3.5 minute read

HUDDLE

Good Morning, Readers

Juneteenth holds a special significance, marking the end of slavery in the United States. Here are four accounts from nurses about what this day means to them, their reflections on its impact, and how they choose to celebrate this pivotal moment in African American history.

Today's Top Beats

🫥 Nursing’s Hidden Figures
🧰 Diversity Toolkits
🩺 Mary Mahoney

HANDOFF

Hidden Figures

The 2016 film Hidden Figures illuminated the contributions of female African-American mathematicians in NASA’s early days, but we could just as easily have an entire series about the hidden figures of nursing. Check out this powerful poem about these “original Black healers who cared for the sick across racial and social divides.” Before jumping into that, you may want to get the backstory on some of the “Black Angels” mentioned in the poem here.

TB Black Angels

Speaking of Black Angels, are you familiar with the mid-20th century Black nurses who cared for tuberculosis patients after their white counterparts abandoned Sea View Hospital on Staten Island? The hospital recruited some 300 Black nurses, many of whom were lured in by the promise of a fair wage during a time when most hospitals shunned Black nurses. Sea View conducted the first trials of the TB drug isoniazid, and these heroes were critical to understanding its efficacy. It’s no wonder then that they’ve been immortalized with a book, exhibition, and mural.  

Anti-Racism Resources

Nearly half of all nurses report experiencing racism in the workplace, primarily from colleagues and those in positions of power, highlighting how important it is to advocate for health equity as a nurse both within healthcare settings and in the broader community. There are many anti-racism resources for nurses, including unconscious bias training and journal articles offering practical strategies to overcome racial bias in your work, diversity toolkits, and a host of videos, books, and podcasts. 

TODAY'S TOP VITAL

1879

The year Mary Mahoney became the first Black woman to complete nurse’s training in the United States. Click here to learn more about her and her historical connection to women’s suffrage.

PRN

THE BREAK ROOM WITH SELF-CARE CATALYST

Why Do We Procrastinate?

4 reasons you’re putting that task off “until tomorrow:”

Fear of Failure: One of the biggest reasons we procrastinate is the fear of not meeting expectations or failing at a task (This you? You are NOT alone!). This can lead to us avoiding things to protect ourselves from a hypothetical threat or judgment.

Perfectionism: Striving for perfection can, oddly enough, lead to procrastination. You’d think it would do the opposite, but when you set excessively high standards for yourself, you may delay starting/completing tasks because you fear you won't excel.

Decision Fatigue: The constant need to make decisions throughout the day = depleted mental energy. When you’re faced with too many decisions, you may experience decision fatigue, which can lead to procrastination which = avoiding more decisions.

Overwhelm and Burnout: Juggling multiple complex tasks & overcommitting makes it difficult to prioritize and take action. We procrastinate as we struggle to manage our workload and overwhelm.

Did you miss our last newsletter? Click here.

TODAY IN THE CHART

SUPPLY ROOM

Badge Reel Boost

This badge reel can serve as a good reminder for both yourself and your patients.

BREAK ROOM

Juneteenth Origin Story

Juneteenth was made a federal holiday in 2021, but its origins stretch back to 1865, when it was first observed in Galveston, Texas, as the African American Emancipation Day. Learn its history here.

DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS

Click here to see TNB’s newest addition to our rockstar advisory board.

HEALTHCARE STARTS WITH YOU. THIS IS YOUR BEAT.

Get your brand in front of healthcare's leading changemakers.