A LETTER TO YOU

In the last few issues of Nursing in Virginia, we've tried to include stories about other nurses' suggestions for relaxing, some recipes and fitness-related topics. By the time a busy nurse gets home and can relax, whatever you pick up needs to be interesting and entertaining. So with this issue, enjoy making turtles, buckeye balls and learning about short, high-intensity workouts that can make fitness easier.

On the serious side, we also include topics we hope will be helpful to registered nurses. This month, we have a guest writer from the Radford University School of Nursing discussing why some RNs may want to pursue a Doctorate in Nursing Practice degree – a DNP. With the competition for jobs, many facilities seek RNs with higher education. So we've included a related story about additional degrees or certifications that RNs can obtain, and some institutions offer these degrees.

Recall your memories of visiting the college infirmary and enjoy reading the story about several nurses at college clinics and the biggest problems they face.

In another story, we take a look at all the strides male nurses have made in a very female-dominated field.

Our December cover feature is about a nurse dubbed "Santa's Helper" because she eases her stress and cheers others with her holiday spirit. 'This is something to make people happy, to make people laugh. You have to keep that spirit going all year," says Laurinda Finn-Davis, who works for Richmond City Health District's maternity services with much-too-young, pregnant teens.

Some nurses have sent us e-mails about how they handle stress in their jobs, so I hope our readers understand if we can't do them all - but please keep those suggestions coming.

Whether it's a fun or serious topic, please let me know what you'd like to see on the pages of Nursing in Virginia.

Happy holidays!

Clissa S. England
Specialty Publications Editor, Richmond Times-Dispatch
E-mails: cengland@timesdispatch.com or nursinginva@mediageneral.com