Tag: nursing

Your Nursing Job: The Same Old Bed of Nails or a Comfortable Old Shoe?

Complacency be just as bad for your career as outright misery. Whether you’re stuck in a rut or actively feeling pained by your job, it might be time for a change.

From Nurse Keith’s Digital Doorway

Some of us have nursing jobs that are feel like a bed of nails, and some of us nurses have jobs that feel like comfortable old shoes. Have you ever fallen into either of these categories in terms of your work experience as a nurse? I posit that either one can be detrimental to your career in the long run.

The Old Shoe Nursing Job

If you’ve been working at a decent enough nursing job for a number of years, it can begin to feel like an old worn shoe: comfortable, fraying at the edges, and perhaps less supportive than it used to be.

Perhaps you’ve had a work experience that reflects at least several of the following characteristics:

  • You like your colleagues well enough
  • Your bosses are decent
  • The work you do is relatively enjoyable — or at least tolerable
  • The salary is stagnant
  • Benefits (if you have them) are acceptable but not overwhelmingly generous
  • You’re not learning very much over time
  • You feel like you’re just this side of career stagnation

I hear from many nurses who are in a nursing position that matches a number of the above-named aspects. When a nurse feels stuck and in a rut, there are plenty of questions to ask, including but not limited to:

  • What about your current job is and is not satisfying?
  • What kind of learning happens for you on the job?
  • Do you feel like you’re growing professionally or just marking time?
  • Are you treated well enough? Could you find a more positive and supportive workplace culture?
  • Do you feel that you’re valued for what you do, or are you just a cog in an organizational wheel?
  • If you think about leaving for another opportunity, what kinds of thoughts and feelings do you have? Is it just too scary to consider?
  • Are you afraid to leave because it’s relatively comfortable? Are you avoiding looking for another job because you feel beholden to stay for your colleagues and/or your patients?
  • Do you simply not know what you’d rather do otherwise?

These types of questions can lead to very interesting discussions about self worth, career development, personal and professional history, and how you view yourself as a healthcare professional and nurse.

An old shoe may be comfy and familiar, but it can lose its supportive structure and allow your feet to really take a beating. Is your current job kind of like that old running shoe you just can’t let go of?

The Nursing Bed of Nails

A nursing job that feels like a bed of nails is just a bad fit. In this scenario, it hurts to get up and go to work. You feel pained, uncomfortable, and vaguely aware that this is a form of torture that would probably be good to escape from, but you may very well feel stuck and unable to move.

Don’t get me wrong: a challenging job that pushes you beyond your current comfort zone isn’t necessarily a bad thing. This type of situation can be good for your career as it can often motivate you to learn, grow, and take your skills and knowledge to the limit without violating your scope of practice or endangering your patients or your nursing license.

Having said that, many of us have likely been stuck in jobs that felt dangerous, edgy, beyond our ken, and simply too much to handle. A nursing job that pushes you too far and feels unnecessarily painful and difficult can have some of the following characteristics, as well as others not listed:

  • You feel as if you’re regularly pushed to work beyond your scope of practice
  • A bully (or bullies) stalk the halls and make people’s lives miserable
  • Management is inept, if not downright hostile
  • The workplace is riddled with gossip and backbiting
  • You don’t readily connect with the patient population and feel like caring for them is like nails on a chalkboard
  • You don’t feel challenged, and your skills, knowledge, and expertise are stagnating
  • You feel nauseous, anxious, or plainly fearful when you arrive to work
  • Overall, work is just a consistently unpleasant slog

Being miserable, stagnant, and pained at work is no picnic. And you know what? It’s not necessary at all — you always have the choice to make a move, look to a new horizon, or otherwise exit gracefully, stage left.

Do you have the gumption and wherewithal to leave? Even a bed of nails can feel oddly comfortable and familiar — after all, the devil you know can sometimes be better than the devil you don’t. Right?

Finding a New Career Frontier

Whether your job feels like a bed of nails or a comfortable old shoe, there’s often something that needs to change. If you’re not making plans to leave, consider where your resistance is coming from. Is it fear? Is it discomfort with change? Or is there a lack of self-confidence that needs to be overcome?

Whatever the feeling is that’s keeping you from busting out and moving on, consider the notion that change can be exciting, renewing, and occasionally revelatory. Fear can either be motivating or demotivating — which would you prefer?

Consider that if early homo sapiens and other ancient human species were overly afraid of change, they never would have crossed the Bering Straight and populated far-flung continents. If Civil Rights leaders had been too fearful of the reactions of white supremacists, they never would have marched, boycotted, and pushed back against the egregiously racist status quo. And if Florence Nightingale didn’t have the courage to buck the system of the good ol’ boys of medicine and create biostatistics and crucial practices of infection control, modern nursing might still be in the Dark Ages, serving coffee to physicians who see us as nothing but unskilled non-professional handmaidens.

Consider these questions:

  • Is your current job satisfying?
  • Are you learning enough to keep engaged and interested?
  • Does your workplace feel congenial enough?
  • Is the workplace culture positive and supportive?
  • Is management responsive and self-reflective?
  • Is this job leading somewhere in the context of your career?

A bed of nails and a comfy old shoe can be equally difficult to disengage from, albeit for different reasons. If you’re stuck in either of these scenarios, what would it take to get out of bed or throw that old shoe in the trash? What would you need in order to take that leap of faith and move on?

Nimbleness, professional and personal growth, forward movement, and the willingness to pivot throughout your nursing career are hallmarks of living and working in the 21st-century healthcare universe — are you ready for nice new nursing shoes and a more comfortable bed? If you’re feeling like you’re at the end of your rope, I’ll hazard a guess that you’re more than ready. What are you waiting for?

Keith Carlson, RN, BSN, NC-BC, is the Board Certified Nurse Coach behind NurseKeith.com and the well-known nursing blog, Digital Doorway. Please visit his online platforms and reach out for his support when you need it most.

Keith is co-host of RNFMRadio.com, a wildly popular nursing podcast; he also hosts The Nurse Keith Show, his own podcast focused on career advice and inspiration for nurses.

A widely published nurse writer, Keith is the author of “Savvy Networking For Nurses: Getting Connected and Staying Connected in the 21st Century,” and has contributed chapters to a number of books related to the nursing profession. Keith has written for Nurse.com, Nurse.org, MultiViews News Service, LPNtoBSNOnline, StaffGarden, AusMed, American Sentinel University, the ANA blog, Working Nurse Magazine, and other online publications.

Mr. Carlson brings a plethora of experience as a nurse thought leader, online nurse personality, podcaster, holistic career coach, writer, and well-known successful nurse entrepreneur. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico with his lovely and talented wife, Mary Rives.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Tricky Nursing Interview Questions (And How to Answer Them)

The pay may be great, but that isn’t the answer to give when asked, “Why do you want to work here?” Here’s how to answer that and other hard interview questions.

Interviewing, in general, isn’t easy, but some questions prove tougher than others. Here are three questions that notoriously trip up even the most seasoned nurse and how best to answer them.

“Tell me about yourself.”

While not technically a question, this can be one of the hardest parts of any interview. While some people love talking about themselves (research suggests this is simply because it feels good), others do not, and even if you do like talking about yourself, landing in the sweet spot between giving the interviewer too little and sharing too much can be tricky, especially if you’re an anxious or nervous interviewee.

Instead of sharing your life story, and giving away too many personal details which may reflect poorly upon you, keep in mind that the interviewer is asking this because they want to know your background, more than anything, and a bit about your personality. Cover the basics about your education, professional experience, career goals, and strengths, while tying in some clues about your personality, such as, “I’ve always loved children and I’m upbeat by nature, so pediatric nursing was a seamless fit for me.”

“Why do you want to work here?”

The truthful answer to that may be, “Look, lady, it’s because I need a job,” or, “The pay is GREAT,” but those answers are not what the interviewer is looking for—and should definitely not come out of your mouth at any point during the interview process. They don’t want to hire any ol’ nurse, just as you don’t want to work at any ol’ hospital, so do your research, not only so you can impress them by knowing they were ranked #1 for neurosurgery by so-and-so publication, but so you can see if they are the right fit for you, as well.

Before you interview, Google them and read up on the organization, including their corporate values and culture, and be prepared to tell them why you’d be a good fit to work there. For example, perhaps the facility caters to a population you prefer to work with, they use progressive methods you are eager to learn, or have a reputation for professional advancement that aligns with your career goals. Or maybe it’s something as simple as they are a small practice with a family feel, and you are tired of working in hospitals where you hardly see the same person twice. Whatever it is that truly interests you in working there, from a professional standpoint, find a way to convey that in a way that shows you’re excited to be a part of what they’re doing.

“What are your weaknesses?”

No one likes to own up to their faults, particularly not in a setting where you’re trying to impress. However, we are all human. We all mess up. We all have less than desirable traits. And pretending like you don’t just comes across and being inauthentic and dishonest, and those are not desirable traits in an employee, let alone a nurse.

Whatever your weaknesses may be, find a way to tell the interviewer what you have learned from them, showing you are committed to self-improvement and professional growth. It is a best practice to sandwich your weakness between two positive attributes. For example, if you sometimes feel overwhelmed, try saying something along the lines of, “I’m committed to providing a high level of patient care, but sometimes I find myself getting a little overwhelmed when a patient or their family asks a lot of questions. I know that’s just the patient and their family wanting to be well-informed about their care, though, so I’ve learned to be more understanding, as a result.”

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Tips to Craft Your Best Nursing Resume

At first glance, what impression does your resume make on your behalf? Could it impress a hiring manager or recruiter in six seconds? If not, read on.

On average, your resume has about six seconds to make a good first impression, and that is only if it’s being seen by a living, breathing human being, not a machine, such as an ATS. Then, if it is good enough to pique their interest, one in five recruiters will make up their mind about you and your qualifications in less than a minute, and over all, employers will spend, on average, only three minutes and 14 seconds reading your resume. Those numbers shouldn’t scare you, but they should definitely make you think. At first glance, what impression does your resume make on your behalf? Could it impress a hiring manager or recruiter in six seconds, a minute, three? If the answer is no, here are a few tips on how to make it shine.

Keep It Clean and Professional

If your resume only has a very brief period of time to catch someone’s eye, it’s best to find a layout that doesn’t look like the rest, while still retaining a professional design and having clearly marked sections of information. Look to websites such as Creative Market or Etsy for inspiration, or download some modern templates you can use for a small fee.

If you don’t use a readymade layout, make sure whatever layout you use is free of photos and “fancy” fonts, as those may not render properly across all platforms, and over 40% of recruiters are put off by the use of them. Stick to standard fonts, such as Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica, have clear section headings, and make use of bullet points to draw the eye to important pieces of information.

Also, be sure that your contact information is easy to find, and that it is professional. You should include your full name, with your credentials listed after it, address, telephone number, and an appropriate email address—because 32% of recruiters will reject someone simply for having an inappropriate email address.

While we are all taught not to judge a book by its cover, you also need to get noticed for the right reasons, and the first impression your resume makes could make all the difference.

Your Objective Is Already Clear

The Objective section of the resume is dead. If you are submitting a resume, it is common knowledge, and can very easily be assumed, that you are trying to “obtain a position within [your] field to further [yourself] personally and professionally.” Call the time of death on that and send it on down to the morgue—it’s dead.

Your objective is clear; why you are the right person for the job is not. Which is why the Summary section has replaced the Objective, and is alive and kicking. Instead of using a bunch of regurgitated, standardized language about why you are trying to find a job in your field, show off your qualifications. Talk about your accomplishments and how you add value to the facilities you’ve worked for and the lives of your patients, or how you excelled in nursing school.

Give them the most impressive bits of your history right up front and make them want to learn more of your details by reading on to your Professional Experience and Education sections.

Show Your Strengths and Avoid Being a Cliché

Over 50% of recruiters will reject a candidate if their resume is full of clichés. Everyone is a hard worker, a team player, is motivated, driven, and works well under pressure—particularly, if you’re a nurse. Soft skills, such as those, may sound good to you, but they are really just filler for those on the hiring end of things, and they add no value to your resume.

If you are going to highlight your strengths, do so in concrete ways.

What states are you licensed in and what certifications do you have? What professional associations do you belong to? Which EMR/EHR systems are you familiar with? What caseload have you handled and in what unit? Which industry-wide protocols, processes, and procedures do you have experience with? Are you bilingual? What skills set you apart from every other nurse?

Also, don’t be afraid to use industry-specific terminology. These people are hiring nurses, after all. They’ll know what you mean when you say you’re experienced with Level I Trauma, da Vinci Surgical Systems, balloon pumps, 12-lead placements, and so on.

Check Your Spelling and Grammar, Then Check It Again, and Once More

59% of recruiters will reject a resume based solely on spelling mistakes and poor grammar. Which may seem silly to some, but attention to detail is important, not only in writing your resume, but in your nursing career, itself. Read through your document multiple times to look for spelling and grammatical errors, or ask a friend who is good with words to do so on your behalf.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

One Nurse’s Take: Working in the ICU

“Since beginning my RN journey, my outlook and perspective on life have changed dramatically,” says Jamie Dupont, RN, in this look at her life in the ICU.

We spoke with Jamie Dupont, RN—and a relatively new RN, at that—about about her choice to become a nurse in the ICU, and what she has learned since. Read on for some insight into the trials and triumphs of her experience.

You’re an ICU nurse, and a relatively new one. How are you liking your job so far? Is it different than you expected it to be? What are the major differences between nursing school and being a nurse?

I am new to the field of nursing; however, I am experienced in the medical field as a paramedic. I enjoy the ICU aspect of medicine. It is very challenging not only physically and mentally, but emotionally, as well. I am used to dealing with a patient for a very short, limited amount of time, whereas being in the ICU, I can have a particular patient and their family for up to four twelve-hour shifts. It is definitely different than I expected it to be. One wrong decision or error on my behalf, and I could have a serious problem on my hands. It is more high stress than when I was in school. While in school, you have an instructor to look over all of your medications and watch how you perform your skills, so that you do them correctly. Once you are on your own, there are resources all around you, but it’s pretty much up to you to make things happen.

Is working in the ICU the specialty you wanted to get into when you started the process to become a nurse? If not, how did you end up there? What drew you to working in the ICU?

I worked pre-hospital for 7 years and wanted to explore my options as a RN. I did not want to work somewhere that I would be comfortable and not allow myself to broaden my knowledge base. I also was considering moving on in the near future to become a CRNA or ACNP. I am still unsure if graduate school is in my future, however, I start my BSN in August. I figured that critical care is another challenging way to build my knowledge, as an emergency provider. It is also a great way to become a well-rounded RN. If you can hack it in the ICU as a new graduate nurse, you can hack it in any department, at any hospital, in my opinion. I chose to work for a Level 1 teaching hospital. This means that we have the highest inpatient acuity. We admit some of the most sick and unstable patients in the area, which allows me to see some cases that no one else may ever see in their lifetime. Not even as a seasoned nurse, with many years of experience.

What are the challenges you face working in your specialty, and what do you find most rewarding?

One of the biggest challenges in the ICU, especially in a neurosurgical unit, is the amount of mortality that we deal with. Even when patients end up surviving, they have major life altering deficits that affect not only the patient, but their family and friends, also. I see many families that have to make very difficult decisions regarding loved ones, and sometimes you see the results of these decisions. Families go to extreme lengths to keep a family member alive. However, the long-term effects can be detrimental to the patient and the family. It is unfortunate and can be very upsetting to witness what these individuals must go through. Since beginning my RN journey, my outlook and perspective on life have changed dramatically.

Can you describe your typical day on the floor?

A typical day on my unit consists of getting report from the night shift RN. We have a unit huddle every morning, where our nurse manager discusses any important unit issues or things that need to be addressed. I assess my patients as soon as I arrive and start to organize my day. Sometimes my day will go as planned, but most of the time it does not. On day shift, we do “rounds,” where the providers, charge nurse, dietary, OT, PT, and case management will come around and get a quick update on each patient. We figure out a plan from there and what the goal is for each patient. How my day will unfold depends on the patient. If my patient is complex and needs more attention, then they will be getting what they need. We act as a team on my unit and if anyone needs help, there are more than enough hands to go around. Meds are given, interventions are completed as necessary, and families are taken care of on an individual basis. I like to involve family as much as possible, as it will help make my day and the patient’s day move along smoothly. If they will help feed a patient that needs feeding, I will show them what to do. If they would like to help suction a patient’s mouth when they need it, I will give them a quick lesson on how to use the suction catheter. It is all about keeping them involved and making them feel like they are able to do something for their loved one. This especially helps in a time when some of these families feel so helpless.

What personal and professional traits do you think qualify someone to work in the ICU as a nurse?

To work in the ICU, you must have patience, first and foremost. There is a saying that ICU nurses are “OCD” and Emergency Department nurses tend to be more “fly by the seat of their pants”. I think someone can find a happy medium between both, and be a great nurse, in both realms. Patience in learning, patience with people, patience with yourself. That is key to becoming a great ICU nurse. It is not an easy path, to choose to work with some of the sickest people on this earth. There are days that are extremely challenging, even for someone who is used to dealing with very sick or injured people. You have to also be able to have good coping skills. If you are the type of person that takes your work home with you, then the ICU may not be a great job for you. Some of the situations you encounter can be trying and you have to be able to handle it in a healthy manner. ICU is not for the faint of heart, but if you are up for the challenge, it is very rewarding.

What advice would you give to someone considering working as a nurse in the ICU?

I think if you are considering working in the ICU that perhaps you should get some experience and shadow someone in that unit, before jumping in headfirst. I believe, in nursing, no matter what you chose as your path, it is always a good practice to shadow and see if it is something you are going to enjoy doing for twelve hours a day. It may not be everything you thought it would be. Make sure it is something you will enjoy. If not, becoming a nurse is a great opportunity to branch out and find something of interest. There are many avenues in this field, which is the main reason I went to school to become a RN. Opportunities are endless! The only quality that all RNs must have is that they must be compassionate and caring. If you are both of these things, then the nursing world is your oyster.

Interested in sharing some insight about your specialty and experience with your fellow nurses? Email us to set up an interview.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

The Best and Worst States to Be A Nurse

Maine is the top place to be a nurse, and D.C. is the worst, according to new survey results. Where does your state land on the list?

The nursing industry is alive and well, and it is expected to grow at more than double the rate of the average occupation through 2026. But where is it best, and worst, to be a nurse?

New findings from WalletHub, as determined by comparing the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 21 crucial metrics, including average salary, average starting salary, nursing job openings, patient ratios, and more, offer some insight. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most promising conditions to be a nurse.

Below are the top five best and worst states and their scores, as found by the survey, as well as other key findings.

Top Five Best Places to Be A Nurse

  1. Maine (62.96/100)
  2. Montana (62.07/100)
  3. Washington (61.41/100)
  4. Wyoming (61.31/100)
  5. New Mexico (61.11/100)

Top Five Worst Places to Be A Nurse

  1. District of Columbia (33.08/100)
  2. Hawaii (38.49/100)
  3. Vermont (44.88/100)
  4. Alabama (45.58/100)
  5. Louisiana (46.27/100)

Most Nursing Job Openings Per Capita: Vermont
Highest Annual Nursing Salary, Adjusted for Cost of Living: Arizona
Most Healthcare Facilities Per Capita: South Dakota
Lowest Competition by 2024: Nevada
Highest Percentage of Population Aged 65+ by 2030: Florida

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Defining Nursing Career Success on Your Own Terms

Your definition of a successful nursing career may look vastly different than that of your fellow nurses, and that is okay, because career success is a personal thing.

From Nurse Keith’s Digital Doorway

Every nurse and healthcare professional has the opportunity to define success in their own way. However, how many of us allow our nursing careers to be defined by someone else. How can we seize control of our careers and define success on our own terms?

Beyond a Cookie Cutter Career

At this time in your life, your definition of success may mean earning your Masters in Nursing by the time you’re 35 and your PhD or DNP by the time you’re 45. For one of your nurse colleagues, success may mean getting a BSN and finding a job that will pay the bills and put a child through college. For another, it’s taking a year off and traveling the globe on an around-the-world ticket. And why not?

There are many prescriptions for a successful nursing career, but cookie-cutter solutions are just approximations of what’s possible for you. What works for Jane the nurse doesn’t necessarily add up for Bill the nurse — Jane and Bill have different life histories, goals, professional experiences, family circumstances and responsibilities, so they each need to forge an individualized path forward.

Just because “they” say you need two years of med/surg before pursuing other opportunities doesn’t make that true for you. As a new grad, I skipped med/surg and acute care altogether and never looked back as I created a career focused on community health and home health nursing — did I miss out on some experiences? Sure. Do I care? Not really. It was my choice, and the consequences of that decision are mine to bear, whatever they may be.

Your Own Compass

When a hiker strikes off into the woods, they often use a compass (whether an old-fashioned version or an app) to keep from getting lost. All compasses universally point out where north, south, east, and west are, and the hiker can use those cardinal directions in concert with a detailed topographic map in order to make good decisions about where they’re heading.

Not so with a nursing or healthcare career — true north for one nurse is dead wrong for another. For most new grads, that first professional expedition out of school means marching right into an acute care position — that’s true north in many cases. But for us nurse iconoclasts, rebels, and black sheep, we may very well turn around and march in a completely opposite direction than our peers, and that’s OK.

Wherever you happen to be in your nursing career, it’s your responsibility to find your own compass and solicit the drummer who will play the beat that moves your feet towards your own definition of success.

Defining Your Success

In order to take the bull by the horns and define success on your own terms, you need to know what you think and feel. This may seem rudimentary, but many of us allow ourselves to be buffeted by the winds of opinion that others force on us. We may also be influenced by our peers’ choices, even if they themselves don’t tell us what we should be choosing or doing.

Knowing what you truly think and feel necessitates exploring your motivations, goals, and desires, as well as identifying the preconceived notions that you brought to your professional nursing career. We all have career baggage, as well as self-judgments that hold us back and keep us from making choices that are truest to our nature.

These questions (and others, of course) may hopefully lead to further exploration and the uncovering of what you really want:

  • What are my greatest strengths? What do I bring to the table as a nurse and healthcare professional?
  • What are my “weaknesses”? Where do I need to bolster my knowledge, expertise, and/or experience?
  • What are the things that are potential threats to my success and happiness? (e.g.: Do I lack motivation? Am I going through a difficult divorce? Do I have medical or mental health conditions that impact me negatively at home or at work? Is a lot of my energy taken up by caring for an elderly parent or disabled loved one?)
  • What opportunities are out there just waiting for me to seize them?
  • Who do I know who might be a good networking connection?
  • What are past experiences that can lead to new opportunities in the future?

Staying Focused

Many factors will influence what we do in our nursing careers over time. If your personal circumstances change (e.g.: divorce, marriage, birth of a child, etc), you may need to make some adjustments in your work schedule. If your hospital is bought by a big corporation and heads are rolling left and right, you may need to abandon ship before things get really bad.

Threats, opportunities, and stuff that just plain happens may cause you to lose focus and deviate from a very clear career plan. These abrupt turns can be advantageous happy accidents, but they can also lead you unhappily astray.

Staying focused means you consciously choose to keep your eyes on the prize, maintain the integrity of your plans, and simultaneously be open to serendipity and the unknown. An open mind will serve you best in just about all situations.

Know Thyself

Creating a nursing career on your own terms calls on you to know yourself as well as possible. The aforementioned advice is just the tip of the iceberg: find coaches, mentors, counselors, therapists, colleagues, and/or accountability partners who can listen well, hold your feet to the fire, question your motivations, and otherwise be there when you’re at your strongest or your weakest.

Dig deep and get to know yourself. If you do nothing else, self-reflection and increased self-knowledge will benefit every aspect of your life, not to mention your relationships with those around you.

Defining your nursing career on your own terms isn’t rocket science, but it’s also not as simple as it seems. Do the work, put in the sweat equity, and you’ll be rewarded with self-knowledge, self-confidence, and an understanding of what makes you tick in both your personal and professional lives. The rest is icing on the cake.

Keith Carlson, RN, BSN, NC-BC, is the Board Certified Nurse Coach behind NurseKeith.com and the well-known nursing blog, Digital Doorway. Please visit his online platforms and reach out for his support when you need it most.

Keith is co-host of RNFMRadio.com, a wildly popular nursing podcast; he also hosts The Nurse Keith Show, his own podcast focused on career advice and inspiration for nurses.

A widely published nurse writer, Keith is the author of “Savvy Networking For Nurses: Getting Connected and Staying Connected in the 21st Century,” and has contributed chapters to a number of books related to the nursing profession. Keith has written for Nurse.com, Nurse.org, MultiViews News Service, LPNtoBSNOnline, StaffGarden, AusMed, American Sentinel University, the ANA blog, Working Nurse Magazine, and other online publications.

Mr. Carlson brings a plethora of experience as a nurse thought leader, online nurse personality, podcaster, holistic career coach, writer, and well-known successful nurse entrepreneur. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico with his lovely and talented wife, Mary Rives.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

When Nurses Receive Their Due

Athletes and entertainers rake in millions—multimillions, actually—while those who save lives, such as nurses, struggle to make ends meet, put food on the table, and repay their student loans.

From Nurse Keith’s Digital Doorway

Most nurses will readily admit that they didn’t choose nursing because of the astronomically high paychecks. Sure, nursing can be a relatively remunerative career, but there are plenty of other professions that are significantly more financially rewarding (and free of some of the challenges that nurses face on a daily basis). So, what if nurses were paid a whole lot more in exchange for saving—and otherwise improving—the lives of a grateful public?

Multimillion Dollar Players

We all know that entertainers and athletes make a lot of money, whether it’s deserved or not. NFL players sign multimillion dollar contracts in return for throwing and catching a ball (and, admittedly, running a lot), and singers and entertainers rake in millions in exchange for strumming their guitars, singing, dancing, and cavorting on stage and in music videos. Meanwhile, we all know that actors also make multimillions—and let’s not forget those lucrative product endorsements.

Don’t get me wrong—sports and the arts contribute greatly to the fabric of societies the world over, and there are many individuals who could honestly say that a song or movie saved their life (whether literally or figuratively). While I’ve never followed sports, many fans would likely share that the joy of watching a very exciting game allows them to forget their troubles for a few hours, transporting them to a blissful realm of communal celebration.

So, if those who entertain us and thrill us earn millions per year, why is it that those who are so-called “angels of mercy” or “lifesavers” frequently struggle to make ends meet, put food on the table, and repay their exorbitant student loans?

How Do We Measure Value?

Granted, we place a very high value on entertainment and sports, and I, like millions of others, flock to the movies, download music, and stream movies, and otherwise support the careers of artists, actors, musicians and others whom I admire. While I can’t say that David Byrne’s music has ever saved my life, his music is indeed a part of my personal soundtrack, and the value of that is difficult to measure.

Do nurses deserve to earn more? Absolutely. Can our healthcare infrastructure afford to offer multimillion dollar contracts to every nurse? We’d all likely agree that that would cripple the system overnight. Still, do we value certain services and professions enough to make sure that they are compensated appropriately? Probably not.

Cognitive Dissonance

This modest blog post is not written in the spirit of having any answers to the largely rhetorical questions that it raises, but the questions are well worth considering.

Of course, when millions of people buy the new Rolling Stones CD and pay several hundred dollars each to watch Mick Jagger strut his stuff live on stage in some massive arena, it follows that the Stones’ individual and collective wealth will be mushrooming as the fans scream for more.

I don’t begrudge Mick or his fellow bandmates their wealth, but I also wonder why an ER nurse who plunges her gloved hand into the gaping wound of a patient to stop a life-threatening hemorrhage and save a life doesn’t earn more than $40 per hour (and in some cases much less than that). And if that nurse was saving the life of said Mr. Jagger, for instance, does that make her actions more valuable than if she were holding the severed femoral artery of a carpenter, hairdresser, or homeless person?

This is where I experience cognitive dissonance while still having no answer to the question of why that disparity of income truly exists—and what can be done about it, if anything.

I Have No Answers

Truly, I have no answers, but I certainly have many questions.

The communal experience of a Rolling Stones concert (which I’ve never had the pleasure to attend, mind you) could indeed give a concertgoer such transcendent pleasure that her emotional wounds of the day could very well be assuaged for a brief time as she falls under the Stones’ well-rehearsed magical spell. The reverberations of that experience could also positively impact her well-being for days or weeks to come.

Now, if that same individual was in a car accident and a nurse or paramedic was able to reverse her flatline and bring her back from the brink of death, is that experience more important or life-changing than the Rolling Stones concert? I would imagine it probably is. Still, the earning potential of that nurse or paramedic would not generally be impacted by having saved that life, while the aforementioned Mick Jagger would settle into his limousine, stopping by the bank to deposit another check for $3 million. (Actually, I’m sure Mick hasn’t set foot in a bank for decades.)

Can this playing field be leveled? I doubt it. Should it? Yes, indeed. But this is actually a societal issue in the largest sense of that notion, and the answers are obviously very elusive, at best.

An Endless Conundrum

Sure, nurses will never earn as much as brain surgeons, and that’s okay since brain surgeons undergo a great deal more education and training while also carrying an astronomical liability for the work that they do.

Nurses will also never earn as much as Mick Jagger, and they certainly won’t receive the adulation that good old Mick receives, even though they’ve held those severed arteries and saved lives galore.

This question of relative value and income is one worth considering, and readers’ responses are welcome. Again, I have no answers&mash;only more questions—but conversations about such issues are a valuable exercise in measuring and assessing our individual and collective values.

So, the next time a nurse saves your life or the life of a loved one, consider how much that means to you as compared to, say, watching Mike Jagger strut and crow like a rooster. A front row seat to see the Rolling Stones is exhilarating, but so is the sight of a nurse saving the life of the person you love the most.

What is value? What is valuable? And how do we measure relative value of those who touch our lives in one way or another? The conundrum remains unanswered.

Keith Carlson, RN, BSN, NC-BC, is the Board Certified Nurse Coach behind NurseKeith.com and the well-known nursing blog, Digital Doorway. Please visit his online platforms and reach out for his support when you need it most.

Keith is co-host of RNFMRadio.com, a wildly popular nursing podcast; he also hosts The Nurse Keith Show, his own podcast focused on career advice and inspiration for nurses.

A widely published nurse writer, Keith is the author of “Savvy Networking For Nurses: Getting Connected and Staying Connected in the 21st Century,” and has contributed chapters to a number of books related to the nursing profession. Keith has written for Nurse.com, Nurse.org, MultiViews News Service, LPNtoBSNOnline, StaffGarden, AusMed, American Sentinel University, the ANA blog, Working Nurse Magazine, and other online publications.

Mr. Carlson brings a plethora of experience as a nurse thought leader, online nurse personality, podcaster, holistic career coach, writer, and well-known successful nurse entrepreneur. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico with his lovely and talented wife, Mary Rives.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

10 Interview Tips for Nurses

Interviewing for a new nursing job? Here are 10 tips to help you make sure you are well-prepared and set up for success on the big day.

by Deborah Swanson

Interviewing for a job can be nerve-wracking, especially if it’s your first job out of nursing school. However, there are several steps you can take to make sure you are well-prepared and set up for success on the big day. Here are 10 tips that can help make any nursing interview go smoothly:

1. Plan Ahead for the Interview

Research parking options and plan out your route beforehand. Google Maps desktop version has a feature that lets you forecast how long it will take to get your destination at particular times of day, such as rush hour. Check the weather and try on clothing the night before to decide on an outfit. You should wear professional clothing — suits for men and a dress or a blouse and skirt or pants for women — rather than scrubs to the interview.

If the clothing needs to be washed, ironed, steamed or starched, starting the night before will give a chance to take care of that. If you wear jewelry or makeup, choose what you’re going to wear so you’re not scrambling to figure it out the morning of.

2. Get Plenty of Sleep

Interview jitters can keep you up at night, but try to sleep as much as possible the nights leading up to the interview so you can look fresh and think more clearly. If you have trouble falling asleep, a hot bath, caffeine-free tea, eye mask and melatonin can help you relax and fall or stay asleep. Try to avoid drinking alcohol, watching TV right before bedtime and other activities that can decrease or disturb your sleep.

3. Eat and Drink the Smart Way

You don’t want your stomach to growl loudly during the entire interview, so even if you’re nervous, try to eat a few hours before the appointment. Stick to nourishing foods that you know won’t upset your stomach or otherwise cause discomfort. Try not to overly caffeinate yourself, as this will only make you jittery, and drinking too much soda can cause belching and other stomach upset. Bring a bottle of water with you in case your mouth gets dry during the interview, and get there early enough that you have time to use the bathroom if necessary.

4. Research the Company and/or Position

Knowing as much as you can about the facility and the nursing position will give you concrete information to ask questions about during the interview. It will also demonstrate to the interviewer that you are truly interested in the job and did your research beforehand — they won’t hire someone who didn’t care enough to learn about the company before the interview.

5. Ask Your Network for Advice

If you have nursing contacts who have worked at this particular company or facility, reach out to them to ask about their experience and what you should know about the company going into the interview. Even if you don’t know anyone who works at the place you’re interviewing, you should still reach out to your more experienced nursing friends for advice, especially if you’re interviewing for your first nursing job after school. They’ll be able to advise you on what questions to prepare for.

6. Practice Your Interview Answers

No matter what kind of job you’re interviewing for, you can expect some questions to pop up over and over again: Why do you want this job? What makes you qualified for this position? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Why did you choose to become an RN? Where do you see yourself in five years? Make a list of expected questions and outline some bullet points that you can use to answer them. Then practice your answers, either by yourself or with a willing helper. The point is not to memorize the answers, but rather to feel comfortable discussing the content so you won’t suddenly go blank during the interview.

7. But Remember There Will Be Some Curveball Questions

There’s no way to anticipate every single question an interviewer might ask you, so no matter how much prep work you do in advance, there will probably be one or two surprises. When this happens, take a sip of water or write down a note to give yourself a moment to think. If that’s not a possibility, you can even tell the interviewer, “That’s a really good question; give me a minute to think about it,” to buy yourself a few seconds to gather your thoughts.

8. Be Prepared to Ask Questions of Your Own

In most job interviews, the hiring manager will leave time at the end to answer any questions you may have. If you don’t have any questions ready to ask, it can seem like you haven’t done your homework on the company or that you weren’t paying attention during the interview — neither of which makes a good impression. Using your research, make up a list of questions you can ask beforehand about relevant topics, such as training programs for new nurses or scheduling requirements and patient ratios.

9. Don’t Forget That You’re Interviewing Them, Too

During interviews, it can feel like you’re on trial for a new job. But don’t forget that you’re also interviewing the company or facility to figure out if the job would be a good fit for your professional goals and interests. Asking questions will not only show that you’re active and engaged in the interview; it will also help you determine if the culture and job duties are in line with what you’re looking for.

10. Send a Thank You Note

If you have a phone interview, a quick email thank-you within 24 hours will show that you’re still interested in the position and grateful for the interviewer’s time. If you were called in for an in-person interview — especially if it’s the final round — you should send an email thank you within 24 hours as well, followed by a written thank-you within the week if you haven’t heard back.

Some people advocate for only handwritten thank-yous, but if the hiring manager is trying to make a decision within a few days, snail mail might not reach him or her in time. In all thank-you notes, be sure to reference something specific that you talked about to jog the interviewer’s memory.

Planning ahead can make the day of a big interview much less stressful. Follow these 10 steps to make sure you’re prepared to ace your nursing job interview.

 

Deborah Swanson is a Coordinator for the Real Caregivers Program at allheart.com. A site dedicated to celebrating medical professionals and their journeys. She keeps busy interviewing caregivers and writing about them and loves gardening.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Should I Quit This Darn Nursing Job?

Have you ever wondered when it’s time to quit your nursing job and move on? Are you stuck in a job, uncertain where to go next as a nurse? Or do you just need a change of scenery?

From Nurse Keith’s Digital Doorway

Have you ever wondered when it’s time to quit your nursing job and move on? Are you stuck in a job, uncertain where to go next as a nurse? Or do you just need a change of scenery? It’s all about timing, self-care, finances, lifestyle and workstyle, career development, and other factors that impact how long you stay and when (and why) you go.

Ready to Move On or Not?

Making the choice to move on from a nursing job you’ve had for a while is not always an easy choice. There are multiple reasons to move on, just as there may be a myriad of reasons to hang in there.

What has led you to quit jobs in the past? Was it money? Was it health insurance or other benefits? Were you mistreated, overworked, burned out, or underpaid? Did you receive an offer you simply couldn’t pass up? Did you need to relocate? Were there other reasons you left for greener pastures?

Sometimes we feel we should move on but something stands in our way. Is it the money or the benefits? Is it pressure from our spouse or family to not undergo the stress of a job change? Or is it just regular old lack of motivation and career lethargy?

Whether you currently need to move on or not, it’s always good to be prepared for the eventuality that a change may be on the horizon.

Some Reasons to Quit That Job and Move On

How many reasons are there to quit your nursing job? Let me count the ways.

Poor leadership/management: One of the top reasons that people leave jobs is poor management and leadership. When you don’t feel supported by those who you report you, the game’s over and it’s time to jump ship.

Your nursing license is endangered: If your work environment is such that you feel that your nursing license is at risk, leave that job today and don’t look back. No amount of money or benefits or prestige is worth the risk of losing the license that you’ve worked so hard to earn and maintain. An untold number of circumstances or conditions can endanger your license, patient care, and perhaps even your safety. My advice: don’t compromise on this ever! It’s just not worth it.

You are physically unsafe: An unsafe environment where you’re physically in danger and have little or no protection is a workplace that simply doesn’t deserve you. If your workplace doesn’t offer the resources to be physically safe from harm, grab your parachute and leap from the plane before you experience unnecessary and wholly preventable injury.

Mistreatment/bullying/harassment/etc: Mistreatment and aberrant behavior thrive in nursing and healthcare for some reason. Bullying is rampant, and discrimination and harassment are common. The presence of such behavior, when it goes uncorrected, is a sure sign that you need to exit, stage left as soon as possible. In the presence of persistent on-the-job bullying or harassment, I generally advise clients to leave their job immediately since that type of toxic environment eats away at the soul and psyche in very unhealthy ways that can be more damaging than being unemployed for a period of time between jobs. Bullying can cause you to make errors and lose confidence, and no one needs that kind of energy running in their work lives.

Overwork/staffing issues/burnout/unhealthy environment: This is so common it’s almost laughable if it wasn’t so tragic. California is the only state in the U.S. with mandated nurse-patient ratios, although some other states are moving in that direction. Legislation to mandate safe ratios nationwide makes its way through Congress every year but has yet to come down for a vote. Burnout often results from overwork, the pressures of mandatory overtime, long hours, high ratios, and unsafe staffing that can result in nurse or patient injury, medication errors, and many other less than positive outcomes.

Pay and benefits: With the cost of living as it is in the 21st century, it’s understandable that some nurses choose to leave their jobs in pursuit of more pay or improved benefits. Health insurance and your personal healthcare can be expensive, and some employers offer much more robust health benefits that others. Healthcare and childcare savings accounts help employees shelter more of their money from taxation, and other benefits like time off and money for continuing education can be attractive.

A better opportunity: Sometimes we leave jobs because something better came along. You never know when a new opportunity may cross your path, so be ready to jump when the jumping is good. New opportunities can lead to more responsibility, new clinical skills, a shot at a new circumstance that lends itself to career-building, or a host of other potential positive outcomes.

Relocation: Moving to a new home in a new town, city, or country is a common reason to leave your job. Relocation is common, and sometimes we just have to move for a variety of reasons, even if we’re happy in our work.

How to Leave Gracefully (or Not)

It’s almost always preferable to leave on a good note in the interest of relations and your reputation. If possible, you also may want to line up your next position before handing in your resignation. Of course, this is an optimal situation, and sometimes optimal is just not what presents itself. Here are some pointers for how to exit as gracefully as possible:

Give ample notice: I always recommend telling your boss that you’re leaving before you tell your colleagues (unless you have a peer in whom you’ve been confiding your plans). In terms of avoiding the unnecessary burning of professional bridges, try to give at least 2 weeks’ notice. However, it’s my humble opinion that giving notice isn’t totally necessary for a variety of reasons. For example, if you’ve documented bullying and reported it to your supervisors or managers, you deserve to leave stat if they’re consistently unresponsive. When you first report the situation, consider telling them that you’ll need to leave forthwith if the situation isn’t addressed appropriately and quickly. If you report it more than once and nothing happens, you’re in your rights to get out of there.

Request an exit interview: Exit interviews happen routinely in many industries, but I don’t really hear about them much in the healthcare setting. When preparing to leave, request an exit interview where you can give your employer or your supervisors feedback. If no exit interview is granted, put it all in writing, keep a copy for your records, and distribute it to as many key players as you like (e.g.: CEO, CFO, CNO, nursing director, charge nurse, supervisor, etc).

Connect with colleagues: A big order of business is connecting with friendly and supportive colleagues on LinkedIn throughout your career. It’s advisable to keep in touch with colleagues and peers over time for a variety of reasons, and LinkedIn is a great way to organize them all in one place. If you’re planning to quit or resign, begin connecting with your colleagues who you like and respect the most. Your ongoing job will be staying connected with those peers with whom you have the most positive rapport — you may need each other in the future. A nice gift to your best colleagues is to write them a recommendation on LinkedIn, which may be reciprocated. You can even ask to exchange recommendations with those with whom you share mutual respect and admiration. You can also ask certain individuals to serve as references in the future.

Offer to train your replacement: If you’re in a position with unique responsibilities, offer to train your replacement (if it’s at all possible). Sometimes we’re the holders of important knowledge or skill that needs to be passed on to the next person when appropriate.

Be self-contained: When you’ve decided to leave, play your cards close to your chest and don’t blurt it out everywhere at once. Be sensitive to your colleagues who may want to leave but can’t yet do it — they may be envious of your escape plan. Be empathic with those you’re leaving behind, especially if it’s a toxic or difficult work environment. Share the news of your leaving quietly and gracefully.

Document: If you wrote articles, co-authored studies, took part in committees, or otherwise got involved at work, save copies of anything you were a part of (unless, of course, it’s protected proprietary information that can’t legally leave the workplace).

Pat yourself on the back: You deserve it. Period.

As you can see, there are plenty of things to do in order to move forward into a brighter future.

Summing Up

Once you decide to leave, update your resume and LinkedIn profile with your new data. (If you’ve been following my advice all along, the job you’re leaving has been on your resume and LinkedIn profile since you first started that gig.) If you’re starting a new position right away, add it now.

If you’re leaving without the safety net of another job, you may have some budgeting to do. If you have a spouse or partner, make some plans — if you’re single, you’ll have to be even more diligent in terms of managing a period of unemployment on your own.

Once you start a new gig, begin forming relationships with fellow colleagues, connect on LinkedIn, and otherwise set the table for success.

When interviewing for your next position, you’ll most likely need to explain why you’re planning to leave your current job or why you already left. Have your authentic story ready — every circumstance is different, so there are no cookie cutter answers here.

If you need help in such an important transition, make use of a career coach, mentor, trusted colleague, or counselor. It can be a lonely and stressful time, so ask for support from whomever would be most effective at being present for you when you need it the most.

Leaving a job is a potentially stressful time, especially if you don’t have anything else lined up quite yet. Be thoughtful, circumspect, kind, strategic, organized, and gentle with yourself, and things will fall in place as you do your due diligence and move forward into an even more promising future.

Keith Carlson, RN, BSN, NC-BC, is the Board Certified Nurse Coach behind NurseKeith.com and the well-known nursing blog, Digital Doorway. Please visit his online platforms and reach out for his support when you need it most.

Keith is co-host of RNFMRadio.com, a wildly popular nursing podcast; he also hosts The Nurse Keith Show, his own podcast focused on career advice and inspiration for nurses.

A widely published nurse writer, Keith is the author of “Savvy Networking For Nurses: Getting Connected and Staying Connected in the 21st Century,” and has contributed chapters to a number of books related to the nursing profession. Keith has written for Nurse.com, Nurse.org, MultiViews News Service, LPNtoBSNOnline, StaffGarden, AusMed, American Sentinel University, the ANA blog, Working Nurse Magazine, and other online publications.

Mr. Carlson brings a plethora of experience as a nurse thought leader, online nurse personality, podcaster, holistic career coach, writer, and well-known successful nurse entrepreneur. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico with his lovely and talented wife, Mary Rives.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Travel Nursing: The Answer to Curing Nurse Burnout?

Burnout remains a common problem within nursing. Is travel nursing the cure?

By Guest Author: Deb Wood, RN, NursesRx Contributor

Burnout remains a common problem within nursing, driving nurses from a rewarding profession and negatively affecting patient safety.

“This is an ongoing problem, and we have to do something about it,” said Diana J. Mason, PhD, RN, FAAN, senior policy service professor at George Washington University School of Nursing in Washington, DC.

Vicki S. Good, DNP, RN, CPHQ, CPPS, past-president of American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), called burnout a “silent epidemic.”

A condition ACCN member Anna Rodriguez, BSN, RN CCRN, PCCN, began to experience while working at a hospital in Idaho. She began traveling, avoiding management responsibilities, colleagues calling off and hospital politics and, eventually, found a permanent position in Washington State she feels good about.

“[Travel nursing] was my way to recover from burnout,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriquez also blogs about burnout as a way for her and other nurses to become more resilient. She writes about patient compliments or something meaningful and then when she starts to feel burned out, she reads through it and reflects on what brought her to nursing.

Rodriguez is not alone in having felt burned out. Good reported that 30 percent to 50 percent of nurses exhibit characteristics of burnout, which is related to working in a high-stress environment. However, she added that most nurses do not realize when they are developing signs and symptoms of nursing burnout.

“Critical care nurses are at especially high risk for developing burnout syndrome, due to the high-risk and high-stress environment where they are asked to care for patients during a vulnerable time in the patient’s life, and often at the end of life, with the accompanying ethical issues,” Good said.

What is Nursing Burnout?

Burnout happens when clinicians are emotionally exhausted and feel alienated from their job-related activities.

“Nurses experience moral distress when they go home at the end of the day feeling that they were not able to do a good job, because they had too many patients and could not give them the care they needed and wanted,” Mason said. “Moral distress is tied with burnout and leaving [the profession].”

Many nurses experience burnout and leave nursing after one year, said Cynda H. Rushton, PhD, RN, FAAN, a professor of clinical ethics at Johns Hopkins University.

“Nurses’ work is intense,” Rushton said. “The suffering and conflicting values about patient care and the healthcare system can deplete people’s energy and make it difficult for them to feel they are making a difference.”

Nurses experience emotional, physical and spiritual depletion, Rushton said. People may shut down and go through the motions. Nurses may have difficulty sleeping or develop somatic symptoms or become cynical.

Repeated stressors lead to anxiety or disconnecting from work and losing passion, Rodriguez said.

“You lose whatever drive you had and you just don’t care anymore,” Rodriguez said.

Multiple research studies support that burnout presents a threat to patient safety. A 2016 paper from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reported that it’s because of depersonalization that results from burnout.

What to Do About Nurse Burnout?

“A lot can be done, starting with recognizing it and secondly being open to learning new ways of managing,” Rushton said. “Nurses have to practice in a way they feel is consistent with their ethical values.”

First of all, take care of yourself. Eat healthy, get enough rest, exercise, meditate, take breaks during your shift and time off for vacations, and put things in perspective.

“The better shape you are in, the better able you will be to withstand the physical, emotional and intellectual challenges of the job,” Mason said.

Joy Jacobson, MFA, at George Washington Nursing Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement, and Mason have worked to develop reflective writing initiative for nurses to reconnect with the meaning and value of their work and cope with burnout.

“Reflective practice helps nurse cope,” Mason said.

Rushton recently developed the 24-hour, in-person Mindful Ethical Practice and Resilience Academy to give nurses tools to combat burnout.

“It focuses on building skills in mindfulness, ethical competence and resilience,” Rushton said. “This was designed to give nurses the skills they need to address the inevitable ethical challenges at the bedside and be able to do that with more ease and not so much cost to self.”

Rodriguez called early recognition of nursing burnout key to dealing with it. She recommended developing a good support system. She also suggested talking to others, reflective journaling, self-care, and making a change to a “different role at work or changing locations.”

That may be time to travel. Nurses can work with their recruiters to ensure they fill assignments in facilities that staff adequately and value their nurses.

“Many nurses like the idea of seeing other parts of the country, find a place they like and stay there,” Mason said. “There are so many opportunities out there.”

NursesRx is the industry’s leading travel nursing company. Get access to the largest database of high-paying travel nursing jobs in all 50 states along with competitive benefits and perks. Let our experienced team match you with travel nursing job that best suits your skills, experience, and preferences.