5 ways to deal with stress in nursing

If you’re like us, then hearing the term “self-care” may elicit an eye roll on a good day... and a few choice words on a more difficult one. That said, our reaction to the term changed once we reframed it as “restorative care.” Why? This brings us back to the core of what self-care really is — a return to balance or homeostasis. Restorative care does not have to be something added into our lives, such as an addition of time, money, or both; it actually works best when it’s incorporated into what we do already. And yes, that means right smack in the beginning, middle, and end of our workdays. If you’d like to begin implementing restorative care into your life, check out these five easy techniques. Read more

Nursing jobs beyond the bedside: What else is out there? —

You've likely been told that you have unlimited career options when it comes to the nursing profession, but what’s actually out there? What (and where) are these elusive careers beyond the bedside that you keep hearing about? We’re excited to share with you a three-part series that explores this topic in full. Buckle up for part one! Read more

When will the pandemic "end?" —

When will "normal" life return? A question we've all been asking. Well, no one knows for certain, but based on current vaccination trends and our knowledge of their effectiveness thus far, it really depends. So far, more than 119 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered around the world. Leading scientists believe it will take about 70–85% vaccination coverage of the global population for things to return to normal globally. However, some countries are ahead, while others are seriously behind. Israel is leading the world with its vaccination rate, currently set to hit 75% population vaccination within the next two months. On the other hand, the United States is currently on track to reach this same goal in about 11 months (while Canada and other countries are years away). Although wealthier countries, and even particular US states, are likely to reach their vaccination goals before others, as a whole, it's estimated that it will take the world population about seven years to be fully vaccinated and for things to return to normal worldwide. Read more

Experts fear COVID-19 surge following Super Bowl celebrations —

Last Sunday, Florida became the first state to report upwards of 200 cases on COVID-19 variants. Not long after this report, maskless crowds were seen celebrating across Tampa following the Buccaneer's Super Bowl victory. There is also the fear of a general increase in cases following in-person gatherings across the country last weekend. The United States now has more than 700 known cases of virus variants, cases of which involving more highly contagious variants have nearly doubled since January 27. Florida, alone, now contains more variant cases than the entire country did near the end of January. Read more

Coronavirus Updates

Some good news about vaccine rates —

The most recent Axios/Ipsos poll revealed that upwards of 63% of adults have already had or are likely to accept the COVID-19 vaccine once available to them. This is the highest percentage yet recorded by Ipsos. When asked whether or not they'd receive the vaccine immediately or wait longer, 50% of participants said they'd receive it immediately — another good sign as the general public's trust in the vaccine seems to be growing. Additionally, the amount of cases has begun to slow, which is likely to decline as more people are vaccinated. Read more

However, 33% of Americans say they likely won't get the vaccine —

According to a recent poll, at least 1 in 3 Americans say that they definitely or likely will not receive a COVID-19 vaccine. This is unsettling, as experts suggest that the United States will need to vaccinate between 70–85% of its population to achieve herd immunity and mostly stop the current outbreak. The primary disagreement questions the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine, and the strongest skepticism of the vaccine seems to be held by young people, those without college degrees, Black Americans, and Republicans. Following these current results, the US is on track to vaccinate only about 67% of its population, which William Hanage, a Harvard University expert on disease dynamics, says is not nearly enough: "You’re going to need to get quite large proportions of the population vaccinated before you see a real effect.” Hopefully these numbers will soon shift in the right direction, but only time will tell. Read more

New variants and the risk of reinfection —

More evidence is coming forth suggesting that having COVID-19 from one viral strain may not prevent you from reinfection due to a new variant. Some research also suggests that it may very well be possible to get a second infection from the same strain if your body didn't present a strong immune response the first time. As far as how long immunity lasts, we're still not sure. That said, this same research also shows that reinfections are quite rare and are usually less serious than the former infections. However, that doesn't make them any less dangerous, as a second infection may present fewer symptoms, making carriers less aware of their infectious state, and thus furthering the spread of the virus. Vaccination remains a long-term solution; in the meantime, health officials are urging the population to continue to wear masks, keep distanced, and wash their hands. Read more

A vaccine for all variants? —

For years now, some scientists have been working on a single vaccine that would protect against all coronavirus variants. Until the inception of the current pandemic, their work was largely undiscussed in the mainstream. But today, they're saying that the need for a more comprehensive vaccine is now. Dr. Kayvon Modjarrad, the director of Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, believes that developing a single vaccine in months is fast, but not fast enough; we need to have one comprehensive and effective vaccine for a variety of coronavirus strains at the ready for whatever comes next. For now, their work continues, and it might be our best bet against another coronavirus outbreak. Read more

Upcoming Events

2/17, 3pm PST: How to Market Your Nursing Skills —

Janine Kelbach, RNC-OB, knew in 2013 after she had her second child that the overtime and night shift hours weren’t going to make her feel like the best mother, wife, or nurse. She honed in on her love of writing and started Write RN, a content agency, in 2015. She wrote the book Entreprenurse, which includes contributions from 30+ nurses that summarize more than 15 careers nurses can do away from the bedside. You’ll leave the event with ideas on how you can market the core skills you developed at the bedside to empower you in roles away from the bedside. All nurses are invited to this event, just make sure you RSVP!️