Whether you live in California or not...

This is a big deal. CA has plans to be the first state to contract with generic drug companies to launch its own prescription-drug program in an effort to control continually rising health care costs. “A trip to the doctor’s office, pharmacy or hospital shouldn’t cost a month’s pay,” CA Governor Newsom said. “These nation-leading reforms seek to put consumers back in the driver seat and lower health-care costs for every Californian." But this isn't the only effort made in CA recently to make health care more accessible. Sutter Health, based in Northern California, is partnering with Lyft to help knock down one of the biggest barriers to accessing necessary care: transportation. The goal is to provide "individual transportation programs" for patients who otherwise would struggle to find transportation to necessary appointments. Good lookin' out, CA.

The best way to prevent STDs? —

(Not) Abstinence. A popular nurse influencer on TikTok recently got critically shamed for claiming abstinence as the best way to prevent STDs. Viewers spoke out, saying that it was irresponsible to suggest abstaining from sex as medical advice. One response?: "The best way to prevent a flu is to live in an isolation chamber." The influencer responded by taking down the video, apologizing, and sharing that her only wish is to "promote positivity and healthy lifestyles." This incident emphasizes the social power (for better or worse) that the growing number of health care influencers can have over the wider population and the necessity of those individuals to act responsibly and professionally with their influence.

A mother's love knows no bounds —

Amber Freed's battle to find a cure for her son's rare genetic disease is the utmost expression of a mother's love. At ten months old, her son was diagnosed with a neurological disorder that will eventually cause debilitating epilepsy and heart-breaking regression. Racing against the clock, Amber has quit her job and is working 80 hours a week to become an expert in the biology of the disease. She has reached out to scientists all over the world, founded a non-profit, and raised over $1 million dollars to fund initial research into a cure. She even found and convinced the current expert on the disease to advance their research to the point where they are ready for clinical trials. Amber is continuing to increase her efforts to raise the money for phase one of clinical trials but will need another $3-6 million dollars. Let's show our support for a mother in need! You can donate to her cause by visiting her GoFundMe page.

If there's a trend in saving lives —

...it begins with a C and ends with an R. Here are four short stories of nurses across the country who saved peoples' lives while off the job.

- An Oklahoma nurse performed CPR to a lifeless passenger mid-flight, successfully resuscitating and stabilizing him until landing.

- A California nurse performed CPR in a movie theater when a man's heart gave out, and she was able to keep him alive until moviegoers brought a defibrillator, which she then used to bring his heart back to a normal rhythm.

- A Washington nurse who performed CPR on a car-accident victim until paramedics arrived.

- A North Carolina nurse who performed CPR on a bicyclist having a cardiac arrest, maintaining his pulse until further help arrived.

Firstly, thank you all! Secondly, the proof is in the pudding; these are all great reasons for everyone to know CPR.

Nurses supporting their young!? —

This centenarian (and nurse). Liselotte R. Wehrheim, who recently passed away at 103 years old, donated $1.75 million to provide scholarships for health care training programs at Blue Ridge Community College in North Carolina. Wehrheim grew up in Germany and was a nurse during WWII, after which she moved to the US and continued nursing before moving to North Carolina with her husband to retire. She continued traveling and learning into her 90s, attending courses at the college throughout this time.

25 things they didn't tell you in nursing school —

But we will. Nursing school is a compact and thoroughly exhausting (although definitely exciting) time. You will learn and do, but mostly... learn. Here are 25 things that you may not have learned in nursing school but will surely encounter once you start gaining experience on the job.