Nursing Communities

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Hello all,

I am currently working on a class assignment for my RN-BSN program. For part of this project, I am needing nurses opinions on:

What are the potential benefits of joining a community of practice (such as allnurses.com)?

I have some of my own ideas, but interested in what others have to say on the subject.

Any thoughts!!

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

you learn that your issues are not that unique so nothing is wrong with you

you learn that someone has a better idea

you learn that others share your interests

you learn how to use your resources

you learn how to laugh at yourself!

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You learn that it is almost always not about you

You learn how to spell HIPAA

You learn that there are many, many, many ways to be a real nurse without working bedside in a hospital or SNF

You learn that they don't do it that way everywhere just because they do it that way where you are

You learn where critical thinking can take you

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Specializes in CCU, Geriatrics, Critical Care, Tele.

Great question! I'm glad your nursing instructors are having you explore this topic!

I just posted this thread on our facebook page for more feedback:

https://www.facebook.com/allnursescom/posts/371578776268654

Be sure to check there for responses as well.

Good Luck with your project!

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Specializes in Community.

You can gain support from other nurses if you are having bad day without upsetting your colleagues or work knowing.

Can speak to a wider range of people and gain opinions from across various fields and countries.

In my area of nursing I barely ever see the other nurses I work with so it can also provide a sense of community when there is none in the workplace.

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I have been a nurse for over 25 years. I have found that in my area that I love, there is tremendous amount of pressure on the RN's to lie about patient's level of functioning. If you tell the truth, people in charge get their noses out of joint ... and you get fired. If you follow what they ask you to do, you are lying, you are jeopardizing your license, if you get caught you can even go to jail. So, you are in a lousy situation. I can't lie..and I get in trouble because the people in charge have to discharge patients and they lose revenue. I have spoken to many nurses who find the exact same thing. No one knows what to do. so you keep looking for jobs all the time.The politics are stupid.I found it beneficial to talk to nurses in the same boat and learn from them, commiserate etc.

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Hello all,

I am currently working on a class assignment for my RN-BSN program. For part of this project, I am needing nurses opinions on:

What are the potential benefits of joining a community of practice (such as allnurses.com)?

I have some of my own ideas, but interested in what others have to say on the subject.

Any thoughts!!

Well, I can't speak for any other nurses out there but I use it for camraderie, opinions of peers, current trends in Nursing around the country, helpful hints and suggestions and the oportunity to hear/see potential issues I haven't experienced in my career.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I wish there had been a community of nurses like allnurses when I was just starting out, because I spent a lot of time feeling anxious in much the same way new nurses express here but I had nobody to talk to about it so I assumed it was just me.

I also learned that many of the problems I saw and ideas I had to improve things but never spoke up about have actually become established practice in many places now.

Although it probably doesn't seem like it at the time, even the responses people perceive as negative are a dose of reality you are much better off getting here on a message board than you would from some of the people at your first job.

If you are looking for support here, you will find it. I always have. Not from everyone, that is for sure -- but it is so worth the investment in time to make those positive connections.

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You learn how to spell HIPAA

That is THE best answer...hahaha

It's good to keep current on issues too. They always talk about that in school...how part of being a "professional" is staying up to date on issues in nursing. There are lot of articles posted here and people discussing things happening in the nursing world.

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You learn that you are not alone with your troubles and there are people that can help you gain strength if you are feeling a bit down or discouraged. Being in the community also gives you a chance to meet new people and potential friends.

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A few years ago I got my first job from a lead a stranger gave me on allnurses, after a long period of unemployment. I never would have heard about the job otherwise. Major benefit! It seemed like I was pretty much the first new grad to post on here about not being able to find a job (many people here thought that was ridiculous at the time). A couple of years later (and now) I think everyone here is aware of how difficult it is to get a job in most areas of the country, so people in nursing school are more aware of the need to network and prepare for a possible period of unemployment.

Now that I have several years of experience, I sometimes search allnurses or start a new topic if I want to make a policy/practice change in my hospital. Being able to pull opinions from all over the country helps me to make my case to management and/or co-workers.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

You learn that you are not alone.....

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