Safety

Why people are trying sobriety and what it’s doing for their health *** photo above is a mocktail (a shirley temple)

What is WPV? And how can a safety committee help?

By Stephanie Campbell, PhD, Senior Medical Director, Dynavax  

The American Red Cross collaborates with Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation and the American Nurses Association on many issues that directly affect nurses and public health.  Take time to peruse the below resources that the American Red Cross currently provides on emergency preparedness.

The following blog is from our colleagues at the CDC

It's challenging to find a nurse who hasn't been impacted by the nurse staffing crisis.  

Reprinted with permission from the American Nurses Association’s Policy and Government Affairs  

As we head into another cold and flu season, we’re also gearing up for immunizations — both for ourselves and our patients. As a nurse, you know you need a flu shot every year, but have you ever wondered where updated immunization recommendations come from?

Check out the news or social media, and you’ll see evidence of climate change causing extreme temperatures and adverse weather events. But climate change’s powerful impact on human health may not be so obvious — unless you work in health care.  

This fact sheet is brought to you by the Policy & Government Affairs department at the American Nurses Association - January 2023.

It’s no secret that screening can help find breast cancer at an early stage — when the chances for successfully treating the disease are the greatest. Unfortunately, those facts don’t always get passed on to patients, and many are reluctant to participate in breast cancer screening.  

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.

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 i nfection ...

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 ...

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 ...

DISCLAIMER: The content provided on this webpage is general in nature and does not constitute medical advice.  This webpage is for reference only.  Always consult with a qualified health care provider for any questions you may have regarding your health. Now more than ever, there’s a new level of respect for immunity. Your immune system is what keeps ...

(Editor's note:  this blog was published in 2020).

DISCLAIMER:   The content provided on this webpage is general in nature and does not constitute legal or medical advice.  This webpage is for reference only.   Laws vary by jurisdiction, locality, state, or country; please follow the laws of your specific jurisdiction and consult with an attorney if you have any questions regarding the laws of your ...

By Joelle T. Fathi, DNP, RN, ARNP, ANP-BC, CTTS, NCTTP Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has shone a spotlight on the egregious reality of risk and racial inequities, particularly in current and former smokers and has amplified the opportunity to address these racial inequities through effective treatment of tobacco use disorder and nicotine ...

HNHN's Strength through Resiliency Committee, via the behest of the American Nurses Association's 2019 Membership Assembly, examined, developed, and collected mental health resources for nurses, including those for suicide prevention.  The Strength through Resiliency Committee is comprised of a Work Group and Review Committee, co-chaired ...

By Nursing@Georgetown One in two women and one in three men have experienced sexual violence involving physical contact during their lifetimes,  according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (Editor's note: these stats were updated 12/7/22). This type of trauma necessitates urgent medical attention from trained sexual ...

By Elizabeth Monsees Nurses are natural partners in antibiotic stewardship efforts.  Aside from interacting with an array of disciplines and having the privilege to spend time with patients, our daily work promotes appropriate antibiotic use.   Nurses support the process of antibiotic optimization through a number of clinical practices such as: ...

How to prevent and handle 5 winter weather dangers. The approach of the holidays and the onset of winter bring a lot to look forward to. However, it’s important to be prepared safety-wise for colder weather. Although some winter injuries may involve bad luck (like a slip on ice), there are tactics you can use to keep yourself, your family, and your ...

It’s the holiday season. Time for family, friend, and co-worker get-togethers. Time for shopping wrapping, and giving gifts. Time for holiday traditions. Maybe there will be some traveling.  For many people, alcohol is a part of the holidays…a cup of eggnog at the company party, a glass of wine to relax after a long day of shopping, a new year’s toast ...

By Melissa Harvey, Director of the Hospital Preparedness Program  With the nation still recovering from Hurricane Florence and wildfires in the west, it is critical that the U.S. health care system be ready. Fortunately, The Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) prepares the health care system to save lives during emergencies and disasters. ...

Marilyn Pierce-Bulger, APRN, Owner/Manager, FASDx Services LLC and Board of Director member, Alaska Center for FASDs, Anchorage, AK Beth Kelsey, EdD, APRN, WHNP-BC, FAANP, Director of Publications, National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health Catherine Ruhl, MS, CNM, Director, Women’s Health Programs, Association of ...

Why distracted driving is a problem — and what you can do to prevent it.  

Cynthia Coleman, RN, and Donna M. Fountain, PhD, RN share their experiences of workplace violence against nurses.  

Use Your Role as a Nurse to Get Engaged in Your Community and Beyond. Three of ANA’s advocacy experts share their tips for getting involved, even when you’re crunched for time.  (Editor's note:  This blog was published in 2018.  Janet Haebler, John Richter, and Matthew Fittings are no longer with government affairs at ANA.)  

ANA’s Senior Policy Advisor Ruth Francis, MPH, MCHES, explains why nurse fatigue is a dangerous issue for nurses and what we can do about it.   

Preventing the spread of infection within a hospital takes a concerted team effort in which nurses are critical. “Nurses are at every level of patient care, whether within an institution, community, or home.  It’s the nurse who is the patient advocate, educator, and facilitator of care. They’re the individuals who are most likely to ensure patient ...

ANA’s Senior Policy Advisor, Sharon Morgan, explains the impact staffing has on nurse and patient safety.  

ANA’s Senior Policy Advisor Ruth Francis, MPH, MCHES, shares strategies for keeping nurses safe from sharps.  

Cynthia Clark, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN, explains how nurses can foster collegial relationships with one another, move past incivility and bullying, and promote healthy work environments.   

 Over the course of a year, 35,800 nurse workdays are lost due to musculoskeletal injury, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and according to Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation's HealthyNurse Survey , 31% of respondents felt they were at significant risk at their current employer for lifting/repositioning heavy objects, including patients. ...

Nurses understand the dangers of spending too much time in the sun and many of us practice sun safety measures to protect against skin cancer, but protecting against skin cancer is a topic that should stay top of mind. Check out these Sun Safety Tips for Nurses. According to American Nurses Association’s 2014 Health Risk Appraisal, 88 percent of us wear ...