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?

Book Review: "Celebrate Nursing" by Renee Thompson and Joanne Turka

Renee Thompson, DNP, RN, CMSRN is a renowned nurse speaker, author, consultant and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Her work in the arena of understanding and preventing nurse bullying is profoundly informative and powerful. Renee has appeared on RNFMRadio numerous times, and she brings a level of emotional intelligence and intellectual prowess that is a true gift to nurses throughout the world. This is a review of her new book, co-written with Joanne Turka, MSN, RN-BC, CCRN.

Book Review: "Nursing From Within" by Elizabeth Scala

Spiritual Practice Nurse Elizabeth Scala is a nurse, Reiki Master, healer, certified coach, facilitator, teacher, author and speaker. Her latest book, "Nursing From Within: A Fresh Alternative to Putting Out Fires and Self-Care Workarounds", is her own prescription for reinvigorating your nursing practice with heart, self-love, balance and magic.

References Are Key To Your Career!

When you're applying for a job as a nurse or healthcare professional, having a pool of stellar references from which to draw is key. However, you also need to nurture and maintain that list of references so that it's up to date and ready to work for you!

Where Has Nurse Keith Been?

Well, it seems that the last few weeks have run away from me, and here we are on the precipice of autumn. My, how time flies in the worlds of nursing, coaching, writing....and life!

Hop Aboard the LinkedIn Train!

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Since its inception, LinkedIn has been helping savvy professionals connect and build robust networks with like-minded colleagues the world over. Are you on board with LinkedIn, or is your profile gathering digital dust? Do you feel confused by LinkedIn? Do you want a robust profile but don’t know where to begin?

The Nurse Kneels

Kneeling in front of an elderly home care patient earlier this week, I rested my chin on the handle of her walker as she spoke to me of her troubles and tribulations. I looked into her eyes, and I had a crystallizing moment that instantly reminded me of the reasons I like home care so much. Nurses, have you also experienced such moments in the course of your days?

Infographic on The Future of Nursing

This infographic just came my way, and I wanted to share it with the readers of Digital Doorway. Your reactions to these statistics and prognostications are welcome. Do you feel that the job prospects are as good as the infographic portends? Are the median salaries accurate in your region of the country? How do you feel about the potential changes in baseline nursing education requirements? Comments are encouraged!

Got Soul, Nurses?

Nurses, what does it mean to have soul? Does it mean that you've read "Chicken Soup For The Nurse's Soul"? Does it mean that you listen and dance to James Brown? Does it mean that you cook with spicy food? Well, it could mean those things, but it's a whole lot more.

Nurse, Whose Shoes Are You Wearing?

As nurses, we're often in the mode of "doing". We hang IVs, check vital signs, give treatments, dole out medications, and tend to multiple tasks, whether in the hospital, nursing home, school, patients' homes, or other venues. And when we're doing those tasks, we're generally wearing our metaphoric---and literal---nursing shoes.

Nurse Keith on Local Networking

Those of you who are familiar with me know that I'm a big fan of nurses using social media, and I've published many blog posts and videos about online networking. But what about local networking? Isn't it just as important to have a robust professional network right in your home town?

"The American Nurse"

If you haven't heard already, the new documentary, "The American Nurse", has been taking the country by storm since it's release during Nurses Week. If you haven't yet seen the film, brace yourselves and make sure you do so as soon as possible. It is a testament to our profession.

Book Review: "Bellehaven"

"Bellehaven" by Margaret Hawke is an enjoyable novel set in 1960s America. The book drops us directly into the life of Kate Bannion, a homemaker, wife and mother who had previously set aside her career as a nurse but is forced by circumstance to once again don her nursing cap and find work to support her family at a time when women breadwinners are a new phenomenon. Kate faces many challenges at home and on the job, and the novel moves easily along the trajectory of Kate's life, marriage, and professional development.

Book Review: "The Call of Nursing"

"The Call Of Nursing: Stories From the Front Line of Health Care" by William B. Patrick, is a timely and precious book that highlights the diverse voices of nurses employed in various aspects of an equally diverse profession. Created from a massive undertaking of in-depth interviews with its subjects, this book is a honorable transcription of nurses' spoken narratives onto the page. These stories are a moving testament to the power of nursing, and the continued power of storytelling in the 21st century.

Nurse Keith Sends Nurses Week Greetings from Phoenix

During this Nurses Week, I spoke at the Infusion Nurses Society 2014 Annual Convention and Industrial Exhibition in Phoenix, Arizona, and I was thrilled to be in the presence of so many dedicated nurses.

Nurse Keith on Interviews, Part 2

Job interviews are an important aspect of any professional's life (unless you're a business owner, sole proprietor or entrepreneur, that is!) To view the first video in the series, click here.

Meanwhile, here's the second in a series of videos about how to be at your professional best during the interview experience.

Nurse Keith on Interviews, Part 1

Job interviews are an unfortunate reality that many of us simply have to tolerate, and there are plenty of ways to make interviews more tolerable and successful. Here's a quick video---the first in a series---that discusses a few strategies that I feel are important when navigating the interview landscape.

"The Art of Nursing" is Coming!

In case you've forgotten, Nurses Week will be here in just over a month, and I'd like you to know about a very special online event in which I'll be participating and that you certainly don't want to miss. The event is entitled "The Art of Nursing", and it will be hosted by my friend and colleague, the wonderful Elizabeth Scala.

Five Days to Nursing Empowerment

Today is the day when the "Five Days to Nursing Empowerment Telesummit" hosted by Lorie Brown begins, and I encourage nurses everywhere to tune in for five days of inspiration from some of the leading voices in American nursing.

Nurse Keith on Emotional Labor

Emotional labor is a concept that's new to me, and potentially new to many nurses, as well. In a nutshell, emotional labor is the emotional regulation that we as nurses and healthcare providers have to practice in order to be present with our patients. Suppressing our emotions can take a toll in the short term and the long term. As a nurse, how do you care for yourself emotionally? Please watch this short video and leave me a comment. I'd love to hear from you!

Nurse Keith on Nursing and Social Media

Nurses use social media in large numbers, and there are certain platforms that seem to be more popular than others. Facebook, Linked In, Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook and Google+ seem to be the places where nurses tend to digitally congregate these days. Here's my latest YouTube video about nurses and their interface with social media.

Nurses and Our Addictions

When we think of the addicted nurse, we may often think of addiction to prescription drugs, alcohol or illicit drugs. But other types of addictions can also have negative effects on our lives as well. Of course, addiction to alcohol, meth or heroin is indeed an enormous health risk and problem for many individuals---including nurses---but today's post is going to place our focus elsewhere.

Nurse Keith's Messages For Nurses

Many of you are aware that I'm the resident blogger for LPNtoBSNOnline.org. Recently, I've written a four-week series of "messages" for nurses, and I'm so pleased with the results that I'd like to share them with the readers of Digital Doorway.

A Nurse Keith Video on The Nurse's Future Self

Based on this week's most recent blog post, here's a new YouTube video with my ruminations on what kind of career that you, my fellow nurses, may want to look back on. I'd love your comments and thoughts!

Nurse Keith on Your Linked In Summary

Since many of you have expressed interest in more videos about Linked In, social media and authentic networking, here's a new short video---along with an explanatory blog post---about your Linked In summary.

Creating Authentic Linked In Connections

I love Linked In, and I also believe that building an authentic professional network is paramount. So, when you want to connect with someone on Linked In, why send them a generic invitation instead of a personalized one? This video is about my strong feelings regarding how to reach out authentically to the professionals you want to connect with. It's a word to the wise.

Nurse Keith on YouTube!

Well folks, I've finally joined the 21st century and hopped on board the video revolution! While I'll still be writing here on Digital Doorway as regularly as always, I'm adding a new dimension to my online presence with video!

Speaking To The Nurse's Heart

On this Valentine's Day, I'd like to speak directly to the nurse's heart, sending my support, compassion and gratitude on this special day that focuses on love.

Don't Drink The Nursing Kool Aid

For those of you too young to remember, "Drinking the Kool Aid" is an expression dating back from the late 1970s when followers of Reverend Jim Jones blindly and naively drank Kool Aid laced with cyanide, a collective action that resulted in many deaths and great trauma.

So, although nurses' experience in no way compares to what happened in Jonestown in 1978, the notion of drinking poison from a particular collective well certainly sounds familiar to me. Having said that, what Kool Aid do nurses drink?

Nursing Innovation in the 21st Century

When the average person thinks of a nurse, he or she may not readily recognize that nurse as an innovator. But in reality, nurses are indeed true innovators, and that power of innovation is our professional birthright.

Book Review: "Hospice Voices"

Here on Digital Doorway, I've reviewed many books written by healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses. In contrast, "Hospice Voices: Lessons For Living at the End of Life" is a memoir written by a lay hospice volunteer who shares with us his moving story of spending time with those facing their mortality. It's a beautiful book, deeply instructive to the professional and layperson alike.

Digital Doorway is Nine Years Old!

Well folks, time certainly does fly, because today--January 18th, 2014--marks the ninth birthday of Digital Doorway! How did it happen? How have I maintained this blog all these years? I don't rightly know, but I have you, dear Readers, to thank for its success.

New Year, New Beginning, New Nurse

While 2014 is still in its infancy, the year has certainly begun in earnest. And for many of us, plans are afoot for what this year could actually look like in the bigger picture. Are you making plans and dreaming dreams?