The pitfalls of compassion fatigue, secondary trauma, moral distress, and burnout are widespread in the clinical world. “Day in and day out, [nurses] are faced with trying to establish a relationship with individuals who are facing some of the worst things that you can possibly imagine,” said Georgetown University faculty Meg Carman. “This is the worst day, at the worst point in their life, and nurses are the ones who need to be there and be strong.” With ongoing research and better-informed workplaces, nurses can continue to make these relationships safer — for themselves and their patients.

Almost 95 percent of Americans support organ donation, yet only half of adults in the U.S. are officially registered as donors. Why is that? Nurse Practitioners have the unique opportunity to address barriers through patient education and support.

In the following Q&A, Nursing@Georgetown Family Nurse Practitioner program director Melody Wilkinson, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, discusses her professional mission in working in HIV specialty and primary care, the importance of establishing relationships with patients, competency-based Nurse Practitioner education, and what makes Nursing@Georgetown unique.

According to a 2014 Center for Reproductive Rights report External link , a woman living in sub-Saharan Africa has an equal or better chance of surviving childbirth than a black woman living in certain parts of Mississippi. Experts believe persistent poverty, chronic stress and lack of access to health care providers are some of the factors that explain the problem.

Many people choose a career in direct patient care to make a positive change in the lives of underserved, impaired, vulnerable, and still-recovering populations. However, being responsible for the healing of others shouldn’t mean overlooking the care of the caregivers.

According to a review published in the New England Journal of Medicine, seven in 10 Americans feel “not at all knowledgeable” about the meaning of palliative care. While palliative care, end of life care, and hospice care all seek to relieve suffering, each field has unique value to add to a patient’s experience in the care continuum.

As the incidence of comorbidities increases, more primary care patients can be considered complex patients. Reducing the risk of fatal coronary events in diabetic patients requires understanding how diabetes affects the heart and vascular system.

Designed to help future mothers prepare for childbirth, Nursing@Georgetown’s Midwifery faculty demystify each step of pregnancy, so mothers can focus on the joy of motherhood.

The trend of city migration comes with unique challenges for primary care practitioners who are charged with maintaining the health of a growing population. Using findings from the World Health Organization External link , Nursing@Georgetown created an infographic to show which nations are experiencing the most dramatic shifts in population density.

The most common mental health disorders for aging Americans are depression and anxiety, which are also leading risk factors for suicide. Nursing@Georgetown illustrates some of the common signs and risk factors of depression among aging Americans.