Nurses are integral to the healthcare system, but the COVID-19 pandemic has left hospitals struggling to provide adequate care due to a shortage of qualified nurses. Experts estimate that there are currently 150,000 fewer nurses in the workforce than are needed. Burnout from increased patient loads is one of the primary reasons for the shortage.
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The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full approval for nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (Paxlovid), an antiviral medication, for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in adult outpatients who are at risk of severe disease. The approval follows an endorsement from the FDA’s Antimicrobial Drugs Advisory Committee and is a critical component of President
According to Carol Mangione, MD, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has released new draft guidance recommending biennial mammography screening for women at average risk for breast cancer starting at age 40. This news has been received positively as it will likely lead to early detection and treatment of breast cancer. Orphan Drugs for Small
U.S. News & World Report has released its latest “Best Medical Schools” rankings for the academic year 2023-2024. The rankings have undergone several changes in methodology, including an increase in the weightage given to outcome measures and a decrease in the emphasis on reputation and selectivity. The rankings have also been affected by some high-profile
A 95-year-old female farmer from rural Japan presented at the emergency department with abdominal symptoms that had persisted for months. She denied drinking alcohol, but was taking prednisolone and lansoprazole for bullous pemphigoid diagnosed 8 months prior. Her symptoms included loss of appetite, intermittent abdominal bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and shortness of breath. Upon examination,
In response to the murder of George Floyd and the nationwide awakening of the countless murders of people of color, a group of six nurses began working on a series of mini-documentaries that captured the experiences of racism in nursing in the United States. The “Reckoning with Racism in Nursing” docu-series was created to provide
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has issued a warning for patients against costly medical credit cards and loans. These products can cause patients to pay significantly more than they otherwise would have. The Problem with Medical Financing Products Medical financing products, such as medical credit cards, medical installment loans, health savings accounts, and flexible
A randomized controlled trial has found that exercise rehabilitation can lead to functional improvements for patients who experience breathing difficulties following a pulmonary embolism (PE). The incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) scores for the rehabilitation group were significantly higher than the control group (difference 53 m, 95% CI 17.7-88.3, P=0.0035). The patients assigned to rehabilitation
Advisory committee meetings are set to take place next week to discuss HRA Pharma’s proposed first-in-class prescription-to-nonprescription switch of daily 0.075 mg norgestrel tablets (Opill) for over-the-counter (OTC) use. HRA Pharma submitted three consumer behavior studies, one of which was the ACCESS study, which raised concerns among FDA staff. Staff Concerns FDA staff questioned the
Participants in a long COVID clinical trial called the Paxlovid for Treatment of Long COVID (STOP-PASC) at Stanford University in California have raised concerns that some investigators are not wearing masks during clinic visits, which puts them at risk. The issue was highlighted in a Reddit post on r/covidlonghaulers, where an anonymous poster said that