My last blog post was over three years ago. I’ve missed it at some times and other times…not so much. I never quit writing, though. I fed my creative writing drive through writing journal articles, textbook chapters, tweets, personal journal notations, and even business plans. They all served as beautiful outlets for the myriad ideas running through this beautiful-crazy head. I need to spruce up the Nursetopia place a bit, but I expect to drop a few more posts than [ahem] in recent years. It’s great to see you again! Photo by Ekaterina Belinskaya on Pexels.com ..read more

I haven’t checked my work email in 10 days. That may not be a big deal to you. I’m a healthcare leader, and we apparently believe there is literally no other method of communication. Plus, I’m OCD about my email; it hurts so bad. Or, at least it did the first three days of vacation. After reading a panic-stricken email from another on day 3 of vacation, sensing I needed to do something, I paused, reaffirmed to myself there were many capable people at work who would be able to handle the situation, and questioned why I was treating myself so poorly. My out of office reply clearly said I would n ..read more

Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays in the work place. It’s an “easy” day to show appreciation to a lot of people. I created all of my Valentine’s Day cards with fond childhood memories in mind…paper valentines – some funny, some sweet, some quirky – filling a construction paper covered shoebox. In retrospect, knowing my “love language” is words of affirmation, it’s clear to me why I loved those cards so much. They were filled with precious words from the people I was around all the time. I believe appreciation should be prolific in healthcare work places. I mean, our work ..read more

Your Guide to Cancer Prevention was awarded the 2018 Book of the Year by the American Journal of Nursing in the Consumer Health category. 1st Edition Writing is a work of creative love. Your Guide to Cancer Prevention is the result of two years of editorial effort alongside an incredible team including the Oncology Nursing Society Publishing Team, who took a chance on me as a solo editor, and 13 authors, more than half of whom were first-time book chapter authors – several I met through blogging and social media over the last six years. A consumer book is daunting ..read more

Happy New Year! Each year I select one word to guide my efforts for the year. I believe this is my 8th year to publish this intention via Nursetopia, which is hard to believe I’ve been sharing that long! 2019’s one word is audacious. It’s imprinted on my brain and plastered throughout my calendar and journal for the New Year. I’ll use it as a measuring stick for the next 365 days. Here’s to an audacious 2019! I’m excited for all that 2019 will bring. Daring, bold, original, and full of spirit! I can sense the changes coming for my family, faith, work, home, and dreams ..read more

Each year, I select one word to guide my year and actions and intentions. It’s worked much better for me than resolutions, although I do resolve – in a way – with my one word. This year has focused on “circle,” and I have circled so many areas of my life in beautiful ways. I started – ended – and began again a long-time dream of fostering-to-adopt a child. While my family’s first attempt didn’t end the way I had prayed, like the circle, we find ourselves right back in the same place of re-opening our hearts and homes to a child in need of us and our lives in need of that ch ..read more

Gratitude changes an environment because it changes peoples’ perspectives. It’s a key aspect of my leadership. Not only do I strive to give thanks each and every day at work, but I also try to instill that into my work environment. Gratitude is a catalyst; it’s like ‘can-do’ fuel. That’s good stuff in healthcare.  One way I have cultivated a culture of gratitude in work is by stocking a “Gratitude Station” in each work environment. It’s often colorful and has pens, markers, stickers, inspirational quotes, and plenty of blank notecards for team members to grab and use for literally an ..read more

Johnson & Johnson, a Fortune 500 company, has proudly celebrated and propelled nursing forward. They celebrate nurses once again with their 2018 Nurses Change Lives video, reminding us how amazing this profession is.   ..read more

The National Rifle Association (NRA) tweeted November 7, 2018, that physicians should “stay in their lane,” indicating their voices in gun legislation is irrelevant. The NRA was “[upset]…the medical community…consulted NO ONE but themselves” in research e-published ahead of print in the American College of Physicians’s Annals of Internal Medicine.  If you’ve ever wondered how to start a revolution (against you), that’s how. [Hat tip to the NRA for organizing some of the most knowledgeable, selfless, and respected people on the planet in less than 280 characters.] Read the original Tw ..read more

Medical Surgical Nurses Week is November 1 – 7. The breadth of their knowledge, the extent of their empathy, the time management and organizational skills, and let’s be real…the demand on their bodies – these nurses are ab.so.lute.ly a.maz.ing. It’s time to celebrate the heck out of these nurses for serving as the backbone of nursing. This specialty gives rise to all others. Love on a Medical Surgical Nurse this week with plastered posters or mini cards. Or food. Or money. Or a day off. Or all of the above. Medical Surgical Nurses, You are my heroes. I celebrate you this week! You’re ..read more