September has always been the month I have made career changes. It is because this is the time of year when school starts, and we all begin with a clean slate. Over the holiday weekend, I had time to reflect on my career. I have had a great career, with some great...
Have you heard about GIMMERS? Recently, there has been a lot of talk about GIMMERS and how recognizing and embracing them can improve our lives. In this post, I want to introduce you to GIMMERS so you can recognize them when they come into your life. The term GLIMMERS...
In this post, I review a new book that will be released in early October that guides healthcare leaders, specifically nurse leaders, in addressing the ills of our broken healthcare system. I contributed to the book and wrote Chapter 16, Taking Care of You. In this...
I hope you are having a good summer! I wanted to share some of my writing for this week’s post. After reviewing them for this post, I found they are still pertinent and can help you personally and professionally. Take a look. If you have not read them, download...
When I started writing my Blog, Nurse Advocate, in 2016, I said I wanted to accomplish three things: To educate people ( and caregivers) on how to be their own best advocates when they are thrust into the complex healthcare system To educate healthcare professionals...
As a new retiree, I reflect on how I prepared to be where I am today. Looking back, I realized that I started preparing when I was 30. It was 1984, and I was working for a Risk Management Company. 401Ks were being introduced by employers. The company I worked for had...
I hope you are having a good summer. Many are on vacation, resting, and spending time with their families, so I want to keep this post short and to the point. When you return to your usual routine, make sure you are registered to vote in the November election. If you...
Since 2016, I have shared my Summer Reading list with Nurses Advocate readers, social media followers, and family and friends. The 2024 Summer Reading List is robust and will provide interesting reads for Summer Reading and Beyond. I thank all who have contributed to...
Last week, the Case Management Society of America held its annual conference in Providence Rhode Island. Four important papers were released that all case managers can use and share with patients and families, physicians, health systems, payers, and case managers from...
I was talking to my cousin, who recently had complicated spinal surgery for an advanced case of Scoliosis. He has had this condition for years but never found a doctor who could help, and now he is having trouble walking due to advances in the condition. Before the...
Welcome to the 2024 Professional Reading List. I create this list each year at this time to share books and e-letters that help me keep my finger on the pulse of the healthcare industry. I hope you will check out these resources to learn about each publication and...
When you fly, you have heard the flight attendants during the pre-departure announcement say: “If we lose cabin pressure, a mask will fall from above. Put your mask on first, then assist your child or companion who might need help. They do this because you can only...
The American Nurses Association celebrates National Nurses Week 2024, May 6 – May 12, and throughout May. This year’s theme, “Nurses Make the Difference,” honors the incredible nurses who embody the spirit of compassion and care in every...
I recently came across an interesting post on LinkedIn. The post announced that this was “Stress Less Week.” I had never heard of this week, so I dug deeper and found that ‘Stress Less Week’ is a biannual event hosted by Active Minds at colleges and...
One of the most important things nurse case managers can do when working with patients and their families is to help them set realistic expectations of the healthcare system. Before people enter the healthcare system, they think it is organized and coordinated and...
Caregivers face emotional and physical demands that strain even the strongest person. In her new book, Caregiver a Role We Least Expected—Tips and Tidbits to Help in Your Role, Peggy Rossi, a friend and colleague from LinkedIn, shares information to help caregivers...
Storytelling is one way to educate. Stories allow us to see things in a new light and help us understand how we relate to the situation. Storytelling can help someone see things differently and develop ways to handle a challenge. In this post, I share some of the...
Last week, I shared a story titled When the System Works It Works Well. A comment from a reader made me rethink this story and see a different perspective that I had not considered. I wanted to share it with you as it was an important realization that we must remember...
