Patient care is a top priority throughout the healthcare community, and over 12,000 healthcare professionals took a stand for passion for patients and the nursing profession. On June 10, 2010, Minnesota nurses with the National Nurses Union walked off the job for a one-day strike to protest patient issues, staffing concerns and better pay.

 

Although Minnesota Nurses Association and 14 local hospitals have yet to agree on the union’s protests at the time this article was written, the following video shows the dedication, compassion and concern these “patient advocates,” as one nurse calls them, have for their patients.

 

Many of these patient advocates are asking hospitals to maintain a better nurse-to-patient ratio. For example, nurses request 1 Registered Nurse to 4 patients in medical and surgical units, and 1 RN to 2 patients in critical-care units. These healthcare professionals are also saying that higher mortality rates could be linked to poor staffing, because nurses are unable to give proper attention to patients and are being pulled in several directions at once.

 

Opinions about patient care issues resonated throughout the healthcare community. A June 3rd Rue Education Facebook discussion asked followers their thoughts on patient/safety issues.  Followers felt long hours with inadequate breaks, high nurse-to-patient ratio, and being called in multiple directions at once were among the top concerns that could affect patient safety.

 

With reform beginning to reshape the healthcare community, it will be interesting to see how the acts of LPNs/LVNs, Paramedics, Respiratory Therapists and other healthcare professionals will contribute to the future of healthcare.

For adults who are furthering their education through independent study without the typical campus and classroom socialization, this may be perceived as a nearly impossible task. Nevertheless, being socially active can be an integral part of the learning process.

 

If you are studying by independent means, without a formal instructor and without being in a formal classroom, how does the transmission of the ideas and accumulated knowledge occur? Most of the information is communicated and learned one-dimensionally by reading and self-studying, but it doesn’t have to be that flat and boring. So much can be learned from other people!

 

As adult learners, working in the healthcare profession, you have the a basis of a some unifying relationship, because you share a similar goal in continuing your education to becoming registered nurses. Now you just need to find a way to connect with each other. Whether you post a bulletin at work announcing a study lunch hour, set up a Facebook profile, tweet to other adult learners or use an internet web forum, you can find several ways to communicate and share ideas! Imagine what you can learn from others across the nation with various life experiences but a unified goal.  

 

It doesn’t matter how you assemble, electronically or in person, what matters is that you engage others with common interests who are in the same pursuit to further their education.  You’ve heard that old adage; experience is the parent of wisdom. There is so much to be gained from interacting with others to learn, share experiences, motivate one another, gain wisdom and who knows, and maybe cultivate a lifelong friendship. Reach out, learn by way of others, and socialize as a part of your education experience!

 

Rue Education provides opportunities to become a socially active learner via online learning courses, Rue Education's Facebook and the Mentor Connection. To learn more, contact your academic advisor at 1-800-479-2805.