Boring title, huh? Stretching. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzWell, look, stretching admittedly is not the most stimulating topic in the world, but truth be told, it is definitely one of the most important yet under appreciated components of physical fitness. For anybody - Nurse or not - stretching should be a daily routine item, much like brushing your teeth. But too many times, stretching gets ignored. (I'm definitely guilty of it too!)Stretching can be awfully boring and be uncomfortably annoying... Read Full Story

I came across these videos on YouTube this morning and thought they'd be worth posting. I think they source from something called Expert Village, which is a site that includes user-submitted videos for how to do anything and almost everything. The woman in these videos posted her tips for preparing for a shift, including food choices, work bag preparation, and sleep. When you're done with these videos, if you have more interest on tips for better living while working the night shift, check... Read Full Story

Like me, you've probably read or heard that public speaking is the #1 fear reported by people in the US, a fear reported even more than that of death. Today I did the obligatory Google search to find out the source of this statistic. Apparently it was first published in a 1973 London Sunday Times article citing the results of a survey of 3000 Americans, and has been verified by countless other studies and surveys in the years since. The original Times study found that 41% of respondents... Read Full Story

This week's STAT Workout for Nurses continues with some Leg exercises but incorporates more upper body work. You will need a sturdy chair for this week's routine -- no chair on rollers and no chairs that show any instability. You will also need two equal light weights - use whatever -- 2 books, two 1-liter bottles of water, whatever. As usual, our workout principles remain the same. Check out the STAT Workout Introduction for a brief refresher on our principles and what this series is... Read Full Story

One of the coolest parts of my job is the process of hiring a Nurse and then doing my part to help her achieve her personal and professional goals. Some RNs look for scheduling flexibility to have more time with family, some want help getting in shape, some (read: most!) want more money. Whatever the end goal, working through the details and building a plan with the RN is very rewarding. But this posting isn't some dopey soul-bearing narrative about work and passion. Instead, it's about... Read Full Story

One of the keys to maintaining your fitness is to change up your routine a lot. Many people make the mistake of always doing the same routine when they exercise and can't understand why they're not shaping up. If you're a gym-goer, you've probably seen it: the guy with the doughy arms who has been ripping out 3 sets of bicep curls with the same weights every day for the last year.Truth is, your body learns to adapt remarkably quickly. On the plus side, adapting quickly means your body... Read Full Story

The Center for Nursing Advocacy is a great organization - all RNs should be familiar with their message. This is a group that is tired of the way Nurses are portrayed in the media, and are working towards change. For the purpose of 'good television', the role of Nurses is many times misrepresented, inaccurate or inadequate. For the millions of casual TV or movie viewers, like anything, perception has a way of becoming reality. The Center points out many striking examples of poor Nurse... Read Full Story

I suspect many RNs have great intentions when it comes to working out and maintaining their fitness, but get sidetracked because of a crazy work schedule. Let's be fair - a 12 hour shift is no easy feat. For those of you who start the 7A shift, you're usually leaving the house sometime just after 6AM to punch in on time, and not returning home - exhausted and hungry - until 8. Where's the time to work out? (Damn those lucky nine to fivers.)Introducing the STAT Workout. This is a new... Read Full Story

I really try my best to keep this blog focused against topics of which I have at least a bit of understanding. Let's be honest, I need to stick with stuff I know. I can't make up for a lack of substance with verbal - er, written - gymnastics (see?). My vocabulary stinks and my prose probably annoys the hell out of the Grammar Curmudgeon. So I'm sitting here staring at a screen with a lot of white space trying to figure out how to start writing about the virtual reality world called Second... Read Full Story

I found a neat new product in the grocery stores that is a PERFECT way for Nurses to eat healthy while at work. Most Nurses only have access to a break room with a small refrigerator and microwave. To pack a healthy meal usually means shoving a Lean Cuisine in your bag or a can of soup. While not the worst choices, both are high in sodium and generally low in fulfillment. I know personally, I would eat anything in sight a few hours later if that was dinner. Ziploc has come out with a ... Read Full Story