Free Compliments for Nurses or anyone else

Love me when I least deserve it, because that's when I really need it.
Swedish Proverb

From the fantastic Nursetopia blog I wanted to share this poster that I am taking to work with me in the morning. Going to pay back kindness and make my coworkers day!! We all need to feel appreciated and part of the team, even the guy who mops the floor is an integral part of our team.
Kindness spreads like fire, a simple smile can make the day of another nurse, doctor, family member who needs a lift.
Work is hard enough; share the love. You can download your own on the Nursetopia site and save to your computer to share with your boss and others on your team. Click the image to go there.

From the oh so even wonderful Kind over Matter blog

is even more "Kind over Matter" if you will say. 

I love this blog just as much, such positive vibes flow. 

The poster is another that you can place in your break room to  pass on

the kindness 

Click the image to go to the page and download

quoted from the KOM website, some grand stuff: 

Before I became a work-at-home mama I rocked a day job in health care. I was a nurse's aide in quite a few different settings. I worked all three shifts throughout the 7 years that I worked in the field. I worked in a handful of nursing homes, personal care homes, a rehabilitation center, an assisted living complex & then finally, in home health care. I really did love helping people but it was a SUPER stressful profession, both mentally & physically, especially when we were understaffed. What would make or break my day would be who was on with me that shift. At one point, during my first year of work, I worked with SUCH an amazing TEAM. Like, we got shit done, we didn't skimp, we all loved our residents to pieces & we worked TOGETHER to finish our tasks & raise the quality of our residents' lives. We went that extra mile to make each other smile too. It was truly a beautiful thing.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Another great reminder is Kate Swoboda's Love Letter to the World

 Kindness really is contagious, maybe you can get the bug to spread in your place of work by taking one of the steps below! It won't hurt, I promise!

Start Small. Most of the things I am about to mention will take you no more than 5 minutes or less to do. Say thank you, make coffee, tidy the break room, do the dishes, have a sense of humor, SMILE MORE, complain less, don't gossip, give praise freely. Be Kind, Be Kind, BE KIND. You probably spend an upwards of 2,000 or so hours with your co-workers a year. You should really try to make it a positive experience for yourself & those around you.

Bring Food. Bagels, chocolate, fruit, donuts, chocolate, cookies, cupcakes, a veggie tray... chocolate! It doesn't matter what it is. Bring it. Share it. Bake something & bring it in (Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes!?), a covered dish, anything will surely be a huge hit! You don't have to go all out either, stop at your local grocery store pick up some fresh or frozen bagels & a tub of cream cheese, a box of donuts, pick up some coffee on your way to work or better yet, offer to run out & pick up a coffee or food order.

Start a Gratitude Board. As I was scouring Flickr for photos to feature in this post I ran across the one above. Her company has a "Thank You Board" - whomever has the most notes each month wins Employee of the Month & is rewarded. Of course, whomever has been the employee of the month the most throughout the year becomes the employee of the year at the end of the year! Love this idea, so much.

The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.
William James

Show Your Appreciation. This harmonizes with the suggestion above because I feel that is extremely important & want to emphasize on it more. Maybe one of your co-workers showed you how to do something or to get more personal, shared with you a great book, song, poet or movie that you deeply enjoyed. Let them how much you appreciate them by saying Thank You, maybe you can return the favor. Show them how grateful you are by acknowledging them, you can pass along the goodness they shared with you to someone else. When you do, don't let the person that turned you on to or helped you with something out of the story. Not only is it one of the most important parts of the story but by doing so, the gift of appreciation will continue to be given to them & that my friends, is truly a beautiful thing.

No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise & confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.
Author Unknown
Share Yourself & Encourage Others to Do the Same. Open up, let yourself be seen. This will make you vulnerable but it will also be the only way you will connect on a deeper level. Hang photos of your loved ones, display mementos of your interests & passions (ummm, don't go overboard though!) If you have an office, keep your door open as much as possible. When folks arrive make them feel welcomed. (Did I mention chocolate?!) Share the important things in your life. Ask about the important things in your co-workers' lives. Sometimes all anyone needs is someone to talk to.

So, if you rock a day job... commit yourself to being Kind. It really does go a long way.

On another note: Important Please Read!

Nurses live and work in such stressful environments that sometimes we tend to turn on ourselves, forget who we are and hurt each other. Lateral violence or horizontal violence among nurses is on the rise and should not be tolerated. As a victim of this kind of violence I really was not aware of it until I stepped away and looked back.

If you are suffering at work, hate your job, never get any kindness, other nurses are treating you unfairly and/or your management is also treating you unfairly. You need help. You need to think seriously about your life, your job and your happiness. How can you take care of your patients when you are not happy yourself.

Think about that a while

Leslie 

Jacqueline Saburido will inspire and change you

Jacqui's story of strength and courage has got to be the one story that has always
stuck in my mind as I teach kids and teens out in the community and as I work busy weekends in the ED. Every time I have shared her amazing story and pictures with others it makes such an impact, I know for sure that many kids have been touched by her courage and by the life changing outcome of the driver who was drunk. Jacqui inspires everyone who meets her now or hears her story.
I love the reactions I get with teens in a full classroom as I show the before and after pictures of Jacqui, the shudders and squeals in horror of her face right after the crash, and the condition of that car. It makes such an impact and makes them think, this is real!! drinking and driving can actually hurt someone! and a normal person can be so stupid to crawl into a car, make one poor choice............only one......drive while under the influence of a substance and totally change the life of another person.

Please watch Jacqui's story, I know it is long, but do it for her, show it to your kids and your friends.

 

Jacqui's Commercial from Faces of Drunk Driving on Vimeo.

The Crash: September 19,1999~~
Natalia Bennett and four friends were headed home from a birthday party in West Austin. Her front seat passenger was Jacqui Saburido. It was a little past 4 in the morning on Sunday, September 19, 1999. Reggie Stephey, 18, also was on his way home. He had been drinking.

Less than a mile from his driveway, Reggie drifted across the center stripe and hit Natalia’s car head on. Natalia Bennett and Laura Guerrero died at the scene. Jacqui suffered third degree burns over 60% of her body after the car caught fire.

This is the most powerful image, that makes you think about life!

This one impacts the most teens.

The Driver » Reggie Stephey

Reggie Stephey was a senior at Lake Travis High School outside of Austin. A self-described jock, he had hopes of going to college on an athletic scholarship. But those dreams disappeared when he wound up drinking beer with friends and tried to drive home.

He drifted across the centerline and crashed his SUV into a car with 5 people. Two died on the spot, and Jacqui Saburido almost burned to death when the car caught fire.

Reggie was convicted of two counts of intoxication manslaughter and sentenced to seven years in the state penitentiary.

He was released in 2008 and lives in Austin, Texas. 

Reggie was a normal high school kid, not into trouble, a football player that wanted to go to college and play football. His dreams came to a very fast halt when he chose to

get into his SUV and drive.....................after drinking...............a very poor choice! 

Read more here  http://facesofdrunkdriving.com

Visit Jacqui's page to see how you can help her http://helpjacqui.com/

  deardrunkdriver.com/jacqui.htm

Will you think twice now about driving unsafe, intoxicated or under the influence of

any substance at all, even prescription meds that are sedating can cause this! Think before you drive! Call a ride home! Save a life, might be your own! 

~Our Letter To Congress~

There is an alarming wave of deaths among our country’s youth; a wave that continues to go unnoticed by mainstream media. Adolescents across the nation are victims of unintentional fatalities caused by their participation in the “choking game” and though known by many names, the intent is to pass out purposely for amusement or for a “buzz”. This silent epidemic that focuses the most brutal results on our very young middle schoolers, remains hidden from public attention because currently there is no way to accurately track and report the number of cases. This lack of statistical proof also limits prevention efforts promoted by the grass-roots organization of the thousands of grieving families who have lost a child to this insidious “game”.

As your constituent, I have signed my name below to ask that you help us help our children by doing the following:

1. Call the CDC and request to be briefed on the issue of the “choking game”.

2. Support the CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services by requesting that the World Health Organization add a sub code that includes the “choking game” as a cause of death.

3. Include the “choking game” among the health-risk behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death and disability among youth in the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), and make the YRBS affordable and accessible for all states.

4. Support the CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) model of education as the means to disseminate information regarding the “choking game”.


Enduring the death of a child is heartbreaking. As my representative to Congress, I ask that you help me prevent other families from this heartache by showing your support in establishing statistical evidence of the “choking game,” Your efforts will assist us in heightening awareness among teens and their parents, teachers, and health care providers.

Thank you,

My addition to the letter as a nurse and Injury Prevention Specialist~~

As a Registered Nurse for over 24 years most of my years have been spent in Emergency Nursing and the countless deaths of children and teens that are called "suicides" may possibly actually be cause from this youth risk behavior named TCG or the choking game. We at Ed4Ed4all.com have devoted our lives to helping STOP this behavior and other risky behaviors like it that are taking our loved and cherished children away. Our Education for educators and parents is available free. Please help us to stop the choking game so more parents can actually see their kids graduate high school, walk down the aisle at their weddings and raise grandchildren that are our future.
Thank you for signing this petition!! http://www.petition2congress.com/5809/stop-choking-game/
I sign it for your kids! my kids, grand kids and the future of our country.

Leslie Block RN
Ed4Ed4all Injury Prevention Specialist.
National Social Media Manager for The Mommies Network 

Please take the time to sign the petition, email it to your Congressmen, pay the extra mere $9.00 to also have the letters printed and hand delivered to their offices on Capital Hill. We can make an impact, we are the voters!

Wash Your Nasty Hands

This is the season for bugs, all sorts of nasty germs are floating around our daily lives.
So remember the one simple thing that you can do to help the spread of these bugs.
Wash your nasty hands....please!! Thank you

Here are a couple videos to help :)




Handwashing is a global thing!!



One for the kiddos to learn



and one for the little ones :)

Enjoy and stay safe and well this winter

Just Save the Shoes!!

How are you going to make 2012 different? Have you even thought about it? You have the power to make change happen,no matter how small ,change your attitude, change your community, change your world.
I love this video, perfect for a new start, just remember there is always a lady( or man) somewhere that needs her shoes, Save the Shoes!!, Just do It! No matter how small or trivial a task may seem, there is somebody in our path daily that needs a hand, a smile, a simple hello or acknowledgement that they are important.
No matter if you are fighting fires, running rescue calls, dispatching 911 calls, enforcing our laws or taking care of patients. No matter if you are just a mom or dad struggling with daily life. We are all human, we all make a difference, we all can.

As an ER Nurse I am reminded each and every day of the reason that I do what I do. God always puts just that right patient in my path that needs something I can give back. Even if it is just saving the shoes........

Happy New year Make it a safe one!!

Energy drinks and the facts ma'am

Emergency Department Visits Involving Energy Drinks

 From the Dawn Report: November 2011
Trend data show a sharp increase in the number of emergency department (ED) visits involving energy drinks between 2005 (1,128 visits) and 2008 and 2009 (16,053 and 13,114 visits, respectively), representing about a tenfold increase between 2005 and 2009

Approximately half of the energy drink-related ED visits (52 percent) made by patients aged 18 to 25 involved combinations of energy drinks with alcohol or other drugs

Overall, more ED visits involving energy drinks were made by males (64 percent) than by females (36 percent), and visits by males were more likely than visits by females to involve energy drinks in combination with alcohol (20 vs. 10 percent) or illicit drugs (12 vs. 5 percent); visits made by females were more likely to involve energy drinks in combination with pharmaceuticals than visits by males (35 vs. 23 percent)

When examined by the reason for the ED visit, more than two thirds (67 percent) of visits involving energy drinks were classified as adverse reactions

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Energy drinks are flavored beverages containing high amounts of caffeine and typically other additives, such as vitamins, taurine, herbal supplements, creatine, sugars, and guarana, a plant product containing concentrated caffeine. These drinks are sold in cans and bottles and are readily available in grocery stores, vending machines, convenience stores, and bars and other venues where alcohol is sold. These beverages provide high doses of caffeine that act as a stimulant upon the central nervous system and cardiovascular system. The total amount of caffeine in a can or bottle of an energy drink varies from about 80 to more than 500 milligrams (mg) of caffeine, compared with about 100 mg in a 5-ounce cup of coffee or 50 mg in a 12-ounce cola.¹ Research suggests that certain additives may compound the stimulant effects of caffeine. Some types of energy drinks may also contain alcohol, producing a hazardous combination; however, this report focuses only on the dangerous effects of energy drinks that do not have alcohol.

Although consumed by a range of age groups, energy drinks are marketed to appeal to youth and are consumed by 30 to 50 percent of children, adolescents, and young adults.² Of the several hundred brands of energy drinks on the market, the most popular brands of energy drinks that account for the majority of the market share are Red Bull, Monster, Rockstar, Full Throttle, and Amp. Marketing for energy drinks often targets young people, suggesting benefits such as increased energy and stamina, weight loss, and enhanced physical and/or mental performance.² Emphasizing thrill seeking with names such as "Cocaine" and "Venom," energy drink companies use innovative media to reach their audiences, such as advertisements in video games and at sports events, and solicit market research feedback from consumers via social media to help identify new packaging designs.³ The popularity of these drinks has increased markedly in recent years, with energy drink sales increasing 240 percent from 2004 to 2009.⁴

Consumption of energy drinks is a rising public health problem because medical and behavioral consequences can result from excessive caffeine intake. A growing body of scientific evidence documents harmful effects, particularly for children, adolescents, and young adults.² Among college students, associations have been established between energy drink consumption and problematic behaviors such as marijuana use, sexual risk taking, fighting, smoking, drinking, and prescription drug misuse.^5,6 In one study, bar patrons who consumed alcohol mixed with energy drinks were 3 times more likely to leave a bar highly intoxicated and were 4 times more likely to intend to drive while intoxicated than those who did not consume alcohol mixed with energy drinks.⁶ This latter finding may be because the high levels of caffeine found in energy drinks can mask the symptoms associated with being intoxicated (e.g., feeling lethargic). Individuals, especially youthful drinkers, may incorrectly believe that consumption of caffeine can "undo" the effects of alcohol intake and make it safe to drive after drinking. The popularity of energy drinks—coupled with the burgeoning literature suggesting the risks involved with their use—underscore the importance of gaining additional information about these beverages.

The Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) is a public health surveillance system that monitors drug-related emergency department (ED) visits in the United States and can be used as a source of information for assessing the more negative medical consequences associated with consuming energy drinks. To be a DAWN case, the ED visit must involve a drug, either as the direct cause of the visit or as a contributing factor. Such a visit is referred to as a "drug-related visit." Drugs include alcohol; illegal drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, and marijuana; pharmaceuticals (e.g., over-the-counter medicines and prescription medications); and nutraceuticals, such as nutritional supplements, vitamins, and caffeine products. This issue of The DAWN Report highlights trend data for energy drinks from 2005 to 2009, as well as describes characteristics associated with energy drink-related visits using combined data from 2004 to 2009.

Trends and Overview of ED Visits Involving Energy Drinks

---

Trend data show a sharp increase in the number of ED visits involving energy drinks between 2005 (1,128 visits) and 2008 and 2009 (16,053 and 13,114 visits, respectively) (Figure 1).⁷ This represents about a tenfold increase between 2005 and 2009.

Figure 1. Energy Drink-Related Emergency Department (ED) Visits, by Year: 2005 to 2009*

Figure 1 Table. Energy Drink-Related Emergency Department (ED) Visits, by Year: 2005 to 2009*

ED Visits	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Energy Drink-Related ED Visits	1,128	3,126**	10,052**	16,053**	13,114**

* Although the remainder of the report includes combined data between 2004 and 2009, the number of visits in 2004 only was suppressed because of low statistical precision. Thus, only data between 2005 and 2009 are included in Figure 1. ** The difference between the number of visits in 2005 and subsequent years was statistically significant at the .05 level. Source: 2005 to 2009 SAMHSA Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN).

 

Combined 2004 to 2009 data indicate that the majority of ED visits involving energy drinks were made by patients aged 18 to 39, with 45 percent of visits made by young adults aged 18 to 25 and 32 percent made by persons aged 26 to 39. The two remaining age groups—adolescents aged 12 to 17 and adults aged 40 or older—each accounted for about 11 percent of visits. Males made up 64 percent of ED visits involving energy drinks.

---

Alcohol and Drug Involvement

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ED visits involving energy drinks can be divided into two groups: those that involve energy drinks only and those that involve energy drinks in combination with pharmaceuticals, alcohol, and/or illicit drugs (hereafter referred to as "energy drink combinations"). An estimated 56 percent of visits involved energy drinks only (Table 1). About one quarter (27 percent) of visits involved energy drinks in combination with pharmaceuticals, 16 percent involved combinations with alcohol, and 10 percent involved combinations with illicit drugs. Central nervous system stimulants (e.g., Ritalin^®) were involved in 10 percent of ED visits related to energy drinks in combination with pharmaceuticals.

Drug Combination	Number of ED Visits	Percentage of ED Visits*
Total ED Visits	7,301	100%
Energy Drinks Only	4,059	56%
Energy Drinks in Combination	3,242	44%
Any Pharmaceutical Combination	1,985	27%
Central Nervous System (CNS) Medications	1,158	16%
CNS Stimulants	696	10%
Pain Relievers	312	4%
Narcotic Pain Relievers	107	1%
Drugs That Treat Anxiety or Insomnia	143	2%
Benzodiazepines	98	1%
Any Alcohol Combination	1,174	16%
Any Illicit Drug Combination	699	10%
Marijuana	344	5%
Cocaine	251	3%

* Because multiple drugs may be involved in each visit, estimates of visits by drug may add to more than the total number of visits, and percentages may add to more than 100 percent.
Source: 2004 to 2009 SAMHSA Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN).

Alcohol and Drug Combinations by Demographic Groups

---

Approximately half of the energy drink-related ED visits (52 percent) by patients aged 18 to 25 involved combinations of energy drinks with alcohol or other drugs, whereas 44 percent of visits made by patients aged 26 to 39 involved such combinations. Approximately 3 in 10 visits by patients aged 12 to 17 and those aged 40 or older involved energy drink combinations (28 and 30 percent, respectively).
When ED visits involving energy drink combinations were examined by drug type, pharmaceuticals were commonly combined with energy drinks across each age group (Figure 2). Specifically, combinations of energy drinks and pharmaceuticals were involved in 20 percent of energy drink-related ED visits among patients aged 12 to 17, 30 percent of such ED visits among those aged 18 to 25, 28 percent of such ED visits among those aged 26 to 39, and 21 percent of such ED visits among those 40 or older. Energy drinks in combination with alcohol were involved in 20 percent of energy drink-related ED visits made by patients aged 18 to 25, 17 percent of such ED visits among patients aged 26 to 39, and 10 percent of such ED visits among those 40 or older.
By gender, energy drink-related ED visits made by males were more likely than visits made by females to involve energy drinks in combination with alcohol (20 vs. 10 percent) or illicit drugs (12 vs. 5 percent) (Figure 3). However, ED visits made by females were more likely to involve energy drinks in combination with pharmaceuticals than ED visits made by males (35 vs. 23 percent).

Alcohol and Drug Combinations by Reason for Visit

---

When examined by the reason for the ED visit, more than two thirds (67 percent) of ED visits involving energy drinks were classified as adverse reactions, and approximately one third (34 percent) involved misuse or abuse of drugs (Figure 4).^8,9 Among visits involving energy drinks only, the majority (92 percent) were classified as adverse reactions, and 8 percent involved misuse or abuse. More than half (57 percent) of visits involving energy drink combinations were classified as misuse or abuse and less than one third (30 percent) involved adverse reactions.

Figure 4. Reason for Emergency Department (ED) Visits Involving Energy Drinks Only or in Combination with Other Drugs*: 2004 to 2009

Figure 4 Table. Reason for Emergency Department (ED) Visits Involving Energy Drinks Only or in Combination with Other Drugs*: 2004 to 2009

Reason for ED Visit	All	Energy Drinks Only	Energy Drink Combinations
Adverse Reactions	67%	92%	30%
Misuse or Abuse	34%	8%	57%

* Visits for other reasons are not shown. Because each visit may involve multiple drugs, the percentages may not add to the total. Source: 2004 to 2009 SAMHSA Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN). Discussion Between 2005 and 2009, there was a marked increase in the number of ED visits involving energy drinks. It is notable that visits involving energy drinks alone often caused adverse reactions, suggesting that energy drink consumption by itself can result in negative health events serious enough to require emergency care. Although there are no recommended or "safe" levels that have been experimentally established for caffeine, most researchers and clinicians consider 100 to 200 mg of caffeine per day to be moderate intake for an adult. Pediatricians recommend that children and adolescents abstain from all stimulant-containing energy drinks.2 Excessive caffeine intake from energy drinks can cause arrhythmia's, hypertension, and dehydration, in addition to sleeplessness and nervousness. Additional risks and other medical complications can arise depending on the individual's overall health status (e.g., cardiac conditions, eating disorders, diabetes, anxiety disorders) and other drugs or medications he/she may be taking (e.g., medications for attention deficit disorder). Use over time can cause dependence and withdrawal symptoms.10 Risky behavior such as drinking and driving can also be facilitated by mixing energy drinks with other substances such as alcohol; a study of college students found that more than half of them mixed energy drinks with alcohol.2 Public awareness campaigns focusing on the health effects of consumption of energy drinks are needed to educate the public about the potential risks associated with consumption, alone and in combination with alcohol and/or pharmaceuticals. On an individual level, an ED visit involving energy drinks offers medical staff an opportunity to educate the patient in the clinical setting. The fact that one in four ED visits related to energy drinks involved energy drinks in combination with pharmaceuticals, with more such visits made by males and adults aged 18 to 39 than by other demographic groups, suggests that these groups may benefit from targeted education on the dangers of energy drinks in combination with other substances. Finally, given the finding that one in six visits involved energy drinks in combination with alcohol, public health awareness campaigns could also help dispel the misguided belief that energy drinks can offset or eliminate the effects of alcohol intoxication.  ______________________________________________ End Notes 1 Food and Drug Administration. (2007). Medicines in my home: Caffeine and your body. Retrieved from http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/UnderstandingOver-the-CounterMedicines/UCM205286.pdf 2 Seifert, S. M., Schaechter, J. L., Hershorin, E. R., & Lipshultz, S. E. (2011). Health effects of energy drinks on children, adolescents, and young adults. Pediatrics, 127(3), 511-528. 3 Butschli, J. (2011, August 25). Social media input energizes Verve Energy Drink packaging redesign. Packaging World. [Available at http://www.packworld.com/package-32243] 4 Mintel Global New Products Database. (2009, August 28). Energy drink ingredients continue down unhealthy path (Press release). Retrieved from http://www.mintel.com/press-centre/press-releases/386/energy-drink-ingredients-continue-down-unhealthy-path 5 Miller, K. E. (2008). Energy drinks, race, and problem behaviors among college students. Journal of Adolescent Health, 43(5), 490-497. 6 Thombs, D. L., O'Mara, R. J., Tsukamoto, M., Rossheim, M. E., Weiler, R. M., Merves, M. L., & Goldberger, B. A. (2010). Event-level analyses of energy drink consumption and alcohol intoxication in bar patrons. Addictive Behaviors, 35(4), 325-330. 7 Although the remainder of the report includes combined data between 2004 and 2009, the number of visits in 2004 only was suppressed because of low statistical precision. 8 Within DAWN, an ED visit is categorized as an adverse reaction when the chart documents that a prescription or over-the-counter pharmaceutical, taken as prescribed or directed, produced an adverse drug reaction, side effect, drug-drug interaction, or drug-alcohol interaction. Although energy drinks are not treated as drugs by the Food and Drug Administration, ED visits involving energy drinks were classified as adverse reactions if the chart documented them as such. If other substances are reported on the chart as involved in the visit, an energy drink is not necessarily the sole reason for the adverse reaction. 9 Misuse or abuse cases within DAWN are broadly defined to include all visits associated with illicit drugs, alcohol use in combination with other drugs, alcohol use only among those younger than 21 years old, and nonmedical use of pharmaceuticals. 10 Bernstein, G. A., Carroll, M. E., Thuras, P. D., Cosgrove, K. P., & Roth, M. E. (2002). Caffeine dependence in teenagers. Drug and Alcohol Dependency, 66(1), 1-6. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (November 22, 2011). The DAWN Report: Emergency Department Visits Involving Energy Drinks. Rockville, MD. The answer is always moderation, I love my caffeine as much as the next person but drinking to many energy drinks or adding other substances to them is just not a good choice for anyone.  Stay safe and stay alive!  ~~~ Leslie

Some Clean Nursing Humor..sorta

Friday is fun and so is being a nurse especially an ER nurse, we seem to be a special breed. ER nurses have a "special kind" of humor that you don't share with the ladies in your church group.We mean no harm, it is a coping mechanism for me to get thru the trauma of my day or night shift. When you see nothing but sickness and despair, you need a good laugh to brighten your cloudy day. So laugh on people!!


A spoof of Aerosmith's "Walk This Way" done by two Indiana Wesleyan University 2009 Nursing majors. This video is about hospital handwashing guidelines. All rights reserved by Joel Ferguson and Corey Sizelove.






The UAB ER rap was concepted and created by ER nurses for a National Nurses' Week contest and celebration. UAB nurses and other staff members are featured in the video.


A spoof of Justin Timberlake's "Sexyback" done by the University of Alberta 2010 Med class. Wenckebach is a type of cardiac arrhythmia.

And the last one Rocks!! I love this! UAB you are the bomb!!
"I ain't afraid of no Stroke!!  if I act FAST that is...