HUDDLE

Good Morning, Readers!

On this day in 1992, Dr. Mae C. Jemison, a physician, engineer, and NASA astronaut, became the first African American woman to travel into space. During her 190 hours in space, Jemison conducted various scientific experiments, focusing on the effects of weightlessness and motion sickness. These discoveries contributed to the understanding of human physiology in space.

Today's Top Beats

🏥 Transplant Milestone
📚 New Medical Term

❌ Medical Gaslighting

HANDOFF

On a Mission

The assignment was only six weeks long, but Willy Massay “will never be the same man again.” The ICU nurse from Omaha, Nebraska spoke recently about working on a medical mission with four other American medical professionals in Gaza through the organization Rahma Worldwide. After serving at two hospitals there, the experience has led him to help fundraise for HEAL Palestine. Interested in your own medical mission somewhere? Read more about finding and preparing for them.

A Transplant Milestone

The nation’s first full face transplant occurred in 2011, and now, a little over a decade later, doctors at NYU Langone Health announced the world’s first successful face transplant with a whole eye. The JAMA study reports that the recipient, Aaron James, cannot see out of the eye, but it’s alive and receiving blood flow. Check out the photos and the father’s incredible story.

New Medical Term

It can cause bloating, pain, gurgling sounds in the neck and chest, and… well, a lot of farting. What’s this condition you’ve probably never heard of? The new medical name is retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction—but that’s just a fancy name for “I can’t burp.” And now thousands of people are taking to Reddit to proudly share their newfound ability to burp after receiving treatment for the condition. Read how a rapidly growing subreddit is helping people who can’t burp.

TOGETHER WITH VIRTUAL NURSING ACADEMY

Advancing Nursing Education Together

The Association for Nursing Professional Development (ANPD) and Virtual Nursing Academy (VNA) are proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership to co-create a comprehensive, transformative virtual nursing care delivery course designed to elevate nursing education and professional practice. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in providing accessible, high-quality education for nurses across the globe.  

As virtual nurses are integrated into the healthcare landscape at a rapid pace, nursing professional development (NPD) practitioners are in the unique position to equip virtual nurses and staff with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to advance healthcare. This co-created course between the VNA and the ANPD will examine the role of NPD practitioners to successfully implement virtual nurses into practice models. These models aim to address workforce challenges, enhance care efficiency, and improve patient outcomes. 

The co-created course is projected to be ready in late 2024. For more information about this partnership and the educational opportunities available, please visit Association for Nursing Professional Development and Virtual Nursing Academy.

Join the Virtual Nursing Academy and be a part of the revolution in nursing care! Sign up for an informational Virtual Nurse Meet Up on November 5th to learn more or enroll in the Virtual Nursing Academy today and use discount code TNB for a $200 discount on enrollment for the next Virtual Nursing Academy starting on October 1, 2024. Participants will earn 33.75 CEs when they complete the program.

TODAY'S TOP VITAL

61%

The proportion of U.S. teenagers aged 17 and younger who have been fully vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes six types of cancer. The two-shot regimen prevents 90% of HPV-caused cancer.

PRN

CARING COLLECTIVELY WITH TOGATHER

Nurses and Medical Gaslighting

Medical Gaslighting is the dismissing or downplaying of patient symptoms, and it disproportionately impacts women,BIPOC,and LGBTQ+ patients. While discussions of gaslighting in the medical setting often involve physicians, nurses are not immune to this practice. 

Consider the example of Serena Williams. While world-famous, she was nearly dismissed to death after childbirth. Serena was experiencing blood clots in her lungs after the birth of her daughter and she tried to advocate for further assessment. The nurse's response? "I think all this medicine is making you talk crazy."

So, why does medical gaslighting happen? Systemic biases, rushed decisions, cultural norms, and peer or leadership modeling of gaslighting can all play a role. But it doesn’t have to be this way. 

To prevent medical gaslighting as a nurse, you should:

1. Listen actively. 

2. Challenge assumptions. 

3. Advocate. 

Remember, you don’t have to do it alone. Check out resources like this one to help support your next steps or connect with mentors who will help you hone your advocating skills.

Did you miss our last newsletter? Click here.

ASSESSMENT

Medical Product Safety Survey

Here at TNB, our mission is clear: to empower nurses and drive positive change in healthcare. We're conducting an important survey on the safety of medical products used in healthcare settings. All RNs, LVNs, and APPs are invited to participate.

Four lucky participants will be entered to win a $250 American Express gift card!

SUPPLY ROOM

Budget Skin Care

Did you know Trader Joe’s makes dupes of expensive skin care brands on a budget? Not convinced? Look at this dermatologist's honest review.

BREAK ROOM

What would an ED Nurse Do?

ED nurses see many traumatic patient cases and are at risk for secondary traumatic stress. Watch what these emergency nurses would not do based on their experiences—and if you are in need of mental health support, check out these resources.

DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS

Share your unique link below 👇 via text, email, or snail mail and share it with your besties! The more friends you refer, the more swag you earn!

HEALTHCARE STARTS WITH YOU. THIS IS YOUR BEAT.

Get your brand in front of healthcare's leading changemakers.