Category: Facilities

West Nile Virus has been a California public health threat for many years now. Its bird and mosquito carriers spread across the Golden State, bringing the virus with them. Right now, it is the biggest mosquito-carried virus in the entire state by a significant margin. It is so serious that infected individuals are highly encouraged to report cases to their local health departments. What is the West Nile Virus, exactly? How is it spread, and how can it be avoided? What should be done, if it is ever caught? This article will answer all these questions and more.

What is the West Nile Virus? 

The West Nile Virus is flavivirus— A virus variant commonly found in ticks and mosquitoes, which can sometimes transfer to humans. The main carrier of this virus in America is the southern house mosquito (Culex quinquefasciatus), which commonly acquires it after feeding on an infected bird. 

It is important to note that mosquito bites or exchange in fluids (blood transfusions, organ transplants, breastfeeding) are the only way this disease can be transmitted, from person to person. Humans cannot give each other the WNV through regular contact or breathing the same air. 

What are West Nile Virus symptoms? 

WNV symptoms vary greatly in severity. According to the CDC, 80% of infected people will display no symptoms, whatsoever. However, there is at least a 20% chance that WNV victims will display symptoms such as headaches, rashes, diarrhea, pains in the joints, and vomiting. Even when these signs die down, patients could experience tiredness for weeks or even months after. Patients will heal completely after a while in most cases. 

On the other hand, WNV has a small, but very real risk of becoming potentially lethal. There is a 0.67% chance that it can cause nervous system diseases such as meningitis (an infection of the membrane enveloping the brain and spinal cord) or encephalitis (infection of the brain.) These victims exhibit more potent symptoms of neck stiffness, convulsions, and tremors, greater weakness in the muscle, numbness, paralysis, stupor or disorientation, and an even higher fever, just to name a few. Recovering completely can take months, and the diseases can even cause permanent damage. These severe nervous system diseases have a 10% overall chance of becoming fatal. 

How did West Nile Virus reach California? 

In July 2003, scientists found the first instances of WNV in California in a group of mosquitoes. This pool belonged to the Culex tarsalis family and was originally found in El Centro, Imperial County. Since then, the disease slowly but surely spread throughout the state, and has remained a public health problem ever since. 

From 2003 to the present day, there have been 7,500 recorded human cases and 300 confirmed deaths related to WNV. Over the last five years, there have been at least 2.2 reported human cases. California citizens can report dead birds on the official government site, to help them locate and track potential new WNV cases.  

How can I prevent West Nile Virus? 

At the time of writing, there are no vaccines or antibiotics made to prevent WNV. If you are infected and you display symptoms, all you can do is rest well and remain sufficiently hydrated. If the pain is bothering you, over-the-counter painkillers are highly recommended. If the symptoms are severe, you may need hospitalization for extra attention and observation. 

Ultimately, the best way to prevent WNV is to avoid mosquitoes, altogether. Make it a habit to apply a good quality mosquito repellant, before you go naturewalking. Avoid places with standing water, and dispose of any stagnant water in your own home. If you live in an area full of mosquitoes, sleep with a mosquito net over your bed. 

Workplace bullying has become a serious problem in healthcare. HCPs across the country are subject to abuse by their peers. These experiences inflict lasting psychological and physical damage, reduce job satisfaction across the board and can even drive away promising healthcare talents, before they have a chance to reach their full potential. If hospitals want to succeed in keeping their best HCPs, they need to tackle the workplace bullying problem head on. 

What is workplace bullying? 

During its campaign against nurse abuse, the American Nurses Association (ANA) defined bullying as “unwanted, repeated and harmful” acts that are done to distress, embarrass, and offend the receiving party. Meanwhile, “bullying” per the Merriam Webster web dictionary, is defined as mistreatment of a vulnerable individual and group that is inflicted by stronger people, or people in positions of power. 

How prevalent is bullying in healthcare?

A study in 2021 found that 48% of Registered Nurses have been bullied within the last 6 months. Another study cited in the article had the figure as high as 72% of correspondents. Rookie HCPs are the most common victims, as the bullying is excused away as “hazing.” Marginalized groups, such as LGBTQ+ individuals, or people belonging to racial or religious minorities, can also end up experiencing inexcusable abuse.

Though these numbers are staggering, they may not adequately reflect the scope of the issue. Bullying cases can end up underreported. HCPs may end up too intimidated to report abuse, or they do not want to mess with the status quo and team chemistry. In reality, bullying is likely a greater issue than even the numbers suggest.

What are the risks of workplace bullying?

Across multiple levels, workplace bullying is a problem and its consequences could be disastrous. If left unchecked, bullying victims could end up developing negative psychological conditions such as depression, stress, and anxiety. Because of these ailments, HCP productivity is stymied as they are too distracted to focus on their work, resulting in potentially costly errors and misjudgements.

Such a negative environment lowers overall job satisfaction, as well as overall retention. Eventually, HCPs can end up leaving the facility or profession altogether. This can become incredibly costly for healthcare facilities. Finding, recruiting, and training replacements will be a time-consuming and costly process. 

What can be done?

Bullying is a culture problem. Stopping bullying is not as simple as a company wide-reminder at the end of the month. To effectively tackle workplace abuse, facilities need to make a commitment to creating a warm, welcoming workplace culture. From the moment an HCP arrives, it needs to be clear that your facility holds bullies accountable, and protects the weak and abused. These beliefs must be expressed and observed by the leaders, before it trickles down to every level of the organization. 

Culture alone will not suffice, however. There has to be a detailed policy and procedure on how to address bullying. Human Resources and the organizational leaders need to be decisive with stepping in, whenever potential cases of abuse arise. The policy needs to make clear what constitutes as workplace abuse, what channels HCPs must go through to report these cases and what consequences will arise for guilty parties. If the punishment is harsh but fair, and the process is observed, this will discourage workers from bullying their co-workers or patients, in time. 

Finally, it is important to educate the staff about the issue. Some bullies may not be aware of the consequences of their actions. Others may have an idea, but do not care either way. Integrate anti-bullying into workplace training and orientations. Make clear why bullying can negatively affect the co-workers around them, and what repercussions the bullies could suffer, if they are caught. 

The healthcare landscape only grows more competitive. When you apply for a role, you are competing with hundreds (if not thousands) of other candidates with similar qualifications. As much as possible, the modern HCP has to do everything in their power to stand out. One of the best ways to accomplish this is with additional certifications. These signify that you have skills and abilities that some of your competitors may not have. Additionally, it is a testament to your investment in continual improvement and growth as a healthcare professional, which all healthcare facilities value greatly. Most of these certifications also provide Continuing Education Units (CEUs), which makes renewing your HCP certification far easier. 

You can go to a community college, vocational school, or healthcare facility to take these certification courses. Nowadays, however, there are readily available and accredited online training programs at an HCP’s disposal. These training links are quicker, more convenient, and often provide a flexible schedule setup. For healthcare providers who are often too busy to take physical detours, this kind of convenience is a godsend. To get you started, we have listed 5 affordable and accessible online certification programs. 

Domestic Violence: Recognizing and Preventing

Length: 1 Hour

Price: $20

Domestic violence is one of the most prevalent yet hard-to-discuss public health concerns in the entire world. Abuse from a partner or family member can lead to a variety of injuries, mental trauma, and potentially grievous harm if the situation escalates. At the same time, cases can end up underreported because domestic abuse victims fear for their safety, do not internalize their experiences as abuse, or want to “protect” their loved ones from potential repercussions. This course trains HCPs to recognize the physical and mental signs of domestic abuse at different stages. Whether it is reporting the case, or finding ways to prevent it altogether, HCPs will be trained on how to address these issues sensitively. It is a sensitive topic, but HCPs are uniquely equipped to recognize and tackle domestic violence cases. Recognized by the California Board of Nursing, graduates will receive 1 contact hour and certification, upon completion of the course. 

Alzheimer’s and Vascular Dementia

Length: 2 Hours (Includes 2 Pharmacology Hours)

Price: $39.00 (for a 1-year subscription to the Nursing CE course library)

Accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, this course prepares HCPs of all levels to deal with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Through two different mental conditions, both can cripple a patient’s basic functions, and require HCPs to account for their special needs and disabilities. The course educates students on the key differences between the two, and trains them to recognize the signs and symptoms of each condition, at each stage of progression (early, middle, and late.) Students will also be informed on the various non-drug and drug interventions for patients dealing with reversible dementia, along with their benefits and potential drawbacks. Finally, HCPs will be taught how to empathize with and form connections with patients undergoing these challenging and overwhelming challenges. Once you are done with the course, you need to get at least 80% on the final exam and complete a course evaluation and self-reflection practice. Once you have completed this, you can avail of your certification of completion. 

HIPAA Compliance Training & Online Certification

Length: 1.5 Hours

Price: Varies

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 was established to protect the privacy and information of patients, in a healthcare setting. Breaking HIPAA could lead to costly and devastating consequences for HCPS and facilities alike. As a result, facilities must train HCPs on all levels on how to comply with HIPAA at all times. The American Health Training HIPAA program provides comprehensive HIPAA lessons online, in a 1.5-hour package. It dissects and explains HIPAA and HIPAA compliance in a digestible and easy-to-understand manner. Users can learn through highly interactive video lectures and can enjoy convenient access to their material at any time. There are no limits on how many times you can retake the final test or how long you will take to finish the course material. Upon completion, you can download/print your HIPAA certification, which can be presented to and scanned by your employers. 

Online BLS Certification & Renewal

Length: 1-4 hours

Price: $95.00

The California ALCS Training Institute offers fully online and legitimate Basic Life Support certification for California-based nurses. The curriculum is thoroughly crafted and reviewed in compliance with American Heart Association rules and guidelines. Students can stop and start their lectures at their leisure, and can enjoy unlimited access to BLS resources for at least two years, as well as practice tests. At the very end of the course, students will have to answer a 30-question final exam that covers all the material covered thus far. Upon completion, you will receive both BLS certification as well as 4 Continuing Education Units. The service can even provide a reminder, for when you have to renew your BLS certification. If you are not satisfied with the training program, the Training Institute thankfully provides a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

LGBTQ Sensitivity Training for Long Term Care Professionals (Skilled Nursing and Congregate Living) 

Length: 1 hour

Price: $18.00

More likely than not, you will run into patients or even coworkers who identify as LGBTQ+. Queer individuals in healthcare face problems, expectations, and prejudices that they may not be aware of if they identify as straight. This 1-hour sensitivity training program will teach you how to interact with LGBTQ+ patients sensitively and thoughtfully. Among other things, it will teach you why it is important to learn about the LGBTQ+ community, the kind of struggles that the community faces daily, as well as the various laws and regulations concerning interactions with LGBTQ+ patients. From there, you will learn how to create a positive and welcoming environment for queer patients, and how you can materially improve their quality of life. 

The course is good for 1 CEU per contact hour, for RNs, and LVNs/LPNs. Unfortunately, it will not be valid for CNAs. You can only avail of the Continuing Education Unit if specified beforehand. Because of California regulations, you need to complete the course in its entirety to avail of course credit. You must achieve 80% on the final exam to pass the course, but the final test can be taken as many times as needed. You can download and print your certificate of competition at any time within one year of enrollment. 

 

In recent times, Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs have stepped into prominence. In every industry, everyone is speculating about the efficacy, ethics, and practicality of integrating AI into their business processes. In this regard, healthcare is no exception. Experts have already begun to explore AI’s applications in nurse education. Although we have not seen widespread adoption of AI in official school settings, that change may be closer than you think. How exactly can AI change healthcare education as we know it? Are there any concerns that need to be addressed, before AI-driven nurse education can be fully embraced? Below, we explore all this and more. 

What is AI? 

In case you are unaware, AI refers to computerized programs meant to synthesize data, facilitating independent and flexible problem-solving. Although it has always existed to some capacity, programs like ChatGPT provide a potent and (more importantly) publicly available AI chat service to the masses. On the lowest level, school children have turned to these AI chatbots to create entire multi-page essays on a variety of topics. In the bigger picture, AI (Artificial Intelligence) has disrupted and shifted multiple industries.

 How does AI affect nurse education? 

Though ChatGPT and its ilk are interesting resources, they are not “tailor-made” for a nurse education setting. As we speak, tech experts and programmers are creating AI tools and programs created specifically for clinical and classroom settings.

For example, certain programmers are using AI to create dynamic, adaptable simulations for nursing students. In real life, clinical work is not as controlled or scripted as laboratory experiments can be. To succeed, nurses need to adapt to ever-changing situations that can shift at any minute. In theory, Winston-Salem State University’s virtual reality (VR) clinical simulation addresses this head-on. During simulated care, AI creates dynamic and randomly generated patient scenarios that force nursing students to think on their toes. In theory, this lets students hone their spontaneous clinical decision-making within a controlled environment.

WSSU is not the only institution exploring this concept. Last year, The Ohio State University provided a substantial $1.5 million grant to a similar idea. OSU engineers are currently developing a nurse training software that blends “AI, Extended Reality (XR), and Machine Learning.” When they use this program, nurse students will be made to solve increasingly complex skills and problem-solving tests in a simulated clinical setting. AI and Machine Learning draw real patient data from Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center to generate realistic situations and problems that are never the same. Just like the WSSU VR program, this lets nurse students practice their clinical skills and high-level decision-making, without the stakes of real healthcare. 

What are the potential risks of AI in Nurse Education? 

The immediate hurdle between nursing schools and widespread AI adoption is overall tech literacy. For AI to be effectively adopted in a classroom setting, the faculty and the student body must have a certain level of knowledge and familiarity with AI as a concept, as well as the specific tools themselves. Nurse education institutions have to invest in training and educating students and faculty alike, about any new technology that gets adopted and implemented. 

Then certain ethical problems arise with the widespread use of AI. For instance: ChatGPT draws and synthesizes content from all over the internet, without proper citation or credit. In the case of OSU’s advanced simulation software, there is no issue whatsoever. The AI and Machine Learning programs are drawing from OSU’s patient data. Moving forward, AI use must conform to a set of guidelines and boundaries. The uncritical can lead to ethical quandaries regarding fair use and academic integrity. 

Does AI belong in Nursing Education? 

Moving forward, the development of nurse education AI has to be overseen by the nurse educators themselves. They have to develop these programs with the aforementioned ethical concerns in mind. If they want to effectively make use of AI tools in a nurse education setting, they need to change their pedagogy and approach to prepare nursing students for its use. Like any tool, AI is neither inherently good nor is it unequivocally bad. If harnessed incorrectly, it can be an inconvenience that causes more harm than good. It can take nurse education to the next level when used correctly and with proper oversight.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10049425/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8328269/

https://www.myamericannurse.com/ai-artificial-intelligence-in-nursing/

https://www.bestcolleges.com/news/ai-nursing-education/

At VitaWerks, words cannot express how grateful we are for the healthcare professionals who have joined our platform. VitaWerks is what it is now because of your continual quality and dedication to your profession. That is why, once a month, we celebrate an exemplary staff who has accepted assignments at our various partnered facilities.

In this edition, we are excited to announce that Parvin is our healthcare professional (HCP) of the Month. Born and raised in Iran, she moved to the United States in 2015. She gradually made progress toward becoming a certified nursing assistant(CNA). She began using the VitaWerks platform in September 2022, and since then, she has worked on several shifts with a number of our affiliated facilities. Regardless of where she goes, you can expect the highest quality of service from her.

“I love my work. It warms my heart, knowing that I am making the lives of my patients measurably better,” Parvin explained to us. “Knowing this really motivates me to do the best that I can, every day.” On any of her free days, you can bet that she is enjoying quality time with her family. Together, they enjoy keeping in touch with the news and watching a compelling film or two. No matter the activity, any time with family is time well spent for Parvin.

Like Parvin, VitaWerks strives to improve the lives of every HCP that signs up on our platform. In her time booking shifts using the VitaWerks platform, Parvin has had nothing but positive things to say about our services. “I appreciate the flexibility and consistency afforded to me (by the VitaWerks app),” she explained. “I especially love how quick and responsive the agents are. No matter what questions I have, they are always there to answer on time.

By its nature, healthcare should be an inclusive space. Regardless of the patient’s identity, orientation, or background, HCPs have to offer the best possible quality of care. Unfortunately, there is a history of LGBTQIA+ patients being disrespected by the healthcare industry. Though we have made progress, discrimination is still very much a problem among numerous facilities and states. If we want to progress, as a society, we need to move past these deeply-rooted biases. Healthcare should be a space where everyone is treated equally, regardless of their orientation. 

How do we go about enacting change? What can HCPs do to make LGBTQIA+ patients feel safe? Below, we will unpack how LGBTQIA+ patients are treated unfairly, and how HCPs like yourself can change things for the better. 

What issues do LGBTQIA+ patients face?

Historically, LGBTQIA+ patients have struggled with healthcare access, relative to heterosexual patients. For example, acquiring health insurance has been more of a struggle for queer patients. In 2019, uninsured rates for queer patients sat at 12.7 percent, compared to 11.4% for straight individuals. Thanks to discriminatory practices, delays for care or outright refusal from healthcare facilities are all too common. 

Outright discrimination is not the only issue faced by LGBTQIA+ patients. The costs for gender-reaffirming surgeries and hormone replacement therapy can be exorbitant, depending on where the patient lives. If these services are not covered under their insurance, access to these services is outright impossible for a subset of queer individuals. In many cases, HCPs also do not have the appropriate culturally sensitive and competent care for queer individuals. 

What can be done? 

This breakdown scratches the surface of the struggles of LGBTQIA+ patients. Historically, discrimination has jeopardized their access to basic healthcare services. The situation has improved over the years, but there is still work to be done. As we speak, 1 in 8 LGBT+ people resides in states where it is legal for hospitals to refuse care for LGBTQIA+ patients under the guise of “religious freedom.” 

Before any sweeping changes are enacted, HCPs must look inwards. The onus is on HCPs and facilities to improve their approach towards LGBTQIA+ patient care. To get started, we have listed several useful points below: 

Learn terms and definitions 

Do all these definitions regarding queer identity confuse you? To avoid being lost, you want to educate yourself on common terms and issues in the LGBTQIA+ space. With a greater base of knowledge, you will have a better understanding of how your patient wants to be treated and addressed, as you provide care to them. Let us take the difference between sex and gender, for example. 

Sex typically refers to the label assigned to someone at birth, based on their anatomical attributes. The traditional “male or female” dichotomy stems from this. There are also intersex individuals, who possess biological traits that exist outside of the male and female binary. 

Gender refers to the socially constructed traits of men and women. This includes the behaviors, habits, and roles traditionally attributed to both. Gender identity refers to how someone perceives themselves, within this spectrum. Within that spectrum, an individual can be of the male or female gender, another gender, or no gender. Gender identity is fluid and determined entirely by the individual.

This only scratches the surface. This does not tackle all the various gender identities and labels that exist within the spectrum. Thankfully, there are a number of different resources available for further research. We recommend this page of LGBTQIA+ definitions listed by the University of Florida.  

Foster a hospitable environment 

As you can imagine, many LGBTQIA+ patients are typically on their toes. When you are out, you never know where you will be accepted for who you are. HCPs have a responsibility to promote and foster a friendly environment for everyone, regardless of their orientation. Simply treating a patient with the respect and tact that you would any other patient can make a world of difference. This assures the patient that their identity is recognized and does not make them any different or “less desirable” than a straight patient.

Make use of gender-neutral terms 

 If you have to ask them about their romantic or sexual lives, use gender-neutral terms like “partner” and “spouse” to leave things open-ended. This makes it clear to them that you are not assuming anything until it is explicitly specified by them. These are the little touches that will make them feel welcome and accepted. 

Create an inclusive workspace 

You can even customize your workspace, to nonverbally communicate that you are accepting of all beliefs and orientations. Pride flags on your desk, pro-LGBTQIA+ posters, and other inclusive symbols can immediately foster the hospitable and inclusive atmosphere you are looking for. It may not seem like much, but many queer patients enter a hospital with their guard naturally up. When they see these decorations in your office, they can breathe an immediate sign of relief, knowing that their HCP will treat them with the respect that they deserve. 

Use their preferred pronouns 

For a lot of people, pronouns can be easy to take for granted. Addressing someone by their preferred pronouns may not seem like much, but it can be a powerful gesture toward your LGBTQIA+ patients. It is clear communication that you recognize, acknowledge, and respect their gender identity. If your patient shares their pronouns of choice, use them at all times. If you ever use the wrong pronouns and are corrected, acknowledge that you made a mistake and promise to adjust moving forward. 

Educate yourself on LGBTQIA+ Issues

Queer patients have unique struggles that you may not be aware of. Thanks to the discrimination they face, and the aforementioned barriers to treatment, they are subject to a number of health conditions including: 

• Substance abuse.
• Cardiovascular problems
• Limited research regarding and access to hormones. 
• Mental health issues (stress and depression) stemming from harassment or discrimination. 
• Eating disorders
• Higher susceptibility to cancer or STDs, thanks to limited screening options

Inform yourself of the issues commonly faced by the queer community. This way, you know what to look out for and what conditions you should be prepared to address. 

Creating a kinder atmosphere 

All these suggestions merely scratch the surface of what must be done. Providing equitable treatment to LGBTQIA+ patients requires some extra effort and education. With the right approach, however, all this will pay off. It can be difficult for queer patients to secure healthcare services at all, thanks to the discrimination they face on even a legislative level. Even if they manage to secure the services of the facility, there is no guarantee that they are safe from harassment or insensitive treatment. A little kindness goes a long way, and HCPs should feel obliged to provide just that. 

Whether they are in intensive care, labor, and delivery, or cardiac treatment, nurses are an integral part of any healthcare operation. In recognition of this, the American Nurses Association designated May 6 to May 12 as National Nurses Week. The celebration shines a spotlight on the various contributions provided by exceptional nurses across the country.

Just how invaluable are nurses to healthcare facilities? How can we make the most out of this occasion and celebrate their contributions to healthcare as a whole? Read on to find out all this and more.

Why are nurses so important?

From post-operative care to administering important medications, nurses carry out so many different duties in the hospital. Despite all the changes in healthcare throughout the years, bedside care has remained at the core of nursing.

Being admitted to a hospital can be a depressing experience for a patient and their family. The fear of an incoming operation, constant exposure to death and disease, or just the loneliness of it all can take its toll on the hardiest of patients.

They also educate them on their condition and treatment options, so that they are never confused about where they are, on their road to recovery.

Nurses offer an invaluable emotional presence for the rattled patient and their families. Their compassion and composure make a difference that cannot be read by the cardiographs.

Why are National Nurses Week on May 6 to 12?

In 1974, the International Council of Nurses declared that May 12 would be International Nurses Day. May 12 was chosen as it was the birthday of Florence Nightingale.

Dubbed the “Mother of Modern Nursing,” Nightingale laid the foundation for the profession as we know it. Between forward-thinking data collection, writing medical reports, and improving hygiene best practices, her ideas and theories moved nursing toward a brighter future.

National Nurses Week can be seen as an extension of International Nurses Day, in this sense.

How can we celebrate nurses?

We know why we celebrate National Nurses Week and we know when so that begs the question; HOW can we celebrate on May 6-12?

The ANA takes this opportunity to shine a light on nursing contributions, across the globe. Unfortunately, not everyone has the same kind of platform or reach.

Fortunately, the answer is way more simple than you might think. You can write a thank you note to a nurse that has taken care of you, in the past. If you are in contact, you can even offer to treat them out for lunch.

From the outside, this may not seem like much. However, nurses put their emotional and physical well beings on the line, to care for others. Just showing you are thankful can make a world of difference.