Category: Workplace Issues

It may not feel like it but, from what I hear, nurses are having trouble finding employment.  When the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed, hospitals got scared and were concerned whether they would be able to stay in business with the reimbursements provided by the ACA.  So, it appeared the nursing shortage went away, but hospitals were only waiting […]

Every nurse and health care provider knows that it is important to maintain patient confidentiality.  We are required to care for patients while respecting their privacy.  With that in mind, here are some tips on protecting patient privacy: Do NOT provide patient information to anyone. Even if a patient’s family or friends ask you for information, do NOT provide it.  […]

I remember when I was practicing that I would come to work and find almost everybody complaining.  How sick the patients were, about their assignment, what the previous shift didn’t do, difficult patients, that the family wasn’t there … and the complaints would go on and on.  From my clients, I also find occasional negativity about their workplace. Unfortunately, negativity […]

During this license renewal season, I have helped several nurses who were working at a place they knew was not the right fit for them, but continued to work there anyway. I call this “the square peg in the round hole”.  The fit could be with your coworkers or with the type of unit and type of patients.  No matter […]

As a nurse or other health care professional, we have a special relationship with our patients.  People expect a nurse to act in the patient’s best interest and to respect their dignity. It is extremely important for a health care professional to maintain a therapeutic relationship with the patient.  A therapeutic relationship is one where the nurse can apply her […]

It is with a bit of embarrassment that I share this story with you but in my opinion the teaching points are important. Those who have read my books have heard of the man who coded early in my nursing career.  While the more experienced nurses went to his aid, I was asked to watch the other patients on the […]

It is really sad to listen to the stories I hear from some of my clients about communications in nursing. Nurses talk behind each other’s back, complain about each other and, sometimes, have no hesitation in putting down others, right in front of each other. It’s sort of like middle school. I know I used to be quiet and keep […]

As a registered nurse, do you know the scope of practice? Have you reviewed the Nurse Practice Act of your State? Even with the Nurse Practice act, what does failure to keep abreast of current theory and practice mean? The policies and procedures of the facility at which you work are your guiding source. If your policies and procedures covers […]

A recent publication reported the story of a nurse who was still working in an emergency department after 23 years of dedicated service. During that time, she frequently experienced being spat upon, bitten, punched, slapped, cursed and even splashed in the face with bodily fluids. One of her latest encounters was the worst. Her patient was a man who had […]

Do you have an attitude of gratitude? Our society as a whole is so focused on things that go wrong rather than appreciating all the things that go right. When I was practicing nursing, I worked agency and would work at any hospital or unit where there was a need. Immediately, when I walked on to the unit, I could […]