Dear Readers,

I have been affectionately calling the October issue of Nurses Lounge-DFW our "disaster issue" because we planned a feature on disaster preparedness and a spotlight on ER nurses. However, as we started talking to nurses and emergency planners after Hurricane Ike roared through Texas, it seemed like we should call this our "inspiration issue." We have heard from more people than we can fit into our magazine about how they have helped prepare, address and recover from numerous disasters.

After waiting several days to make sure that we were not interfering in the important work our readers do, we were fortunate to find several nurses from the DFW area who selflessly volunteered their time to assist with the recovery efforts along the Texas coast. As a result, we were able to get firsthand insight into what it's like to be a nurse who chooses to go straight into the storm instead of away from it.

Appropriately, our career spotlight looks at emergency department nursing through the eyes of four local ER nurses.

Our disaster preparedness feature explores the important work that hospital safety planners do and the importance of nurse commitment during those critical practice drills.

As always, if you have a story or meaningful photograph that you would like to share, please let me know at aarmstrong@nurseslounge.com.

 See you in the lounge!

Anthony Armstrong

The digital edition of Nurses' Lounge-DFW is now online. Simply click here to start reading!

The first feature is our cover story on Cook Children's Transport Team. These nurses work on helicopters and airplanes and conduct around 2,000 transports per year over a 110-county area.

If the heat and stress of the summertime-rush on hospitals is too much to bear, you'll enjoy our feature on managing stress. You'll see how many hospitals and facilities are becoming aware of the effects stress has on nurses and patient care and learn what they are doing to help nurses relax and clear their heads.

This month's Career Spotlight is written by special guest author, Judy Denison, MSN, RN, FACHE, CNAA-BC, Chief Nursing Officer and Associate Administrator of the world-renowned Texas Scottish Rite Hospital. She examines orthopedic nursing as a career choice in DFW and offers fascinating insight into pediatric orthopedics.

Finally, our CE article is a fascinating exploration of the growing need for genetic competencies in nursing and how advances in gene technology are changing nurse interactions with patients and their families.

Happy Nurses Week! Our annual celebratory issue of Nurses' Lounge-DFW is available online for a special sneak preview! As you already know, Nurses' Lounge-DFW honors nurses every month as we share their stories and examine the issues that matter most to DFW nurses. This month, though, is extra special.

To start, we look at nursing over the last half century as we talk with nurses whose careers have lasted over 50 years. These inspirational ladies provide wonderful insight into what has changed and what has remained the same since they started nursing in the 1950s. While we were strolling down memory lane, we found some excerpts from a Chicago School of Nursing textbook that are sure to provide you with an amusing and insightful look at nursing education in 1945. You will also enjoy reading about TWU's first graduating class of nurses from 1958, who recently celebrated their 50^th anniversary.

As part of the National Nurses Week celebration, we have added an entire section honoring this year's Great 100 winners. Each year, hundreds of nominations are sent to the DFW Great 100 to honor nurses who go above and beyond traditional expectations for their patients, their peers and the nursing profession. Please join us as we celebrate these wonderful and inspiring professionals.

Our career spotlight looks at the challenging world of oncology nursing, featuring eight local nurses who provide heartwarming insight into what it takes to be an oncology nurse.

Finally, our CE article, written by Toni McKenna, the director of the Center for Continuing Nursing Education at The University of Texas at Arlington, provides some simple keys to success in providing patient and family satisfaction.

Each month we strive to make a valuable contribution to the nursing profession, and this month we are especially excited. I hope you get as much enjoyment and find as much inspiration as we have from the nurses that grace this month's issue.  

The DFW Nurses Magazine is now online featuring Mother and Daughter nurses working together in the DFW area. Click to read it now.

This January issue has a detailed analysis of how the Nursing shortage will affect the DFW area over the next few years, interviews with local experts as well as potential solutions.

After you read it come back and give us your comments and read what others have to say.

Click to read the January 2008 DFW Nurses Lounge Magazine online.