Nurses Writing Blogs Blogs can be great if they are done correctly. Nurses' blogs could be very informative to new nurses, or someone considering nursing as a career. A blog can be a great source of information, mainly because it is not an advertisement; it is coming from a person that is most likely sharing their honest opinion. A typical Nurses Blog Hi all, today I worked 7 am to 7 pm, but I'm off tomorrow, yippee! My favorite patient today was an elderly lady, 84 years young. She was being observed for chest pains, and I was amazed at how alert and together she was. I hope I'm that way at her age. She told me the funniest thing; when she was younger she worked in Vegas as a show girl. At lunch she was served chicken, rice, etc., most things elderly people appreciate. I happened to see a pizza delivery guy enter her room. She ordered herself a pizza for lunch. I guess at 84 you let them have what they want. The most difficult patient of the day was a man that informed me up front he dislikes all doctors and nurses. Indeed, he does, every time I went in his room for vitals he would say, what do you want now. Oh well, you can't please everyone. The rest of the day was pretty uneventful, I took a quick nap on my break, and that really helped me make it through the day. I did find out that I am getting a raise so that is good news, it reminds me, I do love my job. Related: Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) What can a Blog Offer? A blog can provide useful and informative information, followers can read a nurses' daily blog, and feel as though they have spent time with the blogger, and they know them as a good friend. We tend to trust bloggers, especially if we follow them regularly. A blog from a nurse could offer tips. We can all use tips now and then, and you never know when you will hear of procedures that you are not aware of. A blog can also offer advice for new nurses. Nurses that have recently graduated really appreciate any advice they can get from seasoned nurses. It can make starting that first work day a little more familiar after reading a blog from a nurse, especially every day, you learn what to expect. What Should Your Blog Include? A blog should mainly stay on an upbeat tone. No one wants to read a continuous sad blog. That being said, be honest, if you have a
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particularly bad day now and then, share it, that lets people know you are real and have real life problems. Include unusual things that happened during the day. New and different things generally make for interesting reading, and maybe a learning read for many nurses. Share your accomplishments, a raise, a promotion, a recommendation, or an award. It shows people that you are a good role model and worthy to follow.
What you Should Avoid on Your Blog Never use a patient's name or a description that could indicate who they are Don't talk negatively about your employer or coworkers Don't make your blog sound like you have a perfect life or a job. It seems unreal, and more like a fiction book. Don't hold back, open up about your day, providing its appropriate. Related: When to Report a Coworker Some nursing schools are now incorporating nursing blogs into their curriculum. It's a chance for student nurses to read what it's actually like to be a nurse. Adding a video to your blog can make it a bit more personal, which most people love. Offer to be a mentor or be an advisor to new nurses starting out. It would give you a chance to have a positive impact on a nursing student, while making a new friend at the same time. Always remember to ask friends and family's permission, prior to using their names, and avoid all names associated with your employer. Enjoy blogging! Related: International Nurses Association Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest and Twitter