Nurses and blogging

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I am a nursing student writing a research paper on the potential of nurses or nursing students using blogs as a self reflective practice to better their nursing skills/education. I am hoping you guys can share with me your opinions regarding this subject (for or against) and how blogging has affected you, if at all [positively, negatively?].

Also, I may quote some of the comments anonymously and use them in my paper. Thanks guys!:nurse:

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As a nursing student, the blogs have helped me with a view into the realistic world of nursing - common complaints, suggestions and humor.

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

I don't blog.

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Specializes in Mother Baby & pre-hospital EMS.

You can quote anything I write. :)

Blogging has been helpful in allowing me cope with nursing school and my job. For me, writing has always been a great way to get feelings out and not bottled up inside. My blogs are a great place to vent about things. I keep my nursing blog viewable to certain people only - including some nurses - so I feel more at ease to vent about nursing and feel like I will be somewhat understood. Whereas if I vented about my job in my general blog, I would be afraid to see comments from people that say things like "Toughen up," or "It sounds like you hate your job, why did you go into it," and such (from people who are not in nursing, don't want to hear about it, don't understand, etc.).

I also like blogs and journals because when I go back to read stuff later, I can see how far I have come and how much I have grown.

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I don't blog but I post on this site. I use it as form of stress relief to get my mind off problems. When I first discovered this site, I was more interested in the learning aspects of it. I will still first go to a thread where I think I might learn something.

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Specializes in ICU.

I've been blogging for a decade. Just finished a shift, saw your post... and wanted to give you 10 great reasons why every Nurse should blog:

1. Creative outlet

2. Improve your communication skills (writing)

3. Break barriers: conquer stage fright, as well as control your own 'impostor syndrome'

4. Promote your profession

5. Educate the public & other health care professional: Dispel false information about your profession (explain why hollywood medicine is wrong)

6. Professional Networking

7. Social interaction with others who share your struggle

8. Develop healthy coping mechanisms

9. Learn and properly manage HIPAA compliant online information

10. Teach and educate the next generation of Nurses (or Nursing students)

11.... bonus... you can actually make money doing it.

~Sean

ACNP, blogger, podcaster, mediapreneur

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Hi Sean,

I have always been curious about how a person makes money having a website. Can you please help me with that? I have some great ideas but have no idea how to make them make me money.

Thanks so much!

Renee

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A blog can definitely serve as a way to increase reflective practice. But I think it can go far beyond that. I require all of my NP students to start blogs. Think about the last time you needed to find a new physician or provider. You do a search on Google, and all you see is the same "Dr so and so graduated from ... and is dedicated to ..." Imagine if their website was filled with their insight into how they view health, how they approach patients, their philosophy of intervention (e.g., cut now or wait and see?).

When you blog, people will begin to trust you and feel that they know you. They will look forward to reading your material. Imagine as a new NP grad, approaching your first job with a blog with 100 articles and 500 e-mail subscribers that read you on a weekly basis? Think you might be able to negotiate a better salary? Imagine if you decide to leave the practice to start your own after five years? Think that 500 article website, 3000 e-mail subscriber list will come in handy?

Renee,

Probably the easiest way to start making money with a blog is through affiliate sales. Blog about something that interests you and recommend products/services related to that topic. Alternatively, you could offer a product or service of your own.

For example, say you're really into fitness. There are a lot of fitness plans that pay commissions for referrals. So you buy the plan, blog about it. Talk about what you like and don't like. Offer tips for people considering the plan. Every post has a link to the plan. If someone clicks on your link, you get a commission. That's called an affiliate sale.

Now, let's say you want to develop it further. Say the plan requires kettlebells, so you have links to kettlebells on Amazon, and you get a commission there too. Then, some people buy the product and are confused or need help implementing it, and since you're an expert on the product in their eyes, you sell private coaching online to people who bought the product, helping them to get the most out it.

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