Expert Interviews, Guides & Advocacy Issues in Nursing

The healthcare community is a partnership between scientific research and clinical practice. For most of modern history, both arenas have been dominated by physicians. But as the healthcare workforce has expanded and the interprofessional care team emerged, nurse practitioners (NPs) have proven to be vital in delivering healthcare services in America.

We are thrilled to announce that the winner of this year’s NursingColleges.com Scholarship is Eboni Lee, a dedicated student at Chamberlain University. Born in Pensacola and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Eboni has always been fascinated by healthcare.

Nurse educators are highly skilled licensed RNs who train nursing students and provide ongoing education for professional nurses. They can be found in various settings, such as universities, community colleges, trade schools, and hospitals. A nurse educator is an informal term for RNs who oversee training programs, teach nursing in both clinical and classroom settings, and offer guidance to students at all levels of the nursing field.

Since the height of the pandemic, the number of nurse entrepreneurs has increased significantly, and the trend shows no sign of slowing, thanks in large part to the rise of social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, which have made finding creative and lucrative business ideas easier than ever.

NPs in states that offer the most practice autonomy will find the easiest path to opening their own practice. Whereas NPs working in states with restricted practice must find a supervising physician to collaborate with them.

The nurse would start with an assessment, form a nursing diagnosis, and start their plan. Afterward, they would implement the planned nursing interventions and evaluate if they led to optimal patient outcomes.

For many NPs, advocacy concerns a particular issue close to their heart, one connected to underserved patients who deserve additional support. For Dr. Jessica Peck, the issue is the fight against human trafficking.

Nurse practitioners still participate in traditional recruitment and hiring processes despite the high demand for their services. Job interviews remain the de facto standard for health systems, hospitals, private practices, and clinics seeking to retain the services of an NP.

As part of progress towards a more inclusive and just society, it is essential to recognize and challenge the stereotypes within nursing. These misconceptions have led to a lack of diversity in the nursing workforce and have prevented individuals from pursuing or excelling in their nursing careers. Nurses and the broader healthcare community must prioritize confronting these stereotypes and dismantling them with education, advocacy, and visibility of the diverse and capable individuals in the nursing profession.

A nurse instructor requires experienced nurses to take their knowledge and skills in nursing and translate them into lessons that help student nurses. Their goal is to provide high-quality training for nurses that promotes safe and effective patient care.