Notes To Nurses

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Notes To Nurses Helping new nurses thrive not just survive
36 years real life wisdom
Books + tools for new nurses👇👇
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10/16/2026

🏡 7 Things Every New Nurse Should Do After a Shift to Leave Work at Work

Your shift may be over, but sometimes your mind is still at the hospital. 💙

Here are 7 ways to transition from nurse mode to home mode:

🚗 1. Decompress on your drive home. Listen to music, a podcast, pray, or enjoy the silence. Give your mind time to unwind.

🏡 2. Pause before going inside. This is something I do after every shift. Sit in your car for a few minutes, take some slow, deep breaths, and let yourself decompress. Make that mental break between leaving work behind and walking into your home.

💧 3. Hydrate and nourish yourself. You spent 12 hours caring for everyone else. Now take care of YOU.

🧠 4. Stop replaying your shift. Reflect on what you learned, but don’t spend your evening second-guessing every decision. If something needs follow-up, use the proper channels.

🚶‍♀️ 5. Move your body. Take a short walk, stretch, or sit outside for fresh air. Release some of that physical tension.

❤️ 6. Reconnect with life outside nursing. Hug your family, play with your kids, call a friend, or enjoy something that has nothing to do with healthcare.

😴 7. Protect your rest. Put your phone down, create a relaxing bedtime routine, and give yourself permission to recover. Night-shift nurses, that includes protecting your daytime sleep!

💙 New nurses, remember: You can be a compassionate, dedicated nurse without carrying the weight of every shift home with you.

💬 Nurses, what do YOU do to transition from work mode to home mode? Share your routine in the comments! Let’s help our newer nurses!

📦 Need practical tools to make those first shifts less overwhelming? My New Nurse Shift Survival Pack is designed to help you feel more organized, prepared, and confident.

👉 Comment SURVIVAL and I’ll send you the details!

💙 Follow Esther Lopez for real-life nursing wisdom, encouragement, and practical tips. Save and share with a nurse who needs this!

NursingTips NightShiftNurse NurseBurnout

10/13/2026

👩‍⚕️ 10 HABITS FEMALE NURSES HAVE MASTERED! 😂🩺

After 36+ years in nursing, I’ve worked with some incredible female nurses. Here are 10 habits worth stealing, especially if you’re a new nurse!

1. Noticing the little things. A slight change in a patient’s expression, breathing, or behavior? They catch it.
2. Carrying 47 things in their scrub pockets. Pens, scissors, tape, alcohol wipes, snacks… and somehow there’s still room for more! 😂
3. Making patients feel genuinely cared for. Sometimes it’s the extra blanket, the reassuring touch, or simply taking time to listen.
4. Remembering everybody’s everything. Patient preferences, family concerns, who needs what, and which coworker hasn’t eaten lunch.
5. Trusting their gut. When something doesn’t seem right, they don’t just ignore it. They investigate.
6. Communicating with one look. That look across the nurses’ station that says everything without saying a word! 😂
7. Advocating fiercely. When a patient needs something, they’re not afraid to speak up.
8. Turning chaos into a plan. Five things happening at once? Somehow they figure out what needs attention first.
9. Helping before anyone asks. They notice when another nurse is struggling and step in.
10. Caring for everybody while learning to care for themselves. Because even the strongest nurse needs rest and support.

❤️ New nurses, pay attention to the experienced nurses around you. There’s so much you can learn just by watching.

💬 Female nurses, what did I miss? What would you add to this list?

🩺 Need help getting organized for your shifts? Comment SURVIVAL and I’ll send you my New Nurse Shift Survival Pack!

Follow for real-life nursing advice, encouragement, and a little humor!

10/12/2026

🍎🏫 10 HABITS I’M STEALING FROM SCHOOL NURSES!

After 36+ years in nursing, I know every specialty has something to teach us. And school nurses? They deserve more credit! 😂❤️

1. Ready for ANYTHING! Scraped knees, asthma attacks, seizures, and bellyaches. All before lunch!
2. A one-nurse emergency department. No rapid response team down the hall. They know when to act and when to call 911.
3. Detective-level assessment skills. Stomachache, test anxiety, or something serious? They know what questions to ask. 🔎
4. Making a Band-Aid work miracles. Sometimes a little reassurance is the best medicine! 😂
5. Communicating with EVERYBODY. Students, parents, teachers, administrators, and providers!
6. Looking beyond the symptoms. That child visiting the health office every day may need more than a temperature check.
7. Juggling chronic conditions and surprises. Diabetes, asthma, allergies, medications… and here comes another bloody nose!
8. Making kids feel safe. Earning the trust of a frightened five-year-old or embarrassed teenager takes skill. ❤️
9. Knowing when to send them back to class. And when it’s time to call for help. That’s excellent triage!
10. Wearing a dozen hats! Nurse, educator, advocate, emergency responder, and sometimes the safest place a child has all day.

💕 NEW NURSES: Learn from school nurses! Assess carefully, communicate clearly, and never underestimate the power of listening.

👇 SCHOOL NURSES, WHAT DID I MISS? What habit should we steal from you?

🎁 NEW NURSE SHIFT SURVIVAL PACK
Practical tools to help new nurses stay organized, prioritize care, and feel more prepared.

💬 Comment SURVIVAL and I’ll send you the details!

❤️ Follow Esther Lopez for real nursing wisdom and encouragement.

🔗 NotesToNurses.com

10/11/2026

🚨 I’m 59, and after 36+ years in nursing, some of these habits I’m STILL learning to get right!

If you’re a nurse between 22–35, don’t wait as long as I did!

Start these 7 habits NOW, before burnout takes over! 🩺❤️

1️⃣ Learn to say NO without guilt. You don’t have to pick up every extra shift. Being a good nurse doesn’t mean being available 24/7.

2️⃣ Protect your sleep. Stop sacrificing rest to get everything done. Exhaustion affects your health, judgment, and patient safety.

3️⃣ Take your breaks! Eat, hydrate, and use the bathroom. Your basic needs aren’t optional. You can’t pour from an empty cup.

4️⃣ Leave work at work. Learn to mentally clock out. You can care deeply without carrying every situation home.

5️⃣ Find your people. Surround yourself with nurses who encourage, teach, and support you. Find mentors, not just coworkers. You weren’t meant to do this alone.

6️⃣ Build a life OUTSIDE nursing. Make time for hobbies, family, friendships, and things that bring you joy. Nursing is what you do, not your entire identity.

7️⃣ Listen to your body and your gut. Don’t normalize constant exhaustion, anxiety, or dreading every shift. Recognize the warning signs early. Changing units or specialties isn’t failure!

❤️ One thing I’ve learned: Nursing will always need something from you. You have to learn when to give and when to protect yourself.

💬 Nurses, which habit do you wish you’d started sooner? What would you add? Let’s help the next generation!

🩺 New nurse? My New Nurse Shift Survival Pack has practical tools to help you stay organized, prepared, and confident on your shifts!

💬 Comment SURVIVAL for details!
🌐 NotesToNurses.com

❤️ Follow Esther Lopez for real-life nursing wisdom, encouragement, and practical tips!

📌 SAVE & SHARE with a nurse who needs this!

NurseSelfCare NewGradNurse NursingStudent

10/10/2026

💙 My #1 advice for anyone starting nursing school: Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.

Some classmates will catch on faster. Others will struggle with things that come easily to you.

Your journey is YOUR journey. Focus on learning, growing, and becoming the safest nurse you can be.

Nobody expects you to know everything. Even experienced nurses are still learning every single day!

👇 Experienced nurses, what’s ONE piece of advice you’d give someone just starting nursing school? Let’s fill these comments with wisdom and encouragement!

🎒 Preparing for life as a new nurse? My New Nurse Shift Survival Pack is designed to help you feel more organized, prepared, and confident.

💬 Comment SURVIVAL for details!

🌐 NotesToNurses.com

What are you grateful for today?
10/10/2026

What are you grateful for today?

10/10/2026

After 36+ years in nursing, I’m still learning to give myself some of the care I so freely give everyone else. 💙

Rest. Real food. Prayer. Laughter. A walk without rushing to the next thing.

You don’t have to earn a moment to care for yourself. And you don’t have to change everything at once—start with one small thing.

Which one do you need more of today? Tell me below. 👇

Save this reminder and share it with a nurse who needs it. Follow Esther Lopez for encouragement for every shift.

10/09/2026

💙 Calling all my nurse friends — and everyone who loves a nurse! 💙

Awhile back I joined a group called Just a Buck Giving Back to Nurses, and I absolutely LOVE the idea behind it. I’d love for all of my nurse friends to join the group, invite other nurses, and SHARE it!

The mission is beautifully simple: nurses supporting nurses, one dollar at a time. 🩺❤️

A Lucky Nurse is randomly selected, and members have the opportunity to bless that nurse by sending $1 (or more if they choose) directly to them through Venmo. The money doesn’t go into some big fund to be distributed later—you are donating directly to the randomly selected Lucky Nurse through their Venmo. 💵➡️🩺

One dollar by itself might not seem like much. But imagine 100 nurses giving $1—that’s $100. 1,000 nurses—that’s $1,000! A tiny act of kindness can become something incredible when an entire community comes together.

Nurses spend their careers caring for people during some of the hardest, scariest, happiest, and most important moments of their lives. We give our time, our hearts, and often so much more than anyone ever sees. I love the idea that, for once, the nurse gets to be the one being cared for, celebrated, and appreciated. 💕

To all my nurse friends: Please join! Even if you can only participate occasionally, every $1 matters. And please invite and share with your nurse friends so we can grow this into something HUGE.

And if you’re NOT a nurse, please share this anyway! 😉 You almost certainly know a nurse—a friend, family member, neighbor, coworker, or a nurse who has cared for you or someone you love. Sharing costs absolutely nothing, but it could help us reach thousands more nurses.

🌈 $1. One randomly selected Lucky Nurse. One Venmo. Thousands of people showing up to say, “We see you, we appreciate you, and today we’re taking care of YOU.” 🩺💙

Join. Give a buck. Invite a nurse. Share the love.

Let’s see how many nurses we can reach! ❤️

10/09/2026

🎓🩺 10 ZERO-EFFORT Ways to Help Keep a 4.0 in Nursing School!

1️⃣ Get 7–9 hours of sleep. 💤 Your brain needs sleep to retain what you’ve learned!

2️⃣ Drink more WATER than caffeine. 💧 Keep water beside you. Don’t survive nursing school on coffee and energy drinks!

3️⃣ Choose your study sounds wisely. 🎧 Skip lyrics! Try rain sounds, white/brown noise, or instrumental music. If it makes you sleepy, switch to silence!

4️⃣ Put your phone out of reach. 📱 Across the room, not face-down beside your textbook!

5️⃣ Study in short, focused blocks. ⏱️ Try 25–50 minutes, then take a short break.

6️⃣ Stop rereading. Test yourself! 🧠 Close your notes and see what you actually remember.

7️⃣ Teach it out loud. 🗣️ Explain it like you’re teaching a patient. Teaching reinforces learning!

8️⃣ Find a study buddy or group. 👩‍⚕️ Quiz each other, ask questions, and practice NCLEX-style scenarios together.

9️⃣ Study a little EVERY day. 📚 Twenty minutes daily beats cramming 14 chapters the night before!

🔟 Always ask WHY. 💡 Don’t just memorize answers. Understand how and why things work! Nursing exams test what’s MOST important, what comes FIRST, and what’s SAFEST for your patient. Learn to PRIORITIZE, not just memorize!

💬 Which TIP are you trying first? Comment below! 👇

🩺 Nursing students & new nurses! Want to feel more confident and prepared for your first shifts?

🎁 My New Nurse Shift Survival Pack includes practical checklists, report sheets, and tools to help you stay organized and prepared!

👇 Comment SURVIVAL and I’ll send you the link!

🌐 NotesToNurses.com

❤️ SAVE this for later, SHARE with a nursing student, and FOLLOW for real-life nursing wisdom and encouragement!

10/09/2026

A little celebration with some wonderful friends! 🥹💕📚💐

After 36+ years in nursing, I never imagined I’d be celebrating becoming a published author!

What started as a desire to encourage and support new nurses has become something so special to me. ❤️

My Notes to Nurses books are now available on Amazon, including Welcome to the Profession, Bienvenida a la Profesión (Spanish edition), and my nurse’s journal!

My hope is that every new nurse who opens one of these books feels encouraged, supported, and reminded that he or she doesn’t have to figure everything out alone. 🩺💕

So grateful for the friends who celebrate these little milestones with me. This is just the beginning! 🥰

📚 Find my books on Amazon or visit NotesToNurses.com

Follow along as I continue sharing encouragement, wisdom, and practical tips for nurses!

PublishedAuthor NurseEncouragement WelcomeToTheProfession

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