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The Warning Signs of a Gaslighting Boss
In 1944, Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer stared in the famous movie thriller “Gaslight.” If you like psychological drama, I encourage you to watch this film. If you want to learn what some bosses do to their employees, look up the verb “gaslight.” Just like in the...
The Life of a Per Diem Nurse and Military Spouse
It’s no secret that the nursing industry is facing a serious staffing crisis. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), more than 1 million nurses will reach retirement age within the next ten to fifteen years, and more than fifty-five...
One Step at a Time: A Nurse’s Journey from EMT to Flight Nurse
What follows is an interview with Stephen Lee, RN, BSN, a nurse who started as a volunteer EMT and worked his way up the rungs of the medical ladder to become a flight nurse. His career progression and determination highlight a long road to success. First off, how are...
What Does it Mean to Be an Admissions Nurse?
Hospitals are constantly in flux as patients come in and out. As patients are admitted to the hospital, nursing staff must perform detailed assessments and gather a significant amount of information as part of the admission process. As you can imagine, this can be a...
Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing
Evidence-based practice is essentially a self-explanatory phenomenon. It’s the translation of the most current research insight into action. One commonly repeated definition of evidence-based practice is “conscientious, explicit, and judicious...
Want to Be a Psychiatric Nurse at VHA? Five Groups You’ll Make an Impact On
You entered the field of psychiatric nursing because you wanted to make a difference in the lives of patients. As a psychiatric nurse with VHA, you’ll do that and more. Not only will you play a critical role in changing the lives of Veterans, often in the most...
How to Succeed in a Medical Review Specialist Role
A medical review specialist is a unique role where nurses help to ensure that health care services are delivered in a manner that balances high-quality, efficient care that is also fairly priced and compliant. Nurses in this role will review patient charts, billing,...
Your Gallbladder’s Wife Called—A Plea to Limit Phone Use in Hospitals
I recently visited a friend while they were in the hospital and during my visit, I stopped by the coffee shop. As I sipped my coffee, I listened to the calls the nurses were receiving on their unit-specific mobile phones. While I can appreciate that a phone makes for...
A Day in the Life of a Gastroenterology Nurse
Gastroenterology nurses use their skills and experience specifically in the areas related to gastrointestinal issues. They address the care for any illness, condition, or dysfunction occurring anywhere in the digestive tract; the body’s system which takes in,...
Hunting the Elusive Work-Life Balance in Nursing
Work-life balance is a hot concept in the nursing profession. We hear we need it. We want to achieve it. But does it really exist? That question has piqued the interest of Adele A. Webb, PhD, RN, FNAP, FAAN, senior academic director of workforce solutions at Capella...
A Nurse I Know Tried to Commit Suicide
I knew something was wrong when she was late for work. She hadn’t called out and hadn’t texted anyone where she was. I peeked into her office. I wasn’t looking for any clues about where she was or anything; I was looking for her in an empty room. What struck me was...
Nurses Are in Dire Need of Better Mental Health Care
Last month, Washington state Senator Maureen Walsh argued against a legislative action that would provide mandatory, uninterrupted rest times for nurses. Senator Walsh stated that such a provision could negatively impact patient outcomes in certain circumstances, and...
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nursing—What You Need to Know
Working in gerontological nursing can be immensely rewarding, but in order to be successful, it’s critical to familiarize yourself with the characteristics unique to this age group. Here are some key areas to focus on if you are pursuing a career in adult-gerontology...
Working as a Family Nurse Practitioner
We’ve been profiling various nursing specialties so that you can get more information about what the job entails and what education you would need if you’d like to consider that specialty. Next up—Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). According to Miranda “Mandy” Wiggins,...
Progressive Care and Being PCCN Certified
People are often confused by the specialty of progressive care. Isn’t that what ICU is for? No, not exactly. Linda M. Bay, DNP, RN, ACNS-BC, PCCN-K, CCRN-K, Nurse Consultant, VA Office of Inspector General as well as a member of the national board of directors,...
A Day in the Life of a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist’s (CRNA) day begins with an inspection of the OR he or she is assigned to, with priority over the OR table and anesthesia equipment. Immediately before seeing the patient, a CRNA reviews the patient’s chart for any red flags,...
Considering the Impact of Interprofessional Health Care
The health care community is turning to interprofessional care teams to deliver the highest quality of care and increase quality outcomes. Through this model, a well-rounded team of clinical experts work from the same evidence-based playbook to collaborate on an...
Compassion Fatigue and Burnout in Nursing
Compassion fatigue and burnout—it’s a popular topic in nursing. It’s tough to know how to maintain a good work/life balance and show compassion for patients while still preserving your own mental and physical health. Vidette Todaro-Franceschi, PhD, RN, FT, Professor,...
So Somebody Said Something Stupid—Now What?
Not since the last time some celebrity or politician said something uneducated about the profession of nursing has there been such a furious backlash. Fellow angry nurses have spent valuable time spewing our collective anger about what Senator Maureen Walsh said,...
Five Reasons Neuro Nurses Don’t Want to Leave VHA
Why VHA is the Right Choice for Neuro Nurses Whether you are looking to break into the health care industry, expand your skills mid career or build on a lifetime of experience, it’s important to find an employer that will foster your growth and offer you a fulfilling...
