After life-saving heart surgery, made possible with the help of virtual reality imaging, four-month old baby Teegan, deemed inoperable after her birth in Minnesota, celebrated her first Christmas with her family. [ + ]

According to the mid year economic and fiscal outlook (MYEFO) changes to the incentives paid to pathology and diagnostic imaging providers to bulk bill out of hospital services will deliver savings of $650.4 million to the budget over four years. [ + ]

Nurses are exposed to a wide range of biological-infectious, chemical, environmental-mechanical, physical and psychosocial hazards. They are particularly vulnerable to infection and injuries, including musculoskeletal injuries, latex allergies and needlestick injuries. Nursing and midwifery is also the profession with the highest exposure to workplace violence. [ + ]

In a significant step forward, findings from the largest study of genetics of memory ever undertaken indicate that there are two common genetic variants believed to be associated with memory performance. [ + ]

60 to 70 percent of emergency workers will face a traumatic situation while on duty. Trauma can have negative effects on mental health and in some cases, result in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This can then affect a person’s ability to work and maintain personal relationships. [ + ]

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In today’s hustle and bustle world, processed foods are commonplace time-savers. But that convenience factor may come with a bigger price tag than previously known, says an international team of researchers. In findings published earlier this year in Autoimmunity Reviews, researchers from Israel and Germany present evidence that processed foods weaken the intestine’s resistance to bacteria, toxins and other hostile nutritional and not nutritional elements, which in turn increases the likelihood of developing autoimmune diseases. [ + ]

Working on your New Year's resolutions? Experts agree that stress management should be at the top of your list. Stress is the physical and emotional response we all experience when faced with demanding situations, according to James Scott, from the The University of Queensland. [ + ]

2015 was the year of the health review – on mental health care, the response to ice, Medicare, private health insurance, the pharmacy industry … and the list goes on. [ + ]

Have you been considering nursing overseas as a graduate or to do an elective? Working in another country can be rewarding and exciting and a great chance to get up close and personal with a foreign culture. Immersing yourself in another culture through nursing will build your confidence and show you things that not even seasoned travelers have seen. [ + ]

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Rebecca Charlotte Reynolds, UNSW Australia What’s to blame? In the large study of 120,000 American adults, the foods associated with weight increase over four-year periods include potato chips, potatoes, sugar-sweetened beverages and unprocessed and processed red meats. [ + ]

A study from Children's Hospital Boston's Division of Emergency Medicine has found that Christmas decorations, particularly glass ornaments, are one more safety hazard parents must consider during the season. A review of records from the Children's Emergency Department revealed an average of five ornament-related injuries per year; more than half of these injuries involve a child eating fragments of these ornaments, including batteries and pieces of glass. [ + ]

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