Today was my first day back to work after summer break. It has been hard to get my mind back into the groove so I decided to reflect on my first year. Teaching nursing is harder but more rewarding than I could have ever anticipated. I was hired in a group that is starting a program at a new satellite campus to the main nursing program. There were two other […]
“Whether you’re keeping a journal or writing as a meditation, it’s the same thing. What’s important is you’re having a relationship with your mind.” Natalie Goldberg The healthcare environment is very fast-paced. It requires quick thinking and emotional resiliency to face challenges in high-stress conditions. So, what does that have to do with journaling? Journaling is taking time to reflect and write about your thoughts, feelings and experiences. They seem […]
Congratulations! You got accepted into a nursing program! This is no small feat and you are about to embark on what I think is one of the most challenging, yet rewarding, educational programs in existence. You’ve probably gotten a letter or email giving you details about what you need to purchase for school. But there might be a few things that will really help you that your nursing program left […]
Nurses are some of the most compassionate people I know. But for a variety of reasons nurses are highly prone to compassion fatigue. When you are constantly bombarded with situations that spend your compassion resources you can start to feel depleted, even resentful, or empty. Compassion fatigue is a real phenomenon and contributor to burnout. Going through a the COVID-19 pandemic has brought increased public awareness to the needs of […]
Interest in health and wellness continues to grow among consumers as evidenced by this 450 billion dollar+ industry. Blogging is a great way to consume, share, inform, educate and otherwise spread health information. There are probably an endless number of health topics to cover from everyday wellness to the thousands of medical illnesses, diagnostic tests and technologies. Although anyone interested in health can have a health-related blog, healthcare professionals such […]
I have several confessions to make. First, I waited until the last minute to renew my nursing license. Second, I suddenly realized there are Continuing Education (CE) credits that I needed to get. And finally, when I look at the Kentucky Board of Nursing Website, I have to admit, it’s about as clear as mud to me. Maybe, you are like me and you procrastinate or maybe you look at […]
There’s a cliche phrase used in business that really makes me cringe. “It’s all about who you know.” Isn’t that nepotism? Is that a bad thing? I have recently been watching the Netflix series “Inventing Anna” which is an intriguing truth-inspired story about a girl who came from nothing and nowhere and suddenly starts running around elite social circles in New York, claiming to be a German Heiress, living in […]
I have a confession to make. I didn’t really start studying for the Nurse Practitioner board exam until after graduation. And even after graduation I found it difficult to get the motivation to study. I mean I had been jumping through hoops in school for two and a half years and it was summertime. I’d much rather go on vacation! I first attempted to study on Christmas break with a […]
If you suffer from digestive problems, you know how miserable it can be. The older we get, the less our internal plumbing seems to want to cooperate. Fiber can help with a lot of digestive issues and also has a multitude of other health benefits. Health Benefits Fiber can help regulate your bowels, aiding in both constipation and chronic diarrhea from Irritable Bowel Syndrome and other digestive disorders. But it […]
Taking your vacation days can help restore, refresh and renew your energy to be able to tackle the challenges of your job. In my experience, nurses are known for making sacrifices; working holidays and weekends, not taking vacation days, and delaying lunch or even bathroom breaks. You deserve to have a break. But more importantly, taking care of yourself and focusing on what’s important, like family, may make you a […]
Free Nursing Career Information: Expert Tips for Success 