HUDDLE
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Good Morning, Readers! |
Last week’s global technology outage affecting Microsoft systems sent many hospitals into a frenzy. I still remember the first time our computers stopped working at the hospital and the charge nurse pulled out the paper charting forms…dun dun dun! Needless to say, that was an interesting shift! 🙃 Let me know how you dealt with the outage here.
P.S. Don’t forget to fill out our nursing innovation survey for your chance to win one of three $100 Amex gift cards!
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Today's Top Beats |
🏥 Rady Children’s Strike
❤️🩹 Rejected Patients Investigation
💻 Technology Outage Stress
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HANDOFF |
Rady Nurses to Strike |
Nurses at Rady Children’s Hospital are set to strike for 2 days starting today due to failed negotiations over fair wages and benefits. The United Nurses of Children’s Hospital,
representing over 1,500 nurses, reported a 95% vote in favor of the strike, citing low wages, increased medical premiums, and high turnover affecting patient care. Despite the hospital’s $1.6 billion revenue in 2023, nurses feel undervalued and overburdened. Last week, the union rejected the hospital’s “best and final offer” during last-minute negotiations.
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Hospital Investigated for Rejecting Poor Patients |
New Mexico’s Attorney General Raúl Torrez is investigating Lifepoint Health’s Memorial Medical Center in Las Cruces following allegations that the hospital turned away low-income patients, demanded upfront payments, and denied care without screening for financial assistance. Torrez criticized the hospital’s management for prioritizing profit over patient care and warned
against retaliatory actions. Memorial Medical Center, surprised by the investigation, pledged cooperation. The probe ties into broader concerns about private equity’s impact on healthcare quality and costs.
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Glitch in the System |
A widespread technological outage caused by a malfunctioning software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike severely impacted hospitals and healthcare services globally. The issue, affecting Microsoft systems, led to hospital appointment delays, doctors unable to access patient records, and canceled non-emergency operations. Some major health systems affected include Duke Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Emergency services, such as 911 lines in Alaska and Ohio, were also affected. CrowdStrike confirmed the problem was a software glitch and provided a fix for customers.
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TODAY'S TOP VITAL
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20% |
The drop in ED patient mortality from sepsis at UC San Diego Health thanks to early detection from an AI algorithm. Click here to learn the various other ways the hospital is using AI to its benefit.
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PRN
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THAT REMOTE LIFE WITH NURSE FERN |
How One Nurse Transitioned from Bedside to Consulting |
How can we position ourselves as nurses to get non-traditional nursing roles? Lean into the value you already have as a nurse, Katie Spitler Bull, MSN, EdD, RN says.
She went from working as a bedside pediatric nurse to a role as a consultant for the largest medical device company in the world.
A few pieces of advice from Bull:
Get specific about which aspects of bedside nursing light your fire and make you feel passionate.
Understand your strengths and re-frame these as business skills. For example, you’re not just “suggesting new equipment”, you’re “consulting hospital leadership about new medical devices.” Everyday bedside tasks have real-world applicability.
Have a few peers or mentors who believe in the clinical expertise that you are able to bring to other businesses.
Want to learn more about Bull’s journey and how you can follow suit? Check out the article here.
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Ready for remote nursing? Check our daily remote nurse job postings for nurses leaving the bedside on Nurse Fern.
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Did you miss our last newsletter? Click here.
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Giveaway: An Elevated Networking Experience |
August 13, 2024 | San Francisco, CA
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Mingle with fellow nurses and cheer on the SF Giants! Enter to win two tickets to a special networking event with SafeSeizure and The Nursing Beat. Enjoy an exclusive gathering at the Cavaña rooftop, followed by watching the San Francisco Giants battle the Atlanta Braves.
Enter here to win a one of five pairs of tickets for you and a friend!
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SUPPLY ROOM |
It’s In The Bag |
Need a new work bag? This neoprene backpack from Dagne Dover is water-resistant, washable, and has plenty of pockets to keep you organized.
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BREAK ROOM |
Looking For Love |
PA student, Jennifer Tran, has returned from Joey’s season on The Bachelor as this year’s Bachelorette! If you love reality TV as much as we do, watch her season premiere on Hulu!
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