When it comes to The Nurses' Lounge, I am very excited about our new editor, Anthony Armstrong. Anthony has already distinguished himself as a talented and creative individual, and I think you will all like what he has done to make the "look" of TNL unique within its respective markets.
I am VERY excited about our January issue, which is addressing the state of nursing in Chicagoland. The already critical nursing shortage is only going to continue to grow. Hospitals are expanding to serve the needs of an increasing baby boomer population, yet nursing schools are forced to turn away many qualified individuals due to a lack of instructors. Which specialties are in the highest demand? How does the expansion of the healthcare industry impact our local economy? Find out in our January issue!
Although is may be rather weak, I think this is a good lead-in for me to get on my soapbox for a few minutes. There has been so much talk of the November elections in the news lately, and it is hard to avoid hearing about the candidates and who is projected to win which primary, etc. Heck, I just learned what a caucus is and how it is different from a primary! I have often heard that politics is one of the "taboo" topics in friendly discussions, but I do have to chime in and urge anyone reading my blog to VOTE in November. Personally, I have no real alignment with a party or candidate (at least not yet), but I think past years have shown that every vote really does count. I think healthcare is a topic that is on the forefront of this election, and we have the opportunity to cast our vote for the person who may very well dictate what our future will bring with regards to our own healthcare.
I hope everyone enjoys reading The Nurses' Lounge and will provide us with their feedback in one way or another this year. We welcome ANY feedback, whether it is positive or negative. This is YOUR magazine; tell us what we need to do to make it better! I wish each and every one of you all the best in 2008!