By Zelda Meeker – When any healthcare provider introduces themselves as “doctor,” most patients may naturally assume they’re speaking to a physician. But what happens when the person using that title isn’t an MD, but a nurse with a doctoral degree?
By Nancy Brent MS JD RN – HIPAA is a federal law that protects the confidentiality and security of patient information. As a nurse, if you’re complying with this law and its regulations, you’re fulfilling your legal obligations relating to your patients’ confidentiality and the security of their health information.
By Natalie Bridges MSN FNP-BC – I was once on the other side of the call light. Now I’m the one answering it. I remember standing over an ICU patient at his bedside, the tape already disconnected from his NG tube, telling him how uncomfortable it was going to be to have it removed.
By Zelda Meeker – Nurses are often expected to manage too much, too fast, making it harder to stay focused during high-stakes care. Redesigning workflows and integrating technologies with intention can help hospitals relieve some of that burden. Streamlined workflows don’t replace human judgment — they protect it by eliminating distractions and unnecessary steps.
By Zelda Meeker – Ethics are universal across healthcare settings and providers and are an important element that drives safety, trust, and quality patient care. This may lead some people to wonder if nurses are held to the same ethical traditions as physicians.
By Alice Benjamin MSN ACNS-BC FNP-C – For many people, ordering a genetic testing kit like 23andMe felt empowering. With just a few clicks and a saliva sample, they hoped to uncover family roots, solve health mysteries, or find out if they carried genes that could explain everything from lactose intolerance to their risk for cancer or Alzheimer’s disease.
By Zelda Meeker – While every wound tells a story, it also carries a cost, affecting both patients and organizations. Nurse leaders hold the key to transforming outcomes through the investment in wound care training.
By Zelda Meeker – When you think of HIPAA, what comes to mind? Privacy. Integrity. Trust. These elements and so much more come into play, especially in the age of social media. HIPAA mandates that nurses and other healthcare professionals protect sensitive patient information, ensuring confidentiality and trust in the patient-provider relationship.
By Sallie Jimenez – “Nurses are busy” is the understatement of the year. Long shifts, heavy patient loads, charting — it all adds up. So when the topic of continuing education (CE) or professional development arises, it’s easy to think, “How can I make time for that, too?”
In honor of Nurses Month we have rounded up some reports and surveys that we thought were of interest from the International Council of Nurses, National Council of State Boards of Nursing, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, MyPerfectResume, Cross Country Healthcare Inc., Purdue Global, and more.
By Linda Childers – With rapidly advancing technology and an aging population, home health nurses will become even more important in the coming years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for home health nurses is expected to grow 21% from 2023 to 2033.
By Alice Benjamin MSN ACNS-BC FNP-C – If you’ve ever felt uneasy walking into a patient’s room or found yourself scanning for the nearest exits in case of trouble, you’re not alone. As a nurse, I’ve had moments where a routine patient interaction suddenly turned hostile, forcing me to react quickly to protect myself.
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