A few months ago, we kicked off an exciting promotion here at StressedOutNurses.com. With a $500 scholarship in hand, we went on a search to find a deserving student who coped with stress and exemplified the qualities of an excellent nurse. Professors from around the country sent in dozens of essays on behalf of their students. One stood out above the rest. “It’s hard to describe,” says Stephanie Oliver, a professor at...  Read More »

Stress can be emotional, physical, or spiritual. The first step in handling stress is to make sure we understand how we cope with it. As nurses, we can make the assumptions that our personal life and our work life cause us stress. There is really no need to make a list of our stressors, as this might cause us more stress. But, we have all developed ways to handle our stress: Sometimes we develop adaptive ways (yoga class once a week) and...  Read More »

After a couple of our recent NCLEX articles about waiting for results and finding success, we received an interesting email. Lawrence Underwood, a recent nursing school graduate from Illinois, told us he whizzed through the NCLEX in only 35 minutes. Thirty-five minutes!? We had to hear more. Here’s his story: Two years of school and countless hours of studying and anxiety all boiled down to one simple test: the NCLEX (insert scary...  Read More »

After a couple of our recent NCLEX articles about waiting for results and finding success, we received an interesting email. Lawrence Underwood, a recent nursing school graduate from Illinois, told us he whizzed through the NCLEX in only 35 minutes. Thirty-five minutes!? We had to hear more. Here’s his story: Two years of school and countless hours of studying and anxiety all boiled down to one simple test: the NCLEX (insert scary...  Read More »

Some states seem to have the nursing shortage in check. In others, it can be difficult to find a job as an RN. So what’s all this talk about the shortage? Welcome to Florida. A recent study released by the Florida Center for Nursing Care says the Sunshine State is facing a shortage that, by 2020, is "capable of crippling the healthcare system." According to the study, the state was short 11,000 nurses in 2007 and will be...  Read More »

The reason critical thinking is so important in nursing is based on what nursing does as a profession. Because we deal with people, there is much we must take into consideration and there are direct consequences to our nursing actions. Critical thinking is vital because it directs us in providing safe, competent care. For you to become a critical thinker, you must first answer the following questions. Be honest in your evaluation. What...  Read More »

Who knew two days could feel like an eternity? From Monday to Wednesday, I sat in suspense wondering my fate after taking my NCLEX. I wouldn’t have cared if I had to pay $100 to know my results immediately; I would have done anything not to have to wait those days. I was walking on eggshells. My mother asked me afterwards how it went and I didn’t have any words for her. I couldn’t explain what I had just gone through. It...  Read More »

The search for new nurses has left many hospitals looking high and low for recruits. In El Paso, TX, they don’t need to look far at all. A new program at El Paso Community College is turning paramedics, who already have an existing medical knowledge base, into RNs. There are 27 students enrolled in the first class that expects to bolster the low numbers of nurses in the area. Experts estimate that nearly 400 new nursing positions will...  Read More »

If you hesitate to approach your manager, ask yourself why. What is the fear or hesitation about? Did you have a bad past experience? Is it just lack of experience? Understanding and acknowledging how you feel will set the tone for communication. Feeling secure when speaking to your manager is all about your level of self-awareness. The confidence that arises when you take care of your own needs will keep you plugged into your own power—which...  Read More »

By Richard Freedberg, RN, MSN, MPA I teach in a community college that offers four different nursing programs designed to build on the past experiences and accommodate the busy lives of our diverse students. There are differences among the entry and upper levels of students in all of the programs, but there are also some striking similarities. One common thread shared by all is the question: "When will I feel like a nurse?" This...  Read More »