Conducting head-to-toe assessments is a critical skill for all nurses. This exam identifies potential problems and helps form appropriate nursing diagnoses and interventions. The first step of the nursing process involves collecting data with a thorough assessment. This evaluation includes many factors, including a head-to-toe exam. A head-to-toe assessment is a comprehensive patient health evaluation. You collect subjective and objective data that helps to identify a patient’s needs and problems which lead to the formation of nursing diagnoses. Heath assessments also provide vital information ..read more

Have you ever considered working as a school nurse and curious about school nurse qualifications and salary? If you have a passion for children and enjoy working independently, this information can serve as a helpful school nurse career guide. What is a school nurse? School nurses are essential to keep their small charges healthy and safe while at school. Having a certified school nurse on duty ensures that the students will be expertly tended to when day-to-day illnesses and injuries occur in school. For children with chronic health conditions such as diabetes and asthma, a school nurse is vi ..read more

At Portneuf Regional Medical Center (PMC) in Pocatello, Idaho, nurses on the med-surg unit are receiving support through a new partnership that combines artificial intelligence (AI) with virtual nursing. Amy Hemsley, RN Amy Hemsley, MSN, RN, Assistant Chief Nursing Officer at PMC, says the hospital has partnered with care.ai to implement a virtual nursing solution enabled by AI inferencing and in-room sensors. Inferencing is the clinical decision-making process that caregivers use to devise patient care plans. PMC uses virtual nurses who work on the same unit in a separate room and use the ..read more

When nurses help nurses by creating special programs, it’s a personal mission to make work life better for all of their colleagues. Let’s take a look at some programs that are succeeding in this endeavor. Amy Castillo, BSN, RN-BC, clinical nurse and healthcare safety advocate at UCLA Health in Los Angeles, California, saw the toll that violence was taking on her colleagues and knew something had to change. Amy Castillo, RN “I remember when one of my nursing colleagues was punched in the face by a patient,” Castillo said. “The assault was unprovoked and made me realize we needed to do more to ..read more

If you’ve made it through the initial application process and landed a nursing interview, congratulations! But before you head off for the interview, let’s cover some important tips and advice for nurse candidates. The interview process is not easy and even experienced nurses can get nervous and experience doubt beforehand. But knowing how to prepare can help give you the confidence you need to put forth your best effort. Let’s look at some tips and insights to guide you in presenting yourself in the most favorable light to help you land a role best suited to your needs. Do your research Learn ..read more

Applying to nursing school is an exciting first step on your journey to become a nurse, but what should you consider to ensure success? Nursing school admissions have become increasingly competitive over the last three years. From limited clinical placements to the nurse faculty shortage, colleges have had to place restrictions on the number of applicants accepted, which means aspiring nurses run into obstacles before they even get their foot in the door. In a NurseDot Podcast episode called, “How To Be Successful Through Nursing School” host Cara Lunsford, RN, Vice President of Community at R ..read more

Understanding and using the nursing process steps is essential for individualized patient-centered care. The five key steps guide nursing care and promote better communication among healthcare team members. Some of you are fresh out of nursing school, while others are more seasoned in your careers. Regardless of your experience, applying the nursing process is vital to providing patient-centered care. These steps lead to improved patient satisfaction and individualized care. Do you remember the five nursing process steps? They are assessment, diagnosis, outcome/planning, implementation, and ev ..read more

Here’s everything you need to know about the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). When Peggy Farrell, RN, MSN, NE-BC, first took the NCLEX exam after nursing school, she said paper and pencil were two of the most important tools needed. Now, she helps future nurses navigate today’s computer-adaptive test in her roles as the Director of Quality and Safety at Ascension Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village, Illinois and an adjunct nursing instructor at Harper College in Palatine, Illinois. “Our patients are getting sicker in the hospital and more critical,” Farrell said ..read more

Nursing is a challenging and rewarding profession requiring a significant amount of hard work, dedication, and knowledge. Experienced nurses will tell you that nursing school may be difficult but certainly worth all the hard work. Leveraging tips for nursing students from the nursing community can be helpful.  Nursing students face many challenges as they pursue their education and prepare for a career in healthcare. Getting started in school by establishing good habits and routines can help you succeed and better meet those challenges. In this blog, we’ll share some tips for nursing stud ..read more

When news broke in late January that more than 7,600 nurses in the United States bought fraudulent nursing degree diplomas, nursing regulatory organizations had already been working with the FBI to help uncover the scam. At the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission in Washington State, the early warning signs began a year and a half ago. The organization started receiving applications for licensure with school transcripts containing uncharacteristic — yet subtle — differences from typical transcripts. Paula Meyer, RN “This was a very sophisticated scheme,” said Paula Meyer, MSN, RN, FRE ..read more