Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul (39 page)

Rebecca Skowronski, R.N.,
graduated from Mercy Central School of Nursing in 1977. She has two children and resides in Boca Raton, Florida, where she works on a sub-acute rehab unit. Rebecca and her husband, Martin, provide seminars in crisis prevention and stress management. She can be reached at
[email protected]
.

Judy B. Smith
received her B.S.N. from the University of Tennessee College of Nursing in 1965. She is certified in community health nursing and case management and currently works as a school nurse. Her nursing practice has also been in hospitals, public health clinics, tuberculosis control, home visitation, nursing education and home health care. Judy has published numerous articles in professional journals regarding nursing and health care and plans to write a book describing experiences as a home visitation/research nurse for teen mothers and their babies.

Sherri Sorenson, R.N., B.S.N., C.C.R.N.
, received her nursing diploma from Iowa Lutheran Hospital and her B.S.N. from the University of Phoenix. She has been a flight nurse with AirEvac Services in Phoenix, Arizona, since 1986. She enjoys riding and competing in dressage with her two horses. Please reach her at
[email protected]
.

Susan Spence
has been writing all her life but only recently started getting published. She is happily married, has two beautiful stepchildren and works as a veterinary technician. “God has blessed me with the gift of writing and all the praise goes to him.” Any questions or comments can be sent to
[email protected]
.

Diane Stallings, R.N.,
has nursed hospital patients for nearly twenty-two years. Currently working intensive care and telemetry, she keeps a journal of inspiring moments and writes short stories. She cares for her husband and two children in Fountain Hills, Arizona. You may reach her at
[email protected].

Jo Stickley, R.N.,
has worked many years as an operating room nurse. Besides being involved in the early transplant programs, she served in the armed forces, in research and is now working in the ambulatory surgery setting. She plans to retire in the near future and continue her hobbies of cooking and herb gardening.

Donna Strickland, R.N., M.S., C.S., C.S.P.,
is a full-time national speaker and organizational development consultant known for her high-energy, content-rich and fun-filled programs. Donna consults with corporate and healthcare groups in the areas of leadership, teams, change, performance management, humor and emotional intelligence. She can be reached at
www.Donna.Strickland.com
or by calling 303-777-7997.

F. A. Thompson
is a graduate of London University. He served in the British Army and the Indian Army in the Far East during the Second World War. He has worked in education in West Africa and in colleges in England. He writes short stories and articles for shipping magazines.

Scot Thurman
is currently an assistant director with the Baptist Student Union in Fayettevile, Arkansas. He graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in business in 1992 and graduated from Ouachita Baptist University in 1997. His love lies in helping people grow closer to God.

Susan Townsend
is a full-time teacher of emotionally disturbed high school students, and a part-time writer. She and a colleague are currently writing a book about the trials and triumphs of troubled kids. Susan lives in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and can be reached via e-mail at
[email protected]
, or by fax at 920-233-3722.

Johanna Tracy, M.S.N., R.N., C.S.,
received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing in Detroit, Michigan. She teaches nursing at Capital Health System School of Nursing in Trenton, New Jersey. Johanna volunteers with the American Red Cross at the local, state and national levels. You may contact her at 215-735-1942 or e-mail her at
[email protected]
.

Lisa Ray Turner
is an award-winning author of books and magazine articles. Along with her own writing, Lisa works with clients, teaching writing and doing freelance editing. She lives with her husband and three sons in Littleton, Colorado. She can be reached at
[email protected]
.

Allison Leigh Usher
received her B.S.N. in nursing from Texas Tech University in 1999. In Atlanta, Georgia, she worked at the AFLAC Cancer Center at Egleston Children’s Hospital. She currently lives in Houston, TX. Please reach her at
[email protected]
.

Charlene Vance
graduated with a B.S. in nursing from the University of Tulsa. She is a nationally registered paramedic and certified flight registered nurse. For over twenty years she has practiced nursing in a rotor-wing aircraft flying within a 150-mile radius of Tulsa.

Andrea Watson
received her practical nursing degree in 1976. She completed her B.S.N. from Eastern Michigan University in 1989. She works in cardiology at W. Beaumont Hospital in Southeastern Michigan. Andrea enjoys traveling, boating and spending time with her husband and two daughters. She plans to pursue her M.S.N. at E.M.U. in the fall. Please reach her at
[email protected]
.

Ana Wehipeihana
is a pediatric nurse in New Zealand. She received her diploma in nursing in 1992, and her B.S.N. in 1996. She enjoys diving, water-skiing, wake-boarding, writing and traveling. She would like to become more involved in journalism/writing in the future. Please contact her at
[email protected]
.

Mary Saxon Wilburn
is a weekly contributor to
The Times-Georgian
and
The
Carroll Star News,
and has been published in nursing and religious magazines. She also teaches writing workshops and is working on two novels. She and her husband, Larry share five children and ten grandchildren. Mary may be reached at
[email protected]
.

John Wise
is a registered nurse and a freelance cartoonist living in Clearwater, Florida. Creator of the
Tales from the Bedside
cartoons and books, he boasts a large collection of rejection slips and letters from the world’s most prestigious publications. He can be reached at
[email protected].

Permissions

We would like to acknowledge the following publishers and individuals for permission to reprint the following material. (Note: The stories that were penned anonymously, that are public domain, or that were written by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Nancy Mitchell-Autio and LeAnn Thieman are not included in this listing.)

Working Christmas Day.
Reprinted by permission of Victoria Schlintz. ©2000 Victoria Schlintz.

Proud to Be a Nurse
and
New Job.
Reprinted by permission of Barbara A. Brady. ©2000, 2001 Barbara A. Brady.

Nellie.
Reprinted by permission of Joan M. Filbin. ©2000 Joan M. Filbin.

All in a Day’s Work.
Reprinted by permission of Naomi Rhode. ©1998 Naomi Rhode.

Jack.
Reprinted by permission of Kathryn Kimzey Judkins. ©2000 Kathryn Kimzey Judkins.

Olivia.
Reprinted by permission of Heather Black and Denise W. Lewis. ©1993 Heather Black and Denise W. Lewis.

A Matter of Believing.
Reprinted by permission of Scot Thurman. © 1996 Scot Thurman.

Wake Up!
Reprinted by permission of Kathleen M. Dahle. © 2000 Kathleen M. Dahle.

The Night Al Heel Broke Loose.
Reprinted by permission of Elizabeth Turner. © 2000 Elizabeth Turner.

Jelly Hearts.
Reprinted by permission of Joyce C. Mueller. © 1998 Joyce C. Mueller.

Boarder Baby.
Reprinted by permission of Zaphra Reskakis. © 2000 Zaphra Reskakis.

What Day Is Today?
Reprinted by permission of Allen Klein and Dennis Sibley. © 1998 Allen Klein and Dennis Sibley.

Fresh Sample.
Reprinted by permission of Donna McDonnall. © 2000 Donna McDonnall.

Codes for the Holidays.
Reprinted with permission from
RN
. Copyright © 1999 Medical Economics Company, Montvale, NJ. All world rights reserved.

Christmas Magic
and
First Injection.
Reprinted by permission of Barbara Bartlein. © 1999 Barbara Bartlein.

A Forever Kind of Love
. Reprinted by permission of Christy M. Martin. © 2000 Christy M. Martin.

Happy Birthday, Grace.
Reprinted by permission of Nancy B. Gibbs. © 2000 Nancy B. Gibbs.

In the Arms of an Angel.
Reprinted by permission of Elaine Gray Dumler and Linda Plano. © 1999 Elaine Gray Dumler and Linda Plano.

The Greatest of These Is Love.
Reprinted by permission of Roberta L. Messner. © 1985 Roberta L. Messner.

You Held My Hand.
Reprinted by permission of Frederick A. Thompson. © 2000 Frederick A. Thompson.

Love in Its Purest Form.
Reprinted by permission of Maryjo Relampagos Pulmano. © 2000 Maryjo Relampagos Pulmano.

A Single Act of Love.
Reprinted by permission of Laura Hayes Lagana. © 1998 Laura Hayes Lagana.

My Promise.
Reprinted by permission of Linda C. Bird. © 2000 Linda C. Bird.

Billy’s Good-Bye Gift.
Reprinted by permission of Susan Spence. © 1999 Susan Spence.

All Our Hearts Have to Offer.
Reprinted by permission of Janie K. Ford. © 1999 Janie K. Ford.

The Touch of Kindness.
Reprinted by permission of Tricia Caliguire. © 1998 Tricia Caliguire.

A Part of the Team.
Reprinted by permission of Viola Ruelke Gommer. © 2000 Viola Ruelke Gommer.

To Care for Them.
Reprinted by permission of Christine M. Ehlers. © 2000 Christine M. Ehlers.

The Hip in 46B.
Reprinted by permission of Linda McNeil. © 2000 Linda McNeil.

I Baptize You. . . .
Reprinted by permission of Beverly Houseman. © 1997 Beverly Houseman.

A Visit from an Angel.
Reprinted by permission of Sarah Webb Johnson. © 1987 Sarah Webb Johnson.

The Depth of This Career.
Reprinted by permission of Diane Stallings. © 2000 Diane Stallings.

How Could I Stay in This Profession?
Reprinted by permission of Kathleen Brewer-Smyth. © 2000 Kathleen Brewer-Smyth.

Women in the Military.
Reprinted by permission of Janis Nark. © 1998 Janis Nark.

Diabetic Teaching.
Reprinted by permission of Johanna M. Tracy. © 2000 Johanna M. Tracy.

Peppy.
Reprinted by permission of Lini R. Grol. © 1970 Lini R. Grol.

A Healing Truth
and
The Call.
Reprinted by permission of Virginia L. Clark. © 2000 Virginia L. Clark.

Finding Your Easter Sunrise.
Reprinted by permission of Cindy Bollinger. © 2000 Cindy Bollinger.

The Old Woman.
Reprinted by permission of Mitzi M. Chandler. © 1992 Mitzi M. Chandler.

Communication Is the Key
and
The Crisis of Today.
Reprinted by permission of Karyn Buxman, Motivational Humorist. © 2000 Karyn Buxman, Motivational Humorist.

Meeting Her Needs.
Originally appeared as
Can I Have Pretzels with That?
Reprinted with permission from
RN
. Copyright © 2001 Medical Economics Company, Montvale, NJ. All world rights reserved.

Rose.
Reprinted by permission of Susan Pearson. © 1999 Susan Pearson.

Where Do Babies Come From?
Reprinted by permission of Elaine Stallman. © 2000 Elaine Stallman.

Raspberries and Cream.
Reprinted by permission of Marie D. Jones. © 2000 Marie D. Jones.

Now We’re Talkin’.
Reprinted by permission of Denise Casaubon. © 2000 Denise Casaubon.

You Can Do Anything!
Reprinted by permission of Susan M. Goldberg. © 2000 Susan M. Goldberg.

“I Am,” I Said.
Reprinted by permission of Shirley J. McCullough. © 2000 Shirley J. McCullough.

One Smile at a Time.
Reprinted by permission of Rita Kluny. © 1992 Rita Kluny.