TEN YEARS OF TEACHING AND LEARNING MOMENTS
Academic Medicine. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; 2013.
What do we learn from sitting with our patients? Much of what we have learned over the years has stayed the same; much is very different. Often, we learn the most from our patients.
Ten Years of Teaching and Learning Moments offers personal stories of caregivers learning to care for patients using engaging narratives. The book is a collection of articles, essays, and editorials from the journal Academic Medicine from 2002 to 2011. This first-person narrative may encourage you to keep a personal journal, write for a professional journal or local newsletter.
Some of the essays remind us that one day, we will become patients; perhaps, we learn the most from that side of the bed. This text reminds us that every moment shared with patients, families, and colleagues influences our ability to care for ourselves and others.
For others, it may encourage us to be more reflective and thoughtful about each patient encounter and to listen to the lessons they bring. It reminds us to share our journey with patients and colleagues as a way to teach and inspire.
The e-book is available for a very reasonable price and would be a wonderful addition to your e-bookshelf.
ANATOMY OF WRITING FOR PUBLICATION FOR NURSES, SECOND EDITION
Saver C. Sigma Theta Tau International. Nursing Knowledge International, Indianapolis, Indiana; 2013.
"I admire anybody who has the guts to write anything at all"-E.B. White
After reading the first sentence in the introduction, I knew I would like this book. I have been an E.B. White fan since reading Charlotte's Web, following White's struggle with writing through his work in the New Yorker and books such as One Mans Meat. White has taught me that good writing needs lots of revision, and good writers need lots of mentors. Cynthia Saver understands this. Cynthia Saver, MS, RN, is a well-known author with extensive experience in nursing and publishing. She presents practical but sophisticated advice for anyone interested in writing for a professional journal, academically, or writing for the general public. Saver has compiled an impressive group of nurse authors and editors to provide a comprehensive text with 19 chapters geared to helping the novice or expert nurse succeed at writing.
Nurses understand human anatomy, but learning the anatomy and working parts of the writing process is tedious and often overwhelming. Anatomy of Writing for Publications for Nurses, Second Edition, allows the nurse to begin writing at many levels. Perhaps, someone would like to begin with writing in a personal journal or submitting a personal narrative to a hospital newsletter. For those who are intimidated by the legal or ethical issues, the text explains copyright and publishing rules. The reader can use information for academic or professional publishing or to prepare abstracts for oral presentations and poster format. The author explains new concepts such as open-access and online journals. She encourages and explains the use of social media, blogs, and other online resources that allow us to share knowledge. Saver even helps the reader learn how to market their work and generate interest about the topic.
Saver includes many useful tools and pearls of wisdom for the novice or seasoned writer. Tools for the novice writer include information about connecting with editors, writing query letters, or responding to articles through letters to the editor. Students at all levels will find information about turning a paper, project, or advanced work such as a dissertation into a professional publication. The text includes guidelines for textbook editing and contributions and advice on coauthorship, editing, and reference formatting.
Most importantly, Saver and her contributors are encouraging and motivating, asking nurses to share their knowledge and expertise, while removing some of the fears and confusion nurses have about writing and the publishing process. All of the contributing authors remind us not to be deterred by imagined barriers and offer steps and checklist to walk the writer through each project.
The final message is that nurses have a great deal to offer and should be encouraged and mentored through this rewarding process!
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN ICU NURSE-ROOK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGiLZ_thNdA
Health professionals are part of the growing population of people who refer to YouTube for information, instruction, or direction. This unique media format offers insights in the form of lecture, song, narrative, and pictorial instruction. Often personal and graphic, it is a wonderful way to share information and reach many people. Recently, this video was used to encourage nurses to consider working in the intensive care unit (ICU).
As part of one hospital's "A Day in the Life" series, viewers meet a nurse in the cardiothoracic ICU. The nurse allowed her hospital to record her during a 12-hour shift to find out what life is really like for a critical care nurse. The day is fast moving but exciting and the viewer sees that keeping up requires a balance of knowledge and skill.
The nurse talks about how important it is to have support as a new ICU nurse and recommends the preceptor program.
Although it may be somewhat of a marketing piece for a specific hospital, it offers a snapshot into the day of an ICU nurse and may be used as an introduction to an orientation program or to begin a discussion about education, leadership, or clinical advancement within an ICU setting.