CVME Insider: Nursing Knowledge That Matters

As a nursing student  or a returning nurse,  you are probably experiencing the excitement of starting an education program that will lead to an excellent nursing career. One of the most important parts of becoming a nurse is finding your own mentor. A mentor can provide guidance and support as you navigate the challenges and joys of nursing school or simply help reeducate you after returning from a sabbatical. This article will help you understand what mentoring means for nursing students and returning nurses, how to find a mentor, and what you should expect from this relationship. What is a nursing mentor ? A nursing mentor is someone who has experience and knowledge that you need. Like myself, I have over 30 years in the medical field. A mentor like myself can help you with questions, nursing problems and career planning. Mentors also help you network with other nurses, so that you can continue your education by taking classes through a local college, university, or private ...

  Implicit biases are unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that affect our perceptions, actions, and decisions. In the healthcare industry, implicit biases can seriously affect patient care and outcomes. Here are the top five implicit biases in nursing and healthcare and what we can do to recognize and address them. 1. Racial Bias Racial bias is one of the most common implicit biases in healthcare. Studies have shown that healthcare providers tend to provide different levels of care to patients based on race or ethnicity. For example, Black patients are less likely to receive pain medication than White patients with the same condition. To recognize and address racial bias, healthcare providers should undergo cultural competency training and learn about the impact of systemic racism on healthcare outcomes. They should also actively listen to their patients and their concerns, regardless of race or ethnicity. 2. Gender Bias Gender bias is another common type of implicit bias in heal...

reprinted with the permission of     Donna Maheady   www.ExceptionalNurse.com "Jasmine Stacey, 24, a nurse in the UK has Crohn's disease.  She underwent surgery to remove part of her intestine when she was 20 years old and needed an ileostomy bag. Jasmine has launched a new line of luxury lingerie that allows women who also have stoma bags to feel sexy again. The nurse/designer said she was "inspired to come up with a stylish range of underwear by the lack of seductive garments available for women in her position". "I want to take the stigma away from having a stoma bag and prove you can still be sexy with underwear.  "I want to get the message out there that it is not as bad as people think and that young people have stoma bags as well as old people." "We hope our underwear is stylish without being flimsy and empowers women to feel confident whether they have stoma bags, scars, or simply want more stomach control."  ...