What you need to know as a nurse and ally

What does it mean to be an "ally?" And what does it mean to be an ally in healthcare, specifically? Sometimes, it’s best to answer a question with specific results; i.e. an ally is someone who: (1) Recognizes the existence of systemic health inequity, (2) Is empowered to evaluate systemic inequity and advocate for change within healthcare, and (3) Understands the continuing role of nurses as allies and advocates within healthcare. And why are nurses ideal allies? It’s simple. Nursing, for over 18 years in a row, according to the Gallup Poll, has remained the most trusted profession. Second, nurses are inherent advocates. Nurses advocate for their patients, for their peers, and for themselves. And third, because of these things, nurses are perfectly positioned to help move the needle forward. Read on to learn more about what you can start doing today to become a stronger ally. Read more

Louisiana nurses stay behind to care for babies as Hurricane Laura made landfall —

The NICU of Lake Charles Memorial Hospital succeeded in keeping all 19 of its patients safe during the Category 4 Hurricane Laura... and with power coming only from emergency generators. Dr. Juan Bossano, 14 nurses, 2 nurse practitioners, and 3 respiratory therapists remained behind to care for the little patients, some of whom were premies weighing only one or two pounds at the time. As Dr. Bossano stated, "It’s important to know the dedication of all the nurses and the respiratory therapists [...] when they don’t even know the condition of their homes." Read more

Study reveals that females' second X chromosome offers protection against Alzheimer's

We now know that women with Alzheimer's live longer than men in the same situation because of their sex chromosome. Since women receive two portions of a gene that is only found on the X chromosome, they are inherently protected from some of the effects of Alzheimer's. While both men and women can carry a particularly potent variant of this gene, long-term studies reveal that women with one or two copies of this variant progressed significantly slower toward Alzheimer's than their male counterparts. This helps explain why, as Dena Dubal, MD, PhD, associate professor of neurology at UCSF states, "More women than men have Alzheimer's because they survive to older ages, when risk is highest. But they also survive with the disease for longer." Perhaps this finding will shed some light on novel measures that can be used to prevent the early, if not the total, onset of Alzheimer's. Read more

Should you work during nursing school?

Nursing school is grueling. With lectures, clinicals, labs, and exams, it’s a demanding schedule. Add on class schedules changing, extra work for your assigned units, and study sessions, it’s hard to imagine having a job during this time. So, is it possible to be a successful nursing student and hold down a job? Various factors should be considered. Here are some of the most important: (1) Do you have money saved? (2) Is your financial aid enough to cover school costs and your living expenses? (3) Can you move in with family to save money and spend less on household expenses while in school? If none of the above are available, it’s time to consider some other options. If a full-time job is overwhelming, find a part-time job. If possible, get a job as a nurse’s aide or tech and work PRN or per diem. Alternatively, you can try maximizing your income prior to starting nursing school, especially if nursing isn't your first career. Read more

How to get a loan as a travel nurse —

There are many pros and cons to working as a travel nurse. One of the benefits of travel nursing is sometimes earning significantly more money than nurses working in permanent positions. On the downside, it can be difficult to get a loan due to the way travelers are paid and the employment variability involved. As a travel nurse, there is much more to consider when trying to get a loan. For starters? Pay consistency, debt-to-income ratio, relying on paychecks instead of W-2s to prove income, and more. Read more

Coronavirus Updates

Company paying unemployed Americans to train in health care —

Ankur Jain, the founder of investment firm Kairos, was hit with a brilliant idea once he found that nearly 40% of jobs lost during the pandemic's economic crisis wouldn't be returning, at least any time soon. So, how can we remedy concurrent lost jobs and a health care crisis? By pairing unemployed Americans with sick patients in need of home health care. Doing so may actually address multiple challenges at once. Kairos pledged to fund 10,000 new health care workers in partnership with CareAcademy and Care.com. Since mid-July, more than 2,000 people have signed up. Participants will complete a 60-hour course before searching for jobs via partners like Care.com. Read more

A pandemic of depression —

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, symptoms of depression have become three times as prevalent in the US, with individuals who lost jobs and savings being affected the most. Catherine Ettman, director of strategic development at Boston University's School of Public Health, noted that "People with lower income were twice as likely to have depression, and people with the same income but who had less savings were 1.5 times more likely to have depression." For healthcare workers, this has only been intensified by the current stressors on the healthcare system. If you or someone you know could benefit from some additional mental health resources, we put together a few resources to get you started. Read more

Respect for public health leaders —

The COVID-19 pandemic has been likened to a war taking place across the country and world. However, many public health officials have become targets of constant aggression and personal threats as well as attacks. Some of have even been recommended by local law enforcement to acquire guard dogs, around-the-clock security, and in some cases, weapons for self defense. As Dr. Charity Dean, formerly one of the top health officials in California, said, "Imagine treating American soldiers and military families with the kind of hatred and disrespect that local health officers are facing." The decisions these individuals are making are not easy, that's for sure, and they may not always seem like the best or the right ones, but they still warrant the respect of leaders—and individuals— trying to do choose the lesser evil. Read more

Upcoming Events

9/9, 4pm PDT: Healthy Finances: Budgeting for Nurses —

Every nurse is capable of achieving financial freedom! Are you ready to feel confident with your finances? Join nurse Lauren and learn how to make a budget that is personally crafted to fit your lifestyle and achieve your financial goals. You'll learn the foundation of creating a life of financial freedom. All nurses are welcome to this event, just make sure you RSVP!