🗓 2025-06-09 – Weekly Nursing News & Trends: What You Missed!

What’s News in Nursing
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:toolbox: Nursing Weekly Brief: June 3–9, 2025

The past week brought forth several pivotal updates that directly impact the nursing profession, from legislative actions to workforce statistics and clinical advancements. These developments collectively illustrate the complex environment in which nurses operate and the ongoing efforts to address the challenges and opportunities within healthcare.

  1. :shield: Legislation Introduced to Combat Violence Against Healthcare Workers
    On June 3, 2025, a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the Michigan House of Representatives introduced House Bills 4532 – 4535, specifically designed to address the alarming rise in violence against healthcare workers. This legislative push is strongly supported by the Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA), which actively advocates for a culture of safety for both patients and healthcare providers. This legislative action reflects a growing understanding at the state level that existing measures are insufficient to protect healthcare professionals, signaling a critical turning point where policymakers are compelled to intervene. The severity and frequency of violence have escalated to a point where new legal frameworks are deemed necessary to safeguard the nursing workforce and other healthcare staff, potentially setting a precedent for similar legislation nationwide.
    :date: Published: June 6, 2025
    :link: Violence Against Healthcare Workers Legislation Introduced

  2. :chart_with_downwards_trend: NCLEX Pass Rates See Decline in Early 2025
    A report released in June 2025 by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) revealed a notable decline in NCLEX pass rates for registered nurses in the first quarter of 2025. The overall pass rate for all registered nurses dropped to 71.6%, a decrease from 79.1% in Q1 2024. This decrease was observed across all categories, including U.S.-educated and internationally educated nurses, as well as both first-time and repeat test takers. This decline is particularly significant given that the Next Generation NCLEX, introduced in 2023, was designed to more precisely measure nurses’ clinical judgment and critical thinking skills, and initially saw improved pass rates. The current decline suggests that despite the updated exam, there might be underlying issues in nursing education, curriculum alignment, or student preparedness that warrant immediate attention. If fewer graduates successfully pass the examination, it directly constrains the growth of the nursing workforce, potentially exacerbating existing nurse shortages and creating a critical bottleneck in the pipeline of new nurses.
    :date: Published: June 3, 2025
    :link: NCLEX pass rates decline across the board in early 2025 - Becker's Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis

  3. :handshake: Supporting Nurse Managers: A Critical Investment for Healthcare Stability
    An article published on June 6, 2025, underscored the crucial, yet often undervalued, role of nurse managers in maintaining the stability of the healthcare system. These middle managers are essential for ensuring patient safety, maintaining quality of care, and fostering team morale, despite frequently facing extensive workloads, significant administrative burdens, and persistent staffing crises. The piece argues that the “Great Flattening”—a trend of eliminating middle management roles for cost-cutting purposes—is particularly perilous within healthcare, as nurse managers are foundational to the system’s operational integrity. The stability of the nursing workforce is not solely dependent on recruitment efforts, but significantly on the retention of existing staff, with nurse managers acting as a crucial buffer, mentor, and support system for frontline nurses. Therefore, strategic investment in nurse managers—through comprehensive leadership development, administrative burden reduction via technology, and active listening mechanisms—becomes a proactive and financially sound approach to stabilize the entire nursing workforce, improve patient outcomes, and cultivate a healthier work environment.
    :date: Published: June 6, 2025
    :link: Industry Voices—Nurse managers hold the healthcare system together. What happens if we're not supporting them?

  4. :scales: Union Nurses Demand Clarity Amidst Major Hospital Acquisition
    Union nurses at two Michigan hospitals, Ascension Borgess Hospital and Ascension Borgess Allegan Hospital, voiced significant concerns this week over a lack of transparency regarding their transfer from Ascension Health to Beacon Health System. A report published on June 5, 2025, highlighted demands from the Michigan Nurses Association (MNA) for job guarantees and clear communication on employment terms, including the fate of unvested health retirement benefits. Nurses expressed anxiety about their future employment status and criticized Ascension for not sharing the full sales agreement, which they believe contains vital information affecting their transition. This situation underscores the critical need for clear communication and robust employee protection during large-scale healthcare mergers, as these transactions, often framed in terms of financial and operational synergies, have profound and often overlooked implications for frontline staff. The MNA’s assertive involvement demonstrates the growing power and assertiveness of nursing unions in safeguarding their members’ interests during industry consolidation, suggesting that future mergers will likely face increased scrutiny and demands for robust workforce assurances.
    :date: Published: June 5, 2025
    :link: Union nurses call for clarity, 'job guarantees' amid Beacon Health, Ascension hospital deal

  5. :microscope: Olanzapine Shows Promise in Reducing Radiation-Induced Nausea and Vomiting
    New data presented at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting on June 9, 2025, indicates that adding 5 mg of olanzapine to a standard antiemetic regimen is safe and effective in preventing radiation-induced nausea and vomiting (RINV) for patients undergoing abdominal/pelvic radiotherapy. The study found a significant reduction in nausea (14.2% in the olanzapine group vs. 83.6% in the placebo group) and vomiting (4.1% vs. 25.5%). Beyond alleviating physical symptoms, olanzapine treatment also notably reduced patient anxiety and depression scores and improved overall quality of life. For oncology nurses, this research provides an evidence-based tool to significantly improve patient comfort and overall experience during a challenging treatment period. It highlights the expanding scope of nursing practice in comprehensive symptom management and supportive care, where nurses are integral to implementing such protocols, monitoring patient responses, and advocating for patient well-being. The observed impact on psychological well-being underscores the interconnectedness of physical and mental health in patient recovery, a domain where nurses are uniquely positioned to intervene, educate, and advocate for holistic care strategies.
    :date: Published: June 9, 2025
    :link: Olanzapine May Reduce Nausea, Vomiting From Radiation

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