Articles by Theme

These articles go beyond clinical skills and quick fixes. They speak to the heart of nursing—how to stay resilient, grounded, confident, and fulfilled while building a career that truly matters.

This is not a random collection of posts. It’s a carefully organized body of work, shaped by more than forty-five years as a critical care nurse and educator. Each theme addresses a real challenge nurses face today: burnout, confidence, leadership, clear thinking, and staying calm under pressure.

Each theme is a thread. Together, they weave a bigger story—how to thrive in nursing, not just survive it.

If you’re looking for fluff, you won’t find it here. What you’ll find are hard-won truths, practical strategies, and thoughtful reflections drawn from decades at the bedside and in the classroom.

These articles are also the foundation behind my book The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer, and they support my forthcoming books The Art of Mindful Nursing Affirmations and The Art of Mindful Nursing Lexicon—designed to strengthen nurses week by week and deepen clarity through shared language. — MGK

If you’re short on time, start where you need help most:

• Feeling burned out or emotionally drained? Start with Burnout & Emotional Resilience

• Trying to grow or gain respect in your career? Start with Career Growth & Professional Development

• New to nursing or feeling unsure in emergencies? Start with Clinical Confidence & Safety

• Struggling with boundaries or leadership challenges? Start with Leadership & Influence

• Want to stay calm, focused, and grounded at work? Start with Mindfulness in Action

• Looking to think more clearly and communicate better under pressure? Start with Mental Clarity & Communication

You don’t need to read everything. Choose one theme and begin there.

Burnout doesn’t mean you’re weak—it means you’re human. Every nurse carries the emotional weight of the work. These articles help you recognize burnout, rebuild resilience, and stay strong in body, mind, and spirit.

Start here: Rediscovering Confidence • The Resilient Nurse

"Resilience isn’t about pretending the hard days don’t hurt—it’s about learning how to carry them without losing yourself." —MGK

Navigating Hurt Feelings – A Nurse’s Guide to Emotional Resilience
How to handle conflict and criticism without losing your confidence.

Nursing Unmasked: The Harsh Realities That Will Break You—Unless You’re Ready 

A candid look at what nursing really demands.
 

Rediscovering Confidence – A Nurse’s Guide to Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
Breaking free from doubt so you can practice with strength.
 

The Resilient Nurse – Mastering Balance and Emotional Strength
Building the inner toughness to thrive through challenges.
 

The Strength in Rebuilding – A Personal Story Nurses Helped Shape
A real example of resilience, and the role nurses play in healing.
 

The Strength It Takes to Stay Kind in Nursing
Why kindness in difficult environments is a deeper form of courage.

Whether you’re a new nurse or decades into your career, growth doesn’t stop. These articles focus on influence, respect, and long-term professional fulfillment.

Start here: 5 Ways Smart Nurses Speak to Be Heard • The Nursing Edge

"A nursing career doesn’t grow by chance—it grows by choice, step by step, with intention and courage." —MGK

5 Ways Smart Nurses Speak to Be Heard, Respected, and Trusted 

Communication habits that establish your authority.

Be the Nurse Everyone Turns To – Lead with Impact 

Practical steps to become the trusted voice on your unit.

Nursing Success Secrets – Mastering the Art of a Rewarding Career 

Building a fulfilling long-term career.

The Nursing Edge – How Crafting a Personal Philosophy Can Propel Your Career 

Why defining your nursing philosophy sets you apart.

The Work-Life Balance Nurse – How to Find Jobs That Fit Your Lifestyle in Retirement 

Flexible options for later-career nurses.

Clinical clarity builds confidence—and confidence protects patients and nurses alike. These articles focus on high-stress situations and legal clarity.

Start here: Navigating Your First Code Blue • 10 AED Myths

"Confidence in nursing comes from clarity: when you know what to do, you can act with calm and protect lives." —MGK

10 AED Myths Still Circulating in Clinical Settings
The most persistent AED misconceptions—debunked so you can act fast and correctly.
 

Navigating Your First Code Blue – A Survival Guide for New Nurses
What to expect, where to stand, and how to keep your head when seconds matter.

The Good Samaritan Law – How, When, and Why It Applies to Nurses 

How to protect yourself while helping outside of work.
 

Treating Unstable Bradycardia
A quick, nurse-focused overview of what to watch for and how to respond.
 

Unmasking the Myths – What Every Nurse Needs to Know About the Good Samaritan Law
Clearing up the most common misunderstandings that lead to hesitation.

Leadership in nursing doesn’t come only with a title. It’s about presence, trust, and setting the tone for others. These articles highlight how boundaries, philosophy, and confidence translate into everyday leadership.

Start here: Guarding the Caregiver • Signs It’s Time to Go

"True nursing leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about presence, steadiness, and the trust you inspire in others." —MGK

Guarding the Caregiver – The Power of Boundaries in Nursing 

Why leadership starts with protecting yourself first.

Professional Boundaries – What Nurses Should Keep Private 

Maintaining authority and professionalism by setting limits.

Reignite Your Nursing Passion – Rediscover Florence Nightingale’s Notes on Nursing 

What Nightingale’s wisdom teaches about purpose-driven leadership.

Signs It’s Time to Go – When Nurses Should Consider Leaving Their Job (Not the Profession) 

Recognizing when leaving your current job is the stronger leadership choice.

Starting Your Nursing Career – How Florence Nightingale’s Notes on Nursing Can Guide You 

Classic leadership lessons for new nurses beginning their journey.

Clear thinking and precise communication are essential nursing skills. These articles focus on judgment, language, and calm decision-making—especially under pressure.

"The calmer your mind, the cleaner your communication—and the safer your care." —MGK

Start here: Words That Heal • (More coming soon)

Words That Heal – Mindful Communication for Nurses 

The healing power of mindful language with patients and colleagues.

(This theme directly supports The Art of Mindful Nursing Lexicon, a forthcoming A–Z guide to the language of mindful nursing.)

Mindfulness isn’t escape—it’s a practical way to stay calm, focused, and compassionate in real clinical environments.

Start here: Mindfulness for the Skeptical Nurse • Serenity in Scrubs

"Mindfulness in nursing isn’t escape—it’s the steady anchor that lets you serve with clarity, compassion, and strength." —MGK

Finding Peace in the Hustle – A Nurse’s Guide to Rest and Joy 

How to reclaim joy and balance in your daily work.

Grounded in Grace – Mindful Nursing for Calmness and Clarity

Finding peace through mindfulness and grace under pressure.

Is Mindfulness Missing from Your Nursing Practice? 

How to know if you’re running on autopilot—and reset.

Mindful Boundaries – Balancing Work and Personal Life 

Setting limits with mindfulness as your guide.

Mindful Nursing vs. Holistic Nursing – Understanding the Connection 

Clarifying the overlap and differences between approaches.

Mindfulness for the Skeptical, Hard-as-Nails Nurse 

A tough-love approach to mindfulness for real-world nurses.

Nurses – Making the World a Better Place to Live, Laugh, and Love 

A reflection on nursing’s joy and deeper purpose.

Serenity in Scrubs – Mindfulness for Mental Health 

Mindfulness practices that protect your mental health.

If an article here helped you, the next step is simple: don’t do this alone in your head.

The Art of Mindful Nursing series was created to give nurses steady, practical support—week by week and shift by shift.

• Need a stronger foundation? The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer gives you the full framework.

• Need ongoing encouragement? The Art of Mindful Nursing Affirmations gives you 52 weeks of steadiness, clarity, and resilience.

• Want clearer language and sharper thinking? The Art of Mindful Nursing Lexicon helps you put words to what you’re carrying—and what you’re building.

Explore the series here: The Art of Mindful Nursing Series