Blogs

Daily planning keeps nurse Shaquita Starks on track

Organization champions wellness through data, insights, and action

Chief Nursing Officer practices what she preaches when it comes to wellness

Nurses Obesity Network aims to change the conversation about obesity, among nurses and across the nation

August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). This annual observance highlights the efforts of healthcare professionals  to protect patients of all ages against vaccine-preventable diseases through on-time vaccination.

Let’s talk about water. You know it’s a vital nutrient for every cell in your body. You know hydration plays a crucial role in health, like helping to regulate internal body temperature and lubricating joints. But how much of what you know about hydration is the truth? And how much is misinformation that’s been spread around society through social media ...

For #healthynurse Jeff Doucette, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, FAAN, wellness is all about the 2 “M’s.”  

Racism is harming nurses, and it’s an ongoing problem. January results from a survey of over 5,600 nurses found that almost half of nurses say there’s a great deal of racism in nursing. Sixty-three percent of nurses surveyed have personally experienced an act of racism in the workplace, with the wrongdoers being either a peer (66%), a patient (63%), or a ...

Nurse creates a resiliency room as a resource for health care professionals With the right approach to self-care, nurses can buffer daily stress. That’s the idea #healthynurse Melinda Taylor pursued during her DNP project. Resilience is crucial for nurses who will inevitably face hardships and adversity on the job. However, it can be difficult for ...

Organization boosts nurse resiliency with online learning lab We are pleased to shine the spotlight on R³ – the Resilient Nurses Initiative of Maryland . The R 3 team is providing a 3-part nursing faculty workshop series for its R 3 Faculty Champions from their partner schools of nursing. The goal is to prepare faculty to authentically deliver content ...

You can hack your hydration in ways beyond drinking water. Experts recommend that 80% of fluid intake comes liquids.  However, the remaining amount may come from foods that you are already eating. Today, try one of these recipes loaded with refreshing, hydrating ingredients! Want to easily print these recipes? Download the recipes by clicking on the ...

 Date Issued: April 27 Nurses Obesity Network will engage, support, and activate nurses nationwide as patients living with obesity, caregivers, and advocates calling for better care across diverse communities. Washington, D.C. — In recognition of National Minority Health Month , members of the leading nurse advocacy organizations are joining ...

Committee encourages employees to take advantage of available wellness opportunities We are pleased to shine the spotlight on the ANA Enterprise Wellness Committee. The committee is made up of 14 members with one common goal: The well-being of their colleagues. Each of them attends monthly meetings with an open mind and heart — and a willingness to ...

Nurse scientist prioritizes self-compassion and mindfulness for well-being

On May 1, 2017, ANA Enterprise launched a bold, new program — The Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™ Grand Challenge, now simply known as Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation (HNHN). The goal of HNHN is to transform the health of our nation by first improving the health of its 4 million RNs. In the first 5 years, we’ve accomplished much more than we ever thought ...

For nurses, infection control practices are nothing new. Nurses first learn about these policies and procedures in nursing school. And they routinely follow the practices at work. But that doesn’t mean every nurse follows infection control procedures consistently and confidently. The COVID-19 pandemic raised the level of concern for infection ...

Nurse motivated by HNHN creates her own step challenge at her workplace To walk 5 miles a day, you’ve got to walk about 10,000 steps. That’s the baseline many fitness trackers recommend you target per day. And it’s fantastic to strive for a certain number of daily steps. But it’s just as good to simply increase your current step count. Even a small ...

Organization with 8,000 nurses launches wellness initiatives for work and home We are pleased to shine the spotlight on MedStar Health, an exceptional Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™ (HNHN) Champion. What does it mean to prioritize your employees’ well-being? MedStar Health Center for Wellbeing (MCW) can answer that. The center launched in ...

Nurse-turned-business owner switches to whole food, vegan diet and never looks back

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” – Wendy Mass Not only are our “battles” challenging while we’re awake, but they can also disrupt our sleep. Americans continue to lose precious sleep due to daily struggles. The daily struggles of nurses across the country are compounded even further with the pandemic. They ...

Nurse runs 12-17 miles each day, places 3rd at the 2018 USA National Marathon Championship.

Organization provides Filipino-American nurses opportunities for increased resiliency

Entering the workforce as a new nurse and dealing with anxiety is nothing new. During a seemingly unending pandemic, however, new nurse anxiety has grown. New nurses have little time to adjust to an intense, high-pressure environment. Research shows that long-term exposure to high-pressure environments weakens nurse resiliency and increases ...

Certified health and wellness nurse coach practices what she preaches If there’s one person who walks the walk, it’s certified health and wellness nurse coach Karen Laing. With a history of working with cardiac patients on disease reversal and prevention, Karen has seen firsthand the healing power of one’s lifestyle. She’s such a firm believer in ...

Nursing organization creates monthly programming to promote nurse well-being We are pleased to shine the spotlight on the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses (AAHFN), an exceptional Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™ (HNHN) Champion. Nursing has always been a field with high stress and burnout. But the past 2 years of the pandemic have taken ...

Nurse integrates mindfulness and self-compassion techniques Nurses are nurturers. Every day, they are tasked with caring for the well-being of others. Nurse and integrative health coach, Pam Mulligan recognizes the value of integrating caring-healing practices to sustain a compassionate presence and engagement in her work. Since the start of ...

This was the question the Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation (HNHN) team asked of nurses who attended the 2021 ANCC Magnet and Pathway to Excellence conferences. Our goal was simple: to spark a conversation. We wanted those who came by our booth to think about their own self-care practices and feel inspired and empowered by their peers. The HNHN team brought ...

Nursing professor changes lifestyle for the better after breast cancer treatment Health is fragile. Sometimes a serious diagnosis, such as breast cancer, can work as motivation to change lifestyle habits for the better. That’s what happened to Wanda Williams, PhD, RN,WHNP-BC, CNE. Her breast cancer diagnosis was made in an early stage, and her ...

Daily habits focused on positivity are how nurses can contribute to a better working environment. But especially during a pandemic, keeping a positive attitude is challenging. As a nurse, you’re busy and stressed out. How do you find the time and energy to contribute to happiness at work? The key is kindness. Small, sustainable, daily acts of kindness ...

Over the past two years, you’ve experienced unprecedented levels of stress and burnout. You’ve emptied your cup by filling others’ time and time again. The last thing you have time for right now is self-care. We see what you’re giving up to focus on others. We hear you. But by reading this blog, you’re making yourself a priority for at least a few minutes. ...

Nurse prioritizes her wellness through faith, gratitude, and social connection Faith, gratitude, and social connection. Those are 3 motivators that keep Christine Pabico, PhD, RN, NE-BC, FAAN, aiming for a healthy lifestyle. All 3 play a role in helping Christine prioritize her well-being, especially during times of stress. As Director of the ...

Nurse uses aromatherapy, meditation, and deep breathing to improve her own job satisfaction Over the past year, resiliency has become more important than ever for nurses. Building and improving resiliency, however, doesn’t just happen on its own. It takes an intense focus and dedication on habits that will — over time — build a more resistant sense of ...

This holiday season, get more cauliflower into your diet by substituting it for starches in common recipes. Here are two holiday favorite recipes that incorporate cauliflower. What are your favorite healthy substitutions for ingredients in common recipes? Join us in a discussion in the Healthy Holidays challenge powered by Compass One Healthcare ...

(Pictured: Roni Adams) Are you among the 1 in 4 American adults who spend more than 8 hours a day sitting? If you have a sedentary or work-from-home job, the answer is probably “yes.” At Humana, many roles work from home, including their large population of nurses. When Joanie Howard, M.Ed., BSN, RN, CMCN, Director of Clinical Strategy & Practice at ...

Nurse practitioner finds career fulfillment and health improvement in lifestyle medicine Don’t underestimate your health potential! That’s the main message Trey Bennett, Kansas City's only Board-Certified Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner, has for himself, as well as for his patients. Growing up, Trey and his family consumed what’s known as the ...

Nurse’s daily run streak hits 1,258 days — and counting It can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days for a person to form a new habit . Studies show that after 66 days, that habit can become automatic. Running is certainly a daily habit for Amy Madsen, BSN, RN, CCM, Associate Director of Market Development and Market Clinical Strategies at Humana. She has run at ...

In the last couple of years, you’ve been busy. You’ve probably worked longer hours while juggling more tasks at home. Some routine tasks, like preventive medical appointments and immunizations, may have fallen to the bottom of your to-do list. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 4 in 10 American adults avoided ...

Company creates program that improves nurses’ job satisfaction and well-being We are pleased to shine the spotlight on Crothall Healthcare of CompassOne, an exceptional Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™ (HNHN) Champion. There’s much more to nurse burnout than working long hours during a pandemic. Stressful work environments, lack of ...

The COVID-19 pandemic creates upheaval for many nurses. Those who aren’t in patient care settings probably worked from home most of the past year. Children were also home doing virtual school. Now school is back in session for the fall. What better time to get organized with a meal planning strategy and new homecooked recipes? Your life is already busy — ...

Nutrition quality has a major impact on preventing disease. It also plays a role in reversing it.   That’s one of the life lessons Marty Malloy-McCoy has embraced not just as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (board certified in both anesthesia and family care), but as a human being. His journey to nutritional wellness began about 4 years ago when ...

FLU SHOT FRIDAYS IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE AMERICAN NURSES ASSOCIATION (ANA) AND SANOFI PASTEUR* TO IGNITE URGENCY AROUND FLU VACCINATION, ESPECIALLY AMONG THOSE 50+ AND THOSE AT THE HIGHEST RISK FOR FLU COMPLICATIONS. Learn more about the FLUSHOTFRIDAYS campaign here . Despite the low incidence of influenza last season, we know that the flu ...

Nurse uses a plant-based diet and daily exercise to set an example Every nurse is a personal example to their patients, whether they want to be or not. That’s one of the motivators for Lataya De Jesus, BSN, DNPS, as she pursues healthy lifestyle choices every day. A relationship with God, nutrition, physical activity, and sleep form the foundation of ...

Organization promotes healthy living through lifestyle medicine events and resources We are pleased to shine the spotlight on the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) , an exceptional Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™ (HNHN) Champion. If there is one organization that wholeheartedly supports healthy lifestyle behaviors as the number one ...

Using HNHN as its guide and inspiration, Corporate SEHA Nursing well-being committees improve the lives of its nurses every day. We are pleased to shine the spotlight on the SEHA Nursing Well-being Committee, a part of SEHA Corporate Nursing health and wellness program , an exceptional Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™ Champion. “Your health first.” ...

Did you know your muscles and kidneys are 79% water? Your skin is 64% water, and 83% of your lungs are made of water, says the USGS Water Science School . You are what you drink — or at least that’s kind of the case with water. But when the blazing hot summer months hit (like now), it can be difficult to drink enough fluids. Are you giving your body the hydration it ...

It’s not unusual for any new employee to feel anxious in their first few months of work, and nurses are no exception. Becoming a nurse and starting your first official nursing job is thrilling, but also overwhelming. Starting your nursing career in the middle of a pandemic has made the experience even more complex. Fortunately, there are things all ...

By Alison Cuccia My dad was a runner. He ran cross country in high school and ran throughout his entire adult life. He was the dad who always brought sneakers on our family vacations so that he could sneak in a run here and there. He wasn’t necessarily competitive about it, he just purely enjoyed it.     As a kid this made absolutely no sense ...

Times are stressful (to say the least) during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many routine tasks have gotten pushed to the backburner. Nurses are working even longer hours under excruciatingly stressful circumstances. At home, many nurses also have to deal with virtual schooling or daycare closings for their kids. Loved ones who once worked outside of ...

How one nurse’s passion for wellness emphasizes immune health Health and wellness go beyond what’s seen on the surface. They’re about what’s happening on the inside, too. That’s one fact that Dr. Sue Ferguson prioritizes. Wellness is her passion, and she keeps in mind the importance of exercising regularly and eating healthy. But she considers both ...

Nursing association listens to its employees then responds with a fitness-based wellness program, mental health and stress resources — and financial wellness offerings We are pleased to shine the spotlight on the American Nurses Association (ANA) Enterprise , an exceptional Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™ Champion. The COVID-19 pandemic ...