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.
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
My CNO and director want me to write a late documentation, but I was under the impression a late entry shows guilt or a cover-up. Is a late note necessary or should I leave the charting as it is?
Dear Donna replies- Dear Concerned, A late entry does not imply guilt or a cover-up. It sometimes simply can be something the nurse forgot to document. However, if there were ever a lawsuit related to... read more
How can I find a job online in the U.S., and how can I register for Nursing without Borders?
Dear Donna replies- Dear On The Move, To find a nursing position in the U.S, I would suggest you contact an international nursing agency that places nurses from your current country in the U.S. You ca... read more
I have had four different jobs in less than 10 years. I need to work, but I am not sure what I really want to do. Any advice for me?
Dear Donna replies- Dear Not Sure What I Want, Four jobs in 10 years is not so unusual. Nurses change jobs more often these days than in the past. I always changed jobs every two to four years, mostly... read more
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
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?
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
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
My CNO and director want me to write a late documentation, but I was under the impression a late entry shows guilt or a cover-up. Is a late note necessary or should I leave the charting as it is?
Date: May 10, 2013 | Dear Donna
Question - Dear Donna, A confused and unstable ambulatory patient I was caring for developed two skin.. Dear Donna replies- Dear Concerned, A late entry does not imply guilt or a cover-up. It sometimes simply can be something the nurse forgot to document. However, if there were ever a lawsuit related to... read more
How can I find a job online in the U.S., and how can I register for Nursing without Borders?
Date: May 9, 2013 | Dear Donna
Question - Dear Donna, I'm a nurse with a BSN and I am working on my master's in community health in .. Dear Donna replies- Dear On The Move, To find a nursing position in the U.S, I would suggest you contact an international nursing agency that places nurses from your current country in the U.S. You ca... read more
I have had four different jobs in less than 10 years. I need to work, but I am not sure what I really want to do. Any advice for me?
Date: May 8, 2013 | Dear Donna
Question - Dear Donna, I have been an RN since 1990 and I have an MSN. I have worked as a staff nurse.. Dear Donna replies- Dear Not Sure What I Want, Four jobs in 10 years is not so unusual. Nurses change jobs more often these days than in the past. I always changed jobs every two to four years, mostly... 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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Go to www.Nurse.com/CEseminars for more information.
Go to www.Nurse.com/CEseminars for more information.
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