Clinical practice

Navigating Moral Distress in the Face of Ethical Dilemmas

Do you remember that moment when you recited the Nightingale Pledge? Although antiquated in language, the modified Hippocratic Oath, written in 1893, still rings true in many ways today. I recall the weightiness of those words. As reiterated in the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses (2015), nurses are expected to hold those values and ethical principles in the highest regard and should afford them to all people. This is quite a responsibility for even the most seasoned nurse. Moreover, oncology nurses are often faced with issues that test ethical and moral principles.
April 26, 2016
Clinical practice

Outpatient Staffing Model Improves RN Roles and Functionalities

Nursing responsibilities vary across different oncology infusion centers in the United States. A standard staffing model to provide efficiency of clinical services and patient safety currently does not exist, and the variability of roles can lead to unnecessary costs to the healthcare system. A recent study sought to define the roles of infusion nurses to create efficiencies within the clinical setting, potentially reduce RN staffing requirements, achieve cost savings, and develop a targeted nurse-to-patient ratio that also maintains quality care.
April 25, 2016
Clinical practice

The Impact of Complex Care Needs on Nursing Education

Cancer statistics and the complex care needs of patients with cancer hold great significance for nurse educators. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that 14 million Americans are living with cancer, and another 1.6 million new cancer cases are anticipated to be diagnosed in 2016. Added into this statistical mix is the high prevalence of comorbidities in the four most common cancers. Many older adults with cancer have two or more coexisting conditions and are at risk for developing others throughout survivorship care.
April 12, 2016
Clinical practice

Understanding How Portion Control Keeps You Healthy

I was recently at a lovely event with a buffet. The food was spectacular and there were many choices for eaters of all palates. What struck me was the large size of the plates provided. It felt like they were encouraging diners to take larger portions or to load up on many different foods. There’s no doubt that many adults and children have no idea what a reasonable portion looks like or even what constitutes a serving. In all honesty, the size of the plate matters more than you think.

February 10, 2016
Clinical practice

Nurses Don't Take Snow Days

People will discuss the enormous amount of snow that fell on the East Coast during January 2016 for some time to come. It was predicted, and the snowfall lived up to the hype. My daughters have lived with healthcare professionals their entire lives, and they know that healthcare providers do not get a day off just because the weather is bad. There are no snow days. Patients are still sick. Many people do not stop to think about the sacrifices and extra time it takes healthcare providers to get to work during inclement weather. Just prior to the big snow, there had been a smaller one in St.

February 01, 2016
Clinical practice

Heal Through a Remember Tree

We had a problem—we knew it, and we just couldn’t find the right solution. The problem was that we had no time or way to grieve patients' deaths in our outpatient clinic. When a patient would die, some of the staff members would not find out for days or sometimes weeks. This left staff members feeling angry, sad, frustrated, and embarrassed if a family member would call and that staff member did not know about the patient's passing.
April 16, 2015