Literature Review

800 Geisinger nurses strike: 5 things to know Becker's Hospital Review; by Kelly Gooch; 2/19/25Members of Service Employees International Union Healthcare Pennsylvania began a five-day strike Feb. 17 at Geisinger's Luzerne County facilities in Pennsylvania, union and health system spokespeople confirmed to Becker's. Five things to know:

The hidden curriculum in medical school: What they don’t teach you Medscape; by Roni Robbins; 2/14/25... For Krastein and other medical students, there’s a hidden curriculum in medical school: Unwritten, informal lessons, and values learned outside of formal academic settings that shape the culture of medicine, influence behavior, and how to approach patient care and professional relationships. ... These lessons may unfold in informal moments, conversations during rounds or with patients, observing faculty handling difficult cases, or seeing how peers and mentors navigate challenges. [Identified themes include the following:]

8 emerging trends that will shape recruiting in 2025 ERE Media; by Caitlyn McDonough and Jamie Kohn; 2/18/25 In 2025, CEOs have set their sights on driving growth through transformation. At the same time, organizations are struggling with efficiency pressures, sustained talent shortages, and an unpredictable regulatory landscape. ...  In the context of all these challenges, we’ve identified eight key trends that will influence talent acquisition strategies in 2025.

[England] Hundreds protest amid fears of hospice closure BBC News, Liverpool, England; by Suzanne Hailey & Rumeana Jahangir; 2/15/25 Hundreds of people have attended an emotional protest against the potential closure of a Marie Curie hospice. The 26-bed inpatient unit at the site in Woolton, Liverpool, has been temporarily shut since July amid shortages in specialised nursing staff. ... [Independent] councillor Lucy Williams, who worked at the hospice as a palliative care nurse for two years, told BBC North West Tonight the charity's management said on Friday "they were considering closure" as one of their options. At a protest outside the hospice on Saturday many people held up pictures of loved ones who had died, with some saying they were "angry" about the current state of uncertainty. Ms Williams said: "Marie Curie are going to be met with the wrath of Liverpool. The whole community is going to get behind this."

57 health systems on Forbes' list of best large employers Becker's Hospital Review; by Kelly Gooch; 2/13/25 Forbes released its annual ranking of America's best large employers Feb. 12, and it included 57 hospitals and health systems. The publication partnered with market research firm Statista to compile lists of the top large and midsize employers in the U.S. after surveying more than 217,000 employees working at companies within the U.S. that employ more than 1,000 people. Companies with more than 5,000 employees were considered for the large employers ranking. Survey participants were asked whether they would recommend their employer to others and to rate it based on criteria such as pay, work environment, training programs and advancement opportunities. [The top 5 include the following. Click on the title's link for the full list and links to more info.]

A CEO’s strategic guide to leading people facing cancer CEO World Magazine; by Joelle Kaufman; 2/10/25 Cancer doesn’t just affect individuals – it impacts entire organizations. As leaders, we must anticipate and prepare for the moment when cancer touches our teams. With over 18 million cancer survivors currently in the U.S. workforce and over 2 million new diagnoses annually, the question isn’t if cancer will affect your organization but when and how you’ll respond. ... The first step will be how you respond when an employee shares that cancer is impacting their life. The second step is how you will manage while cancer is having its impact. ... When we get this right, we build more than just protocols – we build resilient organizations that demonstrate our values through action. In doing so, we create the kind of workplace where people can bring their whole selves, face life’s challenges with dignity, and continue contributing meaningfully to our shared mission. Editor's note: Getting this "right" matters especially for hospice and palliative care organizations. Read this article for both strategic professional guidelines and a personal story from a CMO/business owner.

Best Nurse Practitioner (NP) career and salaries in 2025 AllNurses; by Erin Lee, BSN, RN; 2/7/25 ... Over the years, the scope of practice for NPs has significantly expanded, enabling them to specialize in various healthcare fields and cater to diverse patient populations. NPs now play a vital role in meeting primary care needs and delivering specialized care across a wide range of specialties. Regardless of the chosen specialty, all NPs are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who have obtained their master's degree or doctorate in nursing practice, passed a board certification exam, and obtained state licensure to practice. ... The level of autonomy and responsibility NPs have in their professional roles is influenced by state regulations on the scope of practice. Although some states allow NPs to work independently, others require them to be supervised by a healthcare provider or MD. To determine which NP job suits your career goals, it's imperative to understand your state's scope of practice regulations and the responsibilities of the NP specialty you plan to pursue. ..  [Click here for extensive data] from the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report that shows NPs' annual salaries for 2025. 

Providence and hospital doctors reach tentative agreement in Oregon's 27-day health care strike Access WDUN 75, Portland, OR; by The Associated Press; 2/6/25 Providence and dozens of doctors at a hospital in Portland, Oregon, have reached a tentative agreement after 27 days of strike, bringing what has been described as the state's largest health care strike closer to a potential end, depending on union ratification. The tentative agreement with hospital doctors and palliative care physicians working with patients with serious illness or injury at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center was announced by the Oregon Nurses Association union and Providence in news releases late Wednesday [2/5/25]. Key provisions of the tentative agreement include pay raises, more sick time and a commitment to reform staffing models, the union said.

Immigration policies’ ‘chilling effect’ on the hospice workforce Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 2/5/24 The White House recently issued several executive orders that have ramped up the nation’s immigration enforcement policies. The health care sector may be facing a host of staffing and operational challenges as the regulatory moves unfold, according to Hannah Liu, manager of immigration advocacy at Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC). A tightening of immigration policies has come with “concern, panic and confusion” across diverse communities nationwide, Liu stated. “As the effects of these hostile immigration policies play out, patients may also face the life-or-death situations that arise from interruptions in care caused by staffing shortages,” Liu told Hospice News in an email. “Immigrants in the health care industry may fear the possibility of arrest and detention, including in workplaces like hospitals, palliative care facilities and clinics.” 

US flu cases are peaking for a second time this season. Now you can test for the virus at home CNN; by Neha Mukherjee; 2/5/25 The United States is seeing a second peak in flu cases this season. After doctor’s office visits for flu dipped early this year, they jumped past the previous season peak at the end of last month, with a 30% test positivity rate — and there are still months to go. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there have been at least 20 million cases and 11,000 deaths from flu so far this season. Hospitalizations are rising too, with an estimated 38,255 hospitalizations from flu last week alone. It’s not the only illness spreading, either ... But there are some new tools to help this respiratory virus season: over-the-counter tests that can identify whether an illness is Covid-19 or influenza. The tests are available for purchase at most pharmacies or online ... The tests won’t check for every respiratory virus, but they mark the first time the public can test for flu at home.  

Former Apex Hospice director can proceed with retaliation suit Bloomberg Law; by Daniel Seiden; 1/31/25 A former medical director at Illinois-based Apex Hospice and Palliative Care can move forward with her claim that the company violated the False Claims Act by firing her in retaliation for calling attention to Medicare fraud, a federal district court said. [She] adequately alleged that Apex fired her because she refused to certify patients who would be covered by Medicare but were otherwise ineligible for hospice care, Judge Virginia M. Kendall of the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois said Thursday.

Maine communities struggle with nurse practitioner shortage NBC News Center Maine; by Brianna Bush; 1/29/25 According to U.S. News & World Report, nurse practitioner is the No.1 ranked job for 2025. The study says that's because of work-life balance, high pay, and job growth potential. Despite this, communities in Maine are lacking enough nurse practioners to support patients. ... According to the Maine Nurse Practitioner Association, there are more than 3,100 nurse practitioners in Maine. 

Homecare industry facing crisisWFMZ-TV 69 News, Allentown, PA; by Christina Lengyel; 1/28/25 ...  [Providers] across the state are struggling to hire enough staff to cover the needs of the state’s 300,000 homecare recipients. Unable to offer comparable hourly wages, the industry is losing its potential recruiting pool to gig work and jobs in the service industry. “We are in crisis. The crisis isn’t coming. We are not planning for it. It’s actively here,” said Mia Haney, CEO of the Pennsylvania Homecare Association at a meeting of the House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee. The average hourly wage for homecare workers in the state is between $13 and $14, making it hard to compete with other industries. Even within healthcare, counterparts performing the same tasks from within care facilities earn more. Home care advocates say the discrepancy doesn’t add up given the value of homecare.