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Nursing career
Check out these five worst and five best leadership styles, and then take the quiz and find out which one you are.Read more…
The work you do should be challenging, rewarding, and bring you joy. Is your current career trajectory fulfilling those requirements? If not, maybe you should take the nursing…
Through poetry, Susan Wilcox Stelton, MSN, APRN-BC, CWOCN, reflects on the many facets of nursing.
Learn about Perioperative Nurse Week and perioperative nurisng.
Learn about the steps one Connecticut hospital is taking to increase its BSN nurses.
According to a study in Nursing Economics, many nurses with associate degrees who would have otherwise been employed in hospitals seem to have shifted to long-term care settings.…
A newly graduated nurse asked me how she could avoid the “job stupid stuff,” as she called it. She wanted to know what actions might hurt her career long-term, such…
According to new data from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, graduates of entry-level baccalaureate (BSN) and master’s nursing programs are much more likely to have job…
Read guest blogger Donna Cardillo’s thought-provoking article about when age comes into play during a nurse’s career. A recent New York Times article begged the question, “How old…
Annually, beginning with National Nurses Day on May 6th and concluding with International Nurses Day (also Florence Nightingale’s birthday) on May 12th, National Nurses Week marks the time…
Rear Admiral Carol A. Romano, PhD, RN, FAAN, is the Assistant Surgeon General and Chief Nurse Officer for the United States Public Health Service (USPHS). Since her appointment…
Janice Spillane, MS, RN, of Ridge, New York, started her career as a critical care nurse, working in an environment she describes as “largely black and white. To…
In 2008, hospitals, extended-care facilities, and home-health agencies will face these regulatory and patient-care issues: (more…)
Some sound advice on reacting to job loss – and moving on
Seashores, mountains, rolling countryside, booming cities, major historic sites—the Carolinas offer something for everyone. North Carolina is one of the five fastest-growing states in the country. Its three…
Millennials—the generation that spans 1981 to 1996—have created quite a buzz in the nursing profession over the past decade. This group of individuals is described as goal-oriented, open…
If you’ve been wondering whether you should have a business card, or if you’ve decided to get a business card but you’re not sure what to do next,…
The author’s answers to five questions will tell you why you need a card and how to use it effectively.
It’s time for new nursing graduates to join your work environment. Will you be a supportive colleague of their entry into the profession? Will you go out of…
PRECEPTORS MAKE ALL the difference. Without the right preceptor, the transition from classroom to patient’s room can be difficult, but a preceptor who demonstrates how to turn classroom…
I always loved taking care of patients. It was fun, exciting, intellectually stimulating, and rewarding. To this day, I remember special patients and keep in touch with the…
Read about new specialist and advanced practice roles and new areas about nursing responsibility.
Please click on download now to access this additional content in PDF format.
To move your career up a notch, should you go back to school or pursue nonacademic options? The authors’ advice can help you decide on the best professional…
Flight nursing offers rewards that few other nursing jobs can match. Across the globe, patients are transported from accident scenes or between healthcare facilities every day. Most medical…
Creating a professional development program at our hospital began with the house-wide partnership (practice) council chartering a task force of front-line staff to design a program as a…
After working successfully for more than 20 years as a graphic artist and structural designer, I decided to enter nursing school at the age of 43. After graduation,…
I remain in nursing because of you. We have yet to meet but, if you are my patient someday, this is what I will do for you. Because…
Nursing’s Future & Hospital Corridor by Kristina Ibitayo is clinical assistant professor at University of Texas at Arlington College of Nursing. Nursing’s Future The future of nursing Lies…
The federal government bans genetic job discrimination; ANA backs the Kid Safe Chemicals Act.
Some nurses are dissatisfied with the quality of their employment benefits and express low levels of job satisfaction, according to a new study.
Hospitals know that it’s less expensive to retain the nurses they have than to recruit, train and place new ones. This has led hospitals and other facilities to…
You can disagree with your boss, but learn to do so wisely. Read more…
I was diligent. I completed my tasks on time. And I took on extra assignments and shifts. My boss was so impressed that he gave me a generous…
Let’s face it. There’s no such thing as “job security” these days. With healthcare constantly shifting and organizations being bought, sold or taken over — you just don’t…
Residency programs help new graduates make the transition from school to practice.
Click here to read Is nursing a profession or a job? from our guest blogger, Donna Cardillo, MA, RN.
Out of work? Don’t let a challenging economy and difficult job market get you down. The author’s tips can job search into high gear.
The last several months of economic upheaval bring back memories of the 1980s and 1990s when many organizations reduced their workforces in anticipation of payment changes. In the…
The chief nursing officer (CNO) of a hospital or other healthcare organization has extensive responsibilities, ranging from patient care at the bedside to key strategic business discussions in…
The alarm clock goes off too early, and you jump-start the day with a cup of coffee and a short stack of reasons why you hate your job.…
The jurors file into the courtroom, avoiding eye contact with the attorneys and spectators. I hold my breath. The plaintiff’s attorney straightens his tie; the defense attorney flexes…
From September 21 to 27, we celebrate National Rehabilitation Awareness Week by promoting the value of rehabilitation, highlighting the opportunities for the nearly 50 million Americans with disabilities,…
Reflect, be objective, and tap into your network. (more…)
NURSE MANAGERS at all levels work together to address emerging trends, adopt innovative ideas, and work toward the shared goals of quality, efficiency, and excellence in practice. They…
Note: This article was written before Kenneth graduated from nursing school. My first experience in an emergency department (ED) setting happened last week at Frankfort Regional Medical Center…
A 2010 survey of registered nurses from AMN healthcare found that 44% of the 1,399 nurses who completed the survey plan to make a career change over the…
“What I find most exciting and interesting about the specialty is that we are truly dealing with every organ system,” says Anne Harty, MS, FNP, BC, CNN, Carmichael,…
Sherry stands nervously in the doorway, watching several dozen people chat each other up. The sound of her heartbeat threatens to drown out the conversational din. For the…
Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) were once called the “best kept secret in health care,” but not today. With the U.S. population aging and more surgical procedures being…
Use coaching skills to enhance your practice and support patients. Coaches work in a variety of fields, including business, health and wellness, fitness, and education. The International Coaching…
For me, nursing has never been a “punch-the-time-clock” job; it’s a profession. Early on, I decided to always keep my career interesting. There are many ways to do…
Nurses’ job dissatisfaction contributes to costly labor disputes, turnover, and risk to patients according to a report in February’s Health Affairs. Read more here.
Occupational and environmental health nurses (OHNs) promote health and wellness, prevent illness and injury, and protect workers from work-related and environmental hazards. OHNs are recognized not only for…
Terry Ratnre, RN, MFA, asks American Nurse Today Editor-in-Chief Pamela Cipriano to weigh in on some of the most pressing issues in nursing.
The truth about high-energy drinks Re “High-energy drinks: What you don’t know could hurt you” (August article available here): I am very impressed with the information…presented. I always…
Perioperative nurses work on the front line caring for patients undergoing operative and other invasive procedures. They collaborate with patients, families, and members of the surgical team in…
“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat.…
Through focused soul-searching, you can create a more fulfilling and enriching career. The author tells how to brainstorm to find the nursing career that really floats your boat.
At the first mention of writing or revising a dress code, my blood pressure rises. My view is that nurses should be responsible for making appropriate judgments about…
Stress among nurses is caused not only by the demands of clinical care, but also the continual outlay of compassion required to meet the emotional needs of patients…
Are you an RN who has been out of the workforce? Your talents, experience and expertise are needed in all healthcare settings. While technology and treatments have changed,…
ANA is disturbed about reports of employers retaliating against nurses and other healthcare workers for raising legitimate concerns about their personal safety while caring for patients with COVID-19.…
Someone who feels ill has two options: He can call his physician’s office and make an appointment—maybe for the same day, maybe not. Then, the patient can drive…
The nurse manager role is pivotal in staff nurse satisfaction and retention, quality of patient care, and achieving organizational goals, which is why the decreasing numbers of qualified…
For nurse graduates, starting their first staff position is an exciting time, but it can also be a time of apprehension. Many have heard stories about how some…
Three steps to finding your dream job. (more…)
PERHAPS, like many nurses, you’ve become quite business savvy over the past few years. Increasing numbers of nurses are responsible for creating unit budgets, forecasting expenses, and calculating cost effectiveness. Yet…
More states are restricting hospitals’ ability to make nurses work overtime. But banning mandatory overtime won’t solve the problem completely.
One in four U.S. teenage girls has an STD According to a recent federal study, one in four American teenage girls has a sexually transmitted disease (STD), even…
As hospital admissions shrink, nursing jobs are shiftingto other areas, such as outpatient offices, clinics, postacute facilities, and home care.
At a rural hospital working toward Magnet recognition, adopting shared decision-making governance increased nurses’ confidence and boosted interdisciplinary collaboration.
Many organizations now have clinical documentation improvement programs (CDIs) designed to help an organization accurately reflect the quality of patient care, illustrate healthcare services, and make precise reports…
Donna Cardillo, MA, RN writes about the nursing job market.
Did you make an investment in 2007 in your future? What nursing conference did you attend last year? Have you used anything from that conference to improve your…
Although few nurses look forward to it, floating gives you a chance to experience another practice area, break out of your daily routine, and learn something new.
Learn how the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) role came into being, what educational preparation is required, and what CNLs do.
Let’s assume for a moment that you just graduated from nursing school. You have a brand new degree, a little clinical hospital training, lots of new information, and…
As ANA president, I have the privilege of representing RNs, the nursing profession, and the ANA in many local, state, regional, national, and international settings. Those responsibilities have…
What’s in a title? Protecting the title of “nurse.”
Find out if a return to school makes sense for you.
No matter where nurses practice or how stressful their work lives are, many use words like “delighted” and “exhilarated” to describe how they feel when they write about…
You can think of an electronic professional portfolio as being similar to an electronic health record. An electronic health record captures all the clinical conditions and interventions over…
10 best and worst nursing bosses
Check out these five worst and five best leadership styles, and then take the quiz and find out which one you are.Read more…
2019 Career Watch
The work you do should be challenging, rewarding, and bring you joy. Is your current career trajectory fulfilling those requirements? If not, maybe you…
A multifaceted gem
Through poetry, Susan Wilcox Stelton, MSN, APRN-BC, CWOCN, reflects on the many facets of nursing.
A special week for perioperative nurses
Learn about Perioperative Nurse Week and perioperative nurisng.
Advancing toward an 80% BSN workforce by 2020
Learn about the steps one Connecticut hospital is taking to increase its BSN nurses.
Associate degree nurses shifting to long-term care
According to a study in Nursing Economics, many nurses with associate degrees who would have otherwise been employed in hospitals seem to have shifted…
Avoiding career stallers and stoppers
A newly graduated nurse asked me how she could avoid the “job stupid stuff,” as she called it. She wanted to know what actions might hurt…
BSN, MSN graduates more likely to land jobs
According to new data from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, graduates of entry-level baccalaureate (BSN) and master’s nursing programs are much more…
Can a nurse be too old to work at the bedside?
Read guest blogger Donna Cardillo’s thought-provoking article about when age comes into play during a nurse’s career. A recent New York Times article begged…
Celebrating our profession during National Nurses Week
Annually, beginning with National Nurses Day on May 6th and concluding with International Nurses Day (also Florence Nightingale’s birthday) on May 12th, National Nurses…
Chief nurse officer takes on full range of public health issues
Rear Admiral Carol A. Romano, PhD, RN, FAAN, is the Assistant Surgeon General and Chief Nurse Officer for the United States Public Health Service…
Colorful antidotes for a black-and-white world
Janice Spillane, MS, RN, of Ridge, New York, started her career as a critical care nurse, working in an environment she describes as “largely…
Consider a career as a wound, ostomy, and continence nurse
In 2008, hospitals, extended-care facilities, and home-health agencies will face these regulatory and patient-care issues: (more…)
Could anything be finer than to work in Carolina?
Seashores, mountains, rolling countryside, booming cities, major historic sites—the Carolinas offer something for everyone. North Carolina is one of the five fastest-growing states in…
Develop millennial leaders with generation collaboration
Millennials—the generation that spans 1981 to 1996—have created quite a buzz in the nursing profession over the past decade. This group of individuals is…
Do you need a business card?
If you’ve been wondering whether you should have a business card, or if you’ve decided to get a business card but you’re not sure…
Do you need a business card?
The author’s answers to five questions will tell you why you need a card and how to use it effectively.
Do you remember when?
It’s time for new nursing graduates to join your work environment. Will you be a supportive colleague of their entry into the profession? Will…
Do you want to be a preceptor?
PRECEPTORS MAKE ALL the difference. Without the right preceptor, the transition from classroom to patient’s room can be difficult, but a preceptor who demonstrates…
Editorial
I always loved taking care of patients. It was fun, exciting, intellectually stimulating, and rewarding. To this day, I remember special patients and keep…
Expand your nursing career horizons
Read about new specialist and advanced practice roles and new areas about nursing responsibility.
Expanding your nursing career horizons sidebar
Please click on download now to access this additional content in PDF format.
Find the best route to your career destination
To move your career up a notch, should you go back to school or pursue nonacademic options? The authors’ advice can help you decide…
Flying high to save lives
Flight nursing offers rewards that few other nursing jobs can match. Across the globe, patients are transported from accident scenes or between healthcare facilities…
From our readers…Developing professional PRIDE
Creating a professional development program at our hospital began with the house-wide partnership (practice) council chartering a task force of front-line staff to design…
From our readers…Do veteran nurses really eat their young? Observations of an ‘older’ new nurse
After working successfully for more than 20 years as a graphic artist and structural designer, I decided to enter nursing school at the age…
From our readers…I remain in nursing because of you
I remain in nursing because of you. We have yet to meet but, if you are my patient someday, this is what I will…
From our readers…Two Poems
Nursing’s Future & Hospital Corridor by Kristina Ibitayo is clinical assistant professor at University of Texas at Arlington College of Nursing. Nursing’s Future The…
Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act signed into law
The federal government bans genetic job discrimination; ANA backs the Kid Safe Chemicals Act.
Hospital nurses dissatisfied with jobs, certain benefits
Some nurses are dissatisfied with the quality of their employment benefits and express low levels of job satisfaction, according to a new study.
Hospitals Explore Innovative Nurse Retention Strategies
Hospitals know that it’s less expensive to retain the nurses they have than to recruit, train and place new ones. This has led hospitals…
How to disagree with the head nurse and keep your job
You can disagree with your boss, but learn to do so wisely. Read more…
How to leave a job gracefully
I was diligent. I completed my tasks on time. And I took on extra assignments and shifts. My boss was so impressed that he…
How to Nail Your Next Nursing Job Interview
Let’s face it. There’s no such thing as “job security” these days. With healthcare constantly shifting and organizations being bought, sold or taken over…
Investing in nursing retention is a smart move in today’s economy
Residency programs help new graduates make the transition from school to practice.
Is nursing a profession or a job?
Click here to read Is nursing a profession or a job? from our guest blogger, Donna Cardillo, MA, RN.
Jump-start your job search
Out of work? Don’t let a challenging economy and difficult job market get you down. The author’s tips can job search into high gear.
Layoffs: Is the sky really falling?
The last several months of economic upheaval bring back memories of the 1980s and 1990s when many organizations reduced their workforces in anticipation of…
Leadership insights
The chief nursing officer (CNO) of a hospital or other healthcare organization has extensive responsibilities, ranging from patient care at the bedside to key…
Learning to love your job
The alarm clock goes off too early, and you jump-start the day with a cup of coffee and a short stack of reasons why…
Legal nurse consultant: A career at the crossroads of health care and the law
The jurors file into the courtroom, avoiding eye contact with the attorneys and spectators. I hold my breath. The plaintiff’s attorney straightens his tie;…
Make a difference as a rehabilitation nurse
From September 21 to 27, we celebrate National Rehabilitation Awareness Week by promoting the value of rehabilitation, highlighting the opportunities for the nearly 50…
Move up to the role of nurse manager
NURSE MANAGERS at all levels work together to address emerging trends, adopt innovative ideas, and work toward the shared goals of quality, efficiency, and…
My First Day in the ED
Note: This article was written before Kenneth graduated from nursing school. My first experience in an emergency department (ED) setting happened last week at…
Nearly half of nurses plan career change
A 2010 survey of registered nurses from AMN healthcare found that 44% of the 1,399 nurses who completed the survey plan to make a…
Nephrology nurses: Passionate about their specialty
“What I find most exciting and interesting about the specialty is that we are truly dealing with every organ system,” says Anne Harty, MS,…
Networking for nurses
Sherry stands nervously in the doorway, watching several dozen people chat each other up. The sound of her heartbeat threatens to drown out the…
Nurse anesthetists: Demand is up and the secret is out
Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) were once called the “best kept secret in health care,” but not today. With the U.S. population aging and…
Nurse coaching: Facilitating a paradigm of health and wellness
Use coaching skills to enhance your practice and support patients. Coaches work in a variety of fields, including business, health and wellness, fitness, and…
Nurse Researcher: A career, not just a job
For me, nursing has never been a “punch-the-time-clock” job; it’s a profession. Early on, I decided to always keep my career interesting. There are…
Nurses’ job dissatisfaction contributes to costly labor disputes, turnover, and risk to patients
Nurses’ job dissatisfaction contributes to costly labor disputes, turnover, and risk to patients according to a report in February’s Health Affairs. Read more here.
Occupational and environmental health nurses: Protecting workers from harm
Occupational and environmental health nurses (OHNs) promote health and wellness, prevent illness and injury, and protect workers from work-related and environmental hazards. OHNs are…
On the record with Pamela Cipriano, Editor-in-Chief
Terry Ratnre, RN, MFA, asks American Nurse Today Editor-in-Chief Pamela Cipriano to weigh in on some of the most pressing issues in nursing.
Our Readers Respond
The truth about high-energy drinks Re “High-energy drinks: What you don’t know could hurt you” (August article available here): I am very impressed with…
Perioperative nurses: Keeping surgical patients safe
Perioperative nurses work on the front line caring for patients undergoing operative and other invasive procedures. They collaborate with patients, families, and members of…
Plan a career, not just a job
“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get…
Plan a career, not just a job
Through focused soul-searching, you can create a more fulfilling and enriching career. The author tells how to brainstorm to find the nursing career that…
Professional dress: Keep it simple and functional
At the first mention of writing or revising a dress code, my blood pressure rises. My view is that nurses should be responsible for…
Providing workplace renewal opportunities for nurses
Stress among nurses is caused not only by the demands of clinical care, but also the continual outlay of compassion required to meet the…
Ready, set, go! How to return to the nursing workforce
Are you an RN who has been out of the workforce? Your talents, experience and expertise are needed in all healthcare settings. While technology…
Responding to reports of retaliation against nurses
ANA is disturbed about reports of employers retaliating against nurses and other healthcare workers for raising legitimate concerns about their personal safety while caring…
Retail-based clinics: New option for nurses
Someone who feels ill has two options: He can call his physician’s office and make an appointment—maybe for the same day, maybe not. Then,…
Retaining nurse managers
The nurse manager role is pivotal in staff nurse satisfaction and retention, quality of patient care, and achieving organizational goals, which is why the…
Scrapbooks capture nurses career milestones
For nurse graduates, starting their first staff position is an exciting time, but it can also be a time of apprehension. Many have heard…
Simple steps to improve your retirement readiness
PERHAPS, like many nurses, you’ve become quite business savvy over the past few years. Increasing numbers of nurses are responsible for creating unit budgets, forecasting expenses,…
Stopping the vicious cycle of mandatory overtime
More states are restricting hospitals’ ability to make nurses work overtime. But banning mandatory overtime won’t solve the problem completely.
Take Note – May 2008
One in four U.S. teenage girls has an STD According to a recent federal study, one in four American teenage girls has a sexually…
The disappearing inpatient
As hospital admissions shrink, nursing jobs are shiftingto other areas, such as outpatient offices, clinics, postacute facilities, and home care.
The Magnet journey: A boost to professionalism among nurses
At a rural hospital working toward Magnet recognition, adopting shared decision-making governance increased nurses’ confidence and boosted interdisciplinary collaboration.
The rewarding role of clinical documentation specialist
Many organizations now have clinical documentation improvement programs (CDIs) designed to help an organization accurately reflect the quality of patient care, illustrate healthcare services,…
The times—and the nursing job market—they are a changin’
Donna Cardillo, MA, RN writes about the nursing job market.
The unintended consequences of being unremarkable
Did you make an investment in 2007 in your future? What nursing conference did you attend last year? Have you used anything from that…
Tips for floaters
Although few nurses look forward to it, floating gives you a chance to experience another practice area, break out of your daily routine, and…
Understanding the role of the Clinical Nurse Leader
Learn how the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) role came into being, what educational preparation is required, and what CNLs do.
What does a Nursing Professional Development Specialist (Nurse Educator) do?
Let’s assume for a moment that you just graduated from nursing school. You have a brand new degree, a little clinical hospital training, lots…
What I’m hearing about competence
As ANA president, I have the privilege of representing RNs, the nursing profession, and the ANA in many local, state, regional, national, and international…
Why more nurses should write for publication (but don’t)
No matter where nurses practice or how stressful their work lives are, many use words like “delighted” and “exhilarated” to describe how they feel…
Why you need an electronic professional portfolio
You can think of an electronic professional portfolio as being similar to an electronic health record. An electronic health record captures all the clinical…