Staffing levels are the center of attention at Tufts Medical Center in Boston as registered nurses announced on Monday the threat of a one-day strike. The Massachusetts Nurses Association, the labor union that represents 23,000 members, told The Boston Globe that recent staff cuts mean nurses are caring for even more patients at a time. The union also says the changes have changed the hospital from one of the best staffed in Boston to the...  Read More »

Rather than waiting months to see a surgeon, why not see a nurse practitioner? That’s the idea examined in a recent study done from Canada’s Toronto Western Hospital, published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing. An interesting article on MSCBC.com discusses the findings. In the study, a nurse practitioner examined 177 spine patients and provided the exact same diagnosis as two spine surgeons in all of the cases. Patients also reported...  Read More »

My 94- year-old grandmother has been in the hospital for a variety of complications. During visits, I’ve been introduced to her physician and her nurse. The funny thing is, the physician was introduced as “Dr. Smith*,” whereas the nurse was introduced as “Nurse Emily*.” (*names changed) Christopher Johnson, MD, a pediatric intensive care physician, remarks on this same issue in a blog post on KevinMD.com. He discusses the issue...  Read More »

Nurses have to deal with all types of stress, whether it’s stress from dealing with difficult patients, nurse-to-nurse hostility, or the long hours. They are also frequently called upon to help relieve their patients’ stress and anxiety. An article in The Topeka Capital-Journal discussed this topic with registered nurse Sharon Anderson, who works in a breast diagnostic center. When patients come to see her, something is either wrong,...  Read More »

No matter how long you are in the nursing profession, you will always have to deal with patients and the patient’s family members. When a patient is hospitalized, it can be a very difficult time for their family, causing them to become more sensitive then normal. It is important to remember how you treat the patient and their family. Here are a few scenarios that can aggravate the patient and their family, and suggestions to help avoid...  Read More »

Not being a nurse, I’ve never really thought about what happens when patients are admitted to the hospital and they are smokers. However, this is something that nurses and healthcare providers have to deal with all the time, and a recent survey says that many are not offering patients any help with quitting. The survey, published in the July issue of Nicotine & Tobacco Research, finds that nurses and healthcare professionals often...  Read More »

A new movement is quietly creeping into healthcare, and its silencing effect is being felt at one New York hospital. Press Ganey reports, which measure patient satisfaction, have long included noise level on it surveys, and some hospitals, like St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica, NY, are working to ensure noise doesn’t disrupt a patient’s stay. The hospital is working to reduce noise levels in an effort to increase patient safety...  Read More »

“Dear Deanna: I am a newer nurse, and from time to time I have questions about procedures and other areas. I have asked a few questions but at times I get the eye rolling that makes me feel as if I am ignorant. What should I do?” Asking questions shows that you truly want to know the correct answer. If we all knew everything that there is to know related to healthcare and nursing, there would not be references available. Think...  Read More »

Red, green, yellow, purple, and pink—these are the colors of one wristband color system improving patient safety in hospitals across the nation. But the key to success isn’t just the colors; it’s the fact that one particular color-coding system is catching on. It’s common for hospitals to use an array of colors for patient wristbands as reminders for certain conditions, such as allergies or fall risks, but Bonnie Haluska, RN, CRRN,...  Read More »

Nurses aim to spend the bulk of their time in direct contact with patients. Other responsibilities, such as paperwork and gathering supplies, often get in the way. To remedy the problem, 21 hospitals across six Rocky Mountain states are joining a Rapid Adoption Network (RAN) that will allow them to share information about clinical practices and seek ways to improve them. The RAN was created in response to a recent Veterans Health Administration...  Read More »