Last night’s episode of ‘Hopkins’ featured another heart transplant. This time it was a toddler in need of a healthy heart. This scenario is every parent’s worst nightmare. Watching your child face what comes down to a life and death situation. As a parent of 2 young boys this episode really tugged on my emotions as well as my wife’s.

It was amazing watching the pediatric doctors objectively discussing the options for this little boy. They must consider all avenues and present them to the parents. Not only that but then they must follow through with parents’ choice of action, which in this case was placing the boy on a transplant list and hoping that a heart would become available.

Their prayers were answered and a heart did become available. This was another difficult segment to watch as the little boy underwent heart transplant surgery. It is such a miracle that this is even possible and that it went so well for this boy.

It does make me think how much pressure there must be on the doctors and nurses involved in these types of surgeries and how they must detach themselves from the emotional side of the procedures. In fact, I’m sure it’s a necessity to detach from the circumstances surrounding each patient in order to do what is required.

All in all, this was another compelling episode that stayed true to the formula of the first couple episodes.

Travel Nursing ER (Emergency Room) RN - TX

More info about this travel nursing job.

First off, let me just say that I have not watched the second episode of Hopkins yet. Fourth of July festivities with family precluded me being able to catch it. I do plan on watching it and will post my opinions then.

As I watched last night’s episode of Hopkins, there was a sequence where a patient attacked a nurse. I found this to be quite a coincidence as I had posted a story on this blog yesterday regarding workplace violence in healthcare facilities. This is quite a problem and certainly no hospital or facility is immune.

Other than that there was a touching moment when a young man was getting ready for a heart transplant. As he was being wheeled from his room to prepare for surgery, all his nurses stopped by to wish him well and hand out some hugs. This is where Hopkins really shines, highlighting these moments where you can see how much the nurses and doctors do care for the patients.

I’m sure all nurses could relate to that moment as the connection between care giver and patient is so strong and that scene plays out in hospitals throughout the world every day.

Again, it was another good episode that really has done a nice job of focusing in on the personal side of healthcare.

Another interesting aspect of this is the relation that the nursing shortage plays in this:

Nurses say the persistent nationwide nursing shortage is making matters worse, because understaffing increases the risk of violent incidents. And nurses cite the fear of assault as a reason for low morale, especially if they feel that management does not share their concern.

“Staffing levels really affect what happens in terms of safety on the unit,” said Barbara Williams, a psychiatric and emergency room nurse who retired last year from Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, Calif. “If people’s needs don’t get met in a timely manner, that level of frustration builds. When people become angry, the nurses become the focus of the anger when they really had nothing to do with it.”

I cannot imagine having to endure verbal or physical assaults while at work and this story really opened my eyes as I had no idea that this was happening at such a high rate! It certainly has given me a new appreciation for all nurses. Your jobs are difficult enough that you shouldn’t need to deal with this also.

Have you ever suffered from an attack while on a travel nursing assignment?  What measures do your facilities take to safegaurd against these attacks?

Preparing to start a new travel nursing assignment in a new city or location you’re not familiar with? One thing you’ll want to know is where to find a convenient ATM that’s near your assignment or your housing.

You can use these 2 sites to locate ATMs throughout the world:

• MasterCard global ATM locator
• Visa global ATM locator

Now you can get some cash as you explore the sights of your new assignment. Just don’t spend it all at one place!

If you’re a seasoned traveler you’re well aware that being organized is critical to being a successful travel nurse. Keeping track of all your paperwork, licenses, and contacts is no easy task. But in order to fully enjoy your current assignment and also line up your next assignment it is necessary.

With this in mind, I’ve decided to republish some tips that Julie Hall, a former travel nurse, had written for this blog about a year and a half ago. They are still relevant and I think they can help anyone who is considering a travel nursing career or for anyone with some travel assignments under their belt looking for some ideas to stay organized.

First, I’d either set up a folder on your computer to store all your travel-related documents OR get a hard, plastic portable ‘filing cabinet’ if you don’t have a computer.  You need a ‘central’ location where you can keep everything!

Keep track of your licenses (when they expire, what the renewal fees are, required CEU’s, the mailing address they have on file for you, etc.)  Keep the original copy and extra copies handy for faxing, mailing, etc.  Use the calendar in your e-mail account to ‘notify’ you about 60 days before your license is due to expire.  That way you have enough time to make sure you are up to speed on the CEU requirements for renewal.  If you are not as comfortable on the computer, get a date book and use that instead. 

Keep track of ALL the paperwork your company may need, and keep it in a handy place.  This includes immunization and health records, resume, references, CEU’s, certifications, etc.  Anytime your Recruiter or the hospital asks for something, it’s all together and you can take care of business quickly!  If you have a scanner (and a computer), you can scan documents and store them on your computer. 

Keep a list of e-mail contacts who will need to know your frequent address changes (auto insurance, credit cards, cell phone company, etc).  If you don’t use e-mail very much, keep a list of physical addresses and/or phone numbers to let these folks know you’ve moved to your next exciting travel location!

Make it a point to check the websites for state licenses and certifications at least annually for changes and updates to their requirements.  You can link to all state Boards of Nursing on www.MedicalSolutions.com by going to Resources and State Licensure. (The State Licensure page that Julie references can be found here. - Bret)

Most of you probably drove to your assignment and have to remember to ‘tag’ your vehicle annually.  Again, add this to your calendar (either via computer or address book) several months in advance so you don’t forget! 

These are some great tips. Do you have any tips that you’d like to share? What works for you?

Did you catch the first episode of ‘Hopkins’ last night on ABC?

I thought it was a well-done look into the lives of 3 doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital. They did a nice job of focusing on the human element in healthcare rather than the techonoligical side. In my opinion it is in these moments when the real miracles in healthcare take place.

The show mixed in some stories about a few of the patients each doctor was working with. I’m sure this format will continue throughout the course of the show. These stories made me want to pull for them and I’m hopeful that at the end of the series they do a follow-up and give us an update on all of the featured patients.

Illegal immigration and divorce were 2 other topics addressed in this episode. These are big topics that nearly all of America can relate to or are affected by in some way.

I was disappointed that the show only focused on the 3 doctors. I’m really hoping that we’ll see more of the hospital staff in upcoming episodes. Especially some of the great nursing staff! If they spotlight a travel nurse I’ll be really impressed!

If you saw the show last night, let me know what you thought about it.

It is www.rvparkreviews.com. It has user reviews with prices and pictures. Plus it gives you all the important info about the accomodations, hookups and gives you access to maps of the camps. This has come in very handy as we’ve helped our travelers find parks near their assignments.

I also found some other sites that you may want to check out as well:

• CampgroundReport.com
• RVBuddy.com
• America on Wheels
• rvshark

I think hospitals and their staff should always be looking for ways to improve their care, but I’m not so sure this is the right way to go about it. I would hate to think that anyone with a serious condition would have to wait while a mystery shopper is being tended to.

As a travel nurse how do you feel about this?