How to Become a Nurse:
Your Nursing Career Guide

You won’t find test items on humor when you sit for your NCLEX. And there probably wasn’t a chapter on telling jokes during your nursing education. Yet humor is one of a nurse’s best tools and an accepted part of nursing practice. Laughter is good for you, your co-workers, and your patients.Humor is a crucial component of life. Every human is born with a sense of humor, and every culture has its own form of comedy. Mark Twain ...

Have you ever heard this: “Oh, so you’re just a nurse. Why didn’t you become a doctor?” Or: “Nurses only do what the doctors tell them.” Or “Nurses are really doctor assistants.” Maybe you have even said it about yourself: “I’m just a nurse.”It’s time for every nurse to stop being humble and self-deprecating. Remember that every year since it began, the Gallup Poll finds th ...

During your nursing education, you learn everything from Anatomy to Z-track injections. One topic that isn’t always emphasized is the absolute need for civility, how important it is when you enter the workplace, and how it can impact your ability to provide excellent care.What is civility?The dictionary defines civility in two words: courtesy and politeness. But in the high-pressure environment of today’s healthcare, we need a b ...

Choosing to specialize in geriatric nursing—also called gerontological nursing--can be a great decision, no matter where you are in your career. Caring for adults who are 65 years and older is both challenging and meaningful. If your perception of gerontology is restricted to administering medications and cleaning up after clients with dementia, we’re here to expand your thinking.The American Geriatrics Society cites studies showing ...

Being a nurse is satisfying. Providing excellent care to clients allows you to combine both critical thinking and compassion. But it can also be challenging; juggling priorities, meeting job expectations, and still finding a few minutes to sit with a client can lead to feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. You’re reading one of our “Nursing Career Guide” articles. Need to practice for your upcoming exam? Take our free NCLEX practic ...

Congratulations on earning your nursing license! You are now a member of an elite profession that involved jumping many hurdles to reach your goal:Getting accepted to nursing school is extremely competitive. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) reports that in 2019, 80,407 qualified applicants were turned away from programs. You were accepted! The Nursing Standard and Health Foundation found that since 2006, 25% of nu ...

As you prepare to start your career as a professional licensed nurse, it’s important to take time to create a nursing portfolio. It’s easy to do -- just a few minutes will get you started. From there, you will keep it updated as your career continues. It will become a record of your growth, as well as a valuable tool for your future.What is a nursing portfolio?Your nursing portfolio is documentation of your professional life. ...

Professional Liability Insurance: Why EVERY Nurse Must Have ItYou worked hard to earn your nursing degree. Then you studied to pass NCLEX. Now, you’re a licensed nurse, ready to start the most respected profession. Your professional license should be insured, the same as your health, house, or car. It represents your livelihood, as well as the investment you made to become a nurse. For about $2.00 a week, you can protect your career… and ...

No matter where you are in your nursing career, consider yourself on the front line of the COVID-19 battle. That’s because nursing is considered the most honest and ethical profession. For the 19th year in a row, Gallup poll results put nurses in the Number One spot; 89% of Americans feel that nurses rank highest of 15 occupations in their honesty and ethics. (As a comparison, physicians have a 77% rating and pharmacists have a 71% rating.) ...