SafetyNurse1968 BSN, MSN, PhD

Education, Informatics, Patient Safety

If I were in charge of the universe, there would be staffing ratio laws and unions in every state and you'd get written up for NOT taking your breaks.

Patient Safety Columnist / Educator

Safety Rules!

This blog was a joy to write and covered many aspects of patient safety. I am no longer updating it, but enjoy getting comments and questions.

Are you curious about what happens on the frontlines?
COVID

At the Bedside with Covid-19 - Stories from the Frontlines

by SafetyNurse1968, BSN, MSN, PhD

This is the first in a series of interviews were done over the phone during the 3rd week of April, 2020 in response to the global Covid-19 pandemic. I wanted to...

7 replies 5,724 views
What is this pain?
COVID

Case Study: Sudden Severe Pain

by SafetyNurse1968, BSN, MSN, PhD

A new case study in which the patient, D.C., a 52-year-old, white, married college professor wakes up to severe and intensifying pain. Though the coronavirus...

15 replies 9,313 views
What Does Friendship Mean To You?
General Nursing

Are you friends with coworkers? Maybe you should be...

by SafetyNurse1968, BSN, MSN, PhD

"A friend will help you move, but a true friend will help you move a body." What a great quote…and so pertinent to nursing since we move bodies all the time....

11 replies 4,754 views
What is the first thing you think of when you see bruises on a child?
Critical

Case Study: Unexplained Bruises

by SafetyNurse1968, BSN, MSN, PhD

Karen brings her daughter, Ann into the pediatric clinic stating, "She's just been so tired lately. All she wants to do is sleep and she’s got no appetite....

6 replies 8,684 views
Is it a cold, a virus, a bacterial infection? Maybe it's TB? Pneumonia?
Critical

Case Study: What's Causing This Cough?

by SafetyNurse1968, BSN, MSN, PhD

A new case study in which the patient, H.T. an 82-year-old Hispanic man presents to his primary care clinic with cough, malaise and confusion. How well do you...

17 replies 12,490 views
What Do Nurses Really Feel about Nurse Staffing Laws?
General Nursing

Just Say “YES” to Nurse Staffing Laws

by SafetyNurse1968, BSN, MSN, PhD

I wrote an article called Just Say “NO” to Nurse Staffing Laws in which I discussed why mandated nurse-to-patient ratios may not be such a good idea. In...

50 replies 11,261 views
What Do Nurses Really Feel about Nurse Staffing Laws?
General Nursing

Just Say “NO” to Nurse Staffing Laws

by SafetyNurse1968, BSN, MSN, PhD

Mandated nurse-patient ratios may be saving lives, but at what cost? This article presents evidence against the idea of nurse staffing laws. If you feel...

95 replies 21,720 views
Is this Stomach Flu? Anxiety? What is it?
Critical

Case Study(CSI): Stomach flu? Anxiety? What's Going on Here?

by SafetyNurse1968, BSN, MSN, PhD

A new case study in which the patient, A.W. a 65-year-old African American woman presents to her primary care clinic with unspecified complaints. She told the...

39 replies 12,960 views
Surgical Smoke In The News
General Nursing

You Can Smoke in the Operating Room!

by SafetyNurse1968, BSN, MSN, PhD

Nurses in Georgia are seeking a law to protect themselves from surgical smoke inhalation in the operating room. The CDC and the Association of periOperative...

8 replies 6,981 views
Why are they feeling exhausted?
Critical

Case Study: I'm too tired to walk the dog...

by SafetyNurse1968, BSN, MSN, PhD

A new case study in which the patient, T.K. a 51-year-old woman who has finally taken a staycation, doesn’t have enough energy to walk her dog. You’re the...

11 replies 7,117 views
What is causing abdominal pain?
Critical

Case Study: My Stomach Hurts

by SafetyNurse1968, BSN, MSN, PhD

It's late in the day on a beautiful Saturday in late summer. You are finishing up your shift at a local urgent care clinic when a 28-year-old, white male comes...

33 replies 12,576 views
Can gender bias affect a male nurse career path?
General Nursing

Do male nurses face gender bias in nursing education?

by SafetyNurse1968, BSN, MSN, PhD

This article discusses gender bias from the perspective of the nursing student. Men are a minority in the nursing profession and may face bias that can have a...

81 replies 16,738 views
What Are Some Adverse Health Consequences of Gender Bias?
General Nursing

Gender Bias in Health Care

by SafetyNurse1968, BSN, MSN, PhD

This article discusses the very real adverse health consequences of gender bias in healthcare. Though women represent more than 50% of the population, due to...

10 replies 2,854 views
Autopsy Nurse in the Morgue
General Nursing

The nurse in the morgue – Part 3 of my interview with a forensic n…

by SafetyNurse1968, BSN, MSN, PhD

What does an autopsy nurse do? I interviewed Lacy, a forensic nurse who spends part of her workday in the morgue. This is an interesting nursing job I had never...

5 replies 24,260 views
What is it like to be a Forensic Nurse?
Forensic

Forensic Nursing: Role of the Forensic Nurse Part 2

by SafetyNurse1968, BSN, MSN, PhD

In this article I describe how to interview and process a victim of sexual assault. Trigger warning – this article describes scenes of violence that may...

1 reply 11,377 views
What is a Forensic Nurse?
Forensic

Forensic Nursing: Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner – Part 1

by SafetyNurse1968, BSN, MSN, PhD

I interviewed a forensic nurse/sexual assault nurse examiner nurse (SANE) a few days ago. It’s something I’ve always been interested in. I’m a sexual...

8 replies 11,935 views
Why do nurses have to be knowledgeable about alternative treatment modalities?
Critical

Case Study: Trust Your Gut? A Fecal Transplant Could Change Your L…

by SafetyNurse1968, BSN, MSN, PhD

Fecal Microbial Transplant (FMT) is a well-accepted practice for the treatment of C. diff, however in the U.S. it is still typically used only after multiple...

18 replies 12,747 views
How can I best handle sexual assault?
General Nursing

What Does #MeToo Really Mean? Pt2

by SafetyNurse1968, BSN, MSN, PhD

Summary: This two-part article was inspired by a talk given by Tarana Burke, the founder of the #MeToo Movement. In part I1, I talked about the history of the...

0 replies 2,039 views
How can nurses get involved with the #metoo movement?
General Nursing

What Does #MeToo Really Mean?

by SafetyNurse1968, BSN, MSN, PhD

This article (presented in two parts) discusses the #MeToo movement, including notes from a talk I attended by Tarana Burke, founder of the movement, as well as...

18 replies 4,535 views
Can taking ecstasy heal PTSD?
Critical

Case Study: Magic Mushrooms as Medicine? Mind-Body Connection Pt. …

by SafetyNurse1968, BSN, MSN, PhD

Can "tripping" cure depression? Can LSD reduce chronic anxiety? This article explores the use of psychedelics to treat mental illness. Read on to find links for...

10 replies 6,882 views