Some healthy perspective for a Friday afternoon: Truth: What I do at work holds great responsibility and implications for others’ lives. Lie: I am responsible for everyone I could possibly be responsible for, and should feel guilty if I take time off, don’t pick up an extra shift, or need to request a lighter assignment … Continue reading Truths and Lies in Nursing
new grad nurse
Uncommon Career Advice for People Going into Healthcare
A couple of friends who operate a local fast-food restaurant recently invited me to spend time with a few of their young staff members via Zoom to offer perspective and advice on “How to Prepare for a Career in Healthcare.” Recognizing that the majority of their staff will likely move on to other career pursuits … Continue reading Uncommon Career Advice for People Going into Healthcare
Keynote Speech to RN Residency New Grad Nurses: The Best and Most Vital Thing You Can Give Your Patients
I had the privilege of delivering the keynote speech to our hospital's recent cohort of RN Residency New Graduate Nurses as they have completed orientation and will now be working independently in their respective units. One of the things I was most excited about was the opportunity to also briefly address the many friends and … Continue reading Keynote Speech to RN Residency New Grad Nurses: The Best and Most Vital Thing You Can Give Your Patients
New AJN blog post: Tallying Losses and Gains of Being a Nurse, and Finding Profit
My latest blog post for AJN was inspired by an honest conversation with a friend who went through a period of time when she wondered whether nursing was beginning to destroy her. These are some thoughts on how we emerge and find renewal of heart from that place. Click here to read the post.
New AJN blog post: Integrating Strong Emotions as a Developing Nurse
If you were sitting in front of a classroom of nursing students, full of idealism and motivation about their future career, what would you tell them? "We want to present the reality of nursing to these students, not to shatter their idealism, but to push them towards meaningful self-awareness from the start of their nursing … Continue reading New AJN blog post: Integrating Strong Emotions as a Developing Nurse
The Many Faces of Courage
I wrote this article for my unit's newsletter about seven years ago, just a few months out of orientation as a new graduate nurse. I have found myself thinking again about courage because a few days ago, my colleague held a little one in her arms after life support was withdrawn, until his heart finally … Continue reading The Many Faces of Courage
The Heart of Nursing 