As a new retiree, I reflect on how I prepared to be where I am today. Looking back, I realized that I started preparing when I was 30. It was 1984, and I was working for a Risk Management Company. 401Ks were being introduced by employers. The company I worked for had a financial planner come in and talk to the staff about how investments worked. He helped us decide how much we wanted to invest each pay period and how that money would grow over time. Four years later, when I married and moved to South Florida, I asked the planner if he could help me and my husband as we combined our finances ..read more

I hope you are having a good summer. Many are on vacation, resting, and spending time with their families, so I want to keep this post short and to the point. When you return to your usual routine, make sure you are registered to vote in the November election. If you are not, please register. Voting is a right that every citizen in the United States has, and it is important for every person eligible to exercise that right. Prepare to vote – learn the issues that are important to you. Watch the debates and read credible newspapers to learn about the issues and how each candidate will lead once ..read more

It’s that time of year when I ask YOU, readers of Nurse Advocate, to share your suggestions for my Summer Reading List. Your recommendations are crucial in making this list diverse and engaging. If you’ve found a few good books (s) this year that caught your attention, please share the title, author, and what you liked about it, and I’ll be sure to include them in my summer reading list. Some people have also asked me to add TV series from Netflix, Hulu, or other streaming services and podcasts that people can watch and listen to. Send me your suggestions, and I will include them in the 2024 ..read more

Last week, the Case Management Society of America held its annual conference in Providence Rhode Island. Four important papers were released that all case managers can use and share with patients and families, physicians, health systems, payers, and case managers from every sector. The first paper is titled Promoting Successful Outcomes in Primary Care. Here is the link to access the paper. https://cmsa.org/promoting-successful-outcomes-in-making-care-primary This paper highlights the critical role of case management and professional case managers (PCMs) in augmenting care coordination and pa ..read more

Welcome to the 2024 Professional Reading List. I create this list each year at this time to share books and e-letters that help me keep my finger on the pulse of the healthcare industry. I hope you will check out these resources to learn about each publication and subscribe to those e-letters that ‘talk to you’ and ‘help you’ navigate the complex healthcare system. We all need to read and stay current on clinical innovations and practice changes to succeed. The books, e-letters, and special reports shared in this year’s Professional Reading List will help you become better informed and aware ..read more

When you fly, you have heard the flight attendants during the pre-departure announcement say: “If we lose cabin pressure, a mask will fall from above. Put your mask on first, then assist your child or companion who might need help. They do this because you can only help yourself if you are well. Self-care and wellness are essential competencies for all of us, but especially for healthcare workers and, more specifically, nurses. As Nurse Case Managers, we have a huge responsibility and great pressure to do our jobs well. Today, so many people depend on us for their survival. With a fragmented ..read more

The American Nurses Association celebrates National Nurses Week 2024, May 6 – May 12, and throughout May. This year’s theme, “Nurses Make the Difference,” honors the incredible nurses who embody the spirit of compassion and care in every healthcare setting. In this post, I wanted to celebrate and share highlights of my journey as a nurse. I began my career as a Licensed Practical Nurse on the recommendation of my cousin because I did not want to be a secretary. I graduated from St. Mary’s School of Practical Nursing in 1973. It was a brutal program, but with hard work, determination, and per ..read more

I recently came across an interesting post on LinkedIn. The post announced that this was “Stress Less Week.” I had never heard of this week, so I dug deeper and found that ‘Stress Less Week’ is a biannual event hosted by Active Minds at colleges and universities across the United States. The event aims to create a supportive and healthy campus environment for young adults by normalizing conversations about mental health. It also aims to raise awareness about stress and anxiety and develop communities where speaking up about struggles is a sign of strength and self-awareness. ‘Stress Less Week ..read more

One of the most important things nurse case managers can do when working with patients and their families is to help them set realistic expectations of the healthcare system. Before people enter the healthcare system, they think it is organized and coordinated and works for them. The reality is that the healthcare system works for the healthcare system and not the people who use it. When people realize this, they can be demoralized and can lose hope. The role of the nurse case manager is to help their patients learn how to set realistic expectations so they can navigate the system and meet th ..read more

Caregivers face emotional and physical demands that strain even the strongest person. In her new book, Caregiver a Role We Least Expected—Tips and Tidbits to Help in Your Role, Peggy Rossi, a friend and colleague from LinkedIn, shares information to help caregivers cope. I asked Peggi why she wrote this book. She said it is written to explain some of the areas in healthcare that are confusing to caregivers and to educate them on the resources they can explore, as one plan does not fit all. I want to help caregivers educate themselves on their loved one’s injury or illness and then explore res ..read more