Of Crabs and Nurses

Have you ever heard the poem by Charles Bukowski called, "The Great Escape"? Well, I heard it this morning on the radio, and the metaphor of crabs crawling over one another to escape from a bucket reminded me of some of the worst aspects of nursing. Do you know why?

Don't Close the Tech Door on Your Nursing Career

In my work as a career coach for nurses,  many people tell me that they simply don't have the savvy to use social media, apps, and other new and emerging technologies for the benefit of their career, and I respond by saying, "Don't close the tech door on your career!"

Wealth and Wellness for Nurses!

From April 17th to 19th, 2015, I will be in beautiful Atlanta, Georgia for what promises to be an amazing event for nurses and nurse entrepreneurs, and I encourage you to join me there!

Your Nursing Career Toolbox

Carpenters have toolboxes. So do plumbers and contractors. And while home health nurses need nursing bags that they bring into patients' homes in order to provide skilled care, isn't it also true that professional nurses need a career toolbox at their disposal?

Nursing Careers and Times of Change

Nursing and healthcare are dynamic engines of change, and the thoughtful 21st-century nurse must read the writing on the wall, keep his or her ear to the rails, and listen for the rumblings of change in the profession of nursing, and within the larger healthcare ecosystem.

Common Sense Nursing Resumes

Are you perplexed by resumes? Are you a nurse who wants to sharpen your resume and have it ready for when you need it most? This episode of The Nurse Keith Show will get you started!

Is Your Nursing Job Killing You?

Does your job weigh on you like a rock around your neck, or a heavy shackle around your ankle? Has your work taken over your life to the point at which you no longer have energy for anything else? If this is the case, isn't it high time to move on?

Consciously Creating Your Nursing Career

Would you like to create your nursing career with conscious intention and the greatest possible clarity? In Episode 4 of the Nurse Keith Show, I discuss various ways to go about consciously creating a career to be proud of. 

The Collective Genius of Your Network

I was talking to a nurse career coaching client the other day, and we were discussing the importance of networking. During the course of the conversation, I mentioned the notion that the power of your professional and personal network is the collective genius that can be tapped when you need it most. What I took away most from that conversation is the idea of collective genius, and how I'd like to share it with you.

Are You A Powerful Networker?

Are you a powerful networker? Many nurses and healthcare professionals aren't aware of the crucial importance of networking for the development of their careers. After all, do they even talk about networking in nursing school? In my latest podcast (The Nurse Keith Show, Episode 3), I lay the groundwork for how networking is one of the keys that can unlock the door that opens onto a landscape of vibrant professional success.

The Nurse Keith Show, Episode #2

In episode #2 of "The Nurse Keith Show", I challenge my listeners to consider what they love about their careers, what lights them up, and what they want more of. Conversely, I also ask my listeners to consider the aspects of their nursing or healthcare careers that aren't working for them anymore, and what they'd like to change.

Digital Doorway is Ten Today!

I almost forgot, folks! Today marks the 10th anniversary of Digital Doorway. I can't believe that this blog, which started from quite humble and ignorant beginnings, has become one of the most popular nursing blogs on the Internet! (Have we really reached "double digits"?) And it's all thanks to you (and a little help from Google)!

The Nurse's Magic Wand

Since the beginning of this new year, I've been asking some of my colleagues and clients about what's next for them in 2015, and beyond. I ask them in the context of my contention that, if the profession of nursing and the healthcare industry is your professional oyster, how will you find your pearls?

Nurse Keith's magic wand

"The Nurse Keith Show" Has Launched!

Well folks, it's 2015, and my new podcast, "The Nurse Keith Show", has launched its inaugural episode. Nurses and healthcare professionals, this show is for you.

Happy New Year!

As 2014 comes to its natural denouement, and the limitless possibilities of 2015 begin to stir in our hearts, I want to wish everyone in the Nurse Keith and Digital Doorway communities a wonderful, healthy, prosperous and robustly satisfying 2015.

Dear Nurse Keith......

I just received an email from a nurse who shared with me a very common dilemma. She's been out of nursing school for about a year, but finding employment is a challenge. Meanwhile, I'm aware that even some seasoned nurses are having trouble in the job marketplace. The following is my edited response, which goes out to all nurses, but especially those in this writer's particular conundrum.

Happy Holidays from Nurse Keith

To the readers of Digital Doorway, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support, encouragement, readership, comments, and consistent engagement. Thanks for sharing posts with others, posting to social media, and giving me the feedback that Digital Doorway is a source of inspiration for nurses everywhere. This blog would not exist without you, and I want you to know that you are appreciated!

Nurse Coaching: The Next Wave

Plenty of nurses have entered the world of coaching over the last few years, and there are plenty of signs that this new niche for nurses is indeed continuing to expand.

Nurses Rock Santa Fe!

On Monday, December 8th, 2014, at the legendary Jean Cocteau Theater in Santa Fe, New Mexico, six nurses told gripping stories of nursing, and personal/professional challenge and transformation.

The nurses and facilitators basking in applause

Nurses Speaking Out

The time has come for nurses to speak their minds to the public, sharing their stories and spilling their guts with forthright authenticity. Here in Santa Fe, New Mexico, that moment has arrived, and this weekend will see six courageous nurses crafting stories and sharing them on stage with an appreciative and enthralled audience.

Diversity, Multiculturalism, and the Affordable Care Act

On November 21st, 2014, a diverse and earnest group of nurses met in Santa Fe, New Mexico to focus on issues of diversity and multiculturalism, especially as it relates to the Affordable Care Act. These types of inspiring meetings broaden our view and deepen our understanding of salient contemporary issues in healthcare.

"Nurse Coaching: Integrative Approaches for Health and Wellbeing"

The latest book focused on nurse coaching, "Nurse Coaching: Integrative Approaches for Health and Wellbeing", was released in late October, and many of us are excited to have yet another text from which to draw inspiration and informative guidance for the practice of nurse coaching.

Oregon Holistic Nurses Association: No Ordinary Nursing Conference

I’ve just returned from northern Oregon, where I had the distinct pleasure of attending the annual conference of the Oregon Holistic Nurses Association (OHNA). I’m inspired, uplifted, and encouraged by what I experienced, and I’d like to share it with you. This post is slightly longer than my usual 600-700 words, but this conference and my experience merit the extra words in order to do it justice. 

Nursing Employment Transitions: Knowing What's Next

At any time throughout your nursing career, you may find yourself in a period of transition. What do you do at those times of flux?

Nurses Speak in Santa Fe

Something powerful is happening for nurses here in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and I don't mean a strike, pay raise or decreased mandatory overtime. Rather, nurses are going to have an opportunity to speak their minds, creatively drawing on their personal and professional experiences for a public reading of introspective and illuminating monologues. Intrigued?