Ease the Way - Gebauer Patient Comfort Blog

10 Worksite Wellness Ideas for Nurses

By: Jennifer Clark | On: March 23, 2017

The average full-time employee in America works 46.7 hours per week. But as healthcare workers know all too well, hospital hours are long and often include double shifts. What is the effect of these long hours on employee health? Research shows that overwork can lead to poor sleep, depression, and even serious health problems such as diabetes and heart disease.

Busy nurses often think about the needs of their patients before their own. Making an effort to include wellness activities can help alleviate some of the stress nurses experience, as well reduce health risks. What are the benefits of a wellness program? We’ll cover this topic along with 10 ideas you can try right now.

Breaking Bad News: A Guide for Novice Nurses

By: Bethany Nock | On: March 21, 2017

Arguably one of the most difficult parts of being a nurse is delivering bad news to patients and their families.

Whether you’re informing a patient of an unfavorable diagnosis or telling someone their loved one has passed away, the situation is emotionally draining and one nurses dread.

To help make the task a little easier, here are a few tips for breaking bad news.

4 Unexpected Ways to Improve Nursing Productivity

By: Bethany Nock | On: March 14, 2017

Above all else, a nurse’s first priority is to provide high-quality care to his or her patients.

What comes after that can be different for every nurse, but likely the most common secondary goal is to be as efficient and productive as possible. Each nurse has his or her own tried-and-true methods for increasing efficiency and productivity, but sometimes it can be a good idea to think outside the box.

Here are four unexpected ways to improve nursing productivity.

Why Nurse Leaders Should Join a Hospital Governing Board

By: Bethany Nock | On: March 2, 2017

Nurse leaders historically have been underrepresented on hospital governing boards. Although most boards included at least a few doctors, it was unusual to see a nurse serve. Unfortunately, that meant the very people who had important experience and insights about patient care didn’t have a voice in the way the hospital was run.

Today, as hospital leaders realize the importance of creating a collaborative environment, nurses are gradually being added to hospital boards. Supporting this initiative is The Nurses on Board Coalition (NOBC). Founded in 2014, the NOBC represents two dozen national nursing and other organizations, including the American Nurses Association, American Academy of Nursing and AARP. Its mission is to increase awareness of the unique perspective nurses can offer and ensure at least 10,000 nurses are on corporate and health-related boards as well as panels and commissions by 2020.

Becoming a member of your hospital’s governing board is an excellent way to initiate positive changes that will benefit the entire hospital and improve patient care. Here are three reasons that you should consider joining a governing board.

How to Create a Nursing Professional Development Strategy

By: Jennifer Clark | On: February 28, 2017

At the end of a busy week, professional development is probably the last thing on your mind. Unfortunately, if you don’t make time for this, you’ll be overlooking an excellent chance to enhance your nursing skills, advance your career and improve the quality of care you provide your patients.

Every professional — especially nurses — should have a strategy for career development. In the dynamic healthcare landscape, there are many new opportunities to grow as both a care provider and a person. With an established strategy in place, you can make sure you’re always ready to take the leap into something new.

Keep these three steps in mind when you create your nursing professional development strategy.