Related: Attitude, Caring, Charting, Learning, Mindset, New Nurse, Patient Advocate, Seasoned Nurses, Success

Nursing is all about learning.  If you think it's all about the patient, then you're missing the big picture.

I remember one of my clinical instructors praising me for a care plan I had written; it received the highest grade that particular week.  Her caveat: listen and learn during clinical so I could improve.

Laziness prevailed.

The next week, I wrote essentially the same care plan. This time [...]

Related: Attitude, Career, Charting, Expectations, Mindset, Nursing Jobs, Stress

Have you taken a job that sounded perfect only to find out you were sadly mistaken?

I have often talked about how much I love my job.  I work in a family practice office and have worked there for nine years.  I love the staff and the docs.  I love (most of) the patients.  In fact, even the patients I don't like that much I have [...]

Related: Career, Networking, Nursing Jobs, Travel Nursing

I've been a travel nurse for about six years. And based on my experience, I don't think there are many other nursing jobs that can compete with travel nursing.

Really...what is there not to love about this job?

Think about it. They pay for your travel to the new job assignment. They provide you with a furnished apt. FREE rent. You don't pay utilities, trash, etc.  You only work 36 [...]

Related: Anxiety, Confidence, Emotions, Feelings, Mistake, Patients, Student Nurse

I have been an RN for almost two years now. I worked in a Special Care Unit till now, and I am training in the ER (my dream job). I have made mistakes since becoming a nurse and I always keep them with me. (I expect perfection from myself.)

Generally, though, when I make mistakes, I realize I have the best intentions and am able to [...]

Related: Addiction, Confidence, Delegation, Drug Addiction, Failure, Fear, Goals, Mistake, NCLEX, Nurse Relationships, Orientee, Perfect Nurse, Stress

As we come to the end of 2008, I thought it would be good for us to do a little RealityRN review.  You know, think about the good, the bad, and the ugly of a year almost gone.

I spent some time reviewing what the "hot topics" have been.  We certainly have covered a lot of ground--that's for sure.  We've talked about drug addiction, the NCLEX [...]

Related: Anxiety, Charting, Expectations, Feelings, Learning, Stress, Time, Travel Nursing

My first assignment as a travel nurse, I often cried or vented on the phone during my 30-minute drive home. I would often pray before work, "God, please get me and my patients safely through this day..."

I know many nurses love the life and adventure of being a travel nurse: a new city, with a nightlife, restaurants, beaches, or other attractions. Lots of people love [...]

Related: Attitude, Career, Emotions, Gossip, Learning, New Nurse Tips, Nurse Relationships, Professionalism, Professionalism Sabotage, Sabotage, Success

You may be in a job you love.  You may be in a job you hate.  No matter where you're currently at, you have the potential to make the job worse.  Here are a few ways to do it:

1) Always be the needy one. If you're always the one needing help with getting everything done and never offer to help someone else, the other nurses [...]

Related: Anger, Caring, Conflict, Delegation, Emotions, Expectations, Failure, Mindset, New Nurse, Nursing Shortage, Patients, Stress, Support, Time

I went to work: 14 surgical patients. The nurse assistant called in sick and they couldn't find a replacement for the first four hours of my shift.

The day didn’t start out great—-and soon got worse.

That day I asked the hospital cleaning crew to mop up some fresh vomit. "We don't clean up body fluids," she replied. I tried to borrow her mop to clean it [...]

Related: Caring, Patients, Spirituality

The patient who had just had a D&C after a miscarriage. The little girl dying after a failed liver transplant. The man headed to surgery for a colon resection to treat his cancer. The wife whose husband just died. The father who called to tell us his daughter had just been diagnosed with cancer.

These are all people who [...]

Related: Attitude, Complaints, Mindset, Night Shift, Nurse Relationships, Professionalism

Bad days. Everyone has them. Coming from an emotional female, I would know! I have had MANY nights at work when I just didn't want to be there!

It wasn't until I worked all night with any EXTREMELY agitated RN that I realized how MY bad mood affects everyone I work with.

It was so contagious! I came in to work in the ICU that night in [...]