My earliest thoughts of what I would be ‘when I grew up’ was always “a nurse of course”! Why, I do not know, I did not come from a family of health care professionals, I was not sickly as a child with multiple hospitalizations, I just always KNEW, I would be a nurse. First Attempt at Nursing School After high school I was accepted to the nursing program at Long Beach State. That was in 1971 and the dorms were co-ed and sadly, I spent that year growing up, away from my overbearing father and well, did not attend many classes, resulting in an academic dismissal. That sent me on…
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What Nobody Tells You About Nursing Until You’re Already In It
I didn’t go to nursing school to become an insurance appeals specialist. Here’s What Nobody Tells You About Nursing Until You’re Already In It… Nobody does that. You go to nursing school because you want to help people. Because something in you responds to the idea of being present with someone in their most vulnerable moment and actually making a difference. That’s the story we tell ourselves on the way in. And it’s true, for some part of every shift. But there’s another part nobody warns you about. I spent a decade working in the ER as a case management nurse. And while the patient bedside work was everything I…
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Have you ever felt absolute dread the day before a shift…or walking into one?
Have you ever felt absolute dread the day before a shift…or walking into one? If so, this is for you. This is my story from those moments…or for me, several moments…of my body rebelling against something I thought I had to do to the point where I finally said, no more, and found a new way. I’m a nurse practitioner, currently working as a nurse life coach. I’ve been in healthcare for 21 years. During that time, I chose my job over my family, over myself, and over what my body was trying to tell me. My Body’s Protests Grew Louder In the last few years, my body got louder…
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Another Honor Bestowed on TNS
I recently heard that another honor was bestowed on TNS – TheNursingSite.com. Many thanks to Feedspot.com for honoring the Top 80 Nursing Blogs of 2026. Be sure to check out this list and see if you’re getting all the best nursing blogs in your own feed. This list grows every year and there are even more fabulous nursing sites fro TNS to be included with. FeedSpot helps you find the best blogs on the web https://bloggers.feedspot.com/ Sharing news, knowledge, and experiences helps us grow as a Profession! I congratulate every blog listed here for their dedication to our fellow nurses and to the improvement of healthcare and patient outcomes. Nurses…
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Healthcare Illiteracy: The Hidden Barrier in Patient Care
In modern healthcare, clinicians rely on advanced technology, innovative treatments, and evidence-based practice to improve patient outcomes. Yet one of the greatest barriers to effective care is far less visible: healthcare illiteracy. Many patients struggle to understand medical information, instructions, and even basic terminology used during clinical encounters. As a result, they may leave healthcare settings confused, overwhelmed, or unable to follow their care plan. Health literacy expert Helen Osborne has spent decades studying how communication affects patient understanding. Her work reminds healthcare professionals that the success of treatment plans depends not only on clinical expertise but also on the clarity of communication. What Is Healthcare Illiteracy? This is a…