Category: Uncategorized

…I am posting this today. I know, I know–you’re thinking, Jen, all I see is Algebra (or maybe, Jen, why do you hate us today?). But trust me, scroll down, because there’s a whole biology section, and I don’t know about you, but in nursing school, things like ATP and Krebs Cycle and all that other good stuff made my head hurt. Made me want to lay my head down on the desk and cry. Because they were important, but the prof was dull as dust. However, there are some really amazing, well-taught videos here (including one on DNA), and if you’re a big nerd like me, then all I’m saying is that just maybe, you too will want to learn about electron transport chains over your reheated leftovers at lunchtime.

It’s been a fantastic week, what with the great group we had in Wyoming for our expert testimony workshop, and the appointment of my dear friends and AEquitas partner, Doug, to the bench in Colorado. And even better, I am looking at a weekend of pure play time. Totally needed. That being said, I wanted to post this incredibly moving video, which I’m sure many of you may have already seen on Facebook.

Want to know what post has been read on this site more than any other?

That would be this one. And thank heavens, too…

On the heels of yesterday’s post, I thought it would be fitting to follow it with a fantastic video entitled The Girl Effect. I figured it’s an excellent way to end a productive week, and everyone can use some inspiration now and again. Make sure to check out the organization’s site, as well.

Over at Medscape Nursing, they have an interesting question posed in their legal column: Can I get fired for defending myself against violence at work? The author who responds to this question makes some nice points, and it’s concise and practical. Particularly for our colleagues in the emergency department, this is a very real issue. And to be clear, not just violence committed by patients and their families and friends, but also violence from colleagues (sadly). Certainly worth a perusal.

It’s no secret that I’m a huge TED fan. I frequently go there for inspiration, and I am in some serious need of just that very thing today. This short (3 min) talk is about how to start a movement. It’s brilliant, thought-provoking, and spins leadership in a whole new direction. Plus it’s incredibly entertaining. I hope you enjoy it. Particularly if you’re in need of a little inspiration yourself.

I have just completed what I would consider a marathon summer of travel (64 days living out of a suitcase, although thankfully some of it was working from my beloved mountain house). This being Labor Day weekend, I’m going to officially call the summer travel season done. In looking back at where I’ve been between Memorial Day and today, allow me to share (in no particular order) some of my favorite places, should you find yourself on the road, as well:

I love when people surprise me. Today, before our course started, one of the young (male) Army JAGs came up to me to discuss a news item he had read recently. He told me he had heard there was a new “morning after” pill that had just been approved by the FDA (I 1st posted on it earlier in the year), and he wanted to know if this would change how we take care of sexual assault patients. That’s a fantastic and very thoughtful question from a prosecutor, and one I didn’t expect. I think eventually it will change our practice, although not any time soon. We’re only finally getting people to move to Plan B, and this will undoubtedly be more expensive. It also made me realize that I hadn’t yet posted this particular news item.

It’s been a busy week, and for me, the only one I’ll have this month in the 216. I’m off tomorrow for 2 weeks in DC, which if we’re being honest, is also now home (and that’s complicated, because I can never remember what articles of clothing live where these days). Before I pack up for the weekend, a quick recap of the week’s activities:

1. Continue reading “Weekly Wrap-Up”

Well my friends, I’m off to Korea. I’ll be teaching with the Army all next week, and am looking forward to spending time in a country I’ve never visited. I’ll be in Seoul all week, and while I expect I’ll have an internet connection, it’s unclear at this point how reliable it will be. If all goes as planned I will be posting on (close to) my usual schedule. If it’s quiet here, though, you’ll know I was out of luck.

For those of you who’ve been to (or are from) Seoul, feel free to leave me suggestions about what to see, and more importantly, where (and what) to eat. Because there’s nothing I love more than a good meal.

Have a great weekend, and with any luck, I’ll see you back here next week.

Last spring I posted on the nurse in TX who had been criminally prosecuted for alerting the medical board about unsafe practices by a physician with whom she worked. She was quickly acquitted by a jury, but she had already been fired by her hospital (as was a second nurse who was also initially charged, but whose charges were dropped). Now there is an interesting follow up in this story.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Grantmakers in Health are co-sponsoring a free webinar on July 29th at 3pm ET: A New Way to Talk About the Social Determinants of Health. Now before you yawn and move on to something that sounds far more exciting, just stay with me for a sec.

The Forensic Nurses’ Society of Canada is sponsoring a free webinar on forensic injury assessment. The webinar will be held September 8th at 11am ET. Preregistration is required.

New content on the Canada page. Thanks, Sheila!

Gang, in a few hours I will be boarding a flight to my happy place, the mountains of Colorado. And I have actually taken the rest of the week off–through the holiday, in fact. So I am going to try something out here–I’m not going to work while on vacation. This is tough for me. But it would be *really* good for me to take a couple days for myself, so I will not be posting again for the rest of the week. In the meantime, you’ll find some interesting reading after the jump (most from this week). And when I return, look for a brand new Articles of Note and maybe even a new giveaway.