Good Morning, Readers!

In healthcare, some of the biggest risks are the ones we can’t see—and often don’t even know to look for. Today, we’re taking a closer look at what’s in your IV bags and tubing, and how companies like B. Braun are rethinking what safe, effective care really looks like. Because when it comes to patient care, even the smallest details can make the biggest difference.

Today's Top Beats

🦕 Dinosaur Time
💸 $1 Billion
🧦 Sole Mates

Care Fiercely,
Raquél Pérez
Chief Operating Officer

HANDOFF

It’s Dinosaur Time

If you’ve little time to eat, activate “Dinosaur Time”—just grab raw handfuls of nutrient-dense leafy greens and chomp on them like your favorite herbivorous dinosaur. Started by Amy Garrett, a mom and former teacher, this viral TikTok trend offers a fun way to help you reach that recommended 2–4 cups of veggies daily, which only 1 in 10 Americans meet. Just don’t treat it as a substitute for full meals.

Mental Health Workers on Hunger Strike

After striking for nearly 6 months with no end in sight, LA Kaiser Permanente mental health workers took things to the next level—with a hunger strike. Demanding better pay, benefits, and working conditions, the eight therapists, sustained on an electrolyte-drink diet, drew support from unions and public figures like musician Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine. Echoing California’s tradition of hunger strikes as a form of activism, the protest highlights broader issues of mental health parity in the nation.

Walking Off Sugar Spikes

Walking offers a great way to lose weight, but it can also stave off diabetes by regulating blood sugar. New research shows that walking for just 5 minutes for every 30 minutes of sitting—taking an “exercise snack"—can reduce blood sugar spikes by up to 58%. How? By activating skeletal muscles and improving insulin sensitivity. Experts say walking, especially after meals, is an easy and effective way to support energy, mood, and overall health.

TOGETHER WITH B. BRAUN

The Risks of Toxic Chemicals in IV Bags

As nurses, we always want what is best for our patients. However, a recent survey by The Nursing Beat revealed that over 70% of healthcare professionals lack awareness about Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), common components of IV bags and tubing.

DEHP is a documented toxicant and carcinogen, and despite over 40% of the 500+ respondents having over 20 years of healthcare experience, nearly three-fourths of those surveyed were unaware of DEHP’s presence in IV bags, or its risks.

A new law in California aims to ban DEHP-containing products in the healthcare setting. B. Braun, the first medical device manufacturer to remove DEHP from many of its products, supported this legislation, striving to protect patients from exposure to this harmful chemical during IV therapy.

TODAY'S TOP VITAL

$1 Billion

The amount the US has promised to fight bird flu. Click here to learn more about the plan.

PRN

THE BREAK ROOM WITH SELF-CARE CATALYST

Show Up for Yourself in Survival Mode

Are you in survival mode right now? Do you feel like you are giving everything to your patients, and at the end of the day you feel drained…and there’s nothing left for you? I get it. I’ve felt the numbness, the apathy, the exhaustion that makes even basic self-care feel impossible. Like a HUGE hurdle. Where do you start?

Showing up for yourself doesn’t have to be big, time-consuming, or overwhelming. Small, simple actions can be a catalyst to feeling more like you again. Try just one TINY thing today:

🔺 Smile—even if it’s forced, your brain will follow.
🔺 Drink water and take a deep breath.
🔺 Eat lunch (yes, an actual meal).
🔺 Play your favorite song on the way home.
🔺 Look in the mirror and say, “You’re doing great, beautiful.”
🔺 Ask yourself, “What do I need right now?”

It doesn’t take much—just a little self-love and action. You deserve that. ❤️

Self-Care Catalyst helps healthcare professionals optimize their wellbeing and eliminate burnout through mentorship, education, and community. Connect here!

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