James Huffman

I'm sure you're not the only one who feels this way. I think there's a divide. You're on one side; I'm on the other. The point I'm trying to make is that if we -- as a profession -- are thankful for getting a 19 cent logo pen or a stale donut, well,...

Others suggested working in another state. That's a plan, but another possibility is working for the VA system. The VA -- being governed by federal regs -- allows nurses to be licensed in any state, and this is an option. A word of encouragement: ...

A nurse who wants to practice nursing can open a private business to offer nursing services. I've been self-employed in nursing since 1982. Any nurse can do that. An NP certification isn't necessary. What is needed is a plan to practice within one...

Memorize this, and use when needed: Smile pleasantly, and say, "I'm sorry, but I prefer not to talk about my salary."

Men -- usually -- make more money because we: 1. Tend to go into areas that are higher demand/higher pay. (Think critical care, anesthesia, etc.) 2. Are inclined to talk about money, and feel little discomfort in negotiating about it. (Someone who ...

Of course she's not going to get the nomination. That's been over for at least 2 months. What is a problem is that nurses continue to worry about this. First, let's assume she said it. (She didn't, but for sake of argument, let's say she did). A ...

She didn't say it. Do even a quick Google search, and all that you find are similar reports of the rumors. I don't like Sen. Clinton. I think her election would be a very bad thing. But we should speak accurately about presidential candidates and...

The hospital has a "right" to do this. It's their business. And the non-BSN nurses have the right to take their skills elsewhere. I agree with another poster who suggested that this was likely an area with a lot of BSN-prepared nurses. It's just ...

OK, I'll be the mean person and say it: I think the whole nurses day/week/month/whatever is a crock. I've said before that were I a hospital administrator, I'd hire someone whose only job was to "make nurses feel appreciated," and I'd pay RNs minimu...

You -- and the other employees -- got action because you showed the hospital that you meant business. That's the only thing hospital managements understand. What I am at pains to point out is that if an employers knows you will not leave, they have ...

I second the earlier advice: do a LOT of sticks, and you'll get better. No one's good the first dozen times. Learning this -- or anything -- isn't just a matter of the head knowledge, it's the feel you get for the client's arm, their vein structure,...

this wasn't to the BON, but it was interesting. A nurse I worked with years ago just got an odd feeling about a new surgeon. Something just wasn't right, so she did some investigating, and finds out he's not a surgeon. Nor an MD. Never even went ...

I think you did the right thing. As I mentioned earlier, I suspect this is a family problem being played out. As much as you can, stay out of that family problem. It's likely not solvable at this point, and in many family dramas, everyone's so inv...

1. I ditto everyone who recommended having a word of prayer with your manager. Do that immediately. 2. Reading between the lines, this guy is a jerk, and the family doesn't want to deal with him. The family's problem is not your problem. 3. ...

I'm baffled by those who say "I'm not in it for the money." Would you work if you were not paid? If your answer is "no," then you're in it for the money. We're just negotiating a number. Did we take a vow of poverty that I don't remember? Why is...

i'm glad he didn't listen, too. all of us, every day, have things that -- if the worst were true -- could be something traumatic. but 99% of the time it's not. if we all went to the er every time we had abdominal pain, the ers would have nothing ...

My favorite story regarding appendectomies happened a few Christmases ago. We had had everyone over for a big meal and get together. My brother and his wife and 2 sons were there. Brother's concerned about my nephew's abdominal pain. Thinks it's ...

I know I sound pretty strong on this, but actually, I'm a big fan of work. Work because it pays the bills. But also because work provides a source of meaning in our lives, and gives us a chance to honestly be of service to others, to love them in a...

We can agree to disagree. But I just have to point out: I have a career, and my work. I don't have a mission. Honestly, I think it is presumptuous and dishonest to regard nursing as a "mission," any more than I would consider pharmaceutical manufa...

What does this have to do with the discussion at hand? This is theft, pure and simple. Equating theft and nurses doing their best to make as much money as they can tells us something about the way some nurses think about this subject.

I'm sorry to break this, but all jobs don't pay x amount of dollars. And part of the whole process of doing our work is knowing what pays, and what doesn't, and I would virtually guarantee that almost all those at this morale boosting conference wer...

1. Take a map. Decide how far you'd be willing to drive for a job. 2. Draw a circle around your home for the number of miles you're willing to travel. So, if you're willing to drive 20 miles, you draw a circle 20 miles out from your home.. 3. Ge...

Used to be a member. In fact, I was president of the local chapter for a year. But I quit. Because for whatever reason, the ANA is an elitist group (at least it was here) consisting of mostly professors and a few administrators. Not that there's...

The bigger question is whether those who have "kicked, punched, slapped, bitten, pinched, etc." you have been made to deal with it? Have you called the police when these events happened? If not, why not? Nurses need to have a zero-tolerance polic...

This isn't complicated. A nurse shows up for work at a facility, and finds that she will be caring for, say, 8 acutely ill patients. The nurse has to make a call if this is a dangerous ratio or not. If it's dangerous, the nurse must announce -- ...