As I worked on my eulogy last evening, I became more and more impressed with how much Kay, as the oldest of us Hoitenga Sisters, had unassumingly jammed into her life. Enjoy her efforts, efforts she would call modest, with me in her newspaper obituary. Meanwhile, before I attend her services this weekend, I'll be …
Continue reading My sister’s obituary – Kathleen Korthuis, PhD, RN
My sister Kay passed away during the night from lung cancer. Just a month ago, as I sat at her bedside, she told me in that big sister tone, "I'm going to beat this thing." As a nurse and teacher, she was my lifelong career mentor. I mourn her passing in the most gut-level way. …
Continue reading In Memoriam – Kathleen E. Korthuis, PhD, RN, 1934-2012
As nursing advocate and journalist Suzanne Gordon says, Stand Up for Nursing! Read and support how Nurse Practitioners (NPs) can play a major role in our health care system. Thanks, Lois
"I'd like you ask you something, " a patient said to the nurse. "Are you Asian?" The nurse, Caucasian, said, "No, I'm not. What makes you ask?" "Your name. On your badge. It says Debbie WOCN. And that last name sounds Asian." Last Saturday, I heard this story from an attendee at the Mideast Region …
Continue reading A Shout Out to Wound Ostomy and Continence Nurses
I turned on my computer this morning to find this message: Congratulations on Saving Lives for 50 Years! Today marks the 50th anniversary of our graduation from BMH School of Nursing . Do you have any memories of that day? The greeting came from our committee chair for our fiftieth reunion that we're having next …
Here's your opportunity to meet nurses first hand. Click, see, and listen to evidence of their knowledge, motivations, and skills. Thanks, Marianna, for posting. Lois
Nursing faculty: Are you planning textbooks for your fall courses? I invite you to consider Caring Lessons: A Nursing Professor's Journey of Faith and Self as a good choice for a recommended or required reading in courses related to career development. Caring Lessons chronicles my forty years in nursing, from diploma to PhD and nurse's …
I'm happy to present a recent Amazon review of Caring Lessons: A Nursing Professor's Journey of Faith and Self by Mary A. Osborne, nurse and author of Nonna's Book of Fiction, titled A Purpose Driven Life: It is an act of bravery to reveal one's life story in detail, to express one's struggles and fears …
Continue reading Review of Caring Lessons by Mary A. Osborne, Nurse and Author
Have you been hospitalized lately? If so, this NPR story about nurse staffing will interest you. How long did it take for a nurse to answer your call bell? How often did a nurse come to assess your status? How much time did the nurse have to spend with you? I'm not surprised with the …
You may have more in common with Florence Nightingale than you think! To honor this "founder of modern nursing" on her birthday, I'd like to share Ms. Nightingale's view of life as a woman in her Victorian era: "The morning is spent sitting round a table in the drawing room looking at prints, doing worsted …
Continue reading Nurses Week 2012: Florence Nightingale’s Birthday (1820-1910)
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