Category Archives: Health Care
HIPAA Just Got Tougher
On March 26, HIPAA got a big boost, apparently because so many privacy breaches continue to occur. The government isn’t messing around. The financial hit for institutions doubled, from $25,000 to $50,000 per violation. I’m just guessing, but employers might … Continue reading
Truly Troubling Upcoming Healthcare Changes
The title is slightly misleading because these changes aren’t really upcoming as much as they’ve been here and we are largely just starting to feel the pinch. The “truly troubling” part stands, however. It is extremely difficult to grasp all … Continue reading
Nurse Kills Patient With Too Much Morphine: A Cautionary Tale
This headline from Australia caught my eye: “Nurse Tells of Morphine Mistake.” I am always happy to learn how to avoid mistakes by reading about those of others, and I applaud nurses who voluntarily tell about anything they’ve done wrong. … Continue reading
Alarmed by Bed Alarms
I hate bed alarms. I hated them when I worked on the floor as a CNA, I hated them when my dad was placed on one, and I hate the single one we have in the ER. I have always … Continue reading
I Really Am Sorry
Both hospitals I’ve worked at have mandated scripting, usually in the form of AIDET. For those of you who have not yet encountered AIDET, it stands for Acknowledge (“Hello, Mr. Jones. I understand you’re having some abdominal pain?”) Introduce (“My … Continue reading
Nurses Need Malpractice Insurance Too
Nurses, in my experience, get twitchy when the subject of malpractice insurance comes up. Perhaps the idea reminds us that things can go badly wrong and we can end up in deep water, or, worse, than we can randomly end … Continue reading
Meaningful Use (MU): Is It All Greek to You?
I have heard “meaningful use” (MU) bandied about here and there (or, more likely, read about it in nursing journals) for a few months, but since the new year rollover, it’s suddenly exploded in my everyday working life. Staff meetings, … Continue reading
The Obligatory Thanksgiving Post
Nurses in the US are preparing for the Thanksgiving holiday tomorrow. For those of us who are working—because patients don’t stop getting sick on holidays—this will mean nothing more than navigating family dissatisfaction, getting holiday pay, and smoothing the ruffled … Continue reading
Ode to a Leg
I have been a nurse for several years now, and I have grown inured to the trajedy and trauma that human beings go through. Horror at the sight of gore has been transformed to, on the one hand, anatomical interest … Continue reading
Get a Vaccine or a Pink Slip
I wrote recently about the pertussis outbreak and vaccine. Since then, my hospital and others have made the flu vaccine mandatory; it is not strictly a condition of employment, but if you don’t get one, you have to wear a … Continue reading
