HUDDLE

Good Morning, Readers!

🤯 Can you guess how many newsletters in total The Nursing Beat sent in 2023? 

Find out how many here! 

This is truly a testament to you helping to grow and expand our community daily. So, thank you and I'm excited to see how many we will send in 2024!

Today's Top Beats

🔬 New Bacteria
🇺🇸 Healthiest States
❌ Burned Out Co-Workers

HANDOFF

New Bacteria on the Loose!

Researchers have identified over 30 new bacterial species, some of which can cause infections in people. They analyzed 61 unknown bacterial species in blood or tissue samples from a group of patients with diverse ailments — 35 were previously unknown (seven strains can cause human infections), and the remaining 26 were difficult to identify. Most newly identified species belong to the Corynebacterium and Schaalia genera, often underestimated due to their presence in the human skin microbiome. One of those was found in an inflamed thumb of a patient bitten by a dog, suggesting it’s a new pathogen, which they named Vandammella animalimorsus (animal bite Vandammella).

Medicaid for Gun Violence?

Several US states are using Medicaid funds to finance community-based programs addressing the surge in gun violence, which intensified during the pandemic. The states include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, New York, and Oregon. The Biden administration announced its plan to allow states to allocate federal Medicaid dollars for this purpose in 2021, given Congress’ inertia with controlling gun violence. While Medicaid funding has a prolonged bureaucratic process, it’s highly attractive to community groups relying on variable donations and grants.

Which States are the Healthiest?

Suppose you’re looking to relocate to a healthier state in 2024. In that case, Forbes says Hawaiʻi is where you want to be (however, please recognize and consider that native Hawaiians and longtime Hawai’i residents are being “priced out of paradise” by more affluent people from the US mainland). The rankings are based on 21 metrics across three major categories: disease risk factors and prevalence, substance abuse, lifestyle habits, and health outlook. The other top healthiest states include Utah, Connecticut, Minnesota, and Massachusetts. At the other end of the spectrum are five unhealthy Southern states: West Virginia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Kentucky.

TODAY'S TOP VITAL

33%

The reduction in sugary drink purchases in US cities that have implemented specific taxes on the products.

PRN

THE BREAK ROOM WITH SELF-CARE CATALYST

Burned Out Co-Workers

Feeling the burnout blues from non-stop complaining coworkers? Here are three game-changing strategies to protect your happiness and maintain your energy:

🚧 Boundaries Rule:

Protect your well-being with clear boundaries. Support others, but don't let their burnout consume you. It's okay to excuse yourself, communicate unavailability, or limit interactions with those who bring you down.

🗣️ Balanced Conversations:

If you have the bandwidth, steer discussions toward both challenges and successes. Encourage open dialogue, but stay attuned to your energy. Be a listening ear without shouldering others' burdens—empathy goes a long way.

🌈 Authentic Nontoxic Positivity:

Embrace authenticity. Share wins, highlight strengths, and focus on positive aspects while acknowledging and validating struggles. Real talk fosters genuine connections and empowers others to find solutions amid challenges.

In the face of workplace burnout, these strategies ensure you navigate with resilience and authenticity. Protect your joy!

TODAY IN THE CHART

SUPPLY ROOM

Stick ‘Em Up!

Spice up your water bottle with these waterproof, dishwasher-safe stickers. (Here’s our favorite)

BREAK ROOM

Work on Your Fitness!

It can be difficult to incorporate exercise and maintain a healthy lifestyle with a busy work schedule. Check out these easy exercises for nurses that can be done at work!

DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS

Think you can’t find a dream job on LinkedIn? Think again! Sarah from New Thing Nurse tells us how in tomorrow’s newsletter!

Healthcare starts with you. This is your beat.

Get your brand in front of 37K+ industry leaders & changemakers.