Literature Review

Best Nurse Practitioner (NP) career and salaries in 2025 AllNurses; by Erin Lee, BSN, RN; 2/7/25 ... Over the years, the scope of practice for NPs has significantly expanded, enabling them to specialize in various healthcare fields and cater to diverse patient populations. NPs now play a vital role in meeting primary care needs and delivering specialized care across a wide range of specialties. Regardless of the chosen specialty, all NPs are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who have obtained their master's degree or doctorate in nursing practice, passed a board certification exam, and obtained state licensure to practice. ... The level of autonomy and responsibility NPs have in their professional roles is influenced by state regulations on the scope of practice. Although some states allow NPs to work independently, others require them to be supervised by a healthcare provider or MD. To determine which NP job suits your career goals, it's imperative to understand your state's scope of practice regulations and the responsibilities of the NP specialty you plan to pursue. ..  [Click here for extensive data] from the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report that shows NPs' annual salaries for 2025. 

After Eaton fire response, a search and rescue team gears up for a future of wildfire DirectRelief; by Talya Meyers; 2/10/25 Like many California volunteer rescuers, Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team members got their start doing wilderness missions. Now, they’re preparing for a bigger role in an era of more frequent, severe wildfires. When the volunteers on the Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team look back on the first night’s response to the Eaton Fire, what they remember most is problem-solving, and quickly. ...  “We were building an airplane while we were flying it,” is how operations leader Carolyn Grumm described it. ... For [Rob Klusman, senior paramedic team member], the vast and urgent need came into focus early that evening, when his team went to check on a medically complex patient receiving end-of-life care. ... [Immediately after countless evacuations,] he and his teammates moved into their second, grimmer assignment: Moving through devastated, burned-out neighborhoods, ... to find human remains. ... [Now, on] a larger scale, Klusamn explained, California search and rescue teams are thinking about the escalating severity and frequency of wildfires — and how they can be there to respond.

Providence and hospital doctors reach tentative agreement in Oregon's 27-day health care strike Access WDUN 75, Portland, OR; by The Associated Press; 2/6/25 Providence and dozens of doctors at a hospital in Portland, Oregon, have reached a tentative agreement after 27 days of strike, bringing what has been described as the state's largest health care strike closer to a potential end, depending on union ratification. The tentative agreement with hospital doctors and palliative care physicians working with patients with serious illness or injury at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center was announced by the Oregon Nurses Association union and Providence in news releases late Wednesday [2/5/25]. Key provisions of the tentative agreement include pay raises, more sick time and a commitment to reform staffing models, the union said.

4 critical mistakes to avoid during your workday project Becker's Hospital Review; In collaboration with Healthcare IT Leaders; 2/3/25 The success of a Workday implementation doesn’t just hinge on technology but on people. According to recent research, up to 80% of digital transformation initiatives fail. ... For organizations looking to avoid these pitfalls, here are four critical staffing mistakes to avoid as outlined in our Workday Resource Planning & Staffing Guide:

Health workforce issues and challenges in the post-pandemic eraHealth Affairs Scholar; by David Armstrong; 1/25The health workforce is an essential component of our health care delivery system. A well-trained, sufficiently sized, and diverse workforce is critical to meet the health care needs of the population. However, in this postpandemic era, many challenges persist. The following introduction describes a special collection of papers that address several key issues confronting the health workforce. It provides an overview of each article in the collection, highlighting their relevance to current workforce challenges. Each article in this series was developed by 1 of the 9 federally funded Health Workforce Research Centers.

Paula's Donuts is trying out new flavors for a good cause NBC WGRZ 2, Buffalo, NY; by Tommy Gallagher; 1/29/25 People in Cheektowaga had the chance to try out Paula's Donuts' newest flavors for a good cause. Paula's teamed up with Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo to find this year's hospice spring bouquet sale doughnut. For one week in March, customers will be able to purchase the officially crowned hospice spring bouquet sale doughnut, as well as flower bouquets, to raise money for individuals suffering from serious illness as well as their families and caregivers.

Leading nursing facility cuts turnover by 50% with DailyPay Benefit for employees HealthCareDive, New York; Press Release from DailyPay; 1/30/25 The Springs Arkansas, the leading skilled nursing provider across Arkansas, is celebrating three years of partnership with DailyPay – a worktech platform and leading provider of earned wage access. Throughout this partnership, The Springs Arkansas is empowering employees with the ability to access their earned pay on their own timeline. ... Since implementing DailyPay into their benefits offerings, they have seen a 74% participation rate, and in 2024 reduced turnover by 50%. Headquartered in Little Rock, AR, The Springs Arkansas operates over 20 skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities, offering a wide range of care services, including skilled rehab, long-term care, memory care, and hospice care. ... The Springs Arkansas introduced DailyPay in January 2022 to better support its dedicated workforce. 

Maine communities struggle with nurse practitioner shortage NBC News Center Maine; by Brianna Bush; 1/29/25 According to U.S. News & World Report, nurse practitioner is the No.1 ranked job for 2025. The study says that's because of work-life balance, high pay, and job growth potential. Despite this, communities in Maine are lacking enough nurse practioners to support patients. ... According to the Maine Nurse Practitioner Association, there are more than 3,100 nurse practitioners in Maine. 

Kaiser Permanente physicians negotiate new labor agreement Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 1/27/25 Resident physicians at California-based Kaiser Permanente have recently negotiated a new agreement that includes compensation increases and expanded mental health and wellness employee benefits. The agreement came after months of negotiations and included salary increases over the next three years, along with more paid time off and enhanced financial support for resident physicians. It also included roughly $40,000 to fuel an annual patient-project fund.

Falls Quilt Guild celebrates “Adopt A Bear” 25th birthday Times-Leader, Great Falls, MT; by the Falls Quilt Guild; 1/24/25 ... Kevin Sukut from Benefis Peace Hospice and Children's Bereavement Coordinator thanked guild members for the donation of quilts that accompany bears with adoption papers. It is a powerful and emotional experience participating in the gifting part of healing so many young hearts. These are given to children who accompany grieving families at Hospice. These quilts become a security blanket that brings joy to children’s faces. Kevin partners with Torene Marcum to set up and distribute bags throughout Benefis and to Choteau and Fort Benton. Torene states it is amazing how the bear and quilt makes treating children easier.

Red Cross urging blood donations amid severe weather, wildfires ABC News 27 WKOW, Madison, WI; by Chad Thompson; 1/22/25 The American Red Cross is encouraging donors to give blood or platelets as winter storms and California wildfires have impacted blood supply. Donors of all blood types – particularly type O negative blood donors and those giving platelets – are needed to help save lives this month, according to a press release. "As dangerous snow and ice continue to sweep across the country, and wildfires in Southern California continue to burn and impact air quality, Red Cross blood drive cancellations have grown into the hundreds," the release stated. Red Cross said those events have resulted in more than 12,000 uncollected blood and platelet donations in January. More winter storms are forecast for this week could further strain the blood supply.Editor's note: Does your agency partner with your local Red Cross? The hospice I served regularly used our Community Room for Red Cross blood donations, a couple of times each year. These interactive experiences fostered great morale and humanity across all roles--side-by-side--giving "life" in a practical, affordable, meaningful way.

Residents share video of Spring Grove Area guidance counselor, now in hospice after Jan. 1 collapse York Dispatch, York, PA; by Meredith Willse; 1/14/25 As news spread of a Spring Grove Area High School guidance counselor’s collapse after a run on Jan. 1, friends and former students shared a video she made — dancing in her office. Carrie Schmoyer collapsed Jan. 1 after a run. After being hospitalized for nearly two weeks, her family moved Schmoyer to a hospice center. The video, from the 2014-2015 school year, shows high schoolers and staff dancing in the hallways, offices, the auditorium and outside the school to “Happy” by Pharrell Williams. Among other school staff members, Schmoyer is seen dancing in her office. ... While sharing the video, the residents shared their memories of Schmoyer, how they loved her, how she helped them and the GoFundMe account, which has raised close to $50,000 since it started Jan. 6. Editor's note: This touching tribute reminds us that each person receiving hospice is connected to a much larger community of people who are impacted by this person's living and dying. 

If you’ve overcome these 9 challenges in life, you’re more resilient than you think Personal Branding Blog; by Lucas Graham; 1/21/25 Resilience isn’t always about being unshakable or invincible. Sometimes, it’s just about surviving the chaos, picking yourself up after the mess, and somehow finding the courage to keep going. In the moment, it’s hard to see how strong you really are—you’re just trying to make it through. But when you pause and look back, you realize the grit it took to get here. ... [If] you’ve been through these nine challenges and made it out, you’re way more resilient than you give yourself credit for.