Mentorship: A strategy for nursing retention
The limited pool of qualified nursing staff readily available to provide safe, quality care taxes the human capital management of healthcare organizations worldwide. To…
My patient is a victim of human trafficking
The growth of human trafficking increases the odds that you’ll encounter a patient who’s a victim. We can’t afford to miss any opportunity to…
Known fallers
PatientsED
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy and traumatic brain injury
Chronic traumatic encephalopathyrepetitive head injuries
Gut microbiome and health
Some researchers describe the bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and other microbes in our digestive system (the gut microbiome) as the newest discovered body organ. Each…
Sleep and the glymphatic system
Dr. Rafael PelayoStanford University
Reframing difficult
My nursing unit has a frequent flyer who’s difficult to care for. We’re all weary of providing care for this patient and are at…
How rituals support nursing teams
I’m a clinical manager for a pediatric critical care unit. We’ve recently had a significant increase in end-of-life care. I’m proud of our nurses…
When laws and nursing ethics collide
I live in a state that restricts access to certain healthcare services, and in some cases requires me to report things that will compromise…
Competent care during pregnancy loss
I experienced an extremely traumatic miscarriage, which was directly affected by rude and incompetent nurses and other healthcare staff. After I began sharing my…
Nurse safety in the era of open notes
Patients now have access to clinical notes that show the full names of staff members involved in their care. Considering the level of violence…
Informing family members about patient treatment nonadherence
As a nurse practitioner, I’m the primary care provider for a patient who’s clearly not taking his medications and is showing indications—through observation, vital…
Emotional intelligence: A neglected nursing competency
I love my job as nurse faculty, but if I were asked about the most challenging aspect of my role, I would point to…
Be Your Own Nurse: Chief wellness officer
In 2021, the control of wellbeing at the tail of a global pandemic made sense. How can we manage our personal worlds after so…
Vogue words in healthcare: Speaking outside the “silo”
Although using vogue words, modish terms that are popular for a time, isn’t unique to healthcare, it seems to be a prime place to…
Examining Public Perception of Nurses
The public places their trust in nurses because they expect them to act truthfully, transparently, and with integrity. Imagine you’re a patient and your…
Listening to messages
An analogy that I often use to describe my own experiences in tough caregiving situations is to say, “I have a fork in my…
