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Editor's Note: Legacy in Action
THE THEME FOR THIS ISSUE IS LEGACY IN ACTION and for me, legacy means what choices or actions we make that affect others around us. It can be from a small action of sitting with a patient and their family to creating a new policy on your floor that affects patient outcomes for years to come. Many people see legacy as one big action that lives on after one dies, but I see legacy differently in a way that has the potential to create multiple legacies from either small or large actions throughout our lives.
I hope that I'm creating multiple legacies throughout my life. While I was working bedside, I'd look for special moments to connect with my patients in a way that they would forget about the illness or tragedy they were facing just for a moment to smile or laugh. And I hope that when they look back on their hospital stay, they will remember that moment over the pain they felt or the sadness they were feeling. That is a legacy I hope I left them with.
And the same goes for my comedy shows. I hope to give the nurses who attend a special moment and a memory of laughter that makes them forget about the stress of nursing. With the NurseCon at Sea conferences, my goal is for the attendees to have the most epic balance of learning and fun in a way that makes them feel empowered and important. That is the legacy I hope to leave them with.
While you may not know what legacy you're leaving behind I want to tell you that you've already left little legacies with each patient you encounter. I hope you use the power of your legacy to get you through those tough shifts and hard days. And my goal for the magazine is to highlight all of the amazing nurses and their incredible stories and to bring a smile to your face. So sit back, put your aching feet up, and enjoy!
Many people see legacy as one big action that lives on after one dies, but I see legacy differently in a way that has the potential to create multiple legacies from either small or large actions throughout our lives.
Have you ever scrubbed a rectal tube? How about reused IV needles and Foley catheters? If you are a veteran nurse, then yes, you have! Sandra Benko, a nurse with over 60 years of experience, described how nursing has changed, and she gave us all the crazy details about bygone nursing duties! Read all about the evolution of nursing in the Nursing Then and Now article.
We chose Dr. Marie O. Etienne for this issue’s Nurse of the Quarter, and with her long list of accomplishments, you'll understand why. Originally from Haiti, Dr. Etienne persevered through many setbacks to become a nurse. But she didn’t stop there. She continued on to become a pediatric nurse practitioner and nursing professor. She has received multiple awards, including the prestigious Florence Nightingale Medal. She is the first Black president of the Florida Nurses Association. She has volunteered in Haiti and has led multiple medical missions. And she created a non-profit organization dedicated to helping survivors of crimes, human trafficking, and domestic violence. She is truly an inspiration!
Ever heard of a Drum Corps nurse? No? Well, imagine your typical work day: you're not in a hospital but traveling across the country with a bunch of talented musicians and performers. Your patients? Young adults pushing their bodies to the limit in the summer heat, all for the love of music and showmanship. This issue’s Unique Nursing Role is definitely not your average nursing gig. Check it out!
Who’s part of the coochie crew? Where are my expert baby bundlers? Let's get real about Labor and Delivery vs. Postpartum nursing. Our contributing nurse writer, Sara, decided to cut through the fluff and go straight to the source. She interviewed nurses from both departments to give us an insider perspective about what it's really like on the front lines of the maternity departments.
Let’s face it: Drug diversion and substance use disorders among nurses are very real and won’t be going away any time soon. We need to have a candid conversation about the dark realities of this nursing crisis. We spoke with a nurse survivor who bravely shared her story of addiction, diversion, and recovery. She hopes her story will spread awareness and help others also dealing with this dangerous and destructive disorder.
Why can’t nurses bill for their services like every other healthcare profession? This issue’s Nursing News delves into the problem of nursing care being lumped into a hospital room charge. If hospitals could bill for and get reimbursed for nursing services, they may finally decide to staff their units appropriately. Be sure to read the full article to learn more about the Commission for Nurse Reimbursement and why changing how nursing care is billed should be a top priority!
We wrapped up another mind-blowing, off-the-charts NurseCon at Sea cruise in April, and boy, did we make some waves in Mexico and The Bahamas. Here’s what you get when you combine a boatload of clocked-out nurses looking to soak up the sun and party until the wee hours of the morning, all while getting a bunch of sweet CEUs: an epic nursing conference cruise vacation that’s a trip of a lifetime! Don’t miss this fun-filled recap, and be sure to register for the cruise to The Bahamas in 2025 before it sells out!
My goal for the magazine is to highlight all of the amazing nurses and their incredible stories and to bring a smile to your face.
Ask Nurse Blake is always a good conversation starter. I answered questions about JCAHO, the most stressful parts of nursing, why it’s so important to join nursing associations, and gave tips on how nursing units can help their staff bond as a team. Ask me anything, and I’ll give you my honest response.
Meet Nurse Joelle, a kickass flight nurse who spends her time off the clock as a humanitarian worker abroad. Joelle has volunteered in Ukraine and is now part of a team developing a training program for nurse paramedics in conflict zones. The pilot program will begin in Kyiv, Ukraine, this October, followed by Somalia, Africa. Read her fascinating story in Off the Clock!
I hope you enjoy this issue as much as I do! It’s loaded with inspirational nursing stories that will leave you in absolute awe. I’m so proud of all of the incredible nurses, nursing students, and healthcare professionals who make a difference in people’s lives every day—it’s our legacy in action that provides a profound impact in this world. So remember to make each day and every interaction count!
With love and laughter
