Advancing Nursing Practice Through Nurse Authorship

In the past the practice of nurse authorship helped advance the practice of nursing.

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Florence Nightingale may have been the first nurse author, with her book "NOTES ON NURSING: WHAT IT IS AND IS NOT". Her notes helped guide the way we practice, the way we think about our profession and how to better care for patients.

There have been many others since who, through their writing, have helped increase our knowledge base as well as the public's understanding of the nursing profession.

Nursing web sites, books (both fiction and non-fiction), magazine articles, information pamphlets, personal web (author) sites and blogs have all made an impact on the nursing image.

Aside from the hundreds of nursing text books that you will see used in schools, nurses have also written books that can be found in neighborhood book stores

Here is an extremely short list of books written by nurses:

Nursing: What it is and what it is not
Florence Nightingale

When Chicken Soup Isn't Enough
Suzanne Gordon

Nursing: A Wicked Profession
Wendy Getchell

Lives in the Balance
Tilda Shalof

the Core Balance Diet
Marcelle Pick

Nurse On Call: Tales of a Black Country Nurse
Edith Cotterill

Mirthful Memoirs of a Male Nurse
Vince Migliore

I have also found articles in a number of magazines being sold on the shelves in Chapters Book Store that have been authored by nurses.

There is nothing that says you have to write about nursing or health care. Writing is a great stress buster and a way to keep your mind active.

Some nurses have turned to writing fiction. Authors like Tim Sheard writes the Lenny Moss murder mystery series.



A recent survey conducted by Gallup, on behalf of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, sought input from opinion leaders on the influence the nursing profession has on health care.

The results reflected that nurses should have more influence over health care, but that, even though we are a highly respected profession, few seem to take our knowledge and expertise seriously.

In May 2010 the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association hosted workshops with the theme "Advancing Nursing Practice - Where to From Here?"

I did a poster presentation based on, "Advancing Nursing Practice Through Nurse Authorship" and had the privilege of meeting one of the best voices for nurses, Suzanne Gordon.

Her latest book, "When Chicken Soup Isn't Enough: Stories of Nurses Standing Up for Themselves, Their Patients, and Their Profession" is a must read for all nurses and health care consumers alike.

When nurses share their voice, experience and opinions they allow the profession to move forward and grow.

Now, more than ever, we need to grow more visible, both to governments and in the public eye.

There are many other examples in book stores, in the classrooms and in health care policy where nurses have made positive impacts.

Yet we are still struggling as a profession.

I feel one answer to this problem can be through nurses sharing their hearts and wisdom

I would invite all nurses to advance their own practice of nurse authorship. There are many sites where you can find short projects as a ghost writer, or publish books and articles under your own name.

Many nurses have said to me, "I can't write" or "I could never write a book like that"

Must I remind you, as a practicing nurse you already have some skills as an writer.

You chart every day on and about your patients. You tell their story in a compact, yet detailed way so that when other health professionals read what you have written they understand the story line completely.

That is exactly what writers of magazine articles and books do...EXACTLY

So you see, you already do and CAN "write like that"

I encourage everyone to try it. You may be surprised at how much joy and release comes from putting thoughts and beliefs in to the written word.

Below I have provided some sites I have used to help me along my path as a nurse (retired) author.

I would be honored if you would visit my own personal author web site as well.

If you have any questions, or would like ideas or encouragement, or perhaps even need a co-writer for a book you would like to see published, I would be more than happy to give it consideration

Wendy Getchell

Suite101

Elance


Wendy Getchell - nurse author




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