Smiling healthcare worker in blue scrubs holds a tablet, standing next to a circular text graphic surrounded by red and blue bursts and stars. The text reads: “Stars, Stripes & Staff Autonomy. Celebrating Freedom in the Workplace Without Starting a Compliance Fire.”

Stars, Stripes & Staff Autonomy: Celebrating Freedom in the Workplace Without Starting a Compliance Fire

Ah, the Fourth of July—parades, fireworks, and the sweet scent of freedom in the air. While Americans celebrate independence, it’s a great time to ask: Are we giving our staff the workplace freedom they crave? You might be thinking, “Sure, but we’ve got policies, procedures, and about 47 compliance boxes to check.” Don’t worry—workplace autonomy […]
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Continuing Education: A Powerful Tool for Keeping Great Staff and Improving Patient Experience

In today’s healthcare landscape, hospitals are feeling the pressure on two fronts: keeping qualified, compassionate staff and improving patient satisfaction scores. These aren’t just HR or clinical issues, they impact culture, reputation, and reimbursement. Over time, I’ve come to believe strongly in one of the most underutilized tools for tackling both: continuing education. Let’s start […]
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A Hispanic female nurse in green scrubs appears as a glowing hologram during a telehealth session with a older adult patient at home.

Beaming Up Healthcare: The Future of Telehealth is Already Here!

Remember when seeing a doctor meant flipping through decade-old magazines in a cold waiting room while coughing strangers sat inches away? Those days are fading fast, thanks to the meteoric rise of telehealth and remote healthcare. What started as a pandemic workaround is now a healthcare revolution—and, trust us, it’s not slowing down. Let’s hop […]
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Group of diverse healthcare professionals and a senior leader sitting around a conference table, smiling and collaborating in a bright hospital meeting room, with overlaid text reading, “The Best & Worst Leadership Practices in Healthcare—And Why Lifelong Training Separates Them.”

The Best & Worst Leadership Practices in Healthcare—And Why Lifelong Training Separates Them

Hospitals now operate at the intersection of accelerating clinical innovation, tightened margins, and record workforce turnover. Directors and C-suite leaders who thrive under these pressures share one trait: they treat leadership as a practice, refined through continuous, structured learning. Those who stagnate—relying on “one-and-done” courses or gut instinct—unknowingly replicate the very worst leadership behaviors: micromanagement, […]
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8 Summer Reads for Nurse Educators – Jennifer’s Picks!

Smart Summer Reads for Nurse Educators: A Professional Development Reading List

As nurse educators, we pour our energy into developing others—building the next generation of nurses through clinical instruction, curriculum design, and professional mentorship. But while we’re shaping future professionals, it’s easy to forget that our own growth matters too. Summer is the perfect season to hit pause, refresh your mind, and rekindle your passion for […]
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An embroidered-style image shows a smiling older Black male patient holding a smartphone in a hospital bed, with a smiling Hispanic nurse beside him. Musical notes and red stitched hearts float around them. Text reads: "From the Heart – 5 Tips to Elevate HCAHPS Scores Through Memorable Patient Care."

From the Heart: 5 Tips to Elevate HCAHPS Scores Through Memorable Patient Care

It Started with Mr. Jenkins… It was a rainy Tuesday when Mr. Harold Jenkins, an 82-year-old retired jazz musician, was admitted to the hospital with shortness of breath and chest pain. He wasn’t thrilled to be there, and his furrowed brow said as much. But something happened over the next few days—something that would prompt […]
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Heart with rainbow colors and an EKG line, promoting LGBTQ+ inclusive care for older adults in long-term care.

Caring with Pride: Supporting LGBTQ+ Older Adults in Long-Term Care

LGBTQ+ older adults have often spent a lifetime navigating stigma, discrimination, and exclusion—experiences that can significantly impact their well-being as they age. In long-term care settings, it’s essential that we provide environments that are not only safe but also affirming and respectful of every individual’s identity. By increasing awareness and strengthening cultural competency, care professionals […]
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Graphic with bold text: “Flip the Script on Aging.” A logo at the bottom right corner reads “Older Americans Month” with the URL acl.gov/oam.

Let’s Promote Inclusive Practices in Long-Term Care Settings

May is Older Californians Month.  This year’s theme is “Flip the Script on Aging.”  It focuses on “transforming how society perceives, talks about, and approaches aging. It encourages individuals and communities to challenge stereotypes and dispel misconceptions” (ACL, 2025). The Growing Impact of an Aging Population According to the Administration for Community Living (ACL), approximately […]
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National Hospital Week: Why Investing in Professional Development Strengthens Hospital Systems & Improves Patient Care

National Hospital Week (May 11–17, 2025) is more than a celebration—it’s a call to action for hospital leaders. As we honor the dedication of healthcare professionals under the American Hospital Association’s theme #WeAreHealthCare, this is a powerful time to reflect on how strategic investments in professional development directly bolster system performance, employee engagement, and patient […]
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Gloved hands forming a heart shape on a teal background with the text “Celebrating Nurses Week: Heroes in Scrubs, Heart in Hand.” A golden badge reads “Thank you for all that you do!”

Celebrating Nurses Week: Heroes in Scrubs, Heart in Hand

Every May, we roll out the metaphorical red carpet for some of the most selfless, skillful, and strong-hearted professionals on the planet—nurses! Nurses Week isn’t just a nod to the history and heart behind the profession (shoutout to Florence Nightingale!); it’s a vibrant celebration of the everyday miracles nurses perform with stethoscopes around their necks […]
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