Supplemental income for nurses... and more!

Having a supplemental income stream or side hustle can make a substantial impact on your finances. Approximately half of all working Americans have a side hustle outside of their primary jobs. This means roughly 60 million people are working a side gig. Are you? Whatever your financial situation may be, there’s surely an opportunity out there for you! Speaking of your financial situation, are you looking for additional finance resource specifically for nurses? We've put together a comprehensive list of resources—from events to blog posts—that nurses can take advantage of in 2021. Check them out! Read more

New grad nurses: stand out, get hired —

In a past career advice event we hosted for nurses, we discussed ways in which new grad nurses can stand out and get hired straight out of nursing school. Applying for your first job can be a competitive process. You are likely competing against dozens or even hundreds of applicants who all had a similar education, grades, and experiences in nursing school. So, how do you differentiate yourself? Here's a short guide to help you put your best foot forward. Read more

The impact of water poverty in the US —

We don't often think of a lack of access to clean drinking water as a challenge for the us in the United States, but a surprisingly large number of people—1.1 million, to be exact—are still facing insecure water access in the US. Nearly half of these people live in some of the largest metropolitan areas, including New York, where about 65,000 people still don't have regular access to piped water. The same study that presented the above statistics also found that these individuals were more likely to be people of color, live in mobile homes or rented accommodations, and spent a higher proportion of income on housing. Most specifically, it's people without homes who face the greatest difficulty accessing clean water and toilet facilities; and unfortunately, the number of people in this category is actually growing in most of the US's large cities. While this is clearly a multifaceted problem, some solutions entail further government grants, more operational and technical assistance, and a greater investment into water infrastructure. Read more

How healthy is your kombucha habit? —

While some folks drink kombucha for its flavor, other include it as a beverage staple because of its health benefits. Although it's often praised for its beneficial bacteria, consuming the wrong kind, or too much, may cause some harmful results. Some examples might include digestive upset, excess calories, added sugars, tooth erosion, excess caffeine, liver toxicity, and contamination. While there is no official recommendation for kombucha consumption, and individual consumer factors may vary, it seems that one or two 8-ounce servings per day from a reputable source should be suitable for most consumers. Read more

Coronavirus Updates

CDC and FDA lift pause on Johnson & Johnson vaccine —

A week ago today, federal officials lifted their pause on the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine due to a small count of rare but severe blood clots occurring in people who received the vaccine. The pause was originally recommended by the CDC and FDA and lasted 10 days, but now, the administrations stated in a press release that they "have confidence that this vaccine is safe and effective in preventing COVID-19." So far, at least 8 million doses of the J&J vaccine have been administered, and 10 million additional doses have been delivered to various locations and are ready for usage. Read more

CDC recommends pregnant women get COVID-19 vaccine —

This suggestion is finally coming to light, as pregnant women were not initially included in vaccine clinical trials. While this delayed vaccine safety and effectiveness data in the case of pregnant women, now that more information regarding the mRNA vaccine is available, the CDC has recommended that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are indeed safe for pregnant women. On the topic, the CDC Director Rochelle Walensky stated, "We know that this is a deeply personal decision and I encourage people to talk to their doctors or their primary care providers to determine what is best for them or their babies." What she said.Read more

India in dire threat from COVID-19 —

Since Monday, India has reported more than 3,000 deaths per day, with over 100 deaths per hour (and some experts think this is still an undercount). India is now second only to the United States in total infections, recently surpassing 18 million. While oxygen supplies continue to dwindle, ICUs are operating at full capacity, and nearly all ventilators are already in use. Healthcare professionals such as Dr. Gautam Singh are taking to social media in a last-ditch effort to find additional supplies of oxygen for their patients. As the health system begins to collapse, the country formerly seen as a success story in weathering the pandemic is now under siege. Read more

Dogs detect COVID-19 with startling accuracy —

In a recent proof-of-concept study led by the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine, trained dogs were able to identify positive samples contaminated with COVID-19 at 96% accuracy. These findings are evolving into another investigation, where researchers are testing dogs with t-shirts worn by individuals who are either COVID-19 positive, negative, or vaccinated. If the dogs can consistently discriminate between these odors, this would hold incredible implications for other uses of odor tests. As Cynthia Otto, author of this study and director of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine Working Dog Center said, “That’s something we can carry forward not only in our COVID training but in our cancer work and any other medical detection efforts we do." Read more

Upcoming Events

Nurses Week Events & Free Swag: May 6-12 —

We’re bringing you five amazing, very treat yo’self-worthy events that we know you’re going to love. We’ve set aside some new and exclusive swag for Nurses Week event attendees, so don't miss out by RSVPing too late! Join us at these events to learn and explore as well as receive some fun goodies! 😊️

Treat Yourself – Dessert First with Joy Bauer
Thursday, May 6, 2021, 3pm PDT

Treat Your Body – Cardio Dance Through the Decades
Friday, May 7, 2021, 9am PDT

Treat Your Soul – Restorative Yoga & Meditation
Monday, May 10, 2021, 4pm PDT

Treat Your Creative Side – Paint 'n Sip
Tuesday, May 11, 2021, 3pm PDT

Treat Your Mind – Virtually Impossible: A Magic Show with Kevin Blake
Wednesday, May 12, 2021, 4pm PDT