Despite the struggling job market and economy meaning many new RNs have had difficulty finding jobs this year, a new report says nurses need not worry over the long term. Nursing came in as one of the best careers of 2011 in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Careers 2011. U.S. News reports nursing is a thriving career the need for nurses grows increases each year. The country is expected to add 582,000 registered nursing jobs by 2018. Nursing...  Read More »

Nursing school enrollment increased. A preliminary survey released by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) shows that entry-level baccalaureate nursing programs increased enrollment by 6.1% from 2009 to 2010. The AACN notes this is the tenth straight year that enrollment in BSN programs has increased, but it noted that faculty shortages still prevent further increases. The survey used data from 648 nursing schools, out...  Read More »

Once again, Rebecca Hendren of HealthLeaders Media has provided a provocative column on nursing. This time, she explores the rash of strikes that are breaking out over the country. Yes, there are many reason for this, but surely, one is nursing stress resulting from the intense demands put on nurses. For example, Hendren writes “New graduate initiation practically stipulates that a requirement of successful floor nurses is a gargantuan...  Read More »

In a continuing effort to recognize nurses, the Center to Champion Nursing in America (CCNA) is requesting high quality photos that depict nurses’ work and the relationships they form with patients and families. The winning photograph will be featured in an AARP print and/or web publication. CCNA hopes to gather images of nurses across all healthcare settings in professional practice and leadership roles, as well as in recruitment...  Read More »

This contest started at the end of last year, and we had so many great submissions I just had to keep it going! All of your nominations for best nurse mentor were incredibly inspiring. Finally, though, we have picked TWO winners: Bev Perry and Lena New! Here is an excerpt from Jessica Perry, who nominated Bev Perry: “Bev Perry is a nurse whose motto has always been to treat every patient and staff member as she would want to be treated...  Read More »

With a shortage of primary care physicians, and the possibility that healthcare reform will exacerbate the problem by increasing the number of people with insurance, many healthcare providers and experts-along with 28 states-are debating how nurse practitioners (NP) fit into the solution. In Massachusetts, where universal healthcare has already been implemented, a law was passed in 2008 requiring health plans to recognize and reimburse NPs...  Read More »

The University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) AACN Nurse Residency ProgramTM (NRP) has helped program participants achieve a 4.4% turnover rate of first-year nurses–quite a feat, considering the national rate is 27.1%. So far, 61 sites have incorporated the program, which equates to about 16,000 participating nurses since 2002. In 2009, 11 participating sites had a 100% retention rate. It seems the key to the program is providing practice...  Read More »

A Washington DC hospital’s decision to fire 21 hospital employees-15 of whom were nurses-for missing work during the blizzards that occurred between Feb. 5 and Feb. 11 has drawn attention from Nurses United of the National Capital Region and the American Nurses Association (ANA), reports Joe Cantlupe, for HealthLeaders Media. The dismissals at Washington Hospital Center, the largest private nonprofit hospital in the DC area, have...  Read More »

If you’re a young nurse, I’m sure you rely on older, more experienced nurses for help. Not only is their expertise valuable, but older nurses make up so much of the nursing workforce that hospitals need them. The nursing shortage is certainly looming, making it more important than ever to ensure that older nurses who wish to stay working beyond retirement age can do so, reports Rebecca Hendren for HealthLeaders Media in her latest...  Read More »

The Well blog in the New York Times this week explores an interesting and ever-present topic: why nurses bully each other, or “eat their young,” as many nurses call it. In it, Seattle nurse, consultant, and author Kathleen Bartholomew is mentioned-she literally wrote the book on the topic, which might be worth checking out: Ending Nurse-to-Nurse Hostility: Why Nurses Eat Their Young. The blog explores the reasons behind such...  Read More »