What is Juneteenth?

This past Wednesday, New York City Governor Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order announcing Juneteenth (today, June 19) an official holiday for state employees beginning next year. Some major companies are already putting today into observance beginning this year. Along with this order will follow certain whistleblower protections introduced for healthcare workers who choose to speak out about inappropriate or unsafe workplace treatment or conditions. Short and sweet, Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, also known as Black Emancipation Day, when the end of the Civil War was announced in Texas, two months following the surrender of Robert E. Lee and two years after the signing of the proclamation ending slavery was signed by President Lincoln. Read more

Just another hydrochloroquine? —

There is strong evidence, according to researchers in England, that the steroid dexamethasone can reduce the COVID-19 death rate by up to one third. The study that came up with these results was a strict randomized trial that gave 2,104 patients the drug, while another 4,321 received standard care. The study found that after 28 days, dexa had successfully reduced deaths up to 35% in patients needing breathing machines and by 20% for those only needing supplemental oxygen. While some are skeptical of these results given the previous false-positives of hydrochloroquine, research is ongoing in the hope of more similar results. Read more

Looking to update your nursing resume? —

We recently hosted an event focused on the nursing narrative—specifically, how to make a resume that hospitals and other facilities can’t walk away from and how to translate your story from resume to interview. In case you missed it, we wanted to cover our best tips and advice here. Whether you’re a new grad nurse, a nurse with less than a year of work experience, or an experienced nurse looking to refresh your resume and story, this guide is for you. We cover: how to write a standout nursing resume; how to convey a clear, compelling, and customized narrative; and, how to prepare to confidently ace any nursing interview. Read more

The school nurse role post COVID-19 —

At the beginning of 2020, many school districts chose to close schools and hold class virtually. This meant that school nurses, whether employed by the district or hired through third-party companies, were left without jobs. However, as states such as California have begun loosening restrictions, the conversation of when—and how—to open schools has become a hot topic. So, what role does a school nurse play during these uncharted planning stages? From budgets to PPE to training sessions for both students and staff, school nurses have a lot to keep front of mind. Read more

US News and World Report announces list of top hospitals for 2019-20 —

US News and World Report just published its rankings for the top hospitals and facilities across the country for 2019-2020. You can sort the list by All Hospitals or Children's Hospitals only. Top three in Adult care? The Mayo Clinic in Rochester earned the number one spot, while Massachusetts General in Boston and Johns Hopkins in Baltimore came in second and third, respectively. Read more

Top-rated grocery stores for health and safety —

Costco, Trader Joe's, and Whole Foods have been rated the most trusted retailers by customers when it comes to health and safety. (The trust rating is established by measures of how retailers are operating amid COVID-19.) Whole Foods took the #1 spot thanks to its adherence of associates wearing face coverings inside its stores (98%), ensuring customer adherence to 6-foot social distancing boundaries (91%), having plexiglass barriers in place at checkout (95%), and providing contactless payment at checkout. The gap between top performers and the average retail business is wide: for example, 77-82% of stores weren't even providing any kind of hand-sanitizing or washing solution upon entrance or exit. Wear your mask, wash your hands, and stay safe; this fight isn't over. Read more

Upcoming Events —

6/25, 5pm PDT: Red, White & You Virtual Mixology Experience
Prepare to be mixed, muddled, shaken, and stirred while you learn to mix like the pros creating craft cocktails (or mocktails) meant to impress! This hands-on event will walk you through the process of creating three specialty cocktails alongside some of your fellow nursing professionals. All nurses are welcome to this event, just make sure you RSVP! RSVP