At a point in my career, a devastating event deeply affected me. One of my former nursing students, a vibrant young Black woman, tragically lost her life and the life of her newborn during childbirth. Despite access to healthcare, she fell victim to maternal complications that ended in her untimely death. This loss was not an isolated incident but rather indicative of a more significant crisis facing Black mothers in the United States – one that is not just a healthcare issue but rather a matter of social justice and equity. In recognition of National Nurses Week, it’s crucial to reflect on nu ..read more

This National Nurses Week, learn more about Mary Eliza Mahoney, America’s first professionally-trained Black nurse whose birthday lies on May 7, the second day of National Nurses Week. Mahoney’s journey to becoming a nurse in the 1800s was full of setbacks she couldn’t control, yet she persevered to create a decades-long career as a nurse known for compassion and bringing comfort to others. However, her story doesn’t end there—she later became a well-known leader in the nursing field, co-founding the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN) in 1908 and supporting the women’s suf ..read more

Nurses Week occurs every year during the second week of May, and much fanfare is made of the pizza parties, tote bags, water bottles, and signs proclaiming “heroes work here.” If we want to be more thoughtful and reflective about the phenomenon of National Nurses Week, there’s much more to this annual moment of recognition than these familiar superficial trappings. And since Nurses Week is built around the celebration of Florence Nightingale’s birthday (May 12, 1820), it’s appropriate to wonder what the veritable godmother of modern nursing would think of how we do (or don’t) celebra ..read more

Dorma Liz Davila (Lizzy) RN, BSN, CPN, EMT never expected a quick volunteer weekend as a camp nurse to provide a transformative experience, but it did. And now she wants other nurses to know how helping kids at Paul Newman’s  The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp can breathe new life into their nursing careers. The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is an organization that provides what the organization calls “a different kind of healing” to thousands of seriously ill children and family members every year. The campers attend completely free of charge and  are cared for by the skilled nurses who v ..read more

We nurses know lots of things. Our heads are filled with innumerable ideas, thoughts, concepts, theories, observations, and facts. We know so much about pathophysiology, anatomy, chemistry, pharmacology, communication, informatics, psychology, sociology, and countless other topics that we’re almost bursting at the proverbial seams. But have you ever wondered if we sometimes know so much that our knowing can get in the way? What if our certainty and knowledge keep us from seeing something in an entirely new light or thinking outside of a box that we’ve more or less locked ourselves in ..read more

In the press of caring for patients, family nurse practitioners (FNPs) must tend to a patient’s physical well-being and mental health. Caring for a patient’s mental status can be vital to meeting healthcare needs. As primary care providers, FNPS play a significant role in tending to mental health concerns. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) reflected that 88% of the nation’s NP workforce are certified in an area of primary care, with over 70% delivering primary care services, notes LaMicha M. Hogan, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, associate dean/department chair for APRN Progr ..read more

The family nurse practitioner (FNP) credential is a popular choice for nurses considering the right academic path to becoming nurse practitioners. While nurses can choose a route that addresses more specific populations, such as a pediatric NP, a psychiatric NP, or an adult-gerontology NP, the FNP offers an opportunity to treat patients across the lifespan—from infants to centenarians. In fact, according to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), 70 percent of nurse practitioners are FNPs. The appeal of the FNP is rooted in both the patient care opportunities and ..read more

So, you’ve decided it’s time to further your education? Or maybe you haven’t decided yet because you are unsure what to do. So many questions are swimming through your mind: Are all FNP programs the same? How much will it cost? Can I still work as an RN while I’m in school? How will I know which program is right for me? Well, never fear; you may find the answers you need here. Are All FNP Programs the Same? The short answer is no, and that can be a good thing. All accredited FNP programs in the United States must follow the standards of their accrediting bodies, both for nursing and their univ ..read more

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are essential healthcare providers who are excellent, skilled clinical resources for newborns and elderly patients. While there are many available NP career choices, the family nurse practitioner (FNP) is a trendy option among nurses seeking to become primary care providers with the authority to diagnose illnesses, order diagnostic tests, prescribe medications, and manage the care of patients across the lifespan. If you’re a nurse who wants to become a family nurse practitioner, what does that avenue look like, and what hoops do you need to jump through to achieve you ..read more

Cultural competence and cultural safety are crucial to delivering effective care. They are also key to creating working environments where everyone feels valued and able to function at the highest level. If we invest time and energy in understanding and implementing these concepts, the dividends can be invaluable, both individually and collectively. Defining Cultural Competence and Cultural Safety Dr. Raj Sundar is a physician, community organizer, and the Healthcare for Humans podcast host. As a healthcare leader, Dr. Sundar uses various platforms to bring a human sca ..read more