what a sunny day
to read about Bratislava
and the Habsburg king

up all night writing
the bed shaking under me
some distant earthquake

there's pie on his hat
you don't play golf with these things
the caddie stands by

was it a bold move
this sweep of clouds over sun
or condensation

customers run in
hats and jackets wet with rain
fresh bag of cherries

here is your pink slip
go walk in the rain alone
and see if I care

Countdown to Camp

We are headed to camp in just over a week.

In the meantime, check out a couple of my checklists if you are looking for an agency this summer. I have had a number of e-mailers tell me the checklists are helpful. Hopefully you will too.

he calls it healthy
even with "smart" in the name
it's still mayonnaise

hair wrapped in the gear
that burning smell puffed out and
the sander seized up

knees together, girls
cross your feet at your ankles
do not speak your mind

it's not for grandpa
this mix of deadbeat rockers
is for my grandma

for two hundred bucks
this toy fixes your posture
and teaches you drums

A new FREE Journal ranking service: SJR-SCImago

The fee-based Science Citation Index now has some competition from the new, free SJR-SCImago Journal & Country rank system. This new service utilizes data from Elsevier's subscription based Scopus database to provide a free source of scholarly journal rankings. Scholars now have an alternative to the previously unchallenged "impact factor" method of comparing the relative importance of journals. The SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) can be used as alternative means of determining the measure of a journal's citation impact. SCImago works by using an algorithm similar to Google's PageRank. Unlike the Impact Factor, SCImago weighs citations from journals according to how highly cited each journal is. Whereas in the standard impact factor approach, every citation has an equal weight. The beauty of the weighted approach by SCImago is that more highly weighted journals such as Nature or New England Journal of Medicine will rank higher. Another difference between the Impact Factor and the SJR is that the SJR calculation looks at citations from a three year period. Because of this, the SJR is a more consistent indicator of trends than impact factors which can vary significantly from year to year.

One major disadvantage of SJR is that the current coverage period for country and journal indicators is only 1996-2007.

You can search SCImago by journal title, keyword, subject and country. You can even create graphs that compare journal titles and export data to Excel.

Here's what the information looks like for the Journal of Advanced Nursing.

Here's a comparison of 4 important nursing research journals:
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Nursing Resarch 0.083 0.070 0.097 0.086 0.109 0.111 0.139 0.138
Journal of Advanced Nursing 0.061 0.069 0.069 0.075 0.081 0.083 0.085 0.104
Clinical Nursing Research 0.052 0.058 0.059 0.062 0.063 0.074 0.078 0.091
Western Journal of Nursing 0.050 0.051 0.054 0.055 0.057 0.065 0.079 0.089

blindfolded in life
adapters and cords woven
pulling me apart

got a problem here
ate a tub of whipped topping
now my legs won't move

my arms are red slashed
pulling buff, stripped stalks to win
battle with bamboo

All Done!

Well, I made it through the written final, the OSCEs and the EMG test my neuro did. Had the grad dinner/dance last night and it was great! It still doesn't feel real though.. I feel like I should be studying or something...

Reagan's autopsy
revealed layers of beef steak
still undigested

lamp light shines on wires
draped from house to house to post
extracting your life

she will, she won't, will
with an iron he curls his hair
pulls strays from his nose

Nursing Research Project: Newborn palliative care: experiences of participants in a perinatal comfort care program

Kathryn B. Davies, RNC, BSN, a staff nurse at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, California, has completed a research project entitled: Newborn palliative care: experiences of participants in a perinatal comfort care program. This research project was completed in pursuit of her Masters in Nursing at California State University, Fullerton. You can view Kathryn's PowerPoint of her poster presentation here. If you have questions, you can email Kathy at Kathy.Davies@stjoe.org

Nursing Research Project: use of anti-emetics and nausea and vomiting in the ambulatory post-operative patient

Lorilee Amlie, Rn, BSN, a staff nurse at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, California, has completed a research project entitled : A chart audit: use of anti-emetics and nausea and vomiting in the ambulatory post-operative patient. This project was completed in pursuit of her Masters in Nursing at California State University, Fullerton. You can view a PowerPoint of her poster presentation here. If you have questions for Lorilee, you can email her at Lorilee.Amlie@stjoe.org

charlie chaplin's speech
from the face of hitler's blood
all kindness, freedom

Paediatric Nurse hiring for New Zealand

Title: Paediatric Nursing New Zealand
Contract: Permanent
Salary: $40,000-$54,000 NZD
Hospital Type: Public Sector
Place: New Zealand
Specialities: Paediatrics

Job Description:

We need a paediatric trained nurse or a an RN who has worked in the paediatric department or who has an interest in paediatrics and with atleast+years nursing experience, demonstrates a high level of English, both spoken and written and willing to relocate to NZ after a successful hospital interview.


The present paediatric position is located in a public hospital abut 15 minutes from the heart of New Zealand's capital city. You can go around the waterfront enjoying the café scene which Wellington is famous for and experience the great outdoor life on offer, with much more besides.

Contact Name:	Marie Aynsley
Email:	marie@nursefindersnz.com

didn't see the sky
didn't see the rhodie bloom
to work and to bed

Last week or The End Is Near!

Well, this is it! Last week of "school". Feels weird to think that after this week I will no longer need to think about studying, at least for a while! I will have to study for the OIIQ exam in September and no doubt I will have in-service and classes to study for once I start working in June, but really, i's not like school.. not like going to classes and doing clinicals. This is it! 3 years of hard work done and finished with!

I have my written final on Thursday and the OSCEs on Friday, both in the morning (so any of you out there who read this CROSS YOUR FINGERS FOR ME!)

On another note... I had an MRI a few weeks back after I had seen my neuro in the ER because I had had some major weakening of my right arm (well deltoid and triceps). Kind of scary considering the TM attach 4 years ago was sudden and unforeseen. Of course, me being me, I freak out and think Oh great! I have MS... there goes 3 years of nursing school and hard work!

So had the MRI of brain/spine (C and T) and it's CLEAR! Yippee! Ok, so now what? My neuro has decided she was to perform an EMG.

"Electromyography (EMG) is a technique for evaluating and recording physiologic properties of muscles at rest and while contracting. EMG is performed using an instrument called an electromyograph, to produce a record called an electromyogram. An electromyograph detects the electrical potential generated by muscle cells when these cells contract, and also when the cells are at rest."

Sound like fun? Ya, didn't think so! I had at one point wanted one for my "bad" arm, the LOBPI to see what exactly was affected, but figured OUCH! No way! Sticking a needle into an area that is already hypersensitive would not be a great idea.. At least my right side isn't hypersensitive (much).

She called to tell me it's set for FRIDAY! Yup! THIS Friday.. same as my exam (OSCE). In the afternoon though... then that night I have the Grad 2008 dinner/dance! I just hope I am functional, if not, just prop me in a corner and give me a glass of something alcoholic! I plan on celebrating, one way or the other! LOL (No, I don't drink much, but really, it doesn't take much!)

I will post more about the EMG and dance and post pics of either one or BOTH events!

she loops the cotton
can't figure how to knit it
beats sorting email

the music's so loud
it'll pop your earplugs and
melt your kneecaps off

dog whimpers behind
couch pressed to the window
ocean laughs at us

Haiku Nurse is going to the beach.
Shortly.

be a millionaire
win peace and understanding
in ten easy steps

Travel Nurse Aim Goes to Boys Camp

Eons ago (before husband, kids, career, etc.) I found a summer job teaching horseback riding at a boys camp in North Carolina. The pay wasn't great but the view from the top of the mountain was breathtaking and I couldn't pass up the chance to spend hours every day riding around the mountainside on horesback. I even helped birth a colt while I was there. Even though I was only 19 years old I often wondered "how cool would it be to one day bring my kids to this camp."

Several weeks ago we went on vacation to North Carolina and I visited the camp. Not much had changed. The lodges and stables were still as I'd remembered them and the lake still had the same diving boards and docks. Even though the camp wasn't open I decided to knock on the office door. To my surprise, the lady who answered the door was the same person who ran the camp 17 years ago.

While catching up on each other's lives, I told her I had become a nurse. She said they were looking for a nurse to fill one of the weeks of boys camp. I told her I would love to send my boys to the camp but didn't want to afford the $1,000.00 per week tuition for each of them. We decided to trade my nursing skills for tuition and now, as the title to this post indicates, I am going back to boys camp. Only this time I will be armed with Ritalin and Hypodermic needles. Look out boys! Nurse Ratched's coming to camp.

Just kidding. This should be a lot of fun and I don't need an agency for this type of travel nursing.

it's nostalgia week
CJ took me to Roseland
for B-52s

two bottles of wine
empty by a goat tattoo
and the stray cat strut

fatigue and self-doubt
make it difficult to write
under a deadline

Our blog recognized as one of the top 100 academic medical blogs!

The ONDD (Online Nursing Degree Directory blog) recently recognized Nursing Research: Show me the Evidence! as one of the top 100 academic medical blogs. Read the entry here and scroll down to the nursing section. Lots of great blogs out there!!

Time Flies

Nursing School Friends 2005-2008

radio is on,
Bach, Debussy, not his style
so why this station?

modestly busy
so it takes a while to post
I can hear you wait

Julie's picks from the literature for April

These recent articles captured my attention as being of special interest to the practice of EBN at St. Joseph Hospital in orange, California.

1. Sawatzky-Dickson DM. Clarke DE. Increasing understanding of nursing research for general duty nurses: an experiential strategy. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing. 2008 Mar; 39(3): 105-11. (18 ref) Burlew carries this journal AN: 2009854799 NLM Unique Identifier: 18386697.

2. Thompson DS. O'Leary K. Jensen E. Scott-Findlay S. O'Brien-Pallas L. Estabrooks CA. The relationship between busyness and research utilization: it is about time. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 2008 Feb; 17(4): 539-48. (40 ref) Burlew has some online access, no print issues. AN: 2009777688 NLM Unique Identifier: 18205684.

3. Leasure AR. Stirlen J. Thompson C. Barriers and facilitators to the use of evidence-based best practices. DCCN: Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing. 2008 Mar-Apr; 27(2): 74-84. (74 ref) Burlew carries this journal

4. Annells M. O'Neill J. Flowers C. Compression bandaging for venous leg ulcers: the essentialness of a willing patient. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 2008 Feb; 17(3): 350-9. (21 ref) Burlew has some online access, no print issues. AN: 2009777665 NLM Unique Identifier: 18205691.

5. Munroe D. Duffy P. Fisher C. Research for practice. Nurse knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to evidence-based practice: before and after organizational supports. MEDSURG Nursing. 2008 Feb; 17(1): 55-60. (21 ref) Burlew carries this journal AN: 2009820287.

6. Owen P. Monahan MF. MacLaren R. Implementing and assessing an evidence-based electrolyte dosing order form in the medical ICU. Intensive & Critical Care Nursing. 2008 Feb; 24(1): 8-19. (54 ref) AN: 2009807209 NLM Unique Identifier: 17686630.

7. Berry AM. Davidson PM. Masters J. Rolls K. Systematic literature review of oral hygiene practices for intensive care patients receiving mechanical ventilation. American Journal of Critical Care. 2007 Nov; 16(6): 552-63. (90 ref) Burlew carries this journal AN: 2009868538 NLM Unique Identifier: 17962500.

8. Fowler S. Leaton MB. Baxter T. McTigue T. Snook N. Research corner. Evolution of nursing research committees. Journal of Neuroscience Nursing. 2008 Feb; 40(1): 60-3. (8 ref) Burlew carries this journal AN: 2009803005 NLM Unique Identifier: 18330412.

another day gone
into the maple branches
like a plastic sack

The Real World

This is where I will be working.. for money.. no longer a student! Big hospital, where even after 3 months of internship I still get lost!

I will be working on he same floor too, Cardiac Surgery/Neurosurgery.

Vickie's Research Corner

View my guestbook

Welcome to Vickie’s Research Corner. Spring has sprung and so have many research projects here at St. Joseph Hospital. I would like to introduce you to Lorilee Amlie, the new Nurse Navigator for Melanoma. Lorilee has been with the hospital for many years and used to work in the Outpatient Surgery Center in the Pavilion. She has a very exciting study called “Post-Operative Nausea and Vomiting Chart Review.”

What is your study about?
My study was to identify medical record findings for ambulatory surgery patients who have received intra-operative or post-operative doses of Zofran. I wanted to look at the effects of antiemetics and to determine how many times this antiemetic is given in the OR.

Is it EBP/Research study?
Research study- Retrospective chart review.

What made you interested in this project?
Since I was in graduate school for nursing administration, I was looking for a research project for my Masters in Nursing. Dr. Rutledge brought this project to me two years ago since I worked in outpatient surgery. Initially in surgery there had been a chart review done by someone else who was trying to identify if certain patients had nausea after surgery, especially with certain anesthesiologists. Once I saw the study I realized this was a good idea. Dr. Rutledge and I decided to look at the effects of the drugs themselves, how often antiemetics (specifically Zofran or Ondansetron) were being given, and if they were being ordered as to the recommendations of current guidelines. I know that nausea is a problem and I wanted to see if we could decrease the amount of nausea that patient’s have pre and post-operatively. According to the literature postoperative nausea and vomiting is a distressing, uncomfortable situation that can increase pain and time in the PACU and sometimes leads to unplanned hospitalizations.

How did you go about your research?
For school I had to write the first three chapters of a thesis, which included a literature review. I examined postoperative nausea and vomiting, medication effects, and recommendations of using drugs. Then I had to go through the IRB at SJH and CSUF. Initially my study was rejected with suggestions from the SJH IRB. After making the adjustments I resubmitted and was accepted. After IRB I began to do chart reviews. With the help of the nursing research staff, who helped me to set up a data collection sheet, I collected all my data. We then put it into a database format and Dr. Rutledge ran the statistics in SPSS for me. I then worked on a poster with more excellent input and help from Dr. Rutledge and you. My poster was disseminated at the Induction Ceremony for Sigma Theta Tau and I was inducted into Upsilon Beta, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society.




What are your expected outcomes?
Actually, I expected that patients who received Zofran in both the OR and PACU and who experienced nausea would spend more time in the PACU, my study showed a slight difference between these patients, but it wasn't significant. But, my study did show that those who received Zofran 30 minutes prior to the end of the case spent on average 30 minutes less time in the PACU.


Have you done research before? If so what did you learn?
Nope, never. I learned how important and exciting research could be. I also learned that research is very time consuming. The only real negative part for me was when the IRB initially rejected my study but then when they accepted it I felt fabulous. One great thing about research is when you see the results of your research it’s so much fun.

Will you do research/project again?
I hope so. I met with Maria Gonzales in Oncology and saw all the research projects going on in Oncology. Since I am now the Nurse Navigator for Melanoma I will be working on a research project just on Melanoma.

yesterday she called
said she can't unplug the wire
can feel them watching