Pandemic Nursing is a new term that describes nursing care that is rushed, physically overwhelming, and emotionally draining and provided to an onslaught of critically ill patients. There are numerable contributing factors and adverse results related to Pandemic Nursing. I have witnessed firsthand in the halls of long-term care facilities and recognize the toll this environment is having on the nurses. The frantic, adrenalin pumping reaction to the disaster of the day, coupled with total exhaustion. Working in a Pandemic Nursing environment is a direct threat to patient safety. Is your facility working under Pandemic Nursing conditions? To assess the risk, answer these questions: Is the pace of work hectic? Is the station and records frequently disorganized? Have there been financial strains on the facility? Is there a shortage of staff? Has the nurse-to-patient ratios fluctuated higher? Has the level of care the patients require increased? Is the facility having difficulty recruiting and retaining staff? Add to this list of struggles the increased daily workload of, continuous donning of PPE, increased discharges and emergencies, isolated and depressed patients and constant testing and swabbing. Unfortunately, the results of practicing Pandemic Nursing are bad patient outcomes. A recent article by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices reported an increase of serious increased medication errors coupled with a trend by nurses to try
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Congratulations on your new job! Now the adventure begins. When you start a new job one of your first things on the “to do list” is to create a great team. Becoming the new leader of an existing team can be challenging and involves gaining the respect and trust of those around you. Trust is the key. A team is not a group of people that work together, it is a group of people that trust each other. Before a boss begins telling people what they need to do, the first step needs to be to make a connection with each person so that they want to be part of your team. Connections with others build trust. Try this exercise. Meet with each key person on your team and find out what they need to be successful at their job. Sit down in a neutral, quiet place with no desks between you and ask these three simple questions: What do you like about your job? What do you dislike about your job? and How can I help you? As a leader your number one priority should be to make things better for others. Naturally in long term care that is always the goal with patients, but that extends to staff as well. Find ways to help others get ahead
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Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong
ANSWER: As of May, 2019 the Center for Disease Control updated their 2005 recomendation that all health care personnel have annual screening for Tuberculosis. Here is the link for the CDC guidelines All health care personnel should have a RISK ASSESSMENT Before starting a job workers should receive the Risk Assessment, Symptom screening and a TB test. After that initial test, no more testing (annual testing) is recommended for workers unless there is a know exposure to tuberculosis.
Have you heard of hygee? (pronounced HOO-GA). Hygee is the Danish secret to happy living. It is about cozy togetherness and is an atmosphere and an experience. Being cozy with those we care about, getting comfortable by the fire with a warm cup of coca. How do we bring hygee to work? Many of us are lucky enough to work in spaces that are also someone’s home, so the transition to cozy is easy. Dim lights and sweets to share are an obvious start. But any office can bring a little hygee and think of ways to make things more casual and cozy. Here are five ideas to get hygge going at the office. ORGANIZE A POTLUCK Instead of bring lunch just for yourself, why not organize potluck for lunch one day of the week? When everybody shares, everybody gets hygee. SET UP AN OFFICE GARDEN If the office allow it, hou can add to the hygge by planting a few plants. Spending a few minutes each day tending to them may be a nice way to manage stress. Use containers for herbs if there is not outdoor plots, but if you grow produce that can be enjoyed at the potluck that is better. BRING YOUR DOG TO WORK When my daughter went away to college, I started taking her
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