Should you try intermittent fasting?

According to a recent study done by David Duron, PhD at the University of Arizona, on top of helping with weight loss, balancing blood sugar levels, and more sustained energy, intermittent fasting may help with opioid addiction. The study was conducted over one week on two groups of mice, some of whom were fasting and some of whom were allowed to eat as much as they wanted. Both the test and control groups were injected daily with morphine. When the week was up, the test group showed a significant increase in pain relief without an increase in side effects. Next up, Keto cures coronavirus...

Coronavirus' spread within the US, inevitable? —

On Tuesday, public health officials (think CDC and NIH) warned the public to be ready for the “inevitable” spread of the coronavirus within the United States. With more than 82,000 confirmed cases and at least 2,800 deaths worldwide, the situation doesn't seem to be slowing. However, President Trump and White House officials have been ignoring concerns for the most part. But, it’s hard to ignore a 3.4% drop in the Dow Jones after these fears were made public. In a timely briefing, the CDC’s principal deputy director stated, “We believe the immediate risk here in the United States remains low, and we’re working hard to keep that risk low.” So far, officials are frustrated with the federal government’s lack of spending, preparation, and time spent working toward a vaccine but are remaining positive in our eventual ability to control the spread of the virus.

Is vaping cool again? —

Last year a widely circulated study by the American Heart Association claimed that vaping e-cigarettes increased the likelihood of heart attack. However, last Tuesday the study was retracted due to claims that it may have been based on misleading data, specifically that many of the subjects studied were current or former smokers of combustible cigarettes. One of the two editors of the study, Stanton Glantz, took to social media to stand by the study, claiming that JAMA had relented to pressure from "e-cig interests."

Airbnb for nurses? —

Keisha Manning, RN, started a new company called Nursesbnb to make finding housing for traveling healthcare workers easier. Most hotels and even Airbnbs run on more normal schedules and often struggle to accommodate travelers not on a tourist's schedule. With the urgent need for more medical professionals across the country, a more efficient (and easier) way to find temporary housing is a great place to start!

The nursing students earning street cred —

Some nursing students at the University of Virginia have found a creative way of getting real-world experience in taking care of patients, even before they've earned their nursing degree - volunteering for the local rescue squad. It's not just a way to practice thinking on their feet, but they've also been honing their ability to establish deep and genuine relationships with their patients, helping them to graduate with more than just the book smarts, but a better understanding of what the day-to-day looks like for a nurse on the job.

Netflix increases awareness of rare disorders —

Rare disorders may not always feel as rare as they are in our realm. But they collectively affect 400 million people worldwide. We are likely familiar with a lack of associated education, support, and treatment options - oftentimes stemming from an overall lack of awareness. But thanks to shows like Stranger Things, that's changing. The Netflix original series features an actor who was born with cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD). A study by JAMA used Google Trends and CCD-related foundation website data to find an association of television portrayals of CCD with public interest and awareness of the disorder.

Nurse gathers hand-knitted sleeves for premies —

A pediatric nurse in the UK asked for help to create hand-knitted sleeves for the babies in her neonatal unit. The request was shared by the Warm Baby Project. It was so widely received and shared on Facebook that she had to find new space in her home for all of the donations mailed to her.

Announcing The Handoff podcast —

We’re very excited to announce that we’re launching our very own podcast just for nurses and nurse leaders! Hosted by Dr. Dan Weberg, PhD, RN, The Handoff podcast informs healthcare leaders on the biggest trends impacting the future of the industry, from flexible work to automation and everything in between. We’ll go deep into each topic through multi-episode series that feature a range of experts from both inside and outside the healthcare industry. The Handoff podcast focuses on case studies and practical advice to help listeners adapt to crucial changes in the industry. You can start listening to the first four episodes here!