Conflicts are inevitable in any workplace, including healthcare settings like nursing. Here are 15 tips for conflict management as a nurse: Stay Calm: When conflicts arise, try to remain calm and composed. Emotions can escalate the situation. Active Listening: Listen attentively to the other party without interrupting. Show empathy and understanding. Choose the Right Time […]

As the healthcare industry continues to grow, it’s important that newly graduated nurses receive adequate support to help them grow professionally and emotionally. Mentorship programs have been proven to be a valuable resource for new nurses, providing them with guidance, support, and a sense of community. However, not all hospitals have invested in quality mentorship […]

As a new nurse, entering the workforce can be an exciting but also daunting experience. It’s important to find a workplace that supports your growth and well-being, but it can be challenging to assess the work culture during the interview process. Here are a few tips to help you spot a negative work culture from […]

As new nurses start their careers, building confidence in their abilities and skills is crucial for their success and longevity in the profession. A positive work culture that promotes learning, growth, and collaboration can help instill confidence in new nurses and set them up for success. Studies have shown that nurses who feel valued and […]

As a newly graduated nurse, starting a career in the healthcare industry can be a daunting experience. With high levels of stress, long hours, and the pressure to provide quality care to patients, it’s crucial for new nurses to have a supportive work environment to help them thrive. A recent study conducted by the American […]

For the last 20 years, nurses have won the coveted top spot in the Gallop survey on most trusted professions in the US. However, the profession of nursing’s reputation as the most trusted profession is in jeopardy. The recent nurse license fraud scheme in Florida has put nurses in the spotlight again, but not for […]

Nurses know that it is important to care for patients as a whole- physically, mentally, and spiritually. They know the toll that depression can take on one’s health. Because of this, nurses go above and beyond for our patients and that includes patients with psychiatric needs. Nurses make sure their patients have all the referrals, […]

No matter what profession you choose, there are aspects outside of the job description that have a negative impact on you. Life is already hard on it’s own without the human tendency of self-sabotage. There are three main areas where distress can seep in through the cracks and slowly erode your happiness.  _________________________________________________________ 1. Poor […]

Everyone experiences challenges. They may vary in size and frequency but are universal to the human experience. Whatever path you decide to take has difficulties along the way because anything that alters the status quo and forces humans to alter behaviours, attitudes, and beliefs no matter how small is a stressor. Seasons change, we grow […]

I had the honor of authoring an article for Nursing CE Central’s blog: “Professionalism in Nursing: Why We Need it and 6 Easy Steps to Follow ” published April 23, 2021.

I had the honor of authoring an article for Nursing CE Central’s blog: “Nursing Resumes: What You Can Do to Land Your Dream Job” published April 23, 2021.

I had the honor of authoring an article for Nursing CE Central’s blog: “Student Loan Forgiveness: Am I Qualified?” published April 23, 2021.

I had the honor of authoring an article for Nursing CE Central’s blog: “Where Nurses Make 6 Figures: 2021 Nursing Salary by State” published April 06, 2021. In it I share what the National median salary is for LPN/LVN, RN, NP, CNS, Nurse Midwife, and Nurse Anesthesiologist. I also include a chart comprised of the […]

I had the wonderful opportunity to co-author an article in the April 2021 issue of the American Nurse Today journal! Managing new nurse fear and anxiety: Simple strategies can help with transitions to practice What the article is about There is a noticeable trend of increased levels of anxiety and fear starting with the millennial […]

The second a nursing student receives their license, they are awarded the heavy responsibility of a nurse. It is a challenging accomplishment, but one that does not prepare them for the full weight of that responsibility.  They have a basic knowledge of a complicated world with life and death circumstances. This is why orientation is […]

Right now, a year into the pandemic, the suppressed tension from the continual trauma of COVID is now showing visible cracks to nurses’ souls; the emotional, physical, and psychological well-being of nurses. The letters of support from the community have faded behind the display case. Free snacks to lift our spirits in the rare moments […]

Nursing is not an easy job. Nurses high-quality care to complex patients. If that does not make our job hard enough, we get yelled at, punched, kicked, and spit on by the confused and the just plain rude. We also take fire from family members that are aggressive, overbearing, and manipulative. Navigating the barrage of […]

Throughout life we are constantly growing and adapting to life’s challenges. We set goals and strive for them. Sometimes we reach them and sometimes we fall short. Juggling personal life and work can be a difficult task and nurses, no matter how skilled they are at juggling, are not immune to struggling. There are some […]

Throughout nursing school we learn how they can die from various illnesses, but I only had one lecture on hospice that talked about death and grief. We deal so much in death so it is strange nursing school doesn’t spend more time on how to understand our role with dying patients and how to cope […]

Being a medical professional means that you are more than likely to experience at least one traumatic experience during your career. As a nurse, your chances of developing PTSD from a traumatic event on the job are higher than other medical professions. With the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses are experiencing PTSD-related symptoms more than they had […]

The nursing field is considered one of the most tiring careers someone can have. According to Nursing License Map, a 2019 report of 2,000 nurses revealed that 41% of them felt burned out. Nursing can come with an abundance of stressors that can take a heavy toll on your health and wellbeing. While this is […]

Now more than ever, building personal resiliency could be paramount to feeling grounded at home, in your nursing career, or other areas of your life. We’ve all been put through the wringer this year, but by focusing on personal resiliency, we may be able to come out the other side stronger than we were before. […]

When was the last time you had a bad day at work? Could it have been prevented, or was it out of your control? Every job comes with unique stressors and difficulties, which is especially true for nurses. Nurses have to be on their toes and be ready for whatever the day throws at them. […]

Some road trips involve multiple stops with a new adventure every day while others are a long drive to a well-known destination. If you prefer a specialty where you get to know your patients over a longer period of time and maybe even feel like a part of the family, one of these specialties may […]

Have you ever thought to yourself, “How am I supposed to get all this work done in only one shift?” Nurses have so many people to please, tasks to complete, and departments to coordinate. Not to mention the fact that they are also responsible for documenting most of this work. It is possible to get […]

Everyone loves a road trip, but some people hate to plan them. Others have a good eye for details and thinking about how all the little pieces come together to form the big picture. These nursing specialties are similar. To thrive in them, you have to be able to see and understand your patient’s needs, […]

Nurses are front-line providers who are regularly face-to-face with patients and their families. That comes with some unique challenges. One of those challenges can come in the form of a rude or difficult family member. Maybe this situation sounds familiar: You’re a nurse doing your best to care for one of your patients. You’re just […]

Sometimes changing nursing specialties can be difficult because where you want to is so different from your current experience. However, it doesn’t always require a long route with a lot of stops along the way. Some specialties are closely related, and transitioning between them is as easy as deciding to get off at the next […]

Difficult behavior patients have a range of behaviors: needy, rude, demanding, mean, aggressive, or violent. They monopolize more of the nurse’s time than warranted for their illness and prevent nurses from being with patients who are more critical. Patients that are confused or have mental illness can act out, but it is easier to have […]

Sometimes changing nursing specialties can be difficult because where you want to is so different from your current experience. However, it doesn’t always require a long route with a lot of stops along the way. Some specialties are closely related, and transitioning between them is as easy as deciding to get off at the next […]

Every nursing unit has a nurse manager. Managers handle the administrative aspect of running a hospital unit and are privy to significantly more of the healthcare structure limitations than staff nurses. Leadership styles vary throughout management. Some are not conducive to a healthy nurse-management relationship while others can allow nurses to thrive. Staff nurses cannot […]

Sometimes changing nursing specialties can be difficult because where you want to is so different from your current experience. However, it doesn’t always require a long route with a lot of stops along the way. Some specialties are closely related, and transitioning between them is as easy as deciding to get off at the next […]

Sometimes changing nursing specialties can be difficult because where you want to is so different from your current experience. However, it doesn’t always require a long route with a lot of stops along the way. Some specialties are closely related, and transitioning between them is as easy as deciding to get off at the next […]

White pantyhose. Starched dress. Nurse’s cap. Sure these paint the picture of a nurse. But what about the 330,000 male nurses in America today? Stereotypically, when society thinks of a nurse, they think of a woman. Historically, nurses were predominantly female and still are today. There has been some stigma about the men in scrubs. […]

Being a new grad nurse there is so much to figure out. During orientation, the preceptor helps guide new nurses through situations and teaches policies and procedures, but there is still much to learn once you are on your own. Not every nurse has the same work ethic, adherence to policies, or patience to provide […]

Sometimes changing nursing specialties can be difficult because where you want to is so different from your current experience. However, it doesn’t always require a long route with a lot of stops along the way. Some specialties are closely related, and transitioning between them is as easy as deciding to get off at the next […]

A Lone Wolf is the biggest red flag for a dangerous new grad nurse because they NEVER ASK QUESTIONS! They push through orientation figuring stuff out as they go and sometimes make stuff up. Some feel the need to prove themselves as a nurse and some may not be used to relying on others. Regardless […]

One of the great things about nursing is that there are so many roads to take throughout your career. Many nurses change specialties several times before they retire. However, many don’t change when they want to because they don’t have directions. Starting something new is daunting and not something that should be done lightly. There’s […]

My sweaty palm gripped the phone to my ear. Ring… Ring… I knew he must be in a deep sleep, which made me queasy. “Hello?” said a gruff voice on the other end. “Uh, Hello? Yes. Dr. Brown, this is Sarah on 3-East. Sorry to bother you. I’m calling you about Ms. Thompson. Her blood […]

Every nurse experiences “Nursing Guilt.” I felt it as a new grad and I still have days where I feel it now. What is Nursing Guilt? Nursing Guilt is the feeling you get as a nurse when you:  Are so busy trying to keep your head above water that you don’t get to spend time […]

What do you think of when you hear the word “stuck”? Immovable? Unchangeable? Trapped? Nobody wants to feel stuck, but how many of us find ourselves there anyway in our personal or professional lives? “There are so many opportunities in nursing. How could a nurse ever feel stuck?” Why Are So Many Nurses STUCK? They […]

For some, getting unstuck might be more challenging than others. Extenuating Circumstances The three main categories of extenuating circumstances are: Finances: You may be the breadwinner for your family and cutting hours is not an option. Spouse/Significant Other: You may need to consider the potential impact on your significant other’s job if you are seeking […]

Interviews are the most stressful part of any job hunt. Even more so when it is your first interview for a new career field. Nursing school puts all new grads one the same level. You may have had an internship on top of clinicals, but most new grads do. Thousands of new nurses graduate every […]

Ignoring The Set-Up To be a nurse means you are choosing a career that helps the sick and dying. Because of this, trauma has been normalized in nursing and we’ve adopted a catch phrase: “I’m fine.” My patient died— I’m fine Got punched in the gut by a violent patient— I’m fine Broke ribs with […]

“Hero” is a strong word. It has a weight to it. When someone is labeled a hero, they are placed on a pedestal and seen as being above struggle. I think of comic book heroes like Superman who has superhuman strength, speed, and the ability to fly. I think of soldiers who choose to go […]