Category: Workplace Issues

A Workforce Under Pressure Nurses across the U.S. are navigating a perfect storm of challenges: critical staffing shortages, emotional and physical exhaustion, stagnant compensation, and growing anxiety about AI and political instability. A recent survey of over 1 million clinicians highlights an all-too-familiar picture: 71% of nurses admit understaffing has directly impacted their workload—with 80% experiencing increased stress and 69% forced […]

  In today’s digital age, social media serves as a powerful tool for healthcare professionals to share knowledge, connect with peers, and advocate for the profession. However, it also presents potential pitfalls when not used responsibly. The recent incident involving nurse Yazz Scott underscores the importance of maintaining professionalism online. The Incident: A Cautionary Tale Yazz Scott, a Licensed Practical […]

In our quest to address the nursing shortage, innovative solutions are essential. However, we must tread carefully when these solutions involve our youth. The recent case of Elliana Tenenbaum, who became a registered nurse at 16, and Indiana’s legislation to allow LPN training in high school, prompt a critical examination of the implications of such early entry into the nursing […]

They told us it would be hard. But they never told us that in the pursuit of saving everyone else, we might lose ourselves. As nurses, we are hardwired to care (it’s in our DNA)—for our patients, our colleagues, our families, and sometimes even strangers on the street. We are taught to push through exhaustion, set aside our own pain, […]

It was 2:45 a.m. when it happened. I had just sat down for the first time all night. One of my patients, a sweet elderly man with dementia, had been restless and in pain since midnight. I had given him his scheduled pain medication around 1:30 a.m., documented everything, and even noted his verbal response: “Thank you, honey. That’s better.” […]

In a harrowing incident on February 18, 2025, at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital in West Palm Beach, Florida, a nurse was brutally attacked by a patient, resulting in critical injuries. The patient, 33-year-old Stephen Scantlebury, was under a Baker Act hold—a Florida law allowing for involuntary mental health examination—when he allegedly assaulted the nurse, causing severe facial injuries that […]

In today’s rapidly evolving educational environment, student health and safety have never been more critical. Yet, many schools across the country lack a full-time registered nurse (RN) on staff, leaving students vulnerable in moments of crisis. While schools prioritize security with school resource officers (SROs), the presence of an RN is just as—if not more—essential for ensuring the well-being of […]

It’s an unsettling thought, isn’t it? To consider that in the act of simply doing our job—communicating with patients, families, and colleagues—we might unintentionally put ourselves at risk. A casual comment can be perceived as a definitive medical opinion. A shared moment of empathy can be construed as overstepping professional boundaries. And when things go wrong, the words we spoke […]

Nurses across the nation are grappling with burnout, dissatisfaction, and a healthcare system that often feels unresponsive to their needs. If you’re a nurse wondering, “Should I stay or should I go?”, you’re not alone. The decision to leave a job is never easy, but taking a structured approach can help you assess your situation and make the best choice […]

There was an article in the American Nurses’ Association magazine titled “Can This Marriage Be Saved? Nurses and Health Systems in Crisis” draws an analogy between the relationship of nurses and their employers and that of a troubled marriage. While the sentiment of seeking reconciliation between nurses and the healthcare system is commendable, I must respectfully disagree with the premise. […]