Monday | April 3, 2023

Healthcare starts with you. This is your beat.

Happy Monday, Readers!

At The Nursing Beat (TNB), we value your opinion. Today, our friends at connectRN have a few questions for you in exchange for some free coffee from Starbucks! Click on the survey link here. 

Stay safe. Be healthy. Be kind. 

Tamara AL-Yassin (aka Nurse T)

CEO | The Nursing Beat 

connectRN invites you to participate in a brief survey to help them name a new product! As a token of appreciation, the first 150 respondents will receive a
$5 Starbucks gift card!

TODAY ON TNB'S BLOG:
PATIENTS CAN'T WAIT: NURSES RALLY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TO PROTECT STAFFING RATIOS

MORNING BRIEF 🍳 ☕️

Alabama Nurse Loses Second Appeal for Murdering Husband With Insulin

In September 2018, the body of James “Jim” Cappello was found in his home two days after his family reported him missing. An investigation concluded that he died of insulin poisoning despite not being diabetic. His wife, former Huntsville, Alabama nurse, Marjorie “Nikki” Cappello, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison in July 2022. Cappello has now lost her second appeal.  

In both the first and second appeals, Cappello’s lawyers argued that the prosecution failed to submit sufficient evidence, which the judge denied. During her initial trial, the prosecution presented evidence, including a muddy shovel, muddy women’s shoes, a shallow grave in the backyard, and vials of insulin Cappello stole from work. A friend of Cappello’s also testified that the former nurse confessed to killing him with insulin and placing his body in the garage. 

Scientists Identify Possible Culprit in Mysterious Hepatitis Outbreak

Worldwide, there have been about 1,000 cases of unexplained, severe hepatitis in children since late 2021, according to the World Health Organization. Researchers have finally found the virus that may be behind the hepatitis: adeno-associated virus 2, or AAV2. Though AAV2 was not previously known to cause illness, researchers detected it in 93% of cases investigated, according to the study. And it appears AAV2 didn’t act alone, requiring multiple “helper” viruses to get into cells. 

The study analyzed blood, stool, and liver biopsies of 16 US children with severe hepatitis. They found evidence of infections of at least three viruses at the same time in three-fourths of the cases. However, in about a third of patients, they found four viruses. Some of these viruses included adenovirus type 41 (previously identified as a potential culprit), a herpes virus, an enterovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus.

US Government Sues Advanced Care Staffing 

The US Department of Labor filed a complaint against the nurse staffing company Advanced Care Staffing and its CEO. The issue: ACS, the labor department argues, illegally requires employees to repay earned wages if they quit before working for the company for three years. If employees quit early, they are forced into private arbitration, which would also require them to cover ACS’ future profits, attorneys’ fees, and arbitration costs. 

“These demands would lead to employees being paid less than the federal minimum wage,” the labor department said in a blog post. “We are seeking an injunction against this grossly illegal conduct, as well as back wages and liquidated damages for the affected employees.” The lawsuit also brings up the case of a Filipino immigrant nurse who had filed a lawsuit against ACS after they quit within three months, and ACS wanted to force him into arbitration. 

COMMUNITY PICKS 🌼 

If you’re as pen-addicted as we are here at TNB, you’ll love these six-color retractable pens. These are perfect for just about anything you need; report sheets, patient info, or even jotting down a coupon code for Doordash.

🧑‍💻 THAT REMOTE LIFE powered by

Remote Nurse Job Spotlight: Legal Nurse Consultant (LNC)

A legal nurse consultant (LNC) uses their nursing knowledge and clinical experience to provide expert insight into legal cases involving healthcare issues. Legal nurse consulting is a great career choice for nurses who want to be their own boss, as most LNCs work as independent contractors. This allows LNCs to set their own hours and choose their clients. Like freelance health and medical writing, this is an excellent career choice for nurses who enjoy running their businesses. 

There are many benefits to working as an LNC, particularly for those who want more control over their careers and who enjoy entrepreneurial work. Benefits include:

• Flexibility to work when you want, take breaks for family or other responsibilities as needed

• Autonomy 

• Work from home

To see the complete list of pros and cons, click here.

Ready to find your remote nursing role? Nurse Fern caters to remote job postings to nurses leaving the bedside. Check out our daily remote nurse job postings on Nurse Fern.

🧭 MAP OF THE MODERN NURSE powered by

How Affirmations Reprogram Your Subconscious Mind

Affirmations are short, positive, and empowering statements, you repeat to yourself with intentionality and focus. Affirmations are for people looking to:

• Become more confident in themselves

• Grow their sense of self-love

• Experience a greater sense of compassion 

• Enhance the feeling of gratitude

Affirmations are an effective form of cognitive restructuring - they teach your subconscious mind how you want to think through repetition. Every thought strengthens the circuitry and neural pathways in your brain. Science and self-affirmation theory shows thatreading and repeating affirmations daily reprograms your subconscious mind; we know this is possible because of neuroplasticity. 

This month DTFL celebrates three years of the Daily Communication Initiative! That’s 681,090 messages sent to nurses across the United States and Canada! In celebration, we are giving you a one-year subscription. Join the 323 nurses receiving daily pre-shift affirmations!

Debriefing the Front Lines is a nurse-led nonprofit organization offering structured debriefing and emotional wellness offerings by board-certified nurse coaches (NC-BC) and monthly CE workshops to nurses working at the bedside and beyond.

DAILY DIVERSION 💊

Peanuts and nuts are widely known to be a healthy snack and part of a healthy diet. But do those benefits extend to peanut butter? Find out more here. 

🤯 ONE BIG NUMBER

Thanks for reading! 🤓