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All posts tagged with “Clinical News | Physician & Nursing News.”



Why leadership training is the next big thing in RN to BSN programs

04/23/25 at 03:00 AM

Why leadership training is the next big thing in RN to BSN programs Nevada State University; by RN to BSN; 4/22/25 The role of registered nurses (RNs) has expanded far beyond traditional bedside care. Today’s nurses are expected to navigate complex systems, coordinate interdisciplinary teams, and contribute to decision-making at all levels of care. In response, degree programs like the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) are placing a stronger emphasis on leadership training — equipping nurses with the tools they need to guide teams, manage change, and improve patient outcomes. This shift reflects a growing recognition that leadership is not reserved exclusively for executives or administrators. Nurses at every level are uniquely positioned to influence clinical practice, shape policy, and advocate for their patients.

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Special team at Norton Children's Hospital focused on giving the gift of life

04/23/25 at 03:00 AM

Special team at Norton Children's Hospital focused on giving the gift of life CBS WLKY-32, Louisville, KY; by Jennifer Baileys; 4/21/25 Caring for sick and dying children is a tough and heartbreaking job. One special group at Norton Children's Hospital is focused on helping these children and their families. ... "She's missing the left side of her heart," Kindra Edwards, patient mother, said. ... Edwards said there was one consistent source of strength and encouragement the Norton Pediatric Support Team. "They're always there. You know, coming in, checking on us when in our multiple stays at the hospital," Edwards said. The team is made up of pediatric and palliative care specialists, nurses, social services, therapist and pastoral care. ... [Through two decades,] pediatric palliative care has evolved. At Norton Children's Hospital it has grown into a team of almost a dozen people, specializing in not just treating, but caring for the sickest patients and their families.

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The intersection of dignity and healing with Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov

04/23/25 at 02:45 AM

The intersection of dignity and healing with Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov Practice of the Practice; podcast by Jo Sanok with Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov; 4/22/25 How can we ensure dignity in end-of-life care? What does every therapist need to know about actively incorporating dignity into therapeutic care for their clients? What is the procedure for a practical application of dignity in therapy and healthcare? In this podcast episode, Joe Sanok discusses the intersection of dignity and healing with Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov. 

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[UK] I’m a palliative care nurse – here’s how I find joy

04/22/25 at 03:00 AM

[UK] I’m a palliative care nurse – here’s how I find joy MSN - i Paper, United Kingdom; by Joanna Whitehead; 4/19/25 Palliative care nurse and ward manager Sophie Brew works at a Sue Ryder Hospice, supporting people with terminal illnesses to live as fully and comfortably as possible. While some may regard the role as bleak or upsetting, Ms. Brew considers her job to be deeply meaningful, and a privilege. She tells The i Paper how she finds joy in the everyday.

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Jury convicts home health agency executive of fixing wages and fraudulently concealing criminal investigation

04/22/25 at 03:00 AM

Jury convicts home health agency executive of fixing wages and fraudulently concealing criminal investigation U.S. Department of Justice - Office of Public Affairs; Press Release; 4/14/25 A federal jury convicted a Nevada man today for participating in a three-year conspiracy to fix the wages for home healthcare nurses in Las Vegas and for fraudulently failing to disclose the criminal antitrust investigation during the sale of his home healthcare staffing company.  According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Eduardo “Eddie” Lopez of Las Vegas, Nevada conspired to artificially cap the wages of home healthcare nurses in the Las Vegas area between March 2016 and May 2019. The three-year conspiracy affected the wages of hundreds of Las Vegas registered nurses and licensed practical nurses who provide care to patients in their homes. During the pendency of the government’s investigation, Lopez then sold his home healthcare staffing company for over $10 million while fraudulently concealing the government’s criminal investigation from the buyer.  

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Statement by the American Nurses Association on the importance of nursing specific science and research and the leaked FY 2026 HHS Budget Proposal

04/21/25 at 03:00 AM

Statement by the American Nurses Association on the importance of nursing specific science and research and the leaked FY 2026 HHS Budget Proposal American Nurses Association; Press Release, newsroom@ana.org; 4/17/25 Nursing-specific science and research is uniquely positioned to inform the health care delivery system on evidence-based approaches to patient-centered, quality care that meets the needs of patients as effectively and efficiently as possible. ... “The American Nurses Association (ANA) is deeply concerned about the recent reports surrounding the leaked draft FY 2026 proposed budget for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), specifically the elimination of National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) and deep cuts to Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs," expressed American Nurses Association President Dr. Jennifer Mensik-Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. “ANA firmly believes that NINR plays a vital role in ensuring that research guided by nurses’ education, experiences, and clinical training continue to enable our overall health care system to improve and be driven by evidence.” ... Further, ANA is grateful for the broad bipartisan support these programs have historically received from Congress and will work closely with lawmakers to safeguard funding for these programs during the FY2026 appropriations process.  ...

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How physician CEOs are reenergizing later-career clinicians

04/21/25 at 03:00 AM

How physician CEOs are reenergizing later-career cliniciansBecker's Hospital Review; by Kristin Kuchno; 4/9/25 While much attention has been paid to recruiting top talent amid workforce shortages, retaining physicians later in their careers is also a key focus for health systems. Mentorship, flexible scheduling and leadership development opportunities can help energize experienced physicians and reduce burnout in the years leading up to their retirement, health system CEOs told Becker’s. Physician CEOs are uniquely positioned to understand the challenges around burnout and retention. Sunny Eappen, MD, president and CEO of The University of Vermont Health Network in Burlington [described], “Having experience being in front of a patient and having to either have difficult conversations or make difficult decisions is at the core of what we do,” Dr. Eappen said. “People understand that I can really speak from the heart and truly be in their shoes.”

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What healthcare leaders can learn from palliative medicine

04/21/25 at 03:00 AM

What healthcare leaders can learn from palliative medicine Becker's Hospital Review; by Elizabeth Gregerson; 4/18/25 The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine in March appointed Kristina Newport, MD, as chief medical officer for the organization.  Dr. Newport currently serves as chief of palliative care for Hershey, Pa.-based Penn State Health. She recently spoke with Becker’s about her priorities as AAHPM’s new CMO, as well as the role palliative care can play in oncology.Question: Congratulations on your appointment, what are your top priorities in this new role?Dr. Kristina Newport: Thank you. It’s really a privilege to be in this role and give back to the organization that raised me up. I’ve been a member of the Academy since 2007 when I was a medical resident, so the academy really has guided my career. One of my first priorities is to understand our members’ needs.  ... My second priority is developing and strengthening the relationships we have with other organizations who share our mission.  ... [The] foundations of palliative care are to prioritize what matters to patients and address the whole person through human connections and relationships. We have strong evidence in the literature that says when we do that well, we decrease non-beneficial treatment and improve the patient’s well-being, as well as the well-being of people that care for them. At the same time, we decrease unnecessary costs in the healthcare system while improving healthcare worker satisfaction. 

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Palliative care and advanced cardiovascular disease in adults: Not just end-of-life care: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association

04/18/25 at 03:00 AM

Palliative care and advanced cardiovascular disease in adults: Not just end-of-life care: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association AHAIASA Journals - American Heart Association; by Lucinda J. Graven, PhD, APRN, FAHA, Lisa Kitko, PhD, RN, FAHA, Martha Abshire Saylor, PhD, MSN, BA, RN, Larry Allen, MD, MHS, FAHA, Angela Durante, PhD, RN, Lorraine S. Evangelista, PhD, RN, CNS, WAN, FAHA, Amy Fiedler, MD, James Kirkpatrick, MD, Lakeisha Mixon, MSW, and Rachel Wells, PhD, MSN, BA on behalf of the American Heart Association Complex Cardiovascular Nursing Care Science Committee of the Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; and Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia; 4/17/25  ... This scientific statement (1) discusses the application of effective communication, shared decision-making, age-friendly care, and advance care planning in advanced cardiovascular disease palliative care; (2) provides a summary of recent evidence related to palliative care and symptom management, quality of life, spiritual and psychological support, and bereavement support in individuals with advanced cardiovascular disease and their care partners; (3) discusses issues involving diversity, equity, and inclusion in cardiovascular disease palliative care; (4) highlights the ethical and legal concerns surrounding palliative care and implanted cardiac devices; and (5) provides strategies for palliative care engagement in adults with advanced cardiovascular disease for the care team.

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Integrating social determinants into palliative care

04/18/25 at 03:00 AM

Integrating social determinants into palliative care Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 4/16/25 Strong staff education and reimbursement are among the keys to successfully integrating social determinants of health within a palliative care program. Screening tools developed by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) include five areas of social determinants of health: food and housing insecurity, transportation needs, utility difficulties and interpersonal safety. Supplemental domains include financial stability, employment and family and social support, among others.

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More than just meds: What a palliative care pharmacist learned from the bedside

04/17/25 at 03:00 AM

More than just meds: What a palliative care pharmacist learned from the bedside Pharmacy Times; by Trinh Bui, PharmD, Yale New Haven Health; April 2025 Issue A palliative care pharmacist highlights a spectrum of clinical opportunities for patients, caregivers, and clinicians when rounding at the bedside. ... I hold a unique clinical position. In 2018, the National Palliative Care Registry reported that less than 10% of national palliative care (PC) programs have a dedicated pharmacist. I am a member of the PC consultation service at a cancer hospital affiliated with a large tertiary academic medical center in New Haven, Connecticut. Routinely, we are consulted for at least 40 patients a day, with more than 2000 consults in 2024. ... A benefit of having a clinical pharmacist on the interdisciplinary team includes the ability to provide off-label medication to optimize complex medication regimens while honoring patients’ psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual needs. ...

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Why good palliative care clinicians get fired

04/17/25 at 03:00 AM

Why good palliative care clinicians get fired JAMA Network - Viewpoint; by Abby R. Rosenberg, MD, MS, MA; Elliot Rabinowitz, MD; and Robert M. Arnold; 4/14/25 Even the most seasoned palliative care clinician gets fired. In the past year, one of us was fired after asking whether a patient endorsing suicidal ideation had access to a gun; the patient requested not to see the palliative care team because we asked intrusive questions and documented the encounter. One of us was fired after supporting a family’s decision to discontinue life-sustaining therapies for their loved one with multisystem organ failure; the primary intensivist suggested palliative care overstepped in discussing options for which the family (and clinical teams) was not ready. And one of us was fired after sharing the impression that a patient with cancer was dying; the family suggested they preferred the oncologist’s version of a more hopeful future.

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Patient-centered communication drives supportive care needs in incurable cancer

04/17/25 at 03:00 AM

Patient-centered communication drives supportive care needs in incurable cancer Oncology Nursing News; by Kristie L. Kahl; 4/16/25 The Primary Palliative Care Communication Intervention (PRECURSOR) may improve the psychosocial experiences of patients with incurable gynecologic cancer and their caregivers in the outpatient setting, according to results of a pilot study presented at the 50th Annual ONS Congress. ... Currently, most of the conversation around supportive care is provider-driven, and clinical tendency is to insert palliative care in the terminal setting. However, the study investigators aimed to integrate supportive care across the cancer continuum.

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Today's Encouragement: I have an advance directive, not because ...

04/16/25 at 03:00 AM

I have an advance directive, not because I have a serious illness, but because I have a family. ~ Ira Byock, MD

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CMS clarifies physician referral authority, tightens attestation requirements in proposed hospice rule

04/16/25 at 03:00 AM

CMS clarifies physician referral authority, tightens attestation requirements in proposed hospice ruleInside Health Policy; by Jalen Brown; 4/11/25... The proposed rule would explicitly allow the physician member of the hospice interdisciplinary group (IDG) to recommend patients for hospice care, addressing a gap in current regulations over which physicians have that authority. While CMS already lets IDG physicians certify that a patient is terminally ill and eligible for hospice, the existing admission rules only name the hospice medical director or physician designee as authorized to recommend admission. CMS also wants to strengthen documentation requirements for hospice recertification, ... Starting at day 180 and every 60 days thereafter, Medicare requires a hospice physician or nurse practitioner (NP) to conduct a face-to-face visit with the patient before recertifying eligibility. After the visit, the clinician must provide a written attestation confirming that the visit occurred and was used to assess whether the patient still qualifies for hospice care. Under CMS' proposal, that attestation would also need to include the clinician's signature and the date signed, submitted as a clearly labeled section or addendum to the recertification form. 

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The modern health care professional: How to combine skills from different fields to redefine your career

04/16/25 at 03:00 AM

The modern health care professional: How to combine skills from different fields to redefine your career MedPage Today's KevinMD.com; by Jalene Jacob, MD, MBA; 4/11/25 Gone are the days when careers followed linear paths and job titles neatly fit into predefined boxes. Today’s health care industry celebrates versatility, and hybrid professionals are redefining what it means to succeed. A hybrid health care professional combines skills and expertise from different fields, blending knowledge to create unique value in the health care space. Whether you’re a nurse with coding skills, a doctor with a passion for data analysis and research, or a biomedical engineer with a talent for design and business, hybridization is becoming the new competitive advantage. This article explores how early professionals can harness their diverse interests and talents to shape their careers and stand out in a rapidly evolving job market.

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Tennessee physician sentenced for $41M fraud scheme

04/16/25 at 03:00 AM

Tennessee physician sentenced for $41M fraud scheme Becker's ASC Review; by Patsy Newitt; 4/15/25An Ashland City, Tenn.-based physician was sentenced to three years in prison for his role in a $41 million healthcare fraud scheme, according to an April 14 news release from the Justice Department.  What happened? 

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Hospitalists in a bind when cancer prognosis hasn’t sunk in

04/16/25 at 02:00 AM

Hospitalists in a bind when cancer prognosis hasn’t sunk inMedscape; by Jake Remaly; 4/15/25 When a patient with cancer is admitted to the hospital, the reason might not be related to the malignancy. But the hospitalist in charge sometimes becomes aware of a major disconnect: The patient, who they just met, does not grasp the severity of their cancer prognosis. On the one hand, the hospital medicine team and patient have advance directives and goals of care to consider, which may steer the course of the hospitalization and any use of hospice. The cancer prognosis — the patient might only have months to live, for example — could be a key component of those conversations. On the other hand, explaining the cancer situation should fall to the oncologist, right? ...

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The power of film to change medical culture: A Q&A with a physician-filmmaker about her latest documentary

04/16/25 at 02:00 AM

The power of film to change medical culture: A Q&A with a physician-filmmaker about her latest documentary MedPage Today; by Genevieve Friedman; 4/15/25... We spoke with Jessica Zitter, MD, a critical care and palliative care physician in California, about shifting her career beyond clinical medicine and into the world of film-making. Zitter has produced three documentaries that use storytelling to inspire healthcare providers to connect to their work with purpose, community, and compassion, and in 2022, she founded the production company Reel Medicine Media. Her latest documentary, "The Chaplain & The Doctor," explores her relationship with Betty Clark, a chaplain on Zitter's palliative care team, and the value that can grow from an unlikely partnership.

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Brain activity before death: Do we see our lives flash?

04/15/25 at 03:00 AM

Brain activity before death: Do we see our lives flash? Time.News; interview with Dr. Eleanor Vance; 4/12/25 What flashes through our minds in the final moments of life? Could it be an intense reel of our most cherished memories or a profound sense of calm? Recent studies suggest that the brain may not simply shut down at death; instead, it could be engaged in a powerful replay of life’s most significant moments, offering a glimpse into the mysteries of consciousness and the human experience.

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Rochester’s Art of Observation program helps medical students and clinicians cultivate essential clinical skills

04/11/25 at 03:00 AM

Rochester’s Art of Observation program helps medical students and clinicians cultivate essential clinical skills University of Rochester, Rochester, NY; by Melissa Pheterson; 4/8/25 After a day of seeing and treating patients, eight faculty-physicians from the University of Rochester Medical Center met at the University’s Memorial Art Gallery (MAG). They sat on folding stools before a painting of a woman and three children gathered around a table, on which the woman appeared to be cutting something. ... “What do you see?” said Natercia Rodrigues ’19M (MS), an assistant professor at the School of Medicine and Dentistry, a family physician in the UR Medicine Primary Care network, and the group’s facilitator. Designed to enhance observational skills for healthcare professionals, the sustained viewing and structured dialogue help participants unpack their assumptions, consider different perspectives, and avoid jumping to conclusions—among other cognitive biases— ... [Continue reading ...]

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Hospice of Americus-Sumter County Georgia establishes nursing scholarship at GSW

04/11/25 at 03:00 AM

Hospice of Americus-Sumter County Georgia establishes nursing scholarship at GSW Georgia Southwestern State University, Americus, GA; 4/9/25 The Hospice of Americus-Sumter County Georgia has announced the creation of a new scholarship aimed at supporting students enrolled in Georgia Southwestern State University’s (GSW) Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program. Designed to foster local talent and address the growing need for qualified healthcare professionals, the scholarship specifically targets non-traditional students with healthcare experience or those who are first responders from Sumter County and the surrounding region. ... By prioritizing individuals already embedded in healthcare and emergency services, the fund supports career advancement and ensures that compassionate, experienced caregivers remain within the community. [Continue reading ...]

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Rural US loses 43% of independent physicians: 5 things to know

04/11/25 at 03:00 AM

Rural US loses 43% of independent physicians: 5 things to know Becker's Hospital Review; by Kelly Gooch; 4/7/25 The number of independent physicians in U.S. rural areas declined 43% over five years — from 21,956 in January 2019 to 12,467 in January 2024 — according to an Avalere study sponsored by the Physicians Advocacy Institute. ... Five things to know:

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The cost of nurse turnover in 24 numbers | 2025

04/10/25 at 03:00 AM

The cost of nurse turnover in 24 numbers | 2025 Becker's Hospital Review; by Molly Gamble; 4/7/25 Nurse shortages and mounting labor costs are among health system CEOs’ top concerns, and a new survey puts numbers to the financial risks hospitals face from nurse vacancies and churn. The 2025 NSI National Health Care Retention & RN Staffing Report features input from 450 hospitals in 37 states on registered nurse turnover, retention, vacancy rates, recruitment metrics and staffing strategies.  It found the average cost of turnover for one staff RN grew from January through December 2024 to $61,110, among other dollar figures and statistics that are helpful to understand the financial implications of one of healthcare’s most persistent labor disruptions. Here are 24 numbers that illustrate the cost of nurse turnover, according to the most recent edition of the report, which is available in full here. [Continue reading ...]

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You've got a friendtor in me: Innovations in peer mentoring for mid-career palliative care clinicians

04/10/25 at 03:00 AM

You've got a friendtor in me: Innovations in peer mentoring for mid-career palliative care clinicians American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care; April Zehm, Andrew J Lawton, Leah B Rosenberg, Sudha Natarajan, Bethany-Rose Daubman; 3/14/25 Mentoring is crucial to professional success, but little is known about the professional development needs of mid-career hospice and palliative medicine (HPM) clinicians. ... An interprofessional "friendtor" group of five HPM clinicians from three academic medical centers met monthly and for a year-end focus group. ... Several themes emerged that highlight the importance of ...

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