3.5 minute read

HUDDLE

Hey-O Nursing Beat Friends!

It’s time for another round of Mystery Diagnosis Monday! This one is going to be tricky. 

🤔 This disease has three different recognized subdivisions; acquired, congenital, and post-perfusion. 

🤔 This disease is caused by “salivary gland viruses” and can be kept from progressing by the medications, ganciclovir and foscarnet. 

🤔 This disease is very closely related to herpes virus infections.

Think you know the answer? Check here to see if you’re right!

Today's Top Beats

🚪 The Closet’s Toll 
🍺 Auto-Brewery
🩻 Extra Scans Needed

HANDOFF

The Closet’s Toll

Research from the Nurses’ Health Study II suggests a significant toll exists for female nurses hiding their sexual orientation: early death. Even after controlling for smoking risk, researchers found that lesbian and bisexual women had a higher risk of dying earlier — especially from cancer, heart disease, respiratory diseases, and suicide — than their heterosexual counterparts. Notably, the study population primarily consisted of white female nurses with high health literacy and socioeconomic status, potentially underestimating the true disparity in the general population.

Auto-Brewery

Did you know that some people can make beer in their bodies, and no effort is necessary? The New York Times recently highlighted the rare auto-brewery syndrome, in which people's guts ferment carbohydrates into alcohol, including the case of a Belgian man who was acquitted after being charged with drunken driving. Research suggests many more cases of the rare condition may go undetected. 

Extra Scans Needed

Catching tumors in dense breast tissue often requires additional breast cancer scans using MRI or ultrasound. Yet, Medicare doesn’t cover these vital tests, leaving some older women with hefty, unexpected bills. Complicating matters, women with dense breasts have a higher risk of cancer, making these additional scans all the more necessary. Some legislators are pushing to mandate insurance coverage for all breast cancer screening methods.

TODAY'S TOP VITAL

20%

One in five samples of pasteurized milk the FDA recently tested contained bird flu virus fragments. As of last Thursday, bird flu had been detected in 33 bovine herds. Find out which states are affected here.

PRN

THAT REMOTE LIFE WITH NURSE FERN

A Digital Diversion

After a night shift in the ICU, Lauren Douglass, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, didn’t change out of her scrubs. She was gaining momentum on her passion project. She had been making illustrated nursing notes for years but never thought they were for anyone else’s eyes except maybe a coworker or two. 

Wanting to get started right away, she needed a name for her new Etsy shop. “I can just change the name later. It doesn’t have to be that serious,” she told herself. Then, I came up with the name ScrubLifeNotes. I was wearing scrubs, and I thought, ‘This is my life,’ and ‘These are my notes,’” she jokes. The name stuck, and the notes took off.

Check out the full article here to learn how Douglass started her digital product business and her advice for up-and-coming nurse entrepreneurs. 

*Written by our amazing freelance writer, Payton Sy.

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TODAY IN THE CHART

BULLETIN BOARD

SUPPLY ROOM 

Keep it Cute

Ensure your notes and memos have a personalized touch with this adorable nurse stationary set.

BREAK ROOM

Using the Skills Set

The nursing profession can give us useful skills that can be applied in unexpected ways beyond the job. Watch how this nurse applies his skills for this particular patient!

DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS

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