Happy New Year, nurse friends!! Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season ❤ 2018 has already presented itself with some huge changes. Mighty Nurse, the online nursing community that I have been writing for over the past couple years, has been absorbed by a much bigger company and as such will no longer be offering an online platform for nurses, nursing students, and other healthcare professionals.
It has been a wonderful experience where I was able to share my experience as a nurse with nearly one million readers every week. Mighty Nurse gave me a platform and the freedom to write. I will be forever grateful to Brock and everyone there for giving me the opportunity.
My first thought was what next? Fear of change and the unknown can be paralyzing to some, but it is just the reality and evolution of life. The best thing is to mourn it and move on. Embrace change. You never know what is just around the corner.
My hope is to continue offering you sound advice and tips for navigating life as a nurse both here and elsewhere. You will still find me contributing to American Nurse Today, AWHONN, and The Gypsy Nurse. I am always open to suggestions from any fellow bloggers out there as well. Anyone know of a good next step in the online nursing community? Wishing you a happy and healthy new year!
Hugs,
Lori
With the holidays fast approaching, it is hard not to feel a sense of magic in the air. The lights, the music, and the food give a sense of warmth this time of year. Unfortunately, anyone that works at the bedside full time has an obligatory holiday shift each year. While many become acclimated to this reality, there are those that could use a little cheering up. The following are just a few tips for making it through your holiday shift this year..
My previous posts have been advice and encouragement for you, the student. My hope was to inspire you to stay strong through school and see the reward that becoming a nurse can offer. You have many years of stability, security, and integrity ahead of you. The world is your oyster. You have the option to stay in your home town and see your career to retirement or you can travel the world one patient at a time. While we may meet again in future posts, I find no better way to sum up this series of posts with one final and most critical piece of advice. This time, it is more for the sake of your patients. Here goes. Please wash your hands….
Showing up to work does not mean that you are gifted a neatly wrapped patient assignment. The same goes for your coworkers. What may seem like the smooth sailing assignment can easily shift to the assignment from hell. Working as a team is essential on any unit. No one person can possibly manage an emergency alone, sudden unexpected admission alone, or the sick call that leaves the unit short staffed. It is the strength of many that keeps the unit running.
Merriam-Webster defines a mentor as a trusted counselor or guide. Every nurse should have at least one nurse mentor regardless of the stage of his or her career. We are constantly in need of second opinions or advice. The day you think you have learned it all or know it all is the day you should retire 😉 In my latest for Mighty Nurse, I discuss some necessary qualities of a nurse mentor. Thanks for reading!!!
Neonurse 