Craft beer this week: Coffee is for Closers, an iced coffee stout by Fullsteam Brewery in Durham, NC. The ICU is dynamic and things change constantly and quickly. Patient conditions and staffing change significantly in an instant. No two shifts will be the same. However, it is important to know what your routine would be […]
New Grad Nurse
Being a new grad nurse is one of the toughest challenges you may face in your life, but you don’t have to face alone and unprepared. We’ve written tons of tips, tricks, and strategies to improve your experience during your first year as a nurse. From improving your time management skills to understanding when and how to delegate, we’ve got you covered.
Ready to feel like a confident nurse?
A nurse residency program guides your first year and helps you to deal with the emotional weight of being a new nurse. A self-guided holistic residency will help you feel confident sooner and love your nursing career, all while learning how to both live and work a nurse.
Star the New Nurse Master Class: a Self-Guided Nurse Residency
Nursing Interview Questions and Answers
Please enjoy this guest post, written by Tricia Hussung at Concordia University, St. Paul A job interview can be one of the most intimidating hurdles involved with securing a new position as a nursing professional. However, being prepared can help calm your nerves and make you stand out as a strong candidate. Here are some frequently asked nursing […]
A Look Behind Bars: An Introduction to Correctional Nursing
Something I’ve always been interested in is correctional nursing and am really pumped to for this post. I’ve known a few nurses that work in corrections and they have all had positive things to say about their work environment. If you want to see correctional nursing in action, check out the American Nurse Project movie. […]
When Your Patient Starts Crying
One of the first questions you may ask yourself in your nursing career is “How to comfort a crying patient.” Everyone has their own forte’, and for some, providing emotional support to people in crisis can be an OMG WHAT DO I DO moment. It can be uncomfortable. It can be weird. It can be […]
Nurses Needing a BSN: I’ve Discovered a Revolutionary Path
I was watching TV the other day and saw this commercial for an online college I had never heard of out of the north east. It was for some sort of business or finance graduate degree, but what they offered was an interesting concept. Basically, you take exams (or competencies) and if you pass […]
Nursing Time Management for When You’re Totally Overwhelmed
This post contains affiliate links It never fails. You start your day with the best nursing time management intentions. You started your assessments and meds on time (woo hoo!), and then all of a sudden three doctors round at once and expect you to implement their orders immediately. One patient needs to pee, one needs […]
Delegation Tips for Nurses
Delegation is a tough thing to master as a new nurse. While the NCLEXNCLEX tells you which tasks are appropriate to delegate, it doesn’t exactly outline how to go about doing it. I realize that not all units have certified nursing assistants (CNAs) or patient care technicians (techs), but many do. This post is for […]
Guest Blog: 10 Steps to Getting Hired as a New Grad Nurse
Thank you kindly, Kati, for inviting me to guest post on your wonderful and informative site that helps nurses be the best they can be. I’m honored. I’m Nurse Beth, and I blog at nursecode.com. I’ve enjoyed many nursing roles, one of them being a Nurse Manager, which provided me with lots of interviewing and hiring experience. My passion is […]
Noticing Subtle Neuro Changes for Nurses
Neuro changes are tough! It is really hard to know if someone is truly changing or if they’re just exhausted because we keep waking them up. Here are some of my neuro nurse tips.. Neuro nurse tips for newbies If your patient is in the intensive care unit, intubated and sedated on propofol, and you […]
What it Takes to be a CRNA from a CRNA Student!
One of my former coworkers is now in CRNA school! CRNA school is no joke, you guys. It’s tough to get in, it literally takes over your life, and is incredibly stressful. I’ve had a few people ask me about CNRA school and I thought who better to discuss it than someone going through school […]
Landing a Nursing Job: Having an Edge
Landing a nursing job isn’t easy right now for new grads. The interview is important, but you have to get there first. Out of all of the applications on their desk, you need to stand out. You need to have an edge. Here’s my advice on how to get an edge on the competition.. or […]
Something You’re Dying to Talk About
Being a critical care nurse, I’ve witnessed quite a few people pass away. I’ve assisted in taking people off of the ventilator to allow them to pass naturally. I’ve cared for patients that are donating their organs. I’ve been there for people when they take their last breath because their loved ones could not bear […]
You’re a Life Saver. Literally
I don’t know if any of you nurses out there struggle with what I’ve been fighting over the last year or so. Whenever I’m in a large crowd and see elderly people or someone not looking so hot, I play the worst-case scenario out in my mind. They collapse. I run over. Start CPR. Yell […]
Calling Docs on Nocs (again)
I decided to reblog this post for all of you that just graduated nursing school, getting ready to start your first real nursing job (probably on nights) that have never had to call a physician in the middle of the night. The first time you do it, you’ll feel like Neville Longbottom the first time […]
How to Manage Your Time in Critical Care for Nurses: Part II
This post contains affiliate links One of the most important things to master in critical care is prioritization.. what do you do first? It’s kind of like prioritization on the floor, except the stakes are higher. Instead of doctors rounding, patients being hypertensive, patients in pain, families wanting you to discharge them 10 minutes ago, […]
How to Manage Your Time in Critical Care For Nurses: Part I
I’ve worked on both the floor and intensive care. In both units time management is absolutely essential. However, time management on the floor is very different from time management in critical care. I’m going to go through some tips to help you appropriately managing your time in a critical care setting. I know it […]
The Nurse’s Famous Last Words: “But the Doctor Said it Was Okay..”
One of my BFFs is a rapid response nurse (I know, coolest job ever). Whenever a patient is going downhill or looks not-so-hot, she gets a call. Many times, the call could and should have occurred hours before. However, what she is told most frequently is “but the doctor said it was okay”. Notify MD, […]
Heavy Scrub Pockets – Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That!
A question I am frequently asked is “what do you keep in your scrub pockets during your shift?” I used to keep them full just in case I needed something. I used to have any and everything in there. I have since figured out that my scrub pockets are prime real estate. Only the most […]
Nursing Time Management Scenarios
Something that is essential in your development as an efficient and safe care provider is appropriate time management. Below are some sticky situations and the safest and most efficient way to address them. Q: You’re assessing your new admission. She’s crying in pain. Her blood pressure is 162/38. She needs an IV. There are pended […]
Nursing Drip Basics
I’m going to do a few posts on various drips that are geared towards newer nurses. Here are my 11 points of enlightenment when working with drips! 1. When you get an order to start a drip, that becomes your priority. Yes, I know Mr. Roberson in bed 28 really wants his suppository but he will have […]