We recently had a case in California which required us to frequently communicate telephonically with the nursing staff. We had the required signed HIPAA release on the chart (multiple times, in fact, as it continued to get 'lost') as well as the family's verbal authorization to speak on their behalf with the clinical team. Unfortunately,…
Thirty years ago today, May 23rd, my mom died after a four month "battle" with what doctors said was liver cancer. Now that I know a little more (well, kind of…), I'm thinking it may have been pancreatic cancer. Still, 30 years ago today. So officially, I've been alive longer without my mom than with…
My mom was not a religious woman. A woman of faith, yes. But a quiet faith that wasn't flashy or 'in your face.' And through the years of raising her children, six in all, she was known to spout off a zinger, a memorable quote. One that has come to mean more to me as an…
Earlier this year, I made a promise to myself that I would schedule an appointment with a dermatologist. After all, as I have shared with you before in other venues, my childhood vacations on the beach at Wildwood, NJ were often marred with an enthusiastic sunburn. And it's also quite likely that years of playing…
I do not 'get' lying. Never have, never will. I have been a nurse for more than 25 years, clearly most of my adult life. To my knowledge, there is not much lying in nursing, or in healthcare, for that matter. Peoples lives are at stake. Tends to change the dynamic a bit. When people lie,…
I was on the receiving end of healthcare this week. Being a patient, and a nurse, is a little like being a "secret shopper." I don't usually admit that I'm a nurse when checking in, filling out the voluminous forms, or being interviewed on my personal health history by the intake nurse. I want to…
There is so much energy, money, and planning that goes into a vacation, especially if it's a family vacation, that it's worth taking some time to think about the 'what ifs.' No doubt we all want our vacation memories to be positive. So think about adding these seven tips (below) to improve your chances of having…
I had the privilege of listening to Dr. Peter Buerhaus, Professor of Nursing at Vanderbilt University, this morning as he presented information on his ongoing research about this country's nursing shortage. For years, data has predicted not only a shortage of nurses entering the workforce but as baby boomer nurses plan (oh please, oh please) for retirement, an even…
Last week a good friend had bilateral knee replacements and chose to 'buy up' for her recovery by selecting the hospital's "Concierge Unit." Many hospitals now offer such a unit, requiring patients to pay out of pocket per night in addition to their expected insurance payment. In my friend's case, it was $40o each night. …
Today marks the fourth anniversary of my dad's death at age 92. It goes without saying that I've been remembering his life, remembering our lives together as he and my mom (who passed away so young at 61 years old) raised their six children. Dad worked for thirty years at the U.S. Post Office in…
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Guardian Nurses celebrated its 15th year of improving patient outcomes and lowering healthcare costs with an anniversary party on November...
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