The Nontraditional Path - Nursing Career Flexibility, Precepting, and Mentorship

Course Overview 
Nursing offers more career flexibility than many nurses realize. This course explores that flexibility through an interview with an ICU nurse and educator who entered the profession through LPN school and a bridge program before earning a BSN, then developed experience in bedside critical care, precepting, and mentorship.

The activity addresses four practical areas for nurses at any stage: nontraditional nursing career pathways, structured shift-to-shift handoff communication, foundational precepting techniques for onboarding new graduates, and self-care and boundary-setting practices that may help reduce burnout risk. Learners will consider strategies they can apply in clinical and educational settings.

Listen, Learn, and Earn CE Hours with this podcast course. Available on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast apps.

Learning Outcomes 
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:

• Identify at least two nontraditional pathways into nursing practice and describe how they can accommodate learners at different life stages.
• Describe strategies for structuring effective shift-to-shift handoff communication to reduce errors and omissions during transitions of care.
• Apply foundational precepting techniques — orientation to unit workflow, communication norms, and time management — to support new nurses during onboarding.
• Identify at least two self-care and boundary-setting practices new nurses can use to reduce burnout risk in their first years of practice.

About the Author/Presenter 
Mackenzie Butler, DNP, MSN, RN-BC, is the Head of Nursing Products at Colibri Group, where she leads innovative solutions to advance nursing education and professional development. She holds a Doctorate in Nursing Practice and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership. In addition to her leadership role, Mackenzie serves as adjunct faculty at the College of Saint Benedict, sharing her expertise with future healthcare professionals. Her professional interests include healthcare simulation and leveraging technology to enhance learning outcomes.

Meg Harrell is an ICU nurse, educator, and mentor whose career reflects the flexibility and range of the nursing profession. She entered nursing through a nontraditional path, beginning with LPN school, continuing through a bridge program, and ultimately earning her BSN. Her professional experience spans bedside critical care, precepting, and education, with a focus on supporting new nurses as they transition into practice. Through her work, Meg emphasizes the importance of structured handoff communication, strong mentorship, self-care, and healthy boundaries as essential tools for safe practice and long-term career sustainability.

Audience/Accreditations and Approvals 
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE 
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details): 
Nursing

If you require special accommodations, please contact Colibri Healthcare Support by clicking here: Contact Us