Expert Interviews, Guides & Advocacy Issues in Nursing

The Nursing Colleges blog interviews experts in the nursing field about the most important topics in modern nursing, and where they think they’re headed. Through expert interviews, we explore the top advocacy issues in nursing, and spotlight the nurses who are leading the charge for change. 

Our features section also offers new and aspiring nurse practitioners (NPs), advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), and other nurses the key resources and guides they need to help navigate the early stages of their education, training, licensure, and career. Our blog catches readers up on the most interesting conversations in nursing today, and gives them ways to join in, too.

By Matt Zbrog Calendar Icon February 7, 2025

Nurse Practitioner Residency Programs (2025)

Nurse practitioner residency programs, sometimes referred to as fellowship programs, are postgraduate programs designed to help NPs transition to practice, particularly in specialty areas. Many residency programs are geared towards Advanced Practice Providers (APPs), a group that includes NPs and physician assistants (PAs), reinforcing the growing trend of interprofessional collaboration in care teams.

By Meg Lambrych, RN Calendar Icon January 6, 2025

Exploited Abroad: The Silent Struggles of Internationally Educated Nurses in the US

While a nursing job in the US is often advertised as the start of a new American dream for these nurses, many find the experience a nightmare instead, thanks to the profoundly exploitative business practices many international recruitment agencies employ.

By Meg Lambrych, RN Calendar Icon December 20, 2024

Unsung Innovators: The Overlooked Legacy of Nursing Pioneers in Healthcare

The prevailing powers of the age write history. Because patriarchy has predominated for the past 12,000 years, that also means most of modern history was arbitrated and recorded by men. Due to this prevailing power structure, the erasure of women’s contributions to science, technology, and medicine is well-documented, and there are indeed too many examples to quantify. Famous cases of men taking credit for women’s discoveries are also exceedingly common, as is the general disregard that academics have shown toward caring roles, professions which include nursing, social work, and teaching.

By Meg Lambrych, RN Calendar Icon October 29, 2024

Travel Nurses: Healthcare’s Favorite Scapegoats

It’s clear that what these executives fear most is not the actual cost of paying travel nurses but rather what that cost signifies. Nurses who know their worth and demand competitive compensation packages and workplace safety measures are a threat to the system at large, and they will do anything to protect the status quo because it’s working perfectly for them.

By Rachel Drummond, MEd Calendar Icon October 14, 2024

Nurse Educator Professional Certification Guide

Nurse educators are highly skilled licensed RNs who train nursing students and provide ongoing education for professional nurses. They can be found in various settings, such as universities, community colleges, trade schools, and hospitals. A nurse educator is an informal term for RNs who oversee training programs, teach nursing in both clinical and classroom settings, and offer guidance to students at all levels of the nursing field.

By Meg Lambrych, RN Calendar Icon September 18, 2024

Everything You Need to Know About New Graduate Residency Programs for Nurses

Transitioning from nursing school into clinical practice has always challenged new nurses. According to one study published in Nursing Economics, 17 percent of new graduate nurses leave the profession entirely within one year. To combat this trend, hospitals and nursing education organizations have created new graduate nurse residency programs to serve as a bridge between the classroom and the hospital, better-supporting nurses and making the process easier and less daunting.

By Brooke Lazor Calendar Icon June 13, 2024

Investing in the Future of Nursing: Celebrating Our NursingColleges.com Scholarship Recipient

We are thrilled to announce that the winner of this year’s NursingColleges.com Scholarship is Nakisha Dyson, a deserving graduate from St. Ambrose University. Nakisha graduated in May as a registered nurse with a bachelor’s degree in science through an accredited online program at St. Ambrose University. Her application stood out for its depth, originality, and a passionate commitment to the nursing profession.

By Matt Zbrog Calendar Icon April 24, 2024

NP Advocates to Know: Dr. Felesia Bowen on Health Equity

Advocacy is woven deeply into the nurse practitioner (NP) role. It’s a part of the job that’s never finished. Advocacy can occur at a micro level, by advocating one-on-one for a particular patient, or at the macro level, by lobbying for policy changes; it’s often a mix of the two. For many NPs, advocacy concerns a particular issue close to their heart, one connected to underserved patients who deserve additional support. For Dr. Felesia Brown, the issue is health equity.

By Sophia Khawly, MSN Calendar Icon March 26, 2024

An NP’s Guide to Becoming a Travel Nurse

Travel nursing normally occurs in hospitals with critical nursing shortages and high-demand specialties. A travel nursing assignment allows nurses to build their skills and explore the country while increasing pay.

By Matt Zbrog Calendar Icon January 18, 2024

Guide to NP-Led Research

The healthcare community is a partnership between scientific research and clinical practice. For most of modern history, both arenas have been dominated by physicians. But as the healthcare workforce has expanded and the interprofessional care team emerged, nurse practitioners (NPs) have proven to be vital in delivering healthcare services in America.