Discover how nursing pioneers like Szold, Wald, and Mahoney shaped healthcare—and how their stories inspire today’s nurses to advocate for respect, equity, and excellence.

Learn how to prevent medication errors in nursing — from the 6 rights to real-world strategies for new nurses and NCLEX prep.

Learn how to prevent medication errors in nursing — from the 6 rights to real-world strategies for new nurses and NCLEX prep.

Test anxiety during the NCLEX is more than nerves — it can seriously affect how you think, recall, and perform. As a nurse coach who’s worked with dozens of anxious test-takers, I’ve seen firsthand how smart students can blank out, freeze, or fall apart under pressure. But I’ve also seen them succeed — using the exact NCLEX test anxiety tips I’m sharing with you today.

There’s that moment — when something starts going wrong, alarms go off, or a patient looks “off” — and suddenly, your brain blanks.

You know what to do… but your body won’t move.

Freezing in clinicals or on the floor happens to more new nurses than you think.

Nursing school teaches you the science. The NCLEX tests your memory. But nothing quite prepares you for the emotional rollercoaster that is your first shift as a nurse.

I used to think I was the only one feeling overwhelmed, second-guessing myself, and praying no one noticed how terrified I was.

Spoiler: I wasn’t alone — and neither are you.

You’ve memorized the pharmacology charts. You’ve passed the simulations. You’ve done the study groups, the flashcards, and maybe even cried over a dosage calc or two. But out on the floor? It’s a whole different game.

That’s where the real nursing hacks come in — the clever, unexpected tricks that make your shift smoother, faster, and way less stressful. These are the little things that nobody teaches you in school, but every nurse ends up picking up somewhere along the way.

Here are 15 of the best ones I’ve gathered (and wish I’d known sooner)

In nursing, unpredictability is the norm. Code blues, short staffing, combative patients, and sudden patient declines are all part of the job. The reality is that we’re facing a nursing shortage, and hospitals are working to address the reasons why so many nurses are leaving the field. While we can’t always control our work environment, we can control how we prepare and adapt.

If you're about to take the NCLEX, you probably feel a mix of nerves and excitement. But what happens after you pass? What they don’t tell you is that fundamental nursing differs from answering NCLEX questions. Whether you're gearing up for test day or already on the floor as a new nurse, let’s walk through what to expect from both experiences—and how to connect the dots between them.

As a new nurse or NCLEX student, learning to spot early warning signs can be the difference between a stable patient and a full-blown emergency. This is where your detective skills come in. You don’t need a badge—just a keen eye, sharp critical thinking, and the confidence to act.

Nurses are taught to advocate for patients—but who’s advocating for the nurses? Many nurses struggle to set boundaries, push back against unfair treatment, or ask for help when overwhelmed. The demanding nature of the profession can sometimes make self-advocacy feel uncomfortable or even impossible.

Healthcare workers are twice as likely to experience depression compared to other professions. Exposure to violence, online harassment, and emotional trauma increases the risk of PTSD and anxiety in nurses. If you've ever felt exhausted, detached, or emotionally drained—you’re not alone.

Social media has transformed how we connect, share, and engage with the world. For nurses, it can be an excellent tool for networking, professional growth, and patient education. However, it also comes with serious risks—from online harassment to job-related consequences that could impact your career.

Workplace violence in healthcare is alarmingly common, yet it remains underreported, dismissed, or even accepted as “part of the job.”

For new nurses and NCLEX students, understanding the reality of workplace violence is essential. Knowing what to expect, how to recognize the signs, and what steps to take can help protect you and your colleagues.

Confidence is an essential quality for nurses at all stages of their careers. It influences everything from mastering new procedures to advocating for patients and making sound clinical decisions. For new nurses and NCLEX students, confidence can be the key to overcoming challenges like imposter syndrome, performing under pressure, and providing safe, effective care. In this blog, we’ll explore why confidence is vital, how it impacts nursing practice, and actionable strategies for building and maintaining it.

 Professional boundaries are an essential component of ethical and practical care. They serve as a framework to maintain trust, safety, and respect between professionals and their clients, colleagues, or superiors. For nurses, these boundaries are crucial for fostering therapeutic relationships, ensuring patient safety, and upholding professional integrity. Violations of these boundaries can have lasting consequences, including legal penalties, damage to reputation, and harm to patient well-being.

Nurses are on the front lines of healthcare, making decisions that directly affect patients' lives. Those decisions aren’t just clinical but moral and legal, too. Ethical dilemmas and legal conflicts come up all the time in nursing.

The American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics and legal frameworks give us the tools to handle these situations with integrity, professionalism, and compassion.

Let’s talk about something that will help you crush the NCLEX and give you a serious edge as a new nurse: Chronic Disease Management.

Ninety percent of the nation's $4.5 trillion in annual healthcare expenditures are for people with chronic and mental health conditions. Chances are, a massive chunk of your patient load will consist of people with chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, or COPD. These conditions don’t go away after one hospital visit—they’re lifelong and require a lot of TLC to keep under control.

Pain management is not just a clinical issue; it’s a deeply personal and emotional one that can significantly affect patients' quality of life. For many patients, advocating for their needs becomes a crucial part of the journey.

Effective communication bridges the gap between what you say and what patients understand. It's about being clear, concise, and compassionate, ensuring your message is heard, understood, and actionable.