HUDDLE
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Happy FriYAY Readers, |
The internet has been flooded by the viral sleepy girl mocktail recipe that consists of ingredients like magnesium to promote sleep. One ingredient that surprised me was cherry juice and its effects on getting your Zzz’s. Does cherry juice really promote sleep? Can any dietitians or experts out there debunk this mystery before I run to TJ’s🏃♀️?
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Today's Top Beats |
🤖 AI for Mammograms
🪖 VA Failing Veterans
💰 Opportunity Cost for Nurses
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HANDOFF
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Struggling to Provide Care |
Small clinics are struggling to provide gender-affirming care to minors thanks to rising malpractice premiums, according to KFF. An LGBTQ+ clinic in Illinois sought to provide such services after neighboring Iowa banned the necessary treatment for minors, but more than a dozen insurers declined coverage due to increased legislative
scrutiny. While some states have enacted laws preventing insurers from treating gender-affirming care differently, others, like Arkansas and Tennessee, have amended malpractice provisions, limiting access to such treatments.
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AI for Mammograms? |
For $40, some clinics offer an AI mammogram analysis, but is it worth it? Potential benefits include improved detection of suspicious breast masses and earlier diagnoses, with studies showing AI improved doctors’ performances in reading mammograms. But questions abound about the necessity and accuracy of regular mammograms, the absence of insurance
coverage (and the inequity that arises when patients have to pay for the service), and the evolving role of AI in breast cancer detection. Much of the research on the topic was done in Europe, which doesn’t necessarily reflect the American population.
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ProPublica: VA Fails Veterans |
A massive investigation from ProPublica revealed systemic failures in the Department of Veterans Affairs’ mental healthcare system. Independent inspectors found widespread lapses, including inadequate screenings, neglectful follow-ups, and staffing shortages. In multiple cases, veterans with suicidal thoughts were insufficiently
monitored, discharged against medical advice, or received substandard care, leading to tragic outcomes. The VA’s persistent challenges emphasize the need for urgent reform to address deficiencies in the extensive network of healthcare facilities.
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TODAY'S TOP VITAL
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100 |
New analyses suggest the issue of plastic in bottled water is 10–100 times worse than previously thought. The study found an average of 240,000 particles of plastic per liter, 90 percent of which were nanoplastics.
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PRN
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FINANCE FRIDAY WITH NETWORTH NURSE
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Opportunity Costs for Nurses |
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The decisions we make as nurses have mental, physical and financial consequences! “Opportunity Cost” is defined by Investopedia as the potential benefits that we miss out on when choosing one alternative over another. In the book “Set For Life”, Scott Trench says it’s simply the cost of not doing something, or the cost of inaction.
Here are some decisions you’ve likely encountered at some point, or are working through now -
Travel nursing vs. remote nursing
Staying bedside vs. going back to school
Starting a side hustle vs. picking up extra shifts
Reaching out to mentors vs. staying advice from same circle
In making these decisions, always take time to evaluate the short, medium and long term opportunity costs of taking action vs. not taking action. I think you’ll find that the more action you take, the more growth, income and happiness you’ll find. Especially when aligned with your goals!
See pages 4-7 in this download for more!
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Nurses, Doctors Have Different Views on Workplace Safety, Risks to Patients |
Hospitals need to promote occupational safety but doing so involves the cooperation of all the healthcare professionals on staff. But a new study suggests doctors and nurses don’t always see eye-to-eye.
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SUPPLY ROOM
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Keeping Things Handy |
We know you’ll love this water-repellent belt bag to keep all your essentials handy throughout your shift.
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BREAK ROOM
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Happy Foodie Friday! |
Do you love tacos as much as we do? Check out these three taco recipes done three different ways. Which one would you try?
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DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS
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We’ve all said it before: “I’m just a nurse,” and we often downplay our roles. Check out what Nurse Sam has to say about honoring and taking pride in our titles, here! |
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