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.
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
I had no issues as a telemetry nurse before some unfortunate experiences working in ICU. Can you advise me as to how to move forward?
Dear Donna replies- Dear Forced to Resign, It's better that your record will reflect that you resigned, rather than being fired. So when asked why you left, just say something like, "The job wasn't a ... read more
What resources or recommendations do you have for an RN with a master's in public health who is interested in nursing anthropology?
Dear Donna replies- Dear Culturally-Minded Nurse, There are several articles at Nurse.com on the subject, such as "An Anthropological Perspective" (http://news.nurse.com/article/20000306/IL/3060348) a... read more
Is there a certain type of family nurse practitioner focus I could take to help me achieve my goal, which is to help the baby boomers and open my own healthy lifestyle business?
Dear Donna replies- Dear Future FNP, Your FNP education and training will have broad applications. You'll be able to specialize in or focus on almost anything you want. Many nurses, and others, are cr... read more
I have spent the past 20 years working in home care and need a change. Can you suggest another field that would not require any further education?
Dear Donna replies- Dear Burned Out, Clearly it's time for a change. When you say any other field, I'm not sure if you want something totally different in nursing or out of nursing altogether. Some nu... read more
I need advice on the best educational path to take to become an RN, and then eventually a nurse practitioner.
Dear Donna replies- Dear Considering Becoming an RN, Taking steps now to enroll in a BSN program is a great way to start. During your education, including your clinical experience, you'll learn much m... read more
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
I had no issues as a telemetry nurse before some unfortunate experiences working in ICU. Can you advise me as to how to move forward?
Date: May 7, 2013 | Dear Donna
Question - Dear Donna, I have been a nurse for a year and a half. I started in ICU after a year of me.. Dear Donna replies- Dear Forced to Resign, It's better that your record will reflect that you resigned, rather than being fired. So when asked why you left, just say something like, "The job wasn't a ... read more
Date: May 7, 2013 | Dear Donna
Question - Dear Donna, What resources or recommendations do you have for an RN with a master's in pub.. Dear Donna replies- Dear Culturally-Minded Nurse, There are several articles at Nurse.com on the subject, such as "An Anthropological Perspective" (http://news.nurse.com/article/20000306/IL/3060348) a... read more
Is there a certain type of family nurse practitioner focus I could take to help me achieve my goal, which is to help the baby boomers and open my own healthy lifestyle business?
Date: May 6, 2013 | Dear Donna
Question - Dear Donna, I am 56 years old and have been a nurse for five years. I will be completing m.. Dear Donna replies- Dear Future FNP, Your FNP education and training will have broad applications. You'll be able to specialize in or focus on almost anything you want. Many nurses, and others, are cr... read more
I have spent the past 20 years working in home care and need a change. Can you suggest another field that would not require any further education?
Date: May 3, 2013 | Dear Donna
Question - Dear Donna, I have been in the nursing profession for 26 years, have a BSN and spent the p.. Dear Donna replies- Dear Burned Out, Clearly it's time for a change. When you say any other field, I'm not sure if you want something totally different in nursing or out of nursing altogether. Some nu... read more
I need advice on the best educational path to take to become an RN, and then eventually a nurse practitioner.
Date: May 2, 2013 | Dear Donna
Question - Dear Donna, I'm 18 years old and considering obtaining a BSN degree and becoming an RN. Al.. Dear Donna replies- Dear Considering Becoming an RN, Taking steps now to enroll in a BSN program is a great way to start. During your education, including your clinical experience, you'll learn much m... 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.
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