The Benefits of Intermittent Fasting for Nurses
From childhood, itâs been drummed in all our brains that breakfast is the most important meal. If you skip it, youâre just hurting yourself! But now a new eating trend picking up some steam in the health/nutrition world is saying just the opposite: Go ahead, skip breakfast. Itâs actually better for you.Â
Can this possibly be true? Letâs examine the benefits of intermittent fasting for a travel nurse.Â
First, what exactly is intermittent fasting? The name sounds complicated, but itâs really not. Itâs all about adjusting the cycle between fasting and eating. We already have a cycle in place even if itâs not something we actively think about. The time between when you eat dinner and when you eat breakfast is technically a pretty significant fast (usually between 10-12 hours if you forgo a midnight snack). But in an intermittent fast, this gap widens a little bit. While it varies, this type of fasting usually requires that you avoid any form of calorie intake for about 16 hours. Or put a different way, you are only consuming food ideally from 6-8 hours each day. For energy purposes you want this period to extend some time in the middle of the day. Letâs say you donât eat until noon and stop eating around 6 or 7 p.m.. So yeah, basically you skip breakfast.Â
For practical reasons alone, this is a routine that fits pretty well with the work hours of a day nurse. If youâre expected to go in early, 7 a.m. or earlier, it can seem like a hassle to get breakfast ready at the crack of dawn. Itâs also not useful. If you eat breakfast at 5 a.m., you are bound to be hungry two hours later, right when your work starts to pick up. So much for that breakfast energy! Mornings are usually busy and hectic in a hospital or clinic. Thereâs not much of a window to take a breakfast break. So delaying your eating until lunch makes sense. It also makes sense to try and get your dinner over with before your shift actually ends. Getting off at 7, driving home, and having to prepare dinner leaves you eating at 8:30 or 9 oâclock at night, which is bad for your sleep and digestive cycles. Might as well take a quick break and come home fed, ready to watch Netflix and go to sleep.Â
But are there health and energy benefits? Why yes there are! The first one I mentioned above, itâs much better for your sleep cycle if youâre not eating right before bed, because you sleep better if your body isnât digesting.
Speaking of digesting, sometimes itâs our instinct to snack regularly throughout the day to curb any feelings of hunger. But intermittent fasting is centered on the idea that your body actually needs a lot of time in between eating, and if you give it that time, youâll start to curb those feelings of hunger and also reap several other benefits. A lot happens in your body when you take a break from eating. It undergoes cellular repair processes, growth hormones form that help you burn fat and your insulin levels drop (which might not be great if you have type 1 diabetes). Ultimately, youâre giving your body the time it needs to go through all these good processes with the energy youâve already given it. Imagine your body is like an assembly line. You drop in one item and it has to undergo all of this work before you drop in another, and if you drop in another item too soon, the assembly line clogs up.Â
So what are some of the results you can see from intermittent fasting? Itâs proven to help some in losing weight. Thereâs one obvious reason this could be true: if youâre only eating 6 hours of the day, youâre probably just eating less than you normally would. And it is proven that when you reduce your calorie intake, your body will start using your stored fat for energy. Itâs also just more attainable than dieting. Limiting how much you eat day by day is a lot easier for some than restricting what you can eat. But those bodily processes that happen while fasting, mentioned above, also can play a factor in weight loss. Lower insulin levels and higher growth hormone levels, which both develop when you fast for extended periods of time, facilitate in increasing the bodyâs metabolism, and thus burning fat more quickly.Â
There are other benefits, like lowering your risk of Type 2 diabetes and increasing your liver function. On a day to day level, while you might struggle maintaining energy while adjusting to this new eating schedule, most people who intermittently fast report having more energy throughout the day and being able to focus better.Â
Some studies even say intermittent fasting increases your lifespan. So what are you waiting for? Skip breakfast!Â
If youâre looking to find a career in travel nursing, you can use our search engine on our home page. You can also use our travel nursing resources if you need help with finding housing, financing, and more.
Read More
Want a Career in Travel Nursing? Studying Tips for the NCLEX
Only about two-thirds of participants pass the NCLEX. With all of the content that is shown on that exam, this statistic shouldn’t come as too much of a shock.
However, if you want a career in travel nursing, you need to pass this exam.
If you’re worried about passing the NCLEX or just want some study tips, keep reading. We have the best tips and tricks for taking and passing the NCLEX exam. Just keep reading.
Cater Your Studying to Your Learning Style
You need to cater to your learning style while you’re studying. This is the best way to soak up as much information as possible.
Be sure that you take the time to understand what your learning style is. Take some time to think about how you’ve learned well in the past.
For example, you may remember your Latin conjugations from high school because you made songs to learn them. If so, you’re probably a musical learner. Use songs and rhymes to learn new information.
Whatever your learning style is, cater towards it. Don’t cut yourself short and think that reading is enough. If you aren’t an auditory learner, you aren’t helping yourself.
Start Earlier Rather Than Later
The earlier you start studying for the exam, the better off you’ll be. If you start the week before, you’re not likely to have much success on the exam.
You want to give yourself the most amount of time possible to study for the NCLEX, especially if you have multiple subjects that you’re feeling weak in.
Many students make a study schedule the semester before they start studying for the exam, just to ensure that they know exactly what they’re going to be doing well in advance. It’s also important to schedule the exam around studying for class.
Look Over Past Exams
Your nursing professors likely formed your exams similarly to the NCLEX. Many nursing professors do this to make sure that you’re studying for the NCLEX while you’re studying for their exams.
Looking over those exams can remind you of how your professors phrased the questions and answers. You can refresh your memory as to how some questions may have tripped you up in the past as well.
If you don’t have access to old exams, there are many online exams that mimic NCLEX exams. You can use those to help you prepare for the kinds of questions that may show up on the NCLEX.
Finding Your Career in Travel Nursing After You Pass
Once you’ve conquered the exam and passed with flying colors, it’s time to get ready for your career in travel nursing. Finding a job after all of that studying shouldn’t be more stressful than the exam itself.
If you’re looking to find a career in travel nursing, you can use our search engine on our home page. You can also use our travel nursing resources if you need help with finding housing, financing, and more.
We wish you luck with your exam and your future career in travel nursing. You can do this!
Read More
Planning Your Next At-Home-Happy-Hour
You might think that keeping up social distancing in a pandemic means that the modern ritual of happy hour has come to a bitter end. But youâre wrong! You donât need to sit in a restaurant or bar to get your end-of-work drinks and snack fix. Even beyond the pandemic, itâs about time we learn to be our own happy hour. Invite some friends over to your backyard, set up a zoom call or go solo. Either way, these recipes will cement the idea that yes, it is always 5 o’clock somewhere.Â
Cocktails
You donât have to be a mixologist to make these fun summer cocktails. Here are a few simple recipes that will make you forget how much you miss sitting in a crowded bar waiting for the bartender to notice you.Â
Strawberry Gin Smash
This is a sweet, strawberry upgrade to the backyard summer BBQ classic, a mint julep. Smashes are very similar to juleps, in that mint and ice are essential. But you can make them much more quickly, and add even more fruit. Making this cocktail takes very few ingredients and just about 10 minutes of your time. Muddle sugar and limes in a pitcher. Slice some fresh strawberries and muddle them just slightly with your sugar and lime mixture. Stir in gin and club soda and a boat load of ice and youâre done! Gin is the best liquor option for a light taste, but if youâre more of a rum or whiskey person, you can easily substitute whichever liquor you fancy.Â
Spicy JalapeĂąo Margaritas
If sweet cocktails arenât your thing and you love tequila, try these spicy margs for taco Tuesday. This recipe takes a little more prep time, simply because youâll need to slice one jalapeĂąo into thin rounds and let it sit in your tequila for a few hours to get the full effect. If youâre working from home, take a quick lunch break to do this, and the rest is a breeze. Combine your regular tequila with a few tablespoons of the spicy tequila, some Grand Mariner, fresh lime juice, agave nectar and some cilantro for garnish, and youâre all set.
Summer bellinis 3 ways
No one goes all-out on summer cocktails quite like the popular food blog Half Baked Harvest. Tieghan may ask for a little more effort and care going into these recipes, but the end result is always worth it. This is a good recipe to start with, as itâs her twist on one of the simplest cocktails ever, a bellini. You get to use all of the summer fruits you bought at the farmerâs market, blackberries, peaches, strawberries, and puree them. Mix them with orange juice and champagne and voila! You will feel like celebrating. You could almost call them champagne smoothies.Â
Watermelon Rosè Paloma
Okay, one more Half Baked Harvest cocktail, because herâs are just too good. This one will really make you feel like your own bartender, even though itâs just as easy as the bellinis. Combine fresh watermelon juice, tequila mixed with lime juice, Rosè wine (the sweeter the better depending on your preferences), and some sparkling water. And thatâs it! Drink up and imagine youâre sitting on a patio in Barcelona.Â
MocktailsÂ
Happy hour doesnât have to be all about alcohol. Why exclude your kids or anyone who doesnât drink from the festivities? There are plenty of fun mocktail recipes you can concoct that will make everyone feel included. Here are a few drinks that are just fun to drink. No hangovers required.
Blackberry Virgin Mojito
Mojitos have to rank in the top 5 most refreshing cocktails. Thereâs nothing better than sipping a mojito by the pool or lounging on your lawn. Even without the rum, this blackberry mojito recipe will add some summer fun to the end of your workday. You can make the mint syrup yourself with fresh mint leaves, sugar and water. Add some blackberries, lime juice and a can of seltzer and your mojito is complete.
Shirley TempleÂ
The classics are classic for a reason. Make your kids feel extra fancy by making these shirley temples from scratch. Theyâre super easy and super good. All it takes is some lemon-lime soda, grenadine, lime juice, and maraschino cherries for serving.Â
Mock Champagne
This oneâs great for any mom-to-bes missing the taste of all their favorite drinks. Believe it or not, itâs not that hard to mimic the flavors of champagne. All you need is some chilled ginger ale, a can of pineapple juice and some chilled white grape juice. Mix it all together and who knows? You might get a placebo buzz.Â
Snacks
No happy hour is complete without some form of tapas to snack on with your festive cocktails. Here are some apps that would put your favorite over-priced tapas bar to shame.Â
JalapeĂąo cheddar corn fritters with chipotle aioli
When cooking in the summer, itâs all about using all the abundance of fresh ingredients you can get your hands on. Your local farmerâs market will likely have stalks of corn abound. So why not buy some and make it into a spicy fried treat? And yes, this is ANOTHER Half Baked Harvest recipe. What can we say? Sheâs the best. These corn fritters are delicious and you can make them in under 30 minutes. The best part of the recipe is the creamy chipotle honey aioli sauce you can make to dip them in. Read the full recipe in the link above. Pair with that spicy marg and your taste buds will thank you.Â
Pan fried brie with peppered honey and olives
Alright, alright. ONE more indulgent and rich HBH recipe, and then weâll move on to some healthier snacks. But what is better than some pan-baked brie to go with your rosè paloma? This recipe has it all. Itâs savory and sweet. It doesnât take very long at all. You can pair it with your favorite crackers and itâs made for sharing (within your COVID-19 bubble, of course). Itâs a little fancier than your traditional cheese plate but with even less prep required.Â
Vietnamese Summer Rolls
Keep things light, healthy and delicious with this New York Times take on Vietnamese summer rolls. If youâre someone who often dabbles in cooking Asian cuisine, itâs likely youâll already have a lot of these ingredients on hand. And itâll take you 30 minutes or less to fill your rice wraps with noodles, lettuce, carrots, fish sauce and the meat of your choice. You can make up to 16 with this recipe. Pair it with the compatibally light strawberry gin smash and you may end up skipping dinner all together. Like a true happy hour in the city, youâll end up in bed early, slightly buzzed and just hungry enough to want breakfast in the morning.Â
Melon Prosciutto Skewers
Skewers should always be a go-to happy hour snack. Theyâre easy, festive and you can tweak them to your own food tastes. This recipe in particular has a fun summer flare, especially if you ambitiously bought a whole cantaloupe at the store and forgot about it until Thursday. Itâs time to crack it open and turn that sweat into savory. Slice your melons, and stick them with prosciutto, cheese, greens and of course a balsamic glaze drizzled on top. It only takes 20 minutes. Pair with a bellini and snack to your heartâs content.Â
Looking for a new home base to host happy hours? If youâre looking for your next placement, Stability Healthcare has all the resources you need. Feel free to browse travel nursing jobs or read our many guides on nursing must-knows!
Read More
What Nursing Specialty Is Right for Me?
The United States is home to 3.8 million registered nurses. Of these current RNs, almost 85% practice their profession.
That seems a lot, but experts say there is a potential for a shortage. This is especially true when it comes to those with a nursing specialty. To avoid these deficiencies, the US requires an additional 11 million RNs.
As a nursing student or new nurse yourself, all these translate to more job opportunities. Even more so in specialized areas, as these tend to have higher shortages.
The big question now is, how do you choose the right nursing specialization?
This post will give you some tips to help you arrive at a decision, so be sure to read on!
Factor In Your Personality
A survey found that a whopping 90% of people aged 21 to 65 regret their career choices. Many of them admitted that their mistakes stemmed from not knowing what they wanted to do. Many others decided without considering their values and interests.
This is why it’s crucial to factor in your personality when deciding on a nursing specialty. Base your decision on the things that interest you while still upholding your values. Can you imagine yourself happy and fulfilled in that sector within the next five, ten, or twenty years?
Let’s say that you have an impressive way of “keeping your cool” under the most distressing events. You’ve always been one of the first to react in emergencies. In this case, an ICU nursing specialization may be a great fit for your super-fast responses.
On the other hand, if you thrive in academics, then you may want to consider clinical research. Clinical research nurses help create and formulate new and better treatments. This may also be an excellent fit for you if you’re an outstanding critical thinker.
What if you’re a great conversationalist, and you love to meet people from all walks of life? Then you may want to consider becoming a travel nurse. A travel nursing job will not only let you work within a single state; you can move from one state to another!
The most important thing here is to choose a specialty that jives with your personality. Don’t let external factors, especially “pressure,” have a massive influence on your decision. Remember: your choice now will affect your life in the many years to come.
Consider the Work Environment
When deciding how to specialize as a nurse, imagine yourself in various work settings. That’s right: nurses aren’t always in hospitals, although that’s still an option. You have many other choices, though, from private practices to schools and corporations.
Keep in mind that there are more than 60 nursing specialties that you can choose from. If you don’t want a job surrounded by four walls, you can work 5.9 to 7.2 miles above the ground, in an aircraft. This the kind of environment in which flight or transport nurses work.
If the air isn’t for you, then perhaps you’d like to surround yourself with clear, blue waters. In this case, you may want to consider a specialization in cruise ship nursing. Many travel nurse jobs also provide such benefits.
Think About the Age Group You Best Identify With
Of all healthcare professionals, nurses spend the most time attending to patients. A study even found that patients spent over 80% of their time with nurses, compared to about 13% with doctors.
With that said, you should also factor in the age groups of patients that you’re most comfortable with. It’s much like how teachers specialize in specific grade levels. As a nurse, however, you’d consider age brackets, such as infants or elderly adults.
Let’s say that you’re always the first person that people turn to for help with their babies. You also enjoy taking care of infants, and you’re very good at it. In this case, you may want to consider a pediatric nursing specialty, such as neonatal nursing.
At the other end of the spectrum is geriatric nursing. Geriatric nurses specialize in taking care of aging and older adults. They can work in medical facilities, but they can also work in the home of their patients.
The Demand for Your Preferred Nursing Specialty
As mentioned above, shortages are more common among nurses who have specializations. However, there are some, like travel nurses, who are even more in demand. One reason for this is that many states are experiencing regional shortages.
California, for example, may have a shortage of up to 45,500 registered nurses by 2030. Alaska, on the other hand, would have the highest estimated RN job vacancy, at 22.7%. Many other states, like Texas and New Jersey, will also experience the same woes.
It’s because of this that travel nurses will always have work awaiting them. Critical care, labor and delivery, and geriatric nurses are also in high demand.
Additional Specialization Certification and Requirements You Need to Meet
Most specialties require additional education and training on top of nursing school. Specializations also warrant specific nursing certifications. You need to obtain these before you can work in your desired specialized field of nursing.
With that said, it’s also crucial to consider how these requirements will sit with and affect you. They will extend the time you need to spend in education, after all. However, they are well worth it, as they will boost your professional recognition.
The greater your professional recognition, the higher your earning potential becomes.
Fulfill Your Dreams With a Rewarding Nursing Career
Choosing a nursing specialty takes a lot of deliberation and mulling over. At the end of the day, though, you’d want to have a career that makes you feel utterly fulfilled. Something that you’d look forward to until you retire, and one that you’d be proud to tell the grandkids.
Just remember that fulfillment carries different meanings for different people. For you, this may mean taking care of people, making them better, and being able to travel too. If so, then you may do very well as a traveling nurse.
Interested in learning more about traveling nurses? Stability Healthcare has all the resources you need, and we can even help with job placement. Feel free to browse travel nursing jobs or by reading our many guides on nursing must-knows!
Read More
Best TV Shows About Nurses
Thereâs no better way to unwind than pouring yourself a glass of wine, kicking your feet up on the coffee table, and binging a series on Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime. As a travel nurse, you might be looking to escape work when you get home. But who are we kidding? Nursing and doctor dramas are fun for everyone, and some of them are deeply relatable. Here are the best portrayals of nurses on TV.Â
Nurse Jackie
As far as health care procedurals go, thereâs none more nuanced and dynamic than Nurse Jackie, a show about a nurse who leads a double life. Jackie Peyton is respected in the emergency room of fictional All Saints Hospital in New York City, but she uses her job to feed her addiction to pills and narcotics. Watching Jackie struggle to hide her addiction from her family and coworkers, while also going above and beyond to protect her patients is addicting and fun. Despite the dark hook of the show, itâs otherwise a realistic portrayal of all that nurses have to deal with in a hospital. Nurses tend to be background dressing in a lot of doctor procedurals or dramas. Sometimes theyâre even portrayed as a barrier for doctors getting what they want. So itâs nice to watch a show that takes the nurseâs perspective and shows a nurse as a full human being, flaws and everything.Â
You can stream Nurse Jackie on Netflix.
Call the Midwife
This BBC show, adopted from the best-selling memoirs of Jennifer Worth, follows a midwife in the 1950s in East End London who falls in with a convent of eccentric nuns who are also nurses. The nurses take us into the homes of women all across London, and despite being a period piece, the show depicts nursing at its best. On top of saving many lives, these midwives are advocates for the women they treat at home, as the show brushes up against a myriad of social issues. Itâs witty and sharp, while tugging at the heartstrings. Youâll get hooked. Â
You can also stream Call the Midwife on Netflix.
Mercy
This one is a quick binge, as it, unfortunately, got canceled after one season. But while it was on air on NBC, Mercy was one of the best shows about nurses on TV. With good reviews and a star-studded cast (Taylor Schilling pre-Orange is the New Black, Buffy, and Gossip Girlâs Michelle Trachtenburg and Homelandâs Diego Klattenhoff)Â itâs a mystery why this show only lasted 22 episodes. And itâs cancellation is even more hurtful knowing that it was one of the few shows who dared to prioritize nurses stories over doctors. As Schilling brilliantly describes in the pilot ânurses treat patients, doctors treat diseases.â The three female nurses the show follows range from a jaded nursing veteran to Schillingâs character who is an actual Iraq war veteran, and then thereâs Trachtenburg, a newbie. The show is funny and well-acted, and portrays nurses with the care and depth they deserve.Â
Mercy just left Amazon Prime, but you can stream it here on NBC.com.
M*A*S*H
While famous for depicting a surgical unit in the Korean War, M*A*S*H also brought us arguably the most famous nurse on television, Chief Nurse Major Margaret Houlihan. Houlihan, played by Loretta Swit, is a no-nonsense nurse whoâs tough on the nurses who work under her and the doctors she works with, but gentle with her patients. Her portrayal gets better as the show goes on. At first, she seems arbitrarily rigid, but sheâs given more depth and compassion in the later seasons. And the show makes it clear that all of the nurses report to Houlihan, not the physicians, which is an important and realistic distinction that a lot of health care shows fail to make.Â
M*A*S*H is also just one of the best health-care-related shows ever. Itâs currently streaming on Hulu.Â
Chicago Med
Chicago Med is one of the rare medical dramas that, in addition to following the hospitalâs physicians, also spends a large chunk of time focusing on three skilled nurses. Theyâre also all played by black women: Yaya DeCosta as nurse April Sexton, Marlyne Barrett as Maggie Lockwood and S. Epatha Merkerson as Sharon Lockwood. All three are portrayed as vital to their patientsâ care and often self-described as âtrying to keep the residents from killing people.â This dynamic makes watching Chicago Med as a nurse a lot more enjoyable than other shows that brush over nurses like Greyâs Anatomy (Private Practice too. Seriously, what does Shonda Rhimes have against nurses?).Â
Chicago Med is still on the air on NBC. You can stream previous seasons on Hulu.Â
Scrubs
Scrubs certainly doesnât get everything right about the daily work of a nurse, or any health care professional for that matter. But itâs hard not to love watching ER nurse Carla Espinosa give JD and Turk a hard time, and of course, eventually becoming the object of Turkâs affection. Carla has every Hollywood nurse stereotype attached to her â she reports to physicians, and her life pretty much revolves around physicians. She also doesnât really seem to know all that much about medicine. But Judy Reyes gives the character depth. And some true dynamics seep through, like nursesâ informal teaching of residents, bigotry towards male nurses, and eventually Carlaâs decision to become a nurse practitioner.Â
You can stream Scrubs on Hulu.Â
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn for updates!
Staying Connected after a Placement Ends
The Jackson Five sang it, âI never can say goodbye no no no.â When youâre a travel nurse, all you do is say goodbye: to your colleagues, your supervisors, any other friends youâve made along the way. It can be hard to keep friends when you live a transient lifestyle, but there are ways to stay in touch and stay connected to the places you leave. Here are a few creative ways to avoid really having to say goodbye.Â
Become virtual workout buddies
When friendships go long distance, especially new friendships, you always start out with the promise to text everyday, have Zoom hangouts and happy hours, and stay in each otherâs lives. But in reality, this is hard to keep up. If youâre traveling to a new destination for work, youâre going to be swamped and looking to meet new people, and keeping up with your old friends might start to feel like a chore. A good way to combat this is thinking about how your friends from afar can be included in daily routines, things you were wanting to do during the week anyway. Forming morning or evening Zoom workout or yoga appointments with your long-distance buddy is a great way to do this. Not only are the two of you holding each other accountable for exercising and being healthy, youâre also creating an excuse to talk and catch up and see each other regularly. You can decide on some guided workout videos that both of you like, and one person can share their screen on Zoom and you guys can do it at the same time. After youâre done sweating, leave a little time for chatting.Â
As youâre planning your workout routine with your new virtual gym partner, check out our guide to socially distanced exercise.Â
Download Snapchat
This oneâs going to seem super silly, but hear us out. Snapchat might seem like itâs only for teenagers, but the photo and video sharing app actually serves as a really fun form of casual conversation. When youâre really busy, texting can seem like a chore. Usually, when you text someone, it requires a purpose: youâre asking for something, relaying information or soliciting advice. Every text warrants a response and vice versa. When you donât respond to what someone says in text, you can feel guilty and hesitant to share something new in the chat. It may seem totally ridiculous, but Snapchat kind of breaks down all of those barriers. You can send a snap anytime you want to without necessarily expecting a response. You donât have to have something meaningful to say. It can be a picture of your dog, or your coffee, or a selfie because you were having a good hair day. And it takes very little effort on your end to open the app and click through the photos of your friendâs selfies, dog pictures etc. The end benefit of this new Snapchat bond you two have forged is that you get to see each otherâs faces a whole lot more than you would otherwise. And you can keep a flow of interaction going pretty effortlessly. Of all the Gen Z apps to try, this is the one!
Start a book club
Want an excuse to get all of the friends youâve made in placements around the country together? Start a book club! Or a club of any kind really. If you donât have time to read a bunch of books, pick a TV show to watch together week by week and talk about, or a classic movies club, or maybe a club where you can talk about the news and just process things together. Creating a monthly or bimonthly gathering that can unite people from all around could be a really fun way to see all of your friendsâ faces and also introduce them to each other!Â
Share recipes
Everyone is becoming a master chef during the pandemic, trying out new recipes in place of eating out. But cooking doesnât have to be a solitary affair. Encourage your new friends to share their recipes with you and vice versa! You guys could even Facetime together while you cook the same dish and drink wine and chat. If you drink enough wine, you might forget youâre chatting over the internet and not hanging out in the flesh.Â
Have your sites set on your next placement? Search for career opportunities, set an interview, and book your next nursing assignment through our detailed online portal. Browse for travel nursing jobs here and find your ideal placement todayâŚ
Read More
COVID UPDATE: Everything you need to know right now about the pandemic
This global pandemic is far from over. In the United States, itâs ramping up dramatically, and nurses are once again in high demand. Itâs important to stay updated on spikes, death toll and hospital capacity across the country. Here are all the COVID-19 updates you need to know right now.Â
Case Count
- As of Friday August 7, there were 4.9 million cases in the United States total and 60,608 new cases.Â
- Across the world there are over 19 million cases, and 263,722 new cases.Â
- The United States has by far the largest number of cases of any nation. Following behind the U.S. is Brazil with almost 3 million cases and 49,500 new cases. Then India, which has 2 million cases. India actually surpassed the United States for new cases on Friday, with 61,455.
Death TollÂ
- The United States surpassed 164,000 deaths on Friday, with an average of about 1,200 people dying every day last week.Â
- Across the world, 722,764 people have died. Which means the United States accounts for more than 22 percent of the worldâs total death toll.Â
- Worldwide, over 12 million people have recovered from the Coronavirus, or 95 percent of closed cases. Of cases ongoing, only 1 percent, or 54,932, are considered to be critical. Although, many have pointed out the dangerous health effects of even a mild COVID case.Â
State BreakdownÂ
- According to an NPR tracker, new case numbers are rising or staying at their current rate in most states.Â
- States that have recent growth in newly reported cases over the last 14 days are Oklahoma, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Nebraska, Puerto Rico, Illinois, Montana, South Dakota, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Jersey.Â
- New COVID-19 deaths are increasing most handily in Florida, Mississippi, Texas and Georgia. Theyâre increasing in 22 states total, also including California, Washington and Tennessee..Â
- Florida and Texas have reported the newest cases in the last 7 days, totaling over 100,000 cases just in those two states. While many Northeastern states reported far fewer cases. Vermont only reported 38 cases, Maine only reported 109, and Washington D.C. only reported 461.Â
- California still has the greatest number of total cases, and Vermont has the least.Â
- Hot spots by county include Taylor, FL along the Gulf Coast which reported 857 cases last week and Cameron County, Texas, also along the Gulf Coast, which reported over 15,000 cases last week.Â
Hospital CapacityÂ
- Texas, one of the hardest-hit states by the recent wave of COVID-19, has several counties reporting at 0 percent ICU and ventilator capacity, including Gonzalez County outside of Fort Worth and Grimes County, outside of Houston. This will likely put a greater strain on already struggling metropolitan hospitals now having to take in rural COVID-19 patients. Â
- An NPR data analysis also found that southwest Louisiana, eastern Washington state and Boise, Idaho are particularly struggling with hospital capacity. Â
- Hereâs what Dr. Ashish Jha, the director of Harvard Global Health Institute, said about what to look for in terms of hospital capacity across the nation: â”It may come differently as opposed to a single massive surge that overwhelms hospitals. What we might get is just this constant flow of critically ill patients that are just barely what a hospital can manage. Once you get out of those major academic centers and start getting into community hospitals and regional hospitals, they don’t have those deep benches. They don’t have the wealth of resources that they can tap into. So I am very worried that in the days and weeks ahead, if these hospitals continue to function at or above capacity, they’re going to have a very hard time keeping going.”
Scientific Progress / DiscoveryÂ
- Back on May 22nd, NIAD Director Dr. Anthony Fauci said it was possible that a coronavirus vaccine using classical or innovative technologies could be available by December 2020. Right now, there are more than 100 potential vaccines in clinical trials running at an unprecedented pace.Â
- But even before this vaccine emerges, Fauci and other scientists predict a different solution will come even faster: targeted antibodies that could provide an instant immunity boost against the virus. These antibodies could both prevent and treat the disease, and clinical trials could verify their efficacy within the next few months.Â
- On a less optimistic note, scientists discovered in late July that mutations in SARS-CoV-2 might allow the virus to thwart antibodies.Â
- On a testing level, scientists have now developed a spit test for COVID-19. The saliva test would be much less invasive and could be applied without the help of a healthcare professional. Initial validation experiments have shown the test to be almost equally effective to swab tests, and researchers are asking the FDA to fast track approval.Â
- You can see daily scientific updates on COVID-19 here.
News of Interest Â
- Scientific American said that superspreader events drive most of the COVID-19 spread in the United States.
- Many Georgia county public schools reopened last week. And a photo of a crowded hallway filled with students not wearing masks went viral. Meanwhile, due to low rates of new cases, Governor Andrew Cuomo said it was safe to reopen schools in the fall.Â
- The Atlantic wrote a searing account of President Donald Trumpâs handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Â
- And the next COVID-19 stimulus package is still in limbo, while the Pandemic Unemployment Insurance benefit of $600 a month ran out at the end of July.
- Vox published an account of what itâs like to be a travel nurse in COVID-19. Read it here.
Wanting to go where youâre most needed? Search for career opportunities, set an interview, and book your next nursing assignment through our detailed online portal. Browse for travel nursing jobs here and find your ideal placement todayâŚ
Read More
Stability Food Guide: Texas
While every city is at different stages of re-opening, there is one thing that you can do just about everywhere. Get take out!Â
Take-out is a great way to explore the culture of the city you are working in. You can enjoy it in the comfort of your home or even set up a picnic at a park.
With COIVD cases spiking in Texas right now and a lot of travel nurses taking placements there, we thought it would be a great state to start our Stability Food Guide!Â
Giddy up!
Austin
Of course, you canât be in Austin without eating tacos on a regular basis. Vaquero Taquero is one of our personal favorites. They currently have a walk-up window for takeout orders, and options for delivery (online or phone calls).Â
Whatâs a placement in Texas without some BBQ? You absolutely can not go wrong with Austinâs classic Franklin Barbeque. We recommend ordering a few days in advance to make sure you get your hands on their best BBQ before itâs sold out.Â
If youâre looking to beat the heat and in the mood for something sweet, you have to check out Lick Ice Cream. Their scoop shops are currently open as usual, available for curbside pick-up, and available via third-party delivery.
Huston
If you havenât tried Viet-Cajun cuisine yet, youâre in for a treat. Saigon House is best known for âViet-Texâ smoked brisket pho and âH-Town Bangâ crawfish. You can order online for both pick-up and delivery.Â
If youâre wanting to unwind after a crazy shift, Rosie Cannonball is just what you need. They are currently offering boozy negronis in adult juice packs that make for the perfect after-work cocktail. And of course, we canât forget about the food, their menu offers a wide range of pizzas and sides. P.S. Donât forget to take a peek at their dessert menu. Did someone say frozen sâmores?Â
If youâre vegan and feeling bummed about missing out on the Texas BBQ scene, have no fear! Houston Sauce Pitâs menu boasts overflowing baked potatoes stuffed with chopped âveefâ and Beyond Meat sausage and much much more. Try it out yourself, they are currently open for pick-up.Â
Dallas
If youâre in the mood for sushi, Nori Handroll Bar is a MUST. With a special curbside pick-up menu available, youâre all set to have the perfect sushi spread. If youâre having decision-making problems or want to try a little bit of everything, we recommend the NHB box set.Â
Cane Rosso is known for their authentic wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas. Some have even gone as far to saying this is the best pizza youâll find in Texas. They are currently available for pick-up and delivery.Â
This Dallas staple is one you most definitely donât want to miss. Kellerâs Drive-In has the best burgers in town. Donât forget to grab some crispy onion rings and a milkshake for the full experience. Not to mention, youâre always sure to have a friendly experience with their staff (even though their smiles are hiding under a mask).
Trying to decide where you’ll take your next travel assignment? We can help. Head over to stabilityhealthcare.com and we can get you on your way.
Read More