In this article, we’ll dig into the different types of nursing master’s programs and share tips to help you be successful in any program you choose. Completing a master’s in nursing program is a seemingly daunting challenge. If you’re like most nurses, you’ve got a lot going on. Carving out even a few hours a week to devote to academic endeavors may seem nearly impossible. Fortunately, with today’s technology and varying options for earning a degree, there are programs available that will … [Read more...] about 3+ Tips to Keep Your Sanity While Completing a Masters in Nursing Program
Nursing School and Education
3 Tips to Pass the PMHNP Exam and Earn the PMHNP-BC Credential
To practice as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), you must first complete a Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program and pass the PMHNP exam. Upon completion, you'll be able to claim the PMHNP-BC credential which allows nurse practitioners to practice autonomously in 27 states. If you're here, then you've sought out tips and resources to pass the PMHNP exam. We've compiled a short list, but believe the best strategy is to utilize a … [Read more...] about 3 Tips to Pass the PMHNP Exam and Earn the PMHNP-BC Credential
5 Best Backpacks for Nursing Students
Studying to be a nurse is a tough job. I mean, nursing school is so hard! Carrying around 30-40 pounds of textbooks and supplies like a laptop, clipboard, water bottle and other medical supplies and equipment every day to school gets seriously old. While I did see a few nurses using collapsable milkcrate-type devices to haul their garb, what you really need is a good backpack to carry all your books and supplies comfortably all-day long. Fortunately, there are a plethora of options of … [Read more...] about 5 Best Backpacks for Nursing Students
Why is Nursing School So Hard?
Like most nursing students, there came a point in my education where I literally slammed my textbook shut late one evening and yelled, “Why is nursing school so hard!?!”. The more people I talked to about my nursing school headaches, the more I find that so many people struggled during their nursing school years! I couldn’t help but wonder just exactly why nursing school is so hard to muddle through. As I chat with colleagues or with students who are going through the nursing programs now, … [Read more...] about Why is Nursing School So Hard?
The Ultimate Guide to Landing New Grad Nursing Jobs
New grad nursing jobs are coveted and require an edge to ensure they secure both an interview and the position. Nursing expert, Beth Hawkes, has curated hear years of experience helping and mentoring nurses into an incredible resource that is a must-have for any new nurse graduate. We caught up with her. The Ultimate Guide to Landing New Grad Nursing Jobs What made you decide to write a book on the ultimate guide to landing new grad nursing jobs? As a nurse leader with extensive hiring … [Read more...] about The Ultimate Guide to Landing New Grad Nursing Jobs
Resources on the Differences Between a Registered Nurse and Licensed Practical Nurse
You have been thinking and thinking about what career path to choose. There are so many options in the health field! You have finally made up your mind: you are going to be a nurse! It just makes perfect sense. You are kind, compassionate, empathetic, have great interpersonal skills and attention to detail. Another tough decision awaits you: LPN or RN? I have rounded up 10 articles that explain the Differences Between a Registered Nurse and Licensed Practical Nurse and will help you make that … [Read more...] about Resources on the Differences Between a Registered Nurse and Licensed Practical Nurse
5 Excellent Books For Nurses By Nurses
With over 3 million nurses in the United States it’s not surprising to hear about ways they practice nursing that are a little less traditional. Nurses are becoming authors at an increasing rate and bringing quality content to a growing library of books for nurses. It’s not surprising that the best nursing books are written by men and women who have actually practice nursing and can identify with other nurses. And these nurse author aren’t just writing text books or “how to” guides for nurses. … [Read more...] about 5 Excellent Books For Nurses By Nurses
3 Things to Consider Before Refinancing Your Student Loans
You’re so excited when starting nursing school and student loans are so easy to get that it seems like no big deal to get a few. You take out the loans and sign on the dotted line because you’ve dreamed of this career and you know it’s what you want to do with your life. Fast forward a few years and congrats, you indeed are a Registered Nurse, but now you are scratching your head at the end of each month trying to figure out where all your hard earned money went. Refinancing Your Student … [Read more...] about 3 Things to Consider Before Refinancing Your Student Loans
Is the Littmann Electronic Stethoscope better than other stethoscopes?
If you want to get better at auscultation and enjoy the convenience of documenting the sounds auscultated by transferring them to a computer using cutting-edge Bluetooth tech, look no further than Littman electronic stethoscopes. Digital stethoscopes have been here for quite some time now. As advanced instruments that are superior in quality to traditional stethoscopes, they are designed to drastically improve the accuracy of diagnostic procedures. Even though there is nothing fundamentally … [Read more...] about Is the Littmann Electronic Stethoscope better than other stethoscopes?
What is the TEAS Test and How Can I Study for It?
Every year students preparing for nursing school find themselves asking the question "What is the TEAS test?" If all the core classes, applications, and fees aren't enough, many nursing programs add an exam called the TEAS test to the nursing school application process. Since the process of applying to nursing school can be very competitive, having another facet to review a potential nursing student's skills can be helpful. It can also help students who may have a lower GPA to get a more … [Read more...] about What is the TEAS Test and How Can I Study for It?
Free Writing Course for Nurses and Other Healthcare Professionals
We are excited to partner with Concordia University Wisconsin to bring you this post. I write frequently about the importance of continuing education for nurses. Although there are many courses focused on various aspects of nursing care, there are few focused on enhancing the writing skills of healthcare providers. As nurses we are often responsible for charting complex patient procedures, plans, outcomes, and progress. We are also sometimes tasked with creating proposals, writing … [Read more...] about Free Writing Course for Nurses and Other Healthcare Professionals
10 Phrases Every Nurse Should Know in Spanish
Imagine going to a foreign country and suddenly becoming ill and require emergency surgery. When you awaken from the procedure you find yourself with a nurse at the bedside. She can't understand you and you can't understand her. It's an unpleasant reality that is lived by many Spanish-speaking patients in the United States every day. However, something can be done to improve their experience and the patient care you deliver. Nurses can learn a few key phrases to help those patients feel more at … [Read more...] about 10 Phrases Every Nurse Should Know in Spanish
Nursing Informatics Jobs – Have you considered a Career in Informatics Nursing?
Nursing informatics jobs are a popular option for nurses who wish to bridge the gap between technology and nurses. Nurses make up the largest group of health care workers and therefore the greatest number of health-care technology end-users. In 1992, the American Nurses Association recognized nursing informatics (NI) as a specialty. Since that time, there has been a steady increase in demand for nurses to enter into the specialty of nursing informatics. Currently, nursing educational programs … [Read more...] about Nursing Informatics Jobs – Have you considered a Career in Informatics Nursing?
Ebola Facts and Checklist for Healthcare Providers (and Everyone Else)
The Ebola situation has many in the United States at panic levels. We’ve already had several patients with Ebola on U.S. soil. We’ve already already had a death caused by Ebola. The media is spreading panic and is doing a terrible job at informing the public of any real facts. Mistakes have been made in this Ebola epidemic. For example, the hospital that released the Ebola patient stated the they did so because of a problem related to an EHR, but they later recanted. While I didn’t see it … [Read more...] about Ebola Facts and Checklist for Healthcare Providers (and Everyone Else)
Should Nurses Care about HCAHPS Scores?
I remember when I first became a nurse and we would have monthly staff meetings to discuss various topics and issues that hospital administration had pushed down to us. I often grew frustrated with these meetings because the same topic kept coming up: HCAHPS scores. At which point the majority of the nursing staff would grumble and groan and complain about a standard that was unattainable due to ever-increasing workloads and complexities in the care they provided. Hospital administrators were … [Read more...] about Should Nurses Care about HCAHPS Scores?
