A health content writer, NICU nurse and a part-time home health case manager in SC Nurse April Rowe, RN explains how she manages her day to day stresses through deep breathing and positive thought meditation.

Q: TRUE or FALSE: “Nurses eat their young.”: 

A: Yes, there are nursing/healthcare jobs with workplace cultures that continuously allow this type of bullying. It can even come from mid-level and upper management. Fostering healthy workplace relationships and continually educating staff and management helps to reduce nurses eating their young.

April Rowe, RN

Q: What is your specialty and where are you based?: 

A: Health content writer and part-time home health case manager in Greenville, South Carolina. I worked for many years in the NICU and also have specialized in pediatric/adult hospice/palliative care.

Q: What does cultural competence mean for healthcare providers?: 

A: As healthcare providers, we take an oath to devote our lives to the service and the well-being of those we care for. We come from different backgrounds, cultures and religious beliefs. We have different skin tones, speak different languages, eat different foods, etc. Acknowledging this fact promotes tolerance and acceptance.

Q: What is your experience with nurse unions?: 

A: I was a member of the union at St. Mary's Regional Medical Center in Reno, NV. It was a positive experience.

Q:What's one must-have that gets you through the tough days?

Deep breathing has become a lifesaver. It's absolutely amazing the calming effects that a few minutes of deep breathing and positive thoughts/meditation has on my day-to-day stresses.