How have issues with understaffing affected you and the nursing industry as a whole? It’s been really alarming to hear what hospitals around the country are considering acceptable as far as staffing goes. I have members of my community messaging me daily about how appreciative they are that we’re bringing awareness to this issue.
Understaffing is dangerous for both the nurses and patients. Nurses are working extremely long shifts, often without food or water, let alone any breaks. Meanwhile, nurses truly just want to give their patients the best care.
What have you done to ensure the best quality care for your patients despite the demanding workload?
I’m primarily focused on education in my work today. In doing so, I’m able to make sure other nurses have the resources they need. I created NurseCon at Sea, the ultimate nursing conference, to offer an opportunity for nurses to come together, renew CNE (continuing nursing education) credits, and have a good time, all in one place. It’s become an incredible event each year.
What advice do you have for other nurses dealing with the
challenges of the profession, and aspiring ones who will be soon? For people who want to become nurses: if you want to do it and have a passion for helping others, definitely do it! We need more awesome nurses in this field because there is understaffing. Get your butt out and help work the floors with us. Don’t let it scare you. Nursing is an incredible career. You don’t have to be in a hospital to be a nurse; there are plenty of jobs and opportunities for nurses to have a positive impact in their community outside of an unsafely staffed hospital.
With chatbots now ascendent in the latest iteration of artificial intelligence, leaders in nursing and nursing education rise to the challenge of incorporating this and other advanced technologies into improved clinical workflow and patient care.
We all know the COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on nurses across the world. Multiple studies have shown that nurses are exhausted, burned out, underpaid, and undervalued.
WRITTEN BY Dr. Pamela Cipriano President, International Council of
We believe the tenuous state of the nursing workforce is a threat to health, knowing that nurses are the key to thriving people and communities. We have warned governments that unless they invest in nurses, health systems will not recover.
But despite this doom and gloom, we have also seen the amazing resilience of nurses, and the solidarity within the profession and toward their patients. We know that together, with support and investment from governments, nurses can change the future of healthcare.
The new normal COVID-19 has made the case that we must invest in nursing; we must see spending on healthcare not as a cost but as a cast-iron investment critical to the future viability of health systems and economies.
We need a seismic movement away from pre-pandemic healthcare systems toward sustainable, accessible, affordable healthcare for all, delivered by a valued, respected, competent, and satisfied health workforce.
We have seen the devastating results of poor investment in and respect for nurses, and we know that lack of action is leading to more nurses leaving the profession, or migrating to countries where there are better conditions and salaries. We also have several important reports
outlining the actions that need to be taken to stop the outflow of nurses and attract more people to the profession.
What is left now is for governments and employers to find the will to act on this knowledge and understand that spending on the healthcare workforce is an investment that will bring huge returns.
The new normal for nurses must move them from invisible to invaluable in the eyes of policymakers, the public, and all those who make decisions affecting the delivery and financing of healthcare.
ICN Congress: July 1-5 in Montreal Nurses together: a force for global health
How similar is your role portraying a nurse on “Grey’s Anatomy,” to your work as an actual scrub nurse in Los Angeles? I have been a scrub nurse for almost all my life. Being on “Grey’s Anatomy” there are similarities, but of course many differences. In real life, we don’t iron our surgical gowns for wrinkles and we always wear eye protection. I have been fortunate to work in many kinds of operating rooms with many different surgeons. The variety of the show and the types of cases can be more exciting than real life.
What are some challenges you have faced in real life that might not be portrayed on “Grey’s Anatomy”? The accurate representation of nurses in the show is important because we are the ones who help run the medical system. We are an integral part of the medical team. One of the major challenges I’ve faced is having a heavy accent behind the mask. Between my accent and being an Asian woman, I felt I had many barriers at
Across the country, access to affordable veterinary care is simply inadequate. The team at Dutch — a forward-thinking online platform that conveniently connects people with fully licensed veterinarians — aims to change that, pointing out that about 50% of its clients have never been to the vet before.
To unlock better and more convenient pet care, visit dutch.com
Written by Omar SommereynsWith over 50 years of experience as a scrub nurse, BokHee An brought a unique perspective to the set of “Grey’s Anatomy.” She spoke about what the show got right about the medical profession and how she balanced working full-time while simultaneously filming.
the beginning of my career. I made sure to always follow the case and never make a mistake so I could prove surgeons wrong when assumptions were made about me.
Are there other medical professionals on set besides yourself? What are some ways you help ensure the authenticity of a hospital setting while filming? There is an entire team of medical professionals who help with the accuracy of the show from writing to production. Linda Klein, who I have known for over 40 years, has been helping the show since it started. Dr. Michael Metzner is also a physician on the team. I specifically come onto
set for surgical scenes and will help set up the back table and make sure our actors look as realistic as possible by providing them with the correct instruments.
What is something you hope your fans will take away when they come across your Instagram page, @thebokheean? I want to show people that working in the medical industry is fun and rewarding, but also hard. I hope to inspire others to enter the field and always remember that if someone on the healthcare team is not nice, be your best. At the end of the day, you are always there to help your patients.
“This is about being the first line of care,” said Dr. Brian Evans, D.V.M., Dutch’s medical director. “Rather than go down the rabbit-hole of Googling issues about your pet — which is dangerous — we can offer reliable and trustworthy resources.
“And we can’t solve everything remotely. We’ll always be an adjunct to in-person care. But we can handle problems like behavioral issues, allergies, separation anxiety, ear infections, and skin issues, as well as provide up-to-date treatment plans for ticks or flea infestations, among other things.”
Partnering with founder and CEO Joe Spector (who co-founded Hims), Dr. Evans developed Dutch’s veterinary telehealth system with top-notch, board-certified specialists, including veterinary behaviorists and experts in veterinary dermatology and internal medicine.
Gaining access to the Dutch platform is straightforward: Clients sign up for a membership on a monthly ($30) or annual ($144, which would be $12 per month) basis in
addition to competitive product pricing on prescriptions, saving pet parents thousands compared to what they’d pay for individual brick-and-mortar vet-visits. Members receive unlimited remote consultations and follow-ups, along with messaging services for urgent inquiries and free delivery of prescriptions.
For the latter, a vet licensed in the pet owner’s state will carefully go over the animal’s medical history before prescribing any medication and creating a science-backed treatment plan. And if the pet needs in-person or emergency care, the tele-vet will provide a referral.
“The speed of care we can extend — especially to people in rural areas or anywhere where vet-offices are lacking — is unmatched,” Dr. Evans added. “But our clients also save on commuting time and expenses. For pets, there’s less stress since they’re being seen from the comfort of their home. And many vets have closed their offices because of burnout, but this way they can be more efficient, too. So, ultimately, the platform benefits everyone involved.”
services, we also welcome civilian professionals from a variety of backgrounds. Diversity in our personnel and their backgrounds helps bridge the gap in healthcare disparities and allows us to provide better care to all veterans.
While serving veterans is its own reward, the benefits offered at VA make the difference between a job and a career.
If some work/life balance is in order, our employees receive 13-26 paid vacation/ personal days, as well as 13 sick days annually with no limit on accumulation, and we celebrate 11 paid federal holidays each year. Some positions offer remote or hybrid work schedules, so you don’t have to be in the office every day.
Darren Sherrard Associate Director of Recruitment Marketing, U.S. Department of Veterans AffairsAt the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), we embrace our work as a mission of service, offering care and support to over 9 million veterans, as well as their families, caregivers, and survivors. Across our 1,321 healthcare facilities throughout the United States and in U.S. territories, our staff knows that honoring this promise to veterans is fulfilling all on its own.
“How many times can you say that you have the best mission in all of healthcare?” said Dr. Chad Kessler, executive director of emergency medicine at VA.
“We serve America’s heroes and take care of them.”
At VA, you will serve and support the most diverse group of veterans in history. This is your chance to give back to America’s heroes. No
matter your talents, skills, or training, there’s a place for you on our team.
We’ve always been at the forefront of innovation, as a major contributor to medical and scientific research and education, with more than 70% of U.S. physicians having received some training at a VA healthcare facility. Combined with some of the most expansive student loan repayment programs anywhere, recent graduates couldn’t find a better place to start building their careers.
With nearly one-third of our workforce having served in the U.S. military, we already know what veterans bring to the table, and work to help them make a career at VA a reality. They display leadership, endurance, and integrity — and, like us, they know what it means to be dedicated to a cause.
Whether you have experience in healthcare, administration, or support
All positions come with federal insurance, too, and you can choose a plan that best meets your needs. Additionally, we pay up to 75% of health premiums, a benefit that can continue into retirement.
And when the time comes to take your career to the next level, we offer ongoing leadership development, as well as education support programs to help you advance your expertise or learn something new.
Whether you’re a recent graduate, coming from the civilian sector, or a veteran yourself, there’s never been a better time to join our mission of service, with opportunities in both urban and rural areas.
“I was looking for something that filled me with a strong sense of drive and passion, something that would fulfill me personally,” said Lindsay Marth, amputation rehabilitation coordinator at Minneapolis VA Medical Center. “That’s unique to VA.”
Appreciate a nurse and your gratitude could go beyond making their day — it could alleviate burnout and lead to better healthcare outcomes for patients.
Nurses are the backbone of healthcare, yet staffing shortages, evolving clinician roles, and other pandemic-related challenges have strained their ability to provide life-saving patient care. Nurses are human beings, with the same personal and family obligations we all have. These competing demands create a recipe for burnout.
As a nursing professional development (NPD) practitioner, my role is to guide nurses through clinical training with knowledge, skill, and encouragement. I contribute to a nurse’s ethical practice development by building confidence through
engagement and feedback.
Be kind
As an oncology nurse in my early career, caring for my patients was at times like caring for a family member. Consider sending a thank-you card, dropping by the unit to say “hello,” or calling the unit to update your nurse on a patient’s life — these gestures can bring a sense of home and family to the facility.
Ask questions — and listen
Do you have a friend or family member who is a nurse? Have time for a conversation with a nurse at a medical facility? Take the time to learn what their job entails and what being a nurse means to them. Ask them about
the differences between their work and what is on television, and aim to understand what triggers their stress and what defines a happy day in their work life.
You might just be amazed at their answers, and these conversations will deepen your understanding of nursing.
Offer help
Now more than ever, nurses face challenges that threaten their well-being and ability to provide quality care. By offering these invaluable professionals meaningful support, we can cheer them on and become their backbone, fostering a better work environment that reduces burnout and improves health outcomes for all.
With chatbots now ascendent in the latest iteration of artificial intelligence, leaders in nursing and nursing education rise to the challenge of incorporating this and other advanced technologies into improved clinical workflow and patient care.
With the nursing workforce stretched to the limit due to the ongoing shortage of nurses — hospitals and other healthcare providers will undoubtedly benefit from new, sophisticated, and nimble options to deliver information that improves clinical workflow and patient care.
One new example of advanced technology aiding frontline nursing is remote patient monitoring (RPM). The devicedriven technology makes it possible for patients experiencing an acute medical event or managing chronic conditions to remain in their homes and receive the care they require.
RPM could facilitate and
expand communication among registered nurses, advanced practice nursing specialists, physicians, and other members of the care team. Nursing is the interpreter and advocate between technology and the patient, family, and community.
Nurses are uniquely positioned to play a central role in mediating information from AI-generated alerts and maintaining the human connection that is so critical to successful patient-caregiver relations.
Rising to the occasion
Education must step up to the opportunity to prepare nurses and nurse leaders for researching, co-creating, implementing, and evaluating these new tools for healing and well-being. Beyond the logistics of
day-to-day remote care, it will be important for institutions to craft policies to ensure technologies aren’t taking precedence over the mission of patient care. Nursing’s culture of caring will always prioritize the warmth of the human touch over data lacking emotional content.
It is so critical that nurses and nurse leaders are at the table to help make the best possible decisions around technology and innovations. The process calls for collaboration among experts in nursing informatics, medical ethics, public health policy, engineering, and other stakeholders.
Only then may patients and their families feel fully secure and confident, and nursing will be able to fulfill its calling to truly advance global health, in all its diversity.