Ahhhh, Junuary in the Pacific Northwest. Let's keep our fingers crossed for some warmth in July and August, and enjoy these beautiful June days for what they are. . .
Here at KCNA, we are busy planning future continuing nursing education programs and other of our usual fall offerings (as well as some new ideas and formats).
Enjoy your summer, and stay tuned!
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Sue Vermeulen & Rose Williamson
KCNA Staff
P.S. Please forward News2Use to colleagues you think might be interested. And if you haven't already, LIKE US on Facebook! Thanks.
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News2Use is published monthly for KCNA members and other nurses throughout King County. To comment or submit content, email [email protected].
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| NATIONAL HEALTH OBSERVANCES |
June is National Safety Month 
As it turns out, injuries are the leading cause of death for Americans ages 1 to 40 - who knew? Well, once they DO know, there are many things people can do to stay safer and prevent injuries. Some of the foremost issues to highlight this month are: preventing poisonings;medication safety and the possibility of abuse; driving, biking and working safely; first aid and emergency preparedness; and preventing falls.
The National Safety Council provides downloadable resources highlighting a different topic each week: emergency preparedness, wellness, falls, and driving. Access those resources
here.
National HIV Testing Day is June 27
 More than 1.1 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and another 1 in 7 people don't know they have it. This month, the Centers for Disease Control and other health organizations are hoping to change that, with help from nurses and others. Help spread the word about National HIV Testing Day, and the importance of being tested.
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NURSING NEWS & CLINICAL ISSUES
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"Alternative to Opioids" Pilot Project Exceeds Goals
A pilot program in 10 Colorado hospitals reduced use of o
pioids in mana
ging pain among ED patients. Although visits remained essentially the same
a
s during the previous year, opioid usage was 36 percent lower in the
participating EDs. The Colorado Emergency Nurses Association undertook the project with the state Hospital Association, creating a toolkit
and educating nursing staff at the pilot hospitals. Read the
article
in American Journal of Nursing.
Ethical Issues with Use of Electronic Health Records
As of 2017, the United States has achieved 95 percent saturation with electronic health records to document healthcare delivery and guide clinical decision making. However, clinical teams are confronting usability challenges and unintended consequences. The article, "Identifying and Addressing Ethical Issues with Use of Electronic Health Records," presents ethical issues experienced by nurses and provides a case scenario along with recommendations and a call to action. Click
here to read entire article in the Online Journal of Issues in Nursing.
How to Work with Night-Shift Fatigue
Communities require nursing services around the clock, hence some nurses must work irregular hours and night shifts. Long shifts, rotations, double shifts, night shifts - all pose short- and long-term health and safety risks. New guidelines from the American Academy of Nursing suggest ways to reduce fatigue and promote sleep health and safety. Read
more
.
Study Finds Infectious Disease Deaths have Decreased
Death from infectious disease is on the decline in the U.S., but statistics vary widely among counties according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study found that between 1980 and 2014, there were more than 4 million deaths from infectious disease, with lower respiratory infections accounting for nearly 79 percent of the total. Read more study findings
here.
Inadequate Hydration may Affect BMI, Obesity
A study assessing the relationship between hydration and BMI and inadequate hydration and obesity (2009-2012) found that adults who were inadequately hydrated had higher BMIs and higher odds of being obese compared with hydrated adults. Read the study
here.
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CONTINUING NURSING EDUCATION
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FREE CNE: Counseling Transgender and Gender Non-Binary Clients
HIV transmission rates are high among transgender and gender non-binary communities. Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a new tool that reduces the chance of transmission by 90% or more. This course will discuss PrEP basics, barriers to care and ways to provide counseling and care in an affirming manner. Affords one hour of CNE. Find out more and register
here
.
Supporting Domestic Violence Survivors in the Workplace
The next Courageous Conversation event will be Wednesday, July 1, 6 - 7:30 p.m. at Hotel Andra in downtown Seattle.
One of the strongest partners in a survivor's journey can be his or her employer.
Three expert panelists will discuss workplace best practices and domestic violence advocacy, including how participants can implement effective policies to support survivors. Read more about this event.
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VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME & EXPERTISE
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Vol
unteers Needed at 2018 Seattle/King County Clinic
Registra
tion is open for nurses to volunteer for the 2018 Seattle/King County Clinic, September 20-23 at KeyArena. The support of volunteers makes thi
s clinic possible. Over the past four years, the clinic has provided $14 million in dental, vision and medical care to 16,300 people in need, and helped co
nnect
th
em with community services to encourage continuity of care.
This year, with the help of 800 volunteers a day, the clinic hopes to provide $3.5 million in care to 4,000 patients. Can you help? If so, get more information and register
here.
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YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR CAREER
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Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation: HYDRATE
 In June, the Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation campaign is highlighting the importance of hydration to one's health. It's difficult to remember to consistently drink water, but for busy nurses it can be especially hard to find time for a water break. The Hydration Challenge aims to help nurses make hydration a priority.
Sufficient hydration can help with weight loss (see related article below), boost energy and improve skin tone. On the other hand, under-hydrating can increase the incidence of chronic fatigue, mood swings, sugar/salt cravings, and more. So join the Hydration Challenge today!
Inadequate Hydration may Affect BMI, Obesity
A study assessing the relationship between hydration and BMI and inadequate hydration and obesity (2009-2012) found that adults who were inadequately hydrated had higher BMIs and higher odds of being obese compared with hydrated adults. Read the study
here.
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TED Talk: Rebecca Onie on the U.S. Healthcare System
"What if our healthcare system kept us healthy?" is the title of a TED Talk by Rebecca Onie, cofounder of Health Leads, an organization that pairs social services and health care. "So that's where Health Leads began," says Onie in her presentation. "We started with a prescription pad - a very ordinary piece of paper - and asked not what do patients need to het health (antibiotics, an inhaler, medication) but what do patients need to be healthy, to not get sick in the first place? And we chose to use the prescription for that purpose."
HEALWA: Resource for Authoritative
Clinical Information
Healwa.org is an on-call library for Washington State practitioners, providing information about clinical articles, toolkits, databases, drugs and diagnostic tests, and continuing education. The website, maintained by the University of Washington Health Sciences Library, is free to those who set up an access code and password. (You've already paid for this resource with a small portion of your state licensing fee.) Check it out today at
www.heal-wa.org.
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4649 Sunnyside Avenue North Room 352 Seattle, WA 98103
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