"Googling" Our Workplaces?

It seems to be common knowledge these days that employees at places like Google, Apple and other Silicon Valley success stories enjoy perks that many of us in the healthcare industry can only dream of. Even other companies---like biotechs and others---have learned that small perks can go a long way toward employee well-being and morale. Why don't we healthcare workers---who save lives every day---enjoy even a fraction of these sorts of benefits?

A Speech for Graduate Nurses

Since this is the time of year when nursing students are preparing for their graduation and entry into our esteemed profession, I am choosing to republish a commencement speech that I delivered at Holyoke Community College on June 23rd of 2005 for my graduating LPN students for whom I had served as lecturer during their course of study. This post is the most popular ever published on Digital Doorway, and it has received over 5,000 pageviews since its first publication. Enjoy.

Self Compassion and Empathy

Last night on RN.FM Radio, nurse and well-known author Carol Gino spoke eloquently about the need for nurses to develop self compassion before they can truly experience empathy for their patients. She was so right.

Nurses Face the Wounds of War

In a surprising and welcome announcement, 450 nursing schools have pledged to improve and expand training for nurses and nursing students on the "invisible wounds of war", including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), post-combat depression and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

Happy Patients vs Healthy Patients

Recently, I published a blog post entitled "The Disneyfication of Nursing" wherein I examined the relatively new practice of "scripting" nurse-patient interactions, demanding that nurses communicate with patients in a specific manner.

The reality is that hospitals now want to provide care with an eye towards positive scores on patient satisfaction surveys upon which Medicare will soon begin basing some of their payments. While this is an understandable---yet short-sighted--reaction on the part of facilities that receive payments from Medicare, it is clear that there is a slippery slope that may very well backfire when it comes to achieving desired patient outcomes.

Nursing Students and Self Care

Nursing school is a lot like boot camp. The student nurse is pushed to his or her limits, personal resolve is continually tested, students bond in their misery, and the majority come through the other side with new skills and a new career, perhaps a little worse for wear. But are they fully prepared---to care for themselves?