Author: Liu

Gerontology — the study of the aging process — examines the causes and effects of age-related illnesses in humans. The field examines the biological aspects of aging, such as artery walls stiffening in the cardiovascular system, and the unique psychological, social and physiological aspects of aging as well. Adult gerontological nurse practitioners focus on the…

Americans depend on skilled doctors and nurses to keep them healthy and well. Over the next several years, however, a serious chance exists that there won’t be enough healthcare providers to treat the increasing number of patients. A shortage of healthcare providers is nothing to take lightly, yet the situation does have a silver lining.…

Today more than ever, the U.S. healthcare system needs qualified advanced practice nurses. In September 2020, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) projected that the current nursing shortage will intensify as the healthcare needs of the baby boomer generation continue to expand. Individuals who are interested in gaining the skills and knowledge to…

Patient populations represent a wide assortment of ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientations and religions. Having nurse leaders who reflect that diversity plays an important role in combating discrimination in nursing and providing the highest quality care to every patient. The contributions of nurse leaders enrich discussions and lead to more deliberate strategies and thoughtful decisions. With…

Nurse leaders have a responsibility to combat gender discrimination in nursing. By exercising their leadership and interpersonal skills, they can help minimize gender discrimination among nursing staff. First, nurse leaders need to learn to recognize their own potential gender biases. They can do this by reflecting on the experiences of nurses who are male, transgender…

Society has ingrained gender stereotypes that have affected and continue to affect the professions people enter. Attributing self-confidence, strength and rational thinking to males has pushed men into leadership positions. Perceptions of females as nurturers and caretakers has relegated women to less prestigious work. Since modern nursing began, women have dominated the profession. That’s partly…

Age discrimination not only hurts nurses. It hurts patients. Ageism against nurses impedes a healthcare organization’s ability to deliver quality care, while ageism against older patients can easily interfere with the ability to deliver proper patient care and assessments. Ageism Against Older Nurses Compromises Patient Care Older nurses play a vital role in healthcare delivery.…

The health disparities between white and nonwhite patients speak to the profound impact of systemic racism in healthcare. One notable example involves infant mortality. According to the Office of Minority Health, Black babies die at twice the rate of white babies. Moreover, adjusting for socioeconomic factors does not eliminate this gap in infant mortality. Numerous…

Discrimination in nursing involves unfair or unjustified treatment that can harm individuals’ careers and their health. It can occur at the institutional level, when a healthcare organization’s policies curtail opportunities or adversely impact the well-being of certain groups. It can also occur among individuals, such as when negative interactions between nurses and patients are based…

Discrimination in nursing manifests in various ways and at different levels. Patients may reject nurses of color and request white nurses. At the institutional level, healthcare organizations may fail to hire diverse nursing staffs that reflect the communities they serve, or pass over nurses of color for leadership positions. And nurses — who aren’t immune…