What are the qualities of a good nurse? You need to be empathetic, hard-working, and so much more. Read the complete list.
Encouragement
Why Proper N95 Removal is Crucial in Preventing Self-Inoculation
The current recommendation in personal protective equipment (PPE) for front line health care providers (nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists, and so forth) is to wear the following for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients: Gowns Gloves Eye protection Surgical masks – except for aerosol-generating procedures N95 or better – for aerosol-generating procedures (CDC source, OSHA source, WHO […]
Nurses, PPE, and the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Confused about isolation precautions and PPE needed to safely care for coronavirus patients? In this post, Kati Kleber, MSN RN CCRN-K outlines the latest CDC and WHO recommendations as of March 19, 2020.
Thoughts for Nurses on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
With everything that’s been evolving rapidly around the world, I wanted to reach out specifically to offer my support and thoughts for nurses on coronavirus. Taking care of patients is already a pretty heavy burden, but then when you add on a pandemic, a workforce of people who are on the front lines, who also […]
The Power of Embracing Nurse Discomfort
Many nurses are not fully engaged and present when dealing with patients. But nurse discomfort can be a potent tool, enhancing the patient experience, particularly during an emotionally-charged interaction.
Nurses and Secondary Trauma
When I started nursing school, I had a fascination with being in the thick of the really intense medical situations that frequently accompany working in an acute care facility. The more intricate and gory the story or predicament, the better. I wanted to be in the middle of the action, part of the team. […]
S2E23: The Patients We Will Never Forget
What You’ll Learn NOTE: This podcast is personal stories so there are no show notes for it. The Patients We Will Never Forget In this episode, we discuss the patients we will never forget. Identifying patient details were changed to protect patient privacy, however the meaning and lessons of the stories remain. More patient resources […]
Clinical Tips for Nursing Students (from Experienced Nurses!)
I recently started a hashtag on Twitter asking experienced nurses for their input on clinical tips for nursing students. I thought the response was incredibly helpful and valuable and I wanted to to share these clinical tips with you! Experienced nurses – What other tips for nursing students just starting clinicals do you have? Current […]
How Nurses Can Transform Health Care
This post is sponsored by Capella University. Please see my disclaimer page for more information on our partnership. The theme for the 2016 Magnet Conference in Orlando, is Empowering Nurses to Transform Health Care. I was trying to think about what that means to me… how can nurses truly transform how health care is delivered […]
What Do You Think of When You Hear the Word “Nurse”?
This post is sponsored by Capella University. Please see my disclaimer page for more information on our partnership. When you hear the word “nurse” .. what do you think? What do you see? More importantly, what do you feel? I see a person, standing there in the middle of chaos – with a subtle grin. […]
Health Gives Hope: An Interview with a Nurse Practitioner Who Co-Founded a Medical Mission Organization
Last month, my nurse practitioner sister in-law went on a medical mission to Ethiopia with her husband. She had an unbelievable time! I have been asked about medical missions before so I thought I would do an interview with the founders of the organization and my sister in-law. This post is my interview with the […]
When Your Patient Starts Crying
One of the first questions you may ask yourself in your nursing career is “What to do when a patient starts crying.” 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 […]
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 […]
I’ll Never Forget Your Room Number or Your Pain
I don’t know what else to do. Here you are, lying in that hospital bed that you’ve been sitting in for five days now, totally aware of what is going on but unable to tell anyone what you’re thinking. You can’t move your right arm or leg. You can’t swallow so you cough on your […]
Another Open Letter to Nurse Nina
Today I read this article in the Dallas Morning News entitled Free of Ebola but not fear, Nurse Nina Pham to file lawsuit agains Presby paren, worries about continued health woes by Jennifer Emily (thank you Katie Duke, for sharing). Nurses and nursing students, please read it. Hey Nurse Nina, My name is Kati and […]
An Ode to My Steering Wheel
Many things are synonymous with nursing… stethoscopes, nursing caps and pins, a solid pair of Danskos…but one of nursing’s unsung hero’s is our steering wheel. A day at work that has me on the verge of tears all day has me yearning for that moment when I can stumble to my car, close the door, […]
I Wish I Could Cry With You, But I Can’t
This post contains affiliate links Author’s note: I believe many people misunderstood what I meant by I can’t cry with you. I think many assumed that I was trying to communicate that I am not allowed to cry, rather than I emotionally cannot handle your pain right now and therefore must distance myself. Please check out my follow-up […]
From One Nurse to Another: An Open Letter to Nurse Nina
Hey Nurse Nina, My name is Kati and I’m a critical care nurse in Charlotte, NC. I hope you’re able to read this in your isolation room. I hope some thoughtful soul gave you a computer so that you can do something to pass the time. Let me know if you need some Netflix recommendations, […]
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 […]
How to Deal With Gossipy Nurses
I recently got a job as a new grad in a peds hospital, I love my job but hate the people I work with, they all gossip and talk behind everyone’s back and I’m not sure how to deal with that. I don’t want to seem rude but don’t want to be part of that […]