Category Archives: Medicine
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
Thoughts on Nurses vs Physicians
I had a patient interaction that has been making think some more about the difference between the professions of nursing and medicine. I think the general public considers nursing “medicine lite” or something that people do who would like to … Continue reading
How Invasive Do Thermometers Need to Be?
The area in which I work uses standard practices, as it should, with temperature monitoring. It’s a critical care area, and we can’t really afford to miss things like “whoops; that patient slid into septic shock while we weren’t looking” … 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
Making Nurses Happy Could Save Hospitals Money
A study from the University of Pennsylvania School of nursing (abstract here) suggests that increasing nurses’ satisfaction with their working environment might not only make the nurses happier, but also increase hospital reimbursement by decreasing readmission rates. This is important … Continue reading
Blood Transfusions Are Bad News for the Immune System
A new flier appeared on the backs of our staff bathroom doors at work this week about the risks of nosocomial infection and effects on the immune system with transfusions. “Why give two when one may do?” they say. Their … 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
The Buck Stops Here
Recently I had a horrible experience with a rescued pit bull puppy (stay with me, here; it relates to nursing, I promise). She was an adorable miniature brindle pittie mix with a history of “cured” Demodex mange. She was a … Continue reading
Mandatory Vaccines for Nurses: This Time It’s Pertussis
I had to get a pertussis vaccine last week. I couldn’t cough up (ha, ha) the documentation that I had one in nursing school, which coincided with the last epidemic, so I had to have another one. Vaccines always make … Continue reading
