Just when we thought nursing couldn’t get anymore challenging (thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic) along came a chilling verdict of guilty in the criminal prosecution of RaDonda Vaught for a medication error.
Is the most important healthcare profession overwhelmed to a breaking point? How are you personally coping with the state of nursing and healthcare? Are you thinking about leaving the profession for a safer or less stressful option?
You chose to be an RN. You can’t take that back. Nursing is your profession and to some extent your identity. As hard as you might try, you probably won’t single-handedly change it this year or the next or the next.
In 1982 I chose to revolutionize my own nursing career and the careers of other RNs when I pioneered legal nurse consulting. More than ever I believe Nurses Week should not just be a celebration, but also a time for reflection of what you want your nursing career to be.
For 40 years it’s been my goal to help RNs find and own your voice, believe in yourself and speak up for what you know without fear of discrimination, harassment or suppression. It’s also been my goal to free you to be your own boss, make your own choices and design a nursing career that fulfills you. These goals will be how I define my RN career until I draw my last nursing breath.
How about you? Where will your nursing career take you next?
We Are Nurses and We Can Do Anything!®
P.S. Comment and share how you’re personally coping with the state of nursing and healthcare.
P.P.S. Here’s the ANA’s Official Response to the Trial of RN RaDonda Vaught.
