Category: Nurse Life
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When the Caregiver Becomes the Casualty: The Killing of a Nurse and the Cost to Public Trust
There are moments in healthcare that hit different.Not because they’re clinically complex — but because they shake something deeper. This is one of those moments. Last week, the news broke about the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse in Minnesota, shot and killed during a federal immigration enforcement operation. And like so many Read more
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Shoulder Pads, Synth Music, and Solving Fake Crimes — The Leadership Party That Actually Taught Me Something
It’s been a minute since I’ve written, but leadership doesn’t always deliver big dramatic plot twists worth blogging about — sometimes it’s just staffing templates, inboxes full of “urgent” emails, and reminding people (again) that yes, the sharps container is full and yes, it needs to be changed. But yesterday, I was reminded of something Read more
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When the Department of Education Says Nursing Isn’t a “Profession” — We Have a Problem
By Scrubs & Shift Notes There are tone-deaf decisions…And then there’s whatever the Department of Education just did. Recently, the DOE announced that nursing no longer qualifies as a “professional degree” under its federal student loan categories — a move that is not only insulting, but dangerous, shortsighted, and completely disconnected from the reality of Read more
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🩵 When Coaching Turns Confrontational: A Woman’s Perspective on Leading With Authority
Every time I had to coach him, I braced myself — not for the conversation, but for the explosion that would follow. The raised voice. The defensiveness. The way the air in the room changed. And every time, I’d wonder — is this about his behavior, or about mine? Am I being challenged because I’m Read more
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The Price of Leadership: No One Talks About How Lonely It Gets
I remember when work was fun.Back when most of my friends were coworkers. We’d hang out after a shift, grab a few drinks, and let it all out. Talked about everything — the boss, the company, that one patient who could test a saint’s patience, and the never-ending “why are we still making this much Read more
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Dying with Dignity
Lessons from My Nursing Journey The path to nursing isn’t always straight or smooth—it can be winding, full of detours, and sometimes riddled with potholes. Mine started in an unexpected place: medical transcription school. It was there, at a small community health clinic, that I met someone who saw potential in me that I didn’t Read more
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September Is Deaf Awareness Month: Everyone Deserves to Be Understood
Communication: The Cornerstone of Care In healthcare, communication is everything. It can make or break patient safety, trust, and outcomes. But let’s be real—it’s not always easy. Language barriers, blindness, deafness, or even just the fast-paced chaos of a unit can get in the way of truly connecting with patients and families. September is Deaf Read more
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Clipboard Confessions: Labor Day Isn’t Always a Holiday in Healthcare
When “Labor Day” Means Actually… Laboring While the rest of the country is firing up the grill, soaking in three-day weekends, and flooding Instagram with lake day selfies, healthcare workers are clocking in. Again. Labor Day for us isn’t always hot dogs and cold drinks—it’s call bells and crash carts. Patients don’t take holidays off, Read more
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The Power of a Right Hand Woman
I’ll admit it—I’ve been staring at my screen with a serious case of writer’s block. Nothing, nada, zilch. Then it hit me: why not just write about what’s right in front of me? So here we are. Let’s talk about something that has changed my work life in a big way: hiring the right second-in-command. Read more
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Show Me Yours and I will Show You Mine-Stethoscopes
The Stethoscope: From Chest Trumpets to Clinical Icons Welcome back to Scrubs & Shift Notes—where coffee is strong, shifts are long, and nursing stories never get old. Today, we’re diving into something you probably have around your neck right now: the humble stethoscope. But did you know this essential tool has been around for over Read more