At 6:30 A.M. a head nurse reviews room assignments and the day''s challenges ahead: twenty-nine patients, most of them seriously ill, and four nurses to care for them. That means a barely manageable and potentially risky patient-nurse ratio of seven to one, with one nurse taking eight patients. Unfortunately, this dismal scenario is played out again and again in hospitals across the country.This in-depth, behind-the-scene''s account of a healthcare system under stress and the declining quality of medical treatment in America should serve as a wakeup call to the public. Faye Satterly, a Registered Nurse with over two decades of experience, spells out the alarming statistics: The average nurse today is forty-five years old and anticipating retirement. Only 12 percent of nurses are under age thirty. At the same time, nursing schools report decreasing enrollments and fewer graduates. The result is that the nurses who are on the front lines of healthcare are feeling overwhelmed and leaving the field for less stressful opportunities outside hospital settings.Compounding the looming crisis is the fact that just as nurses are becoming scarce, the need for them is becoming ever greater. Over the next decade, aging baby boomers will swell the ranks of the over-fifty-five population, a group that experiences higher healthcare needs than those in their thirties and forties.There are answers, the author insists, but they will require an honest public debate about our choices and expectations. What are we willing to do and how much are we willing to pay for safe, effective delivery of healthcare?This fascinating and disturbing account by a veteran nurse with extensive experience is a compelling call for action to counter the nursing shortage and ensure that "caring" regains its premium status in healthcare.

An exposé of the medical and pharmaceutical communities, Bottom Line confirms your fear that you may be receiving substandard medical care. A critical care nurse and former pharmaceutical research scientist, Stanzak has written a brutally honest book to.

Winner of an AJN Book of the Year Award!. This timely second edition is needed now more than ever. Overworked nurses in understaffed health institutions are experiencing considerable stress -- and anger -- which can take its toll in fatigue, physical health problems, depression, and substance abuse. This wise and eloquent book, written by the leading nurse expert on anger research, uses the stories of dozens of ordinary nurses and nurse leaders to describe the consequences of mismanaged anger. Specific strategies for channeling anger into personal and professional empowerment are described, along with ways to interact in a positive and assertive manner with patients, other nurses, doctors, and administrators to improve working conditions. Nurses at every level and in any setting will find this an inspiring and refreshing book.;chapter

AJN Book of the Year Award Winner! (Second Edition) "This book is a gem! It provides a wealth of well researched information to help the reader understand sources of stressÖ.It tackles very important issues that lead to burnout and provides an exceptionally comprehensive analysisÖ.This book is illuminating for clinicians." Afaf Meleis, PhD, DrPS(hon), FAAN Dean of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing This inspiring, award-winning title guides nurses to transform work-related stress and anger into strength and resilience. The profession has witnessed increasing workplace violence, conflicts with colleagues, and poor working conditions. In this book, Thomas demonstrates how anger can actually be a catalyst for personal and professional empowerment. In this new edition, Thomas discusses the causes and consequences of nurses' stress and anger, and presents new strategies to prevent and manage both, even under the worst conditions. She demonstrates how to forge stronger relationships with colleagues and patients, and solve work-related problems head-on. As a nursing educator, therapist, practitioner, and practicing RN, Thomas provides personal accounts of her own experiences as a nurse, struggling to meet the many challenges of the job. Key Features: Thoroughly updated with new research data and case studies Offers step-by-step guidelines on working towards remediation and healing Organized with bulleted lists and boxes highlighting key points Guidance on pursuing career movement, both vertical and horizontal Useful for nurses, hospital administrators, managers, and graduate students