We've talked a lot about how the pandemic has changed how we do things. Now we're finding out what's changed when it comes to having a baby. New data from the CDC finds more women are giving birth at home than before the pandemic.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and education is a huge component to helping reduce these violent acts. Angela Amar, Dean of the UNLV School of Nursing, shares her forensic nursing expertise on the prevalence of sexual assault cases, common misconceptions, and how nurses can provide victims with key resources.

What is water immersion, and how could this process help more women through labor and delivery? Dr. Jennifer Vanderlaan, UNLV Nursing professor and maternal health expert, explains the benefits of water births and what expecting families should know if they choose this method.

Nursing shortages are causing issues for hospitals across the country, including Southern Nevada, but while COVID-19 made the situation worse, shortages have existed for decades before. UNLV Nursing Professor and BSN Program Director Angela Silvestri-Elmore explains the systemic circumstances that have perpetuated past and present labor issues; and what needs to be normalized for nurses to provide a high level of care within and outside shortage-related conditions.

Why is gun violence considered a public health issue? UNLV School of Nursing Dean Angela Amar returns to the podcast to explain gun violence from a nurse leader perspective. Topics include potential preventive measures; the long-term mental health implications stemming from these incidents; and the risks of becoming desensitized to shootings in our society.

The nationwide agreement that could enhance nursing care state by state, but Nevada is on the outside looking in. This agreement is called the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC). It allows nurses in one state to practice in another without having to go after additional licenses if those states are in the compact. 

A supportive environment for pregnant people is everything. UNLV Nursing graduate student Janice Enriquez knows this too well, specifically the importance of being guided through an unsure situation from her own experience. A first-generation college graduate working in a private OB-GYN practice, Enriquez has devoted herself to creating judgement free environments to treat patients as a mental health advanced practice registered nurse. As she pursues her Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) at UNLV, Enriquez hopes her current research on maternal and neonatal care levels will provide expecting parents and their children with the aid they deserve. 

The role of nurse practitioner, a subset of nurses qualified to work as primary and specialty care providers, is the fastest-growing occupation in the U.S.. By 2031, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 46% growth rate in the number of nurse practitioner positions, compared with 2021. Now is clearly a great time to enter this rewarding and potentially lucrative field, and to do so, you’ll need a master’s in nursing (MSN), a degree that many universities offer online.

Nursing can yield many personal rewards, satisfaction and joy. It can also be the source of many challenges and frustrations. Nurses are vital healthcare professionals and see countless patients through horrendous injuries and severe illnesses that could easily take their lives. Unfortunately, they may experience the death of a patient in any routine workday, and the impact can be extreme. Overcoming the loss of a patient is never easy. Continue reading for guidance and resources for dealing with death as a nurse, including advice from several nurses with firsthand experience.

University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Associate Professor and forensic nurse Dr. Kathleen Thimsen was interviewed on the topic of forced organ harvesting in China by Joe Gaccione of the Vital Views podcast of the UNLV School of Nursing.

One reason why nursing has attracted a lot of fresh talent in recent years (the pandemic notwithstanding) is these jobs tend to pay fairly well, with some nurses fetching salaries in excess of $100,000. What’s more, nursing also presents a plethora of opportunities for people looking for a stable, in-demand, and relatively recession-proof career. And some job classifications in nursing are expected to see job growth of nearly 50% between now and 2031.

UNLV Nursing doctoral student Carrie Jeffrey remembers when she realized how much she loved being an educator. It was during her time as a young practicing nurse, not one specific moment, but a collection of events that gave her a clue. "I found myself staying in rooms, trying to teach patients," Jeffrey recalls. "That's my bucket filler: explaining things to patients, new nurses and students who would come on our floor."