Rhonda Collins, chief nursing officer at Vocera Communications, believes the healthcare industry must do more to address the needs of nurses. “For the last two years and counting, nurses have gone into battle for us and risked their own well-being to protect us,” she said. “We must now listen to protect them. We must listen to what they need to feel safe at work and want to stay in the profession.” Collins characterized nurses’ commitment to patients and fellow healthcare workers as a “driving force” that helped them work through staffing issues, a lack of adequate PPE, looming fear for their own personal safety and seeing so many people die.

Saxony Court Senior Living, a senior community, has been gearing up with staff and resident training in preparation for the April 1, 2022 launch date. The wearable, voice-controlled Vocera Badge and Smartbadge enables care team members to quickly communicate and collaborate using simple voice commands like, "call room 100" and "call the front desk."

Nurse leaders are discovering a “new normal.” In other words, we have normalized the discomfort we find ourselves in because of the pandemic and the disruptions it has caused. Many of us are contemplating how we to lead going forward. How do we inspire exhausted, frustrated, and overworked people? How do we lead with authenticity when so many of our efforts seem to miss the mark or are rejected as not actually solving the problem? This article offers a perspective on these questions and more, providing possible ways nurse leaders can embrace feedback and turn toxic positivity into authentic positivity.

Si Luo, vice president of Vocera Edge, discusses ways to implement new technologies and improve the overburdened clinician's workflow.

Although nurse leaders have long focused on creating safe environments for patients and staff, COVID-19 brought unforeseen challenges that tested priorities, processes, and people. The pandemic also accelerated nurse communication challenges. This article explores how nurse leaders can enhance clinical communication protocols to simplify workflows, reduce cognitive burden, and ultimately create safer and more effective workplaces.

In this episode, Liz Boehm talks with Rose Sherman, Ed.D, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, emeritus professor at the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at Florida Atlantic University, and a faculty member in the Marian K Shaughnessy Nursing Leadership Academy at Case Western Reserve University. Liz and Dr. Sherman discuss transformative changes happening in the healthcare workforce.

Sydney Local Health District is rolling out Vocera’s hands-free wearable communication devices to its emergency departments following a quick-fire trial in its ICUs during the Delta outbreak of COVID-19 in September last year.
Royal Prince Alfred and Concord hospitals have adopted the new technology in their EDs as well as ICU, with Canterbury Hospital’s ED in the process.

Rhonda Collins, chief nursing officer, Vocera, said, “The success seen across the Sydney Local Health District is not only promising but lifesaving. Having appropriate communication devices like hands-free wearables can help protect the well-being and safety of patients and staff.”

How integrating intelligent communication software, voice-driven technology, and smartphone apps can improve the safety and well-being of patients and nurses