Free Emergency Preparedness Course for America's Nurses
The George Washington University Department of Nursing Education announces that The National Nurse Emergency Preparedness Initiative
(NNEPI) course, "Nurses on the Front Line: Preparing for and Responding to Emergencies and Disasters," is now available online!
Developed with funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the NNEPI course uses video, animations, and case- and scenario-based activities to engage the learner throughout the interactive course. Go to http://learning.nnepi.org/ to access this exciting course for nurses and other health care professionals.
If you have questions about the NNEPI online course, please contact Kimberly Acquaviva at 202-994-7735 or hcskda@gwumc.edu
Humor Lightens the Workload
From Shakespeare to the comic strip Dilbert, ordinary characters rely on comedy to endure the struggles of life and death. As Mercutio lies dying in the tragedy of "Romeo and Juliet" his last words are, "A plague on both your houses! They have made worm's meat of me!" Then he laughs and dies. Although it's a morbidly funny line, the audience is amused because nothing diffuses drama like a boisterous belly laugh.
Studies prove laughter can reduce stress, increase creativity and lessen tensions. Happy people are healthier than crabby people, and they're a lot more fun to be around. Here are a few ways to diffuse stressful situations:
- Cheerfully empathize with people who drive you crazy
- Carry a jester's hat in your briefcase for rigid committees
- Stand up and wave a white flag in tense meetings
- Never forget that there are people who want you to be miserable.