Project Heartbeat

Advanced Nursing

From ACLS and PALS renewal to navigating credentialing requirements across health systems, these posts are written for experienced nurses working in high-acuity settings—ICU, ED, OR, PACU, and beyond. Topics vary from certification expectations by employer and state, role-specific requirements, and practical guidance for staying current as you move between facilities or systems.

15 01, 2020

Fatigue on the Job: Dangerous or Normal?

January 15th, 2020|Advanced Nursing|

Probably every worker has experienced that afternoon slump or has needed a cup of coffee to get through the last hour behind the desk. However, nurses have it particularly difficult because of the great physical and mental burdens they carry throughout each shift. Stressful work situations, busy shifts during which there is no time to sit down and 12-hour night shifts that leave nurses yawning and nodding off on the drive home combine to create a real problem. In fact, [...]

8 01, 2020

Creating More Connected Relationships with Health Care Colleagues

January 8th, 2020|Advanced Nursing, Nurses Corner, Research|

The health care profession is known for being a high-stress place in which doctors, nurses and other professionals are often put into uncomfortable situations. Disagreements between doctors and nurses are common, and nurses often struggle to create positive relationships with difficult patients. On very hard days, nurses may even find themselves at each other’s throats as their stress threatens to get out of hand. Creating healthy, connected relationships requires focus and determination. It will never happen by chance. These five [...]

3 01, 2020

Improve Your Workplace Environment: Improve Your Job Satisfaction

January 3rd, 2020|Advanced Nursing, Classes, Nurses Corner, Research|

Job satisfaction is at an all-time high this year according to The Conference Board, a non-profit research group. In 2019, 54 percent of surveyed workers said they were happy in their jobs, which was up from the 49 percent measured several years ago. These higher numbers today can generally be linked back to improved job security and better wages especially for younger workers. However, satisfaction with the job environment and with coworker interactions do not rate quite so high. While [...]

1 01, 2020

Understanding Ethical Dilemmas in Healthcare

January 1st, 2020|Advanced Nursing, Nurses Corner, Research|

Because health care deals with both life overall as well as the quality of one’s life, ethical issues are sure to arise. Patients often struggle to know which treatment they should opt for and who they should tell about their health care crises. Even more difficult is the ethical dilemmas that health care providers face. The struggle to keep patient confidentiality high while still getting informed consent and advocating for a patient’s best interests is often great. While the laws [...]

27 12, 2019

Top Pharmacological Treatments for Emerging Myocardial Infarctions

December 27th, 2019|Advanced Nursing, Research|

Quick treatment of a myocardial infarction is key to improving survival and overall patient outcomes while also preserving future quality of life. While the exact method of treatment will depend on the type of myocardial infarction and the area of the heart that it affects, you will want to look out for some specific pharmacologic treatment orders from the doctor and will want to give your patient the recommended treatment as soon as possible. In some cases, this may [...]

20 12, 2019

What Is Compassion Fatigue and What Can You Do to Prevent It?

December 20th, 2019|Advanced Nursing, Nurses Corner, Research|

Compassion fatigue is an emotional and a physical state experienced by those who have been caring for one or more individuals for a lengthy time. It certainly refers to a state of tiredness and exhaustion while also pointing to tense feelings and overall distress. Some may refer to it as burnout while others refer to it as a type of traumatic stress. While some people discount these feelings of compassion fatigue and their physical effects on the body, those who [...]

18 12, 2019

Focus on the Whys of Your Job During Your Next Rough Day

December 18th, 2019|Advanced Nursing, Classes, Nurses Corner, Research|

A rough day on the job may lead you to pull a pint of ice cream from the freezer in the evening. However, a string of rough weeks and months may be causing you to rethink why you even chose your health care career in the first place. After all, the long hours, stressful work environment and mounds of paperwork may be causing you to feel more exhausted than energized most days. If you are struggling through a tough patch [...]

6 12, 2019

Initial ECGs Help Catch Early Myocardial Infarctions

December 6th, 2019|Advanced Nursing, Classes, Research|

Heart disease a major problem in the United States, killing over 350,000 people every year. A myocardial infarction is an acute form of coronary artery disease that occurs when the arteries that are to feed the heart muscle with oxygen-rich blood become clogged. Myocardial infarctions, or heart attacks, vary in degree based on how much of the heart muscle was affected and for what amount of time it was unable to receive oxygen. Long-term recovery following a heart attack is [...]

27 11, 2019

What Does Intuition Have to Do with Smart Health Care?

November 27th, 2019|Advanced Nursing, Research|

Intuition is defined as the ability to figure something out immediately without having to reason your way through it. As a consumer, you have probably found yourself knowing immediately whether something was a good purchase or whether it would fail in its promises. As a patient, you may have recognized when something was wrong with you physically. Perhaps you even sought care for this concern. As a health care provider, you still have this innate ability to use your intuitive [...]

22 11, 2019

Tips for Rapid Triage Assessments in the Emergency Room

November 22nd, 2019|Advanced Nursing, Education, EMT Training, Research|

Although triage is typically the emergency department position that most nurses dread, it is a vital role that ensures that the sickest patients get the fastest care. If you are ready to take your skills to the next level, study these tips for rapid and accurate triage assessments. Use a Proven Triage Assessment Tool Especially as a new nurse, you should rely on proven tools to help you do your job efficiently. For example, your facility may use the Emergency [...]

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