Ease the Way - Gebauer Patient Comfort Blog

The Future of Nursing: What You Need to Know Today

By: Bethany Nock | On: February 2, 2017

There has never been a more exciting time to be a nurse. Not only is the number of clinical technologies designed to help make nursing easier and improve patient care constantly increasing, but the opportunities for growth as a nurse are increasing as well.

The healthcare environment is dynamic, with medical breakthroughs emerging every day. To stay ahead of the game, nurses must stay up to date with the latest trends as well as potential future healthcare developments.

As 2017 begins, take a look at these three trends to get an idea of what the future of nursing will look like over the coming months.

Hospital Hazards: Top 3 Health Risks for Staff Nurses

By: Bethany Nock | On: January 25, 2017

To be a nurse is to be a selfless caregiver. From the moment a nurse walks into a hospital or clinic, their main priority is protecting the health and safety of their patients.

While ensuring the health and safety of patients is essential, nurses can’t ignore the importance of their own health and safety. Nurses not only experience the challenges of professionals who are on their feet all day (such as muscle strain and fatigue) but they also face a unique set of risks not usually found outside a hospital or clinic.

To reduce health risks, injury and illness, pay attention to these four safety issues that affect staff nurses.

Surviving a Nursing Double Shift: 5 Helpful Tips

By: Bethany Nock | On: January 11, 2017

Even the thought of a double shift at the hospital can be exhausting. And if it’s an unplanned double, it’s especially taxing since you haven’t had a chance to properly prepare.

While a double is definitely challenging, there are a few ways you can make them a little easier. Here are five ways nurses can get through double shifts.

Managing Healthcare Reform: 4 Areas of Focus

By: Bethany Nock | On: January 3, 2017

Nurses have always played an integral role in providing quality care. New legislation from the last five to six years has provided even more opportunities for nurses to have an important part of enacting change.

There’s never been a better time for nurses to take an active role in healthcare management and innovation because of the Affordable Care Act. As a nurse leader, you are uniquely positioned to shape healthcare reform efforts in your hospital.

Keep these four focus areas in mind as you manage healthcare reform at your organization.

Ensuring Safe Nurse-to-Patient Ratios: What You Can Do

By: Bethany Nock | On: December 1, 2016

Hospital management teams are always on the lookout for methods to trim costs and improve efficiency. Since nurses account for a large percentage of the hospital staff, a frequently used strategy to decrease costs is to reduce the number of nurse labor hours. However, considering the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has placed greater emphasis on value-based care, the appropriate nurse-to-patient ratio is essential to guarantee patients receive the highest quality care.

Traditional nurse staffing systems fail to account for certain variables, resulting in staff shortages and an inability for nurses to spend adequate time caring for their patients. Newer staffing models are more flexible and can be adjusted to fit not only the needs of the entire hospital but also the needs of individual units.

Here are four approaches hospitals can take to ensure safe nurse-to-patient ratios.