Paul Biluan DNP, APRN, FNP-C, FSIEN

🚀 From LVN to Nursing Leadership: A First-Gen Story of Impact 🚀 Dr. Ruben Castillo DNP, RN, CCRN, NE-BC, and I share a common thread—first-generation immigrants who started as LVNs and rose through the ranks of nursing leadership. His journey is a testament to adaptability, advocacy, and the power of work-life balance. I met him during the most recent Texas Organization Nurse Leaders conference. 🔑 Key Takeaways from His Leadership Journey: 1️⃣ Adaptability is Everything 🔄 Leadership demands strategic pivots, and Ruben has mastered the art of change. From managing workforce strategies to leading as Nursing Director - Medical Services Line at UT Southwestern Medical Center, he’s established, developed, and opened new hospital units—a skill that requires vision, agility, and execution. 2️⃣ Mission Work-Life Balance Matters 🌿 As leaders, we set the tone for our teams. Ruben understands that to take care of others, we must first take care of ourselves. Rest isn’t a luxury—it’s a leadership imperative. His ability to role model balance ensures that his teams feel empowered to do the same. 3️⃣ Advocacy is a Responsibility 📢 Ruben’s dedication to nurturing the next generation of nurses is unwavering. His impact spans far beyond his job title—he’s been a past president and treasurer of Texas Nurses Association District 4, piloted a mock trial program to help nurses navigate legal challenges, and is now working on establishing a Men in Nursing chapter in Dallas. His community involvement with DFW Great 100 Nurses underscores his commitment to lifting others up. 🔥 Ruben is a force in nursing leadership, and his story is a reminder that success is built on adaptability, advocacy, and balance. If you're looking for inspiration, look no further. What’s one leadership lesson that has shaped your career? Drop it below! 👇 #NurseLeadership #FirstGenSuccess #MenInNursing #NursingAdvocacy #NurseMentorship #LeadershipMatters

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Dosage calculations are part of every shift for nurses and paramedics. IV flow rates, tablet dosages, weight-based doses, and conversions must be correct every time because patient safety depends on it. This guide is a quick refresher for common scenarios you see daily. How do you keep your calculation skills sharp while working under pressure? #nursing #paramedics #medicationcalculation #patientsafety #healthcare

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One united force for the future of nursing. For over 45 years, the Tri-Council for Nursing—comprising the American Nurses Association, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, American Organization for Nursing Leadership, National League for Nursing, and National Council of State Boards of Nursing—has elevated the profession by aligning on education, regulation, and practice. Explore how this alliance continues to shape nursing’s next era through shared priorities and transformative action: 🔗 https://ow.ly/LjvQ50WCV5b #ThePowerOfNurses #NursingLeadership #HealthPolicy #NurseAdvocacy

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🚑💉 Critical Decision-Making Nursing Hacks in the ER: Because Time is Ticking (and So Are the Alarms!) ⏳ Welcome to the ER—where coffee is cold, charting never ends, and decisions must be made faster than a patient saying, “I just have a small pain” before collapsing. 😅 In the fast-paced chaos of emergency nursing, critical decision-making is our superpower. Here are some hacks to keep you cool while the ER is on fire (figuratively… hopefully): 🔥 1. ABCs Before WiFi Passwords: If a patient is asking for snacks but their SpO₂ is 82%… priorities, people! Airway, Breathing, Circulation—every time, no exceptions. (Yes, even before they ask for a tiny sip of water.) 💊 2. Medications: Leave the Magic to the Wizards (AKA Physicians) We know the drill—orders first, action second. Whether it’s a life-saving epi push or a simple IV fluid bolus, always follow international guidelines like ACLS, ATLS, and PALS. No guessing games, no gut feelings—only evidence-based practice! 🔄 3. Reassess Like a Netflix Binge: Vitals can change faster than a patient saying, “I feel fine” before dropping their BP to 60/40. Keep monitoring, keep reassessing. And always, ALWAYS trust your gut… after checking the monitor! ⚡ 4. Know When to Call for Backup: If your spidey senses are tingling, trust them. Call the rapid response team before the situation turns into an episode of “Code Blue: The ER Edition”. 💀 5. Don't Trust "I Just Took a Little Something": When a patient says they took a small dose of medication, assume they mean a pharmacy’s worth until proven otherwise. Always clarify, always verify, and always check toxicology guidelines! 😂 ⚠️ Caution: These Hacks Require Proper Training and a License! ⚠️ If you’re not a licensed nurse or physician, do not try this at home—or anywhere. (Because explaining to the judge that you “read it on LinkedIn” won’t hold up in court.) 🩺 Stay safe, stay smart, and keep saving lives! 🩺 #EmergencyNursing #NurseLife #CriticalCare #NursingHumor #ERLife #NursesOfLinkedIn #HealthcareHeroes #DecisionMaking #PatientSafety #CCADAmbassadors #CodeBlueHacks

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I use the expression “normalizing the abrnormal” to describe the broken current state of American healthcare. Here are a couple of abnormal behaviors we have normalized: -Introducing waits and delays to care through prior authorization when someone’s life is on the line. Prior authorization may be necessary to manage costs and quality—but it doesn’t need to take weeks/months. What about setting a 24 hour standard? Healthcare isn’t meant to be a never-ending game of ping pong with doctors and health plans arguing about care. -High deductible health plans. Health insurance companies introduced these plans to promote greater stewardship of healthcare dollars. Good idea in theory. Except the lack of first-dollar coverage leaves many people feeling like they have no coverage so they avoid accesssing healthcare altogether. -Out-of-network professional billing for in-network facilities. The idea that you can go to an in-network facility and be treated by a doctor who is out-of-network and receive a huge bill for it on the other side is one that defies basic consumer standards. It’s something abnormal that we normalized. -Healthcare’s obscene focus on documentation to get paid. It’s one thing to write a complete note for clinical purposes. But there has to be a better, simpler way to bill for clinical services than the system we have in place. What’s something abnormal you’ve observed in US healthcare that we have normalized?

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