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You’re Never 'Just' a Nurse

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3m of CPD
Nurses play a central role in the delivery of patient care, research, education, public health and a myriad of other areas. As the largest percentage of the healthcare workforce in most countries, the entire system would literally cease to function without nurses.

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Nurses play a central role in the delivery of patient care, research, education, public health and a myriad of other areas. As the largest percentage of the healthcare workforce in most countries, the entire system would literally cease to function without nurses. Why, then, are nursing professionals so quick to say, “Oh, I’m just a nurse,” when asked what they do for a living or what their job is like? What makes nurses so ready to diminish themselves, and how can we empower nurses to think differently about their importance?

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Meet the educator

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Keith Carlson
Keith Carlson, RN, BSN, NC-BC, is a holistic career coach for nurses, award-winning nurse blogger, writer, podcaster, speaker, author, and popular career columnist. With two decades of nursing experience, Keith deeply understands the issues faced by 21st-century nurses. Keith’s two podcasts, RNFM Radio and The Nurse Keith Show, offer inspiration and practical support to nurses seeking to create meaningful, satisfying lives and careers. Keith’s message of savvy career management and professional satisfaction reaches tens of thousands of nurses worldwide. Keith can be found on many social media platforms---including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Instagram - as well as at www.nursekeith.com and Digital Doorway.
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What do others think?

177 reviews by Ausmed Learners
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AJ
Agnita Joy
27 Oct 2020
One of the best articles that I have read on nurses empowerment.
JC
Jenene Clarke
28 Oct 2022
Registered Nurse
very interesting
KA
Kylie austin
03 Nov 2020
Could you imagine the Covid pandemic response without nurses
DA
Dan Alminaza
03 Dec 2020
This is a great read! thank you :)
PS
Pratila Shrestha
03 Nov 2020
After this, i get to know more knowledge about many things that i was unaware of. It helped to to understand many different new things.
AD
Aldella dawo
10 May 2021
Very much good
EM
Ellen McGann
27 Nov 2020
Uplifting.
BH
bernie harbrow
11 Feb 2023
Registered Nurse
very interesting
Portrait of Heather Blackhall
Heather Blackhall
23 Apr 2021
For too long nurses have down-played and down-graded their professional role. It is time we, as individual nurses recognised that we are very special people. I also think we need to use this professional pride to recognise that our role is being seriously eroded. Tasks and duties of nurses are being assumed by many other allied health professionals, and maybe because we don't have a strong professional identity, nurses are just letting it happen when other professionals would object strongly if we were to do it to them. For example, nurses recognise that they do not dispense medications but pharmacists will happily assume the role of vaccination and monitoring the general public for diabetes, hypertension and other chronic illnesses. Dressings - long our exclusive domain -are now being done by non-nurses (podiatrists, doctors and pharmacists).
BB
Bina Baniya
20 Mar 2021
Useful
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