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☀️ Happy Wednesday, Readers!
We’re hosting Mad Libs: Nurse Edition this morning! 😎 As nurses, our bodies undergo a great deal of physical pain, strain, and stress over a 12-hour shift, but describing these feelings can be difficult to relay to those not in healthcare. So we want to hear from you about how you would relay the demands of a nursing job to the general public. We’re asking because we’re cooking up something special for you coming around Nurses Week! If your answer is chosen, you’ll receive a $25 Starbucks gift card! ☕
Stay curious!
Hannah B. (aka Nurse Hans)
Chief Ops Guru
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Two-Month Kaiser Strike on Maui, Hawaiʻi Ends
United Public Workers members from Maui Health’s Maui Memorial Medical Center, Kula Hospital, and Lanai Community Hospital have been on strike since February 22nd. Maui Health is affiliated with Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente. The union, representing some 500 healthcare workers at the facilities, has now approved a new contract, ending the strike.
Union members, which include nurses, aides, respiratory therapists, housekeepers, cooks, and other workers, had been working under an extended contract since June 30th, 2022. Some argued that they received lower pay than new hires, while others wanted to end workers doing 16-hour shifts two to three days in a row. They ended their strike after 87% of voting members voted in favor of the new three-year agreement. The new contract includes pay-scale adjustments, at least a 10.5% wage increase, and a lump sum payment.
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Michigan Billerud Paper Mill Associated With Large Outbreak of Blastomycosis
More than 90 people have been potentially affected by a large outbreak of the fungal infection blastomycosis tied to the Billerud Paper Mill in Escanaba, Michigan. This includes 19 confirmed cases and 74 probable cases (they tested positive with an antigen or antibody test), according to Public Health, Delta & Menominee Counties. This appears to be the largest blastomycosis outbreak ever reported, with the previous record of 55 people occurring during a 2013 Wisconsin outbreak.
The source of the current outbreak is not yet known, but the paper mill stresses that it is implementing numerous steps to protect people’s lives. This includes retaining an industrial hygienist, deep cleaning high-traffic areas of the mill, maintaining ventilation systems, and testing materials that come into the mill
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Hospitals Are Cutting Inpatient Care
Between costs and staffing concerns, there are many reasons hospitals decide to scale back or cut inpatient services. Becker’s Hospital Review has compiled a list of 22 hospitals across the US that have ended or plan to cut inpatient services over the last year. Here are a few of them.
In La Grange, Texas, St. Mark’s Medical Center is cutting nearly half its staff and various services, including inpatient and surgical services, speech therapy, and ambulatory care. In Statesville, North Carolina, Davis Regional Medical stopped acute inpatient care and most other patient services, transitioning instead to an inpatient behavioral care specialty hospital. Tufts Children’s Hospital in Boston closed its pediatric inpatient units, converting beds into adult ICUs and medical/surgical beds. And California’s Madera Community Hospital closed after Trinity Health’s plan to buy the hospital fell through.
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COMMUNITY PICKS 🌼
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Craving a waffle, but don’t feel like dragging out the giant waffle maker? Check out this mini waffle maker, perfect for making single waffles, hash browns, and even chaffles in a flash!
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☕️ THE BREAK ROOM powered by
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Three Questions to Ask Yourself Every Morning
I challenge you every morning this week to ask yourself:
🌟 “What do I want to feel today?” (Not sure? Google “feelings wheel” and see what appeals.)
🌟 “What can I do for myself today to get to that feeling?” (Take a few minutes to think about it and be intentional about giving yourself this attention)
Then lastly, ask:
🌟 “What is step one to get there?”
The key is to take action by:
🔹 Making yourself a priority
🔹 Prioritizing your own needs
🔹 Making space in your life for yourself
🔹 Scheduling time for yourself (Get an accountability buddy or break it into small chunks!)
You are worthy of whatever feeling you desire. You get to choose how your day goes before the day decides for you.
Need help with your morning routines? Don’t worry; I always have a free resource for you! Go here to snag my morning routine overhaul guide and start taking your power back! See you on the Gram! @catalystforselfcare
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DAILY DIVERSION 💊
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Do you enjoy Buffalo Wild Wings Boneless Wings? Watch out! What you’re getting from the chicken chain is chicken nuggets, at least that’s according to a new class-action lawsuit alleging false advertising. What you might expect to be deboned chicken wings are, in fact, slices of deep-fried chicken breast meat, the lawsuit claims. In a sarcastic retort on Twitter, the company said, “Our buffalo wings are 0% buffalo.”
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🤯 ONE BIG NUMBER
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450
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Catherine Shannon Dunton, who worked as a circulating nurse at an outpatient surgical center in Florida, replaced the fentanyl from nearly 450 vials with saline solution before returning them for use during outpatient surgical procedures. She reportedly was self-administering the fentanyl by injection and has pleaded guilty to the switch. Find out how much time she faces in prison and how much in fines she may have to pay here.
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Mad Lib: Nurse Edition
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