As I sat down to lay out this edition of Change of Shift, I realized how many first timers took the plunge and decided to submit blog posts. That in itself is very exciting. A few I corresponded with, giving words of encouragement and even went out and got a video blog post from another blogger who didn’t originally intend on submitting.

All in all I have 23 entries. That is right.

23

Wow.

And I do video.

So as the hours ticked by, and I got a few last minute entries I realized something important.

I have no theme. No kitschy idea for the video. No “International Talk Like a Pirate Day” to celebrate. No video from Barcelona with Zippy. No helicopter to film from.

Just me.

In my house.

It was during a conversation with TJ that I realized my adventure in creating the edition was story enough in itself.

So, without delaying this edition any further (because it wouldn’t be a CoS edition hosted here if it wasn’t late!) . . .

——————And for the unfancified text version of CoS!——————

Out with 2008 In With 2009!

Alvaro Fernandez, one of our most consistent contributors, begins this edition off with “Brain Fitness Update 2008” a recap (pun intended) of the best of the blog Sharp Brains. Over at Digital Doorway, Keith transitions our theme over in “Welcoming 2009 with Compassion” a great look at the new year through the eyes of hope.

What are your New Year’s Resolutions? Over at the Nurse Practitioner’s Place, Nurse Practitioner’s Save Lives gives us her resolutions in numbered order! What a brave soul! Kathy at Nurse Connect is here to help us all make sure we are successful in her post “A New Year’s Resolution.” Also at Nurse Connect, Laura talks about personal professional evaluation and growth in her post “Change May be Closer Than You think.”
Laura—good luck in your new ICU position!

General Health and Wellness

Is losing weight on your list for the new year? The blog Losing Weight Feels Great has just the post for you: “Simplicity for Weight Loss Success.”

My favorite blog graphic (other than StrongOne’s abs) is the header of the blog My Caffeine Addiction. As I drink too much of the stuff, the post “Top 10 Coffee Alternatives Avoid the Negative Effects of Caffeine” by the blogger Coffee Addict, was especially interesting.
As some of you heard my whining concern about my neck and back recently being adjusted, you better believe I read Dean’s post “Neck Pain and the Cold” with great interest from his site The Back Pain Blog.

There were two entries from the site Fast Medical Info for this edition. The first post, “Allergy to Latex” is a great review. From an entirely different wave, they also submitted the post, “Still a Difference in Gender Accomplishment – Surprised? Why?” I would love to see the citations for their statistics as I bet the sources would make this topic even more interesting.

Newbie Submitters!

I was so excited to see this many new blogger submitting posts for this edition!
NitWitMama is plugging away at nursing school and going though what most of us can relate to. Gotta tell ya, her post from the blog also titled Nitwitmama, “Whew Halfway Point” brought back some VIVID memories to this nurse!

Ross is also a long time reader, first time submitter. I am even more excited because he is representing internationally from his blog Nurse in Australia. In his post “Public Perceptions of Nursing” he tackles the basics of how we are viewed after an interaction with a taxi driver.

Another international blog I would highly suggest you bookmark is Nursing Ideas. After some Twitter discussion I convinced Robert to submit to Change of Shift and am grateful he did. Check out his entire site after you check his video “Are you Culturally Competent?”

Trauma Junkie, or TJ as Dr. A and I have dubbed him on seperate occasions, gives us a view of a code from a respiratory therapist/CNA in his post “A Tale of Respiratory Arrest at Change of Shift.” I will be watching his blog Surviving RT School with great interest as he is taking the blogosphere by storm [see below].

Although not necessarily a newbie, Karin’s post from her site Nurse’s Life Blog fits well after TJ’s as she to talks about a code in her post “The Absent Nurse.”

***Whew! Over Half Done!***

Advice and Reference

Strong One, over at My Strong Medicine wrote a great post titled, “Be a Preceptee with Patience.” This is a great read for both the new nurse and the experienced one as well.
Are you looking for a great anatomy reference list? Laura at Geriatric Nursing Certification wrote “101 Free, Useful, and Striking Sites to Learn About Human Anatomy.”

How about making a career change in 2009? Amanda at Travel Nursing Blog submitted the “Top 10 Reasons to be a Travel Nurse.” As I stare out the window and see nothing but white, this is more and more tempting!

The Un-Category

As I am not quite sure where else to put this post, it is going to get its own heading. Being a pre-hospital provider at heart, I found “Sliding Scale Ambulance Service–Making a Difference” an amazing read over at the blog Pharmacy Technician Certification.

The Kleenex Post

As with every good edition of Change of Shift, there is one post that gets ya where it counts. PaedsRN nailed the topic of child abuse in his post “Christmas” on his blog Cricoid Pressure.

My Favorite Post

This title goes to Braden and post “The Best Nurse I’ve Ever Had” at his blog 20 out of 10. I am so glad you decided to submit this Braden! So many time we see nurses who become hardened and jaded. Some of the best advice I ever received: “Emily, it costs you nothing to be nice, but it will cost you every thing if you are not.” We as health care providers would do well to live by that.

The Dr. Anonymous Caller Post

Every time I have had the honor of hosting, I have recieved one or two strange submissions. You know, kind of like the strange caller from Dr. A’s last BlogTalkRadio broadcast. This edition it was “Holmes Humidifier Reviews” from the blog Humidifier Review. Ironically, I woke up this morning with a headache . . . because my house was in need of a humidifier.

Closing Notes

Before I close out this edition of CoS, I have one last link I want to share with you. Trauma Junkie, a Respiratory Therapy student, has gone all out in doing the ground work for a new RT blog carnival called A Source Of Inspiration. I wanted to take the time to welcome this new edition to the medical blogosphere!

Good luck TJ!

As always, my thanks to Kim at emergiblog for giving me the opportunity to host this edition of Change of Shift!

Please check out emergiblog for the next host!