RN Hive Blog
Leadership articles, educational series, and practical tools for nurse leaders.
Featuring the Sisterly Advice™ educational leadership series inspired by the Sisterly Advice™ Podcast, along other original RN Hive educational content.
Welcome to The Hive Blog, where nurses learn, share, and grow together.
Leadership Has Nothing to Do With Your Title: Lessons From Helen Loflin on Influence, Trust, and Showing Up Without Authority
Leadership isn't defined by a title. It's built through trust, relationships, and the ability to influence others. In this episode of Sisterly Advice™, Helen Loflin shares lessons from her nursing leadership journey, including how she earned trust in an unfamiliar hospital, led without formal authority, and kept patient care at the center of every decision. Discover practical insights for leading with purpose, regardless of your position.
Intent vs. Impact: Why Good Intentions Don't Always Produce Good Feedback and What to Do About It
You intended to help, but your feedback was received as criticism. Why does this happen? Explore the gap between intent and impact, and discover how nurse leaders can use curiosity, clear communication, and reflection to build trust and create a healthier feedback culture. Inspired by Sisterly Advice™ Podcast, Season 1, Episode 9.
What Eight Conversations Taught Us About Nurse Leadership
After eight Sisterly Advice™ conversations, several lessons continued to surface. From self-awareness and clear feedback to prioritization, community, and purpose, these are the leadership principles we keep returning to.
The Follow-Up Factor: Why Feedback Loops Make or Break Your Leadership
The most effective feedback conversation isn't the one you have—it's the one you follow through on. Discover how intentional follow-up builds accountability, strengthens trust, and turns one conversation into lasting leadership growth.
Beyond the Symptom: Closing the Gap and Setting Clear Expectations
Not every performance issue has the same cause. Learn how to distinguish between skill, will, and system gaps so you can set clear expectations, provide meaningful support, and turn feedback into lasting improvement.
Why “You Need to Talk Less” Doesn’t Work
Why "You Need to Talk Less" Isn't Effective Feedback
Most feedback conversations fail before they begin—not because leaders lack good intentions, but because the feedback is too vague to create change.
In this first article of the Proactive Feedback Series, discover why statements like "You need to talk less" or "You need to work on your attitude" often create defensiveness instead of improvement.
Backed by leadership research and practical nursing examples, this article explores how specific, behavior-based feedback helps nurse leaders build trust, improve accountability, and create a proactive culture where people know exactly what success looks like.
If you want your feedback to inspire growth instead of resistance, this article provides practical strategies you can begin using today.
You Hired the Right Person Into the Wrong Environment: How to Protect New Hires When Your Culture is still Under Construction
Hiring the right nurse is only the beginning. When a unit's culture is still under construction, even great hires can struggle to stay. Learn how nurse leaders can use transparency, onboarding, preceptor selection, and intentional support to protect new hires and strengthen culture during times of change.
Why Hiring in a Panic is the Costliest Mistake a Nurse Leader Can Make
When staffing shortages create pressure to fill positions quickly, many nurse leaders make the same costly mistake: hiring to fill a vacancy instead of hiring to strengthen a team. Learn how intentional hiring, behavioral interviewing, and culture-focused recruitment can improve retention, morale, and long-term team performance.
So You Want to Become a Nurse: What No One Tells You.
Becoming a nurse is more than earning a degree — it’s stepping into a profession that will challenge, stretch, and transform you. Here’s what no one tells new nurses and students before they begin the journey.
How to Decode NCLEX -Style Questions
4 min read
NCLEX questions can feel intentionally confusing—unless you know what they’re really asking. Here’s how to break down NCLEX-style items step-by-step so you can think like the test and choose the safest answer every time.
How to Stay Confident Before the NCLEX
3 min read
Feeling nervous before the NCLEX is normal—but staying confident is a skill. Here are simple, evidence-based strategies to calm your mind, trust your preparation, and walk into test day with clarity and control.
5 NCLEX Test-Day Myths - Busted
3 min read
The NCLEX is stressful enough without all the scary rumors. Let’s break down the top five test-day myths so you can walk in prepared, calm, and confident.