HUDDLE

Happy Wednesday, Readers!

Recently, most of the nation has been swathed with winter storms and subzero temperatures on top of mountains of snow. While most of us have huddled inside to keep warm, we couldn’t help but wonder if any of you have taken up some time outdoors sledding, skiing, snowboarding, or even building snowmen! Send us your snaps of your winter adventures here! We’d love to see them! ☃️

Today's Top Beats

🌵 Closures = Deserts
🇦🇺 Australia’s National Plan
🤯 Childhood Trauma and Nursing Link

Photo by: Annelise Capossela/Axios

HANDOFF

Closures = Deserts

Maternity ward closures are on the rise in the US. In California alone, 11 hospitals shut down labor and delivery departments in 2023, and at least 46 closures have occurred since 2012, disproportionately affecting low-income and Latino communities. Meanwhile, National Nurses United accused Ascension of using its market dominance to consolidate labor and delivery units, leading to the creation of obstetric healthcare deserts. Ascension cut 26% of its labor and delivery units over the past decade, especially in metro areas affecting low-income, Black, and Latino patients, NNU found.

Let’s Follow in Australia’s Footsteps

Australia has become a global leader in stillbirth prevention, a stark contrast to the US. In 2020, Australia implemented a comprehensive national plan that brings together healthcare providers, advocacy groups, and government officials, among others. Accompanying this plan is the Safer Baby Bundle strategy, which includes helping pregnant women quit smoking and other evidence-based priorities. The US lacks a national plan and public awareness campaign and doesn’t prioritize stillbirth as a critical public health issue, according to ProPublica.

Fighting for Reinstatement

Nine healthcare workers, including four registered nurses, seek reinstatement after being fired from Prime Healthcare's St. Francis Medical Center in California. They were terminated for allegedly trespassing during a rally on concerns of understaffing and patient safety. The so-called Prime 9 hoped to garner support from the Lynwood City Council, but St. Francis defended the firings, citing policy violations. NNU has filed complaints of retaliation with the National Labor Relations Board. 

TODAY'S TOP VITAL

10,000

The number of jobs that small and mid-sized drugmakers cut in 2023.

PRN

MAP OF THE MODERN NURSE WITH DEBRIEFING THE FRONT LINES

The Link Between Childhood Trauma + Nursing 

When you spend your childhood in survival mode, you seek what you know to feel safe. This occurs in the subconscious (below your level of awareness) and to no fault of your own. Inside this safety lives our conditioned mind patterns. And inside these mind patterns are your limiting beliefs. 

Through our work, Debriefing the Front Lines, we have seen an undeniable link between childhood trauma and the choice to enter the nursing profession, more specifically, acute care specialties. 

The title most likely caught your attention because you seek clarity, comfort, or validation, some form of healing. Healing is your willingness to be vulnerable in a seeking state.

Questions for reflection:

• What are you seeking? 

• Does it still serve you?

• Do you enjoy your current role, or is your nervous system conditioned only to feel safe and calm when surrounded by chaos?

TODAY IN THE CHART

SUPPLY ROOM

Ew, David!

Cell phones have ten times as much bacteria as toilet seats. Sanitize yours with a UVC sanitizer that charges at the same time!

BREAK ROOM

Sounds Like Strep!

Have you heard your friends and family describe mild symptoms, and your mind immediately goes to the worst possible diagnosis? Turn that nursing brain to your advantage with this fun game!

DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS

Unfortunately, racism is still present in healthcare. Tomorrow, Sarah from New Thing Nurse offers us ways to combat it when we see it in our practices.

Healthcare starts with you. This is your beat.

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