1. Invaluable by Maya Grossman

Do you have audacious career goals and no idea how to take the first step? Despite having earned a degree or two, have you found it hard to transition from theory to practice and make things happen in the “real world”? If so, you are not alone. You were not provided with the proper skills to reach success―until now.

In Invaluable, marketing expert and career coach Maya Grossman uncovers the 10 soft skills that every professional needs to master to evolve from a “typical employee” to an “invaluable employee” ―the top talent every company wants to attract and retain.

2. How To Lead When You’re Not In Charge: Leveraging Influence When You Lack Authority by Clay Scroggins

In How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge, author and pastor Clay Scroggins explains the nature of leadership and what’s needed to be a great leader, even when you answer to someone else.  In this book, Clay will walk you through the challenge of leadership and the four basic behaviors all great leaders have and how to cultivate them:

1. Leading Yourself
2. Choosing Positivity
3. Thinking Critically
4. Rejecting Passivity
   

3. Words That Work: It’s Not What You Say, It’s What People Hear by Dr. Frank Luntz

In Words That Work, Luntz offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the tactical use of words and phrases affects what we buy, who we vote for, and even what we believe in. With chapters like “The Ten Rules of Successful Communication” and “The 21 Words and Phrases for the 21st Century,” he examines how choosing the right words is essential.

4. Professional Issues in Nursing: Challenges and Opportunities, 6th edition by Carol J. Huston 

Reflecting both enduring professional considerations and the most pressing contemporary issues facing the nursing profession, Professional Issues in Nursing: Challenges and Opportunities, 6th Edition, equips readers with proven, expert insight essential to success in today’s nursing practice.

This straightforward, engaging text challenges the reader to critically analyze issues and form their own assessments about the state of nursing and their role as a professional nurse, building the critical thinking and clinical judgment to effectively manage workplace considerations, workforce issues, legal and ethical concerns, nursing education challenges, and issues related to professional power and advancing the nursing profession.

We are challenged daily to do more, plan more and accomplish more tasks. Psychologists spend hours studying ways to improve daily workflow, and some of what they’ve found is surprising.

1. Know the difference between multitasking and limited distractions
   
   There are times when we need to be flexible and move from one assignment to the next due to client deadlines, etc. However, working on multiple tasks at the same time for one assignment can potentially obstruct your overall workflow. The brain can go into overload by switching back and forth between tasks. Instead, prioritize and focus on one task at a time, and don’t let the others distract you.
   
   
2. Conquer difficult tasks first
   
   Prioritize your tasks by deadlines and level of difficulty when possible. If you can conquer the most difficult tasks first, you’ll be able to power through the rest of your tasks with ease. For example, when reviewing medical records, pharmacy records can be very detailed and tedious. If feasible, review those records first.
   
   
3. Stay organized
   
   Each day, take a few minutes to re-evaluate your commitments, emails, meetings, etc. Taking the time to eliminate clutter will improve your workflow in the long run.
   
   
4. Take regular breaks
   
   Studies show taking regular breaks will improve your workflow and ability to focus on prolonged tasks. Refresh your mind by stepping away from your computer and having a beverage or grabbing a quick snack. Recharge yourself by taking a 20-minute walk or stretching every few hours.
   
   
5. Use dual screens
   
   Consider investing in a second monitor screen. Displaying records you’re reviewing on one screen and the document you’re writing up on a different screen will enhance your ability to read the records and saves time from toggling back and forth. It has been proven a much quicker way to work.
   
   
6. Save your work
   
   Have you ever been plugging away on a project, and then all of a sudden, the dreaded error message pops up and you lose all of your most recent work?  It’s the worst. Especially when you realize you haven’t saved in two hours. Get into the habit of saving constantly.