Your First Years

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8 true definitions for “RN”

Rescue Ninja? Rockstar Nanny? How do you define “RN”?

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Finding a nurse mentor

You need someone who will be there when you need a little pat on the back…and who will be completely honest with you when you’re screwing up.

Nursing: How do I love thee?

Nursing: How do I love thee?

A challenge: To come up with things I love about being a nurse, from the serious to the silly. So, let me count the ways…

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22 things I learned in my first year as an RN

#5. There is no “I” in nursing unless you are trying to win a spelling bee.
#6. The opposing shift is not your enemy (see #5)…

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What’s in a year?

In the grand scheme of things, 365 days is a negligible amount of time. But looking back on the past year of experiences can be an eye-opener.

20 career lessons from celebrities

20 career lessons from celebrities

You follow their careers anyway. Why not learn a lesson or two? Whatever actions have helped catapult them to fame or rendered them B-list can provide valuable lessons for the careers of regular nurses like us.

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What NOT to do this holiday season

We sometimes forget to separate our personal lives from our work ones. This can make things uncomfortable when we “act like nurses” around civilians!

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The one question nurses should ask every patient

We’re often wrong when we assume what our patients want. Asking this one simple question could change everything for them.

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5 things you need to give up to get a nursing job

The job market is looking up, but in some parts of the country, it’s still not easy to land a nursing job. Give yourself a leg up with these tips.

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5 embarrassing new nurse mistakes

Nurses make mistakes. Lots of them. Most of the time we catch ’em before they become a big deal. Here are 5 unforgettable scenarios from the files of Jo, RN.

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Does my experience make me look lazy?

Do seasoned nurses take advantage of CNAs? Do they do less work than the new nurse?

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What do doctors want? “Mind readers”

What do doctors want? Read the back and forth between our favorite ER Doc and our favorite sassy RN.

How to handle MD bullies

How to handle MD bullies

“There’s a doctor in our unit who is notorious for being in a bad mood…all of the time. He’s unfriendly to the patients, barely tolerates his fellow physicians and is a monster to the nurses.”

Are you a new nurse or an experienced nurse?

Are you a new nurse or an experienced nurse?

Do you answer your phone every time it rings, or do you wait to see who’s calling? Click in for a hilarious comparison of nurses at two VERY different career stages.

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3 things to do straight out of nursing school

Leaving aside the obvious answers and tongue-in-cheek responses, here are three of the most insightful tips for what you should do as soon as you graduate.