As I write this post, we are in the midst of Nurses Week in the U.S. The week is celebrated annually, beginning on May 6 and ending on May 12. This week was proposed in the 1950s but not formally celebrated until the 1990s. This last date of the week, May 12, commemorates the birthday […]
Celebrating nurses and teachers Read More »
Most would agree the nursing shortage has worsened over the past few years. With the pandemic, many nurses became overworked and burned out. Some felt unsafe in the profession with limitations in personal protective equipment. Nurses also felt moral distress as they cared for patients dying without the support of family or friends. Ultimately, nurses
How To solve the Nursing Shortage: Sign-on or Retention Bonus? Read More »
This is my first post on diseases nurses often see in practice. I hope you enjoy the review. As a nurse, understanding the patient’s health conditions is a priority in providing safe care. Thyroid disorders affect many individuals. These disorders can manifest as hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, inflammation, malignancy, or enlargement. According to the American Thyroid Association
Nursing Challenge: Understanding Thyroid Disorders Read More »
Most nurses experience working with student nurses at some point in their careers. With the high demand for nurses, many student nurses are needed. The excellent news is admission to nursing schools is as high as possible. But, the practicum or clinical experiences is a vital part of the education of nursing students. The pandemic
You are working with a nursing student. Now what? Read More »
Proning has been mentioned in many nursing journals of late due to its effectiveness in treating acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS.) This is the life-threatening respiratory condition developed by those with severe COVID-19 lung inflammation. Early in the pandemic, besides ventilators, proning was one of the few treatments available for those with ARDS. Why is
Proning and COVID-19: What is it All About? Read More »
All nurses have a topic or two they didn’t understand well as a new nurse. (Well, maybe more than a couple!) As a med-surg and CCU nurse, I found I really didn’t understand the IV fluid choices for my patients. Why did some have normal saline while others had ½-normal saline (0.45%) or ¼ normal
Fluid and Electrolyte Focus: What is the Right IV Fluid for My Patient? Read More »
How many nurses belong to a professional nursing or healthcare organization? There were approximately 183,000 new RN’s joining the professional in 2020 (NCSBN, 2021). Many nurses do not choose to become members of a professional organization, however. There are many organizations to choose from today. They vary from general organizations for all nurses, such as
Why Join a Professional Organization? Read More »
As a nurse, you will at some point see patients with cardiac conditions. Early in my career, this type of patient scared me. I wasn’t knowledgeable on cardiac rhythms. When a patient needed a 12-lead ECG, my anxiety rose. I didn’t know what to look for. Luckily, I was working at a large hospital that
How Much to Know About the 12-Lead ECG Read More »
This week I want to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine, a healthcare priority. Nurses are in an important position to provide education on vaccination. In this post, I will first review the basics of immunity. (I am an educator!) Then, I’ll highlight information nurses need on COVID-19 and vaccination. COVID-19 is short for coronavirus disease 2019
COVID-19 Vaccination: A Nursing Priority Read More »
The past year has been one of global challenges. Nurses have been recognized as essential to the health of all communities. We have stood out with other healthcare professionals as those willing to step up to ensure transmission of COVID-19 was limited and care provided to those in need. Never had nurses experienced the constant
Self-care: What Every Nurse Needs Now Read More »
