Innovative Nurse

5 Futuristic Medical Gadgets

Guest Post — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:07:56 +0000

Oscar Wilde might not have been thinking of medicine when he famously wrote that “life imitates art,” but if he were alive to witness some of the medical gadgets arriving on the market today he would feel vindicated. Sci-fi fans of all kinds can now marvel at the realization of their favorite stories, as many of these devices could have come straight from an episode of Star Trek or from the pages of a William Gibson novel.

Those who are planning a career in the healthcare industry will be especially interested in the following gadgets, since several of them are expected to influence all levels of training, from medical assistant programs to university departments of surgery. Staying informed about these developments and others can help candidates prepare better for their future careers.

Drug Reaction Avatars

Virtual reality has a long way to go before it can reach the level of detail displayed in films like The Matrix, but anyone who has spent time online has probably used an avatar to represent themselves at some point. While these make great immersion tools for game and chat room designers, avatars have also been found to be helpful in visualizing important clinical data.

Nhumi Technologies has recently designed an avatar that draws upon data collected by the FDA to help users gain a better understanding of the potential side effects of various drugs. The avatar uses color coding to display which parts of the body are most affected by the drug and also includes filters that enable users to shape the avatar in a way that best represents their medical profile.

Bionic Humans

The field of bionics has not yet created a six million dollar man, but a $55,000 artificial hand that can do almost anything is a good start. Last year, Formula One fan Matthew James wrote a letter to the head of the Mercedes team offering to advertise their logo if they paid for an artificial replacement for his missing left hand. Moved by his request, the Mercedes Company teamed up with prosthetic limb developer Touch Bionics to create a custom version of the i-LIMB Pulse, a fully-articulated prosthetic hand that enables users to perform a range of tasks from writing to playing catch.

Medical Nanomachines

The Fantastic Voyage showcased the vast potential of nanotechnology decades ago with a molecule-sized submarine designed to perform delicate surgical procedures without harming surrounding tissue. Although engineers have not yet figured out a way to shrink humans to pilot such tiny devices, they are currently working on nanomachines that could deliver drugs, diagnose illnesses and perform surgeries at the microscopic level.

Figuring out how to power these nanomachines has been a problem until very recently, when electrical engineer Ada Poon designed a tiny device that could be controlled and powered via radio transmitter. While Poon is not the first to come up with the idea, she has managed to get around the mathematical roadblock that has discouraged other engineers from thinking that radio waves could penetrate deeply into human tissue.

Portable Medical Scanners

Many patients wish for the day when they no longer have to go through the tedious and often uncomfortable process of an annual medical checkup, which is why the mobile, noninvasive “tricorder” medical scanner from Star Trek is so appealing. While no single portable medical probe can match the utility of Dr. Bones’ scanning device, they become more sophisticated every year.

One such device known as “Venus” uses light to measure oxygen levels in the blood, enabling EMTs and combat surgeons to quickly detect hidden trauma that could lead to fatal blood loss. In addition, smart phone technology is becoming a popular way to record vital signs, as there are now apps that can measure body temperature and heart rate.

Breast Cancer “Death Ray”

In 1950s science fiction B movies, alien invaders would often use a terrifying “death” ray to vaporize buildings and fry a hapless human in less than a second. While the military continues to research ways to weaponize laser beams and lightning bolts, medical doctors have been using these for benevolent purposes.

Because cancer kills so many people, a great deal of time and money is spent finding safer and more effective ways to combat this deadly disease. Recently, scientists have discovered a new treatment for breast cancer involving electricity that promises to be much less invasive than traditional surgical procedures. Like an alien death ray, the electrical current “cooks” tumors inside the breast, killing cancer cells in about the same time it takes to boil an egg.

These are only a few of the many exciting advancements that appear in medical news sources each year. Although science fiction writers continue to dream up fantastic medical gadgets that have yet to appear in medical labs, it’s only a matter of time until they become a regular feature of medical assistant training and surgical schools.

Image Credit: TouchBionics.com

Brandi Tolleson is an avid science fiction and technology writer interested in the latest gadgets and tech developments. Some of Brandi’s most recent articles have been focused on medical assistant programs and other medical education training programs.

The Picture of Health in the US

Guest Post — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:22:51 +0000

Healthcare in the United States is an ever growing industry. Millions of people are employed in the field and even more are expected to join it as the American population ages. For people across the country, health is a very personal matter, while the upcoming November elections make the matter highly political.

However, what worries most people is the rising cost of health care. Costs have risen at a much greater speed than have the costs of almost any other facet of society. To demonstrate this disparity, it is said that gasoline in the United States would now cost $13.50 per gallon if its cost had risen at the same speed as healthcare costs have.

There are as many opinions about healthcare as there are people in the United States. Americans must own the healthcare system as their own and fight to right the wrongs within it. With proper care and dedication, the system can once again work for Americans.

Graphic provided by: Top Masters in Healthcare

Act like a kid. It’s good for business.

Kevin Ross — Wed, 02 May 2012 23:38:10 +0000

So, I can attest to life as an entrepreneur being an ongoing battle with juggling multiple projects and ideas. This past week however threw a few more balls in the air. A few sick kids later, and there goes all of my scheduled meetings, time at the office, and having to grind through the days working from home. I have everything I need (and more) at my home office, but can we just say distraction central when you’ve got kids around? You know what I’m talking about.

Hey dad, I’m hungry…no I don’t want that…Well what can I have?..Fine! I just won’t eat anything!..

Hey dad, what time is that birthday party on Friday?…What does perseverate mean?..What do you mean I’m doing it now?..Huh, I don’t get it, what am I doing to perseverate?…

Now fast forward to this week and my youngest bounced enthusiastically right back into school. The other two however decided to “linger” with mild symptoms. Hey, I’m a nurse and a child health consultant. I couldn’t in good conscience or clinical judgment send them to school so I figured by Wednesday I would be good to go and it would be full steam ahead. This whole ordeal was pretty stressful and I was reliving the days when they were home sick just about every other week.

Tuesday evening my oldest says to me, “don’t forget tomorrow is late start at school.” This lovely occurrence happens about once a month, but I somehow neglected to notice it on my calendar.

“What?! Good Grief! I’ve got to cancel another meeting?”

Let’s jump ahead and get to my point before the story starts to disintegrate. Okay, it’s now Wednesday morning and I’m feverishly trying to catch up on everything. I’m attempting the impossible. I’ve already been working in the evenings and burning the candle at both ends. So as I start to find an off beat rhythm, I feel myself struggling to focus on just one project and I keep getting pulled in various directions. I’m distracted again and my son is outside playing with the other kids who also have late start. I then hear the sounds of skateboarding, and I perk up.

If you don’t know this about me, you will now. I was a HUGE skateboard rat back in the day. I lived for it. It was the one thing that allowed me to experience every possible emotion, but it simply just brought me peace in my sometimes chaotic childhood.

So I decide to embrace this feeling again. I drop my pen, throw on some protective gear (hey, I have to be a good role model for the kids), leave my stacks of paperwork, grab my board and head for the door. Now I’ll admit I’m a little rusty and nowhere near the skateboarder I used to be. It’s not as graceful, but I can still do a nollie 360 shove it kick flip like this:

My kids of course love to see me skate, but my wife, well she just looks at me like I need a friendly reminder about how I’m not a kid anymore. I love you honey, but I’m having fun. Besides it’s a great bonding experience with my boys, not to mention I get to totally ~~school~~ mentor the other kids who are just starting out.

The stress melts away, I’m throwing high fives for the tricks we’re all landing, and my oldest keeps telling me to stay outside until he has to go to school so I know he’s having fun just hanging. It’s moments like these that I realize I’m blessed to have a thriving business and I get to turn down projects because there’s just no bandwidth available. It’s busy, but I still get to hang with my family.

As an entrepreneur I’m steering this ship and I get to make those decisions about the what, when, and where of my work. I still have to remind myself of this because I will let it swallow me up, and if you’re not cognizant of this then it will very likely happen to you.

If you’re distracted, you’ve neglected yourself physically, or if you haven’t nurtured those relationships, then you need to put down whatever it is you’re doing and get cracking. In some cases such as mine, it might be time to act like a kid again. Let me put the parent hat on for a moment and tell you to make good decisions, but just let go for a moment and embrace what’s most important in your life. Sure it’s great to get your cardio on, but don’t forget to laugh and act goofy every now and again.

Business is business and I can “crush it” with the best of them. I live this stuff, but it isn’t worthwhile unless I get to call the shots in my personal life as well. I’m not always going to be able to land those tricks and one day my boys will probably think I’m not as cool, but I’ll hang onto that for as long as I can and enjoy their company.

The take home message here people is balance. Find it, practice it, and live it.

Having the opportunity this morning allowed me to feel refreshed. I powered through all of that paperwork and my desk is clean. I answered a ton of emails and called everyone back. I even got a chance to squeeze in this post.

Thanks boys. Dad loves you.

5 Things You Can Do to Celebrate Nurse Appreciation Week

Guest Post — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:00:17 +0000

Very few people would deny that nurses are the lifeline of the healthcare field. They provide support to both patients and doctors, in a wide variety of ways, and are responsible for the smooth functioning of healthcare facilities. For those reasons, there is an entire week devoted to honoring nurses and all they do for us. If you are a doctor or a manager who relies on the support of nurses, then there are some great ways you can show them how much they mean to you. Here are five things you can do to celebrate nurse appreciation week:

Massages. Nurses spend a lot of their time and energy caring for others. By treating them to a professional massage, you are paying them back with some much-needed pampering. Ask local massage therapists what kind of discount you can get for purchasing massage passes for your entire nursing team.

Gift certificates. By giving gift certificates to a restaurant or store, you are giving your nurses the chance to focus on themselves (for a little while, at least). Make it a point to ask around, in an inconspicuous way, for everyone’s favorite things, and then try to customize your gift certificate purchases to each of your nurses.

A keepsake book. Put together a scrapbook of your nurse’s photos, quotes, and memorable experiences, milestones, and achievements. Send what you have to a printer that specializes in creating keepsake books, and then give a book to each of your nurses. Not only does this gift show that you are paying attention, but it also shows that you are willing to go the extra mile to show that you care.

Throw a nurse appreciation party. Or even just a long lunch. Have it catered and make it fun, with prize drawings and games. Plan this out in advance to make it something special and memorable. Be sure to send out formal invitations, so that each of your nurses on staff can plan on being there, and choose a time for your party when you know everyone is either off work or due for a break.

Gift baskets. Put together some gift baskets containing a multitude of special treats for your nurses. Again, it is a good idea to gather a wish-list early on, and then to tailor each gift basket to the recipient. Try to vary your gift basket constituents, including things that are practical alongside more luxury items. Don’t forget to make it pretty!

Remember that National Nurses Week begins on May 6, so you will want to start your planning now. Draw inspiration from this list of great ways you can celebrate the nurses on your staff.

About the Author: Brittanie Parlato is a medical billing specialist in a major hospital. She sees how hard nurses work and knows they deserve some extra recognition from time to time! A career in medical billing is a great way to help people without getting involved in hands on patient care. For more information, click here!

I want my two dollars

Kevin Ross — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 20:35:38 +0000

As a business owner there are challenges in both getting paid what you’re worth, and in some cases actually getting paid. The latter is truly unfortunate. I couldn’t have said it any better than the paperboy Johnny in the movie Better off Dead:

“I want my two dollars”

For the first challenge I’ll go ahead and repeat myself. Whether I‘ve had a conversation with you, I’ve posted an article about it, or if you’re hearing it for the first time. Value yourself and set a rate that is worth your time. Sure it’s okay to barter your services as long as it is initially agreed upon by both parties, but do remember you still need to get paid for most of your work. Otherwise you’ll find yourself out of business pretty shortly after you’ve just started.

So I find myself mentoring professionals with various backgrounds and specialties, but I do find the biggest challenges are with the Nurses that I work with. Don’t get me wrong, I love working with you, but you’re going to have to take the emotion out of money. For those of you who are not healthcare professionals this may not be as big a concern, but it does always come up in our conversations.

For healthcare providers it’s a bigger challenge to remove the emotional tie to the dollar when we are typically providing products or services to a target market that may at the time be in crisis. We hope to be helping people. There’s a problem, and we’re providing the solution, but often times it can be during a time when an individual is at their most vulnerable. It doesn’t seem fair, but ask yourself, does your healthcare provider have any hesitation sending you a bill?

To my fellow nurses (and other healthcare professionals), you’re going to have to do your research on what’s fair market value for both the client and for you as an entrepreneur, but it simply just comes down to business. I do recommend however that you try and compare your services to other professionals out there because I feel that some of you are still “volunteering” your time.

Let me preface the next challenge.

I’ve been a member of Freelancers Union for years. I think I was the first nurse to join, and I may still be the only one. Initially I felt a little out of place considering that most of the professionals in the union are more of the “creative” type. What I quickly discovered however is that they too were having some of the same issues I was and still do today. The organization continues to have more relevance for me as I’ve branched out into other areas of consulting, but I bet that regardless of your background or service you provide that you’ll find this group a very helpful resource.

So, because of my membership with Freelancers I became aware of a recent movement if you will about the world’s longest invoice. Again, this seems to mostly consist of freelancers out there that are non-healthcare professionals, but hey, this could happen to you and I know it does.

Going back to that part about feeling valued and getting reimbursed at a rate that is actually fair and being able to send out that invoice for payment on a job well done is amazing. What happens however when all of that hard work you just put in has no return on your investment? Your client that you were so excited to work with just became a deadbeat client. Let me just say that if you start to notice signs while working with them such as emails going unanswered, phone calls not returned, or just something about the energy that’s changed, STOP THE WORK IMMEDIATELY, and attempt to reconvene about the scope of work and ensure that everyone is on the same page.

I’m not recommending you go out to a client’s home dressed in black, foot in the door, switchblade comb running through your hair asking for your two dollars like Johnny (if you don’t know the reference you have to watch the movie), but if persistence isn’t paying off then the next step may be to seek the advice of an attorney. They’ll of course ask if you have a signed contract with the client, and I always tell people that this is a must before any work is started. Get it inked.

To our clients, we do appreciate your timely payment and enjoy working with you very much, but if you start falling behind we may have to call Johnny to collect.

All jokes aside though, one of the services that we use is Freshbooks and we are getting paid faster on our deliverables. It does help and you’ll see what I mean if you give it a spin.

So, what challenges have you faced as an entrepreneur either getting what’s fair in your industry, or actually getting your two dollars?

HTC One S or HTC One X? What’s your sense?

Kevin Ross — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:30:34 +0000

So with the impending launch of HTC’s One line of devices here in the U.S., which device are you going for? The One S, or the One X? Sure it’s probably an “easier” decision if you’re already with AT&T and you don’t plan on leaving, so you’d naturally just get the One X, and if you’re in the same situation as a T-mobile customer, then you’d go for the One S. Or, do you defect and jump over to the “other” carrier for the device you’ve been eyeing or in T-mob’s case maybe you’re looking to lower that monthly bill and jump on to some of those crotch rocket speeds they’ve been touting:

Here’s where the dilemma occurs. The One is HTC’s new flagship phone, however the argument starts with the One S vs One X. Now, I’ll let the other technology sites really break this down for you, but don’t be fooled by my lack of ability to “geek out” with the rest of you just because I’m a nurse. I eat technology for breakfast.

Well, I actually had a peanut butter and banana sandwich this morning, but hey, I was eating and surfing on my Android device at the same time so there!

Anyway, many of you feel that T-Mobile’s One S version is inferior to the One X. Now with the just released news that you can get your hands on the One X from AT&T on May 6th, and the confirmed 1.5 GHz Dual Core Snapdragon (S4) processor in lieu of the Quad Core Tegra 3, which one is it going to be for you? T-mobile is puffing their chests out this evening to talk about their launch of the One S, which apparently can be in your hands by next week. Below is the comparison we’ve all seen and is courtesy of HTC’s website.

HTC One S Specs:

Operating System	Android™ 4.0 (ICS) + HTC Sense™
Processor	1.5 GHz Dual Core Qualcomm MSM8260A
Memory RAM	1 GB DDR2
Memory Storage	16 GB onboard storage
Display	4.3″ qHD Super AMOLED 960 x 540
Network	HSPA 42 Mbps
Wi-Fi®	802.11b/g/n
Battery	1650 mAh, Embedded
Camera	(Main): 8 MP, f/2.0, BSI, Single LED – Smart Flash, ImageChip 1080p HD Video with Stereo Sound (Front): VGA (640 x 480)
Audio	Universal Beats Audio
Dimensions	130.9 x 65 x 7.8mm (8.9 for bump area)

HTC One X Specs:

Operating System	Android^™ 4.0 (ICS) + HTC Sense^™
Processor	1.5 GHz Dual Core Qualcomm MSM8960
Memory RAM	1 GB DDR2
Memory Storage	16 GB onboard storage
Display	4.7″ HD super LCD 1280 x 720
Network	LTE CAT3 – DL 100 /UL 50 LTE: 700/AWS WCDMA: 2100/1900/AWS/850 EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900
Wi-Fi^®	802.11 a/b/g/n
Battery	1,800 mAh, Embedded
Camera	(Main): 8 MP, f/2.0, BSI, Single LED-Smart Flash, ImageChip, 1080p HD Video with Stereo Sound (Front): 1.3 MP with 720p video
Audio	Universal Beats Audio
Dimensions	134.8 x 69.9 x 8.9 mm

Alright, so what’s it going to be? Hey, I too have been eying the One X for that screen size alone, but is the incremental difference going to be noticed? Does it come down to price?

AT&T’s contract price is $199.00, while T-mobile hasn’t announced their contract price as of yet. [Update: Looks like T-Mobile is coming in at the same price]

Does AT&T’s LTE speeds compared to T-Mobile’s HSPA mean anything to you? I’m sure it does depending on the area you’re in. So, here’s the thing. I’ve been a T-Mobile customer for over 10 years and haven’t really had any major issues with them in the last 4-5 years as they’ve built out their network here in Colorado. I’m not bound by any contract, therefore I could leave lickity split and move over to the One X with AT&T. Not to mention I could get that 25GB of cloud storage from Dropbox. Love me some Dropbox.

T-Mobile, you’ve been pretty good to me over the years with your lower priced plans and great service (for me that is). Do I look the other way, foregoing the 4.7″ HD Super LCD display of the One X vs. the 4.3″ Super Amoled on the One S? Oh, and One S, will your 1650 mAh battery give out on me just when I need a little extra oomph just to get those last few tasks done at the end of the day versus the 1,800 mAh of the One X?

Hey, I’m not always near a plug and typically out in the community, so I need some juice on the go.

I’m not too worried about the HSPA speeds. We can go to the mat and smack AT&T’s LTE network around a little bit if we so desire. Don’t worry, I’m wearing a cup. Even though the AT&T plans wouldn’t be out of my budget, I just don’t know if I could in good conscience pay the extra dough for comparable service.

I use an incredible amount of minutes and I text like a teenager, but I wouldn’t say I’m at the top end of the data hogs out there, so the limits on the data isn’t as concerning. I’d rather have my data throttled than be forced to pay more if I go over my allotment.

Anyway, if you’re in the same or somewhat similar situation, which one are you going to choose?

Five Office Chair Types That Can Make or Break Your Staff

Guest Post — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:39:51 +0000

Are you sitting down for this? According to a study done by the Medical Billing and Coding Organization, sitting for extended periods of time can lead to severe health problems. However, sitting in the wrong position or at the wrong angle is even worse. Surprisingly, sitting at a 70 degree angle, or leaning forward, and sitting straight up at a 90 degree angle puts a significant amount of pressure on your back. Instead, sitting back at a 135 degree angle relieves that pressure and increases blood flow.

Back pain is one of the most common complaints from people who sit all day. Back pain also leads into neck and shoulder strain and headaches. Luckily, strain on your back is one of the easiest things to fix. If you suffer from back pain after sitting for extended periods of time at work, start by making a conscious effort to get up and walk or move as much as possible. Then look to your office chairs. Often times, these are the easiest pieces of furniture to replace and can make the biggest difference towards a change that will immediately improve your health and the health of your office.

The following are a few comfortable office chairs that will help reduce the strain on your back and improve how you feel at work almost immediately.

1. Chairs with Lower Lumbar Support

The first chair to look for when finding a chair to support your back is one with lower lumbar support. This will reduce the amount of pressure put on your back from sitting too upright or leaning too far forward. Many of these chairs will also adjust to specific placement of lumbar support so that you can create the perfect chair for your body.

2. Chairs That Encourage Movement

By sitting in a chair that moves back and forth, your back can extend as far back as needed, and you can feel more comfortable to move more naturally.

3. An Exercise Ball Chair

Exercise balls are used to align your back and teach your body to use your core to sit up straighter. They are a great addition to a regular office chair and encourage proper posture.

4. A Kneeling Chair

This is another alternate sitting style that encourages the kneeling position. Find a kneeling chair with a back rest too, and you have a perfect ergonomic solution.

5. A Rocking Stool

This unique type of office chair encourages continual motion while at the office. It is flexible and helps you move around, but it is also designed to eliminate the fear of falling.

While sitting may be inevitable at your job, it does not mean that you must suffer back pain and headaches. With the right chair, you can improve your health almost immediately and your comfort at work.

To Jim, writing is everything. The topic he most enjoys writing about is furniture. If you’d like more information regarding Office Chairs, please visit http://www.sitbetter.com/

Save Wash

Kevin Ross — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 22:46:19 +0000

Every now and again, I’m inspired to write about something that either ~~pisses me off~~ burns me up or tugs at my heart strings. I think this post will have a little of both. I suppose this is why we have “the podium” here at Innovative Nurse.

So, one of my Tweeps out there, @RedTapelass (Tashi), is fighting the good fight to have whatever “crammed in” life she can have with her dying husband, Wash. From what I’ve gleaned from her blog, Wash was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme, a terminal form of brain cancer.

Their story follows the path of many out there struggling to receive good quality healthcare at an affordable price. You don’t usually hear good quality and affordable in the same statement, but I’d really love for it to be the tagline for our fractured system. I can dream can’t I?

So it seems that in order for Wash to receive the daily care he needs, Tashi had to quit her job to become his full-time caregiver. As you might imagine, with no income but from the small amount they receive in state assistance, they are barely able to maintain. Wash was admitted to home hospice at the beginning of this year and although these services can provide a great support to a patient and the family, it can still present a financial burden.

As you can also imagine (and if you can’t, then I’ll tell you), Tashi is sacrificing her own health to care for her husband. As a nurse and patient advocate, I hear this story time and time again. Think about it. So because one individual can’t receive the support that they need, we could potentially be adding one more (the caregiver) in the mix of patients foregoing care because they can’t afford it, or just don’t have access to it. Caring for a loved one at this level shouldn’t ever have to be a consideration, because the caregivers end up losing so much of their own good health and the precious time that they should be spending to create wonderful memories.

This situation is just another wake up call that the system isn’t working. I’m reminded everyday when I work with people who are having to cut medicines in half to make them last longer, skipping needed therapies, and selling off their belongings just so they can live. I’m fortunate enough to have the training and knowledge about how to navigate the system. It’s one of the services that I provide, and everyone should have access to this kind of support, but they don’t.

It’s not about cutting corners with our patients’ care, but more about streamlining the proceses so that they can receive the much needed care without burdening them, or the system. I’m able to fill a lot of ~~gaps~~ gaping holes for the people that I serve, but again, there just aren’t enough of those services available.

Tashi, even as a nurse I don’t know what I would do if I had to go through this with my wife. Initially, I know I would be paralyzed. To think about life without her just makes it hard to breathe. What you’re doing for your husband is incredible, and I know it seems that you are getting robbed of a life that you and Wash deserve together. Some may say that it’s not about what’s fair, but I’ll go ahead and join you and scream out loud letting everyone know it’s not fair, and it sucks!

My wife’s sister was very recently diagnosed with cancer. I don’t think there’s much in this world that knocks you off your feet any harder than when you’re just living your life one day, and in what feels like about the next couple of breaths your told that you’re dying. We hope that she’s going to kick cancer’s ass (if anyone can do it, she’s the one), but it really is hard to get used to the “new normal” when you’re faced with something like this. Words just can’t really describe it, but I certainly applaud your efforts to share your story.

To all of you either reading this post, or following Tashi’s blog, take a moment and show appreciation for those special people in your life. Whether it’s your spouse, your partner, your kids, or your parents, let them know how much you love them. The tables can turn quickly, and without warning. Make sure to live big, love big, and open your hearts and help those in need. Sometimes it takes a village.

To find out more about how you can help, you can read Tashi’s blog, go to savewash.com, or visit their Fundly site.

Cover yourself, no one wants to see that

Guest Post — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 12:47:04 +0000

A lot has been written across online nursing communities about the case of Amanda Trujillo, a nurse currently defending her license with the Arizona State Board of Nursing. Regardless of your position on the case, it brings up an important question for nurses—how can nurses protect themselves in the event that their license is challenged?

In an article written for BestNursingDegree.com, Terri Polick explains how malpractice insurance can factor into defending and protecting your nursing license. The full text of the article is available as part of the New Nurse Survival Guide on the homepage of BestNursingDegree.com, on the “On the Job” tab, “Why you need malpractice insurance.”

Hey Kachingle, don’t forget to tip on the way out.

Kevin Ross — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 03:29:01 +0000

So thanks to one of my Tweeps out there @RannPatterson, I was introduced to Kachingle. What in the world is Kachingle you might ask? Well, I really like the description they give as a virtual tip jar for content creators.

Many of us out here are creating content for all of you first and foremost because we probably like it, and it makes us feel good that we may actually provide some value to our communities. No, I’m not kidding! This is fun for me!

The content that we create however does take time, and in some cases it also takes money. Heck, time is money, so regardless, we’re paying to do this. Some of us however are fortunate enough to have sponsorship, jobs that pay us to provide the content, or fat wallets that give us sciatica every time we sit down.

Disclaimer: At this point, I don’t qualify for any of the above. I just have some other sustainable endeavors that allow me the opportunity to be here. Remember, it’s because I like it!

Sure, we attempt to generate any kind of revenue we can via ad revenue platforms, affiliate marketing, and some of us even charge a membership fee for our content. I don’t see anything wrong with any of the above, but what about the option for you as a consumer of our content to be able to leave a tip each time you visit our site?

Our community members (as I like to call you) aren’t necessarily always going to click on an ad, or follow an affiliate link to a product or service that we may promote. To me, that’s completely okay as I want the information to be relevant to you. But, if I provide you with some value, would you feel better about leaving a small tip? There must be some intrinsic value in that, or am I just begging at this point? I of course truly enjoy all of your comments and feedback, and that’s a great payment as well so keep it coming. Kachingle just seems like a quick and easy way to show a little extra love around the Interwebs.

Just to let you know, we’re quickly headed into the month of May. What does that mean? Well, I’m shopping for birthday gifts for my wife, youngest son, and my mother. I have my wedding anniversary and two mother’s day gifts to cover. Not to mention school is almost out for the year and I’m having to sign up my kiddos for summer camps and purchasing sporting equipment.

Come on community, help a brother out!

All jokes aside, give Kachingle a try and let me know what you think. Oh, and don’t forget to tip on your way out the door.

[Update]: I wanted to provide a quick update and blast a shout out to Rob with customer care over at Kachingle. So apparently there was an issue with the Medallion script functioning properly due to a conflict with a floating header from a BuddyPress plugin we had activated. We’re about to launch a forum on the site and we were just giving BP a test run (more on that later). Anyway, the engineers at Kachingle are aware of this issue for future reference, but I just took it upon myself to deactivate that plugin as we’re going with another forum platform. Rob, thank you and the engineers that worked on this issue to resolve it. Innovative Nurse is glad to have an active Kachingle Medallion now. The Kachingle support is top notch and we look forward to seeing your growth.

Jump on and be a part of the movement.