3.5 minute read

HUDDLE

Good Morning from Austin!

This week, we are in Texas covering press for the health tech track at the SXSW conference. It is really important for our profession to put ourselves at tables where we have been absent and attend conferences where the nursing voice has historically not been present. Are you in Austin? We would love to meet you! Email us here.

Today's Top Beats

🗳️ A Reason to Vote
💀 Overtime is a Killer

💸 America’s New Underclass

HANDOFF

A Reason To Vote

Nursing is a physically dangerous career, but lawmakers in Minnesota are looking for ways to make it less dangerous. A new bill, HF4200, in the Minnesota House of Representatives, would let nurses refuse to care for a patient who’s doing something unsafe or dangerous without penalty. They could also refuse to take on extra patients if they don’t think they can do so safely. The next step is for the bill to be heard in committee.

Obstructing Lifesaving Help

More than 109,000 people died of drug overdose in 2022, and nearly three in four of these deaths involved opioids. Yet the US isn’t using the best tools available to combat this epidemic, according to a new multi-part investigation at STAT. Those tools are methadone and buprenorphine. Even though these life-saving drugs are cheap and easy to distribute, “virtually every sector of American society is obstructing” their use, STAT  found. Part 2 of STAT’s investigation is coming on March 12.

America’s New Underclass

Not only are Americans drowning in medical debt, but those in the worst debt have the worst health as well. A new study found that medical debt is linked to poorer mental and physical health, more years of life lost, and a higher risk of death. The greater someone’s debt, the higher their risk of death. The study found that about one in five Americans had medical debt in collections. An editorial notes we have a new “underclass”—medical debtors.

TODAY'S TOP VITAL

$220 Billion

The total estimated amount of medical debt in the US.

TOGETHER WITH PRO COMPRESSION

Happy Feet, Happy Nurses

Being on your feet and walking miles a day during those 12+ hour shifts takes a toll on your body. Your heart works overtime to pump blood throughout your body. The result is sore feet and fatigued legs that last long after your shift.

PRO Compression socks are trusted by nurses worldwide to resolve such issues. The graduated compression boosts blood circulation to reduce soreness and fatigue and prevent venous issues. 

Experience PRO Compression socks yourself with this exclusive offer: Get 3 Pairs of knee-high compression socks for $60 (save $30!) with code NURSE60.

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PRN

YOUR NEW THING STRATEGY WITH NEW THING NURSE

Is Overtime a Killer?

Nursing is the ultimate career for working longer hours to work fewer days per week. This is a huge incentive for those looking to balance their career with family, travel, or the opportunity to work extra for additional income. But can overtime be a patient killer? 

In 2005, Rogers and their research team found an increased risk of errors associated with nurses working extended shifts, overtime, or longer than 40-hour work weeks. A notably higher error rate was seen during shifts longer than 12.5 hours. A 2010 study found that a factor contributing to a fatal medication error was nurse fatigue after working a double shift the day before. 

A nurse’s work focus is essential to safe patient care. With the nurse staffing crisis and asking to pick up extra shifts, consider how rested you feel before signing up for that OT.

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SUPPLY ROOM

Hablas Español?

These Spanish medical phrase badge cards (from the nurse-founded company Shift Change RN) are a great resource to help make communicating with your Spanish-speaking patients a little bit easier.. 

BREAK ROOM

Assessing Toe Beans

Famous Tiktok influencer and nurse, Miki Rai, recently welcomed a new family member with her doctor fiancé. If you need a laugh, watch how her fiancé performed a physical assessment on this tiny being!

DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS

Are you sick of the daily nursing grind and need a change? Check out how these twins changed their work lives and traveled the world!

HEALTHCARE STARTS WITH YOU. THIS IS YOUR BEAT.

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