Staying connected through lifelong learning

FigureNursing is, by far, the most difficult yet rewarding career I can imagine. As a nurse for almost 40 years, I've witnessed that one thing is for certain: The profession will always change. Combine that with the ever-changing knowledge we're required to master, and keeping our head above water can sometimes feel overwhelming. Much of my work has involved educating others in healthcare about stress management, work-life balance, workplace violence prevention, and how to navigate a complicated healthcare system. I've learned that having a broad knowledge of how the system works is crucial to my success and my ability to advocate for myself, my patients, and my coworkers. It was important for me to develop a baseline knowledge of topics such as shared governance, The Joint Commission's National Patient Safety Goals, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regulations to deliver proper care. I quickly learned that nursing success is broader than the clinical picture. It's the entire package. It's important to keep yourself current on what's going on around you and in your profession for your personal and professional growth. Within the pages of this issue, you'll find informative continuing-education articles, features, and departments with information about the healthcare system that you can apply to your lifelong learning. Our goal and mission is to present information that's applicable to every nurse across the continuum of learning. The COVID-19 pandemic added further difficulty by exacerbating burnout and compassion fatigue, ultimately placing a heavier burden on those already struggling with the nursing shortage. Culturally, healthcare sustained a heavy blow. How do we as professionals bounce back? How do we manage the complexity of our expanded roles at a time when staffing shortages are at an all-time high? Graduating and entering the workforce during COVID-19 and postpandemic, trying to acclimate to a world that had been turned upside down was an all-new experience. Healthcare isn't easy. Nursing isn't easy. That's why it's important to find the right tools to assist your journey. I encourage you to put as many tools in your tool chest as possible. The right journal, the right resources, colleagues, mentors, and preceptors are a must. Become aligned with a professional association in your area. Take the opportunity to attend a conference now and then, and network when you can. In the next issue of Nursing Made Incredibly Easy, we'll introduce a new department series on the nurse's role in differential diagnosis. In our rushed work settings we can miss red flags. Flags that you may recognize retrospectively but not in the moment. Another tool in your tool chest to help move your practice forward and keep you aligned with best practices. Nurses make all the difference in healthcare quality and patient outcomes. Stay connected.Figure