Blogs

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Greetings, fellow nurses. I came to the field after several other professional lives, obtaining my BSN from Northern Kentucky University in 2008. I'm a Kentuckian by birth and in virtue of having lived there my whole life, but since starting my nursing practice at University of Cincinnati Medical Center, also claim a strong stake in the well-being of Ohioans. This is my first ONA Blog post. This past week, the ONA sent Gov Mike DeWine a letter opposing the medical practitioner right of refusal of care that was inserted at the last minute (and without an opportunity for comment) in the Ohio budget. I am so proud of this action by the ONA. Despite many phone ...
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Getting the Most Out of Your Membership Have you been looking for more ways to get involved in ONA but have no idea where to start? Have you been thinking about ways to enhance your professional development? ONA recognizes the value of what every nurse’s unique perspective brings to the table. We also know that ONA members are busy, so we aim to create opportunities for our members to get involved in a way that fits their schedule and personal goals. Looking to get more involved in health policy? Consider joining the Health Policy Council or becoming a Legislative Ambassador. Looking to stay informed for your personal advocacy efforts? Sign ...
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With over 200,000 nurses in the state of Ohio, nurses can use their voice and have a significant impact on the election. ONA is encouraging everyone to get out and vote! This year, voting in-person may seem overwhelming to some because of the public health crisis we are facing. Many are opting to vote via an absentee ballot, whether it be a mail-in ballot or taking advantage of early absentee voting in-person. Here are the things you need to know: If you requested an absentee ballot, it is highly suggested that you vote using that ballot. Otherwise, if you requested an absentee ballot and choose to vote in-person on Election Day, you will be required ...
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Year of the Nurse – August Blog Post Knowledge is Power: Educating the Public in a Pandemic Jessica Dzubak, MSN, RN 18 years: that is how long nurses have been the most trusted profession. While we are immensely proud to hold this title, especially during this very challenging Year of the Nurse, we must recognize the responsibility that comes with this honor. In a society with media distrust, contentious political battles and citizens frightened for the uncertain future, now more than ever, people are relying on nurses. As nurses, we don’t just take care of the sick. We also teach. We use our expertise to comfort and to empower. We ...
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Year of the Nurse Mid-year Review Remember January…. I am a nostalgia buff and love Downton Abbey. Last fall my family dressed in 1920 period costume for the premiere of the Downton Abbey feature film. I was excited this January about ringing in 2020 and more opportunities to celebrate with 20’s fashion. Little did I know that my wardrobe would soon include wearing a face mask in public. As January 2020 came to a close, ONA began talking about this mysterious virus that we had vaguely heard about in December, as there was now a case in Washington state. We began to wonder what we should be doing as an organization. I spoke with colleagues from the Ohio ...
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Keep Kindness in Mind

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Keep Kindness in Mind Jessica Dzubak, MSN, RN The Year of the Nurse has been an emotionally draining, physically exhausting, and socially challenging one thus far. There is no doubt that nurses have willingly stepped up to the plate and served their patients and communities in unimaginable circumstances. What was supposed to be a year of celebration has turned into a somber time of reflection and gratitude for the sacrifices of nurses and their health care colleagues. The events of 2020 have shaken us all in ways we never could have expected or prepared for. There are no guidelines or protocols for some of the issues we are facing. What we all need to ...
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As nurses we are often there to hold a hand and be the support one needs while dealing with loss. In school we learn the Kubler-Ross stages of grief, and then assess and intervene with our patients and families who are grieving based on the model. Colleagues and friends often come to us for support as they experience loss because they know nurses are empathetic and kind. Today many are grieving based on the changes that have occurred in our society, and nurses are grieving as well. We too have lost loved ones, lost jobs, and experienced significant life disruptions like cancelled weddings and socially-distanced holidays. In addition to the loss, there has ...
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Staying Mentally and Emotionally Strong in a COVID-19 World Contributed By: Eric Pennington, CEQF, EQPC, EQAC, SEQ-P, BPC - Partner, Spirit of EQ There’s no getting around it: we are living in a time of chaos and uncertainty. Most people are working to figure out what their “normal” now looks like. We can find ourselves ruminating on how things were before or wondering if life ahead will be as promising as we had hoped. This is certainly a time of stress and emotional upheaval. If your thoughts are filled with questions surrounding what has happened, you are not alone. 3 months ago, life likely seemed to be somewhat manageable ...
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I work at a hospital in the Cleveland area. I am wondering what others are experiencing related to not getting their hours. I have not been furloughed, but not getting my normal hours. I work as an ambulatory float nurse. I have spent a week training inpatient in case of a surge. I am doing all sorts of things to keep hours (Screening, call center). We are allowed to use our sick time or vacation time when there arent enough hours. Or we can take it unpaid. We are also allowed to "borrow" 5 vacation days from next years bank. Some are saying that they don't feel like they should have to dwindle their entire sick/vacation accounts because then it won't be available ...
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Hello everyone, I'm working on my RN-BSN and I'm having trouble with an assignment. I hate to admit this, but I've never been involved in the "politic" side. I've always been involved with things within my hospital system but never the "bigger picture." With my current assignment I am asked to look up 5 healthcare issues currently under legislation in my state (ohio). It states they can be found on "the states health care websites." However, when I go to the Ohio Department of Health, I'm having trouble navigating and finding them on the page. Does anyone know how to navigate their way around the ODH page better or know where to find these? I feel I've truly ...
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The 5 W’s of the Year of the Nurse and Midwife Brittany Turner, MSN, RN – Blog contributor, Nurse Planner at ONA If you haven’t heard, 2020 has been dubbed the Year of the Nurse and Midwife by the World Health Organization (WHO). Wahoo , we earned it nurses! You might be thinking, ‘ so what ?’ While there’s no doubt that nurses and midwives should be praised highly and often, read on to learn about the who, what, when, where, and why behind this well-deserved recognition. Who While the WHO is largely responsible for the designation of the Year of the Nurse and Midwife, they are partnered with many other organizations, ...
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By Jessica Dzubak, MSN, RN With all of the Year of the Nurse (YON) celebrations, we cannot forget the violence that nurses are being subjected to across the nation. Nurses indeed should be celebrated for the good work that they do, but tolerating violent assaults should not be part of that work. With that, we ask nurses to consider three things during #YON2020 when thinking of workplace violence: 1. Not Just Part of the Job Workplace violence is not ‘just part of the job.’ We can no longer make excuses for violence or remain complacent with ineffective protocols and underreporting. The statistics are startling. The American Nurse Today’s (now ...
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Legal Representation

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​We need better legal representation!!! OSUNO is going into negotiations for a new contract April 2019 and ONA is refusing to get adequate legal representation. I'm currently a member of OSUNO and I'm NOT getting paid according to our contract. I'm unable to have a successful grievance against my employer because our contract favors my employer not the employees. I know of several other nurses in the same circumstance which is more reason we need better legal representation when negotiating our contract. ONA what is your plan? Please tell me it's better legal representation!!!! Patti​
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Candace resides in Hilliard and has worked at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center since 2002. She also graduated from Ohio State with her BSN in 2005. When asked about a situation that confirmed her decision to become a nurse, Candace recounts a story of when she traveled to Mexico and had to use her training with victims of a serious bus accident, with one of those victims being her mom. "I feel like my decision to become a nurse has been confirmed time and time again. The first time was shortly after graduation and about a week before I started my first job as a nurse. I was in Mexico with my fiance and my mom, her friend and family. We were traveling ...
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We’re nearly halfway through ANA’s Year of the Healthy Nurse - a year set aside to focus on our own health, so that we can in turn, improve the health of our families, patients, communities, and our nation. So what does this actually entail? For one thing, discovering, learning, and reviewing the best evidence regarding various health behaviors (Sorry. Three things). Applying that evidence to our own lives in ways to become healthier. That can mean anything - from exchanging former behaviors for new healthier ones, or selecting additional ways to practice self care, or – this one’s the tough one – making our health behavior choices a priority among ...
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Hello! I wanted to share some upcoming educational programs from the Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics. There are live and webinar options on improving immunizations rates as well as adolescent well care visits. These programs also offer CE and some great resources! Please click on the document below for more information and how to register. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions! OAAP_Educational_Opportunities.docx Thank you Beth Barker RN, BSN Nurse Educator Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics
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Susan Babik is a 34-year nurse of Akron General Medical Center, and is originally from Youngstown, Ohio. She attended Youngstown State immediately after high school where she graduated with her associate's degree in 1982. Susan later went on to earn her BSN from Kent State in 1991. When asking Susan of a specific situation that confirmed her decision to become a nurse, she responded, "When I was beginning high school, I needed an emergency appendectomy - my appendix had ruptured! Though I was 14 years old, I had yet to be exposed to a hospital. And it was during that continuum of care where I encountered all aspects of nursing. In 1975, admission for a ruptured ...
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With respect and apologies to T.S. Eliot, March is the cruelest month . . . at least when it comes to outdoor exercise and fitness in Ohio. Temps reach the upper 50’s (and even 60’s!) bringing fresh air, golden sunshine, promises of spring. Healthy Nurses recharge outdoors – running, hiking, bicycling, inline skating, kite-flying, dog-walking, garden-clearing, or simply enjoying all that nature has to offer. We’re energized. Eager to go farther and do more. Today, tomorrow, all next week . . . .but then . . . another cold front arrives, with its ice, snow, and deep freeze temperatures. Major disappointment! It’s back to the gym, the treadmill, and spin ...
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Beth Barker, is a newer member of ONA who was really exposed to the association after precepting with Joe Hauser – ONA’s Director of Continuing Education. Beth graduated in December 2016 from Capital University with her BSN after originally receiving her Associate’s Degree in Nursing in June 2011. When asked about her favorite part of her job as a nurse, Beth said, “My favorite part of my job is all the new and different people I get to meet, and the relationships I am fortunate enough to build as part of my professional network. In my current position I provide education on childhood and teen immunizations to private practices, clinics, local health departs, ...
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Jamie Burchett was born and raised in Ravenna, Ohio, and now resides in Barberton. She currently works at Akron Children's Hospital, where she started as an intern in the summer of 2015, became a nurse tech in the fall of 2015 and then hired on as a Staff RN in the NICU prior to her graduating from Kent State University - Stark campus in May 2016. When asked what advice she would pass along to new nurses entering the profession, Jamie said, "Get involved. Community and service are important, and professional nursing organizations, shared governance and advocacy are imperative to professional growth. The more involved we are, the more invested in our future ...
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