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Two Free PowerPoint Templates to Liven Your Next Presentation

by Nursetopia on May 20, 2013

I’ve had my fair share of stale PowerPoint presentations. Trust me, I’ve given many of them, too. I find the presentations I enjoy the most have clean aesthetics, minimal text, and provide opportunities for storytelling. Considering I like those things in presentations, I choose to present this way, as well.

Notepad and TapeI had the lovely opportunity to speak on behalf of the Nurse Oncology Education Program to a group of nurses and nurse faculty at the beautiful Moncrief Cancer Institute in Fort Worth on Saturday. One presentation was directed for faculty on how to make oncology content “stick” in undergraduate curricula, something I’ve grown passionate about as a result of working with faculty over several years. The second presentation was about colorectal cancer screening.

ScreenBoth topics can be rather dull, so I try to make the content come alive in any way possible – mostly with stories, vocal tone, and creative PowerPoint backgrounds. In preparation for the presentation, I couldn’t find any background I really liked, so I just made my own with simple shapes, lines, transparency settings, and colors. One of the nursing faculty members asked for the templates, so I thought I’d share, share, share in true Nursetopia fashion.

You can download the “Notepad & Tape” PowerPoint template here and the “Screen” PowerPoint template here. (Any large, unused space likely included a picture.) Enjoy!

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Film Features Real Nurses and Their Stories

by Nursetopia on May 13, 2013

I love seeing real nurses in pictures and films. I’ve had enough of the well-groomed-young-nurse-hugging-my-clipboard photos. Show me some real nurses. Here’s a few projects that do just that:

  • Joy Williams, RN, from Massachusetts General Hospital, discusses her work and love for Project HOPE in this short film.
  • Photographic film captures the essence of nurses and their work in The American Nurse Project, a “photojournalistic journey that aims to capture and share the images and stories of nurses from all across America and to celebrate the role of the nurse in this country’s healthcare system.” The creators chose six nurses to feature in a full-length documentary, and simply based on the nurses’ brief bios, this is going to be an amazing film when it debuts in Fall 2013.
  • NURSES, If Florence Could See Us Now is a documentary celebrating the work of nurses. As the film trailer points out, most people have a hard time explaining what exactly a nurse does, but rather explain nursing through how nurses make them feel. That’s powerful stuff.
  • The Truth About Nursing has a list of nursing-related documentaries, along with “nursing” and “artistic” ratings.
  • Nurses is a four-part documentary of Australian nurses. It was actually planned and filmed by nurses.
  • A quick search on YouTube reveals over 53,000 results. Looking through the first seven pages of results, at least, there are definitely gobs of short films on real nurses and their work. I love that. After page seven, the results get a little sketchier, so you might have to refine your search criteria to get real nurses who aren’t wearing – ahem – “unapproved” scrubs.

Are there any other photographic or film pieces capturing real nurses that inspire you?

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Surviving a ‘Sick Weekend’ with the Help of Nursetopia’s Reader

by Nursetopia on February 3, 2013

Copyright HiMY SYeD/photopia, Flickr.com Copyright HiMY SYeD/photopia, Flickr.com

 

Two of my three kiddos are battling influenza type A, one with a bonus of strep throat and the other with the added joy of pink eye. Needless to say, my home is one giant petri dish at the moment. Strict routine hand-washing and disinfectant wipes are the norm today. It’s made for lots of lying around and cuddling, which means mommy can still be productive while catching up on the ole RSS reader. It made me happy in the midst of body fluids, whines, and supportive medication administration. Here’s a sampling of what I’ve read lately:

When Color Could Kill: Stories from the History of Paint, from Houzz

Who is the Healthcare Consumer?, from HealthWorks Collective

Linda Scheu and Angela Baldasare on Using Good Presentation Principles to Increase Potential Impact, from AEA365

Ambiverts, Problem-Finders, and the Surprising Secrets of Selling Your Ideas, from Brain Pickings

Business Can’t Solve the World’s Problems – But Capitalism Can, from Dan Pallotta at the Harvard Business Review Blog

Medical Consent App is a Great Idea but Raises Controversial Security Implications, from iMedicalApps

Lessons from the Ordinary, from Intentional Leadership

Organizations that Can’t Fall…Die on Their Feet, from Not Running A Hospital

How Healthy is Your City, State, or Country? 40 Web Apps and Infographics to Find Out, from The Health Hut

Rio de Janeiro puts QR codes in its mosaic pavements, from So much SCIENCE!

Invasion, from A Molecular Matter

A Look Into the Archives: Giant Sequoia, from the American Museum of Natural History

How Our Brains Judge Risk and Effort, from Neurotic Thought

21 Emotions for Which there are No English Words, from PopSci via Radiolab

If you’re not following these blogs/sites, consider adding them to your RSS reader now. You just might need a plethora of reading material at the tips of your fingers.

What are you reading these days?

 

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Daily Doses of Inspiration and Education

by Nursetopia on January 22, 2013

I subscribe to a lot of “daily” emails chock full of news, stories, and yes, even cartoons art. There are two emails that I look forward to currently – one from StoryPeople that contains whimsical drawings accompanied with inspiring and thoughtful narrative, and the other “A Minute with Maxwell,” a one-minute leadership/coaching video focusing on a different topic each day. Yes, they are juxtaposed, but they definitely complement one another.

Daily emails can get annoying if you don’t utilize them and only end up deleting them each day; they can become like spam if you’re not attentive to them.

Do you subscribe to daily emails? What are the ones you look forward to each day? Which ones bring value to your life?

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Never A Shortage on Good Reading Material

by Nursetopia on January 13, 2013

I liken the blogosphere to a “blob.” A lot of people are afraid to start reading blogs because they think it will overtake them – they have issues with unread posts. Honestly, I did, too, at first; then I realized I control the flow of blogs just like I do with all social media, reading, and pretty much every other media outlet.

It’s not uncommon for my RSS reader to have hundreds of posts waiting for me to read. I can’t help it; I love a lot of blogs. I may let posts “pile” up, but it sure does make for some goooood reading time. So, as I wait for all my batch cooking to finish up for the night and my house is filled with the delectable aromas of simmering taco soup, cooling oatmeal muffins, and bubbling homemade apple butter (oh, yes, I did!) – here’s what I’m perusing:

Kim, at Emergiblog, is heading back to her roots and finding her voice while simultaneously cursing the thorn in her side at the moment – a step into electronic charting – and waxing nostalgic for paper charting. Boy, haven’t we all been there? Oh, if not…you will be, don’t worry.

Hugh McLeod, at gapingvoid, has a new cartoon that makes me smile. It’s so true…we need more love in business…including the business of healthcare! It’s why I wrote about love in management recently. *Sings “All You Need is Love…”*

The Nerdy Nurse has a pretty cool giveaway going on right now, you should definitely head over there and enter. You have a few more hours to get in on the goods.

Impacted Nurse is discussing verbal abuse as a result of a recently published Journal of Advanced Nursing article. The title will surely get your attention.

East Coast Creative has a super cute DIY idea. I can absolutely see this in my home, and I’m honestly considering it for my entire team…who says Valentine’s Day at work can’t be fu-uhn?! Not this manager.

Austin Kleon reminds people of the hazard of hanging out with writers. Truth.

So much good stuff to read and look at…ahhh…makes for a lovely time anytime. What are you reading? Viewing? Listening to? I’m always up for suggestions.

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Steal Like an Artist [Book Review]

by Nursetopia on November 14, 2012

I stole borrowed this book from a co-worker. I love it so much, though, that I’m purchasing my own copy. (Yeah, you heard me, Austin Kleon; I’m buying you a cup o’ joe. Who knows…maybe we’ve sat next to one another in an East Austin eatery and never even knew it. That weirds me out a bit, but I’m guessing we’ve never actually eaten/worked side-by-side otherwise I would’ve broken the invisible ice by saying something like, “I prefer neon index cards over white ones. Here…try ‘em.”)

Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative, by Austin Kleon, is a delightful jewel of a read. I gobbled it up in about 30 minutes, but I’m purchasing the book to read again. And again. I won’t quote the entire work. No, you need to visit your local bookstore or library and get the book for yourself. Yes, it really does have that much goodness within it. And, it’s not all text. Hooray!

Much of Kleod’s advice is already part of my life and routine. I gleaned some new tips, though, which I am excited to implement. And, I had to literally put the book down a few times to pause and think about some things he says about creativity and work and the mashup of life. I’m sure I’ll still be thinking about them over the next few days, as well. You’ll definitely see the influence of Steal Like an Artist on Nursetopia, and I’m already working on the suggested reading Kleod provides near the end.

Whether you consider yourself a “creative” or not, I promise this book is worth your time.

 

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Seeing Cancer Differently

by Nursetopia on October 31, 2012

Cell #22, Acrylic on Canvas, copyright Angela Canada Hopkins

 

“It’s actually a beautiful stain,” the pathologist quips. Stares of oddity and muffled chuckles fill the room. “Is something wrong? It is lovely,” I think. Turns out many healthcare professionals – and artists – think similarly.

Artist Angela Canada Hopkins definitely sees cancer differently, and as an oncology nurse, I love looking at her work. I hope to own one of her pieces one day, but for now the reverse of her business card – an image of Cell #22 - adds healthcare art to my office space.

Cancer is stunning in many ways. Hopkins’ work is a different kind of stunning and a reminder of the microscopic awe of the “Big C.”

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One Wild and Precious Life

by Nursetopia on October 11, 2012

This is one of my favorite lines from a striking Mary Oliver poem within She Walks in Beauty. You can download this one wild and precious reminder as a small poster or as a printable card.

 

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The Power of Creativity in Health Care

by Nursetopia on June 13, 2012

It’s no secret I love a creative mind, especially in nursing. I am quite fortunate to work with some crazily creative people from other disciplines.

You know that moment when you share an idea you’ve had for a while with someone and you sort of hold your breath to see their reaction? Yeah, that happens a lot as a manager…except I’m typically the one people are being vulnerable with and sharing the ideas they’ve scribbled down and developed over months only to share it with me quickly, anticipating my reaction. It’s a special moment, one of forward movement or redirection.

I have no problem trying anything once if it benefits patients, the team, or the organization (hopefully all of the above). Let’s “pilot” it and see if it works! If so, fabulous! We can continue, refining as we go. If not, no worries; we’ll scrap it and try something else. You’d be surprised the kinds of ideas people come up with when they know they’ll be given a shot…incredibly great ideas! Patient-centered, cost-saving ideas. I am blown away by some of the brilliance around me that simply needed someone to say, “Hey, that is a great idea and completely worth a try!”

When someone brings an idea, they typically have a passion for it, so as a manager I know I likely won’t have to do a whole lot in regards to developing processes. Really all I need to do is be the cheerleader and maybe help move processes along or minimally direct others. It’s quite amazing. It’s also quite rare.

Why is that?!

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As I Lay Dying, Please Do Not Put A Robot Presence Beside Me

by Nursetopia on June 10, 2012

Artist and designer Dan Chen is questioning “robotic intimacy technology” at one of the most vulnerable moments within the lifespan – the end of life. Chen’s “Last Moment Robot” is a functional machine, and is currently strictly art designed to cause discussions, probe beliefs and thoughts, and raise questions. Chen and his art installation are doing just that. An article published June 8, 2012, has quite the comment discussion.

The Last Moment Robot is designed to remain beside a dying patient, its padded “arm” rubbing the patient’s arm, and quoting soothing words of support.

Again, this is an art installation to create discussion. I doubt this will break into the healthcare market any time soon. I appreciate Chen’s efforts to probe the topic of machine intimacy at the end of life. As an oncology nurse, I have had the honor to be present during many deaths. Based on my experiences, I offer Chen some revisions for a more intimate experience. First, the robotic movements appear too dramatic, and I think they may cause more distress than calming to a dying person. I am sure Chen could adjust the movements to be smaller. A silicone, prosthetic hand would likely be more comforting, as well.  And even though the Last Moment Robot provides “soothing” phrases, they are too frequent and still too robotic vocally, which is not soothing.

As a nurse, I view end of life as a reverent time. If the Last Moment Robot was real, I would never leave it with a patient. There is value in human touch, especially at the end of life. Often it is the presence – the simply being there – that creates the deeply intimate, spiritual moments as people die. Because we, as a culture, do not typically form “intimate” relationships with machines, I am not sure a dying person will ever feel fully comforted by a robot presence at the end of life. Patients should have their friends and family members around them as they die, and when that is not feasible, a nurse or other member of the healthcare team should ensure no patient dies alone. Ever.

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