1. Hospitals Refusing To Hire Obese Employees?
It was reported that a hospital in Texas (Citizen’s Medical Center) was refusing to hire potential employees with a body mass index over 35. In weight and height terms, a person who is 5’5” and 210 lbs. would disqualified from being hired at Citizen’s. This raised a lot of controversy because many feel the law is discriminatory. However, those in support of the measure believe it will set a good example for patients by hiring healthy employees.
http://scrubsmag.com/should-hospitals-refuse-to-hir-obese-employees/
2. RN’s Can Now Prescribe Birth Control In California
AB 2348, known as the California Birth Control Law, allows registered nurses to dispense and administer contraceptives at specified clinic settings, without requiring a doctor’s signature on each prescription. Planned Parenthood sponsored the bill, which gives “women the right to control their own destiny,” according to Gov. Brown.
http://www.sanjoseinside.com/news/entries/1_2_13_laws_governor_jerry_brown_2013/
3. Fargo Hospital Offers $15,000 Bonus To RN’s
We’ve heard about the coming nursing shortage in many parts of America, but it’s already hit Fargo, N.D. Sanford Health in Fargo is currently offering sign-on bonuses of $15,000 for RNs who have at least two years of experience. The bonus also comes with the stipulation that the nurses must commit to stay at the hospital for at least three years.
http://scrubsmag.com/best-of-2012-the-year-in-controversy/10/
4. Nurse Fired After Online Comments About Fatality
A nurse’s social media comment blaming one of the victims of a horrific motor vehicle accident led to her dismissal at a Yuma, Arizona hospital. Nurse Angela Gusta commented on YumaSun.com that the deceased, Todd McIntire, was at fault when his motorcycle struck an ambulance making a U-turn.
http://www.yumasun.com/news/gusta-80736-yrmc-yuma.html
5. Local Organizations Help Out Nurses In The Aftermath Of Sandy
The dedication and selflessness of nurses many other healthcare workers in the New York/New Jersey Metro region who, despite their own dire circumstances, continued to care for patients during and after the storm have not gone unnoticed. Charitable funds and temporary housing arrangements have been set up to assist displaced healthcare workers, some of whom lost everything in the storm. Long Island-based NuHealth System has made unoccupied housing units on the campus of its Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, N.Y., available for use to 38 employees and their families who have suffered devastating personal losses as a result of Sandy.
http://news.nurse.com/article/20121203/NY02/112030024