Bella S.

I've talked about IV drug use and endocarditis before, mainly about how these patients get a new heart valve and then very often end up ruining it by continued IV drug use after discharge. However, this one night was the first time I saw a patient manage to do drugs in the hospital and get away with it. And it all started with a policy change I'll never understand. It used to be that patients with a history of IV drug use (IVDU) were mandated to have a one-to-one sitter with them at all...

Long shifts at the bedside can leave nurses physically drained and emotionally exhausted. The constant demands, fast pace, and emotional weight of patient care make self-care not a luxury but a necessity . Nursing students are also susceptible to burnout from schoolwork and clinicals. As the nation's biggest body of caretakers, it is imperative that we remember we, too, deserve care. Neglecting self-care is the first step towards burnout, and finding effective ways to relax and recharge after...

I’m ready to walk through my patients door, medications with fresh water and crunchy ice in hand, a proud smile on my face, and I am hit with the saddened expression and fearful eyes of my patient and their family members. I stand for a moment, debating if this is the right time, watching closely yet so far as the doctor in soft blue delivers debilitating news. I take the family members' silent nod as my answer, sit down at the nursing station, and prepare myself to follow the life altering...