Nurse Beth MSN

Tele, ICU, Staff Development

Hi! Nice to meet you! I especially love helping new nurses. I am currently a nurse writer with a background in Staff Development, Telemetry and ICU.

Career Columnist / Author

All Content by Nurse Beth

  1. Dear Nurse Beth, Should I quit my nursing residency program if its taking a toll on my physical and mental health? Going 5 months into this job I ended up having depression, back injury and IBS...
  2. Dear Should I Quit, Your decision to quit a nursing residency program should be carefully considered, especially if it's affecting your physical and mental health. Here are some factors to...
  3. Nurse Beth

    RN Endorsement

    I'm sorry you're in this situation. Every state Board of Nursing (BON)/Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) sets its own minimum number of clinical hours for nursing students. For example,...
  4. Dear Nurse Beth, I'm a guy who graduated from Waubonsee CC in 1993 with an ADN, and passed NCLEX. I don't think it has any accreditations, and of course it's not a recent accomplishment. I have a...
  5. I got married and a year and seven months later I decided to add my husband's name (Hyphenated)but forgot to submit a name change to the BON which I see now that it states within 30 days will I lose...
  6. Dear Forgot, You will not lose your license, although taking care of this promptly is important. You are not the first RN to miss a name or address change deadline. Nursing licenses are...
  7. Hello. I have been an ICU nurse for a year 1/2. I graduated in 2022. I am expecting my first child, and am wanting a long lasting nursing career as well as something less demanding as ICU. Would OR or...
  8. Nurse Beth

    Should I go into float pool as a new grad?

    Dear Wants to Float, Congratulations on being in your last semester! You have been thinking about your career path; kudos to you! Some will disagree with me, but I strongly recommend against...
  9. Nurse Beth

    Which is easier, OR or PACU?

    Dear Expecting, Congratulations on your pregnancy and your nursing career! Transitioning from the ICU to another nursing specialty can provide a more manageable work-life balance, which can be...
  10. Nurse Beth

    How do I get accomodations for test taking?

    Dear Anxious, To obtain special accommodations, such as extra time for exams due to anxiety or any other documented disability, you typically need to follow an official process. Here are the...
  11. Dear Nurse Beth, Can you please inform me how to get special accommodations? extra-time for taking exams? if one is suffering from anxiety. What is the procedure? How does one get diagnosed,...
  12. Nurse Beth

    Why is my job search a failure?

    Dear Overlooked, ADN degree holders can face challenges in the job market, especially in areas where BSNs have become the norm for entry-level nursing positions. Depending on where you live, the...
  13. Dear Nursing Student, Congratulations on taking an active role in your treatment and finding effective solutions. You are successfully managing your bipolar disorder. Try not to stress....
  14. I am a nursing student and I just found out that I have to disclose my mental illness on my nursing application. I am bi-polar and was diagnosed very young; I haven't had an issue in over 25 years. I...
  15. Hi Nurse Beth, I have been a Public Health Nurse for 5 years. I did Labor and Delivery as a New grad and lasted for 8 months. I originally went to nursing school to work in some aspect of...
  16. Nurse Beth

    Is Walden a good school for pysch NP?

    Dear Thinking, While I can't endorse any particular school or program, I can give you some important things to consider when selecting an NP Program. It's an important decision and there's...
  17. Hi Nurse Beth, I am a freshman in college majoring in nursing. I have been struggling a lot with knowing if nursing is really for me. The reason I went into nursing is because I love anatomy and...
  18. Nurse Beth

    Wants to Be a Nurse But Afraid it's Gross

    Dear Struggling, It is a big decision, I hear you. You say what's important to you is working with children and working in healthcare. You are drawn to flexibility, and you sound...
  19. Yes, it's worth it! 45 is young
  20. Nurse Beth

    Worried About HIPAA Violations

    Dear Major Anxiety, Don't report yourself to anyone. Put it in your rearview mirror and let it go. It is extremely unlikely anything at all will come of your posts. Accidental violations by...
  21. Hi Nurse Beth, I have a question ... I admittedly have major anxiety. It affects my work being that I overthink and tend to make a mountain out of a molehill. I try to follow ALL the rules. HIPAA is...
  22. Exactly! Good luck in your new venture
  23. Dear Nurse Beth, I am currently an adult NP heading into a career in a profession outside of the field of nursing. If I leave is there a way I can maintain my ANCC certification without the 1000...
  24. I think often hugging a patient in such circumstances is more about the low-level anxiety and discomfort of the staff/provider, and not about the
  25. The options I mentioned in my previous response are related to board certification through the ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center). Board certification, in this context, refers to the...