Our Readers Respond Archives

Our Readers Respond

America needs a culture change

December 1, 2015

My name is Chad Allen and I am a psychiatric nurse who works with the geriatric population. As a psychiatric nurse, I have seen the geriatric population suffer…

From our readers: ABC’s of evidence-based practice

April 11, 2013

A simple mnemonic can serve as a guide for the process of evidence-based practice.

From our readers: Novice to expert—a nurse educator’s personal journey

April 11, 2013

Like new nurses, faculty move through various steps to become “experts.” Here is one teacher’s experience.

From our readers: Pack your bags: Preparing for a global health nursing experience

June 11, 2013

A nurse with overseas volunteer experience gives advice to those who want to follow in his footsteps.

From our readers: The guilt suicide leaves behind

June 11, 2013

Dedicated to John, who was loved by so many

From our readers: The making of a newsletter

October 11, 2012

When I was working as an ICU nurse on the evening shift, I could tell you what was happening on my unit and with my ICU colleagues. We…

From our readers. . . Is disaster relief nursing for you?

August 11, 2011

Recently I had the opportunity to provide nursing services after an earthquake disaster in the Caribbean. In this article, I share my insights gained from that trip, service…

From our readers…A cycle of caring

December 11, 2011

It began a long time ago A woman walks through the dark room, with just a candle to light her way The soldiers can sense her presence She…

From our readers…Are you prepared for a mass casualty event?

April 11, 2012

Take a self-assessment to determine if you are ready and take action to increase your preparedness.

From our readers…Balancing the power in favor of patients

August 11, 2011

Ms. Sims, a bedside nurse featured by Leah Curtin earlier this year inspired me to write this article. At the behest of others, Ms. Sims challenged administration regarding…

From our readers…Delegation for nursing managers: Increasing the odds of success

December 11, 2011

Delegation is one of the most important—and most neglected—management skills. Learn how be a better delegator.

From our readers…Developing professional PRIDE

June 11, 2011

Creating a professional development program at our hospital began with the house-wide partnership (practice) council chartering a task force of front-line staff to design a program as a…

From our readers…Do veteran nurses really eat their young? Observations of an ‘older’ new nurse

June 11, 2011

After working successfully for more than 20 years as a graphic artist and structural designer, I decided to enter nursing school at the age of 43. After graduation,…

From our readers…How to volunteer as a nurse abroad

December 11, 2011

Azure Window, Gozo, Maltese Islands. When I took the ferry to Gozo, Malta’s sister island, the Azure Window was a nice place to visit. When I was in nursing…

From our readers…Know your A, B, C, and D’s for patients with progressive disease

February 11, 2012

“Something’s wrong. We have to fix it quickly!” All of our training and experiences as nurses, such as my almost 30 years as a hospital-based RN, lead us…

From our readers…Lights, camera, action—and don’t giggle!

December 11, 2012

The author shares the rewards of creating a video about what telephone triage nurses do.

From our readers…Moving beyond professional friendships: Creating a professional development group

December 11, 2011

A revision of the Florida Nurses Association’s (FNA) organizational plan provided an incentive for members of a local FNA district to reconsider the personal and professional benefits of…

From our readers…Negative effects of shackling pregnant incarcerated women

December 11, 2012

The author advocates for more respectful treatment of pregnant women who are incarcerated.

From our readers…Nonadherent or compassion challenged?

December 11, 2011

Over the years nurses have labeled patients who choose (knowingly or unknowingly) to disregard instructions that could potentially alter their health condition toward a “better outcome” as noncompliant,…

From our readers…Practical approaches to patient advocacy barriers

February 11, 2012

Nurses know that patient advocacy is an expected and important role for their practice, but the practical implications of acting as an advocate are often left for the…

From our readers…The nature of grief

June 11, 2011

A wise person once said, “Grief is not a disease or pathology to be cured. Grief is the tangible evidence that we’ve cared and loved someone.” The author…

From our readers…The value of self-knowledge

December 11, 2011

Have you thought about what would bring joy into your life? Do you wake up excited to start the day ahead? Knowing yourself is the foundation of self-care…

From our readers…Value all your skills

February 11, 2013

Anyone who’s been a nurse for more than 10 years will agree with me: you can make big leaps from specialty to specialty and sometimes leave a skill…

From our readers…What bedside nurses can teach nursing leaders

June 11, 2012

Five years ago, while working in leadership I had a pivotal conversation with my superior regarding the need to “stop thinking like a bedside nurse”. My instincts told…

Letter to the Editor – Creating high performance interprofessional teams

February 18, 2015

February 15, 2015 Lillee Gelinas, MSN, RN, FAAN Editor-In-Chief American Nurse Today myamericannurse.com Dear Editor, I am writing in response to the article entitled “Creating high performance interprofessional…

Letter to the Editor – Dedicated education units: An innovative model for clinical education

June 2, 2015

May 27, 2015 Lillee Smith Gelinas, Editor-in-Chief Cynthia Saver, HealthCom Media American Nurse Today Dear nursing colleagues, This feedback I offer about the article entitled ‘Dedicated education units:…

Letter to the Editor – Recognizing Heart Failure Symptoms Can Improve Patient Self-Management

May 6, 2015

Dear Editor: Authors Sharon Vincent and Karen Mutsch discuss the increased incidence of heart failure in Americans ,and that by improving self management will promote better outcomes. They…

Letter to the Editor – What nurses owe one another

April 16, 2015

Dear Editor, I am writing in response to Curtin’s article titled “What nurses owe one another”, published in Volume 10, Issue 3 of the March 2015 edition of…

Letter to the Editor – How to increase unit-based shared governance participation and empowerment

February 25, 2015

Dear Editor, I am writing in response to an article titled “How to increase unit-based shared governance participation and empowerment”, in the January 2015 edition of the American…

Letter to the Editor – What works: Physician and nurse rounding improve patient satisfaction

April 14, 2015

Dear Editor: I am writing in response to the article “What works: Physician and nurse rounding improve patient satisfaction” in the December 2014 volume 9, number 12 issue.…

Letter to the Editor: A case study of a managers’ workshop

May 12, 2015

Dear Editor: In response to “A case study of a managers’ workshop” March 2015 issue. I currently work as staff nurse and for the past 9 years I…

Letters to the Editor – February 2007

February 11, 2007

Talkin’ ’bout my generation I’m impressed with your journal. I’ve enjoyed reading many of the articles—for example, the one about helping nurses of different generations work together effectively…

Letters to the Editor – January 2007

January 11, 2007

Casualties of war My mother read “Nursing Care on the Battlefield” in the November issue with great interest. As an Army Nurse in World War II, she knows…

Letters to the Editor – January 2009

January 11, 2009

Why not a bachelor’s degree in 10? I agree that advanced education for RNs should be mandated, as described in “BSN in Ten” in the November issue. I…

Letters to the Editor – March 2007

March 11, 2007

Personal experience with “Last breath” I found the article “Last breath: The ethics of pharmacologic paralysis” in the January issue to be very interesting. I used to think…

Letters to the Editor – March 2009

March 24, 2009

Avoiding the dangers of I.V. phenytoin As an infusion nurse specialist, I’d like to add some information to and clarify some points in “Phenytoin: Keep patients in the…

Letters to the Editor – May 2008

May 11, 2008

Dimensions of pain distraction I read with applause “Assessing the seven dimensions of pain” in the February issue. I work in a large teaching institution in the Midwest,…

Letters to the Editor – November 2007

November 11, 2007

A timely expression of support “Being with dying” in the September issue was timely for my staff and me. I am an RN Unit manager for a 46-bed…

Letters to the Editor – October 2007

October 11, 2007

Nurse leaders and change

September 20, 2015

As a graduate nursing student, the article “Releasing our attachments to the past” (September 2015) really inspired me to take a closer look at the responsibilities of our…

Our readers repond

October 6, 2015

October 5, 2015 In response to: Understanding the Charge Nurse’s Role in Staffing (September, 2015) Dear Editor: The American Nurses Association (ANA) beautifully outlined principles of how…

Our Readers Respond

March 11, 2012

Break the bullying cycle I read with great interest the article “Break the bullying cycle” in the January 2012 edition of American Nurse Today. Terri Townsend provides an…

Our Readers Respond

April 11, 2013

No drugs down the drain In approximately 2008 I wrote my final paper in BSN community health on this environmental issue. I am delighted to see that this…

Our Readers Respond

October 11, 2011

Of artichokes and angry patients I agree with the premise of Rossiter and Lazoritz’s article, “Of Artichokes and Angry Patients” that nurses are often the recipients of displaced…

Our Readers Respond

April 11, 2014

How do we get into morally questionable situations? I love this article. As a current student in the nursing program, I find it incredibly important to watch my…

Our Readers Respond

July 22, 2015

More about moral pitfalls “Conscience, legalism, and the clash of rights” provided an excellent discussion of some of the ethical and moral pitfalls facing nurses and others in…

Our Readers Respond – Nurse managers workshops

June 8, 2015

In response to “A case study of a managers’ workshop” in the March 2015 issue: I currently work as a staff nurse and for the past 9 years…

Our Readers Respond – Supporting the next generation of nurse leaders: Graduate Nursing Student Academy

June 3, 2015

Nurses are increasingly furthering their education with graduate degrees in research and clinical practice. From 2012 to 2013 alone, there have been momentous increases in enrollment in DNP,…

Our Readers Respond – Human trafficking

January 28, 2016

The article “Human trafficking: Preparing for a unique patient population” by Cheryl Green in the January 2016 issue of the American Nurse Today was very well done; excellent…

Our Readers Respond — More on preventing medication errors

April 7, 2016

After reading this article (“Preventing medication errors by empowering patients”), I felt pleased that safety measures have been elevated regarding administering medication to hospital patients. I do agree that efforts made to limit medication…

Our Readers Respond — Nurse staffing and the patient experience

April 7, 2016

I found this article (“Nurse staffing and patient experience outcomes: A close connection”) by Nell Buhlman very interesting and logical. I believe that a patient experience depend very…

Our Readers Respond to “Do you hear what I hear? Combating alarm fatigue”

December 2, 2014

I wish to provide a different perspective on the article entitled “Do you hear what I hear? Combating alarm fatigue” written by Peggy A. Ensslin in volume 9,…

Our Readers Respond to “Synchronicity: Meeting Mother Teresa”

December 2, 2014

From Where I Stand in the November 2014 (Vol. 9, Issue 11) by Leah Curtin, “Synchronicity: Meeting Mother Teresa” was so moving. Thank you so much for sharing…

Reader Feedback, December 2018

December 10, 2018

THIS IS WHERE we share some of the comments, insights, and thoughts we receive from readers. Contact us at myamericannurse.com/send-letter-editor. Nurse suicide I would like to thank Leah…

Reader Feedback, January 2019

January 18, 2019

THIS IS WHERE we share some of the comments, insights, and thoughts we receive from readers. Contact us at myamericannurse.com/send-letter-editor. (more…)

Reader feedback, November 2018

November 6, 2018

This is where we share some of the comments, insights, and thoughts we receive from readers. Contact us at myamericannurse.com/send-letter-editor. Nurse suicide I am writing to express my…

Reader Feedback: March 2019

March 13, 2019

Supporting veterans with substance use disorder Veterans are considered to be highly affected by the increased amount of pressure put on them…while in combat. One of the issues…

Readers Respond

June 11, 2012

More on civility I have rarely responded with a note to the editor, but just want to thank you for the excellent article in the May issue entitled…

Readers Respond

February 11, 2013

Consider a career in clinical research Thank you so much for the Ness, et al. article “Consider a career in clinical research” in the November 2012 issue of…

Some thoughts on addiction

October 29, 2015

I recently wrote a posting related to nurses caring for patients with addictions in response to a Facebook posting exchange. Below is the exchange, followed by my response.…

Springing into action: How one procedural area kept working during COVID-19

December 7, 2020

As COVID-19 hit Georgia in early March 2020, Emory University System made the difficult decision to stop all surgeries and procedures unless they were deemed life-threatening or emergent.…

America needs a culture change

My name is Chad Allen and I am a psychiatric nurse who works with the geriatric population. As a psychiatric nurse, I have seen…

From our readers: ABC’s of evidence-based practice

A simple mnemonic can serve as a guide for the process of evidence-based practice.

From our readers: Novice to expert—a nurse educator’s personal journey

Like new nurses, faculty move through various steps to become “experts.” Here is one teacher’s experience.

From our readers: Pack your bags: Preparing for a global health nursing experience

A nurse with overseas volunteer experience gives advice to those who want to follow in his footsteps.

From our readers: The guilt suicide leaves behind

Dedicated to John, who was loved by so many

From our readers: The making of a newsletter

When I was working as an ICU nurse on the evening shift, I could tell you what was happening on my unit and with…

From our readers. . . Is disaster relief nursing for you?

Recently I had the opportunity to provide nursing services after an earthquake disaster in the Caribbean. In this article, I share my insights gained…

From our readers…A cycle of caring

It began a long time ago A woman walks through the dark room, with just a candle to light her way The soldiers can…

From our readers…Are you prepared for a mass casualty event?

Take a self-assessment to determine if you are ready and take action to increase your preparedness.

From our readers…Balancing the power in favor of patients

Ms. Sims, a bedside nurse featured by Leah Curtin earlier this year inspired me to write this article. At the behest of others, Ms.…

From our readers…Delegation for nursing managers: Increasing the odds of success

Delegation is one of the most important—and most neglected—management skills. Learn how be a better delegator.

From our readers…Developing professional PRIDE

Creating a professional development program at our hospital began with the house-wide partnership (practice) council chartering a task force of front-line staff to design…

From our readers…Do veteran nurses really eat their young? Observations of an ‘older’ new nurse

After working successfully for more than 20 years as a graphic artist and structural designer, I decided to enter nursing school at the age…

From our readers…How to volunteer as a nurse abroad

Azure Window, Gozo, Maltese Islands. When I took the ferry to Gozo, Malta’s sister island, the Azure Window was a nice place to visit. When…

From our readers…Know your A, B, C, and D’s for patients with progressive disease

“Something’s wrong. We have to fix it quickly!” All of our training and experiences as nurses, such as my almost 30 years as a…

From our readers…Lights, camera, action—and don’t giggle!

The author shares the rewards of creating a video about what telephone triage nurses do.

From our readers…Moving beyond professional friendships: Creating a professional development group

A revision of the Florida Nurses Association’s (FNA) organizational plan provided an incentive for members of a local FNA district to reconsider the personal…

From our readers…Negative effects of shackling pregnant incarcerated women

The author advocates for more respectful treatment of pregnant women who are incarcerated.

From our readers…Nonadherent or compassion challenged?

Over the years nurses have labeled patients who choose (knowingly or unknowingly) to disregard instructions that could potentially alter their health condition toward a…

From our readers…Practical approaches to patient advocacy barriers

Nurses know that patient advocacy is an expected and important role for their practice, but the practical implications of acting as an advocate are…

From our readers…The nature of grief

A wise person once said, “Grief is not a disease or pathology to be cured. Grief is the tangible evidence that we’ve cared and…

From our readers…The value of self-knowledge

Have you thought about what would bring joy into your life? Do you wake up excited to start the day ahead? Knowing yourself is…

From our readers…Value all your skills

Anyone who’s been a nurse for more than 10 years will agree with me: you can make big leaps from specialty to specialty and…

From our readers…What bedside nurses can teach nursing leaders

Five years ago, while working in leadership I had a pivotal conversation with my superior regarding the need to “stop thinking like a bedside…

Letter to the Editor – Creating high performance interprofessional teams

February 15, 2015 Lillee Gelinas, MSN, RN, FAAN Editor-In-Chief American Nurse Today myamericannurse.com Dear Editor, I am writing in response to the article entitled…

Letter to the Editor – Dedicated education units: An innovative model for clinical education

May 27, 2015 Lillee Smith Gelinas, Editor-in-Chief Cynthia Saver, HealthCom Media American Nurse Today Dear nursing colleagues, This feedback I offer about the article…

Letter to the Editor – Recognizing Heart Failure Symptoms Can Improve Patient Self-Management

Dear Editor: Authors Sharon Vincent and Karen Mutsch discuss the increased incidence of heart failure in Americans ,and that by improving self management will…

Letter to the Editor – What nurses owe one another

Dear Editor, I am writing in response to Curtin’s article titled “What nurses owe one another”, published in Volume 10, Issue 3 of the…

Letter to the Editor – How to increase unit-based shared governance participation and empowerment

Dear Editor, I am writing in response to an article titled “How to increase unit-based shared governance participation and empowerment”, in the January 2015…

Letter to the Editor – What works: Physician and nurse rounding improve patient satisfaction

Dear Editor: I am writing in response to the article “What works: Physician and nurse rounding improve patient satisfaction” in the December 2014 volume…

Letter to the Editor: A case study of a managers’ workshop

Dear Editor: In response to “A case study of a managers’ workshop” March 2015 issue. I currently work as staff nurse and for the…

Letters to the Editor – February 2007

Talkin’ ’bout my generation I’m impressed with your journal. I’ve enjoyed reading many of the articles—for example, the one about helping nurses of different…

Letters to the Editor – January 2007

Casualties of war My mother read “Nursing Care on the Battlefield” in the November issue with great interest. As an Army Nurse in World…

Letters to the Editor – January 2009

Why not a bachelor’s degree in 10? I agree that advanced education for RNs should be mandated, as described in “BSN in Ten” in…

Letters to the Editor – March 2007

Personal experience with “Last breath” I found the article “Last breath: The ethics of pharmacologic paralysis” in the January issue to be very interesting.…

Letters to the Editor – March 2009

Avoiding the dangers of I.V. phenytoin As an infusion nurse specialist, I’d like to add some information to and clarify some points in “Phenytoin:…

Letters to the Editor – May 2008

Dimensions of pain distraction I read with applause “Assessing the seven dimensions of pain” in the February issue. I work in a large teaching…

Letters to the Editor – November 2007

A timely expression of support “Being with dying” in the September issue was timely for my staff and me. I am an RN Unit…

Letters to the Editor – October 2007

Nurse leaders and change

As a graduate nursing student, the article “Releasing our attachments to the past” (September 2015) really inspired me to take a closer look at…

Our readers repond

October 5, 2015 In response to: Understanding the Charge Nurse’s Role in Staffing (September, 2015) Dear Editor: The American Nurses Association (ANA) beautifully…

Our Readers Respond

Break the bullying cycle I read with great interest the article “Break the bullying cycle” in the January 2012 edition of American Nurse Today.…

Our Readers Respond

No drugs down the drain In approximately 2008 I wrote my final paper in BSN community health on this environmental issue. I am delighted…

Our Readers Respond

Of artichokes and angry patients I agree with the premise of Rossiter and Lazoritz’s article, “Of Artichokes and Angry Patients” that nurses are often…

Our Readers Respond

How do we get into morally questionable situations? I love this article. As a current student in the nursing program, I find it incredibly…

Our Readers Respond

More about moral pitfalls “Conscience, legalism, and the clash of rights” provided an excellent discussion of some of the ethical and moral pitfalls facing…

Our Readers Respond – Nurse managers workshops

In response to “A case study of a managers’ workshop” in the March 2015 issue: I currently work as a staff nurse and for…

Our Readers Respond – Supporting the next generation of nurse leaders: Graduate Nursing Student Academy

Nurses are increasingly furthering their education with graduate degrees in research and clinical practice. From 2012 to 2013 alone, there have been momentous increases…

Our Readers Respond – Human trafficking

The article “Human trafficking: Preparing for a unique patient population” by Cheryl Green in the January 2016 issue of the American Nurse Today was…

Our Readers Respond — More on preventing medication errors

Our Readers Respond — Nurse staffing and the patient experience

I found this article (“Nurse staffing and patient experience outcomes: A close connection”) by Nell Buhlman very interesting and logical. I believe that a…

Our Readers Respond to “Do you hear what I hear? Combating alarm fatigue”

I wish to provide a different perspective on the article entitled “Do you hear what I hear? Combating alarm fatigue” written by Peggy A.…

Our Readers Respond to “Synchronicity: Meeting Mother Teresa”

From Where I Stand in the November 2014 (Vol. 9, Issue 11) by Leah Curtin, “Synchronicity: Meeting Mother Teresa” was so moving. Thank you…

Reader Feedback, December 2018

THIS IS WHERE we share some of the comments, insights, and thoughts we receive from readers. Contact us at myamericannurse.com/send-letter-editor. Nurse suicide I would…

Reader Feedback, January 2019

THIS IS WHERE we share some of the comments, insights, and thoughts we receive from readers. Contact us at myamericannurse.com/send-letter-editor. (more…)

Reader feedback, November 2018

This is where we share some of the comments, insights, and thoughts we receive from readers. Contact us at myamericannurse.com/send-letter-editor. Nurse suicide I am…

Reader Feedback: March 2019

Supporting veterans with substance use disorder Veterans are considered to be highly affected by the increased amount of pressure put on them…while in combat.…

Readers Respond

More on civility I have rarely responded with a note to the editor, but just want to thank you for the excellent article in…

Readers Respond

Consider a career in clinical research Thank you so much for the Ness, et al. article “Consider a career in clinical research” in the…

Some thoughts on addiction

I recently wrote a posting related to nurses caring for patients with addictions in response to a Facebook posting exchange. Below is the exchange,…

Springing into action: How one procedural area kept working during COVID-19

As COVID-19 hit Georgia in early March 2020, Emory University System made the difficult decision to stop all surgeries and procedures unless they were…