Keeping patients with multiple chronic conditions out of the hospital has always been a challenge for healthcare providers, but an increasing awareness of why patients return combined with a push to reduce healthcare costs, has put hospital readmission rates under the national spotlight. A growing number of hospitals, home-health agencies and insurance companies are introducing […]
When the Health Care Reform Bill was signed into law by President Obama on Tuesday, March 23, 2010, it signaled a new beginning for nurse-led health care. HR 3590, as the package is called, capitalizes on the ability of nurse practitioners to provide both the primary and the preventative care. This health care reform package […]
Obesity is in the news. It is the focus of shows for television and the subject of many talk shows. Magazine covers illustrate the problem and it’s not pretty. The World Health Organization considers obesity a global epidemic and a serious health problem. Obesity is now reported to be the second leading cause of a […]
If you’ve been watching the Olympics at all, you may not realize that a team of top notch physicians, nurses and sports medicine professionals are busy working behind the scenes. The Olympic medical team has been tending to skiers, skaters and all athletes who are tumbling, crashing and slamming onto ice, snow or each other. […]
February is American Heart Month. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Center of Disease Control. In fact, approximately every 25 seconds, an American will have some type of coronary event and one every minute will die from one. In 2009, an estimated 785,000 Americans had a […]
Editor’s Letter Happy Holidays to nurses everywhere! This month I read about nurses all around the world who have to work during the holiday season. No matter what one’s religious preference is, I have found this season to be one of joy and giving. The nurses I read about are not only doing their jobs […]
It is a time for family and friends, for eating and drinking, for prayer and thanks-giving. Most businesses close during this long holiday to give their staff a well earned rest. However, for nurses and other medical staff, this is but a theory. Under normal circumstances, hospitals and clinics are open 24 hours a day. […]
The caring does not have to stop when the paychecks do, according to nurses around the country who have discovered the joy in practicing as a nurse volunteer. Nurses are needed in volunteer roles locally, domestically and abroad. Depending on your experience and education, you can offer your services to help those in need in […]
It seems that every time the news is on, H1N1 is being mentioned. A short recap will put the H1N1 news in perspective and help nurses prepare for the upcoming flu season. The H1N1 influenza first appeared in early 2009 and it quickly generated a public uproar. It resulted in countless hospitalizations, closed schools and […]
