It is our responsibilities, not ourselves, that we should take seriously."| Your feedback is important to us. Click here to email us your feedback. |
| ANA SmartBrief |
| December 9, 2008 |
A look back at 2008
The past year has been filled with ups and downs for the health care industry, and next year will likely bring more of the same. Nurses continue to be on the front lines in communities across the country, bringing care, education and support to millions of Americans. Part I of this ANA SmartBrief special year-end report aggregates the most important trends, stories and events of 2008. Part II, which will hit your inbox on Thursday, will take a look at what's in store for 2009.
Nurse staffing levels and the nursing shortage continue to be top issues for everyone in the health care sector. Hospitals are getting creative to attract and retain nurses, colleges and universities are looking to hire more nurse educators to expand enrollment, and even local school districts are trying to find ways to keep school nurses in place to handle the growing medical needs of today's students.
Earlier this year, the Joint Commission announced new rules that require hospitals to set codes of conduct on inappropriate behavior, as well as plans to deal with disruptions. In some areas, nurses are already taking matters into their own hands and launching anti-complaining campaigns and RN-MD collaborations to improve the working environment and positively impact patient care.
In the policy arena, the presidential election focused attention on health care in the U.S. and the potential for real health care reform in the next administration. In addition, the CMS and private health insurance plans continue to enact policies to limit payments for preventable errors in hospitals, which will highlight the need for improved nurse-patient ratios to ensure care quality and patient safety.
It has been a big year indeed. And now, here's what was most important to YOU in 2008.
It is our responsibilities, not ourselves, that we should take seriously."
--Peter Ustinov,
British actor and writer
In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing."
--Theodore Roosevelt,
26th president of the U.S.
Pick battles big enough to matter, small enough to win."
--Jonathan Kozol,
American nonfiction writer and educator
You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
--Mahatma Gandhi,
Indian political leader
When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened."
--Alexander Graham Bell,
American inventor
The most successful people are those who are good at Plan B."
--James Yorke,
mathematics and physics professor
Most companies don't exercise patience during the hiring process. There is no development system that is going to compensate for making a bad hire."
--Eric Foss,
CEO of Pepsi Bottling
Service is the rent we pay for being. It is the very purpose of life, and not something you do in your spare time."
--Marian Wright Edelman
children's activist
The first half of our lives is ruined by our parents, and the second half by our children."
--Clarence Darrow,
American lawyer
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