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from the 2/21/19 edition of the ANA Nursing Insider Barbara L. Nichols, ANA President 1978-1982 Born and raised in Maine, Barbara Nichols, DHL, MS, RN, FAAN, was active in children’s theater and initially considered a career in acting. However, there were very limited roles for African-Americans, so Nichols decided to become a nurse. Many hospitals and nursing schools were still segregated at the time Nichols was pursing her career in nursing. She was one of only four African-American students in her …

by Cook, Cara; Schenk, Beth; & Demorest, Shanda L. Nursing is rooted in the principles of health promotion and disease prevention. Nurses help individuals achieve optimal health by educating how to engage in healthy lifestyle choices, ensuring appropriate medication management, and assisting in accessing preventative care. Nurses have also been vital to addressing environmental hazards that affect health. New Challenges Now the health sector is experiencing a new challenge. A growing body of evidence indicates the rise in global temperatures over …

by Peggy Sellers Benson, RN, MSHA, MSN, NE-BC Executive Officer, Alabama Board of Nursing Recently, I have been asked to discuss the issues the Alabama Board of Nursing sees related to social media usage. Social media complaints against nurses are on the rise, reflecting the increasing accessibility of social media to the public. Social media can include all forms of electronic media, online communities, and personal messages used as a conduit to share information. These media are a fact of …

by Shereda Finch, M.Ed. MPA Preventing substance use disorders (SUDs) and associated problems in children, adolescents and young adults should include comprehensive, integrative approaches that involve parents, families, communities and medical professionals, even nurses. The 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed that in 2016, 28.6 million people aged 12 or older used an illicit drug during the past 30 days, which corresponds to about 1 in 10 Americans overall (10.6%). For adults ages 18-25, that range was …

by Shereda Finch, M.Ed. MPA In Alabama, many individuals, families and communities have been impacted by the Opioid Crisis. As evidenced by reports of opioid overdose deaths across the state, it is clear that the Crisis does not discriminate based on race, zip code or economic status. What is an Opioid? Opioids are a class of drugs used to reduce pain. Prescription opioids are prescribed by doctors to treat pain. Some common types of opioids are oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), …