An interesting piece written by Rebecca Hendren for HealthLeaders Media bridges nurse retention and sleeping. The article highlights a new graduate nurse retention program in Lynchburg, VA, that offers a formal sleep education class that explains how to get better sleep and why sleep is important. The program was created after the nurse retention coordinator, Cheryl Burnette, began to see a potential tie between nurse retention of new graduates...  Read More »

You will find nursing a rewarding profession, but it does have it sources of stress. The key is to get this stress under control from day one. Start out by identifying what areas of your work are causing you the most stress. Is it something you can change? If so, develop a plan and put it into action. There are various ways you can manage on-the-job stressors, such as: Avoiding the stressor (e.g., a nurse who is rude to you) Eliminating...  Read More »

Despite all the talk about critical thinking, nurses operate in a very task-oriented system. In our rush to take care of all our patients’ needs, we are prone to neglect ourselves, which affects not only our own health but also our ability to care for patients. Remember, there are few things that can’t wait five minutes, so take a moment for yourself. Much of my increased efficiency at the bedside results from the way I now manage...  Read More »

Clinicals are one of the most important parts of your nursing education. With everything that may be on your mind at the time, it’s important to remember proper communication and etiquette during each one. To practice good etiquette and common courtesy during each of your clinical rotations: Introduce yourself to the nurses on duty Ask if you can help out in any way Respect their territory and time Always be polite At the end, thank...  Read More »

Q: What went through your mind the first time you had to call a physician at home regarding a patient? A: It can be pretty intimidating to approach doctors on the floor or on the phone. But we have to place calls out to them pretty much all day. Patients have multiple doctors collaborating on their care so when we need to address an issue, we have to be sure to contact the right doctor. Talking to doctors isn’t as bad as you think...  Read More »

I know this question is very similar to the other debate about family being present in a code, but it is something that really interests me. As nurses, how do we approach the topic of code status? It is something that we have to deal with on a daily basis. When I’m getting report from the night shift, the first thing mentioned is the patient’s code status-whether it is full, limited, or DNR. We deal with family a lot more than...  Read More »

Being nurses, we have to struggle with so many obstacles such as working long hours, working weekends and holidays, and dealing with the occasional tough patient. But recently, I dealt with what I feel is the hardest part of our job: death. I know it’s a part of our job and I’m going to get used to it, but my first death took a pretty good toll on me. First off, it was on Christmas. Secondly, I was the one that made the call...  Read More »

“Dear Deanna: I am a newer nurse, and from time to time I have questions about procedures and other areas. I have asked a few questions but at times I get the eye rolling that makes me feel as if I am ignorant. What should I do?” Asking questions shows that you truly want to know the correct answer. If we all knew everything that there is to know related to healthcare and nursing, there would not be references available. Think...  Read More »

Editor’s note: This excerpt is adapted from HCPro’s new book “Nurse Retention Toolkit: Everyday Ways to Recognize and Reward Nurses,” by Lydia Ostermeier, MSN, RN, CHCR and Bonnie Clair, BSN, RN. Leaving nursing school to enter the workforce can be a difficult transitional period for many new nurse graduates. And literature reveals that 57% of new nurse graduates will leave their first position within two years of...  Read More »

As a new nurse, you will come across many experienced nurses who will influence your professional life in different ways. Two of the most important should be your preceptor and a mentor. Today, let’s dive into the difference between a preceptor and a mentor. Preceptors are teachers or tutors while a mentor is a trusted counselor or guide. In my experience as a nurse, the preceptor gets new nurses ready and trained to work on the floor...  Read More »