Patient Preferences

Going to the doctors office can be an uncomfortable situation for many. Many patients have prefer their nurse and doctor to be the same sex as they are. I am a female and would personally want a female doctor and nurse, I don't know why, but it is just a little more comforting knowing that whatever is happening to me might have happened to them. This isn't true for all, but it it is not crazy to assume that I am the only one like this. So I read an interesting study pertaining to patients preference for a male or female nurse. 

Purpose: The study aimed to discover whether these preferences changed over time. 

What were they asked to do? Participants were asked to take a survey, this survey analyzed their preference when it came to age, gender, and previous experience of with a nurse of a specific gender. 

Conclusion: The study concluded that females typically prefer female nurses, and this did not vary over time. However, males typically did not care if their nurse was male or female. As expected, preferences were heavily influenced by the situation and level of intimacy.

Casey W.

URL: 
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/store/10.1046/j.1365-2648.2002.02079.x/asset/j.1365-2648.2002.02079.x.pdf?v=1&t=if6ctul8&s=6a7eca152eef15f408001f13282d3854442ffa82

Work Cited:
Chur‐Hansen, Anna. "Preferences for female and male nurses: the role of age, gender and previous experience–year 2000 compared with 1984." Journal of advanced nursing 37.2 (2002): 192-198.

The Nursing Shortage

When you're thinking about what you'll major in during college, you take into consideration the outlook of the job you'll be getting once you receive your degree. I personally found myself asking the question "will I be wasting my time and money by going into this field?" My junior year of high school, I set my goal to major in nursing after taking classes such as anatomy and chemistry. Luckily for me, I was able to find a career that will allow me to have a job I will enjoy by the time I graduate. My doctor had asked what I had planned to major in before I left for college, and when I told him my plans of going to nursing school, he said "you will have a job before you even graduate." You may be asking yourself, how could that be possible? It's all due to the nursing shortage America is seeing right now.

There are a few factors contributing to this nursing shortage. One of them, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, is that nursing school enrollment is not growing fast enough to cover the projected demand of registered nurses and advanced practice registered nurses. AACN also reported an increase in baccalaureate programs of 2.6% in 2013, but this is still not enough. With the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010, more than 32 million Americans gained access to healthcare services. This causes a domino effect, causing there to be a higher demand of nurses to handle the higher numbers of patients. However, it's hard to gain enrollment in nursing school when there are such limited spots. "U.S. nursing schools turned away 79,659 qualified applicants from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs in 2012 due to insufficient number of faculty, clinical sites, classroom space, clinical preceptors, and budget constraints. Almost two-thirds of the nursing schools responding to the survey pointed to faculty shortages as a reason for not accepting all qualified applicants into their programs." (AACN). 

A few other factors contributing to the nursing shortage include retirement of current RN's and insufficient staffing through hospitals. In a 2013 survey conducted by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing and The Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers, 55% of RN's are 50 years or older. In this, more than 1 million nurses will retire in the next 10 to 15 years. (Health Resources and Services Administration). More than 75% of RN's believe the nursing shortage presents a major problem for the quality of their work and how well they can interact with their patients. Not only will this nursing shortage affect patients, but also nurses and the healthcare system as a whole.

There are strides being made towards fixing this nursing shortage. Nursing schools are working towards forming connections and seeking private funding in order to expand their nursing programs. If this does occur, more prospective nurses, such as the girls in our blog, will be put through nursing school and be able to quickly replace the 1 million nurses who will be retiring by the time we graduate. 

-Brooke B.

LINK TO SOURE:
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/fact-sheets/nursing-shortage

Works Cited:
"Nursing Shortage." American Association of Colleges of Nursing.  AACN, 24 April 2014. Web. 28 September 2015.

The View vs. Nurses

"Why does she have a doctors stethoscope?" says Joy Behar after watching a nurse talk about her profession. Instant face palm following this comment. If you haven't seen the video of Miss Colorado giving a monologue on her job as a nurse working with Alzheimer's, I'll post the link below. After watching and seeing her passion for her job, I was so inspired to continue my path towards becoming a nurse. The Views comments hit a tough spot, because I've seen how hard nurses work to supply care. With such high arrogance amongst these cohosts of this national talk tv show, I decided to look into common misconceptions the general population has with nurses.

Shows we see such as Greys Anatomy and House, nurses are put in the background when, quite frankly, this is just not the case. We see doctors, such as the ever so famous McDreamy and Meredith Grey, running the hospitals and patient care like superheroes. Don't get me wrong; doctors are wonderful people who possess a true talent. However, people gain a misconception when they see doctors performing nurses jobs such as distributing medications, drawing blood and monitoring their patients. In reality, nurses pick their career for these very reasons: comforting their patient is rewarding for them.

Another common theme for the nurses in these shows are that they are less than doctors. The word "nurse" is considered to be dirty. In a particular episode of Grey's Anatomy, the main character Meredith Grey, who is a surgeon, was insulted when she was referred to as being "clueless... like a nurse." Nurses are well educated in their field, and constantly help to make sure each patient is receiving the care patients need. "Naughty nurses" are also a stereotype that could fall under nurses being considered less. In an article I found, it stated that due to this stereotype, some nurses are sexually harassed. There seems to be a lack of respect for nurses, which should be changed.

In all, I feel as if there is a lack of respect for nurses as a whole, due to media and lack of knowledge. There is nothing easy about nursing school and being a nurse working long hours. We must stray from these misconceptions and realize that without nurses, doctors would be lost. It's a group effort to keep everyone healthy.

-Brooke B.

LINK TO VIDEO: http://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/09/watch_miss_colorado_delivers_monologue_at_miss_ame.html


Sources:

Anderson, Camilla. “Three Ways Greys Anatomy Misrepresents the Nursing Profession.” 

Fortis. Fortis, 19 Feb 2014. Web. 22 Sept. 2015.

Hewitt, Alison. “Symposium to challenge nursing stereotypes on 'ER,' 'Grey's,' ‘House’”. 

UCLA Newsroom. UCLA, 5 May 2011. Web. 22 Sept. 2015. 

My Experience with a Midwife

This past year my aunt got pregnant with her fourth child. The previous three she had all given birth to in the comfort of her own home. Knowing this I also knew that whoever she said was allowed to be in the room with her could be. So over the term of her pregnancy she agreed to let me be in the room to watch my cousin be born! With in-home births there is a person that comes called the midwife. A midwife as defined on dictionary.com is a person trained to assist women in child birth, also known as a registered nurse who furthered her education in the practice of midwifery. Over labor day weekend my aunt went into labor, and my mom and I rushed over to see the baby born. During the birth the midwife was calm, cool, and collected. Her voice stayed low and loving towards my aunt. She begin to tell my aunt when to push and when to breathe. She knew exactly what she was doing and how to do it. When the baby was born she had my aunt hold him close to keep his body temperature at a good point. After she knew the baby was breathing and able, she laid him out to measure, weigh, and check out his over all physical appearance. I was amazed at how smart the midwife was, she even could tell he was healthy by the color of the babies skin. The way she stayed so calm throughout the whole process made me want to be just like that. I am very blessed to have had this opportunity!

Kyra T.

Who Makes a Good Nurse?

What kind of people are nurses?

Based on personal experiences with a variety of nurses, I find it safe to say that genuinely caring, supportive, easy to talk to people make up a good nurse.  After visiting the hospital nearly every day for 2 years to be with a sick relative, I've come to learn a lot about nurses.  This is part of my motivation to become one; I want to be there to help people who need it just like the many nurses that were with my family every step of the way through our hard times.  Nurses often possess diligence, compassion, a good sense of humor, and pride in representing their profession.  It is important that they enjoy what they do because his/her attitude impacts the patients under their care.

What kind of skills are necessary in nursing?

Patience, attentiveness, critical thinking, effective communication, and the desire to learn are all very important qualities to obtain as a nurse.  Everyday nurses encounter different situations, requiring patience and flexibility.  In cases of emergency, remaining calm and attentive is significant in making sure that every act is done as efficient as possible.  Without these skills, the environment of the hospital could become chaotic and more stressful which would be unsafe for patients. Overall, a nurse should be relatable, patient, humorous, and attentive  and the rest should follow.

-Samantha B.

Labor and Delivery Nurse

What Do They Do?

Labor and Delivery Nursing is just one of many specialties that a BSN student can go into after acquiring their degree and passing their exam to become a registered nurse. Labor and Delivery nurses care for mothers during labor and the birthing process. They are the eyes and ears for doctors, they will identify problems and concerns, as well as monitor the mother and child. During delivery they will assist the doctor and post delivery they will teach mothers how to breast feed and properly care for their newborn(s).

My Experience In The Delivery Room:

I was with my sister while she was in labor and I saw how the nurse was able to comfort her when she was in a lot of pain. Afterwards I watched the nurses prick my nephews foot and run tests on him. This is very important because they found that he is a carrier for sickle cell anemia. Being able to provide families with that information so they can take preventative measures, or treat them if necessary, is a wonderful thing. Having a baby is an extremely special and unforgettable time for families, as well as a very nerve-wracking and painful experience. Being able to provide comfort, and make a difference in a patients life is very fulfilling.

Casey W.

Developmental Disability Nurse

         In high school I was in a program called LINKS, we worked one on one with a special needs students or students with disabilities. While in this program I realized I wanted to spend the rest of my life working with special needs people. But I have always wanted to be a nurse so I did some research and found the perfect job for me! A developmental disability nurse is a nurse who specializes in caring for patients with special needs. As a developmental disability nurse you need to have patience, be structured, independent, and multifaceted. Tasks that this type of nurse does:

•  Explaining the type of disability a new born or young child has to the family
•  Teaching patients to walk and speak fluently
•  Helping with basic everyday functions such as eating

        There are many places a developmental disability nurse can work, ranging from hospitals to schools. I hope to be working in a hospital and also with labor and delivery! (Check our other post for more information). There is an organization called DDNA which stands for Developmental Disabilities Nurse Association. If you want to learn more about it check out http://ddna.org/certification/. 

Sources: "Developmental Disability Nurse." Campaign for Nursing. Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., 1 Oct. 2014. Web. 20 Sept. 2015.

Kyra T.

Prompt 8: Being A Nurse Anesthetist (For A Day)

I had my first hands on experience in nursing with a nurse anesthetist the summer before I started my freshman year of college. My neighbor had known that I was planning on majoring in nursing, and thought this would be a good chance for me to explore one of the many options nursing brings to the table. During my day as a nurse anesthetist, I was able to observe from inside of an operating room, learn about the different combinations of anesthetics, and see some pretty awesome surgeries happen right before my eyes.

Nurse anesthetists is a job thats taking over the nursing field, and is currently the highest demanded job in nursing, and also the highest paying field in nursing. (Discover Nursing). My neighbor, specifically, was one of four anesthetists who were in charge of administering anesthesia for the hospital he worked at. He had told me that in rural hospitals, like the one he worked for, they stuck to employing nurse anesthetists, rather than an anesthesiologist, to save on money. I researched into this to see just how often they are used, and according to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, "nurse anesthetists are the sole anesthesia providers in more than two-thirds of all rural hospitals in the United States, affording some 70 million rural Americans access to anesthesia." The cost saving is huge for these rural hospitals, as the average anesthesiologist makes around $271,057 per year, while average nurse anesthetists makes around $133,115 per year. Anesthetists have also been around longer than any other specialized field in nursing. In fact, it was established in the early 1800s, and was the first clinical nursing specialty. Today, there are more than 49,000 practicing anesthetists providing patient care to America's healthcare system.

What exactly is a nurse anesthetist? 

They are called CRNA's for short, which stands for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists. They work with anesthetics; the drugs that put you to sleep, for surgical, trauma, and obstetrical (child birth) reasonings. On my day on the job, I was able to see orthopedic surgeries, such as hip replacements, total knee replacements and shoulder surgeries. In each of those cases, my neighbor was the one who would put them to sleep and monitor them throughout the surgery. Another interesting case I was able to see was a woman who was 17 weeks pregnant and having her gallbladder removed. With this, they had to be extra careful with the amount of drugs they gave her, in order to keep the baby safe. A lot goes into a surgery, which is one thing I found out.

So why spend so much money on schooling to be an anesthesiologist, when you can be a nurse anesthetist and preform the same tasks?

For starters, one is a nurse and one is a medical doctor, so the amount of school required has a huge difference. A nurse anesthetist is required to complete around 6-7 years of schooling; four years to obtain a bachelors degree in nursing, two years in anesthesia school, and passing of a national certification exam. An anesthesiologist spends around 12 years in school; four years of undergraduate studies, four yearrs of medical school and four years of residency. A big difference is that not all nurse anesthetists can practice alone or in certain situations. Some states and medical associations require surgeons to use licensed medical doctors in certain cases.  

What does it take?

This job is a highly important job. During my time in the operating room with my neighbor, he was required to chart heart rates every 5 minutes, monitor the patients response to the anesthesia, and assess each problem quickly and efficiently. Communication is a huge part of completing the job, to make sure that everyone has a clear idea of how the patient is doing while under their care. Thinking on your toes and response time to high stress situations is a vital quality to hold.

Overall...

My experience on this day showed me possibilities I didn't know existed. The importance of nurse anesthetists shows, as it is still a highly demanded job for hospitals and other medical services all over the country. To anyone is a nursing major and wanting to do more, it will never hurt to check it out. While it wasn't quite what I wanted, I was able to discover other fields of nursing in which I want to look further in to... (Stay tuned for future blog post!)

UPDATE: Here is a blog post of something that I have looked into doing that you may find interest in. Here is the link to becoming a nurse practitioner!

-Brooke B.


References:
"How to Become a Nurse Anesthetist." allNursingSchools. All Star Directories, 2015. Web. 20 Sept. 2015.

"Nurse Anesthetist." Discover Nursing. Johnson & Johnson, 2015. Web. 20 Sept. 2015.

Kokemuller, Neil. " Anesthetist Vs. Anesthesiologist." Chron. Hearsts Newspaper, 2015. Web. 20 Sept. 2015. 


URLS you may be interested at looking into: 
http://www.allnursingschools.com/nursing-careers/article/become-nurse-anesthetist/
https://www.discovernursing.com/specialty/nurse-anesthetist#.VgDKQ7RH3-a
http://work.chron.com/anesthetist-vs-anesthesiologist-6475.html

Neonatal Nursing

What is Neonatal Nursing?

Neonatal nursing specializes in working with infants born with defects, infections, surgical problems, and prematurity.  These types of nurses typically deal with infants experiencing critical problems shortly after birth, but can range anywhere from birth throughout their first month of life. Neonatal nurses are required to obtain health histories, work with the doctor in providing a care plan, transport ill infants to nurseries, write orders, perform procedures as necessary, and care for multiple patients simultaneously.

How do I Become a Neonatal Nurse?

The academic requirements necessary to practice in this field include the following:

• Bachelor's Degree of Science in Nursing (BSN)
• National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN)
• Master's Degree as a Neonate Nurse Practitioner
• National or State Certification Exam

Why do I Want to Become a Neonatal Nurse?

I have always been interested in science throughout elementary school and high school.  The best days were dissection days!  Being able to see the inside of another living thing was always fascinating to me.  Although I am only a freshman in college and think I know what I want to do, I stand pretty confident in my goal to work in the medical field.  Nursing in particular catches my interest because of the variety of opportunities available to choose from once I become an RN.  The neonatal unit is one of them.  To help save a life for a person or giving them a chance at life would be a feeling I am incapable of putting to words.  There are so many tragedies occurring with abortions, miscarriages, still births or even post birth diseases leading to the death of infants who never got a chance to live.  If I can help the slightest bit to prevent these things from occurring, I will.  Not only does neonatal nursing provide me with that opportunity, but it also would be accomplishing my goal of what I want to do in life.

-Samantha B.


Source: http://www.nann.org/education/content/neonatal-nursing-career-info.html