Career Sphere

10 best and worst nursing bosses

Check out these five worst and five best leadership styles, and then take the quiz and find out which one you are.Read more…
10 steps planning successful conference ant

10 steps to planning a successful conference

Use this guide to plan large and small events. Takeaways: Because no universal guide exists for coordinating a professional meeting, these 10 steps may prove useful as you…
6 tips clinical nurse educators

6 tips for new clinical nurse educators

Don’t be overwhelmed by your new role—make a plan for success. Takeaways: Transitioning into a clinical educator role is both rewarding and challenging. Prepare for the clinical educator…
effective nurse patient assignments

8 steps for making effective nurse-patient assignments

Successful assignments require attention to the needs of both nurses and patients. Takeaways:  Making nurse-patient assignments is challenging but rewarding.  Nurse-patient assignments are created based on knowledge and…

A little humor please

Laughter is a way of dealing with life’s stressors. Learning how to use humor to enrich our personal and professional lives can benefit us in our roles as…

Are 12-hour shifts safe?

Is working 12 consecutive hours in a fast-paced, high stress, physically and mentally demanding environment a good idea? Click here to read this exciting blog posting.
assisted living setting quality care

Assisted living: A unique setting for quality care

This growing field provides opportunities for nurses. Takeaways: Nurses provide clinical leadership in assisted living. The assisted living healthcare setting offers many nursing rewards and challenges. Assisted living…

Avoiding preceptor burnout

Lack of preparation and training, added responsibilities, and poor compensation can cause burnout in nurse preceptors.

Be a coach for novice nurses

The transition from the educational setting to the practice setting can be intimidating. Make it easier by guiding novice nurses.
Become a successful preceptor

Become a successful preceptor

Novice nurses anxiously enter the workplace on their first day, nervously approaching the unit desk to ask for their preceptor, who will play a key role in their…

Becoming a wound and ostomy nurse

People sometimes ask how I can tolerate my work, but I love being a wound and ostomy nurse. I’ll admit that, when performing an assessment, I don’t always love…

Boost your career with community outreach involvement

Does patient teaching energize you? Could you see yourself leading a hula hoop contest to motivate children to exercise? Do you enjoy working with patients and professionals who appreciate your contributions? If you…
elder nurse old age

Can a nurse be too old to work at the bedside?

Read guest blogger Donna Cardillo’s thought-provoking article about when age comes into play during a nurse’s career. A recent New York Times article begged the question, “How old…

Coaching patients to better health

“How do I know when I’m supposed to get screening tests?” “What do these labs mean and why did my nurse practitioner change my medication?” “What am I…
constructive feedback difficult conversation ant

Constructive feedback: How to have the difficult conversation

Prepare for a timely, goal-oriented, forward-thinking discussion. Takeaways: Having crucial conversations regarding suggestions for improvement serves as an important method for supporting professional growth of novice nurses. Delivering…
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Could anything be finer than to work in Carolina?

Seashores, mountains, rolling countryside, booming cities, major historic sites—the Carolinas offer something for everyone. North Carolina is one of the five fastest-growing states in the country. Its three…
Courage

Courage in everyday nursing practice

Courage is an important attribute in life and in your nursing practice. As Helen Keller said, “Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature nor…

Create a great work culture

For a successful leader, establishing the right environment isn’t part of the job. It is the job.

Create better communications

Communicating assertively is a learned skill. Use the “look, think, and act” model to evaluate and improve your communication skills.
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Creating and developing a professional CV

Your CV should highlight the leadership skills you display every day. Takeaways: The CV is vital to showcase your professional career as a nurse and illustrate what you…
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Deal with professional disappointment like a pro

Few nurses escape the sting of professional disappointment over the course of their careers. Despite your best efforts, you can’t always triumph. But you can prepare for a…

Do you need a business card?

The author’s answers to five questions will tell you why you need a card and how to use it effectively.
business card questions

Do you need a business card?

If you’ve been wondering whether you should have a business card, or if you’ve decided to get a business card but you’re not sure what to do next,…

E-mail etiquette

17 tips on how to – and how not to – use e-mail for professional communication.
education continuing school program

Easing your way back to school

Place a checkmark on the line next to each statement that applies to you: You’ve seen how quickly your nursing knowledge becomes outdated. You’d like to join a…

Evidence-based interview strategy for new nurses

For many nurses, job interviews induce fear. The competitive job market has made interview preparation more important than ever, especially for new graduate nurses. Competition for new graduate positions can be fierce;…

Exploring massage therapy as a career option

A nurse-turned-massage therapist found that hands-on interaction with massage clients reconnected her to one of the most fulfilling aspects of nursing – contact through caring, noninvasive touch.

Fighting the war on dogma

Want do away with outdated dogma in your workplace? Learn how to present an effective case for changing the current thinking.
flight nurse helicopter airplane military transport career

Flying high to save lives

Flight nursing offers rewards that few other nursing jobs can match. Across the globe, patients are transported from accident scenes or between healthcare facilities every day. Most medical…
forensic nursing overview of a growing profession

Forensic nursing: Overview of a growing profession

Combine your nursing skills with forensic science to help victims of violence and trauma Takeaways: Forensic nursing is a specialized nursing field focused on providing nursing care to…
Frequently asked legal questions nurse

Frequently asked legal questions

Editor’s note: The following questions are excerpts from the book Frequently Asked Legal Questions Keeping Nurses Awake at Night, by the author, copyright 2015. Reprinted with permission. Question:…
pride promote recognize individual development excellence program

From our readers…Developing professional PRIDE

Creating a professional development program at our hospital began with the house-wide partnership (practice) council chartering a task force of front-line staff to design a program as a…

Get creative about nursing

Key takeaways The media—television, radio, the Internet, books, and more—often depict nurses unprofessionally. When nurses create the media, they can ensure professional depictions that ensure the public understands…

Going with the flow of infusion nursing

Thanks partly to the new Medicare and Medicaid hospital reimbursement rules and the trend toward home health care, infusion nurses are in greater demand than ever. As hospitals…

Helping new nurses set priorities

After several weeks of classes and partnered orientation to patient care, novice nurses in our large acute-care health system have learned a great deal. Still, most admit their…
informatics nursing nurse info tech science computer nursing

How about a career in nursing informatics?

Do you have an aptitude for information technology (IT)? Would you like to help transform health care and bridge the gap between IT and nursing practice? If so,…
outfit nurse clothes attire work

How do you look?

Recently, I rushed to the emergency department (ED) at my local hospital to meet a relative who’d been taken there by ambulance. When I arrived, in my desperation…
job new fast goodwill prepared

How to fit in fast at your new job

If you’re looking for a new position in nursing, you have lots of company. According to a CareerBuilder.com survey, 32% of nurses plan to change jobs within a…
Published

How to get your article published

Many of us have a secret desire to see our ideas in print—to be viewed as a thought leader or a recognized subject matter expert. So what stops…
quit leave job resign

How to leave a job gracefully

I was diligent. I completed my tasks on time. And I took on extra assignments and shifts. My boss was so impressed that he gave me a generous…

How to succeed as a home care nurse

Sarah, age 4, is on a mechanical ventilator after surviving a near-drowning episode. Her parents, still grieving over her accident, also have a new baby girl. A nurse…
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How to survive a bully

Have you run into a bully at work? Unfortunately, chances are good that you have. Bullying has become all too common in nursing. In my first nursing position, I…

Is utilization review the career for you?

Rising medical costs  and healthcare reform have increased the need for careful review and management of medical resources. The unique and vital role of the utilization review (UR) nurse serves this need.…

Jump-start your job search

Out of work? Don’t let a challenging economy and difficult job market get you down. The author’s tips can job search into high gear.
job career love dislike learn

Learning to love your job

The alarm clock goes off too early, and you jump-start the day with a cup of coffee and a short stack of reasons why you hate your job.…
travel international business world

Let international travel transform you

If you want to accelerate your professional development, learn about nurses and patients in other cultures, broaden your world view, and be transformed by your work experience, international…

Make a difference as a rehabilitation nurse

From September 21 to 27, we celebrate National Rehabilitation Awareness Week by promoting the value of rehabilitation, highlighting the opportunities for the nearly 50 million Americans with disabilities,…

Mastering the art of meetings

Meetings can be productive and positive—or disjointed and ineffective. The author gives tips on leading meetings skillfully.
nurse manager command

Move up to the role of nurse manager

NURSE MANAGERS at all levels work together to address emerging trends, adopt innovative ideas, and work toward the shared goals of quality, efficiency, and excellence in practice. They…
educating nurse staff patients

Moving ahead with your nursing education

Take advantage of the resources available to you. By Deborah E. Trautman, PhD, RN, FAAN Whether you’re a newly licensed nurse or a seasoned professional, the time is…

Moving up millennials to leadership roles

Christina, a 29-year-old RN, BSN, recently obtained her MSN in clinical management. She has worked 3 years as a staff nurse and wants to move into a leadership…
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Networking for nurses

Sherry stands nervously in the doorway, watching several dozen people chat each other up. The sound of her heartbeat threatens to drown out the conversational din. For the…

New online resource: Genetic/Genomic Competency Center

The Genetic/Genomic Competency Center (G2C2, http://www.g-2-c-2.org/) is a new free online resource created to help educators teach the next generation of nurses and physician assistants about genetics and…
web ex mock code

No simulation lab? No problem

Learn how to bring the patient-simulator experience to nursing units to prepare for emergencies. Takeaways: Bring the patient simulator experience to your unit to practice mock codes. Ensure…
nurse mentorships two way street

Nurse mentorships: A two-way street

Mentoring is successful only when both the mentor and mentee contribute. Takeaways: Formal or informal mentorship can promote the longevity of mentees. Mentorship can create pride in mentees…
research nurse career job

Nurse Researcher: A career, not just a job

For me, nursing has never been a “punch-the-time-clock” job; it’s a profession. Early on, I decided to always keep my career interesting. There are many ways to do…
Nursing Insights

Partnering with subject-matter experts

Key takeways Choose the right subject matter expert to deliver an outstanding presentation. Collaborate with subject matter experts throughout the design and development process. Coach subject matter experts…

Perioperative nurses: Keeping surgical patients safe

Perioperative nurses work on the front line caring for patients undergoing operative and other invasive procedures. They collaborate with patients, families, and members of the surgical team in…

Plan a career, not just a job

Through focused soul-searching, you can create a more fulfilling and enriching career. The author tells how to brainstorm to find the nursing career that really floats your boat.
career love job

Plan a career, not just a job

“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat.…
presentation commitment call action ant

Presentations: From commitment to call to action

Making a connection between your opening and closing engages the audience and enhances learning. By Tresa Kaur, PhD, RN-BC, CNE, CHSE, CTN-A Takeaways: Presentations are most effective when…
Presenting yourself professionally as a nurse

Presenting yourself professionally

What do your first 12 words, your first 12 steps, and your top and bottom 12″ say about you? Find out how the “rule of 12” can help…
professional networking social media network

Professional social networking for nurses

WHEN MY GRANDPARENTS were children, they communicated in person or by letter. In my parents’ generation, the telephone became popular. Today, much of our communication takes place through…

Promoting professionalism through awareness

This is the third in a series of articles on promoting professionalism. Consider this scenario: Over the past 28 months, clinical colleagues have reported the following about your…

Psychiatric nurses are in demand

Built on therapeutic communication and relationship development, psychiatric nursing is the basis of all nursing. A core healthcare profession, psychiatric nursing provides primary mental-health care in the private…
awhonn womens health obstetric neonatal nurse

Q&A with the Executive Director of AWHONN

In May, we celebrate Nurses’ Week, Women’s Health Week, and Mother’s Day. In the spirit of these celebrations, we asked Joseph C. Isaacs, CAE, Executive Director of the…
retail clinic

Retail-based clinics: New option for nurses

Someone who feels ill has two options: He can call his physician’s office and make an appointment—maybe for the same day, maybe not. Then, the patient can drive…
nurse manager retain benefits

Retaining nurse managers

The nurse manager role is pivotal in staff nurse satisfaction and retention, quality of patient care, and achieving organizational goals, which is why the decreasing numbers of qualified…
References

Selecting and preparing professional references

When applying for a nursing job at a hospital, Gina Lawson, RN, provides the name of a former nursing school professor—we’ll call her Lynn Reynolds—as a reference. The…
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Serving the profession

Help protect the health, welfare, and safety of the public. Takeaways: Serving on your board of nursing is challenging and rewarding. Success requires learning and understanding the many…
oncology cancer nurse certified

Seven reasons why oncology nurses should get certified

For oncology nurses, specialty certification has become the gold standard. The Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation awards the following certifications: Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN), Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse (CPON),…
Unifying our approach to bullying, incivility, and violence

Snakes at the nursing station

It’s not easy, but confrontation is your best response to a backstabbing coworker who specializes in sabotage or an overbearing bully with an itch for intimidation.

Stranger in a strange land

What’s it like for faculty to teach in another country? This article gives the reader a glimpse into the experience through the international travel of four faculty members.
primary care

Succeeding as a primary care nurse

Isabelle didn’t say much, but you could easily see the kindness in her eyes. With her husband Jacob by her side, she let me thread the I.V. catheter…
SWAT nursing specialty

SWAT nursing: A unique specialty

What does SWAT stand for? So Where Are They? Smart, Witty, and Talented? Smiling, Willing, Able, Technical? (more…)
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The enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact

These changes may affect your practice. Takeaways: Enhanced NLC will replace original NLC eNLC implementation date is January 19, 2018. Nurses and employers should stay abreast of changes…

The evolving role of the forensic nurse

Even if they’re not portrayed on the TV shows "CSI" or "Law & Order: SVU," forensic nurses are pivotal in real-life forensic cases. Catch up on the dynamic,…
mentor mentoring mentee merits

The many merits of mentoring

Have you ever felt unsure about your next career step or just needed advice from a more seasoned professional? Natalie Murphy, co-author of this article, felt that way…
mentor protege relationship career job

The many merits of mentoring

Have you ever felt unsure about your next career step or just needed advice from a more seasoned professional? Natalie Murphy, co-author of this article, felt that way…

The Nurse Executive’s Coaching Manual

With the incredibly changing and challenging environment of health care, today’s nurse leaders are required more than ever to consistently think about developing others and sustaining a committed…
overcome obstacle solution

The perfect pitch

How many times have you been frustrated by some inefficient aspect of your job? Or wondered why no one has created a shortcut through the mound of paperwork…
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The power of one voice

Dizziness, profuse sweating, a gnawing sensation in the pit of your stomach. Are these symptoms of the latest virus? No—they’re classic indications of glossophobia, or fear of public…
The rewarding role of clinical documentation specialist

The rewarding role of clinical documentation specialist

Many organizations now have clinical documentation improvement programs (CDIs) designed to help an organization accurately reflect the quality of patient care, illustrate healthcare services, and make precise reports…

Tips for floaters

Although few nurses look forward to it, floating gives you a chance to experience another practice area, break out of your daily routine, and learn something new.

Today’s Traveler: Pack your bag!

As a traveling nurse in the operating room since 1997, I have gained more knowledge and experienced a variety of cases I would not have experienced if I…

Tools to improve your collaborative skills

No matter what your practice environment, you need to collaborate effectively with other nurses and other disciplines to excel in your career. Nurses are expected to participate in joint initiatives that embrace research…

Travel nursing, anyone?

If you’ve been working as a nurse for more than a minute, chances are you’ve heard the term travel nurse or worked with one. But while you may…
travel nurse rn benefits hire hospital agency

Travel nursing: Is it right for you?

A number of readers have written us with questions about travel nursing. For answers to these questions, we turned to an expert in the field—Dr. Franklin Shaffer, EdD,…

Voice mail etiquette

Don’t get tripped up by voice-mail missteps. Find out how to use voice mail to enhance your professional image.
voicemail etiquette speak confidence brief

Voice mail etiquette

For any professional, voice mail (VM) is no longer optional; it’s necessary. How you use VM can work for or against you. The tips below can help you…

Waltzing through the behavioral job interview

More employers are using behavioral interviews to learn not just what applicants can do but who they really are and whether they’d enhance or detract from an existing…

What can Magnet do for you?

The Magnet Recognition Program identifies healthcare facilities committed to nursing excellence.
commitment service graduate

Why must I make a service commitment?

During my senior year of nursing school, I tried to do everything right to prepare for my first nursing job. I thought I understood the system. I was…
portfolio online professional job career search

Why you need an electronic professional portfolio

You can think of an electronic professional portfolio as being similar to an electronic health record. An electronic health record captures all the clinical conditions and interventions over…
Malpractice

Why you need your own malpractice insurance

Many myths surround professional liability insurance for nurses, also known as nursing malpractice insurance. Here are a few: Only physicians get sued for malpractice. If you have your…
nurse educator

Your path to becoming a nurse educator

Looking for new professional challenges? Consider teaching nursing. This country has a growing need for academic nurse educators—nurses who teach students enrolled in formal academic nursing courses. The…

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