Your Nursing World : After IUON

The NHS Future Forum Report

2012-01-12T13:36:00.000-04:00

In the on-going effort to improve the quality of patient care in the UK, the latest instalment of the "NHS ~ Future Forum Report", released January 10,2012, calls on health care professionals to lead the way in patient-centered care. With regard to nursing and midwifery education the report states concern over inconsistencies in the training of nurses. The report touches on the academic nursing degree requirement, the reliance on 'virtual' training experiences due to lack of community placements, and the decline in numbers seeking post-graduate training in nursing specialist areas. Click here to read the full report.

New Research Calls for Optimism in Reducing the Shortage of Nurses

2011-12-07T09:14:00.008-04:00

Health economists at RAND Health in Boston have been tracking the statistics on the nursing workforce in the United States for 35 years. While previous studies had all pointed to a looming severe shortage of nurses, these latest findings call for optimism!
The study published in the latest isssue of 'Health Affairs' appears to have surprised even the researchers themselves. The swing has evidently resulted from a number of factors that have thankfully drawn more young adults to the profession.

"...the number of people 23 to 26 years of age entering nursing increased by 62% from 2002 to 2009."

Click on the post title for the RAND press release, or the 'Health Affairs' link to purchase the full text report. This story is also discussed in Medscape: "Record Numbers Entering Nursing, But Gaps Remain" by Troy Brown [ Medscape Medical News Today, December 5, 2011 ]

"Good Morning, my name is Elizabeth, and how are we feeling today?"

2011-11-02T10:07:00.009-04:00

Technology Review published by MIT brings us research news by Emily Singer [1/11/2011].

Take a look at what MIT and Northeastern University have been up to. They have created Elizabeth ~ a personable, caring and sympathetic virtual nurse! Click on the post title to read, listen or watch the full story.

But what can real nurses learn from this experiment you may ask? That their jobs are in jeopardy? No ~ but take note of these observations...

"patients who interacted with a virtual nurse named Elizabeth said they preferred the computer simulation to an actual doctor or nurse because they didn't feel rushed or talked down to."

"Patients more accurately reported their health information when interacting with the virtual character than they were when filling out a standard electronic questionnaire."

Researchers explain ~ Such technologies will become increasingly important with rising health-care costs and an aging population.

"We already know we don't have enough health-care providers to go around, and it's only getting worse,"..."About 60 percent of the cost of delivering health care comes from human resources, so even if you can train more people, it's not an ideal way to improve costs."

The Nursing License Map

2011-10-21T09:40:00.006-04:00

"The Nursing License Map is a comprehensive resource for nursing licensure information. It provides state-specific information on how to become a nurse, nurse salaries, nursing credentials, nurse certification tests, and nursing compact agreements. Our aim is to provide all the information necessary to become a nurse no matter where you live."
The quick state-by-state overview of nursing salaries is great too!
by Nursing@Georgetown.

Nursing Reference Center Mobile App.'s

2011-10-04T14:30:00.005-04:00

Convenient mobile application versions for EBSCO's Nursing Reference Center (NRC) are now available via the iTunes App.'s Store.

Challenging Times for the UK Nursing Labour Force

2011-07-22T10:18:00.004-04:00

The Royal College of Nursing in the United Kingdom has published a preliminary report outlining eight 'what if' scenarios and projecting their possible impact on the nursing labour force in the UK over the next decade.

"This [report] looks at the challenges facing nursing and the nursing workforce across the UK in 2011 which we believe are the greatest for a generation....this report highlights what the truly shocking scale of losses could be in the near future – in the worst case – a 28 per cent reduction in the nursing workforce [100,000 positions]. This would undoubtedly be hugely damaging to the quality of patient care....As an immediate first step, we [RCN] advocate that the supply of registered nurses should be stabilised and the decision to cut nursing student places by 10 per cent for 2010/11 to 2011/12 reversed."

This interim report is taken from the forthcoming Royal College of Nursing Labour Market Review (LMR) 2011.

Global Nursing in Action: An Inspiring Alumni Story

2011-05-30T08:33:00.005-04:00

Alex, your story really highlights the opportunities that are out there for those who are moved to answer the call to be a nurse. Here at IUON on St. Kitts we enjoyed having you in our student body! Now your story will serve to inspire many others to pursue their dream and perserver with their goals, to serve the global community as dedicated nurses. Way to go Alex! Here is an excerpt from Alex's story posted on IUON's offical website:

"During times of emergency Alex grew to appreciate how valuable someone with health care knowledge is because people depend on you, '…not just for patching up their wounds, but to be there for re-assurance during crisis. Just letting them know that someone is there…and that someone wants to help. It’s a complicated task because it’s possibly the worst day they’ve ever experienced and you’re the one that’s there to work together to make them as well as they can be again. I felt a great pride in this and I felt the calling.' ”

Alex Champagne is an International University of Nursing (IUON) student who is completing his senior year at one of IUON’s partner schools in Kentucky, Morehead State University (MSU).
As a trained nurse the world is truely your oyster!

UPDATE: Read more about Alex's story in the Huron Daily Tribune, July 14, 2011.

NLN 2010 Statistics on Nursing Education

2011-04-29T11:53:00.007-04:00

The National League for Nursing has released their latest research statistics on the state of nursing education in the United States.

"New findings gleaned from the National League for Nursing's annual survey, administered from October to December 2010, paint a complex picture of nursing education in the United States."

"NLN Annual Survey of Schools of Nursing 2009-2010" includes findings such as: an increase in student diversity, acceptance to programs remains very competitive, continued lack of clinical placements available, and continued shortage of faculty.

Visit NLN DataView™ for a comprehensive set of tables and figures, or read the NLN Annual Survey Executive Summary.

The Communication Solution for the Nursing Industry

2011-03-25T08:15:00.005-04:00

The Nurses Lounge is an online profesional network for nurses which provides a secure place to connect with colleagues, network on a professional level, and stay on top of relevant news, events and other information.
Nursing Schools can benfit by setting up their own "Lounge" which provides them a professional platform to easily distribute news and information, build and manage an alumni organization, as well as network among their students, faculty and alumni. There is no cost to a nurse, nursing school or nursing related association to use or set up an interactive Nurses Lounge.
Click to learn more about the Nurses Lounge.

Health Literacy Online CME Course

2011-02-14T15:16:00.006-04:00

Health Literacy, You talk to your patients, but do they understand? The importance of Health Literacy to your Practice.

This new Health Literacy CME course on the MDcme.ca website is open access thanks to grants from various Canadian organizations. The online course geared to physicians and other healthcare professions, will

"introduce you to the concept of health literacy. It will give an overview of current knowledge about the links between literacy and health outcomes. The goal is to help you understand how health literacy affects your own practice or work setting. It will introduce some practical tools and strategies to identify and address the health literacy needs of your patients/clients, and the barriers that you may inadvertently create to patient/client understanding."

Registration is required.

Evidence-Based Practice Step by Step

2011-01-28T09:31:00.003-04:00

The American Journal of Nursing has been publishing this series of articles on evidence-based practice periodically for over a year now. To date there are a total of 8 articles in this collection from the Arizona State University College of Nursing and Health Innovation's Center for the Advancement of Evidence-Based Practice.

"Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a problem-solving approach to the delivery of health care that integrates the best evidence from studies and patient care data with clinician expertise and patient preferences and values. When delivered in a context of caring and in a supportive organizational culture, the highest quality of care and best patient outcomes can be achieved."

This series is designed and presented with the intent of developing the knowledge and skills needed for nurses to implement EBP consistently, one step at a time. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has a stated goal that by 2020, 90% of all health care decisions in the United States will be evidence-based. In order to accomplish this goal, nurses will need to continually improve and consistently apply their skills in this area.

Impact of the Nurse Practitioner

2010-12-09T13:58:00.008-04:00

Every year The Pearson Report by Linda J. Pearson

"enables Nurse Practitioners (NPs), policymakers and other health care professionals to understand and appreciate the major impact that NPs have had on health care in the United States, as well as a to compare and contrast NP practice realities in all 50 states and DC."

To access the 2010 state-by-state national overview of nurse practitioner legislation and healthcare issues click on the post title, to take you to the website for the American Journal for Nurse Practitioners[$].

Job Growth Plan for South African Nurses

2010-12-02T11:43:00.006-04:00

And now for something completely different ~ or not!
An interesting opinion article on the state of nursing in South Africa comes to us from Otto Wypkema , CEO of the National Hospital Network NHN (a group of 93 independently-owned, private hospitals) in Southern Africa. Click title for article on MoneyWeb.

TB Online Learning Resources

2010-11-12T08:40:00.005-04:00

The International Council of Nurses has gathered a few good links to online learning resources for the care, prevention and management of Tuberculosis. Besides their own interactive e-course, they have included links to the Training Manual from the International Hospital Federation IHF, as well as for the World Medical Association's TB and MDR-TB online courses.

ANA Gauges the Popularity of Advanced Degrees in Nursing

2010-11-04T15:48:00.006-04:00

Some interesting results came out of the American Nurses Association's recent poll entitled "Have your Say" [Oct 2010].

Read more about the poll results from the ANA's Nursing World website [click on post title]. For more poll results click here.

Nursing Education in Second Life

2010-11-01T11:23:00.010-04:00

Take a second look at what the world of nursing education is virtually coming to!

Nurses, how well are you Communicating with your Patients?

2010-10-07T13:26:00.007-04:00

According to a recent exploratory study, there is much room for improvement in the education of patients regarding their health care, with much of the onus falling on nurses. So this begs the question, how well are our nursing students being educated to deliver patient education? In fact, are our nursing students being taught the critical issues surrounding health literacy? The study, published in the ANA's Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, urges:

"...health literacy is a topic that should be threaded throughout the entire nursing curriculum and stressed in each clinical rotation.
New nursing graduates need to be able to:
(a) identify patients at risk for not being able to understand and act on health information,
(b) communicate health information and instructions in a way that promotes patient understanding,
(c) check for patient understanding."

Citation: Sand-Jecklin, K., Murray, B., Summers, B., Watson, J., ( July, 23, 2010) "Educating Nursing Students about Health Literacy: From the Classroom to the Patient Bedside " OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 15 No. 3.
DOI: 10.3912/OJIN.Vol15No03PPT02

The Demand for Nurses and Nursing Education Remains Strong

2010-09-14T08:28:00.005-04:00

Highlights from a recent NurseZone News Report:

The Current State of Nursing Education Capacity and Demand
by Debra Wood RN

“Workforce analysts all agree that the current easing of the nurse vacancy rate is only temporary.”

Courtney H. Lyder, ND, GNP, FAAN, dean of the University of California, Los Angles (UCLA) School of Nursing, said, “In the next three to five years, demand for nursing is going to continue, especially because of health care reform. Nurse practitioners are stepping into the role left behind by the decrease in primary care physicians. I think you will also see more nurses in alternate settings independent of hospitals.”

“Over the next few years, we expect nursing workforce acute shortage patterns to reappear again, revealing the underlying nursing production shortage related to the aging workforce and increasing demand for health care services. Given the health care reform law, population demographics, and growing demand for care, AACN projects that interest in nursing careers will remain strong as opportunities for practice expand.”

Click on the title to read the full article.

Interprofessional Cooperation & Respect Crucial to Patient Safety

2010-09-13T15:52:00.006-04:00

The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority recently released data which shows that disruptive behaviors among healthcare clinicians is negatively affecting patient care.

"What causes these situations? According to the PPSA, many of these episodes arise because of conflicts between doctors and nurses, and a medical culture that holds doctors' opinions and the wishes of high-ranking staff members in greater regard than those of others."

All you novice nurses take note, successful team building requires your contribution to an atmosphere of mutual respect and cooperation! Patient safety is at stake.

Upcoming Conference to Focus on New Nurses

2010-06-28T13:59:00.007-04:00

Workplace Integration of New Nurses – Nursing the Future
Partnerships, Transitions and Opportunities
Intercontinental Centre, Toronto, Ontario
December 1-3, 2010

The WINN-NTF Conference will provide a forum for managers, educators, mentors, preceptors, faculty, human resources, new graduates, students, internationally educated nurses, government, professional associations and unions to share knowledge, experiences and strategies that promote successful integration of new nurses in the practice setting.
Registration opens September 1st, 2010.

Evidence Based Practice ~ EBP Conceptual Framework

2010-06-27T09:55:00.005-04:00

thanks to Arizona State University College of Nursing & Health Innovation.

The 63rd World Health Assembly Establishes Ethical Principles for International Health Worker Recruitment

2010-06-21T09:06:00.000-04:00

This years World Health Assembly, held in Geneva in May, saw the adoption of multiple resolutions on a variety of pressing global health issues. The Assembly brought together Health Ministers and senior health officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) Member States.
High on the agenda was the development of a global code of practice to govern the international recruitment of health personnel. The goal was to establish and promote voluntary, ethical principles and practices that strengthen the health systems of developing countries, discouraging states from actively recruiting from developing countries that are facing critical shortages of health workers. The goal was also to encourage facilitation of the "circular migration of health personnel" to maximize skills and share knowledge. The new code also seeks to ensure equal rights for both migrant and non-migrant health workers.
[Photo thanks to WHO / Chris Black]

"Thanks to some all-night efforts, we now have a code of practice on the international recruitment of health personnel," said Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General.

Click for PDF: WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel.

Insider's Guide to your First Year in Nursing

2010-06-07T18:04:00.001-04:00

Medi-Smart has made this great new resource guide available online for free to help novice nurses survive their first year on the job! Click here to go directly to the guide [downloadable PDF version], or click on the post title to access Medi-Smart's Nursing Resources section. As you embark on this challenging new career, it's important to know you have resources to access and expert advice available, because at times you will feel overwhelmed.

Countdown to 2015: Maternal, Newborn and Child Survival

2010-06-06T12:14:00.001-04:00

Countdown to 2015: Decade Report (2000-2010): .pdf released
Taking stock of maternal, newborn and child survival
The Countdown to 2015 Initiative tracks coverage levels for health interventions proven to reduce maternal, newborn and child mortality. It calls on governments and development partners to be accountable, identifies knowledge gaps and proposes new actions to reach Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5, to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health.

Reality Check for New Graduates

2010-05-31T13:52:00.000-04:00

The American Journal of Nursing [AJN] provides a surprising forum on their blog site, Off the Charts, reflecting the reality of the current economic downturn's impact on the supply of nursing jobs. True, there is a tremenous shortage of nurses, however at present it seems their is also a shortage of nursing positions!
Click on the title to read "Prospects for New Nurses: Thoughts on Graduating into a Downturn" by Christine Moffa [ANJ Clinical Editor]

British Brain Drain Looming?

2010-05-16T14:00:00.005-04:00

The Guardian is reporting that health workers and teachers are getting ready to join the brain drain as home grown job prospects deteriorate.

"One in six doctors and nurses...plan to move abroad amid fears of spending cuts and pay freezes in the public sector"

Unions say this could place Britain in the "absurd position of hiring staff from abroad to fill the gap."
by Randeep Ramesh, Jessica Shepherd and Allegra Stratton

Are all RN's Created Equal? 3 paths /1 license

2010-05-14T10:08:00.012-04:00

Stacey Burling from the Philadelphia Inquirer takes a hard look at the nursing profession as increasing numbers of US health systems are notifying nursing schools of their hiring requirement or strong preference for nurses with bachelor's degrees.

"Those who prefer nurses with bachelor's degrees say that nurses today work with increasingly complex machines and patients. Hospitals are moving toward evidence-based medicine - translating scientific studies quickly into new procedures at the bedside - and that sort of thinking is not emphasized in the more technically oriented associate-degree programs. Victoria Rich, chief nursing executive for the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center,.. also thinks nurses need more education to get respect from other medical professionals, all of whom have at least a bachelor's degree."

New legislation in New Jersey and New York will require nurses to earn their bachelor's degree within 10 years of licensing.

"One of the greatest mistakes we've made as a profession is that we've allowed all these different ways into the profession and still only have one licensing examination," said Andrea Hollingsworth, dean of Gwynedd-Mercy College's nursing program. "It's been a divisive issue for 40 years."

Beware of Interrupting your Nurse!

2010-04-27T14:13:00.004-04:00

"Distracting an airline pilot during taxi, takeoff or landing could lead to a critical error. Apparently the same is true of nurses who prepare and administer medication to hospital patients. A new study shows that interrupting nurses while they're tending to patients' medication needs increases the chances of error. As the number of distractions increases, so do the number of errors and the risk to patient safety. Experts say the study is the first to show a clear association between interruptions and medication errors."
Johanna I. Westbrook [Professor of Health Informatics, and Director of the Health Informatics Research and Evaluation Unit, University of Sydney, Australia.] did add that not all interruptions are bad. "If you are being given a drug and you do not know what it is for, or you are uncertain about it, you should interrupt and question the nurse," she said.
Read full article from Health Day.

Computer Game Helps Novice Nurses Adjust

2010-04-11T16:11:00.009-04:00

"Your Future in Nursing" is an interactive video game of real-life nursing scenarios designed to help new nurses transition from the classroom to hospital rooms!

"One of the greatest challenges facing the nursing profession is helping new RN graduates acclimate to the real world of healthcare delivery and thus, reduce the turnover rate for entry-level nurses," said Diane Mancino (NSNA). "This new program will help develop new nurses' communication skills which are critical in their first work experience. It will foster the transition from the nursing student to the staff nurse, improve interaction with co-workers and interdisciplinary staff, and increase job satisfaction."

The new program was unveiled at the National Student Nurses' Association (NSNA) Convention [April 7-11, 2010 in Orlando]. Click on the post title to download the game from the Discover Nursing website.

More on the Caribbean 'Brain Drain'

2010-04-10T10:28:00.006-04:00

The Economist recently published this thought-provoking article on an old, yet persistant problem ~ the impact at home in the Caribbean of nurse migration to 'greener pastures'!
With the World Health Organization and the Global Health Workforce Alliance currently developing a 'code of practice' to bring before the General Assembly next month, this blog will continue to keep it's ear to the ground on this topic! Click on the post title to read the full article published in The Economist on April 8, 2010.

UPDATE April 23/2010:
More on this topic from the Trinidad & Tobago Guardian.

HRSA Nursing Scholarship Program

2010-04-05T14:10:00.004-04:00

The Nursing Scholarship Program [a US government program] aims to help alleviate the critical shortage of registered nurses experienced by certain types of health care facilities. The program assists needy students with the financial support they need to complete their nursing training. In exchange the new grad's agree to work at these types of facilities for at least 2 years.

Scholarship application intake happens once per/year, beginning NOW until May 6, 2010. Applicants selected to receive the scholarship are notified by the end of July. Click on the post title to learn more about the benefits, eligibility, criteria, and online application procedure.

Medpedia adds Media

2010-04-05T09:27:00.006-04:00

The Medpedia Project is dedicated to advancing access to freely available, high-quality, health and medical information. In pursuit of that goal they continue to work hard to collaboratively growing the knowledge base of this online medical platform.

Their latest addition are hundreds of medical and health videos from respected sources including the CDC, the FDA, other institutes of the NIH, etc. The videos cover topics ranging from diabetes and H1N1 education, to medical/surgical procedures and health care reform.

In addition to the videos, the Medpedia platform includes a medical encyclopedia, directory for health professionals and organizations, clinical trials information, Medpedia Answers for medical and health questions, and Medpedia Alerts to enable you to stay current.

You can even read the Anne Ross Library Blog posts in the Medpedia News & Analysis section were they are picked up, under 'General Medicine' ~ Check it out here...

Oncology Nursing Resource

2010-03-27T07:44:00.010-04:00

Thinking of exploring Oncology Nursing?
or looking to further yourself in this specialization?
Clinical Care Options Oncology has developed this special resource to support Oncology Nurses. The site includes a wealth of information, interactive cases, CE, slide sets, etc.; which may inspired you to move your career in this direction.
Check it out!

Mosby's Nursing Consult for ANA Members

2010-03-25T11:22:00.005-04:00

Good news for members of the American Nurses Association (ANA) ! If you needed another reason to become a member, or renew your membership, then here is it!
ANA and Elsevier have worked together to provide all ANA members customized access to Mosby's Nursing Consult; a comprehensive, online clinical information tool designed for nurses!
Click on the title to read the press release.

World Bank Report on CARICOM Nursing Shortage

2010-03-11T10:00:00.003-04:00

According to the new World Bank report released last week ~ “The Nurse Labor and Education Markets in the English-Speaking CARICOM - Issues and Options for Reform,” the region is facing a rapidly growing shortage of nurses as demand for quality health care increases due to an aging population, and high numbers of nurses emigrate drawn by higher paying jobs in Canada, the UK and the US. The data indicates that approximately 21,500 CARICOM trained nurses are working in Canada, the UK and the US; three times higher than the workforce in the CARICOM region itself. Just between 2002 and 2006 alone, more than 1,800 nurses left the region to work abroad.
Click on the title to read the World Bank Press Release and note the key policy recommendations to try to address and reverse this situation.

The Regional Nursing Body (RNB) Meets in St. Kitts

2010-03-08T09:17:00.005-04:00

The Caribbean Regional Nursing Board met over three days in February 24-26 in St. Kitts & Nevis.
The order of business stated by Principal Nursing Officer Mrs. Henrietta Douglas-Christmas "..was to share knowledge, expertise, experience and creativity so that nurses would be better equipped to address the issues impacting the health of the region".
Mrs. Douglas-Christmas stressed that “the nursing profession faces unprecedented change, driven by globalization, migration and aging populations, the HIV/AIDS Pandemic and changes in nursing education and practice.”
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Mr. Elvis Newton pointed to "the challenges faced by the nurses could be within the education aspect itself. He encouraged the RNB to probe the education provided to the region’s nurses and noted that challenges faced locally and elsewhere included the influx of off-shore nursing schools which often challenge nursing practices where they are situated."
Click on the title to read the full news article in the Nevis Blog.

Assessing and Addressing Health Literacy

2010-02-26T12:59:00.003-04:00

A new CE module has been made available from the Online Journal of Issues in Nursing (OJIN) called "Assessing and Addressing Health Literacy".
The American Nurses Association (ANA) is freely offering this course online to it's members. Non-members may still read the article and take the post-test.

"The ability to communicate effectively with patients who have low health literacy depends on our ability to recognize this problem and to create a patient-centered and shame-free healthcare environment."

New Report Points to Some Possible Benefits of Caribbean Nurse Migration

2010-02-19T09:25:00.006-04:00

Much has been said about the impact of nurse migration in the Caribbean. Now a new report by UWI (Jamaica) Research Fellow, Natasha Mortley, presented to the Global Development Network, provides us with further insight and analsysis with which to approach and tackle this situation.
In this blog post I have provided links to the report itself, as well as to a commentary on the report published in Panos London magazine entitled "Nursing exodus could benefit Caribbean in long term." [quote below taken from this commentary].

"The migration of nurses to wealthier countries could potentially benefit Caribbean healthcare systems if managed properly, a report claims. The report, written by Natasha Mortley, a research fellow at the University of West Indies in Jamaica, estimates it costs Caribbean governments US$ 35,000 to train a nurse – an investment that is lost when nurses leave to work abroad. However, the report argues that as many nurses eventually return to their original counties, there can also be important gains as a result of migration." by Tania Ghosh

International Cost of Living Ranking

2010-02-16T09:55:00.009-04:00

Looking to expand your horizons and let your nursing career take YOU places?
The Xpatulator website will help you with the research and decision making process of finding employment around the globe.
The January 2010 cost of living figures are published here for 276 global locations based on calculations using the prices of goods and services, and expatriate spending patterns. Included for each location is a relative hardship comparison as well. For a fee further calculations and comparisons made be had, but much information is freely provided.

Cochrane Nursing Care Network

2010-02-08T10:53:00.005-04:00

The Cochrane Collaboration is an international non-profit, independent organisation dedicated to making up-to-date, accurate information about the effects of healthcare readily available worldwide. It produces and disseminates systematic reviews of healthcare interventions and promotes the search for evidence. Free access in the Caribbean is provided through the Virtual Health Library [PAHO ~ BIREME].

"The Cochrane Nursing Care Network is one of 16 Fields and Networks within the Cochrane Collaboration. The purpose of a Field or Network is to support the conduct, dissemination and utilization of the systematic reviews relevant to the field."

The core functions of this newly formed Cochrane Nursing Care Network:

(1) support Cochrane Review Groups in the preparation of reviews relevant to nursing.
(2) introduce cross-cutting, non-specialised perspectives relevant to all those providing nursing care (nurses and others).
(3) improve health outcomes through increasing the use of the Cochrane Library by nurses and others, engaging them with the Cochrane Collaboration, and supporting its role in providing an evidence base for nursing care.

To become a member click here...

The Cochrane Nursing Care Network is also developing a number of important resources over the next year and invites members to assist in developing review summaries, podcasts and other materials. To become involved, please click here to register your interest.

Nursing CE via the Nursing Reference Center

2010-01-29T14:27:00.008-04:00

CINAHL in partnership with EBSCO's Nursing Reference Center provides easy access to continuing education opportunities for Nurses. CINAHL [the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature] is accredited as a provider of continuing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).

With your login access to EBSCOhost and the Nursing Reference Center (NRC) database, you can easily stay current in your profession by working through the interactive modules online. They contain the latest topics on patient care and drug administration. This resource can also earn you contact hours toward re-licensure.
Read more about this opportunity by clicking on the title; or just login to EBSCO [3rd link in left sidebar on Library Home page), then go to the NRC and click on the tab called 'Continuing Education'.

Nevis puts Health Personnel Recruitment at Top of 2010 Agenda

2010-01-14T16:10:00.004-04:00

Caribbean News Net reported ~ Thursday, January 14, 2010.

CHARLESTOWN, Nevis -- Minister of Health in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) Hensley Daniel, has underscored the need for additional medical staff on Nevis and said that 2010 would see a renewed effort in the recruitment process. Daniel told the Department of Information in a recent interview that the Ministry of Health would endeavour to do all it could to attract students toward careers in health.... Click title to read rest of article.

International Summit on Nurse Faculty Migration

2010-01-14T11:48:00.011-04:00

To develop a fuller understanding of global nursing faculty migration, thirty global nurse leaders will convene with key stakeholder organizations such as the World Health Organization, International Organisation on Migration, International Labour Organisation, and the World Trade Organization next July (2010).
An Elsevier Foundation grant has been awarded to the International Council on Nurses (ICN) and the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) to hold “The International Summit on Nurse Faculty Migration”. It is hoped that the outcomes from the summit will advance this pressing issue at the global level; while consulting, coordinate and implementing results at the local level.

“Learning from past lessons, we know that nurse faculty migration may pose a high risk problem for many countries,” said David Benton, CEO, International Council of Nurses. The goal is to "proactively manage the looming crisis and improve healthcare delivery by preparing sufficient numbers of nurses to meet the needs of the future.”

Watch for further information about this event...

Call for Radical Change in Nursing Education

2010-01-10T10:07:00.006-04:00

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has joined it's voice to several other scholarly studies since 2003, with the release of it's report “Educating Nurses: A Call for Radical Transformation".

“Redesigning nursing education is an urgent societal agenda," the authors write. "The profound changes in nursing practice and health care call for equally profound changes in the education of nurses and the preparation of nurse educators. Unfortunately, the current climate rewards short-term focus and cost-savings over the quality of nursing education and patient care."

Click on the links to read the report's findings and recommendations.

The Cost of Nurse Migration

2009-12-10T09:41:00.007-04:00

The cost of CARICOM nurse migration is the focus of this news article reporting on a recent meeting at the PAHO headquarters in Barbados.

"Emigration of nurses is costing some CARICOM countries an estimated US$16 million in losses. This cost accounts for training and retraining people to replace those nurses who leave for greener pastures."

This is indeed worisome, as is the cost to many other countries when their nurses emigrate to a CARICOM nation. However it was acknowledged at this meeting that the problem is a global one...

"In order to address this worldwide shortage of nurses, governments and professional organisations must find creative ways of making the profession more attractive.”

Click post title to read article from the Stabroek News.

Championing Global Nursing Education

2009-12-04T15:47:00.005-04:00

ICN Nursing Education Network (ICNEN) Memership is Growing!
"With the new international realities of migration, advances in communication technology, and a worldwide nursing shortage, educating and preparing a diverse nursing workforce has become a critical priority. To address this, the International Council of Nurses has established the ICN Nursing Education Network (ICNEN) in order to provide a forum to address nursing education issues worldwide."

NDNQI for Nursing Quality Improvement

2009-12-04T09:31:00.003-04:00

The National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators® (NDNQI®) is a proprietary repository of nursing statistics. The American Nurses Association collects and evaluates this unique, unit-specific, nurse-sensitive data from hospitals in the United States.

Participating facilities can then use this comparative data for quality improvement purposes.
Click here to read more from ANA about the database.

Interdisciplinary Teamwork Under Stress

2009-11-20T10:26:00.004-04:00

Disruptive behavior by doctors and nurses persists according to this research news reported in American Medical News ...by Amy Lynn Sorrel.
On their worst behavior ~ A national survey of physician and nurse executives asked how many had observed or experienced these behavior problems from doctors or nurses in their organizations:

Degrading comments and insults ~ 84.5%
Yelling ~ 73.3%
Cursing ~ 49.4%
Inappropriate joking ~ 45.5%
Refusing to work with colleague ~ 38.4%
Refusing to speak to colleague ~ 34.3%
Trying to get someone unjustly disciplined ~ 32.3%
Throwing objects ~ 18.9%
Trying to get someone unjustly fired ~ 18.6%
Spreading malicious rumors ~ 17.1%
Sexual harassment ~ 13.4%
Physical assault ~ 2.8%
Other 10.0%

"Ninety-seven percent of respondents experienced unprofessional outbursts and overreactions, with most saying these happened several times a year and sometimes even weekly. Most survey respondents, 48%, said doctors and nurses were equally culpable for the conflicts, but 45% said doctors were mostly to blame."

Source: "Bad Blood: Doctor-Nurse Behavior Problems Impact Patient Care," American College of Physician Executives 2009 Doctor-Nurse Behavior Survey, Physician Executive Journal, November/December.

Nursing Degree Requirement on the Horizon for the UK?

2009-11-19T14:10:00.005-04:00

The British government recently announced that by 2013, the minimum education for nurses will be raised from diploma to degree level, which means three or four years of post-secondary education and training.
The Royal College of Nursing is quoted as calling this "an important and historic development", while the UK Department of Health feels the additional education will better equip nurses leading to higher quality patient care. However the move is not without controversy due to the already critical shortage of nurses.

"An increasingly high percentage of nurses working in the NHS are foreign nationals, and raising the bar at entry point would have to be communicated clearly and rolled out internationally as the NHS is staffed by an international resource pool."

As reported in Nursing In Practice, Nov 17, 2009.

Searching of a Scholarship? Need Help to Repay your Loan?

2009-11-17T08:49:00.005-04:00

Keep in mind the National Health Service Corp!
Check out the opportunities for "primary health care providers to join the National Health Service Corps, which now has thousands of openings for qualified clinicians, plus two programs that make service in the corps very attractive at this time. A scholarship program provides payment of tuition and other reasonable academic costs, plus a stipend, in return for service in a designated health care shortage area upon graduation. And a loan repayment program provides immediate academic debt relief for licensed clinicians who will work, for a salary, in these same underserved areas." [NLN]

Ninth Annual International Research Internship for Nurse Researchers

2009-11-09T10:52:00.002-04:00

Internships Announcement: "Multiply Interventions for Community Health" The Ninth Annual International Research Internship for Nurse Researchers will be held in Jamaica ~ May & June 2010.

"A unique, intensive training opportunity for junior nurse researchers in Canada, Jamaica and the Caribbean, Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa to launch their research career and network internationally."

Application deadline: January 4, 2010
Note: Selection is competitive and limited seats are available

INTERNSHIP FOCUS:

Community health services & policy research

Global health issues

Developing research networks

Grantsmanship and publication skills

Linking with local, national, and international decision-makers

Working on interdisciplinary teams

Innovative research methods

Developing programs of research

Mentorship

Click on title for more details, eligibility, application form, etc.

The Simulation Center for Clinical Interdiscplinary Practice

2009-11-03T14:05:00.012-04:00

Announcing the launch of Dr. Robert Ross's latest brain child!

The Simulation Center for Clinical Interdiscplinary Practice

with the base of operations in our amazing, state-of-the-art Simulation Laboratory/ Virtual Hospital right here on our UMHS/IUON campus in St. Kitts! For more information and dates for uncoming training courses view the SCCIP-SK website.

Why limit your career horizons?

2009-11-01T11:11:00.007-04:00

Holland America nurse explains the scope of clinical practice at sea
Published on AdvanceWeb ~ International, October 29, 2009
by Valerie Newitt

"Nursing takes on new "heights" for those who choose to practice the profession at sea. Imagine climbing into a basket lowered from a helicopter hovering over a ship in mid-ocean. Up and away, and you're in the copter. The basket is lowered again, this time to retrieve a sick passenger, now your patient, in dire need of a ship-to-air evacuation. The scenario is not all that unusual, if you are a nurse at sea, said Laura Vlaadingerbroek, MSN, RN, chief medical officer aboard Holland America Line's Zaandam." Click on the title to read the full article.

Are you a 'Curious Practitioner'?

2009-10-20T12:02:00.007-04:00

The 'curious practitioner': effective lifelong learning. Nursing in Practice Sept/Oct 2009, No.50
by Sue Spencer, Coventry University, UK

How committed are you to providing well-informed and up-to-date nursing practice? This article explores the value of being what it calls a 'curious practitioner'. It will help you to

"explore some creative ways of transferring learning in all domains of your life to your professional practice."

"If you are a curious and questioning practitioner, you cannot help but be engaged with lifelong learning, as each day generates questions that need answers. Finding the answers to those questions is the start of lifelong learning and continuing professional development."

Protection for Healthcare Workers in the Caribbean

2009-10-13T11:54:00.006-04:00

Protection of healthcare workers in the Caribbean region is receiving some attention at last. The First Regional Meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean on Health Protection for Health-Care Workers was held September 22nd-24th, 2009 in Maracay, Venezuela.

The meeting was organized by "PAHO/WHO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Venezuela, the Instituto de Altos Estudios de Salud Dr.Arnoldo Gabaldon, and the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)" and brought together "policymakers, academics, hospital managers, epidemiologists, front line workers, and civil society from across the region".

"Healthcare workers are often exposed simultaneously to a variety of work hazards from various natures, including biological, chemical, physical, and psycho-social ones."

During the meeting "participants had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience on EPINet, a surveillance system for tracking needlestick injures and blood and body fluid exposure among healthcare workers."
Click on the title to read more from the PAHO website.

Working in Health

2009-09-29T16:54:00.006-04:00

"An estimated shortage of over 4 million doctors, nurses and other health workers in developing countries acts as a major roadblock to economic and human development. Working in Health considers the fiscal issues in expanding the health workforce and the policy options available to governments. Through case studies in Dominican Republic, Kenya, Rwanda, and Zambia, it also examines recruitment, promotion, and pay policies in the public sector and their important influence on health workforce performance."

published by The World Bank. Click on title to access ebook.

NANDA-International Congress 2010 ~ Madrid Spain

2009-09-22T13:56:00.008-04:00

Dr. T. Heather Herdman, NANDA-I Executive Director, is sponsoring two $800 scholarships for the 2010 Madrid Congress (May 12-14).
Intended for nurses in practice within developing countries [which includes much of the Caribbean], the deadline for application submission is December 1, 2009. (Applicant must be a licensed nurse in professional practice, residing in countries listed as Class II or Class III in this linked document, as well as a first-time NANDA-I conference attendee.)

Nursing Faculty Shortage Update: AACN

2009-09-22T09:49:00.004-04:00

"In July 2009, 803 faculty vacancies were identified at 310 nursing schools with baccalaureate and/or graduate programs across the country [US]. Besides these vacancies, 117 schools cited the need to create 279 additional faculty positions to accommodate student demand. The latest data show a national nurse faculty vacancy rate of 6.6% with most of the vacancies (90.6%) for faculty positions requiring or preferring a doctoral degree. The top reasons cited by schools having difficulty finding faculty were noncompetitive salaries compared to positions in the practice arena (32.2%) and the limited pool of doctorally-prepared faculty (30.3%)."

Reported in Medical News Today from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) .

Job Seekers check out the 'Applicant Blog'

2009-09-08T15:36:00.006-04:00

The Applicant Blog has gathered seven useful SlideShare presentations for job seekers, along with other great stuff.
Worth your while!

Informatics: The Future of Nursing

2009-09-07T09:55:00.004-04:00

"Marrying the clinical with the technological creates professional opportunites for information nurse specialists."
Have you considered specializing in Informatics?

"Information Nurse Specialists combine the expertise of nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage data gathered while caring for patients, and then making sure the IT system will aid in communicating that data to the appropriate personnel and carry out specific functions.... their role involves planning, designing, implementation, evaluation, systems maintenance, and supporting the system development life cycle along side their other professional colleagues."

Did you know that the average annual salary for information nurse specialists is approaching $85,000 annually? There are currently around 8,000 nurse informaticists but the need is 10 times that number with the wireless phenomenon happening, the need to access information at point-of-care, the EHR initiatives, the push for EBN, and other informatics developments.

Brain Drain ~ A CARICOM Dilemma

2009-09-07T09:03:00.003-04:00

Interesting article by Rickey Singh, posted Sunday, August 16, 2009 in the Jamaica Observer . The article discusses the shortage of medical professionals serving the Caribbean region.

"According to data revealed by Caricom's Assistant Secretary General, Dr Edward Greene, this region has lost some 50,000 doctors, nurses and teachers over the past 11 years who have migrated to North America, Britain and other foreign countries.

Dr Greene, who shoulders responsibility for Human and Social Development at the Caricom Secretariat, in referring to research findings of 2006, has disclosed that accompanying the severe loss of professionals was also the drain on the public purse for money invested in training nurses and teachers in particular, with migrated nurses alone accounting for approximately US$2.02 million."

Click on the title link to read the complete article.

The 17th Caribbean Regional Nursing Council Meeting in Belize

2009-07-22T08:45:00.005-04:00

The Regional General Nursing Council meets yearly to conduct its examinations which allows for the standardization and improvement of nursing education and the free movement of nurses throughout the countries of the region.
Nurses from the Caribbean Community and Belize are present in the city for the 2 week workshop aimed at reviewing previous examinations held in October of last year and April of this year. The Regional Nursing Council is made up of representatives from thirteen Caribbean countries.

"We have a common examination, similar to the CXC that all registered nurses take on completion and this gives them license to practice. We have representatives here from ten of the thirteen countries.” said Marjorie Parks, Chief Nursing Officer for Belize. “In Belize we have about 500 nurses total but that is no way enough to meet all our health needs but nurses have to go through rigorous training. Our nurses in Belize train at a bachelor’s level at the University Level. We have several nursing programs but the program to prepare registered nurses is for four years and they come out with a degree."

New Website Launched in Effort to Further the UN's Millennium Development Goals

2009-07-06T16:53:00.008-04:00

"Research4Life is the collective name for three public-private partnerships which seek to help achieve the UN’s Millennium Development Goals by providing the developing world with access to critical scientific research.
Since 2002, the three programmes, Health Access to Research (HINARI), Access to Global Online Research in Agriculture (AGORA) and Online Access to Research in the Environment (OARE) , have given researchers at more than 5,000 institutions in 108 developing world countries free or low cost access to over 7,000 journals provided by the world’s leading science publishers."
Note that among CARICOM nations, institutions in St. Vincent & the Grenadines as well as Jamaica are eligible to participate!

Health Information Literacy: How it Impacts Your Patients

2009-07-03T12:22:00.007-04:00

Close to half of all American adults have trouble understanding and using basic health information [states a recent report from the Institute of Medicine]. Most consumer health information and patient education materials are written at the 10th grade level or higher, while the majority of the population read at an 8th grade level or lower, and that is without the medical jargon!

So why worry?

~ "Literacy is the strongest predictor of health status – more than age, income, employment status, race or ethnicity, and educational level!
~ Emergency room patients with inadequate literacy skills are 2X's more likely to be hospitalized.
~ Patients with poor literacy skills are 5X's more likely to misinterpret their prescriptions.
~ People with low literacy skills have 4X's greater annual health costs.
~ The FDA, JCAHO, and NCQA require health care institutions to document evidence that patients have understood the medical information provided to them."

But what can you do about it? How can you identify patients with low literacy?
How can you improve communication with your patients?
Click on the title or here for excellent resources from the Medical Library Association to help you understand and address this issue.

Patient Safety Videos from the FDA

2009-07-03T07:55:00.005-04:00

"FDA Patient Safety News (PSN) is a monthly video news show for healthcare professionals. It covers significant safety alerts, recalls, new product approvals, and offers important tips on protecting patients. Many of these PSN stories contain video footage and demonstrations that may be especially useful to educators in healthcare facilities and academic institutions."

Trinidad is Optimistic about it's Nursing Shortage

2009-06-22T16:18:00.005-04:00

"Nursing shortage to end in 2012." reports Trinidad & Tobago's Newsday for Monday June 22, 2009.

Jerry Narace, Trinidad and Tobago's Minister of Health, "is confident the chronic shortage of nurses in the health sector will be remedied by 2012." What's his plan? ...for one to continue actively recruiting foreign nurses!

New Workforce Planning Research Tool Projecting Nursing Shortage in Ireland

2009-06-22T08:24:00.010-04:00

"A Quantitative Tool for Workforce Planning in Healthcare: Example Simulations Report by the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit FAS on behalf of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs." by Jasmina Behan, Nora Condon, Ivica Milicevic, and Caroline Shally, June 2009; 136 p.

"The research, conducted by the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit at FAS, developed a quantitative tool that facilitates the assessment of how different policy scenarios and changes in the size and composition of the population, the main determinant of demand for health services, will affect the balance between the supply and demand of a range of healthcare occupations. The research has taken an economy-wide approach and also includes the private healthcare sector. It shows that there are shortfalls facing some occupations, while others are in oversupply... The research findings underscore the continuous nature of workforce planning... Only by adopting an on-going approach to workforce planning is it possible to optimally address the issues of either skill shortages or excess supply from education and training, as well as issues with an excessive attrition from potential supply and the existing workforce." Una Halligan, Skills and Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU).

"Supply [of nurses] from abroad – Non-EU supply: non EU-trained nurses have become an important source of supply of late: in 2007 (the period February-December inclusive), 1,412 employment permits were issued to non-EU nurses. Over the period 2000-2006, 9,442 nurses were granted work authorisations/ work visas." (p.67)

Champion Nursing in America

2009-06-15T14:08:00.004-04:00

A new website has been launched by The Center to Champion Nursing in America, with the stated purpose and goal: "To ensure every American has access to a highly-skilled nurse, when and where they need one." Another important goal for the Center is to work to "increase funding to expand nursing education" and "decrease turnover among new nursing graduates".
The Center is a joint initiative of AARP, the AARP Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The Alzheimer's Project

2009-06-11T10:53:00.004-04:00

In case you missed this recent HBO series on Alzheimer's Disease, or you may well want to view them again, you can still access it and other excellent information from the HBO Alzheimer's Project website.
This four-part documentary series takes a "close look at groundbreaking discoveries made by the country's leading scientists, as well as the effects of this debilitating and fatal disease both on those with Alzheimer's and on their families."

Click on the title link to the excellent informational website, the streaming videos, as well as 15 short supplemental films on the topic.

Dominica to Export Nurses to Barbadoes?

2009-05-31T13:35:00.005-04:00

Dominica News Online carried this news story by Shermain Bique on May 29, 2009, after an announcement by Prime Minister Skerrit that Dominic could be exporting nurses to Barbadoes as early as October of this year.
Click on the title link to read the article.

DynaMed provides free access to information on Swine Flu

2009-04-30T17:43:00.006-04:00

"Due to the recent global outbreak of Swine Influenza, EBSCO Publishing and the DynaMed Editors have made DynaMed’s information about Swine Influenza free to health care providers and institutions throughout the world.

The DynaMed topic on Swine Influenza consolidates information from multiple sources for health care providers to stay current with recommendations for monitoring, diagnosing, and treating patients with flu-like illnesses during this outbreak. DynaMed Editors will continue to monitor information and update this topic as needed throughout this global crisis. Please click on the title for information regarding Swine Influenza.

Current DynaMed subscribers [includes all faculty and students at UMHS-SK and IUON] are encouraged to use their access to DynaMed through their institutional subscription to monitor the latest clinical information on Swine Flu at http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/logIn.php."

Kind regards,
Susan Entrican
Programs Manager
EBSCO Publishing

The ANA has also posted information & links specifically for nurses on Swine Flu.

Measuring Hand Hygiene Adherence

2009-04-24T10:06:00.004-04:00

Free ebook being made available through Mosby's Nursing Consult addresses the seemingly ongoing problem of hand hygiene!

"Everyone at your hospital knows when and how to clean their hands, right? Not so, says the Joint Commission, the publishers of this new monograph, "Measuring Hand Hygiene Adherence: Overcoming the Challenges."
The report notes that "A quick rinse under the sink or brief rub between palms with alcohol-based hand rub may not be thorough enough to eliminate potential pathogens". Click on the title to read the whole report on .pdf.

Is 'Compassion Fatigue' a Contributing Factor in the Nursing Shortage?

2009-04-14T08:42:00.005-04:00

FRIDAY, April 10 (HealthDay News) -- "A type of emotional burnout called "compassion fatigue" is common among doctors, nurses and other health care workers tending to people with cancer, yet experts say little research has been done on the phenomenon, which can lead to anxiety, cynicism, chronic tiredness, irritability and problem drinking.
Often these health care workers become emotionally detached to protect themselves from the feelings of loss that accompany losing a patient. Some end up leaving their jobs."
A review article has just been published in the Journal of Health Psychology which leads one to questions such as our title and highlights the need for a deeper understanding of this issue. For more on how to recognize and cope with 'compassion fatigue' I refer you a post on the RealityRN Blog.

Nursing Job Trends from Indeed.com

2009-03-26T11:31:00.003-04:00

There will always be the need for qualified nursing staff -- see what qualifications are asked for the most.

MSN nurse, BSN nurse, ASN nurse, LPN nurse Job Trends

MSN nurse jobs - BSN nurse jobs - ASN nurse jobs - LPN nurse jobs

New Web Site Launched on US Health Reform

2009-03-25T16:16:00.006-04:00

HHS issues special report on health reform and launches new web site ~ "Americans expressed serious concerns regarding health care in a new report released today by the Depart of Health and Human Services.

The report, Americans Speak on Health Reform: Report on Health Care Community Discussions, summarizes comments from the thousands of Americans who hosted and participated in Health Care Community Discussions across the United States."

Top Concerns of Community Discussion Participants:
Cost of health insurance ~31%
Cost of health care services ~24%
Lack of emphasis on prevention ~20%
Difficulty finding insurance due to pre-existing conditions ~13%
Quality of care ~12%

The report is available on the new US government web site dedicated to health reform ~ www.healthreform.gov .

NLN DataView

2009-03-23T16:27:00.006-04:00

Now "you can search for and download graphs in various formats that cast a wide lens on all types of pre-licensure nursing programs, including the 1000-plus programs offering diploma and associate nursing degrees. The graphs illustrate essential data about applications, admissions, enrollment, retention, and graduation rates; and provide a comprehensive demographic profile of the current student population documenting ethnic-racial identity, gender, and age, are also available."

The Grange Facility at Ottley's, St. Kitts

2009-03-17T09:30:00.006-04:00

Our local SKN-Vibes takes a look at the history of the Grange Facility and the work of Dr. Patricia Richards-Leader. The Grange Health Care Facility was the first of it's kind in St. Kitts to offer nursing, residential and convalescent care to the elderly.
Our IUON student body have many a fine memory of their placements at the Grange!
Click on the title to read the full article.

Nurses' Higher Education & Loan Repayment Act

2009-03-13T09:30:00.006-04:00

Turn-Key Legislation Lauded by National Nursing Groups
"The Nurses' Higher Education and Loan Repayment Act would establish a federal student loan repayment program for nurses who agree to teach full-time at an accredited school of nursing for at least four years in a six-year period."
Reuters ~ Washington ~ March 12, 2009
Click to listen to an mp3 of Congressman Latham
answering questions about this bill.

The Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program [NELRP]

2009-03-03T09:40:00.003-04:00

Application Deadline Extended to March 16!
"On February 17, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (“Recovery Act”) of 2009. The Recovery Act provides substantial additional funding for the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program (NELRP)."

Therefore the deadline for submission of this years applications has been extended to 5:00 pm ET March 16, 2009. Supplemental forms and documentation must be received or postmarked by March 16, 2009.
Click on the title for more information and how to apply!
Read the Applicant Information Bulletin.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC)

2009-02-18T11:33:00.009-04:00

Dear Colleagues,
I am encouraging you to open and view this video documentary today. It will only take a few minutes and will (I believe) impact your teaching—whether you are basic science or clinically oriented, it has pertinence. It involves a type of breast cancer that even the experts have been failing to notice to the extent of contributing to patient deaths. I, myself, where I teach breast self-exam for men as well as women…have always emphasized looking for LUMPS…newly inverted nipples…breast discharge ~ Inflammatory Breast Cancer however, can present looking like a localized skin infection. If it is treated as such, it can be missed and lead to death, the cancer can be that aggressive! I was impressed enough to send it along. Hope you can take the time to get informed! We teach the people who can make a difference in so many lives even now.
Thanks! Making a difference in healthcare begins with us.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mary Jo Cannon MD
Prof. of Clinical Medicine
UMHS-SK
Click on the title link to the Mayo Clinic site for more information.

Alcohol and surgery: Don't miss the risk

2009-02-13T15:00:00.004-04:00

"..approximately one-half of all hospital beds are filled with patients with medical conditions related to alcohol or drug dependence.." Geraldine Birch Hurst
[OR Nurse 2009, July/August 2008,Vol2(7);pp.30-5.]

"Because alcohol remains the major drug of abuse in this country [United States], nurses must be able to identify withdrawal symptoms and medicate patients appropriately within the first 24 hours to prevent complications.."
"It benefits both the patient and the nursing staff to treat alcohol withdrawal early. Unanticipated alcohol withdrawal in hospitalized patients can add to the risks and costs of the hospitalization."
"The first step in treating patients who abuse alcohol is detecting the potential for withdrawal."

Hospital Pioneers Multidisciplinary Leadership Model

2009-02-06T11:42:00.006-04:00

by Debra Wood RN
"Aiming to create a more respectful and healthy workplace, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) in Philadelphia has developed a new clinical leadership model, charging teams of nurses, physicians and quality coordinators with improving outcomes...It is an egalitarian model...Units have clamored to take part.
"We are bonded at the hip," said Victoria L. Rich, chief nursing executive, "We are not going to change this model. This model is what has to happen for the furture."
Title link takes you to the article published at NurseZone.com .

Educating Patients Before They Leave the Hospital Reduces Readmissions, Emergency Department Visits and Saves Money

2009-02-06T10:09:00.008-04:00

"Patients who have a clear understanding of their after-hospital care instructions, including how to take their medicines and when to make follow-up appointments, are 30 percent less likely to be readmitted or visit the emergency department than patients who lack this information, according to a new study funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)." Press Release Date: February 2, 2009
~ study published February 3, 2009 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Leading Change: Building Healthier Nations

2009-02-02T10:58:00.008-04:00

The ICN 24th Quadrennial Congress, its first in Africa, will showcase the key role nursing plays in leading the way to healthier nations. The Congress will permit access to and dissemination of nursing knowledge and leadership across specialities, cultures and countries.
The three ICN pillars [International Council of Nurses]- Professional Practice, Regulation and Socio-economic Welfare - will frame the Congress sessions and programmes.

The main objectives of the Congress are:
1. To lead informed and sustainable improvement in policy and nursing practice
2. To demonstrate nursing's contribution to building healthier nations
3. To encourage leadership development in the health sector

27 June – 4 July 2009 Durban, South Africa

Immune Readiness CE Courses for Nurses

2009-01-29T12:45:00.008-04:00

Need information and/or continuing nursing education re: vaccines?
The American Nurses Association's (ANA) Center for Continuing Education and Professional Development is pleased to provide the following courses available from the Vaccine Healthcare Centers Network. Access more than 30 free, annually updated Immune Readiness Courses on immunology and vaccines, including such topics as Anaphylaxis, Botulism, Tuberculosis, Human Papillomavirus Vaccine, and Rotavirus Vaccine.
Click for a complete list of available courses.

Assessments and Best Practices in Care of Older Adults

2009-01-28T16:16:00.008-04:00

Why is assessment of older adults so important?.
Illnesses in older people often look different than in younger ones.

In an effort to provide age appropriate assessment resources that will help to fill the gap between knowledge and practice in the care of older adults, the John A. Hartford Foundation has funded the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing (HIGN) at New York University's College of Nursing for a project called How to Try This.
This initiative that will provide web access to evidence-based geriatric assessment tools free of charge along with demonstration videos. A corresponding print series will be published in the AJN.

UPDATE: Check out the online access to the videos and the print articles . [Mar 18, 2010]

Day One in the Life of a Nursing Student

2009-01-23T13:52:00.002-04:00

"Standing at the nursing station, alone, my first day at the hospital, I silently planned my escape...." Read this great post and comments on allnurses.com [Jan 5, 2009].

The 1st Interdisciplinary Clinical Simulation Symposium

2008-12-22T14:52:00.005-04:00

Join us at the St. Kitts Marriot Resort on February 13 ~ 15, 2009, for the 1st Interdisciplinary Clinical Simulation Symposium!
Hosted by the University of Medicine & Health Sciences ~ St. Kitts and the International University of Nursing, this symposium will hold workshops designed for nurses, physicians and medical faculty.
Check out the ICSS website for further details and online registration.

The State of Health Professions in Canada

2008-12-08T14:05:00.006-04:00

December 1, 2008

"In a series of five new reports released today, the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) provides the latest available and most comprehensive data in Canada about the supply, distribution, migration, education, demographic trends and work patterns for seven major health professions. The reports highlight changes in workforce trends over several years for physicians, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and registered psychiatric nurses, as well as recent data for occupational therapists, physiotherapists and pharmacists."

Caribbean Stepping up Fight Against HIV/ AIDS

2008-12-08T08:19:00.007-04:00

Dr. Goulda A. Downer, a Jamaican-born top official at Howard University's College of Medicine in Washington, DC, was recently awarded a US$400,000 Ford Foundation grant.
The purpose of the grant will be to engage Caribbean clinicians in capacity building preceptorships that will increase interdisciplinary communication and collaboration, enhance clinical skills and improve the quality of HIV care.
Preceptorships will be open to the following groups of practitioners: physicians, registered nurses, pharmacists, dentists, nutritionists/dieticians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.
Jamaica Information Service, Washington DC, Dec 6/08

Reflections on Doctors: Nurses' Stories About Physicians & Surgeons

2008-12-01T12:19:00.008-04:00

Edited by Terry Ratner, ISBN: 9781427798251, Kaplan Pub., Sept. 2008.
"Nurses share what it’s like to work with doctors—when it’s like a smooth-running machine, when communication breaks down, and how it directly affects the patient. Hear from people new to the field as well as those who have been in nursing for decades about power differences, gender dynamics, and the challenge of public perceptions.

Edited and introduced by a registered nurse, Reflections on Doctors is a resource for nurses and anyone who wants to better understand the healthcare professionals who care for them."
Read NYTimes review.

Pasqua Hospital nurses have a world of experience

2008-12-01T09:50:00.004-04:00

Pamela Cowan, The Leader-Post, Regina Saskatchewan.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Staff working on a medical unit at the Pasqua Hospital have a world of experience. "Many homes ... One community" is the label for three maps posted in one of the units to mark her staff's international diversity.
"On the world map, coloured pins show her staff originates from Canada, Africa, Germany, El Salvador, the Caribbean, Eritrea, Brazil, the United States and Guyana. Closer to home, staff are recognized on a Saskatchewan map, while a third demonstrates locations in the Philippines where nurses practised before they came to Regina. Engel said the maps are reminders that staff come from many cultures and may have different beliefs and varying levels of experience and education....They also bring different perspectives in terms of practice. Our multicultural group has enriched all of us. One of the things that we've discovered as a team is that there's many ways to do things right."

Looking for nursing jobs in Canada?

Managing your stress : a guide for nurses

2008-11-27T10:20:00.006-04:00

'Managing your stress' was published by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN),UK, 2005.
This booklet is designed to encourage nurses to look at their responses to stressful situations and events. There is advice on how to recognise stress and how to reduce and manage responses to stress more effectively. Advice is also given on how to manage occupational stress. Further reading, useful contacts and websites are also included.
Caption on figurine ~ "Too blessed to stress"
[courtesy of our very own Lona].

Hand Hygiene

2008-11-26T08:37:00.003-04:00

"Did you know that four out of five germs that cause illness are spread by hands?
That's right. And that's why cleaning hands is one of the most important steps health care providers (& all of us) can take to prevent the spread of infection-causing germs. Numerous studies show that infections can be prevented in the hospital if health care providers use proper hand hygiene. Keeping your hands clean is an important way to avoid getting sick or spreading germs to patients, coworkers, etc." Click title for proper procedures as outlined by UMHS~Michigan.

Confronting Male Nurse Myths:

2008-11-21T15:44:00.003-04:00

How to professionally handle the stereotypes.
BY KATHLEEN WARD

"You’re about to begin your first shift as an RN.Your gut tells you that the moment you walk through those doors in uniform, people will judge you. Why? Because you’re a man...Following are the unique situations male nurses face—and practical advice for handling the stereotypes."

Click on the link to read the full article from the RealityRN website.

Caribbean Health Conference focuses on Disease Prevention & Nursing Leadership

2008-10-10T08:29:00.003-04:00

Antigua and Barbuda will play host to over 100 delegates, representing 17 Caribbean nations, for a major health conference on "Community-Based Prevention and Management of Cardiovascular and other Chronic Diseases among Caribbean Elderly – A focus on Nursing Leadership".

The conference will be held next week, October 13-15, 2008; and is in collaboration with Duke University School of Nursing, Office of Global and Community Health Initiatives, the Ministry of Health, the Pan American Health Organisation [PAHO] and the United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC].

Read more on Caribbean News Net ~ and in the Antigua Sun.

US Hospital Finder Website

2008-10-02T16:04:00.005-04:00

"We have information on over 6000 hospitals. Find the nearest hospitals in your area by using the search box [full address, or city and state, or zip code]. We will find the hospitals and show them on a map. You can then click on a hospital to get its details (e.g. address, phone and services) and directions. You can also browse through our list of hospitals by our A-Z or State index."

"This is interesting not just for locating the hospitals, but for the statistics and information it also provides." Jordan Sandquist [IUON nursing student]

Thanks Jordan for your website recommendation!

Here are a few other key sites for information on/about hospitals:
~ 'Quality Check' from JCAHO.
~ the American Hospital Directory.
~ 'Hospital Compare' from US Health & Human Services Dept.
~ HealthGrades, a non-profit organization.

Nursing Trend Watch: Get Ready for Change

2008-09-29T12:05:00.005-04:00

By Linda Beattie, contributor to NurseZone.com

"What does the future hold for nurses and the country’s health care system? It certainly won’t be “more of the same.” From high-tech advances to economic downturns, nurses will need to keep their eyes on a number of trends if they want to be ready for the changes ahead."
Click on the title to read the full article ~ but note one set of statistics for job seekers to keep in mind:

The projected growth rates for RN jobs in the largest areas of employment are:
Physician offices ~ 39 percent
Home health care services ~ 39 percent
Outpatient care centers ~ 34 percent
Employment services ~ 27 percent
General medical and surgical hospitals, public and private ~ 22 percent
Nursing care facilities ~ 20 percent

Caribbean Nursing Statistics

2008-09-26T08:34:00.003-04:00

Table 1:
Number of Registered Nurses, Vacancies, and Vacancy Rates by Country.
Table 2:
Registered Nurses' Resignations with Declared Intentions to Migrate to the United Kingdom, the United States of America, or Canada, by Year and Country.
Table 3:
Health Workforce in the Caribbean Region per 10,000 Population.

Managed migration: the Caribbean approach to addressing nursing services capacity
Health Services Research, June, 2007, by Marla E. Salmon,
Jean Yan, Hermi Hewitt, Victoria Guisinger

Addressing Nurse-to-Nurse Bullying to Promote Nurse Retention

2008-09-25T09:53:00.005-04:00

Rocker, C., (August 29, 2008) "Addressing Nurse-to-Nurse Bullying to Promote Nurse Retention" OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing; Vol 13 No. 3.

"Nurse-to-nurse bullying in the workforce is contributing to the current nursing shortage. The literature reveals both victims and witnesses of bullying suffer silently and are often confused as to what to do when presented with bullying behavior. This confusion frequently contributes to nurses leaving their chosen profession."

"Some Examples of Nurse-to-Nurse Bullying:
Interactions:
~ Withholding information.
~ Posting documentation errors on bulletin boards for all disciplines to view and others to critique.
~ Intimidating others by threats of disciplinary procedures.
~ Writing critical and abusive letters or notes to co-workers.
~ Verbalizing harsh innuendos and criticism.
~ Using hand gestures to ward off conversation.
~ Rolling eyes in disgust.
~ Having personal values and beliefs undermined.

Power Disparities:
~ Using shift/weekend charge positions to direct/control staff assignments/breaks.
~ Controlling co-workers’ behavior by reporting them to their supervisors for perceived lack of productivity and assistances.
~ Placing others under pressure to produce work and meet impossible deadlines.
~ Withholding knowledge of policies and procedures to get co-workers in trouble.

Actions:
~ Yelling at co-workers.
~ Demanding co-workers answer the telephone, NOW!
~ Refusing to mentor and guide new staff in their practice.
~ Refusing to help those who struggle with the unknown and uncertainty.
~ Refusing to help others in need of assistance.
~ Giving public reminders of incomplete/missed documentation or work."

Full article available at: www.nursingworld.org