Category Archives: Expert Advice

Professionalism: How to List Your Credentials

I’ve gotten questions from students and readers about how to list their credentials, so I thought I’d give you some quick tips based on what I was taught and from my experience as an editorial board member. This post discusses why credentials are important, how to list your credentials for

Grammar and Spelling Count! Tips for Writing Academic Papers

As a nursing student, you will be required to submit many written assignments in the form of care plans, reports, reflection papers, journal entries, research papers, and the like. In all of these assignments, your attention to grammar and spelling will be essential to getting your point across and getting

The Seven Rights of Medication Administration: Should There Be More?

One of the most important interventions nurses provide to patients and clients is to administer medications.  The original “five rights” of medication administration taught in all nursing schools have been expanded to seven rights – and I’ve seen as many as 12 Rights suggested. This post will explain the basic Rights of Medication

Expert Advice: Take Time Off to Reconnect and Rejuvenate!

It’s the end of July and it’s the middle of summer is here in the US and many parts of the Northern Hemisphere. It’s the middle of winter in the Southern Hemisphere. For some, nursing school will be starting soon. Those on the semester system typically start in August or September.

Getting Your First or an Advanced Degree in Nursing: What Type of Nursing Program is Right for You?

Original post published August 8, 2017. Updated June 16, 2019. In this series of posts, I started talking about advancing your nursing career by deciding to go back to school for an advanced nursing degree – be it BSN, MSN, or PhD/DNP. The previous post covered the types of questions to ask

Internal Validity: Evaluating the Credibility of Research Results

I frequently emphasize in this blog that to use research and evidence in practice the nurse must be able to critically appraise a research study to ensure that the research methods were strong so, therefore, the results can be trusted. Threats to internal validity can erode confidence in the research

Quick Tip: What’s the Difference Between the Independent and Dependent Variable?

This Quick Tip explains how to remember the difference between the independent and dependent variable in quantitative research studies. To read the in-depth post, click HERE. Independent and dependent variables are concepts with which many nursing students struggle. Hey, I did, too! But don’t give up! You’ll get better at

Deep Dive: What’s the Difference Between the Independent and Dependent Variable?

This deep dive post explains the concepts of single and multiple research variables and, importantly, how to identify the independent and dependent variable in quantitative research studies.  Practice examples are included! Independent and dependent variables are concepts with which many nursing students struggle. Hey, I did, too! But don’t give up! You’ll

Career Advice: Which of the Terminal Degrees Do You Suggest for a Nurse Educator?

Original post was published on June 6, 2017. Updated: March 20, 2019. This career advice question came from a comment on my YouTube video about nursing doctorates. The writer, a hospital clinical educator, asked which terminal degrees I suggested for a nurse educator to pursue. I could really go into

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