By: Sarah K. Wells MSN RN CEN CNL Nursing is constantly changing. Here are a few trends on the horizon for our profession:  Stabilizing the Workforce - Moves to improve staffing and retention will continue to be a priority. Check out recommendations from national nursing organizations to overcome staffing challenges.  Virtual Everywhere - Virtual nursing opportunities will expand. Learn what virtual nursing is and how it could impact your healthcare organization.  Innovation in Nursing - Nurses are leading the way in innovation. Listen to an interview with Dr. Bonnie Clipp ..read more

By: Sarah K. Wells MSN RN CEN CNL February is Heart Month. My question: is your heart in your current job?   Here are few prompts to consider when thinking about this question:  Resonating? - Is your job resonating with your professional values and passions? If not, consider why and if that can be changed.  Balanced? - Does your job allow you to have a good work-life balance? Or are you sacrificing one for the other? Are you able to make it better?  Satisfying? - Do you leave work feeling fulfilled or deflated? Is your time at work satisfying you? Professional sa ..read more

By: Sarah K. Wells MSN RN CEN CNL Setting intentions in our careers helps us set goals, focus our behaviors, and begin to create a path forward to achieve them.  How do I set 2024 career intentions?   What is #mywhy? – Spend some time considering what fuels your nursing fire. Your “why” may be the goal of your intentions. It’s the journey instead of the destination. – Focus on the steps to get to the goal and write down those action items.   Make it action oriented. – Intentions can be physical actions or something that supports your mental or physical wellbeing ..read more

By: Sarah K. Wells MSN RN CEN CNL Still need to do some gift shopping for the holidays? Whether you’re buying for your nurse boos, the boss RN, your nursing staff, or nursing students in your life, here are some gift ideas to make the holidays a little more fabulous: Personalized Stethoscope Tag - Add a little personalized flair that will help keep stethoscopes from getting lost. Midnight Nurse Coloring Book - Color your stress away with these delightful #nursehumor coloring pages. Lululemon Belt Bag - Cute and practical, this bag can work on and off shift. Rad Girl Creations Pins - Pe ..read more

By: Sarah K. Wells MSN RN CEN CNL Fact: 2 nurses apply for a job on LinkedIn every minute. ?? LinkedIn revealed new ways for nurses find their dream job:  Customizable Job Filters: New job search filters such as Specialty, Shift, Schedule and License help you tailor job searches to your qualifications or preferences.  Job Alerts: Set up a job alert for specific work opportunities to receive a notification when a relevant job is posted.   List Skills & Credentials: LinkedIn has added 65 new nursing credentials and 35 new skills. Select what applies to you so that y ..read more

By: Sarah K. Wells MSN RN CEN CNL Imposter syndrome strikes everyone at different times. We question our worth, our skills, and sometimes, our why.  If imposter syndrome attacks during interviews, try these tips from Lisa Bonsall, MSN, RN, CRNP:  Recognize Your Expertise: Pause and think about what you do well. Consider making a list before your interview and reviewing it to prepare.  Try to Reframe Your Thinking: Try to think, “I have strengths. I know how to ______.” Positive self-talk can help you better manage stress. Remember That No One is Perfect: Even if you stumbl ..read more

By: Sarah K. Wells MSN RN CEN CNL Starting a nursing career can be overwhelming, especially when faced with limited support. If you find yourself in this situation, consider these strategies to advocate for the change you need: Talk to Preceptors, an Educator, or a Charge Nurse – Have an honest conversation with your preceptor, educator, or charge nurse about the challenges you're encountering. Keeping them informed is crucial as they can offer guidance and support. Don’t Throw Anyone Under the Bus – Avoid assigning blame to colleagues. Use "I feel that..." statements to maintain a neutral ..read more

By: Sarah K. Wells MSN RN CEN CNL To know whether you are making a fair wage as a nurse or nurse practitioner, it is important to be aware of average pay in your state.  How do I find that out?  Thankfully, there are companies and government agencies out there sharing this information! RN’s look here >> RN Average Wage for All 50 States, 2023 - Becker’s Hospital Review LPN’s + LVN’s look here >> Licensed Practical & Licensed Vocational Nurses: Occupational Employment & Wages, May 2022 - US Bureau of Labor Statistics  NP’s look here >> Nurse Practi ..read more

By: Sarah K. Wells MSN RN CEN CNL Let’s talk about how to load up your resume with the keywords that help you get picked by the Resume Bot AKA Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Software.  To review, ATS software scans your resume for keywords. The more keywords you put in your resume, the better chances you will have of being picked by ATS and having your application reviewed by HR to be considered for an interview.  Where do we put the keywords? The best place to #keywordload is in a “Professional Summary” section near the top of your resume. But what words do you use?  If you lo ..read more

By: Sarah K. Wells MSN RN CEN CNL Oh nursing! You are so amazing! A 3-day work week! Getting to work in your PJs! Endless job security!! However, finding the job of your dreams starts with a job search. The ticket to any new position is that resume, and I know everyone loves pulling their resume out to update it. My name is Sarah, and I own New Thing Nurse, an academic and professional services company for the nursing community, and I have seen a lot of ugly nursing resumes. Some are too wordy. Others are too long (7+ pages is NOT ok). Many don’t have enough information. I’ve seen resumes wit ..read more