently or as members of health care teams. They practice in a wide range of settings, including private practices, hospitals, long-term care facilities, community clinics, schools, correctional facilities, veterans' facilities, HMOs, and urgent care centers.

In addition to diagnosing and treating illnesses, many FNPs focus on disease prevention and the promotion of healthy living. Their advanced education and clinical expertise allow them to provide holistic solutions for family health care.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook forecasts that employment for registered nurses will increase by 26 percent between 2010 and 2020. This is faster than the projected increase for all other occupations. Family nurse practitioners will be in especially high demand because they are able to assume many of the duties typically performed by physicians.

By providing patient-centered primary care that is both high quality and cost-effective, FNPs are playing an increasing important role in the changing landscape of national health care.

 

This post is written by Erica Moss, who is the community manager for Georgetown University's online graduate nursing programs offering one of the nation's leading adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner/adult gerontology clinical nurse specialist programs.

1 in 8 women in the U.S. will develop breast cancer. This is a staggering statistic and one that underscores how important it is for men and women to be educated about the dangers and take a proactive approach to early detection.

The infographic below shines the spotlight on some other statistics related to breast cancer, and while the rates of diagnoses have slowed since 1990, more than 200,000 new cases are expected to be diagnosed in U.S. women.

Donations to organizations such as the Susan G. Komen Foundation help fund education, treatments, screenings and research, so that one day we may find a cure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This post is written by Erica Moss, who is the community manager for Georgetown University's online masters in nursing programs, offering one of the nation's leading midwifery programs.

Professional development is an important part of every health care professional’s career. It can only help you to be aware of new technologies and new schools of thought that may soon impact your day-to-day job functions.

Conferences and leadership summits are a great way to pack a lot of information into a short amount of time. Outside of the educational value, they also allow you to network and trade ideas with fellow colleagues and thought leaders.

The following is a list of conferences that are sure to challenge and inspire you:

AACN Organizational Leadership Network Fall Meeting (Oct. 28-30, 2012): Held in Washington, D.C., the theme of this year’s meeting is “Taking Advantage of Technology in Nursing Higher Education.” Highlights include: learning how technology is influencing patient care and what educators must know about the changing landscape, exploring innovations and challenges in online teaching and learning, and identifying ways schools can be more effective, simulation in nursing education and much more. For more information, visit http://www.aacn.nche.edu/events/2012/10/26/oln.

ANA 7th annual Nursing Quality Conference (Feb. 6-8, 2013): Held in Atlanta, Georgia, the Nursing Quality Conference brings together nursing and health care professionals from around the world who have a passion for improving nursing quality. Almost 1,900 hospitals will be participating in the event, giving attendees the opportunity to learn about the latest research related to addressing organizational performance to improve patient outcomes. This year’s keynote speaker is country music icon and former registered nurse, Naomi Judd. For more information, visit nqc2013.cistems.net.

19th annual Wharton Health Care Business Conference (Feb. 14-15, 2013): Held in Philadelphia, the theme of this year’s event is “Reshaping Health Care: Emerging Trends Changing the Face of Our Industry.” Previous year’s speakers include the president and CEO of Biotechnology Industry Organization, the president and CEO of Geisinger Health System and the former CEO of Bausch and Lomb. For more information, visit www.whcbc.org.

TEDMED (April 16-19, 2013): Held in Washington, D.C., TEDMED is billed as a “community of people who are passionate about imagining the future of health and medicine.” Void of an agenda or policy prescriptions, it’s a “safe place” where people with different ideas come together to talk and learn. Previous speakers have included the director of the National Institutes of Health, the president and CEO of the American Red Cross, the chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society, singer-songwriters and the vice president of HBO Documentary Films. For more information, visit www.tedmed.com.

Are there any you’re looking forward to attending? Let us know in the comments section!

This post is written by Erica Moss, who is the community manager for the online masters in nursing program at Georgetown University, offering one of the nation’s leading FNP programs online.

Photo credit: hahatango on Flickr

“When you’re a nurse, you know that every day you will touch a life or a life will touch yours.” — Anonymous

This overarching theme is what drives most nurses to enter the profession. Knowing that you’re making a meaningful impact on your community each and every day is a powerful motivator.

As with any career path, though, it’s important to think about how you’ll be compensated for your efforts, and if any additional schooling, such as a masters in nursing, will be required. Depending on where your passions lie, it may behoove you to explore specialties that offer the greatest growth potential, as well as a good salary.

The infographic below by Scrubs Magazine lays out the 10 highest-paying nurse specialties in 2012, with a certified registered nurse anesthetist topping the list. Do any of these numbers surprise you?

This post is written by Erica Moss, who is the community manager for Nursing@Georgetown, offering the nation's leading nurse practitioner programs online.

 

Like many other students I am trying to enjoy my last few days of summer before starting a new school year. It is back to reality when you start the task of purchasing school supplies. Everything from calculators, text books, backpacks, notebooks, etc, it all adds up fast!

I imagine medical students need even more school supplies! Some need to purchase scrubs and other medical equipment as well. This can be expensive and time consuming to shop around for the best price. That is why Lydia’s has made it extremely easy for students to find the color/size scrubs and medical supplies they are looking for, while still staying within their budget.

Lydia’s has a section made only for Budget Scrubs which includes 3 pages of everything from Tops,  and Bottoms to Lab Coats and Support Socks. These are name brand items such as the Cherokee Unisex Pant available in 30 different colors and 22 different sizes including tall, petite, and plus sizes and starts at $12.99. We also carry the Littman Select Stethoscope in a 3 colors for $42.99! We also carry fun Bling Lanyards to spice up Student IDs.

Lydia’s is a great one-stop shop for all students in the Medical, Dental, and Veterinary field. Hurry on over to Lydia’s and enjoy our Free shipping offer on orders over $99. Click here to activate: http://tinyurl.com/PWFB9912

 

*Free standard shipping on any $99 or more order. Use coupon PWFB9912 in your cart. Offer cannot be combined with any other coupon or promotions and ends 8/26/12 at midnight EST. Applied to U.S. orders only.

This week get $5 standard shipping on ANY size order PLUS 20% off back to school items. Use coupon PW5FBA12 in the shopping cart. Online prices reflect discount. Click here to start shopping: Back to School Sale

*Coupon cannot be combined with any other coupon or promotions. U.S only. Offer ends 8/12/12 at midnight EST.

 

 

Clinics, hospitals and physicians with private practices are relying more and more on sophisticated technology for tracking medical records, providing diagnostic images and assisting with all types of patient procedures. Here are five tech tools and products that assist health care professionals on the job:

Handheld Devices

As recently as four years ago, the market for handheld health care computing was dominated by devices like the Intel Mobile Clinical Assistant that were custom designed for medical professionals. Apple's iPad and other tablet computers have changed the game and are replacing dedicated health care computers. Tablet and smartphone apps are extending the capabilities of health care providers, allowing them to view test results and images on demand. Specialized handheld devices are also replacing traditional tools, such as stethoscopes, which are being replaced by portable ultrasounds by many doctors.

Cloud-Based Imaging

A variety of imaging technologies are used to diagnose, monitor and treat medical conditions. Besides X-ray, some of the most common imaging technologies are ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), fluoroscopy and mammography. The latest imaging advances include the ability to send X-ray, CT and MRI scans, and other images to the cloud where they can be accessed by health providers in a variety of locations. Cloud-based imaging is described as bridging the gap between hospitals that have radiologists and those that don't, allowing patients to have imaging performed at one hospital, then analyzed by a radiologist at another hospital.

Robotic Surgery

Recent breakthroughs in surgical technology allow robots to be used for many types of minimally invasive surgeries, including prostrate, bladder, kidney and gynecologic procedures. The da Vinci Surgical System uses a robot controlled by a doctor who is looking through a viewfinder at a magnified image. As the doctor moves surgical instruments in the air, robotic arms duplicate the doctor’s movements within the patient’s body. Doctors who are learning to use the da Vinci system can train with RoSS, the Robotic Surgical Simulator. The RoSS uses a mock-up of the da Vinci robot and virtual reality to replicate the operation of the da Vinci system.

Electronic Health Records (EHR)

Medical histories, lab test results, billing information and other health data is increasingly being stored in digital form. EHR systems allow doctors' offices to go paperless and larger health care institutions to share information across numerous organizations. Cutting edge EHR systems are web-based and use database servers. eClinicalWorks is one of the largest providers of EHR; its system includes a patient portal that allows patients to pay bills, view medical information, check lab test results and communicate directly with their doctor.

Educational Simulators

Many medical schools use hands-on simulation to provide realistic training in a wide range of health care areas, including anesthesia, labor and delivery, radiology, surgery, emergency medicine and intensive care. Manikins that simulate respiratory, cardiac and pulmonary functions are used for clinical training, allowing physicians to "practice on plastic" before working with patients. Simulators are being used for training in everything from annual doctor's visits to complex heart surgeries.

Do you use any of these tools on a daily basis?

This post is written by Erica Moss, who is the community manager for Georgetown University’s online MSN programs, offering one of the nation’s leading nurse midwife programs.

Photo credit: viagallery.com

 

Each year I volunteer at a fundraiser put on by Payton's Race for a Cure. Since the first race 4 years ago, I have helped this non-profit develop a website, a social presence and I have also joined as a member of the board of directors, and I have loved every minute of it!

Our mission is to support advocacy, awareness and ultimately a cure for Mitochondrial Disease.  We do this through a unique fundraising event that includes dirt bike/quad practices, raffles, concessions and family oriented activities such as kid’s games, bounce houses, face painting and much more!

You may or may not be familiar with a Mitochondrial Disease, in my experience when I mention it the first question I am asked is "What exactly is Mitochondrial Disease?". The simplest way for me to explain it is by using a battery as an example. A new, fully charge battery gives energy for cameras, radios and clocks - which in turn gives out pictures, music and time keeping. Good, healthy mitochondria are the power source for every cell in your body. Your brain, organs and muscles rely on the energy generated by the mitochondria in order to function. An old battery is not able to give out the needed amount of energy for these things to function properly. Well unhealthy or damaged mitochondria can cause children to have difficulty making their bodies work as needed. Some children cannot digest foods, move their legs or have the energy to even simply get out of bed in the morning. They may also have seizures and profound muscle weakness as well as fatigue, seizures, gastrointestinal dysfunction, developmental delay, vision/hearing loss, and unexplained organ failure. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been related to other diseases including autism, diabetes, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Today there is no cure for Mitochondrial Disease. Treatment is focused on energy conservation and vitamin therapy.

Tomorrow. July 21, 2012, the 4th annual Payton’s Race for a Cure event will take place.  We are very pleased to announce that we were able to raise a combined $25,000.00 in years previous, donating all proceeds to the Mitochondrial Community through MitoAction and the UMDF (United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation)!

*MitoAction's mission is to improve quality of life for all who are affected by mitochondrial disorders through support, education and advocacy initiatives.

*UMDF's mission is to promote research and education for the diagnosis, treatment and cure of mitochondrial disorders and to provide support to affected individuals and families.

So if you are in the area, please join us! There are other ways to join us in our mission as well:

• Like Payton's Race for a Cure on Facebook
• Learn more about the non-profit Payton's Race for a Cure here
• Making a donation

 

It’s an oft-touted fact: Men don’t like to go to the doctor.

We can talk about it anecdotally, however, there is a set of data that seems to support this assertion. Nursing@Georgetown recently released an infographic titled “Spotlight on Men’s Health,” which lays out some pretty sobering statistics about the state of men’s health, and how through raising awareness and advancing health education, we can begin to combat some of these preventable issues.

Did you know that two-thirds of men would not seek a health care professional if they were experiencing chest pain or shortness of breath, two early warning signs of a heart attack? Check out some similar statistics in the info graphic below.

Via Nurse Practitioner Programs and Nursing License Map

 

Via Nurse Practitioner Programs and Nursing License Map

This post is written by Erica Moss, who is the community manager for Georgetown University's Masters in Nursing online program, offering one of the nation's leading nurse educator programs.

Did you know that June is Men’s Health Month? Its purpose is to encourage early detection of preventable health issues in men and boys through screenings, health fairs, media appearances, and other health education and outreach activities, according to the official site.

The statistics are pretty sobering: men do not see physicians for a physical exam nearly as often as women, they’re more likely to be uninsured and about 30,000 men in the U.S. die every year due to prostate cancer, according to the Men’s Health Network.

But it doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. There are steps you can take right now to help bring awareness to this important issue and encourage the men in your life to make their health a priority. Here are a few suggestions:

Plan a “Wear Blue Day.”
Get your family or co-workers thinking about the importance of Men’s Health Month by organizing a “Wear Blue Day,” started by the Men’s Health Network and aimed at raising awareness about men’s health issues. Choose a day, an amount that you’d ideally like to raise for an organization that supports this cause, and go blue from head to toe.

Plan a mini health fair.
Ask a local doctor or nurse to visit your workplace, church or community group to talk about the importance of prevention and educating men about health issues. Specific topics could include heart health, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, blood pressure and more.

Get physical.
Round up your neighbors, co-workers, family and friends to participate in some fun activities that get your blood pumping. Some possibilities include: a group walk, game of golf or flag football, tennis, hiking or even bowling. More and more studies are telling us that sitting is killing us, so use this month as a great excuse to get moving.

In celebration of Men’s Health Month, Sam’s Club also is offering free men’s health screenings at its pharmacies on June 9. The first 75 people who show up from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. will receive a prostate-specific antigen test, as well as body mass index and blood pressure tests.

What are some ways you’re planning on celebrating?

This post is written by Erica Moss, who is the community manager for Georgetown University's Masters in Nursing online program, offering one of the nation's leading nurse practitioner programs.

Nurse's Week ends on May 12th, the birthday of Florence Nightingale. Florence Nightingale was born in Florence, Italy on May 12, 1820. During the Crimean War, she and a team of nurses improved the unsanitary conditions at a British base hospital, reducing the death count by two-thirds. Her writings sparked worldwide health care reform. In 1860 she established St. Thomas’ Hospital and the Nightingale Training School for Nurses. She died August 13, 1910, in London (biography.com).

Florence Nightingale has left a nursing legacy that is remembered on this day each year. We express gratitude and appreciation for the professionals that provide care and healing in our world and honor the legacy of modern nursing's founder.

And as Nurse's Week comes to an end we just want to thank you again for all of your hard-work, sacrifice and care that you give!

American Nurses Association: Nurses - Advocating, Leading, Caring. Often described as an art and a science, nursing is a profession that embraces dedicated people with varied interests, strengths and passions because of the many opportunities the profession offers. As nurses, we work in emergency rooms, school based clinics, and homeless shelters, to name a few. We have many roles – from staff nurse to educator to nurse practitioner and nurse researcher – and serve all of them with passion for the profession and with a strong commitment to patient safety.

Nurse's Week is May 6th - 12th, a time to celebrate all nurses and health care providers for everything you do!

We would love to hear your story of how you chose the medical field as your career. Were you inspired by someone you knew that was a nurse, have you always been interested in health, do you have generations of medical professionals in your family tree or did you just feel in your heart that your line of work was what you were meant to do?

Please share with us your story by either commenting on this post on Facebook or commenting on this blog. One submission will be randomly selected for a special thank you gift!

Check back throughout Nurse's Week for additional contests, giveaways, and recognition of the difference you make.

This week is National Volunteer Week! Since it was established in 1974, National Volunteer Week has grown and is receiving much more support from U.S. presidents, governors, mayors and other respected elected officials.

It’s about inspiring, encouraging and spreading the word to motivate people to seek out ways to help out in their communities. There are many ways you can help out are things like:

• At-risk youth
• Community building
• Disaster preparedness
• Environment
• Intergenerational
• Mentoring
• Out-of-school time
• Poverty and low-income needs
• Public safety
• Senior services
• Tutoring
• Veterans services
• Youth service

A great website to find a volunteer opportunity in your area is VolunteerMatch.org.  VolunteerMatch describes their service: VolunteerMatch strengthens communities by making it easier for good people and good causes to connect. The organization offers a variety of online services to support a community of nonprofit, volunteer and business leaders committed to civic engagement. Our popular service welcomes millions of visitors a year and has become the preferred internet recruiting tool for more than 82,000 nonprofit organizations. Click here to visit their site to check it out!

Another very helpful site is VolunteerSpot. I have used VolunteerSpot to organize our volunteers and their schedules for the non-profit I work with. Their tools are so helpful when working on an event because life leading up to the event can be hectic!

VolunteerSpot launched in Spring, 2009 with the mission of enabling ANYONE to quickly mobilize and coordinate volunteers in their community, congregation and social network. VolunteerSpot’s simple sign up application makes it easy for community members to participate and say YES to volunteering. No waiting for approvals and passwords, no software to install, just easy, free scheduling and sign up tools for everyday heroes making a difference. Click here to visit their site!

Do you have a favorite organization or service that you volunteer with? Please share with us, we would love to hear what an impact is being made by your actions!

 

We are hard pressed to find nurses on TV shows who fulfill real nurses' expectations of how we should be portrayed on TV. Letter writing campaigns exist so that we can contact writers and producers of shows like House, Nurse Jackie, and Grey's Anatomy and tell them where they misrepresent the profession of nurses. To be honest, I try to avoid hospital shows at all costs, so I don't know what shows are good and what ones are bad, but I hear Nurse Jackie is particularly offensive to professional nurses. In rare occasions, I think nurse advocates take their campaigns a little too far. For example, one group even took aim at my favorite recording artist, Jack White about a White Stripes song called, "The Nurse" (NOT my fave White Stripes song!)

I'm glad these advocacy groups exist, I'm really happy that they are working hard to make sure the image of nursing is respected, and that the public is educated about what it is that we do. The Truth About Nursing, whose executive director was the same one who had a problem with Jack White, did put out a really cool video about nursing called "Nursing: Isn't That Sweet?" You should check it out.

But I feel like not ALL nurses on TV are a bad example to the public. I want to talk for a minute about my favorite TV nurse, Lady Sybil Crawley on PBS' Downton Abbey. (If you haven't seen the show, you seriously need to check it out). The show takes place in England during World War I. In Season 2 of the show, the young Sybil, a daughter born into a family of British aristocrats, sees the effects of the war and wants to do something to help. She trains as a nurse and cares for many wounded soldiers who come to stay in the village hospital and later in her home of Downton Abbey. The show is complete fiction, but watching Sybil in action really got me thinking about Florence Nightingale and the history of nursing. The plot does not heavily focus on nursing, but if you are a nurse, you should still watch it because it is a great stress reliever.

What do you think of nursing on TV and in the movies? Do you think it accurately represents us? What are your favorite nursing/hospital shows and why?

Wikipedia defines ageism as "stereotyping of and discrimination against individuals or groups because of their age. It is a set of beliefs, attitudes, norms, and values used to justify age based prejudice, discrimination, and subordination." Commonly, we see ageism directed at people of an advanced age, although it can occur with any age group.

I don't know about you, but I perceive ageism about geriatric patients when I am working with nursing students. Not with ALL students, but enough to make me aware of a problem. Oftentimes, some students will, if given a choice, select a thirty year old patient who is about to be discharged for a lap choley, as opposed to an eighty year old with many interesting co-morbidities and interventions that could be excellent learning experiences. Occasionally I will hear grumbling from student nurses about having nursing home clinical experiences as opposed to hospital experiences. And then, it seems like when asked, everyone wants to be an OB nurse when they grow up. Sometimes, I will hear students say things like "I love old people. They're so cute, I just want to take them home," which sounds nicer, but isn't much more respectful than "Old people are grouchy and I have nothing in common with them."

As the baby boomer generation grows, the thought of ageism towards geriatric patients becomes scarier. The reality is, the majority of patients will be of a higher age. And what will it mean for nursing care when a common thought of people is that the older you are, the less productive and helpful to society.

I have tried to think of creative ideas to educate students and new nurses about geriatric patients. Even though the baby boomer generation is getting older, they are living longer and some are very active and vibrant. The percentage of seniors living in nursing homes is actually declining. So how do we convince younger folks that there is more that makes us similar than what makes us different than older people? How do we get younger healthcare professionals to respect the elderly, and view them as intelligent and autonomous individuals, and not someone lying in a bed whom we call "honey," or "sweetie."?

Has anyone tried anything innovative or effective when it comes to bridging the age gap between young caregiver and the elderly patient? I've had colleagues who had students interview their grandparents and write a reminiscence paper, I've read of educators having their students write a personal letter to their patient (that they do not send), and I've even thought of having students do a case study of Betty White to learn that seniors can be active, lucid, and downright hilarious.

Do you see the same issue that I have seen with ageism?

Grey's Anatomy by Barco: When it comes down to it, we’re here to make a difference. In the industry we love. And in the lives of the people who wear our products. To make their work easier. More productive. More rewarding. And a little less like, well, work.

Grey's Anatomy by Barco Junior Fit V-Neck Scrub Top is hands down one of our top scrub tops! And it's just just one of the lovely pieces offered in this line of medical uniforms.

This top features a junior fit with a mock wrap, two large pockets, set-in sleeves, side slits, button back detail and is made with Dura-Tech 77% polyester/23% rayon with mechanical stretch and moisture wicking and is 25 1/2" long.

Here's a review from our customer Julie from Louisiana:

Favorite Scrubs!

I have been wearing scrubs for work/school for over 15 years. I have been through many styles/brands, but have never been so pleased. The fabric is soft and comfortable and does not wrinkle. They do run a little small, so you may have to go up a size. I have a 36DD bust with a size 28 waist and took a large top and medium pants. Worth every penny, and if you get them on sale...even better!
 

What is it about venipuncture that conjures up such deep feelings in both the nurse and the patient? I recall being a nursing student and having so much anxiety about the first time I would ever start an IV. I made it through nursing school, never even having attempted to start one and by the time I got a job, it took me probably ten attempts before I was able to successfully initiate an IV line.

Now that I work with nursing students, it seems like the general perception they have is that nursing as all about starting IV's, and having a successful IV start is the "end all and be all" of their academic career.

And let's not forget the patients...it's not like they are excited to have their physician order IV fluids or lots of serum lab tests!

Today I ran across this article in the news about a nurse who has been credited with a new approach to starting IV's that is reported to be much less painful that the traditional methods of tying a tight tourniquet, hitting, flicking, and putting a warm compress on patients' arms. I hope that there is a lot of evidence to support this method, and if it truly helps patients that it will be accepted into practice in healthcare settings far and wide.

But I'm wondering, because it is such a big deal to many nurses and nursing students, do you have any great tips? Are you a flicker? A tapper? Do you grab a blanket out of the blanket warmer and lay it over your patient's arm? What works best for you?

I have observed many nurses over the years, and sometimes I've learned really great tricks from them. A clinical nurse specialist once showed me a great tip to avoid forgetting the point where you were going to make the venipuncture after you take the tourniquet off and start to cleanse the skin: if you take a retractable pen (that is retracted) and place it on the skin at the point you wish to enter, push down on the skin with very light pressure, and then scrub with an alcohol wipe, it creates a local histamine reaction on the skin which makes almost a "bullseye" to serve as a landmark where you want to stick.  Now, of course, before you try that on your own patient, make sure that is consistent with your institution's policy.

Any other readers have any words of wisdom?

Happy holidays everyone! First of all, I would like to congratulate all of the December graduates out there. I was a December nursing school grad ten years ago, and it is a magical time to be finished with college. Best of luck to you all!

We're in the midst of the holiday season. Are you scheduled to work on a holiday that you celebrate? Kind of a bummer, huh? And it's not just a drag if you have kids, because single people have families they like to be with, too. I've had to work on holidays as a parent and non-parent, as a single person and as a married person, and it's not like it's better in any of those situations. But think about what it's like to be in the hospital or extended care facility for the holidays. It has to be much worse than what we are going through. At least we're making time and a half, and we have our health.

Just this morning I read a news story about a young girl in my state that is doing something for children with cancer who are in the hospital for Christmas and it made me realize, yet again, why I do what I do for a living, even if the hours aren't great and you have to spend a few holidays at work. What a blessing it is for me, and all nurses, to have the opportunity to make someone's holiday a little brighter when they are feeling down and experiencing poor health.

Here's a little info about her story:

A friend of mine from high school is facing some challenging times right now during this holiday season. She and her husband learned this past summer that their eight week old son had stage III liver cancer. Yes, that says eight weeks. He has endured many rounds of chemo followed by surgery and now more chemo and has been a fighter through the entire process. A 12 year old girl had learned of his story and decided to organize a toy drive to provide toys to all the children who were hospitalized with cancer over Christmas. When I read this I thought, how awful it was of me all those times to complain about having to work on holidays when I should have been thinking a little more about the patients and families I was taking care of.

I hope that if you find yourself working a holiday this winter that your shift goes by quickly, that you get lots of treats and goodies to eat during your day, and that you get the chance to bring holiday cheer to those under your care.

Blessings to all!
Erin

This weekend, we put up our holiday tree. Each year, I love taking all the ornaments out of the boxes and thinking about all the memories associated with each one. This year, there was a particular ornament that seemed very special-it was a gift from my former supervisor at the library at Ball State University. She had given me a Christmas ornament. It was a young looking brunette nurse wearing green scrubs with a clipboard in her hand. On the left pocket of the scrub top, she had written my last name in very small letters, and on the clipboard, it read "Merry Christmas 2001." She gave me this ornament as a gift for graduating nursing school, as I was a December grad. As I unwrapped more ornaments, I found even more nurse ornaments given to me by friends and family that I still treasure every year.

What other things make great gifts for nurses? Maybe you have co-workers or staff you are looking to buy for this season. Here are my suggestions:

• Unscented, but very moisturizing hand soap. Nurses wash their hands what seems like hundreds of times a day, and in the winter, their skin gets very dried out. What has worked for me are hand creams that contain hemp as an ingredient, it really seems to be the only thing to soften my hands and protect them.
• I have said how much I love these before, but a nice pair or two or support socks. Lydia's stocks the Nurse Mates compression stockings. I just bought myself two pairs on Cyber Monday and I just took them off after wearing them all day long. I wanted to even wear them to bed, but I decided to let my feet be free for a while.
• An extra pair of hemostats. There are so many times during they workday when I wish I had my own set. Whether it's to untwist some tight IV tubing or something else, they really come in handy and are sometimes hard to come by.
• A nice flashlight. Again, another tool that is hard to come by on the nursing unit but it is very handy. Especially when anchoring indwelling catheters or working night shift. Maybe splurge and get a metal one that can be engraved, so someone else doesn't run off with it.
• Massage gift certificates. Nurses are on their feet anywhere from 8-16 hours a day. When we come home, we're sore. And let's face it, nurses deserve it.

So sure, this is not an exhaustive list, but hopefully it will get you started. Do you have any great suggestions? Feel free to post, or post about the most thoughtful nurse gift you've ever received.