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?

The New LinkedIn: Pay Attention, Nurses!

LinkedIn is an important networking tool for nurses and healthcare professionals, and there are changes afoot on the LinkedIn user interface (UI) that the savvy and prudent nurse needs to be cognizant of.

Some readers may be aware that LinkedIn was purchased by Microsoft in 2016, and the changes are now rolling out. If you haven't looked at your profile for a while, you may now be surprised when you log in. As of this writing in early March of 2017, most every user should be switched over to the new UI, so be prepared for some frustration as you adjust.

A Nursing Valentine

On this occasion of Valentine's Day, I want to take a pause for the cause of singing the praises of nurses; you are true heroes of healthcare and humanity.

Nurses, Microscopes, and Telescopes

Some nurses appear to use a microscope when looking at their career options. If we take the microscope metaphor further, picture a glass slide being placed on the apparatus upon which the nurse has placed a solution containing her limited perception of what she can do with her career. What will she see? Only what she knows she is able to see.

On the other hand, picture the Hubble Telescope; it searches the known and unknown universe for what we already know is there, as well as what we don’t even yet know exists. Can we view our nursing careers with the same grand vision?

The Digital Doorway Nursing Blog Turns 12!

Well folks, it's hard to believe, but this nursing blog turns 12 today! And after all this time, Digital Doorway isn't even a teenager yet! What's up with that? But seriously, 12 years of blogging is significant, and I have none other but you to thank, Dear Reader, for this blog's continual success and global reach.

Nurse Practitioners Rock 2017!

Ten or fifteen years ago, many ordinary healthcare consumers may not have known much -- if anything -- about nurse practitioners. Moreover, only a small percentage would have received care from an NP. But in January of 2017, nurse practitioners are gaining ground like never before, so many nurses who are thinking about career mobility are likely considering the NP or APRN path.

Giving Thanks For Nurses and Nursing

Friends and colleagues, at this time of year when gratitude moves to the center of many of our celebrations, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for nurses, nursing, and the profession that has sustained me and put food on my table and gas in my car for more than twenty years. Do you feel as grateful for nursing and nurses as I do?

Does Your Nursing Career Feel Haunted?

If your nursing career is feeling haunted and scary, never fear; there's always a way to change course and pivot in a new direction. Feeling held hostage by your career is no fun, and it's entirely within your power to put a halt to the negativity and dissatisfaction and become a happy nurse once again. Nurse, be haunted no more!

Nurses, It Isn't Bragging If It's True and Authentic

In my work as a holistic career coach for nurses, I frequently hear from nurses who don't like to talk about themselves when applying for nursing positions or networking. They often will say, "I don't like to brag." What these nurses need to understand is that tooting your own horn in the interest of your professional career growth and development isn't bragging if it's true.

Book Review: "Dough Nation" by Nadine Grzeskowiak, RN

"Dough Nation" by Nadine Grzeskowiak, RN, is a memoir, medical confessional, investigative journalistic exploration, and fount of research and information about wheat and gluten, celiac disease, the vagaries of the wheat industry, and the ways in which science, economics, healthcare, and medicine have all conspired to confuse the public and cause great distress to those trying to improve their health by making informed choices. The subtitle of the book says it all: "A Nurse's Memoir of Celiac Disease From Missed Diagnosis to Food and Health Activism."

Nurse Keith Is Animated On YouTube!

I'd love for the readers of Digital Doorway to be aware of my latest YouTube video, which is a fun, lighthearted animated feature explaining how Nurse Keith Coaching helps and empowers nurses to find what they need to develop their nursing careers. I'm super psyched about the video and hope you enjoy it!

The Polymath Nurse

Nurses need to know a lot of things; nursing professionals have knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, human behavior, human growth and development, the nursing process, research, biostatistics, and many more subjects than you can shake a syringe at. Nurses' knowledge is legion; we are all potentially nurse polymaths.

Why Nurse Job-Seekers May Want A Personal Website

In the world of nurse job-seekers and nursing professionals, having a solid resume, effective cover letters, a personal business card, a strong networking strategy, and a powerful LinkedIn profile are all important aspects of a solid nurse career development mindset.

On this blog, I've previously mentioned the possibility of having your own podcast or YouTube channel as a way to take control of your brand and increase your visibility and credibility; however, having your own personal website (also known as a "social resume") is another way to take your career to the next level and really stand out from the crowd.

National Nurses in Business 2016!

If you're a nurse who has ever considered starting a business or entrepreneurial venture, The National Nurses in Business Association (NNBA) annual conference is where nursing meets business and entrepreneurship in a powerful, potentially life-changing way. Whether your idea has already blossomed or the seed is still waiting to sprout, this intimate conference puts you face to face with some of the most powerful movers and shakers in nurse entrepreneurship today.

Innovative Nurse Job Seekers Go For the Gusto

There are plenty of tried and true ways to advance your career as a nurse and healthcare professional: you can have a powerful resume, well-written cover letters, and a strong LinkedIn profile and consistent networking strategy. However, sometimes you want to take it to the next level, and here are two ways you could consider doing just that.

So You Want To Be A Nurse Leader?

If you've been a nurse for a while, you may feel that you now have what it takes to be a nursing leader. Perhaps you've assumed various roles that have honed your leadership skills; maybe you're a natural leader. No matter what it means to you, if it's something that's calling your name, nursing leadership may be in your future.

Give A Nurse A Break

If you've been a nurse for a while, it's likely no surprise that many nurses fail to eat, drink, go to the bathroom, or otherwise take care of themselves while at work (especially in acute care settings). In fact, you may yourself be one of those nurses who's suffered a UTI or other negative sequela as a consequence of poor self care.

So, in light of the fact that we focus so much on patient satisfaction these days, what would it take to focus just a little bit on nurse and employee satisfaction? What would it take to (literally) give nurses a break?

Four Ways That Nurses Can Say Yes

In my work as a career coach for nurses and healthcare professionals, I hear a lot of stories; I also hear that nurses are frequently saying no in ways that may be negatively impacting their nursing careers. While we definitely want more nurses saying no to mandatory overtime, a lack of time for self-care while on duty, and the scourge of nurse-on-nurse bullying, there are certainly places for nurses to say yes more often. What do you say yes and no to on a regular basis?

LinkedIn, Microsoft, Nursing, and Nurses' Careers

For those nurses who've been resistant to acknowledging that LinkedIn is salient to nursing career development and professional networking, your resistance is officially futile. With Microsoft's recent $26 billion purchase of LinkedIn, professionals around the world---including those in healthcare---are likely to see the crucial presence and necessity of LinkedIn increasing over time.

Orlando, Gun Violence, LGBTQ Rights, and Nurse Advocacy

The mass shooting at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida on June 12th, 2016 was a stark reminder that we are still struggling with issues related to violence, hatred, guns, homophobia, and the potential for terrorism in the United States. As nurses, we bear a variety of responsibilities to the public when it comes to public health, safety, and wellness, and how we respond collectively and individually to such events says a great deal about the nursing profession and the nurses who comprise it.

Avoid Three Common Nursing Resume Mistakes

In 2016, resumes are still very important for nurses, whether you're just out of school or a fully seasoned nursing professional. Resumes aren't rocket science, but many a nurse feels confused and baffled by how to make their resume work. Why not avoid some common mistakes that will weaken your resume from the start?

It's Nurses Week Every Week

We nurses are the backbone, the lifeblood, and the connective tissue of healthcare around the world. We serve in myriad capacities, and it's our clinical skill, compassion, and broad scope of knowledge that make us such an intrinsic part of the fabric of society. Sure, we may be the heart of healthcare, but we're a good portion of the brains, as well.

Ken Burns Misses The (Nursing) Boat

Most people have probably heard of Ken Burns, the famous filmmaker; and many people who know about Ken Burns have heard of his four-part cancer series, "Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies."

Having just finished watching this six-hour cinematic expose on the history, research, treatment, diagnosis, and future of cancer, I found myself feeling let down; and why was I feeling let down? Because, in six hours of "edutainment," Burns failed to feature or pay attention to a single nurse throughout the entire program. Once again, the mainstream media gives nurses the cold shoulder, pushing them summarily into a dark, quiet corner where their opinions, actions, and life-saving skills and knowledge are basically ignored.

Nurse Change Agents Can Mix It Up

Nurses, when you're at work, do you feel like there are things that need to change? Are there processes, policies, or nursing procedures that everyone follows but seem woefully inefficient or old school? Are people at work stuck doing things the same old way just because no one has taken the initiative to pivot and alter the pattern? That can be frustrating, especially if you're a natural born nurse change agent.