Health policy internships and fellowships in Washington, DC

Nurses need to take advantage of multiple internships and fellowships to learn about and experience the daily work of making health policy in Washington, DC. This article lists several of the current programs available for nurses and other health professionals. These internships and fellowships are career-changing experiences. Additionally, new relationships will be built with other health professionals that nurses will be able to use for years to come. Finally, if one of the structured experiences doesn't fit the nurse's timeframe, there is always the possibility to create a special internship to meet the nurse's needs.     

Leading a New Generation

We all work in a multigenerational workforce. With extremes in generations, skills are needed to foster understanding among staff. There are many myths and realities about the age-related generations. While there are challenges in working in a multigenerational workforce, the generational differences tend to be exaggerated while the similarities are overlooked. A better understanding of these generations allows us to prevent communication breakdown and to close the communication gaps where they exist, creating a unit of harmony rather that discontent.     

Nursing: Caring or Codependent?

Can nurses practice caring within a healthcare system that promotes codependency? Caring promotes mutual empowerment of all participants while codependent caring disempowers. Nurses are expected to practice caring with clients, The authors contend, however, that nursing, as historically and currently practiced within bureaucratic/patriarchal organizations, is founded on a vlue system that fosters codependency. Until nursing is practiced within the context of caring organizations and a caring healthcare system, nurses will continue to be powerless to shape their own practice as carers and burnout will continue to be a problem.     

The art of rewarding and retaining staff - part 1

As the nursing shortage escalates, nurse managers will continue to grapple with how to retain their most valuable asset—the talented staff they are charged to lead. Survival in the current market makes both recruitment and retention efforts critical. One primary concern is an aging workforce. The American Nursing Association projects that 65% of current nurses will retire within this decade and predicts that the supply will no longer meet the demand by the year 2010.¹ In fact, by 2020, the health care industry will need 1.7 million nurses—yet only 600,000 will be available.¹ The key for success is retention of your current staff.     

Care of the child in a body cast

Caring for a child in a body cast is a stressful situation for most families and many families state they do not receive adequate information on how to care for their child. This paper presents a comprehensive guide on caring for a child in a body cast. It examines the physical care issues, transportation and cast care. An instrument for assessing the family’s ability to cope with caring for a child in a body cast is described, and further resources for parents and nurses are presented.