Nurses Experience Fatigue Due to Long Schedules

Think as a nurse you can adequately care for your patients while tired? Research shows you can’t. The results of sleep deprivation have effects on both the nurse and the patient’s safety a new study presented at the 22^nd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies has found.

Many nurses even turn to early retirement because of the long hours and sleep deprivation. For baby boomers, after 40 years in the business, 12 hour work days and pulling a double shift can start to ware on anyone, let alone a high-stress job like nursing, which can lead to heightened fatigue and sleep deprivation.

Its recommended adults get between seven and eight hours of sleep per night. As a nurse you’re probably laughing at this statistic. Seven hours is probably more like a dream-come-true then a reality.

The study, authored by Jeanne Geiger-Brown, PhD, of the University of Maryland, focused on 2,273 registered nurses. Work schedule variables, including hours per day and per week, days per week, weekends/month, shift typically worked, quick returns (less than 10 hours off between shifts), mandatory overtime, and on-call were analyzed.

According to the results, having inadequate sleep on three or more nights per week is associated with schedule-related poor sleep opportunity. Specifically, shift work, mandatory overtime, and on-call, quick returns, and long shifts increase the odds of having insufficient sleep. The worse the schedule, the worse the sleep for most nurses.

So remember, taking care of yourself is just as important to caring for your patients. Without you being at the peak of health you can’t effectively care for them.

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Nursing Shortage in Dire State

Let’s be realistic, nurses are the heart and soul of hospitals. Of course the doctors, surgeons, radiologists, phlebotomists and countless others are important, it’s the nurses who tend to the daily needs of the patients.

Nurses are the trusted face of the hospital. When a patient is bed-ridden, scared or alone it is the nurses whom they see on a daily basis and come to know and trust. Nurses are the friendly face, as well as the spokesperson, for the family member of the sick. They relay the important health state of their loved one and assure them of the plan to get them well.

Nurses administer medicine, assist them in walking and moving about, help with their personal hygiene, see to it they’re properly nourished and hydrated and make sure they are receiving the proper care and pain management they require.

Unfortunately, today’s conditions are making nurse’s jobs a whole lot more stressful. Instead of giving the needed attention to several patients per shift nurses are now being required to tend to 8+ patients. This is leading to disgruntled nursing and a nursing shortage epidemic.

Oklahoma in particular is seeing a real shortage. State health officials will have approximately 3,000 few nurses than it will need in four years.

Experts blame the shortage – a major issue in Oklahoma and nation-wide – on retiring baby boomers and a lack of educators to produce new nurses. According to the Associated Press, nursing faculty at college often earn less in the education field then in the clinical setting – meaning being a practicing nurse as opposed to a professor is more financially profitable. Due to a lack of educators Oklahoma had to turn away at least 40 percent of qualified applicants to nursing and allied health programs.

If this is happening in Oklahoma you can rest assured its happening all over the country. Nurses are our caretakers in our time of need, should we not being paying them what their worth? Their skills are priceless. Let’s compensate them and encourage experienced nurses to step into the educational field to pass along their skills and expertise to a new generation of nurses.

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Nurses Want Better Patient Ratios

Nurses in Ohio are standing up for their rights and the rights of their patients. On Tuesday, June 17^th Ohio R.N.s descended upon Ohio state house lawmakers, along with patients, to put laws into place that would require a minimum nurse-to-patient ratio.

The law would limit no more then four patients per nurse. A much more acceptable number then the 6-8+ patients many nurses around the country care for in a give shift.

Additionally, the Ohio nurses, sponsored by the National Nurses Organization Committee, want “whistleblower” protection if they refuse unsafe patient care assignments, expose unsafe conditions or advocate for patients protections.

All these instances touch home for many nurses who feel patients care isn’t what it should be, doctor recommendations are always in the best interest of the patients and hospital conditions are less then ideal.

Luckily, Ohio R.N.’s have an ace up their sleeve – State Representative Kathleen Chandler of Kent spoke on their behalf.

The nurses are looking to receive legislative protection so they can act as advocates for the patients rather then for the economic interests of the hospital itself. To help back the nurses are former patients and their families who say they suffered due to the substandard care they received because their nurses were overworked

This call follows the lead of California nurses who fought for improved patient care. This helped end the nursing shortage in California and could potentially do the same for other states if nurses had such protection.

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Saying Goodbye to Scrubs (On NBC)

I know I just wrote about Scrubs, but with the season finale airing last night and the show’s future up in the air, it seems like a good well to go back to.

7.11, titled “My Princess” puts J.D. in the role of Village Idiot in a story Dr. Cox tells his young son.  The episode is a homage to The Princess Bride, and the episode has several direct references to the classic film, such as Dr Cox’s line: “My name is Percival Cox.  You are killing my friend.  Prepare to die.”

After seven seasons, “My Princess” is the final episode of the sitcom to air on network NBC.  While there has been some controversy over whether or not the show was finished - and comments from star Zach Braff and creator Bill Lawrence had left fans vague about the fate of the show.  On Wednesday, Braff posted to his blog that the last ep of season 7 is “the final episode (on NBC…),” and it’s been confirmed that the show’s eighth season will be broadcast on competing net ABC.

If you missed “My Princess,” don’t fret - the episode takes place before the events of the other post-strike episodes that have aired, so there’s no vital cliffhanger waiting to be resolved.  And you can still watch it online at NBC’s Web site.

of course, if you really can’t get enough of medical scrubs, we have you covered, too.

The Philosophy Of Scrubs Colors

Color means a lot. When you wear yellow, people you meet are going to assume you’re in a cheery, sunny, the-world-is-a-lollipop kind of mood. Take black: maybe you’re rocking a vintage Metallica concert tee that’s got tons of rips in it and a paint stain from painting your bedroom a dark, apocalyptic red; assumptions are going to get made about that, too. Perhaps more importantly, color can have an effect on your mood. Maybe wearing that Master of Puppets shirt will make you a bit more aggressive.

It comes down to this - colors do have a genuine meaning. Of course, those meanings may differ from person to person.

Take grey. What does gray mean to the average Joe, or Jane? Some take it as a sad and contemplative color, almost like the sky before a thunderstorm. Others take it as a normal around the world color, nothing emotionless or depressing about it – it’s just gray.

How about brown – the color of dirt, wood chips, coffee tables and, most importantly, the earth? Brown somehow has managed to come to be associated with the colors of the earth, the harvest, mountainside and the ground beneath our feet.

Green, now there’s bold one – hybrid motors, eco-friendly biodegradable plastic party cups and the color of lime Tic-Tacs. Everything seems to be going green nowadays; but what does it mean to be ”Green” - after all, it’s just a color. Leaves, grass, herbs, party beads, shirts, sheets etc – they all can be green.

But all colors seem to carry a personality, an idea and, even more so, maybe a glimpse into a person’s mind. Or, they could mean absolutely nothing.

If your one of those people who think colors have meanings, check our scrubs-max collection of medical scrubs of all colors. Let your personality (and favorite colors) shine through!

True Nurse Tales!!!

Nursing can be a dirty and depressing job. But, look on the bright side; sometimes, nursing can be downright comical! After decades of experience, one veteran nurse reflects upon some of the “lighter” moments:

THIRSTY?

One patient decided he wanted a drink, and was eventually found on a barstool at the local “establishment,” catheter and all!

FALLING FOR YOU

If you have ever assisted with holding a patient during a spinal tap, you know it can be a tedious job. On one occasion, nurse #1 was supporting the patient, but became lightheaded. Fortunately, nurse #2 caught the patient. Unfortunately, nurse #1 caught the floor.

TOGA PARTY

One unforgettable patient was the one who discharged himself (against doctor’s orders), and proceeded to walk himself out, complete with paper foot slides and bed sheet toga!

BARE NECESSITIES

After a 3pm-11pm shift, a nurse decided to take a shower to prepare for a night out after work. Imagine his surprise when he came out to find that all he was left with was a towel. The moral of the story? Always take your medical scrubs into the shower area with you, and lock the door!

Celebrate Medicine’s Unsung Heroes On Nurse’s Day

Q: How many of our friends and family know that May 6^th is National Nurses Day, and May 6^th-May 12^th is National Nurses Week?

A: Not enough!

Nurses are on the front lines, but are often underappreciated and overlooked, so help spread the word!

Florence Nightingale was born on May 12^th, so the tradition began in 1965 as a way to celebrate her work and the work of nurses throughout the United States

Give a Nurse Day card, surprise a nurse with a bouquet of flowers or a surprise lunch. Treat your favorite nurse to some fun, comfortable medical scrubs. Is the nurse a mother? Get the kids involved to make crafts or her favorite sweet treats! Is the nurse male? Consider buying a bottle of his favorite cologne, take him to his favorite restaurant, or surprise him with versatile Cherokee scrubs.

No matter what you do, just be sure that May 6^th is a day to be remembered for that nurse in your life!

Nursing & the Diseases That Go Along With It

I’ve been a nurse for almost 15 years now and I love what I do. I enjoy helping others and I feel that I’m truly appreciated for what I do.

The joys of the job are endless. However, with every job there are some negatives. One downfall I can think of is that I’m constantly fighting off the new string of flu virus or some sort of cold symptoms. With the continuous sneezing, running nose, aches and pains, sore throat and fevers, I devoted a lot of my free time to thinking about ways to not get sick.

I have tried over the counter remedies to keep my body strong and healthy, but nothing seemed to work 100%.

I’ve found that drinking a lot of water and using prevention techniques is the best way to fight off any unwanted sicknesses.

My prevention techniques include, washing my medical scrubs after each wear with color safe bleach and hot water. The bleach helps to get rid of any unwanted germs and bacteria that may still be hanging on after a normal wash.

Since you are going to washing your scrubs a lot I recommend buying inexpensive yet durable scrubs. My favorite medical scrubs are Cherokee Scrubs. They are professional, stylish, strong, and most importantly keep me germ-free.

Remember a nurse can not treat people when they are sick, so stay clean and healthy. A healthy nurse is always a better nurse.

Tips For Taking the NCLEX Nursing Certification Exam

After years of hard work, dedication, and a healthy dose of sleepless nights spent studying, you’ve finally attained your nursing degree. Congratulations! Now it’s time to take the NCLEX-RN, or the National Council Licensure Examination - Registered Nurse. We know that even thinking about taking the exam can be stressful, so we’ve compiled a list of NCLEX tips to help you breathe easier!

1. Start Studying

Don’t wait til a week before the NCLEX to study (unless you’re reading this a week before you take the NCLEX. Then start studying now!). We recommend selecting an NCLEX study guide and reviewing it atleast once a week for several months before you take the exam. This way, if you’re having trouble with a certain section of the test, you can brush up on the information you need to know with time to spare. And you won’t have to cram the night before the exam!

2. Flashcards

There’s a reason flashcards were invented. Many NCLEX study guides actually come with tear-out flash cards to help you study. But you can easily and cheaply make your own on index cards. Take the cards with you at all times - even if you have just a 15 minute break, that’s 15 minutes you can spend studying and you’ll be that much more prepared to take the NCLEX.

3. Sleep!

Studying instead of sleeping is not going to help you do any better on the NCLEX. Getting enough sleep is integral to ensuring that you remember the information you reviewed. Stay away from highly-caffeinated drinks and drinking large amounts of coffee. If you’re feeling tired while you’re studying, take a nap. You’ll feel more refreshed and retain more of the information you studied.

4. Eat!

Sleeping and eating healthy is important to doing well on the exam. So many nursing students become so stressed as the exam date looms up that they forgo sleep and healthy eating habits to study. You may want to nosh on pizza and burgers the whole week, but that’s going to make your body hurt. Stick to healthier “brain foods” that will leave you feeling good.

5. Study with Friends

One of the best ways to study for the NCLEX is by getting together with friends and asking each other questions from your study guides. Bring some food and drinks and get together in a comfy location. Talk about what you all expect to be on the exam, and sections you’re having trouble with. Typically, someone in the group will be stronger at a topic you’re struggling with, and you’ll be stronger at a topic they’re having trouble with. Try to stick to studying for the NCLEX, but don’t worry too much about branching off onto other topics. You’ll be relieving your stress by being around people who have the same worries and concerns you do. You’re not alone.

6. Reward Yourself

It’s the night before the NCLEX. You’re feeling a little stressed since the exam is in only hours. If you’ve been studying for weeks, you might want to look over your flashcards for an hour, but after that, STOP STUDYING! You’re not going to learn anything new the night before your test or dramatically increase your score. Relax, enjoy a delicious dinner, watch a movie or tv, read a book, and go to sleep early. Be sure you have your directions ready if you need them, and any paperwork and identification you need. Get all of this prepared the night before the test so you can rest easy. And most importantly - set your alarm - even two of them!

Be confident when taking the exam. If you’ve been studying, then you must likely know your stuff and you’re going to do great! All of us at Scrubs-Max.com wish you the best of luck.

Once you pass your exam (and you will!), you’ll be a full-fledged nurse and you’ll need Medical Scrubs. At Scrubs-Max.com, we carry low price Cherokee Scrubs to help you look and feel your best even while on the job!