Related: Anxiety, Exam, Failure, Fear, Feelings, Learning, NCLEX, New Nurse Tips, Success

So how many times will you take the NCLEX?  Most all of you will surely answer at least once.  But for some of us-those select few who no matter how hard we try just can't excel at a nursing exam-it might be a few more.

I'm fessing up: I did not pass the NCLEX the first time.  I had heard from teachers and nurses alike that [...]

Related: Boundaries, Conflict, Inappropriate Relationships, Nurse Relationships, Problem Solving, Professionalism

I knew a male and a female nurse who labored alongside one another, day-in and day-out.  They learned the sounds of each other's voices and nonverbal cues, they laughed and had fun together, and they even shared some tragic moments that strengthened their bond.

Their relationship was close, and rightly so.

At work, the emotional bond between this man and this woman grew.  Before long, it appeared [...]

Related: Career, Caregiving, Male Nurse, Motivation, Stereotypes

I'm sure many of you, like me, have been asked this very same question: "So, what made you go into nursing?"

Now there are a bevy of responses you could come up with.  There's the traditional response: "I want to help people!"

Then there is the spiritual response: "I felt called to it!"

I was asked this question at least a billion times during my time in college. [...]

Related: Anxiety, Career, Communication, Failure, Fear, Felony, Job Search, Mistake, New Nurse Tips, Nurse History, Problem Solving, Professionalism, Truth, Weaknesses

I understand those of you who are worried about losing your license after a conviction-and wondering about how to appeal the board of nursing. I know what it is like to worry for months and months, because there are no clear cut answers out there.

I am an RN who has been licensed since 1990. In 2008 I got arrested for petite theft, a Class 2 [...]

Related: Career, Compliments, Conflict, Education, Feelings, Nurse Relationships, Nursing Jobs, Nursing Trends

"Such a waste!"

Those were painful words to hear from a colleague after she learned that I was using my nursing degree in a new way.

For the past year, I've been working in Nursing Informatics at the hospital where I am employed.  It embraces where nursing is headed in the 21st century.

I'm excited about the direction of my career-even if it isn't where I slated it [...]

Related: Career, New Nurse Tips, Organizational Skills

Nurses may not feel well paid all the time, but a few simple strategies can turn even the most meager salary into actual wealth-and help you survive tough economic times now and in the future.

The first step is to take advantage of your 401(k) or another retirement fund. Most employers will match up to 3 percent of your salary in a 401(k), but if you [...]

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: 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: 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: Authority, Management, Morale, New Grad, New Nurse, Nurse Relationships, Nurse Support, Power, Professionalism, Sabotage, Scapegoat, Stress, Truth

When I first graduated nursing school 25 years ago I started out on an adult Med/Surg unit. Because I worked as a nurse aide during school in the float pool, I knew many of the nurses on that floor to begin with. However, by the time I started there was a different nurse manager (back then "head nurse") and some newer faces.

The head nurse was [...]