This Nurse Followed Her Father's Dream Into Psychiatric Nursing

After working as a CNA and home health aide while raising young children, Liana Cooley found her calling caring for older adults with complex psychiatric needs.

Welcome to Nurse Ascent, a twice-weekly newsletter created by nurses for nurses. This week, psychiatric nurse Liana Cooley shares how she pursued a childhood dream of nursing while balancing school and motherhood, eventually finding her place in senior behavioral health. We also look at which states face the most severe nursing shortages, how one rural health system reduced nurse turnover to below 12%, and why states may take a bigger role in regulating healthcare AI. Plus, explore nursing jobs tailored to your location.

But first....

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Brooklyn, NY

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Nurse Spotlight: Liana Cooley RN, BSN

From our spotlight archives: Liana Cooley’s father dreamed of becoming a nurse but never got the chance to finish school. Years later, Liana pursued that same dream while raising young children, eventually finding her calling in psychiatric nursing, where helping patients take small steps toward better mental health makes a difference. Read the full spotlight →

Headlines in Healthcare

California tops rankings for severe workforce shortages

California faces the most severe staffing gap among 30 analyzed states, while Hawaii recorded the lowest severity level in a new Nurse.org report. Researchers evaluated state workforce projections, hospital vacancy reports, and federal shortage designations to generate the scores. The study excluded 20 states due to a lack of publicly available vacancy data or workforce studies.

Ballad Health lowers nurse turnover, improves finances

According to Becker's Hospital Review, Ballad Health successfully reduced nursing turnover to below 12% by increasing pay, developing talent pipelines, and offering employee childcare. These workforce investments helped stabilize the rural health system and contributed to improved financial performance. This strategy highlights the direct link between nurse retention and organizational stability.

States may lead future healthcare AI regulation

Nurses should monitor potential state-level AI regulations following the midterm elections, as reporting from Time and CNBC suggests states may take a larger role in oversight. According to NBC News, 56% of voters identified AI and data centers as a significant factor in their congressional decisions. This shift could impact how AI tools are implemented within clinical settings.

Share your story & be entered to win

As part of our effort to spotlight nurses, we’d love to feature you in an upcoming issue of Nurse Ascent! Share your story by filling out our quick interview form, and you’ll be entered into a raffle to win a $50 gift card.

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