Every human being sees the world through a variety of lenses. There are lenses of family roles (e.g., mother, father, child, grandparent), lenses of identity (e.g., gender, sexual orientation, race, citizenship, religion), and many others, including lenses of profession and career. How we see the world is filtered through the lenses we wear, most of which we wear simultaneously. Nurses have a particular lens through which we see the world, and even though we may also identify as queer, liberal, disabled, Catholic, or as a mother or grandparent, our nursing lens is difficult to turn off once it ..read more

Despite being a vocational profession, nursing can harm your health and overall well-being. The long hours, high stress, and irregular shift patterns can increase your risk of adopting negative health behaviors (like smoking and eating processed foods). They may result in fatigue, weight gain, cancer, and diabetes. Unfortunately, traditionally marginalized minorities in America also have worse health outcomes than the rest of the population. According to the BMJ, minorities receive significantly worse healthcare in every US state, meaning you may struggle to find quality care despite working i ..read more

Communication and collaboration are central to healthcare, and there are many tools for improving teamwork among medical facility staff members. Medical improv is an increasingly popular experiential strategy that adapts concepts and activities from theater improvisation to improve communication-related skills among healthcare professionals and critical outcomes in organizations. The Background of Medical Improv Beth Boynton is a nurse, author, educator, consultant, and medical improv expert. In describing medical improv and its impact, Boynton states, “We’ve known for over 20 years that commu ..read more

In recent years, there has been an increase in nurse entrepreneurs who have chosen a less conventional path in the healthcare industry. Nurses, known for their dedication and adaptability, are now moving beyond traditional direct patient care roles and venturing into side gigs and full-fledged entrepreneurial ventures. This article examines the process of moving from idea to action, discussing the different stages of starting a business, the challenges encountered, and the unique strengths that nurses bring to the table. It aims to inspire an interest in starting your own side business! Ideati ..read more

Nurse entrepreneurship has grown exponentially in the 21st century. These days, it doesn’t take much research to discover that nurses are now enjoying the fruits of their labors in product development, consulting, coaching, writing, podcasting, and many other large and small business endeavors. Nurses are knowledgeable, forward-thinking, and savvy. It’s no surprise that the most trusted profession has found many niches to leverage that trust. My Side Hustle Story In the first decade of the century, nurse entrepreneurship lived on the fringes of the online conversations occurring by and about n ..read more

Out of great tragedy, sometimes great good can come. Such is the case with Austin Simon, son of Tiffany Simon, MSN, RN, CCRN, whose passing away at the age of 15 months old sparked a program that promises to help save the lives of children across the country who suffer from medically complex conditions. Born with a heart defect and undergoing a subsequent tracheostomy, Austin experienced a medical emergency when his tracheostomy was plugged. Simon and her husband called 911. When they arrived on the scene, they looked “terrified,” says Simon in an interview. Their EMS training had not prepared ..read more

As nurses, there are times when we want to share our knowledge and passion with a broader audience. Whether educating patients on the importance of preventive care or advocating for better healthcare policies, our voices carry immense power.  But what if we could take that power and amplify it through media?  As a nurse entrepreneur, you have the unique opportunity to leverage media platforms to elevate your brand, promote your products and services, and make a meaningful impact on public health. And who better to understand this journey than another nurse who has walked the same pat ..read more

So, you’ve built a solid resume that adequately represents who you are as a nurse. You’ve sharpened your professional summary, created a “Skills and Accomplishments” section that highlights your expertise, and you’ve made the “Experience,” “Education,” and “Licenses and Certifications” sections shine. What next? While no single enhancement will be the silver bullet that puts your resume over the top, you should consider the cumulative effect of the many elements of a strong resume. Explore those overlooked resume sections that can make your resume come alive. 1. Upgrade Your Resume If your res ..read more

Working in hot conditions can feel like a nightmare for nurses in the summer. It doesn’t even have to be hot outside. Older patients might require a warmer temperature inside hospitals and clinics, including dialysis centers. Plus, it doesn’t help if we’re constantly moving or if some of us run naturally warm. We can help ourselves sweat less and be more comfortable at work by cooling down in dangerous temperatures. Read on for some tips. Wear Moisture-resistant Clothing If you’re hot-natured, then you probably already know that some scrubs make you sweat more. Consider wearing light clothing ..read more

Temitope (Temi) Oseromi, MSN, RN, CCRN-K, has been serving as the nurse manager of Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC) HealthCare’s Intensive Care Units—the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) and the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) since 2022. Oseromi is responsible for managing two units and was given the additional task of rebuilding the MICU.  During the COVID-19 pandemic, frontline medical staff, particularly those working in Intensive Care Units, experienced significant stress, uncertainty, and burnout. Only three nurses remained on the unit.   Despite the challenge ..read more