Working in the Emergency Department (ED), one subject of conversation that comes up between healthcare workers is the number of people that come through the ED doors that reports abusing prescription medications. Even though the majority of the prescription medication abuse is underreported to healthcare workers, the number of people that come into the ED with overdose of prescription medications are too high. The American Nurses Association (ANA) has finally teamed up with the Obama Administration to address the epidemic of prescription drug abuse and heroin abuse (ANA supports, 2015). It’s important for us, as nurses, to advocate for our patients and be involved in policies that help patients with drug abuse issues and problems. Interventions need to be taken to make sure there is the right support for these patients.

ANA supports efforts to address prescription drug abuse. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.theamericannurse.org/index.php/2015/10/22/ana-supports-efforts-to-address-prescription-drug-abuse/

Great job on your post Larry! Nurse fatigue is a very real and dangerous issue in the healthcare setting. Not only is nurse fatigue negative for the nurse suffering from it, but also for the patients being taken care of by the nurse. Nurse fatigue has a negative impact on the nurse’s physical health as well as his or her's mental health. It's very important for nurses to have the right support and interventions to reduce the risks of getting nurse fatigue. If a nurse has nurse fatigue, this puts the patient in an unsafe condition. Wrong medications, or wrong procedures could be done on the patient due to the nurse being tired. There needs to be some type of policy or protocol set in place to reduce the risk of nurse fatigue. This will improve patient safety and outcomes.

Great job on your post Breanna! Inadequate nurse staffing is an issue that seems to be pretty common across a lot of hospitals these days. This is an issue that may put patients' safety at risk. High risk patients need to be watched closer than a lot of the other patients. This might be harder with insufficient nurses on staff. Not only is the patient's safety put in jeopardy but inadequate staffing also lead to nurse burnouts. A higher patient load and patient acuity puts more stress on the nurses. The benefits of having adequate staffing outweighs any disadvantages. Patient outcome and patient satisfaction is also increased with adequate staffing.

1. What nursing leadership position do you hold? Ex. charge nurse, supervisor, director
Janet: “I currently hold the charge nurse position for the night shift at my hospital.” 2. How do you define power?
Janet: “For me, in the field of nursing, power is when you can make a change. It’s when you see something that needs to be done, and you speak up and get that thing done. It’s also when you can advocate and stand up for your patients and do what is best for your patients. That’s power.” 3. Define the power dynamics in your organization and how they are different from those found in other organizations that you have practiced in.
Janet: “On my floor, the power dynamic is very simple. If a nurse feels as though a change needs to be made, a request is made to the management. This request is then analyzed for it benefits and consequences, and if a change is then warranted, that change is then implemented and the results evaluated. This has been the only hospital that I have worked in so I can’t really compare it to other organizations.” 4. How do other disciplines and department members view nurses’ power in your organization?
Janet: “I feel as though a lot of the other disciplines in the organization that I work in looks at the power of nurses with respect because this power is not something all disciplines can just ask for. It’s something that has to be earned. 5. Are you a powerful nurse?
Janet: “I would like to think I am. I would have to be to do my job as a charge nurse successfully.” 6. Do you think nurses are perceived as powerful in your organization?
Janet: “Nurses are definitely perceived as powerful in our organization.” 7. What strategies have you seen nurses in your organization use to increase their power?
Janet: “The best way to increase power is to be trustworthy. One must be trustworthy and have ethical beliefs and practices. This is the only way people will listen to you and be willing to change something.” 8. Do you believe that practicing nurses in your organization view the nurse leaders in your organization as powerful?
Janet: “In the organization that I work in, nurse leaders are definitely considered to be powerful by the practicing nurses.”

Janet Mathew, interview by Robin Charuvil, October 24, 2015, transcript.