Nursing Magazines

James Huffman · Aug 18, 2002

Originally posted by Jenny P
I get AJN (through my ANA membership), RN Magazine, Nursing 2002, Critical Care Nurse (through AACN membership), Focus on Critical Care, Nursing Spectrum and Nurseweek (both free, BTW). I used to get Heart and Lung and also another one whose name escapes me right now; but I quit subscribing to them when I realized I wasn't reading most of them.

BTW, I stack my nursing magazines in my BR on a small stand near my toilet and countertop and everytime I use the BR, I read a paragraph or two. Even while brushing my teeth I can do that! I have no problem keeping up with my professional reading that way. (Thank goodness I have "my own" BR, because sometimes the magazine stack does get a bit deep.)

Jenny, your reading list is amazing! I admire you, but don't know how you get through them all.

I encourage the following: a general purpose journal (such as AJN, RN, or Nursing 2002) to keep up with general trends and nursing information. Secondly, a journal for your specialty area, if a good one is available (such as -- for critical care -- Heart and Lung or Focus on Critical Care). Third, a journal, magazine or newsletter that deals with the "business" side of your practice (Nursing Spectrum, or Nurseweek are good starters for that). There are not, unfortunately, a lot of good periodicals that deal with the day to day business side of your professional life. I keep telling myself that there's an opportunity there for an entrepreneur, but I don't have the money available right now to start something like that.

Also, Jenny is right about dropping subscriptions: when they start to pile up unread, this is an indication that you and that magazine might not be the right mix. No one should feel guilty about quitting a subscription. Learning never happens by osmosis, and a journal unread helps no one.

Jim Huffman, RN

http://www.networkfornurses.com

NMAguiar · Aug 18, 2002

Another suggestion: Use your favorite Internet search engine to seek nursing associations involved in your areas of interest. Many publish trade magazines that can be invaluable.

The links page of this website is a good place to begin searching for like-minded groups. :roll

DelGR · Aug 19, 2002

I get the same ones as Jenny P does.

I find that many of the same articles for CEUs are, also, offered on the Internet for CEUs. So, if you see an article that you think looks familiar, it probably is, and is the same article.

I think Jim's suggestion is a very good one, too.

Jenny P · Aug 19, 2002

Originally posted by James Huffman

Jenny, your reading list is amazing! I admire you, but don't know how you get through them all.

I encourage the following: a general purpose journal (such as AJN, RN, or Nursing 2002) to keep up with general trends and nursing information. Secondly, a journal for your specialty area, if a good one is available (such as -- for critical care -- Heart and Lung or Focus on Critical Care). Third, a journal, magazine or newsletter that deals with the "business" side of your practice (Nursing Spectrum, or Nurseweek are good starters for that). There are not, unfortunately, a lot of good periodicals that deal with the day to day business side of your professional life...
Jim Huffman, RN

http://www.networkfornurses.com

Well, Jim, I read most of these magazines every month but may not read every single article the first time through. How do I read them all? I'm a fast reader, and a little diuretic increases the frequency of my BR trips when I first get up each day! I really enjoy reading, and if I didn't have magazines in the BR, I'd get very tired of reading the same old shampoo bottle labels every day. And, being male, you probably don't realize that a BR is a Mommys' sanctuary when the kids are little (mine are grown now, I just haven't outgrown this habit)!

:roll :chuckle

I do like the way you describe the different types of magazines though. I view RN Magazine and Nursing 2002 as being the general magazines; and AJN as being grouped more with the "business" side of nursing: it gives much more political and national trends in nursing than those 2 magazines (being the official journal of ANA); and I'd rate it in with Nurseweek and Nursing Spectrum. I didn't mention all of the nursing newsletters I also read....

Mattigan, RN · Aug 19, 2002

I'm pretty spoiled by the medical librarian. She sends a list of all journal/magazines (and we get almost all- ). I checked the ones that I am interested in and every month she send the table of contents of all we checked and we highlite the articles we want- she sends us copies of what we want. Sometimes she sends me articles other than from my selected list with a note that says' .. thought you might find interesting." She is the best.

Also, all I have to do is tell her I want the library to carry whatever journal they didn't have or tell her the name of a book I'd like on the unit for reference and she gets it.

James Huffman · Aug 19, 2002

Originally posted by Mattigan
I'm pretty spoiled by the medical librarian. She sends a list of all journal/magazines (and we get almost all- ). I checked the ones that I am interested in and every month she send the table of contents of all we checked and we highlite the articles we want- she sends us copies of what we want. Sometimes she sends me articles other than from my selected list with a note that says' .. thought you might find interesting." She is the best.

Also, all I have to do is tell her I want the library to carry whatever journal they didn't have or tell her the name of a book I'd like on the unit for reference and she gets it.

You CAN get spoiled by a good librarian. If you let your librarian know what information you are looking for, they will often steer you in the direction to get it -- whether printed-based, or on the internet. Searching for information doesn't have to be done on your own.

(And by the way, if you think nurses get no respect, take a moment to appreciate what librarians go through. Most of the public sees them as book shelvers, rather than the information specialists they are. Show them you appreciate them as the professionals they are, and you'll have a friend for life).

Jim Huffman, RN

http://www.NetworkforNurses.com

Mkue · Aug 19, 2002

Wow.. think I will check on Nursing 2002 at the Library.. it's 29.00 a year for a subscription, I did request one free copy tho !

Thanks for showing the website !:)

psychonurse · Aug 19, 2002

I use to get 3 or 4 magazines but with my schooling and 12 hour shifts I just couldn't get through them....I do skim through different magazines on the internet and I also read "CorrectCare" for correctional workers mostly. Sometimes I feel like I am behind the times in my job, but something comes up and I come up with the right answer to the question and I feel totally amazed at myself. Maybe in my spare time.......hehehe:D :)

James Huffman · Aug 19, 2002

Originally posted by psychonurse
I use to get 3 or 4 magazines but with my schooling and 12 hour shifts I just couldn't get through them....I do skim through different magazines on the internet and I also read "CorrectCare" for correctional workers mostly. Sometimes I feel like I am behind the times in my job, but something comes up and I come up with the right answer to the question and I feel totally amazed at myself. Maybe in my spare time.......hehehe:D :)

There's nothing wrong with dropping subscriptions. If you find a magazine that does the trick for you, keep it, and ignore the rest. You can't possibly keep up with everything, so a good rule is to keep up with what's important to you, and don't worry about the others. You have to be the one who determin

lyndalous · Aug 20, 2002

Thank you everyone for all of your replies!!!!!

I am definately going to look into some of these magazines!

Does any of you belong to a professional nursing organization. I was thinking about joining NJ's Nursing organization. If so, do you find these organizations benificial?

Have a nice day!!!!

Lynda

lyndalous · Aug 20, 2002

Sorry about all my spelling mistakes!!!! I worked 12 hours last night and only had three hours of sleep!!!!

lyndalous · Aug 20, 2002

I don't think my last post was posted... I will try again!

I wanted to thank all of you for helping me out with all the magazines that are out there! I really appreciate all of your help.

Do any of you belong to your states professional organization? I was really thinking about NJ's. Do you find them benificial?

Thank you again for all of your help!!!

Lynda

p.s. sorry if my posts are "doubled"