Non-Traditional Nursing Careers: Where There Is No Box

Ask just about anyone what a nurse does and where a nurse works, and the general response is, "Oh, she works in a hospital." Apropos of that statement, when I tell someone I'm a nurse, they generally say, "So, do you work at the hospital?" I have nothing against hospital nursing, but there's more to our profession than meets the eye, and many of us are waking up to the multiplicity of non-traditional opportunities just waiting to be grasped by the savvy nurse.

Nurses, the Best Selfie is Internal

At a time in history when "selfies" are dominant in the depiction of our lives (and the potential measurement of our worth), the most important selfie for a nurse to take is on the inside, not the outside.

Selfies are part of our 21st-century culture, and there's no denying their popularity. In essence, it's our way of presenting a self-portrait to the world just like Van Gogh or Rembrandt would, except we can  effortlessly make dozens per day that can potentially be seen by hundreds or thousands of people. 

We have the habit of posting photos of ourselves having dinner with friends, walking on the beach with our dog, or relaxing on the hammock with a book and a glass of wine. In terms of our personal development and how we see ourselves as nurses and human beings, what if we shifted to taking "selfies" of what's going on inside of us? Rather than focusing on the outward appearances of our lives and careers, what if we delved more deeply into our motivations, fears, and joys? What if that which made us tick -- rather than the brightness of our smile or our curated life -- became the measure of our lives as nurses, human beings, and citizens?

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

Change, Personal Agency, and Wellness -- Celebrating Nurses Week 2018

As Nurses Week begins, what does the idea of nurses and nursing conjure for the majority of people when they think about nurses? Obviously, the public trusts us immensely (the Gallup Poll confirms that every year), so there's a lot behind who we nurses are and why we're so special.

Photo by Aditya Romansa on Unsplash

Nurses Take DC 2018: Nurses' Voices Matter

On Thursday, April 26th, 2018, I had the distinct privilege and pleasure of speaking in front of the United States Capitol Building at the annual Nurses Take DC Rally for Nurse-Patient Ratios. With the iconic Capitol dome in the background and the Washington Monument directly in front of me as I spoke to hundreds of fired up nurses, it was a powerful moment for me as a nurse and as a motivational public speaker.

Nurse Innovators and Trailblazers: An Embarrassment of Riches

I recently spoke with a nurse career coaching client who's thoughtfully searching for what she should do next with her nursing career in order to more fully reach her potential as a healthcare professional.

As I've previously discussed on both this blog and my podcast, the sky's the limit in terms of what nurses are capable of, even though nursing schools (and by extension many of your nursing colleagues) will lead you to believe that acute care is the only place where "real" nurses choose to make their professional nest.

Photo by Riccardo Annandale on Unsplash

Nurse Bullies: A Plague On Our House

Sadly, there appears to be a desperate need for a continued conversation about bullying within the nursing profession. One would hope that the dawning of the 21st century would have seen a decline in such old school behaviors, but there are obviously those among us who haven't yet learned the lesson that collaboration and cooperation are the true keys to success.

Escape Velocity

There are many of us who desire change during the course of our nursing careers, but change can be hard to manifest for a variety of reasons: boredom, ennui, limiting beliefs, lack of imagination, low self-esteem, difficult life circumstances, finances, burnout, or perhaps a rut so deep that we can't dig ourselves out.

In order to break free of the earth's gravitational field, a rocket must reach 25,020 miles per hour. Is your needed escape velocity equally daunting? If you were to gain the momentum needed to make a change, what is the escape velocity you would need to actually make it happen?

A Soft Landing for New Nurses

In speaking with large numbers of new nurses over the years, I consistently hear that novice nurses are not often given the guidance, nurturing, and mentoring that they truly need to move from surviving to thriving in their new nursing careers. New nurses need a "soft landing" as they enter the field, and it's up to us seasoned nurses to make sure they get it.

Photo by Alex Lehner on Unsplash

Common Questions About Nurse Entrepreneurship

Nurse entrepreneurship is exploding in the 21st century, and many nurses ask me for advice about nursing-based business. So, let's dig into some of the most common questions that nurses have about potentially launching a business or entrepreneurial endeavor.

Photo by Josefa nDiaz on Unsplash.com

Nursing Trends and the ANA, Part 2 of 2

One of the premier nursing organizations gathering information about nurses is the American Nurses Association (ANA). In my previous post, we delved into the results of a 2017 ANA survey based on responses from approximately 6,000 nurses. Today we're going to dive back in for part 2 of our 2-part series.

Nursing Trends and the ANA -- Part 1 of 2

In the November and December 2017 issues of American Nurse Today, the ANA revealed the results of a survey of almost 6,000 nurses. This nursing survey explored the state of the profession in relation to trends in nursing salaries, the makeup of the nurse clinician workforce, and workplace culture and environment. Let's explore some of what they found -- we'll explore more in next week's blog post.

Hispanic Nurses On Fire

I recently spent an incredibly inspiring and powerful weekend with 100 Latino nurse leaders who gathered in San Antonio, Texas for the inaugural National Association of Hispanic Nurses Leadership Institute. This spirited group of forward thinking nurses of all ages clearly demonstrates that unity, organizing, critical thinking, and planning for the future are part and parcel of enlightened 21st-century nurse leadership.

Nurses, Gallup, and Amplifying Your Voice

Well folks, nurses did it again. According to the newly released Gallup poll, we're still the most trusted professionals in the United States! Let's face it - the nursing profession rocks.

The BSN Requirement -- A Legislative Sea Change

Do you believe that nurses should be required by the government to have a BSN? Well, the tide is turning and a massive sea change is inexorably underway since New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo signed such legislation into law on December 19th, 2017. It's called "BSN in 10", and the consequences will be widely felt by the nursing profession in the wake of this controversial move that was 14 years in the making.

Mass Shootings and Trauma -- the New Normal

Mass shootings and similar tragic events are so frequent here in the United States that they appear to be the new normal. There were apparently more than 250 mass shootings in the U.S. in the first 9 months of 2017. As nurses and healthcare professionals, how do we cope, respond, and prepare for such seemingly commonplace yet traumatic events?

Are You A Nurse Stress Cadet?

Just the other day, I heard the term "stress cadet" for the first time, and I was struck by how very apropos those two words are when considering the average 21st-century professional nurse. Are you a nurse stress cadet? If not, do you know one?

The Crucial Nature of Nurse Volunteerism

As the United States grapples with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, I am reminded of how nurses' collective and individual dedication to volunteerism and community service are central to the fabric of society, as well as to the notion of who we nurses are and what we are capable of. Nurse volunteerism serves many purposes, and its importance is worthy of intensive discussion.

A Utah Nurse Bullied By Police

On July 26th, nurse Alex Wubbels was working a shift at the University of Utah Hospital. She was tending to a patient who was in a coma; he was the victim of a drunk driver and was badly burned. The course of Nurse Wubbels' shift changed dramatically when the police arrived.

"The Nurse's Story" by Carol Gino

Please enjoy this republication of a previously published review of The Nurse's Story by my beloved colleague, Carol Gino.  

In the ER.......

The following story was published here on Digital Doorway in July of 2010. The issues of nurse burnout and compassion fatigue have not changed in the last seven years, and this anecdote from the ER is as salient today as ever.

3 Effective Methods for Finding Preceptors That Actually Work

Guest posts are rare on Digital Doorway, but this subject is so important, I needed to share it with the nursing community. Many nurse practitioner students have a very hard time finding preceptors, and these savvy tips are a great place to begin. Enjoy!

When the Nurse Becomes the Patient

While nurses have a great deal of experience treating and caring for patients, unforeseen circumstances will occasionally cause the tables to turn, giving the nurse the chance to be a patient. This became my personal reality just last week. 

A Nurse, A Wall, And A Bloody Forehead

As a nurse career coach, I hear a lot of stories, and some of those stories revolve around the way that nursing has sucked the life out of a nurse's ambition and self-confidence. And what I see is that nurses who feel demoralized and beaten down sometimes stay in jobs that are killing them because they just don't see another way. 

The "Nursing Class Hero"

This post was originally published on June 24th, 2013. It has been slightly edited and updated for your edification and enjoyment. 

Fans of the late John Lennon might bristle at my adulteration of the title of a famous song by the iconic musician and peace activist, but a "nursing class hero" is certainly something to be.

Explaining What Nurses Do

This post about what nurses do and how nursing is perceived by the general public was originally posted in 2012. It's been updated and republished for your enjoyment and edification. 

When I tell people that I'm a nurse, they will often innocently ask, "So, how many hours do you work at the hospital?" While such questions are well-meaning, they belie the fact that so many people make wild assumptions about nurses and nursing, and most everyone has little idea what nurses actually do. I've expounded on this topic before, and will no doubt do so again.

If we're put in boxes by others, do we also unthinkingly put ourselves in boxes, as well?