Dear Donna Career Advice
Donna Cardillo, RN, MA, Nurse.com's career advice columnist and president of Cardillo & Associates, is a keynote speaker, entrepreneur and author of "Your First Year as a Nurse: Making the Transition from Total Novice to Successful Professional" and "The ULTIMATE Career Guide for Nurses: Practical Advice for Thriving at Every Stage of Your Career."
She brings more than 20 years of clinical, management and business experience to her role as career guru.
She brings more than 20 years of clinical, management and business experience to her role as career guru.
How effective is a nurse preceptor at closing the gap between nursing theory and practice?
Dear Donna replies- Dear Seeking Answers, This almost sounds like a college class essay. If you're looking for evidence-based research sources on this you'll have to do the legwork on that yourself. C... read more
I need a change, but I think I am too old to back to school for my BSN. Do you have any suggestions for me?
Dear Donna replies- Dear Tired of Bedside Nursing, The great thing about nursing is that there are endless possibilities of things to do. Going back to school is great to do at any age. And at the ver... read more
I would like to change my career from prison nursing to palliative care. Do you know of any certification classes I can take?
Dear Donna replies- Dear Wants to Change Specialties, Many nurses tend to minimize the knowledge and experience they already have and realize how transferable it is into almost any other area of nursi... read more
I'm a 56-year-old RN with a BSN who wants to get back into the nursing job market. How do I start the journey to transition back into nursing?
Dear Donna replies- Dear Wants to Get Back Into Nursing, A great way to start the journey of transitioning back to nursing is to look for a volunteer position in healthcare. Consider your local public... read more
I will be graduating in May 2014 and deciding if I should go for my MSN or my nurse practitioner certification. What are the major differences between the two?
Dear Donna replies- Dear Perplexed Student Nurse, First of all, you don't need to make this decision just yet. It would be great if you could work as an RN for a bit before deciding. Many RNs who have... read more
Can you tell me if it is possible to get a reciprocal registration in Florida? If so, how I should go about the process and what is involved?
Dear Donna replies- Dear Wants to Work in Florida, Unless your nursing education was in a U.S. territory, you will need to have your overseas education verified to become eligible to take the RN licen... read more
Is it appropriate to say you'd like to think about it if you are offered a job on the spot at an initial interview?
Dear Donna replies- Dear On the Spot, While immediately accepting a position can be very flattering, it always is best to take some time to think over everything just discussed and be certain it is wh... read more
I found an intriguing part-time job for the end of my career. The problem is the pay rate is $11 an hour. Am I hurting my career or fellow nurses who have worked so hard for an education by accepting this pay rate?
Dear Donna replies- Dear Looking for a Happy Ending, Other than the low pay rate, the job sounds great for many different reasons. And you are clearly interested in it. Also, bariatric nursing is a gr... read more
Date: May 22, 2013 | Dear Donna
Question - Dear Donna, How effective is a nurse preceptor at closing the gap between nursing theory a.. Dear Donna replies- Dear Seeking Answers, This almost sounds like a college class essay. If you're looking for evidence-based research sources on this you'll have to do the legwork on that yourself. C... read more
I need a change, but I think I am too old to back to school for my BSN. Do you have any suggestions for me?
Date: May 21, 2013 | Dear Donna
Question - Dear Donna, I have been a RN for more than 25 years. I am a staff nurse, but at my age get.. Dear Donna replies- Dear Tired of Bedside Nursing, The great thing about nursing is that there are endless possibilities of things to do. Going back to school is great to do at any age. And at the ver... read more
I would like to change my career from prison nursing to palliative care. Do you know of any certification classes I can take?
Date: May 20, 2013 | Dear Donna
Question - Dear Donna, I have a BSN and would like to change my career from prison nursing to palliat.. Dear Donna replies- Dear Wants to Change Specialties, Many nurses tend to minimize the knowledge and experience they already have and realize how transferable it is into almost any other area of nursi... read more
I'm a 56-year-old RN with a BSN who wants to get back into the nursing job market. How do I start the journey to transition back into nursing?
Date: May 17, 2013 | Dear Donna
Question - Dear Donna, I'm a 56-year-old RN with a BSN who wants to get back into the nursing job mar.. Dear Donna replies- Dear Wants to Get Back Into Nursing, A great way to start the journey of transitioning back to nursing is to look for a volunteer position in healthcare. Consider your local public... read more
Date: May 16, 2013 | Dear Donna
Question - Dear Donna, I am an LVN, working in a small hospital for 1 1/2 years, and have experience .. Dear Donna replies- Dear Perplexed Student Nurse, First of all, you don't need to make this decision just yet. It would be great if you could work as an RN for a bit before deciding. Many RNs who have... read more
Can you tell me if it is possible to get a reciprocal registration in Florida? If so, how I should go about the process and what is involved?
Date: May 15, 2013 | Dear Donna
Question - Dear Donna, I was trained overseas and have a three-year bachelor's degree in nursing. I h.. Dear Donna replies- Dear Wants to Work in Florida, Unless your nursing education was in a U.S. territory, you will need to have your overseas education verified to become eligible to take the RN licen... read more
Is it appropriate to say you'd like to think about it if you are offered a job on the spot at an initial interview?
Date: May 14, 2013 | Dear Donna
Question - Dear Donna, Is it appropriate to say you'd like to think about it if you are offered a job.. Dear Donna replies- Dear On the Spot, While immediately accepting a position can be very flattering, it always is best to take some time to think over everything just discussed and be certain it is wh... read more
I found an intriguing part-time job for the end of my career. The problem is the pay rate is $11 an hour. Am I hurting my career or fellow nurses who have worked so hard for an education by accepting this pay rate?
Date: May 13, 2013 | Dear Donna
Question - Dear Donna, I commute one hour to work at a large city teaching university. I have been a .. Dear Donna replies- Dear Looking for a Happy Ending, Other than the low pay rate, the job sounds great for many different reasons. And you are clearly interested in it. Also, bariatric nursing is a gr... read more
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*Due to the sheer volume of questions received, Donna Cardillo cannot answer every question or respond privately to any questions. All questions answered will appear on Nurse.com, and some may be printed in Gannett Healthcare Group publications. Last names and e-mail addresses will be omitted.
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*Join Donna Cardillo on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at 7:30 AM America/New_York for an in person live event on 'Career Alternatives for Nurses®' in Woburn, MA and earn Nursing Continuing Education(CE) credits for your participation.
Go to www.Nurse.com/CEseminars for more information.
Go to www.Nurse.com/CEseminars for more information.
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