Something Powerful

Tell The Reader More

The headline and subheader tells us what you're offering, and the form header closes the deal. Over here you can explain why your offer is so great it's worth filling out a form for.

Remember:

  • Bullets are great
  • For spelling out benefits and
  • Turning visitors into leads.

DiversityNursing Blog

The Modern Nurse

Posted by Alycia Sullivan

Wed, May 07, 2014 @ 12:07 PM

The Modern Nurse Infographic

© 2014 Travel Nurse Source

Topics: modern nurse, diversity, infographic

American Nurses Association Celebrates National Nurses Week; 1.1 Million More RNs Needed

Posted by Alycia Sullivan

Wed, May 07, 2014 @ 11:19 AM

Source: Digital Journal

National Nurses Week traditionally is a time to recognize the crucial contributions registered nurses (RN) make to individuals' health and the U.S. health care system; this year, it's also a time to sound a note of urgency about the future, as projections signal the need to fill about 1.1 million RN jobs by 2022.

The 2014 National Nurses Week theme is "Nurses: Leading the Way," emphasizing nurses' roles in improving the quality of health care; participating as key members of collaborative, performance-based health care teams; and continually advocating to ensure patients remain the focal point of health care. National Nurses Week takes place May 6-12, ending on the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.

"All nurses are leaders, whether they are in direct patient care, administrative roles, or meeting consumers' needs in new roles such as care coordinators or wellness coaches," said ANA President Karen A. Daley, PhD, RN, FAAN. "This week, we acknowledge nurses' vast contributions, as well as the need to develop the nursing workforce to meet our growing needs and improve the health of the nation."

As nurses assume more leadership roles in a system that is transforming its focus to emphasize primary care, prevention, wellness, chronic disease management, and coordination of care, a confluence of factors is driving the need for a huge increase in the number of RNs. About 11 million individuals have gained better access to health care through private health insurance marketplaces and the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act; Baby Boomers are projected to swell Medicare rolls by 50 percent by 2025; and 53 percent of nurses are over age 50 and nearing retirement, according to a National Council of State Boards of Nursing survey.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 1.1 million jobs for nurses between 2012 and 2022 – more than 500,000 each for newly created jobs and replacements for retiring nurses. Registered nurse is ranked second in projected new job growth among all occupations from 2012 to 2022, with 527,000 new jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. To achieve that level of growth, ANA recommends four actions: 

  • Increase funding for federal Nursing Workforce Development Programs (known as Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act, which marks its 50th anniversary this year). Funding generally has stayed level in recent years for these programs that assist in educating, training, and placing new nurses in areas of need.
  • Recruit more nursing professors and increase incentives. Nursing faculty salaries generally are lower than what many faculty members could earn in clinical practice (an average of $68,640 compared to more than $91,000 for nurse practitioners). Many nursing professors also are nearing retirement age – nearly 3 of 4 are over age 50 – and will need to be replaced.
  • Ensure an adequate number of clinical training sites so nursing students can fulfill educational requirements.
  • Encourage hospitals and other employers to hire new nursing graduates now to benefit from mentoring from experienced RNs, and to mitigate the impact of the projected exodus of seasoned RNs in the coming years.

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/05/prweb11820230.htm

Topics: jobs, National Nurses Week, growth, leadership

Leading the Way: Nurses recognized for improving health care

Posted by Alycia Sullivan

Wed, May 07, 2014 @ 11:10 AM

By KAYLEIGH SOMMER

Wherever health care is provided, a nurse is likely to be there.

Nurses_Lizeth_Martinez-DP-1.jpgTuesday marks the start of National Nurses Week, an annual opportunity for communities to recognize the full range of nurses’ contributions. This year’s theme, “Nurses: Leading the Way,” recognizes nurses as leaders in the field.

Nurses are being honored as leaders who improve the quality of health care. Nurses practice in diverse roles, such as clinicians, administrators, researchers, educators and policymakers.

Lizeth Martinez, a registered nurse at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, said every nurse is different.

“We each have our scope of practice and me, personally, I always try to be there for my patients,” Martinez said. “From what I have seen I am very fortunate to work with the people that I do.”

Martinez, who was born and raised in Brownsville, is currently working on a graduate degree in nursing at the University of Texas at Brownsville and should be finished by next year.

She said that in the two and half years that she’s been a nurse she has gained a lot of experience.

“I love being a nurse,” Martinez said. “As nurses we care in a different way, in a compassionate and holistic manner promoting health and healing.”

However, being a nurse is not without its challenges, said Martinez, who mainly works with wound care and diabetes patients.

“I think the most challenging thing about being a nurse is the emotional aspect because we see a lot of patients that are chronically ill,” Martinez said.

Garett Byrd, a pediatric registered nurse at Harlingen Medical Center, has worked in the nursing field for nine years.

Byrd, whose parents were nurses, said the profession has changed a lot during that time.

“Over the years I’ve noticed an increase in accountability and technology,” Byrd said. “The nursing profession has moved towards a more evidenced based practice. Were not doing things just to do them, were researching and going by the research.”

He said the community should keep one thing in mind.

“The community needs to remember that we’re human beings too, and we’re here because we care,” Byrd said.

Both Martinez and Byrd said nurses are leaders in the health profession.

“I think we are leaders. The profession is so amazing because there are so many things you can do, so many fields you can go into,” Martinez said.

“As nurses were able to provide and coordinate care and think those aspects of leadership position.”

Karen A. Daley, president of the American Nurses Association, agrees.Nurses_Garett_Byrd_DSC05075.jpg

“All nurses are leaders, whether they are in direct patient care, administrative roles or meeting consumers’ needs in new roles such as care coordinators or wellness coaches,” Daley said.

“This week, we acknowledge nurses’ vast contributions and how they are leading the way in improving health care and ultimately, the health of the nation.”

Nurses are leading initiatives to increase access to care and improve outcomes by focusing on primary care, prevention, wellness, chronic disease management and the coordination of care among health care providers and settings.

These are areas in which nurses excel given their education and experience, the ANA said.

According to the ANA, nursing is the nation’s largest health care profession, with nearly 3 million employed professionals and is projected to grow faster than all other occupations.

The federal government projects that more than 1 million new registered nurses will be needed by 2022 to fill new jobs and replace nurses who leave the profession.

Demand for nursing care will grow rapidly as Baby Boomers swell Medicare enrollment by 50 percent by 2025 and millions of individuals obtain new or better access to care under the health care reform law, the ANA said.

Source: Valley Morning Star 

Topics: National Nurses Week, healthcare, nurses, improve

Five Ways to Thank a Nurse on National Nurses Day

Posted by Alycia Sullivan

Wed, May 07, 2014 @ 11:05 AM

National Nurses Day is celebrated annually on May 6th to raise awareness of the important role nurses play in society. This day also marks the beginning of National Nurses Week, which ends on May 12th, the birthday of Florence Nightingale. Nightingale is considered the founder of professional nursing due to her pioneering work during the Crimean War of 1853-1856 and her establishment of the first secular nursing school in London.

Here are five ways to say 'thank you' to a nurse who has touched you or a loved one this year:

  1. Say it with caffeine: Nurses work long and late hours. A gift card to a coffee shop is a practical and much appreciated token of thanks.
  2. Say it out loud, Facebook style: Consider a big social media shout-out on your Facebook page. Tag your nurse friends, but make it public to all.
  3. Say it with soles: On their feet for long shifts, the quest for the perfect pair of nursing shoes can be eased with a gift certificate to a local or online nursing supply store.
  4. Say it with a letter: Handwritten thank-you notes are still an excellent way to share your feelings and boost the recipient's day.
  5. Say it with food: Every workplace enjoys a thoughtful basket of food from a grateful customer. Just make sure to include enough for the team.
Source: PR Newswire

Topics: National Nurses Day, appreciation, thank you

What is the Priority?

Posted by Alycia Sullivan

Fri, May 02, 2014 @ 11:29 AM

By Teresia Odessey of Bloomfield College

As a nursing student, I have had the privilege of observing many nurses in different units; pediatrics, maternity, the burn unit, hospice, medical surgical, ICU, CCU, wound rounds, and psychiatry. I’ve realized from these experiences that school nurses are by far the most unappreciated and de-valued. As I gathered information on the role of school nurses, and shadowed an elementary school nurse for my senior capstone project, I discovered the challenges faced by school nurses. 

Contrary to popular belief, the school nurse’s role is critical to the well-being of students’ health and academic achievements. The scope of practice for the school nurse includes supervision of school health policies and procedures; promotion of health education; health services; competence of interventions; facilitation of health care screenings; making referrals to other healthcare providers; patient advocacy and maintenance of the appropriate environment to promote health. This role requires the nurse to be knowledgeable and competent in various skills and interventions. School nurses provide care, support and teaching for diabetes, asthma, allergies, seizures, obesity, mental health, and immunizations to all students (Beshears & Ermer, 2013).  The role of the school nurse as defined by the National Association of School Nurses is as follows: “a specialized practice of professional nursing that advances the well-being, academic success and lifelong achievement and health of students” (Board, Bushmiaer, Davis-Alldritt, Fekaris, Morgitan, Murphy &Yow, 2011). 

Clearly, it is not just about Band-Aids and ice packs but still 25% of US schools have no nurse present and 16% of students have a medical condition that warrants a skilled professional (Taliaferro, 2008).  One in every 400 children under 20 years is diagnosed with diabetes; 10% of students nationwide have asthma; prevalence of school allergies have increased drastically; 45,000 students are diagnosed with seizures each year; obesity rate has tripled among children 6 to 11 years, and more than tripled for children 12 to 19; and one in five students have mental health issues (Beshears & Ermer, 2013).  

Despite having laws allowing disabled children to attend school, increasing the workload on the nurses, there are no laws that mandate a nurse to student ratio. The national recommendation for nurse to student ratio is 1:750 but on average some nurses are responsible for up to 4,000 students (Resha, 2010). Nwabuzor (2007) mentioned that parents and stakeholders cannot truly advocate for more school nurses because most of them do not comprehend the role, responsibilities, and advantages of having a school nurse. The major reason for the school nurse shortage is the lack of legislation on school nursing; not enough funding, and no laws forcing schools to hire nurses. Therefore, many educational facilities have opted to hire unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) instead. 

 Yes, it is likely more cost effective to hire UAP’s instead of Registered Nurses but that does not make it acceptable. It is my belief that we have different titles and scopes of practice for a reason. I find it mind boggling that some schools do not have school nurses. How is it that some parents are comfortable with sending their children to a school without a nurse? Is it that they don’t inquire about the presence of a school nurse? Or could it be that maybe they assume that every school has a full-time nurse? I wonder if some parents are aware of the nurse to student ratio at their child’s school. Yes, there are budget cuts due to many reasons but why do these schools say they don’t have enough funding to hire a school nurse but they have six assistant coaches for any one of the sports? So yet my question remains unanswered: what is the priority?

 

References

Beshears, V., & Ermer, P. (2013). SCHOOL NURSING: It's Not What You Think!. Arkansas

Nursing News, 9(2), 14-18. 

Board, C., Bushmiaer, M., Davis-Alldritt, L., Fekaris, N., Morgitan, J., Murphy, K., &Yow, B. (2011, April). Role of the school nurse. Retrieved from http://www.nasn.org/PolicyAdvocacy/PositionPapersandReports/NASNPositionStatementsFullView/tabid/462/ArticleId/87/Role-of-the-School-Nurse-Revised-2011

Nwabuzor, O. (2007, February). Legislative: "Shortage of Nurses: The School Nursing Experience." Online  Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol12 No 2. doi:10.3912/OJIN.Vol12No02LegCol01

Resha, C., (2010, May 31) "Delegation in the School Setting: Is it a Safe Practice?" OJIN: The

Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 15, No. 2, Manuscript 5. doi:

10.3912/OJIN.Vol15No02Man05

Topics: school nurse, education, health care, underappreciated, senior capstone

Health care industry experiencing new demands for nurses

Posted by Alycia Sullivan

Fri, Apr 25, 2014 @ 02:05 PM

by BPT

Nursing continues to be one of the fastest-growing occupations in the nation, as nurses make up the majority of the health care industry workforce. In fact, recent projections from a January 2014 report published in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook estimate the job growth to be 19 percent faster than the average occupation through 2022.

Besides a strong job market, a degree in nursing can be even more rewarding than you may think. A nurse usually has a flexible schedule and the option to work in a variety of establishments, from hospitals to schools, home care facilities and even government agencies. Few professions can provide the same number of options in terms of where to work, areas to specialize in, or degrees to use. The range of nursing specialties is almost as varied as the personalities of the nurses themselves. So no matter what kind of person you are, you’ll have a place in nursing.

However, the industry has changed over the years and this has led to a higher demand of registered nurses. Patient treatments have become more complicated, and with an increased workload, nurse positions require even more critical thinking skills.

Brenda McAllister, the national director of nursing of the Brown Mackie College system of schools, knows first-hand how the industry has changed. "I have watched the industry grow over the years as nurses become more involved than just taking vital signs, giving medications and bathing patients,” she says. “There is a more team-oriented approach which has developed in hospitals, and this naturally makes it a more rewarding career option. As a result, more and more nursing programs are in demand.”

Nurses must be able to work through problems that don't have a standard cookie-cutter18674671 web resized 600 solution. If a life-threatening problem occurs, the nurse must take action within their scope of practice to save a patient. Nurses must have the ability to think on their feet and assure patient safety.

On the other hand, nurses continue to go the extra mile to help their patients. Many people, especially the elderly, are reluctant to take medicine prescribed by a doctor other than their regular doctor. "Nurses will sometimes even call a patient's regular doctor to explain their current health care needs," McAllister says. "Usually a word from that trusted source will help the patient comply. It’s an additional step, but all the more rewarding when you help a patient out.”

In addition, there are a lot of things a nurse can do other than work at a hospital. In fact, not all aspects of nursing require physical, hands-on care. One employment option, which appeals to those who don't necessarily want to touch every patient physically, is to become a care manager or care coordinator. This position involves managing outpatient care to make sure needs are met and health is maintained when a patient leaves a medical facility.

The home health care coordinator's job is broadly based on patient education. Good health assessment skills and good nursing skills are necessary elements of care. These skills, plus teaching skills, continue to help keep the patient as independent as possible.

Another example would be a care coordinator's position at an insurance company, which is similar to one employed by a hospital. They work with an eye toward keeping treatment aspects in line with guidelines. A knowledge base is essential to perform the job. One must be able to be a manager, have a broad understanding of the body and a scientific background.

Even with attractive career options and expanding nursing programs, there is still a growing nursing shortage. Higher complexity of care, a growing geriatric population, expanding health and disease prevention services, and many other conditions regarding individual health demand more qualified nurses to fill an increasing variety of positions. So if this is a path you choose to follow, research your options and determine which fields and programs meet your needs to have a rewarding career in nursing.

Source: Journal Sentinel

Topics: growing, BLS, demand, nursing, healthcare

Employment Options for Nurses

Posted by Alycia Sullivan

Fri, Apr 25, 2014 @ 01:10 PM

Q. I have been a bedside nurse for over 25 years and love my career. Both of my daughters have also gone into nursing. What are the career options for us? I don’t think I’ll be bedside much longer and what do recent grads have to look forward to?

A. The outlook for all health care professionals is very good as long as you are open to working in many environments. Hospitals, nursing homes, home health and insurance companies are among the industries interested in speaking to nursing professionals and other health service providers. The OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook) projects a 19 percent growth rate for nurses between 2012 and 2022 due to an increase in the interest in preventative care, an increase in chronic conditions and the baby boomers need for health care in the future.

I consulted Kathy Lind, Staffing Manger for Boston Children’s Hospital, to get more information on options for experienced nurses who may not want to stay bedside. “Nurses with significant experience who are ready to leave the bedside and who are not ready to retire have several options. There are roles that focus on care coordination or clinical documentation. These positions require the expertise of a seasoned nurse and can be great options for nurses looking to transition.”

Lind comments, ”For recent graduates, it’s important to remember that you may not land your first choice as your first job. The best thing you can do is keep your options open and maintain a positive attitude. If you have the chance to speak with a recruiter or hiring manager, approach the conversation as an opportunity to build a professional relationship and ask if it’s OK to contact them occasionally for updates via email. You can keep them updated on the status of your boards and if you’ve accepted a position elsewhere.”

Your first job will most likely not be your last job. Many staffing managers would agree with Lind’s comment: “You may need to consider extending your job search beyond your initial clinical specialty and geographic preferences. The best thing you can do as a new graduate RN is to secure a position and gain one to two years of valuable experience. At that point you can begin to think about applying for that dream job!”

Source: Boston.com

Topics: Q and A, The Job Doc, nurses, careers

New York nurses share how colleagues inspire them every day

Posted by Alycia Sullivan

Fri, Apr 25, 2014 @ 12:53 PM

In healthcare facilities, it takes a network of teammates to ensure the optimal health of patients who receive care. The most successful teams are those who acknowledge each other’s strengths and work together accordingly where there are weaknesses, inspiring one another along the way. 

In honor of National Nurses Week, we asked nurses in New York and New Jersey to share the many ways in which their colleagues inspire them in their everyday lives to be better nurses, better teammates and better people. On the next few pages, we share their thought-provoking and heartfelt responses with you. 
Benjamin Quinones, RN, coordinator of care, MJHS Home Care, Brooklyn, N.Y.
bilde (5) resized 600
My network of team leaders helped me transition into nursing after 16 years as a paramedic. I didn’t get to be part of patients’ follow-up care or journey back to independence while working as a paramedic. 

As part of MJHS Home Care, I see patients one-on-one, but with the support I get from my special colleagues, I’ve never felt alone. Most important, my team leaders have taught me that at the end of the day, it’s all about our patients. 

Stephen R. Marrone, RN-BC, Edd, CTN-A, deputy nursing director, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, N.Y.

bilde (6) resized 600When I was a high school volunteer in the ICU of a community hospital in Brooklyn, I watched the nurses care for patients and knew I wanted to be a nurse. As a nurse for more than three decades, I continue to be inspired by nurses every day, individually and collectively. 

Individually, I see nurses work tirelessly to provide excellent care during difficult financial times, and I am determined to make sure they have the resources they need to provide safe care. I am inspired when I see younger nurses become leaders on their units and I know I have made a difference. 

Several nurses have mentored and provided a springboard for me to elevate my practice and expand my scope of influence. They did so by recognizing potential in me that was hidden from myself. They helped me gain entry into higher levels of practice and a peer group that role-modeled leadership. 

When I am having one of those days when I ask myself, “Why do I do this?,” I think of those nurses and the patients we care for and remember that I am privileged to be touched by others and to touch others’ lives every day. 

Sylvie Jacobs, RN, BSN, CPAN, postanesthesia care unit, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City
bilde (7) resized 600
The nurse who remains with me as the most inspiring is Patricia Liang. We worked side by side in the postanesthesia care unit for decades. 

She was the go-to resource because she seemed to know what to do in every situation and could impart the information to staff in a kind and supportive way. 

Liang was tiny in stature but relayed an enormous, quiet power, always in a respectful way. The new residents got away with nothing when Liang was around. She not only had a seemingly bottomless wealth of knowledge, but she also had an unfailing moral compass. When there was an ethical issue that needed to be resolved, we knew to ask Liang. 

She was not a talkative person — she was usually focused on coordinating care — but you somehow felt her support and appreciation for your efforts. I always will remember her for not just being an outstanding nurse, but for also being an outstanding person. 

Janice Wright, RN, BSN, staff nurse, 4C med/surg unit, Lutheran Medical Center, Brooklyn, N.Y.

describe the image
I have been working at Lutheran Medical Center on a med/surg unit for the past four years. I have had the pleasure of working with an extraordinary group of nursing colleagues. 

It is hard to single out one particular person because I truly can say my professional life has been enriched and my work ethics validated by each of the nurses with whom I work. I feel empowered and energized in my daily work because of my colleagues. 

Mary Farren, RN, MSN, CWOCN, clinical nurse specialist, acute care, VNSNY, Queens, N.Y.

describe the imageNearly every morning for the past 10 years, I have been fortunate to have a chat with Marilyn Liota, RN, as we start our day around 7 a.m. Nearly every conversation begins with Liota saying: “Tell me what is good.” From there, we have gone off in many directions. What a way to open a conversation, and what a way to start the day. 

I consider myself fortunate to have known Liota, worked under her leadership and guidance, and been a part of the special and historic “Marilyn Liota” years at VNSNY. Liota recently retired and I’m truly happy for her, yet underneath it all, I feel a touch of sadness, too. I will miss her so much. 

So typical of a giving soul like hers, Liota’s next steps involve giving generously of herself to help others as a volunteer working with new immigrants for a nonprofit organization called “Literacy Nassau.” 

Kathleen Lanzo, RN, clinical practice coordinator, ASU/OR holding/ENDO/PACU, Plainview (N.Y.) Hospital

describe the image
When I think of the most influential person in nursing who has enriched my life, the answer rolls right off my tongue. Her name is Winnie Mele, RN. I have been blessed to work alongside her for 28 years, and still each new day brings a new experience. 

Her style of leadership motivates and inspires all who know her to be successful in their careers. She gets out and circulates among the troops. No matter how dark the day, I always can count on her to make it a learning experience without being punitive. 

We share the same vision and passion for nursing. There is never a day when she won’t sit and have coffee, share a story, sing a song or just listen. “Every patient, every time” is the mantra she taught me and her staff. I am a better person professionally and spiritually because of this special outstanding woman. 

Compassion, honesty, fairness and loyalty are what I have taken from this extraordinary nurse who, throughout my career, has been my role model. Everyone should have someone like Mele in their life. I thank God for her every day. 

Nydia White, RN, critical care unit, South Nassau Communities Hospital, Oceanside, N.Y.

describe the imageI was 21 years old when I was a new RN on a med/surg floor. On that unit there was no such thing as being alone as a nurse — we worked together as a team. It was scary, overwhelming and exciting at the same time. 

Lisa Williams, my first nurse manager, did more than just her job. If there was a sick call, she would take a section of patients. If we needed some extra hands, she would give bed baths. Williams exemplified confidence, leadership and teamwork with a touch of color and a twist of enthusiasm that would radiate to her staff. 

The quality that amazed me most was her compassion for people. It wasn’t just about your abilities as a nurse; it was about tapping into the kind of person you were and helping you grow. She could sense if something was wrong, take you to the side and support you through the challenge. 

Williams’ specialty was to identify a nurse’s potential and mentor her to be a better nurse and a better person. She encouraged me to be the charge nurse and join committees when I didn’t think I was ready, but she assured me I was. Now I am a critical care RN and even host a CCRN review class. I volunteer for many committees. I am a better person and nurse because of Williams, my first nurse manager, mentor and friend. 

Erica Zippo, RNC-OB, BSN, C-EFM, staff nurse, labor and delivery, White Plains (N.Y.) Hospital

describe the imageI was a new graduate nurse when I started working on the labor and delivery unit at White Plains Hospital. In nursing school, we heard that nurses eat their young, so the support, camaraderie and familylike atmosphere I felt on the unit was something I never expected. 

My colleagues took me under their wings and enthusiastically shared their knowledge and individual experiences, most of which were things I had not learned in school. When observing my colleagues in action, I learned how to make a patient and his or her family feel comfortable, calm and welcome; how to complete an efficient history and physical while admitting a woman in labor; and how to make the delivery of every baby special despite the paperwork and nursing tasks. 

This shared knowledge from my colleagues continues to enrich my professional life and has shaped me into the nurse I am today. My colleagues also have supported me in my personal life through many important moments, such as relationships, break-ups, moves, graduate school, marriage and the birth of my daughter. I am thankful for the positive influences of my strong, intelligent and caring colleagues.

For more responses, visit www.Nurse.com/Article/NJThankYou

 

Source: Nurse.com

Topics: New York, colleagues, inspire, nurses

Degrees matter

Posted by Alycia Sullivan

Fri, Apr 25, 2014 @ 12:43 PM

Nurse researcher Linda H. Aiken, RN, PhD, FAAN, FRCN, has published a study that presents the latest in growing body of evidence to suggest a more highly educated nursing workforce saves lives.

“Our research shows that each 10% increase in the proportion of nurses in a hospital with a bachelor’s degree is associated with a 7% decline in mortality following common surgery,” said Aiken, professor of nursing and sociology and director of the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
bilde (3) resized 600
“More education, and particularly university education, enhances critical thinking. Professional nurses are called upon to quickly synthesize a large amount of clinical information about acutely ill patients, process this information in the context of scientific evidence, reach evidence-based conclusions, communicate salient information and their conclusions to physicians, and act in the absence of a physician at the bedside, which is most of the time.” 

Aiken said the study, published Feb. 26 on the website of The Lancet, was designed to account for other possible explanations for lower mortality, including patient-to-nurse ratios, presence of physicians, availability of high technology and how sick the patients are on admission. 

“After taking into account these other factors, nurses’ education is a very important factor in patient outcomes,” Aiken said.

The researchers combed through more than 420,000 patient records of discharged patients following common surgeries, such as knee replacements, appendectomies and vascular procedures.

This isn’t the first such finding for Aiken. 

“In U.S. research, we have established a causal linkage between better-educated nurses and patient deaths by studying hospitals over time, showing that hospitals that actually increase their hiring of bachelor’s nurses have greater declines in mortality than hospitals that have not increased BSN employment over the same time period,” she said. 

American Association of Colleges of Nursing President Jane Kirschling, RN, PhD, FAAN, said the fact Aiken publishes in such high-end journals as the Journal of the American Medical Association and The Lancet shows her findings stand up to rigorous scientific reviews. 

The message for associate degree-prepared nurses, according to Kirschling, is to continue their education. 

“We’re the largest single group of healthcare providers in the United States, and we’re there 24-7, 365 days a year for the care that’s provided,” Kirschling said. “That’s in hospitals, community settings and long-term care settings. So, we have to make that commitment as a discipline and as professional nurses to continue to expand our knowledge and our critical thinking skills, and we do that through advancing nursing education.”

Donna Meyer, RN, MSN, president, National Organization for Associate Degree Nursing, said that while the N-OADN supports higher-education initiatives in nursing, community colleges are crucial to meet the nursing care needs of the U.S. healthcare system. Community colleges graduate quality nurses representing 60% of the nursing workforce, according to Meyer, who is dean of health sciences at Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, Ill. 

“Community colleges provide entry points for students moving into the nursing profession to practice, [and] provide a pathway to higher education and advanced practice, research and faculty positions,” Meyer said. “Many community colleges are embedded in rural and-or medically underserved communities, and without them and the nursing graduates they produce, healthcare provider shortages would continue to impair access to care.”

Meyer said N-OADN is working with the National League for Nursing, AACN and the American Nurses Association to find ways to encourage students to continue their education. A-OADN also is working with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action to support recommendations in the Institute of Medicine report, “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.”
bilde (4) resized 600
The study supports the importance of IOM recommendations that 80% of the U.S. nursing workforce be bachelor’s-educated by 2020, Aiken said. Nurses should help their institutions use this strong evidence base to improve nurse staffing adequacy and facilitate the transition to a BSN workforce.

“There are now quite a few large, well-designed studies by different research teams and in different countries documenting the relationship between more BSNs in hospitals and better patient outcomes,” Aiken said. “These studies were mentioned in The Lancet article and include at least multiple studies in the U.S., research in Canada, Belgium, China and now in nine countries in Europe. That is a substantial evidence base, sufficient to guide policy and practice decisions.”

To hospital and other employers, this and other studies show that nursing education really does matter, Kirschling said. 

Healthcare stakeholders need to “make the investment in our associate degree-prepared nurses by providing tuition support for them to go back to school … [and] to provide flexibility in the workplace” to allow them to continue their education, Kirschling said. 

Lancet study abstract: http://bit.ly/1k7O3nR

For further reading, see “An increase in the number of nurses with baccalaureate degrees is linked to lower rates of postsurgery mortality,” by Ann Kutney-Lee, RN, PhD, Douglas M. Sloane, PhD, and Linda H. Aiken, RN, PhD, FRCN, FAAN, Health Affairs, March 2013 (study abstract):http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/32/3/579.abstract?sid=32bce161-cc20-4fd2-837b-577d651033f0 

Engaged in education

This article is part of a series that will periodically examine issues affecting the future of nursing education in the U.S.

Previous articles:

RWJF offers funding for 'Future of Nursing' implementation
http://news.nurse.com/article/20140317/NATIONAL05/140314005#.U0v7j1eRceU

Study looks at implementation of recommendations on BSNs
http://news.nurse.com/article/20140120/NATIONAL05/140117004#.UyMdfYWRceU
Source: Nurse.com 

Topics: higher ed, bachelor's degree, Workforce, nurses

Project Hope sends nurse to hard-hit Philippines

Posted by Alycia Sullivan

Wed, Apr 16, 2014 @ 12:28 PM

By 

When Wally Winter, a nurse and retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, boards a plane at Albuquerque International Sunport today, he won’t touch ground for about two days.

When he does, he’ll pick up where he left off a few months ago, nursing those touched by one of the worst typhoons in history, which ravaged the Philippines last November.

Wally Winter is shown at his home in Bernalillo, wearing a T-shirt with the name of the organization for which he volunteers as a nurse, Project Hope. He leaves today for his second tour doing disaster relief nursing in the Philippines. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal)

Wally Winter is shown at his home in Bernalillo, wearing a T-shirt with the name of the organization for which he volunteers as a nurse, Project Hope. He leaves today for his second tour doing disaster relief nursing in the Philippines. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal)

The 65-year-old native Oklahoman, who now lives in Bernalillo, spent six weeks volunteering around last year’s Christmas holidays in a poor hospital on an island in the Philippines hit hard by the typhoon, and today he goes back. When he arrives the morning of March 26, he’ll serve two more months on the same island, called Panay, through a Virginia-based nonprofit organization called Project Hope, the same one he served with before.

It sends doctors, nurses, pharmacy technicians and social workers to areas around the world in need of relief.

“I think it brings me closer to God and helps me be more thankful,” said Winter, describing what made him want to serve the first time and then return. “I feel I have been richly rewarded and I’ve really never had any major challenge in life, nothing devastating that I’ve been up against.”

Not so for the people of Tapaz City, located on the island of Panay. It was hard hit by Super Typhoon Haiyan – one of the strongest storms recorded on the planet. It smashed the Philippines on Friday, Nov. 8, killing more than 6,200 people.

A few days later, Winter’s neighbor, also a registered nurse, who is from the Philippines, told him about Project Hope.

“He said, ‘What company is that?’ and he said, ‘I really want to serve. I really want to go,’” recalled Veronica Rodriguez-Jumalon, a surgical care nurse at Presbyterian Hospital who came to the U.S. from Cebu 20 years ago.

Winter sent in his application and was quickly accepted. His two-day journey began Dec. 18 and took him from Albuquerque to Dallas to Japan to Manila to Panay Island. Rodriguez-Jumalon, who spent the holidays with her husband and 17-year-old daughter, joined Winter’s team a month later.

Wally Winter and Veronica Rodriguez-Jumalon, top, at Tapaz District Hospital, taking a report from the local hospitalist and one of the Project Hope physicians. (Courtesy of Wally Winter)

Wally Winter and Veronica Rodriguez-Jumalon, top, at Tapaz District Hospital, taking a report from the local hospitalist and one of the Project Hope physicians. (Courtesy of Wally Winter)

The team consisted of 19 people, most from Massachusetts and California and ranging in age from 25 to 72. Many, including Rodriguez-Jumalon, stayed about three weeks and then had to return to jobs and family. Winter, who is unmarried and retired and does not have children, spent six weeks.

“I tried to simplify my life, so I can walk out the door at the last minute and I’m gone,” he said.

They worked in the 25-bed Tapaz District Hospital, which has broken windows and falling ceilings and no air conditioning. Locals, many who had never before seen a doctor, walked five miles to get care, Winter recalled during an interview in a Northeast Heights coffee shop a few days before his departure.

At the hospital, the team got to work, performing vaccinations, circumcisions and simple surgeries. They also educated more than 25 local health workers about tuberculosis, STDs, hepatitis, infection control and hand-washing techniques.

“At one point, we saw 600 patients in one day,” said Rodriguez-Jumalon. “We’d treat their coughs and colds; we did some wound care, and another doctor from Harvard brought an ultrasound machine … It’s really, really a poor area,” she added. “They had a wheelchair that was made of a garden chair with some tire(s) attached.”

Having survived the typhoon, many also had high blood pressure, she said.

Winter recalled a girl helping her father carry his comatose wife six miles on a hemp hammock to the hospital. The wife was revived with dextrose in the hospital, whose intensive care unit Winter described as a “broken-down little room,” and whose operating room had collapsed five years before.

At night, his team slept on air mattresses, four or five to a bedroom, or outside on the porch. They woke up at 4 a.m. so everyone could shower before heading to the hospital, where, besides caring for patients, they also painted the beds and walls and replaced mattresses.

“I saw how overwhelmed everybody was,” Winter said. “It was like, you don’t even know where to start.” The hospital had no clean water, so sometimes it was re-used, he said. In some parts of the town, there was no electricity, although the hospital did have it.

Tapaz District Hospital had a bed capacity of 25 patients but often took care of 35 or 40 at one time, with beds in the hallways and other spare floor space. (Courtesy of Wally Winter)

Tapaz District Hospital had a bed capacity of 25 patients but often took care of 35 or 40 at one time, with beds in the hallways and other spare floor space. (Courtesy of Wally Winter)

His service in Tapaz City seems like a natural extension of his work in the Air Force. His last deployment was to Iraq in 2005, and he oversaw nurses in a trauma center who medically evacuated those who had been hurt. During most of his military career, which took him through Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan during times of war and peace, he was an aeromedical evacuation nurse himself. “You saw those poor soldiers, they had no ears, no eyes – they had all been burned off – and you were there to hold their hand, tell them how much they are appreciated. You look at them and it just breaks your heart.”

After retiring from the Air Force, he worked at Rust Presbyterian and taught nursing at Apollo College and Grand Canyon University.

Going to the Philippines was quite a departure. “Project Hope picked that area because no one else wanted it,” he said. “We’d go into the far jungle areas and set up clinics,” intended for those too far away from the hospital, said Winter.

Project Hope pays for their flight – Winter’s ticket cost about $4,000 – housing, and meals, but otherwise doesn’t offer any salary.

A relative of the mayor of the town of Tapaz offered the volunteers a four-bedroom house to stay in. A cook prepared them meals including rice, vegetables mixed with cooked meat, lumpias (similar to eggrolls) and fried bananas. Winter used about $200 of his own money per month for other transportation costs and to buy food for people who had not eaten for days, he said.

Hea_jd_24mar_philippines mapLocal soldiers escorted his team to the hospital every day because there had been a terrorist threat in the area, Winter said.

This time, Winter will return by himself, and will stay until May 29 in the same house. He will teach nurses some infant care and advance their skills in reading an EKG. He will also assess the work his team did during the first trip.

And, he said, “I’ll probably be able to sleep in the bed this time.”

Jumalon plans to return in June. “It’s not a long-term impact, but at least it makes impact to their lives,” she said of the work they are able to do. “It gives them hope.”

And, she added: “It’s a very rewarding, a very humbling experience as well. It made me realize how lucky we are over here with our health care.”

Source: Albuquerque 

Topics: Project Hope, Wally Winter, Air Force, nurse, Philippines

Recent Jobs

Article or Blog Submissions

If you are interested in submitting content for our Blog, please ensure it fits the criteria below:
  • Relevant information for Nurses
  • Does NOT promote a product
  • Informative about Diversity, Inclusion & Cultural Competence

Agreement to publish on our DiversityNursing.com Blog is at our sole discretion.

Thank you

Subscribe to Email our eNewsletter

Recent Posts

Posts by Topic

see all