Deep breathing might seem like a waste of time when you have a post-op wheeling down the hall, one patient waiting for discharge and an ER nurse on hold, ready to give you report on your new admission—not to mention your other patients who, hopefully, are holding their own. (Please let them be holding their own!)

But unless you get control of your thoughts, you’re going to spin your way through your shift without ever really knowing what to do next. You’ll lurch from one crisis to another, and then go home with your head still spinning, wondering if you truly did everything that needed to be done.

So find a quiet place and begin prioritizing. Make a list, if you’re a list person. What things absolutely, positively must be done? What has to be done now and what can wait until later?

Then think about available resources. Who can help you? Do you have a CNA assigned to you? Delegate, delegate, delegate! Is there another nurse you can ask for help? Ask! In fact, even if you think the answer is “There’s no one who can help me,” ask anyway. You may be surprised to find a colleague who is more than willing, for instance, to do some post-op vitals for you while you take report from the ER.

If you still feel overwhelmed, tell your charge nurse. Staying quiet helps no one—not you, not your patients and not the healthcare team. Express your concerns in a constructive manner, though. Flying off the handle and loudly complaining, “This is ridiculous! What do I look like, an octopus?” is probably not going to net you any additional help. (Laughter, by the way, can also help you cope with an impossible assignment.) You’d have better luck asking for help with specific tasks.

One final point: If you truly believe that your assignment is excessive and potentially endangering, it’s your responsibility to let someone know. Start with your immediate supervisor and work your way up the chain of command until someone listens.

[Image: Sam Edwards | OJO Images Collection | Getty Images]

Before you plug the machine, you’ll want to scan this “best foods to choose” checklist. We reveal that surprise! Some “healthy” foods are packed with sugar!

And guess what? Some potato chips are okay to eat…

Meals/Meal Substitutes

• Wrap made with deli meat, low-fat cheese and whole-wheat tortilla
• Turkey sandwich on whole-wheat bread
• Low-sodium soup
• High-protein nutrition bar
• Instant oatmeal (ideally the lower-sugar varieties)
• Chicken or tuna salad with whole-wheat crackers (look for low-fat mayo)

Snacks

• Edamame
• Baby carrots
• Almonds or peanuts
• Nonfat yogurt
• Apple, orange or banana
• Pretzels
• Dried fruit (check the sugar content, though…you’d be surprised how much is in a small bag of cranberries!)
• Baked chips (especially sweet potato or veggie crisp ones)
• Part-skim string cheese
• Laughing Cow Mini Babybel Light Original (the red wax-encased rounds)

Drinks

• Bottled water
• Vitamin-enhanced water (but look at the calorie counts!)
• 100-percent fruit juice
• Skim milk
• Unsweetened tea

Notes to remember:

1. To hydrate yourself, water is always best. Start with a bottle of water before eating one item from the snack list, then wait 20 minutes. You’ll feel more satisfied than when you’re just eating.
2. Watch your portion control on chips and crackers; those small bags often claim to be two servings. Look for the 100-calorie packs or practice awe-inspiring self-control and eat just half a bag.
3. High-protein nutrition bars are a good option on days when you have no time to sit. The higher protein level and somewhat higher fat level will give you a feeling of satiety longer than a plain granola bar.
4. If you find yourself with a selection of different cheeses in your vending machine sandwich (a luxury, we know!), look for low-fat Swiss, feta or part-skim mozzarella.

Thanks to columnist Diane Porter, RN, for her input on this checklist.

You can’t just toss these people out onto the street. That’s technically immoral. Medical professionals are bound by honor to treat everyone equally, no matter how fervently we may disagree with them.

Here are some ways to deal with a racist patient:

• Give the patient a stern warning. Tell them that racist talk is not acceptable in the hospital.

• If possible, isolate the patient. If the patient is going to be abusive to minority staff members, other patients or doctors, then the patient may have to be isolated so as not to upset the critical and steady flow of your care facility. Do not condone the actions of the racist patient in any way.

• Remain curtly courteous, but call the patient on his behavior, even in isolation.

• If isolation isn’t possible, and the patient is mobile, tell the patient that they are free to check into another facility.

And remind yourself: Sometimes these people have been brought up with racism—their parents were racist, and their social circle embraces racism. This doesn’t condone the belief whatsoever, but sometimes it’s a matter of lack of exposure and ignorance as opposed to them being truly bad people.

The following may just be ”funny videos” on YouTube, but at Scrubs they’re audition tapes for future (furry) nurses!

See below and decide for yourself if these adorable dogs and cats have what it takes.

Meet the Future (Furry) Nurses:

HIPAA All-Star Dog
Irish Sett-ing Sail for Nursing School
Compassion Fatigue? Nary Larry
Great Dane, Greater Pediatrics Nurse
Tissue Retriever

HIPAA All-Star Dog

This dog would have no problem following HIPAA laws. He’s all about keeping nosy people out!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Next up: Irish Sett-ing Sail for Nursing School

Although in some cases part of the job description is to provide emotional support as well as medical support, you also have a job to do outside the room. So how do you take care of that job without being rude or hurting someone’s feelings?

The answer is – you don’t try to skirt the issue. Be completely honest with the patient about your other responsibilities. In a loving way, set limits at the outset and make the boundaries very clear that you will be there for them as much as you can but you must also fulfill your other duties.

While you’re in their room, intermingle your needy patient’s chatter with your work. When you first come in to check on the patient, ask about her concerns. Let the patient air her grievances while you administer care. Show in this way that you’re available to the provide the emotional support your patient needs in her fragile state. When you finish with her care, explain to the patient that you must leave to attend to others. Most patients will be understanding of your time limitations and appreciative of what you have to offer them.

If you’ve ever had friends or family who ask, “What’s it really like to be a nurse?” or “How do you handle the day to day stress of it all?” forward them this link (along with Part 1).

Click here to view the embedded video.

Get details here!

A Nurse I Am was produced by Emmy Award-winning director David Hoffman for nurses and nursing students as a response to the alarming trend of nurses leaving the profession within their first few years in practice.

Primarily geared towards students (but enjoyable for anyone!), it features four nursing role models – nurses who are competent and compassionate and have a deep commitment to their patients and to their profession.

See Part 1:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Go to Part 2.

Once you’ve watched both parts of A Nurse I Am, you should nominate someone for the Inspired Comfort Award.

Get details here!

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Since some STDs need to be reported, check your state and local health regulations; report the STD if necessary, assuring the teen that all reports are kept in strict confidence.

Use this opportunity to educate the teen about safer sex. Talk about abstinence, condoms and myths. Be sure the teen knows, for instance, that oral sex is not a risk-free substitute for vaginal sex. Discuss the importance of regular healthcare, including genital exams and STD testing, and let her know which clinics provide these services.

Connect the teen to additional resources as well. There’s a ton of information available on the Web (try iwannaknow.org). The National STD Hotline (1-800-227-8922) provides one-on-one counseling. Innovative programs like The BirdsNBees Text Line and Internet Sexuality Information Services (ISIS) in California allow teens to text sexual questions to dedicated numbers and receive almost instant answers.