Interprofessional education (IPE) using simulation strategies is a rewarding way to promote teamwork and interprofessional collaboration. The benefits of collaboration far outweigh the challenges that arise from differences in educational culture and scheduling logistics.

The clinical nurse specialist (CNS) functions as an expert clinician to disseminate knowledge and apply evidence-based practice in his or her role. The framework of CNS practice competencies (patient, nurse, and system) reflects an opportunity to advocate for disadvantaged and underserved populations when providing care. Strategies, techniques, and tools to advance CNS practice in the primary care setting are discussed.

In the United States, discussing end-of-life wishes and preferences has been taboo ever since death and dying moved from a stage of life to a medical condition. This article describes the transformative nature of a Minnesota health care initiative, Honoring Choices Minnesota (HCM). As the world’s largest nongovernmental, voluntary community-centered initiative, HCM is changing the culture around speaking of death and dying, one conversation at a time.

How do successful leaders do that? In this interview with Marlene Williamson, director of Inpatient Nursing Services at Winchester Hospital in Winchester, MA, she describes the leadership behaviors that created a float team that thrives, provides highly valued care, continually improves their individual performance, and usually has a waiting list of internal applicants. Barbara Balik’s analysis of Marlene Williamson’s comments are in indented paragraphs.

Measuring the functionality of Unit Practice Councils (UPCs) in institutions on the Magnet journey is a rare occurrence. The Jackson Health System Unit Practice Council Functionality Measurement Tool is one of the first such attempts to provide an objective way to assess whether UPCs function in the way they were envisioned to perform.

Four nurses from University of California Davis Medical Center, facilitators of the Re-Igniting the Spirit of Caring curriculum that engages, grounds, renews, and unifies staff from all disciplines within health care organizations, traveled to Minnesota for recertification, and attended a Nursing Salon at “the home of the master,” Marie Manthey. They experienced the progress from superficial chat to deeper, heartfelt conversations—being present with each other and collectively held by peers.