The answer for treating a condition that causes potentially life-threatening blood clots may be found in the form of genetically modified goats. If the FDA approves it, of course. ATryn, a drug developed by a Massachusetts biotechnology company, GTC Biotherapeutics, is made from goats’ milk specially formulated to contain antithrombin. In humans, antithrombin acts as a blood thinner. However, about one  in 5,000 people do not produce enough of this hormone,...  Read More »

To cope with the nursing shortage, some hospitals are making ends meet by overworking the few nurses they have. However, a new law enacted in Pennsylvania prohibits facilities from disciplining nurses who do not work past their scheduled shifts. In response, an editorial in FierceHealthcare examines what it takes to find and keep nurses during this time of scarcity. It’s not the money—higher salaries may initially attract nurses, but nothing stops them...  Read More »

Abusive and intimidating physicians do more than make nurses’ jobs more stressful. They can also cause medical errors, says The New York Times. The Times points out that only about 4% of physicians are abusive—normally they are surgeons or specialists in a stressful field such as neurology. But a survey done by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, a nonprofit organization, found that 40% of medical staff members said they had not spoken up about...  Read More »

With all the bad news about the economy, at least there is a glimmer of hope for nursing students. Obtaining RN credentials may be one of the most secure educational choices in the uncertain economic climate, according to The Fort Worth, TX Star-Telegram. Nursing is one profession that hasn’t been affected by the economy and will continue to grow in the future, especially as the Baby Boomer generation ages. The U.S. is short 118,000 nurses, but the American...  Read More »

A nursing school in downtown Atlanta has created a win-win situation for the Atlanta community: Nursing students get practical experience and the residents of a local homeless shelter get medical care. The partnership between Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing and the Gateway Center in downtown Atlanta provides nursing students with opportunities for service learning and, for more experienced students, hands-on experiences, reports...  Read More »

Record numbers of students are applying to nursing school, but who will be there to teach them? For years, experts have warned of the consequences of healthcare professional shortages, and it should be a relief to see many students interested in nursing programs. However, many facilities, such as Fitchburg (MA) State College, are having to turn nursing students away because there’s no one available to teach them. There are two main reasons nurses don’t...  Read More »

In a time of limited budgets, some facilities, such as Inova Alexandria (VA) Hospital, are still willing to spend about $2,500 per bed to be able to locate their nurses at a moment’s notice. According to Medill Reports, a Northwestern University publication, nurse tracking systems are a booming market. The systems work by having each nurse wear a badge that relays his or her location to the front desk. An intercom system is placed throughout the facility,...  Read More »

A pleasant nature, an air of confidence, and a good memory are three qualities a Los Angeles Times reader used to describe good nurses in a recently published letter to the editor. The reader says she has spent a lot of time in hospitals during the past two years with sick relatives and has come to appreciate the effect a good nurse can have on a hospital stay. She says good nurses take the lead with the patient and develop a rapport with the patient and family. However,...  Read More »

A recent investigation done by the Los Angeles Times found that some nurses kept renewing their licenses even after being convicted of crimes such as sexual assault, attempted murder, or Medicare fraud. One nurse was even able to renew his license three times from prison. Following this investigation, the California Board of Registered Nursing unanimously approved regulations requiring all licensees to submit fingerprints. This measure would allow law enforcement...  Read More »

Throw out your old ideas of hypnosis! It’s more than just a magic trick or the power of suggestion—consider the benefits of the mind telling the body how to react in certain situations. In some patients, hypnosis can help counter nausea associated with pregnancy and chemotherapy, pain after surgery or childbirth, and other tricky health problems such as hiccups, according to an article in The New York Times. Many people believe that for hypnosis to work,...  Read More »