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Praise for Etiquette & Communication Strategies
for Nurses, Third Edition
“Kathy Pagana has done it again! This well-written, easy-to-use, comprehensive discussion
of social and professional etiquette is a must-read for all aspiring and experienced nurses.
Whether you are a new graduate interviewing for your first nursing position or a seasoned
nurse with years of experience, Etiquette & Communication Strategies for Nurses,
Third Edition, is your complete guide to setting a positive, professional tone; building collegial
relationships; and optimizing your nursing career. Pithy quotes, helpful FAQs, and essential
take-away tips add valuable insights and texture to Pagana’s fluid, skillful, and understand-
able writing style. Get ready for a fun, readable, professional etiquette experience!”
–Cynthia Clark, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN
Strategic Nursing Advisor, ATI Nursing Education
Author, Creating and Sustaining Civility in Nursing Education

“Navigating the professional pitfalls that we all find ourselves in can be challenging. Kathy
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ing lasting collegial relationships a breeze. This book is filled with read-it and use-it tools.
Whether you are new to your career or a seasoned veteran, you’ll learn something that will
pave the way for future success.”
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Author, Top 5 Healthcare Speaker, Virtual Coach
Principal, Employee Engagement Solutions, LLC

“Etiquette isn’t just a nicety; it’s essential for a successful nursing career. Keep Etiquette &
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handle professional situations. Whether it’s navigating social media, networking effectively,
dining out without embarrassing yourself, or becoming a more effective presenter and writer,
Kathy Pagana’s practical insights make this book an indispensable resource for nurses in all
specialties and practice settings.”
–Cynthia Saver, MS, RN
President, CLS Development Inc.
Editor, Anatomy of Writing for Publication for Nurses, Third Edition
“If you have questions about etiquette, chances are that Kathleen Pagana has the answer.
Her etiquette book is a comprehensive guide for any nurse wanting to appear polished and
professional. Illustrated with stories, key tips, and recommendations, it will prevent you from
embarrassing yourself. The organization of the material makes it easy to dip into the topics of
most interest. You’ll want this guide to help you put your best foot forward.”
–Pat Iyer, MSN, RN, LNCC
Author, 52 Writing Tips: Fast and Easy Ways to Polish Your Writing

“Kathy Pagana’s book Etiquette & Communication Strategies for Nurses, Third Edi-
tion, is an invaluable resource for nurses at any point in their career. Whether one is a new
nursing graduate learning to navigate the professional setting, an experienced nurse looking
to grow in new ways, or a nursing executive, Pagana provides the reader with tools to thrive
in any professional setting.”
–Rebecca FitzSimons, MBA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC
Director of Nursing Programs, UChicago Medicine

“Kathleen Pagana takes a fun look at the skills necessary to manage various professional situ-
ations with poise, grace, and common sense. She discusses situations that, if managed appro-
priately, can make a difference in your career. Definitely a book for aspiring, newly promoted,
or experienced nursing leaders.”
–Tami Taylor, MSN, MBA, RN, NEA-BC
Chief Nursing Officer, St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center
ETIQUETTE &
COMMUNICATION
STRATEGIES for Nurses
ADVANCEMENT TECHNIQUES FOR YOUR CAREER

THIRD EDITION

KATHLEEN D. PAGANA, PHD, RN


Copyright © 2020 by Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing
All rights reserved. This book is protected by copyright. No part of it may be reproduced, stored in
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of their respective owners. Their use here does not imply that you may use them for a similar or any
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This book is not intended to be a substitute for the medical advice of a licensed medical professional.
The author and publisher have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information contained
within at the time of its publication and shall have no liability or responsibility to any person or entity
regarding any loss or damage incurred, or alleged to have incurred, directly or indirectly, by the
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The Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma) is a nonprofit organization
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ISBN: 9781948057639
EPUB ISBN: 9781948057646
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MOBI ISBN: 9781948057660

________________________________________________________________
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data

LCCN Permalink: https://lccn.loc.gov/2019952347

________________________________________________________________

First Printing, 2019


Publisher: Dustin Sullivan Managing Editor: Carla Hall
Acquisitions Editor: Emily Hatch Project Editor: Todd Lothery
Development Editor: Todd Lothery Copy Editor: Todd Lothery
Cover Designer: Rebecca Batchelor Proofreader: Gill Editorial Services
Interior Design/Page Layout: Rebecca Batchelor Indexer: Larry Sweazy
Dedication
This book is dedicated with much love to my husband, Tim, and our three
daughters, Jocelyn, Denise, and Theresa.
About the Author
Kathleen D. Pagana, PhD, RN, is a dynamic speaker and bestselling author.
She is an emeritus professor at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania,
and the president of Pagana Keynotes & Presentations. She has been a leader in
healthcare for more than 40 years. She has a BSN from the University of Maryland
and an MSN and PhD in nursing from the University of Pennsylvania. She has
earned the prestigious designation of Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) from
the National Speakers Association.

She is the author of more than 95 articles and 29 books. Her business etiquette
articles have appeared in more than 15 different national publications. Her most
popular books, Mosby’s Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference (14th ed.) and Mosby’s
Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests (6th ed.), have sold almost 2 million copies,
with translations in Chinese, French, Greek, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, and
Spanish.

In her positions as patient care manager, military officer, faculty chair, academic
dean, and director on the board of a healthcare system, professional etiquette has
helped her handle a number of business challenges. She has enjoyed the privilege
of helping thousands feel more comfortable in professional and business situations
where they are in the spotlight and need to look and act their best.
Table of Contents
About the Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
Foreword. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiii
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xv

1 Making Your Acquaintance. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1


Introductions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Elevator Pitch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Shaking Hands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Remembering Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Business Cards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

2 Conversations and Networking for


Career Success. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Conversational Topics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
The Art of Small Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Networking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Generational Differences in Communication. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Transgender Issues/Concerns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Mentoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Name Tags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Communicating With a Person Who Has a Disability . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Nurse-to-Nurse Collaboration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Nurse-to-Physician Collaboration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
The Patient Experience. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

3 When Talking to an Audience:


Presentation Essentials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Starting a Presentation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Closing With Impact. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
viii Etiquette & Communication Strategies for Nurses, Third Edition

Targeting Your Audience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55


Planning With the Analog Approach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Determining Your Core Message. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Harnessing Your Passion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Avoiding a Data Dump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Using Stories and Case Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Citing Quotes and Statistics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Adding Humor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Ending on Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
The Value of Practice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
How to Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Getting Feedback. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Knowing When You’re Ready. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Managing Fear and Anxiety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Avoiding the Seven Deadly Speaker Mistakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

4 Your Professional Presence . . . . . . . . . . . . 77


Professional Clothing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Dressing in the Clinical Setting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Body Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

5 Interviewing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Preparing for the Interview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Professionalism During the Interview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
After-Interview Professionalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Phone Interviews. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

6 Meetings Still Matter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111


Planning and Preparation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Reasons Not to Have a Meeting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Table of Contents ix

Chairperson Etiquette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115


Etiquette for Participants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Introductions and Seating. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Follow-Up Actions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Serving Food and Refreshments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Virtual Meetings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130

7 Communication Technology. . . . . . . . . . . 133


Email Etiquette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Telephone and Speakerphone Etiquette. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Cellphone Etiquette. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Voicemail Etiquette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Text Messaging Etiquette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Fax Machine Courtesy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

8 Avoiding Social Media Blunders . . . . . . . 153


Social Media Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Complying With HIPAA on Social Media. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Facebook. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Twitter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
LinkedIn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Instagram. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Snapchat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Pinterest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Blogging. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179

9 Mingling Among the Cocktail Set. . . . . . . 181


RSVP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Greetings and Courtesy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Small Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
x Etiquette & Communication Strategies for Nurses, Third Edition

Alcoholic Beverages and Hors d’Oeuvres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188


Wine Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Beer Drinking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Tasteful Toasting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194

10 How Dining Etiquette and Business


Success Go Hand-in-Hand. . . . . . . . . . . . 197
RSVP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Place Settings and Dining Utensils. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Bread and Butter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Soup and Salad. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
The Main Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Coffee & Tea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Paying the Bill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
International Considerations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211

11 Thank-You Notes and Business Letters. . . . 217


Thank-You Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Business Letters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Memos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231

12 Writing for an Audience . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233


Why Write?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Getting Started. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Query Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
The Writing Process. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Motivational Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Table of Contents xi

13 Flying for Success. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249


Packing With Precision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Air Travel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Car Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Hotels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267

14 Going Global. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269


Basic Preparations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Making Introductions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Conversations and Networking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Dining and Drinking Etiquette. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Gift Giving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Social Taboos. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Travel Safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288

15 Putting It All Together. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291


Purpose Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Protocol Facilitates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Passion Propels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295

References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Foreword
Have we met? Even if we have, I probably forgot your name almost instantaneous-
ly after having heard it. I’m shy and that makes me nervous. I missed your name
because I was thinking about what we might have in common to talk about next.
If this is a cocktail reception, I have the added stress of knowing that I must talk to
many more people yet tonight. I will not remember their names either.

My mother taught me manners. I am a master of saying “Please” and “Thank you.”


Why does that provide me with little comfort when it is time to network or when
someone asks me to tell them about myself? Perhaps that is why I was so smitten
with professional etiquette after I read Kathleen Pagana’s book. This book filled in
the gaps in my knowledge that I did not even know existed. Once I was armed with
the knowledge of professional etiquette, I began applying what I had learned, and
I became more confident. Now if I tell someone that I am shy, they do not believe
it! As Thomas Merton said, “We are not converted only once in our lives but many
times, and this endless series of conversions and inner revolutions leads to our
transformation.”

It was this revelation that motivated me to begin talking to my colleagues about


teaching nursing students comportment and etiquette. Some laughed at me. When
I led the creation of a professional development co-curriculum for the college of
nursing, it was originally dubbed “charm school” and was viewed as antiquated and
unnecessary. As nursing faculty, we prepare students to become registered nurses.
However, we are not necessarily preparing future nurses for the business of health-
care. Ask any seasoned nurse and they will tell you that healthcare is, indeed, a
business.
Students in business majors are prepared with skills related to branding, network-
ing, interviewing, socializing outside the office, and interacting with global part-
ners. This is not part of the standard nursing curriculum in the United States, yet
it needs to be if nurses are to advance and successfully navigate the business setting
in which the practice of nursing is situated. Nurses enter clinical practice believing
they are 100% prepared to advance in their career. They do not even know what
they do not know!

Yet, as I watch nursing students who have participated in the professional develop-
ment program walk with confidence to a potential contact, shake hands, and begin
to talk about themselves and what they want in their career, I see the results that
knowledge and skill related to professional etiquette yields.
xiv Etiquette & Communication Strategies for Nurses, Third Edition

I got to know Kathy when I invited her to present on the topic of dining etiquette.
She guided the students through a deliberately challenging three-course meal,
sharing insights on etiquette as well as conversation tips. This is now the most
popular portion of the professional development curriculum. Students can apply
this knowledge to personal and professional settings. Students report how they have
used dining etiquette when meeting their romantic partner’s parents over dinner.
They are applying these skills during dinners where nursing recruiters try to woo
them to their health system. Did I mention that nursing recruiters are actively and
aggressively recruiting these students? Kathy and I have discussed that the reason
may be that professional etiquette has given these students the polish that sets them
apart from the crowd.

You, too, can employ professional etiquette to obtain a position, keep it, or to
advance. Kathy’s content is engaging and easy to read. The question and answer
format with tip boxes, charts, faux pas, and good idea sections allows you to read
quickly but provides a focused and thorough coverage of each topic. It is what you
need to know without a lot of fluff. Her approach is fun and informative. Kathy’s
guidance on presenting, leading meetings, writing an article, and successfully nav-
igating cultural differences will assist you in developing or refining new skills. You
may even develop the confidence to venture into new roles, network with others, or
connect through social media outlets.

If you have picked up this book, you either recognize or are starting to recognize
the importance of professional etiquette in your nursing career. Whether you have
made a serious gaffe that has illustrated the importance of etiquette or simply wish
to learn more, reading this book is an important step in your path to both personal
and professional future success. Thanks to Kathy’s book, if we meet at a cocktail
reception in the future, we will both be a little better at remembering each other’s
names, and if we do forget, we will know how to handle it!

–Anne M. Fink, PhD, RN, CNE


Assistant Dean for College and Student Services
Director of the LEAD Professional Development Program
Villanova University M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing
Introduction
Although nursing education has been focused on leadership, management, and
professional issues, etiquette has been the missing link for success in the workplace.

This book describes how to get a job, keep a job, and move ahead in a job. It will
prepare you to handle awkward and challenging situations that could diminish
your confidence, tarnish your reputation, and derail your career aspirations. After
reading this fun and enjoyable book, you will be able to interact more effectively
in clinical, business, and social settings. You will be amazed at how often you will
think, “I didn’t know how much I needed to know.”

The premise of this book is that everyone can become an expert in etiquette. Fur-
ther, the better you become at it, the more you will be sought after for opportuni-
ties and positions. In these pages, you will find a reality check for those playing (or
about to play) the toughest sport of all—survival in a business world that is often
unforgiving and highly critical.

Why is etiquette important for nurses? Etiquette is about relationships. Nursing is


a career characterized by professional relationships with all kinds of people in all
kinds of settings. As more and more healthcare professionals move into top leader-
ship positions, you can be certain that etiquette skills are part of their power base.

By using the guiding principles of kindness, consideration, and common sense, pro-
fessional etiquette can help you initiate new relationships and enhance established
relationships. It can guide you in unfamiliar situations and help you know what to
expect from others. For example, this book can help you in the following situations:

• Interviewing successfully for a new job or position

• Introducing yourself and others with confidence

• Demonstrating proper handshake and business card etiquette

• Networking effectively on the job and at conferences

• Knowing how to run a productive meeting

• Learning how to create an online persona

• Dressing to mirror your professional image and responsibilities

• Sending a positive impression with thank-you notes and letters


xvi Etiquette & Communication Strategies for Nurses, Third Edition

• Using email, phones, and faxes in a courteous and professional manner

• Using social media to further your career

• Demonstrating leadership skills and advancing your career when giving


presentations

• Standing out from the crowd by writing an article

• Dining with confidence in any business or social setting

• Increasing your comfort and self-confidence during business travel

• Appreciating and respecting cultural differences in global interactions

There are no other etiquette books targeted at and customized for nurses. This
book contains key business etiquette content with an application to professional
nursing. It will help you level the playing field in your interactions with others.

Key Features
Each chapter challenges the reader with a series of DO YOU: questions.

DO YOU:
• Know what to do when you meet a colleague whose name you have
forgotten?
• Know how to introduce your spouse to your boss?
• Have trouble remembering names?
• Have a prepared and practiced elevator pitch?
• Know what to do if a client ignores your attempt to shake hands?
• Wonder when it is appropriate to give out your business card?
Introduction xvii

A unique feature of this book is its organization in a question-and-answer format.


This allows you to target what you need or want to learn or review.

Is there anything that can be done about sweaty hands?


Yes. Spray them with an antiperspirant once a day. This usually takes
about 24 hours to become effective. If that does not work, see your
physician.

What is a two-handed handshake?


In this situation, one person’s right hand shakes the other person’s
right hand, and the left hand is placed on the other person’s body.
The most common left-handed positions are on the wrist, forearm,
bicep, shoulder, or neck. The higher the left hand moves up the
body, the greater the possibility for manipulation and control. For
example, a left hand clasped around the neck may imply intimacy or
ownership (Brown & Johnson, 2004).

The business card


TIP is often described
Tips point out important points for you to as the handshake
remember. you leave behind.
Make sure you leave
a good impression.

Good Idea!
Faux Pas and Good Idea! boxes provide stories about
embarrassing and positive actions, respectively.

Faux Pas

The globe icon denotes material that explains how


etiquette may differ in other cultures.
xviii Etiquette & Communication Strategies for Nurses, Third Edition

Tables help itemize and illustrate concrete information.

1.1 Pecking Order for Introductions

Higher Ranking Lower Ranking


VP of nursing New nurse
10-year employee Two-year employee
Father Daughter’s boyfriend
Your boss Your spouse
Peer in another office Peer in your office
Client Colleague

Helpful frequently asked questions (FAQs) are included in each chapter.

? What do I do if I am being introduced to someone and that person


sneezes into his right hand and then extends that hand for a hand-
shake?
You can shake the person’s hand and then go to the restroom and wash
your hands. Or, you can say you are getting over a cold and would prefer
not to shake hands.

Each chapter ends with “Take-Away Tips.”

TAKE-AWAY TIPS
• Make an effort to remember names when meeting people.

• The most important thing to remember about introductions is to make


them.
Introduction xix

Finally . . .
“I never knew etiquette could be so much fun” is the most common response of
people attending my professional etiquette presentations. The goal of this book is
for you to learn (or recall) some career-enhancing material and to have fun at the
same time.

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by reading this book. As an exam-
ple, Tom Corley (2016) did research on 177 average people who became self-made
millionaires. Five key strategies that helped people get ahead are part of this book.
The skills you learn can be put into practice immediately for career advancement
and lifelong value.

Professional etiquette is not optional for personal or professional success. It is an


essential part of your power base. You can benefit every day in clinical, business,
and social settings by using Etiquette & Communication Strategies for Nurses to come
across as polished, confident, and professional.
1 Making Your Acquaintance 1

1
MAKING YOUR ACQUAINTANCE
Handling Introductions

DO YOU:
• Know what to do when you meet a colleague whose name you have
forgotten?

• Know how to introduce your spouse to your boss?

• Have trouble remembering names?

• Have a prepared and practiced elevator pitch?

• Know what to do if a client ignores your attempt to shake hands?

• Wonder when it is appropriate to give out your business card?

These are concerns that can add to the stress of any situation where you are meet-
ing and greeting new people. Who hasn’t felt awkward during an introduction?
You will feel and act more confident if you understand the basic guidelines, and
you can improve your interactions with others by practicing these tips for making
introductions and creating a positive first impression.
2 Etiquette & Communication Strategies for Nurses, Third Edition

“Civility costs nothing and buys


everything.”
–Lady Mary Wortley Montagu

Introductions
Does it really matter who is introduced to whom in
an introduction?
Yes, it does. There is a pecking order to introductions. The person of honor is
mentioned first, and then the other person is introduced. The person of honor is the
higher-ranking person in the organization. For example, suppose a new graduate is
being introduced to the vice president of nursing at a hospital. The vice president of
nursing is mentioned first, and then the new nurse is presented or introduced.

What are the key steps of an introduction?


Introductions have three steps.

1. Mention the name of the person of honor first.

2. Say the name of and mention something about the person being introduced.

3. Say something about the person of honor.

Here is an example of a proper introduction, following these three steps:

“Theresa, I would like to present Ryan Deska. Ryan is our new


staff nurse with three years’ experience in orthopedics. Theresa
Williams has been our VP of nursing for the past five years.”

Sometimes, when you introduce two people, you will want to facilitate a conversa-
tion between them. Here is a way to facilitate conversation after an introduction,
using the preceding example:

“Theresa, I would like to present Ryan Deska. Ryan is our new


staff nurse with three years’ experience in orthopedics. He is also a
marathon runner. Theresa has been our VP of nursing for the past
five years. She is training for her first marathon.”
1 Making Your Acquaintance 3

If you are not sure about the pecking order when making introductions, Table 1.1
can help.

1.1 Pecking Order for Introductions

Higher Ranking Lower Ranking


VP of nursing New nurse
10-year employee Two-year employee
Father Daughter’s boyfriend
Your boss Your spouse
Peer in another office Peer in your office
Client Colleague

When should I introduce myself?


Always be ready to introduce yourself. None of us is
a famous movie star with face and name recognition. Never approach
Don’t stand next to someone, waiting to be intro- TIP someone and say,
duced. The person you are expecting to introduce “Do you remem-
you may have forgotten your name. So, to avoid ber me?” Be consider-
embarrassing the person, just introduce yourself. Put ate. Put out your hand
out your hand and say your name. For example, say, “I and state your name.
don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Denise Miller.” Or, “Hel-
lo, I’m Denise Miller, and I am a nurse in Same Day Surgery.” The other person
should return your greeting and introduction. If the person does not give a name,
say, “And your name is?”

What should I do if I go blank and cannot remember


someone’s name when making an introduction?
This happens. Be honest about it. You can say, “I’m sorry, but I’ve forgotten your
name.” Or, “Excuse me, but I’m blanking on your name.”
4 Etiquette & Communication Strategies for Nurses, Third Edition

One of my colleagues has asked me to introduce her via


email to a contact of mine. Any tips?
In this digital age, you will start seeing a lot more of this type of request. To handle
it, send an email to your contact that talks a little about your colleague and why she
would like to connect. Copy the email to your colleague, who should then follow up
with your contact.

Do you have any suggestions for introducing myself and con-


necting on LinkedIn?
I think the most important thing here is to personalize the request for connecting,
especially if you do not know the person. Tell the person why you are asking to con-
nect. For example, you might name a mutual friend who suggested the connection.

Elevator Pitch
What is an elevator pitch?
An elevator pitch is a short speech that sells an idea, markets an individual, or pro-
motes a business. The term is a metaphor for when you gain unexpected access to
someone to whom you would like to sell an idea or proposal. Essentially, you should
be able to explain a business proposal in an elevator in the time it takes to ride a few
floors. A great elevator pitch describes and sells an idea in less than a minute. Of
course, it is not restricted to elevators.

What is the desired outcome of a good elevator pitch?


With an elevator pitch, the goal is to capture someone’s attention so you can move
to the next step—a referral, a follow-up call, a meeting, or a partnership.

Why would a clinician need an elevator pitch?


The ability to sum up your service or expertise in a unique way is fundamental for
any professional. When someone asks you what you do for a living, a well-planned
elevator pitch can make the listener perk up and want to know more. Here are some
examples of when a good elevator pitch would be helpful:
1 Making Your Acquaintance 5

• When attending a recruitment fair and hoping to get an interview at a certain


medical center

• When finishing a degree and hoping to be considered for a new position

• When writing an article and hoping to present the topic at a conference

• When planning to expand a consulting service

What are the key components of an effective elevator pitch?


To write an effective elevator pitch, you must know yourself, what you can offer,
and what benefits you can bring. For example, perhaps you are an expert in pro-
fessional communication and know strategies that you can teach others to foster a
better workplace environment.

Follow these guidelines for your elevator pitch (Pagana, 2013c):

• Keep it short. Limit your pitch to 60 seconds.

• Have a grabber. This could be a question, gesture, statistic, anecdote, or


personal experience intended to capture the listener’s attention and pique the
person’s interest.
• Demonstrate your passion. Your energy will help sell your proposal.

• Make a request. For example, do you want to schedule a meeting? If so, ask.
The person may be able to give advice on whom to email for further informa-
tion or whom to contact to set up a meeting.

• Practice. Rehearse so that when the opportunity arises, you are ready.

Shaking Hands
Am I judged by the quality of my handshake?
Yes, you are. You want to present a confident, firm handshake. Those few seconds
you shake hands can weaken or empower a relationship.
6 Etiquette & Communication Strategies for Nurses, Third Edition

The handshake is part of creating a first impression and sending a parting message.
Follow these three steps for a proper handshake:

1. Extend your right hand horizontally with your thumb up. Do not cup your
hand.

2. Engage a person’s hand web-to-web with a firm grip. The web between
your thumb and index finger should be touching the other person’s thumb
web.

3. Shake two or three times and drop your hand.

See Table 1.2 for tips on handshake etiquette.

1.2 Handshake Etiquette

Do Don’t
Stand up. Remain seated.
Make eye contact. Shake with limp, damp fingers.
Offer a firm grip. Squeeze the other person’s hand too tightly.
Smile. Turn the person’s hand over.
Be considerate of personal Refuse or forget to shake hands.
space issues.

“A firm, hearty hand-


shake gives a good
first impression,
and you’ll never be
forgotten if you don’t
live up to it.”
–P. J. O’Rourke
1 Making Your Acquaintance 7

Is there anything that can be done about sweaty hands?


Yes. Spray them with an antiperspirant once a day. This usually takes about 24
hours to become effective. If that does not work, see your physician.

What is a two-handed handshake?


In this situation, one person’s right hand shakes the other person’s right hand, and
the left hand is placed on the other person’s body. The most common left-handed
positions are on the wrist, forearm, bicep, shoulder, or neck. The higher the left
hand moves up the body, the greater the possibility for manipulation and control.
For example, a left hand clasped around the neck may imply intimacy or ownership
(Brown & Johnson, 2004).

Coming from someone you have just met, the two-handed handshake should alert
you to the possibility of a controlling or manipulative person. However, this may
be perfectly acceptable for friendly, long-term colleagues. Table 1.3 lists handshake
variations and their possible interpretations.

1.3 Handshake Variations and Possible


Interpretations (Brown & Johnson, 2004)

Handshake Possible Interpretation


Dead fish (cold and clammy) The person has a passive personality and
low self-esteem.
Pull-in (holds onto your hand The person is maneuvering you and wants
and moves you) to place you somewhere.
Hand on top (palm facing The person with the palm facing down
down) wants to be in control.
Finger squeeze The person wants to keep other people at
a comfortable distance.
Twister (grabs your hand and The person wants you in a submissive
twists it under his) position.
Bone crusher (extreme finger The person equates brute strength with
squeezer) power.
8 Etiquette & Communication Strategies for Nurses, Third Edition

Does gender play a role in handshaking?


In the US, business is gender-neutral. A man or a woman may initiate the hand-
shake. However, at social gatherings, it is often considered prudent for a man to
wait for a woman, especially an elderly woman, to offer her hand. When shaking
hands with the elderly, take your cue from their grip and respond with similar or
less pressure.

What should I do if someone ignores my attempt to shake


hands?
Gently drop your hand back to your side. There are many cultural preferences and
sensitivities that affect a handshake. For example, in the Hindu culture, contact be-
tween men and women is avoided, and men do not shake hands with women. There
also may be physical limitations or sickness issues.

What should I do if my religion prevents me from


shaking hands with a man?
If a man extends his hand to shake, nod your head in acknowledgment and use
words to express the respectful greeting the handshake would have meant. For
example, “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Please excuse me for not shaking hands.” You
are acknowledging that you are doing something different than expected.

What should I do if the person I am meeting has a right hand


injury or is otherwise unable to use it?
Greet the person and then follow her lead. If the person offers you her left hand,
shake with your left hand.

What should I do if I am concerned about getting germs from


shaking hands?
You have two options here. You could say you are getting over a cold and do not
want to spread any germs. Or, you could shake hands, keep your hands away from
your face, and then (when possible) politely excuse yourself to wash your hands.
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
very little more effort than is required to paddle it. The use of the pole
necessitates a standing position, but this is neither risky nor difficult
for any canoeist who understands the knack of balancing a canoe,
and none but an experienced canoeist has any business in swift,
white water. The setting pole is gripped with the left hand near the
top, with the right hand held stationary about 2 ft. lower, and as the
canoe travels past the pole, firmly planted on the river bottom, the
poler leans forward and makes use of his weight and strength to give
a quick push. The pole is again shoved forward as quickly as
possible, that the craft may lose as little headway as possible, and a
new grip secured for the next push. After a little experience with the
pole, the canoeist will find it an easy matter to swing his craft across
the current and avoid rocks and other obstructions as easily as when
paddling. When contemplating a long trip up a stream where the
water is heavy and the current swift, the use of two poles will make
the work easier. Both persons should pole from the same side, the
man in the bow doing the steering while the stern man adds his
straight-ahead push to force the canoe upstream.
Shifting the Paddle from One Side of the Canoe to The Other

The Track Line

The average wilderness stream of the North has enough “tight”


places which judgment tells the traveler to avoid by making a detour
by land rather than risk a capsize and a possible loss of the outfit. To
“tote” the outfit overland means more or less hard work, and as
every canoeist will avoid portaging if there is a fair chance of getting
the canoe through a bad stretch of water, the tracking line will come
in handy very often. The usual ring in the bow of the canoe is far too
flimsy for hauling the loaded craft, and sufficient length of stout rope
should be carried along to pass through the painter eye, and then
carried aft and half-hitched to the first and second thwarts. One man
can pull the canoe up a swift stream by walking along the bank while
his partner takes up the opposite side and steers the craft away from
rocks by using a stern line. With a heavily loaded canoe in very swift
and shallow water, both men must often wade, and a tump line
rigged up as a breast or shoulder strap will make it easier work for
the man at the bow line.

Paddling a Canoe Single-Handed

The open, or Canadian-model, canoe is, of course, handled more


easily and with better speed with two paddlers but there are
occasions when the canoe is used single-handed. When out for a
few hours’ paddle, the canoeist usually balances the craft by sitting
on the bow seat—or kneels on the bottom with his back against the
bow-seat brace—and using the stern for the bow. This brings the
paddler’s weight nearer the center and keeps the canoe better
balanced than when paddling from the stern with the bow high in the
air. However, when the canoe is loaded, many canoeists stow their
camp duffle forward and paddle from the stern, the weight of the
outfit keeping the craft on an even keel. This answers well enough
for smooth-water going, but when the water is rough, or a stretch of
rapids is run single-handed, the stern position is by no means a good
one since the craft is more difficult to control, and much more
strength is required to drive it forward. The Indian manner of
paddling a canoe alone is the only correct one, for he always sits
amidships—kneeling in the center—and if a load is carried, it is
placed in front and back of him so that the craft is balanced on an
even keel. Consequently the canoe draws less water and can be
paddled faster with the same effort, while the paddler has the craft
under perfect control. But the experienced line paddler does not
kneel in the center, he moves out until his body is close to the
gunwale. This makes the craft heel at a decided angle, it is true, but
this position makes for better speed because it enables the paddle to
be held almost vertical, and the more nearly perpendicular the
paddle is swung the more efficient will be the stroke.
In using the double blade, the paddler dips first on one side, then
on the other, and to make the blades travel through the air with the
least resistance, it is customary to set them at right angles to each
other. The motion is really a push and pull, the shaft of the paddle
being rotated in the hands so that the blade will enter the water with
the full breadth facing the canoeist. Rubber cups, to catch the drip as
the paddle rises in the air when making the stroke, are sometimes
used by novices, but these are unnecessary if the paddles are set at
right angles, and the paddler will bend his wrist a trifle to throw the
drip ahead and to one side. At the beginning, the novice will very
likely throw a little water in the canoe, but a little practice will soon
master the knack.

Care and Repair of the Canoe

The canvas-covered cedar canoe will stand a vast amount of hard


service, but it should not be dragged over the ground or over the
boarding of the landing float, neither should it be so placed that any
strain will come amidships while the ends are well supported. When
storing for the winter, keep it under cover, resting bottom side down
on a floor, or turn it bottom side up and support it with boxes, or other
standards, at the center as well as at the ends. While unused at the
camp, turn it bottom side up on the bank. Birch bark must be kept
out of the sun, and the paint of canvas-covered canoes will last
longer if kept in the shade. When the paint becomes rough,
sandpaper it down smooth, and give it a couple of coats of canoe
paint. When the paint is worn off and exposes the canvas, give the
bare cloth a couple of coats of shellac before painting.
Paddling should be Done on the Knees When Traveling Where High Winds
and Seas are Encountered

A repair kit should be taken along on all long trips, consisting of a


small can of white lead, a can of orange shellac, and a sheet of oiled
silk. For small cuts in the canvas, a coat or two of shellac will suffice,
but for bad gashes, cut off the loose threads of canvas and rub on a
little white lead under the raised portion near the hole and on the
surface, cut a patch of the oiled silk to cover it, and paste it in
position. When the lead is dry, give it a couple of coats of shellac.
For making quick repairs, a roll of electrician’s tape will come in
handy. The birch canoe is quickly repaired in the same manner as
suggested for the canvas-covered craft, and as the shellac is
waterproof and dries quickly, all ordinary repairs may be made by the
stream side with but little loss of time.
Oiling Tool for Clocks
Jewelers use a little tool for oiling clocks and watches that could
be used profitably by others for the same and similar work. It
consists of a steel wire, bluntly pointed on the end and set into a
wood handle. Very often the only thing that is the matter with a clock
which does not keep good time, is that it is dirty and dry. If this is the
case, any person handy with tools can fix it at practically no cost.
Remove the works, which are usually held with four screws, from the
case, immerse them in kerosene and allow them to stand for a few
minutes, then remove and drain. This will clean out the dirt.

The Tool will Pick Up a Drop of Oil and Deposit It Where Wanted

The oiling tool is dipped in light oil and a drop applied to each
bearing. Replace the works in the case and the job is finished. A
reliable jeweler will charge very little for this work, but the more crafty
ones may ask a good price for this “mysterious” process. If the works
are not dirty, apply the oil with the tool. Anyone who has tried to oil a
clock with an ordinary spout oilcan knows the futility of the attempt.
The object of the tool is to pick up and carry a drop of oil and deposit
it where wanted. A can, a feather, or a match will do, but any one of
them is apt to carry dirt, flood the dry part, or smear up nonmoving
parts.
Easily Constructed Wall Shelves
Shelves for Books Supported with Picture-Frame Wire to the Wall

All that is necessary to make and support the simple set of wall
shelves, shown in the illustration, is lumber for the shelves, four
screw eyes, four screw hooks, sufficient picture-frame wire to form
the braces and supports, and wood screws for attaching the wire. On
the top side of the upper shelf are fastened the four screw eyes, two
near the wall edge and the others near the outer edge. To support
the upper shelf four screw hooks are used; two placed in the wall
and spaced to match the set of screw eyes nearest the wall, the
others being placed above the first and connected to the outer set of
screw eyes with the wire, thereby forming strong inclined supports.
The remaining shelves can be hung to suit by the supporting wires,
which are fastened with screws to the end of each shelf.
Showing the Strength of a Giant
This trick is not so well known as it might be, although for a while it
was quite a popular drawing attraction for circus side shows and
other amusement places. It is one of the favorite Hindu tricks. The
performer passes for examination two pieces of rope 10 ft. long. In
one end of each rope a large ring is fastened. Taking a ring in each
hand the performer commands three or four men at each end of the
rope to take hold of it and at a signal they pull as hard as possible.
They pull until they are exhausted as in a tug of war, but the
performer only appears a trifle exerted and finds no difficulty in
holding the men.

The Performer Seems to Hold the Ones Pulling on the Ropes without Any
Effort, Producing an Effect That cannot be Readily Understood, and Making
an Excellent Trick for the Lawn Party

The secret is in the use of a piece of flexible wire, which passes up


the right sleeve of the performer, across the back and down the left
sleeve, lying just inside of the coat sleeve. At the ends of the wire
are small hooks. When about to perform this trick the performer puts
on a pair of gloves. The gloves are slit in the palms to allow the
hooks to pass through. The hooks are covered with cloth, colored to
match the gloves. An essential point to remember in performing the
trick is to keep the fingers well around the rings to prevent the ropes
from dropping in case of a slack-up on the tension.
The Tricks of Camping Out
By STILLMAN TAYLOR

PART I—The Camping Outfit

Toouter
enjoy a vacation in the woods thoroughly, it is essential that the
be provided with the right kind of an outfit. The
inexperienced are likely to carry too much rather than too little to the
woods; to include many unnecessary luxuries and overlook the more
practical necessities. However, camp life does not mean that one
must be uncomfortable, but rather implies plain and simple living
close to nature. An adequate shelter from the sun and rain, a
comfortable bed, a good cooking kit, and plenty of wholesome food,
are the important things to consider. No man or woman requires
more, and if unwilling to share the plain fare of the woodsman, the
pampered ones should be left at home, for the grouchy, complaining
individual makes, of all persons, the very worst of camping
companions.
The Old Hand at the Camping Game Prefers
to Cut Poles on the Camping Site and Set
Them Up on the Outside for the Camp-Fire
Tent

The Wall Tent may be erected with the


Regular Poles, or, When Ordered with Tapes
along the Ridge, It can be Set Up with Outside
Tripod or Shear Poles
The Choice of a Tent

There are tents and tents, but for average outings in what may be
considered a permanent camp, the regulation wall, or army, tent is
generally used to make a comfortable shelter. It is a splendid utility
tent, with generous floor space and plenty of headroom. For the
permanent camp, the wall tent is often provided with a fly, which may
be set up as an extra covering for the roof, or extended over the front
to make a kind of porch. An extension may also be purchased to
serve the same purpose. The 7 by 9-ft. wall tent will shelter two
persons comfortably, but when the camp is seldom moved, the 9 by
12-ft. size, with a 3¹⁄₂-ft. wall, will afford more room. The regulation 8-
oz. duck is heavy enough, or the same tent may be obtained in tan
or dark green khaki, if preferred. In any case the tent should have a
sod cloth, from 6 to 12 in. wide, extending around the bottom and
sewed to the tent. An extra piece of canvas or floor cloth is desirable,
but this as well as the fly are extras, and while convenient, are by no
means necessary. The wall tent may be erected with the regular
poles, or it may be ordered with tapes along the ridge and erected by
suspending between two trees. The old hand at the camping game
rarely uses the shop poles supplied with most tents, but prefers to
cut them at the camping site and rig them up on the outside, one
slender pole fastened with tapes along the ridge and supported at
either end in the crotch formed by setting up two poles, tripod or
shear-fashion.
The “Baker” style is a popular tent, giving a large sleeping
capacity, yet folding compactly. The 7 by 7-ft. size, with a 2-ft. wall,
makes a good comfortable home for two, and will shelter three, or
even four, if required. The entire front may be opened to the fire by
extending it to form an awning, or it may be thrown back over the
ridge to form an open-front lean-to shelter.
The “Dan Beard,” or camp-fire, tent is a modification of the Baker
style, having a slightly steeper pitch, with a smaller front opening.
The dimensions are practically the same as the Baker, and it may be
pitched by suspending between two trees, by outside poles, or the
regular poles may be used.
For traveling light by canoe or pack, a somewhat lighter and less
bulky form of tent than the above styles may be chosen, and the
woodsman is likely to select the forester’s or ranger types. The
ranger is a half tent with a 2-ft. wall and the entire front is open; in
fact, this is the same as the Baker tent without the flap. If desired,
two half ranger tents with tapes may be purchased and fastened
together to form an A, or wedge, tent. This makes a good tent for two
on a hike, as each man carries his own half, and is assured a good
shelter in case one becomes separated from his companion, and a
tight shelter when the two make camp together.
The forester’s tent is another good one, giving good floor space
and folding up very compactly, a 9 by 9-ft. tent weighing about 5¹⁄₂ lb.
when made of standard-weight fabric. It may be had either with or
without hood, and is quickly erected by using three small saplings,
one along the ridge, running from peak to ground, and one on each
side of the opening, to form a crotch to support the ridge pole, shear-
fashion. These tents are not provided with sod or floor cloths,
although these may be ordered as extras if wanted.
The canoe or “protean” tents are good styles for the camper who
travels light and is often on the move. The canoe tent has a circular
front, while the protean style is made with a square front, and the
wall is attached to the back and along the two sides. Both tents are
quickly set up, either with a single inside pole or with two poles set
shear-fashion on the outside. A 9 by 9-ft. canoe or protean tent with
a 3-ft. wall makes a comfortable home in the open.
Whatever style of tent is chosen, it is well to pay a fair price and
obtain a good quality of material and workmanship. The cheaper
tents are made of heavier material to render them waterproof, while
the better grades are fashioned from light-weight fabric of close
weave and treated with a waterproofing process. Many of the
cheaper tents will give fair service, but the workmanship is often
poor, the grommets are apt to pull out, and the seams rip after a little
hard use. All tents should be waterproofed, and each provided with a
bag in which to pack it. An ordinary tent may be waterproofed in the
following manner: Dissolve ¹⁄₂ lb. of ordinary powdered alum in 4 gal.
of hot rain water, and in a separate bucket dissolve ¹⁄₂ lb. of acetate
of lead—sugar of lead—in 4 gal. of hot rain water. The acetate of
lead is poisonous if taken internally. When thoroughly dissolved, let
the solution stand until clear, then pour the alum solution into a tub
and add the lead solution. Let the solution stand for an hour or two,
then pour off the clear water and thoroughly soak the fabric in the
waterproofing mixture by rubbing and working the material with the
hands. Hang the cloth up without wringing it out.
The Forester’s Tent is Quickly Erected by
Using Three Small Saplings, One along the
Ridge, and One on Each Side of the Opening
to Form a Crotch for the Ridge Pole
The Ranger’s or Hiker’s Tent Comes in The Canoe or Protean Tents
Halves. Each Half may be Used Are Good Styles for the
Independently as a Lean-To Shelter for One Camper Who Travels Light
Man, or Both Joined Together to Make Room and Is Often on the Move,
for Two Persons and They can be Quickly Set
Up with a Single Inside Pole

How to Pitch a Tent

It is, of course, possible to pitch a tent almost anywhere, but for


the sake of comfort, it is well to select a site with natural drainage.
Many campers dig a shallow trench around the tent to prevent water
from running in during a heavy rain. This is a good idea for the
permanent camp, but is not often necessary if the soil is sandy or
porous, or where a sod cloth is used.
It is rarely necessary to carry the regular poles to the camping
ground, and they may be omitted excepting when en route to a
treeless region. The wall and other large tents may be pitched in
several ways. In some places the woodsman cuts a straight ridge
pole, about 3 ft. longer than the tent, and two crotched uprights, 1 ft.
or more longer than the height of the tent. The ridge pole is passed
through the opening in the peak of the tent, or fastened to the
outside of the ridge with tapes sewed to the cloth. The two upright
stakes are then firmly planted in the ground, one at the back and the
other in front, and the ridge pole is lifted and dropped into these
crotched supports. Set up the four corner guys first to get the tent in
shape, then peg down the side guys and slide them taut so that all of
them will exert an even pull on the tent. Another good method for
setting up the side guys is to drive four crotched stakes, each about
4 ft. long, somewhere near 3 ft. from each corner of the tent, and
drop a fairly heavy pole in the rest so formed, then fasten the guy
ropes to this pole. When a sod cloth is provided it is turned under on
the inside, the floor cloth is spread over it and the camp duffel
distributed along the walls of the tent, to hold it down and prevent
insects and rain from entering.
To overcome the disadvantage of placing the poles in the center of
the entrance, the uprights may be formed by lashing two poles
together near the top to make a crotch and spreading the bottoms to
form a pair of shears. Poles may be dispensed with entirely,
providing the tent is ordered with tapes for attaching a rope to
suspend the ridge of the tent between two trees. In a wooded
country this manner of setting a tent is generally preferred.
Where a wall tent is used in a more permanent camp, it is a good
plan to order a fly, a couple of sizes larger than the tent. This should
be set up by using separate poles and rigged some 6 or 8 in. higher
than the ridge of the tent, thus affording an air space to temper the
heat of the sun and also serving to keep things dry during long,
heavy rains.

The Camping Kit

The camping kit, including the few handy articles needed in the
woods, as well as the bedding and cooking outfit, may be either
elaborate or simple, according to the personal experience and ideas
of the camper. In making up a list, it is a good plan to remember that
only comparatively few articles are really essential for a comfortable
vacation in the wilderness. A comfortable bed must be reckoned one
of the chief essentials, and one may choose the de-luxe couch—the
air mattress or sleeping pocket—use the ordinary sleeping bag, or
court slumber on one of the several other styles of camp beds. The
fold-over combination bed, the stretcher bed, or a common bag
made of ticking, 6¹⁄₂ ft. long by 2 ft. wide, which is stuffed with
browse or leaves, will suffice for the average person. Folding camp
cots, chairs, tables, and other so-called camp furniture, have their
places in the large, fixed camps, but the woodsman can manage to
live comfortably without them. A good pair of warm blankets should
be included for each person, providing the sleeping bag is not taken
along. The regulation army blankets are a good choice and
reasonable in price, or the blankets used at home may be pressed
into service.
A good ax is the woodsman’s everyday companion, and a good-
weight tool, weighing 3 or 4 lb., and a smaller one of 1¹⁄₂ lb. should
be carried. When going light, the belt ax will suffice.
The oil lantern is only suited for the fixed camp, since the fuel is
difficult to transport unless it is placed in screw-top cans. The
“Stonbridge” and other folding candle lanterns are the most
convenient for the woods and give sufficient light for camp life.
The aluminum cooking outfits are light in weight, nest compactly,
and will stand many years of hard usage, but like other good things,
they are somewhat expensive. A good substitute, at half the price,
may be obtained in tin and steel, having the good feature of nesting
within each other, but, of course, not being quite so light nor so
attractive in appearance as the higher-priced outfits. Both the
aluminum and steel outfits are put up in canvas carrying bags, and
an outfit for two includes a large and a small cooking pot coffee pot;
frying pan with folding or detachable handle; two plates; cups knives;
forks, and spoons. Outfits may be bought for any number of persons
and almost all sporting-goods stores carry them. The two-man outfit
in heavy aluminum will cost $9 or $10, while the same outfit
duplicated in steel is priced at $3.35.

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