Your Next Shift: A Book Review, by Nurse Author/Entrepreneur, Elizabeth Scala

Your Next Shift

I was honored to be asked to read this very authentically written book by Elizabeth Scala, Your Next Shift: How to Kick Your Nursing Career into High Gear.  I saw my own life through the eyes of her writing. Clearly, I could identify with the feelings Elizabeth has felt. She very honestly spoke about her own struggles, feelings of self-doubt, and ultimately the breakthroughs she has experienced. Your Next Shift is a must read for all nurses who are considering a change in nursing career focus, a nurse who wants to explore entrepreneurship, or any nurse struggling  in their current role.

If you haven’t already read Nursing From Within: A Fresh Alternative to Putting Out Fires and Self-Care Workarounds, also by Elizabeth Scala, I would highly suggest you obtain this book as well for your nursing tool belt. Both books are essential for today’s nurse, especially in the ever changing health care system we find ourselves in today. (just needed to put a plug in for Nursing From Within, because I also found it so inspiring)

As I was reading Your Next Shift, I found myself thinking about my own struggles and victories related to mindset, self-care, and being authentic in my own nursing career. Each chapter became a checklist for me as I asked myself “Am I meeting this goal? Have I considered this option? Are my actions in alignment with my heart and focus?”

 

Putting the Pieces Together

I’m an avid puzzler.  LOVE the 2000 piece puzzles! In the winter time, it’s especially nice to be working on a puzzle project. It’s very calming and it’s a nice change to get off the electronics (which we all need time away from). Your Next Shift is made up of puzzle pieces which Elizabeth Scala puts together in the most healing way. She uses a “line upon line, precept upon precept” approach, as she starts with her story (and most parts I identified so strongly, I thought she was writing about me). She then starts at the beginning, with analysis of where we are and where we see ourselves. She discusses our mindset (so important), and then begins to share how to make that shift from where you are to where your heart/focus is.

Here are Elizabeth’s books easily located on Amazon:

Nursing From WithinYour Next Shift

 

When you finish Your Next Shift, don’t set it aside! It’s really a “how to” manual and you will be referring to it time and time again. Whether you want to find more joy in your current job, (and you need to learn how to shift your mindset), or you want to make a shift into another nursing focus, or you want to explore being a nurse entrepreneur: this is the book for you!

Elizabeth Scala and I met as we are both nurse bloggers. We both are passionate about well-being, self-care, and nurse entrepreneurship! (I think that’s why I just LOVE to read her posts). My focus and passion is more directed toward women who are cancer survivors, and women going through mid-life transition, while Elizabeth is passionate about empowering nurses!

Elizabeth’s blog can be found at ElizabethScala.com and you can also purchase her books directly from her website.

~ Authentically Joycelynn