Two-and-a-half years of working three, 12-hour shifts in one of Alabama’s busiest hospitals can take its toll. Now Evan Henegar, an RN at the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) Hospital is planning a trip to ease that stress. Evan was randomly picked as the grand prize winner of California Casualty’s “Give A Nurse A Break” contest, from more than 11,000 entrants across the nation. Evan, his wife and two co-workers will soon be embarking on a scrumptious getaway to the world-famous Chocolate Spa® at The Hotel Hershey® in Hershey, PA. The all-expenses paid trip for four has a value of $5,500.
Henegar graduated from the University of Alabama Birmingham with a nursing degree. He is now a general medicine nurse. “We get every patient you can imagine, from a broken leg, surgery or cardio. We do total patient care from baths, dispensing medicine to assessments,” he said. Henegar says it’s all great training and experience for his next assignment, Emergency and Trauma. UAB is the only recognized level I trauma center for the State of Alabama.
Henegar got turned onto California Casualty’s “Give A Nurse A Break” contest by a co-worker who told him to check it out on Facebook. “I can’t believe my luck; I am just so appreciative and grateful.”
“Often times, nurses aren’t always appreciated for the incredibly hard work they do,” said California Casualty Vice President, Mike McCormick. “This is just one way we can say ‘Thank you and we appreciate you.’”
Previous winner, Lisa Gordon, LPN, from Victoria Texas experienced her spa getaway in October. “I love what I do….and I am so excited and amazed that I won this trip from California Casualty just for being a nurse!” she exclaimed as she and two of her closest friends luxuriated at The Hotel Hershey® and Spa. Gordon is currently continuing her education to obtain her RN.
Voting is now closed. Click here to view the winner announcement and read all the hero’s stories!
To her patients, Kathy is considered family for the care and love she gives. Kathy had such a large impact on those in her care, one of her patients wrote to us. This patient, at a young age, went through a bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy. She says Kathy was the best nurse, going above and beyond to give her superior care.
As this young patient struggled with seeing others in similar situations pass away, Kathy was there to keep her spirits up – offering encouragement and a shoulder to cry on. Once she was healthy again, Kathy helped her restart her college dreams, even helping to locate scholarships. To this day, Kathy calls and emails her patient to make sure she is doing well.
Kathy goes above and beyond, making a personal connection with her patients and following through after treatment ends. She is an inspiration for her fellow nurses, and our nominee for hero of the month!
You worked a long shift. Your feet are throbbing, your back is aching, and your eyelids are drooping closed. Sound familiar? Nurses work long and tiring shifts. Twelve hours on the clock is standard, and that’s if you manage to get off on time.
After a long shift, you probably want to jump in the car and get home to bed.
But Nurses’ long and tiring shifts put them at a heightened risk for dangerous and potential deadly drowsy driving.
You’re a Nurse. You already know how important sleep is. But when you’re so busy taking care of other people, it is easy to forget about yourself. It’s also not uncommon for the nature of a Nurse’s job to make it difficult for him or her to fall asleep at night. Did I remember to chart on that last patient? Did I give the right dosage of that last med? Did I leave the right instructions for the night shift nurse? These running worries make it hard to check out and rest up.
Next time you finish a long shift on your feet, maybe even running on less than a full night’s sleep, make sure you’re in good shape to drive. You want to return to work tomorrow as a Nurse, not tonight as a patient.
Here are some signs of drowsy driving:
Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, or heavy eyelids
Daydreaming or wandering/disconnected thoughts
Trouble remembering the last few miles driven; missing exits or traffic signs
Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes
Having trouble keeping your head up
Drifting from your lane, tailgating, or hitting a shoulder rumble strip
Feeling restless and irritable
Turning up the radio or rolling down the window
Impaired reaction time and judgment
Decreased performance, vigilance and motivation
What to do to keep yourself safe:
Already driving and realize you’re in no shape to be behind the wheel? Pull over and call a ride. Middle of the night? Pull your car over in a safe, well-lit location and call a cab. It will always be cheaper to pay for a cab ride than a car accident or hospital bill
Arrange for a travel companion. Find a Nurse on your shift who lives close by who can ride with you and help make sure you are in shape to be driving
Take a nap. If you are too tired to drive, find a place at work to take a quick nap before you hit the road
Consume caffeine 30 minutes or so before you plan to head out
Arrange a ride. Have a friend or family member who works or live nearby? Schedule rides for different shifts, that way you know before going into work that you have a safe and reliable way to get home
Some Quick Stats on Drowsy Driving:
In a study of hospital staff nurses, almost 600 nurses (596 out of 895) reported at least 1 episode of drowsy driving and 30 nurses reported experiencing drowsy driving following every shift worked. For nurses who worked only night shifts, the percentage rose to 79.5%
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that at least 100,000 police reported crashes each year are the direct result of driver fatigue. (NHTSA)
Each year drowsy driving crashes result in at least 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries and $12.5 billion in monetary losses. (NHTSA)
Most drowsy driving crashes happen between midnight and 6:00 a.m., when the body’s need for sleep is greatest
Drivers who drive alone or have no one to help them watch for the signs of fatigue, like Nurses returning home from work, are at higher risk.
Many people do not realize how sleepy they are, but driving requires a set of skills that are significantly reduced when you are sleep deprived. Studies show that drowsiness can cause:
slower reaction time
impaired judgment and vision
decline in attention to important signs, road changes and the actions of other vehicles
decreased alertness, preventing you from seeing an obstacle and avoiding a crash
increased moodiness and aggressive behavior
problems with processing information and short-term memory
microsleeps—brief 2/3 second sleep episodes
Some quick reminders about the importance of Sleep- yes, even for nurses!
Experts recommend 7-9 hours of sleep for adults
When a person doesn’t get enough sleep, a “sleep debt” accumulates that must be repaid—often at unexpected times, such as behind the wheel of a car.
Sleep is a necessity, not a luxury. A good night’s sleep should be a regular part of everyone’s daily schedule.
Sleep affects every part of one’s life, including health, safety, mood, learning, appearance, relationships and productivity. It is as vital to our well-being as food and water!
Learn to recognize sleep problems. Problems sleeping or daytime sleepiness can signal a sleep disorder, which usually can be treated, or another medical condition. Talk to your doctor.
Nurses, we need you. Please put the same effort in to keeping yourself safe as you do for your patients.
Friends and coworkers describe Jennifer as a knowledgeable and kind nurse, who treats all her patients like family. When she’s not saving lives as an ER Nurse, Jen is a volunteer firefighter and EMT. She spends a great deal of her time teaching firefighter training classes, even in the late hours of the night if needed. She is the first female Fire Chief in Calvert County and has run unopposed for the last 4 years. Her motto is “Pride is our Pay” – and much of her department’s pride comes from her training. Jen’s family often joins her at the fire station, where she sets an example of someone whose life revolves around helping others.
We are excited to announce our June Nominate a Hero winner is…
Beth Miles!
Beth is a Registered Nurse working in the ambulatory surgery unit of an Illinois hospital. Beth was nominated by friend and fellow nurse, Terri, for her exceptional patient care and overall admirable attitude. After Terri first nominated Beth, the letters began to flood in. When all was said and done, we received more than 14 individual letters about Beth- more than any other Nominate a Hero candidate thus far-from patients, coworkers (Nurses and Doctors), and even the Mayor. To highlight Beth and show you some of the reasons our audiences voted her our July Nominate a Hero winner, I have included some excerpts from her nomination letters here:
I have experienced firsthand… that she is an extremely caring and dedicated nurse always going above and beyond the call of duty in all aspects of her professions. Beth contributes significantly her knowledge and experience to nursing colleagues and other care givers and is well-respected by all members of the healthcare team. She is a great people person and shares laughter throughout the working day, all while maintaining a professional atmosphere and putting the patient first. -Mayor Ezard, City of Jacksonville
Beth’s official title is “Registered Nurse” but to those who know her she is much more than that. She is a friend, a confidante, a staunch supporter of patient safety and an unyielding opponent of poor or apathetic care. -Peter R., M.D.
Beth is a constant example of the positive attitude and upbeat personality we all aspire to display. -S. Ford, R.N.
I am the nurse I am today because of her mentoring and role modeling… Beth’s ability to relate and communicate with patients and families had the biggest impact on me. -Leanne W., Clinical Director and Manager
Rarely have I met someone of Beth’s caliber… Our deaf patients adore her because she interacts with them directly and treats them with respect… Beth’s sense of humor and experience put the patient at ease. Each patient feels like they are getting undivided attention. She is successful at all of her endeavors and a leader among her colleagues. -Joan O., Colleague
Here is why her coworker, Terri, chose to nominate Beth in the first place:
Congratulations, Beth!
Check back in on Beth in November, and help her become our Grand Nominate a Hero Winner!
Please note – we’ve changed the voting requirements this month. In order to vote, you’ll have to create an account and log in to vote. Once you register, you’ll be taken directly to the voting page.
Don’t want to register? You can still see the voting results – just click here.
Fran C. | Pennsylvania Firefighter & Nurse
On July 4, 2012, Fran entered a smoke-filled home and heard a woman in distress on the 2nd floor. When Fran found her, she was trapped, panicked and out of breathe from breathing in too much smoke. In a split-second decision, Fran took a big breath, removed his tank and put it on the woman. Both got out safely, although Fran was hospitalized for smoke inhalation. Fran later met the woman he saved, and presented her with about $500 of his own overtime pay to help her and her family. Fran became a firefighter after following in the footsteps of his retired Fire Captain father.
When Fran isn’t fighting fires, he works as a part time Nurse at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Before becoming a full time firefighter, he worked as a Paramedic.
Nancy J. | Wisconsin Educator
Nancy J. has been enthusiastically servings as the Arrowhead High School Choir Director for almost 30 years. Known for her passion and motivation, Nancy works to make each and every student a part of the team. She uses creativity in her teaching to keep her high school students engaged and enthusiastic about the fine arts. Her hard work shows. Every year, choir performances pack the house and lines to buy performance tickets stretch out the door. Nancy goes above and beyond to highlight her students’ achievements: decorating the halls for their performances, taking headshots so they feel like stars, and accompanying them to weekend contests. Due to Nancy’s unceasing hard work, her high school’s choir and theatre programs have a reputation for greatness.
Corporal Stan P | Georgia Police Officer
When Officer Phillips answered a call about an aggressive dog, he arrived at the scene to find a vicious attack in progress. The dog was biting the victim, a 5-year-old little girl named Lilly, on the face and neck. Officer Phillips rushed to her aid and was able to free her from the dog. The girl was immediately airlifted to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, including a missing ear. After saving the girl’s life, Officer Phillips continued to go visit her in the hospital, despite the hour drive each way, and even arranged for donations to pay for her reconstructive surgery. After she was released from the hospital, Officer Phillips helped work with churches and charities to raise money for her continued recovery. Stan has worked on a crime suppression units, SWAT, and road patrols (among others) and coworkers note his dedication and noteworthy impact on high crime areas- calling him a ‘go to’ guy in the field.
When shots rang out in the hospital where Robert works, his first thought was the victim’s safety. As others dropped to the floor, Robert ran to aid of the gunshot victim- a physician who worked at the hospital. After rushing to get his patient to a safe location to receive medical attention, Robert took cover and provided comfort to distraught nursing students. Robert’s coworkers say this kind of heroic action is not out of character for a man who cares deeply about his patients. Robert is an integral member of the Haiti Outreach Mission (HOM). HOM works to bring mobile clinics to distant mountain locations where Robert helps triage patients in need. Closer to home, Robert also speaks out on behalf of his patients, many of whom are victims of violence, by speaking at anti-violence rallies.
