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☕ Gooood morning!

We're bringing more energy than your responsible friend's phone battery on a night out– those of you who leave the house with 10%... you know who you are.

In this week’s gossip, greatness, and groundbreaking stories, we’re Reporting Live on:

🎭 The Ozempic Extravaganza: Oh, the twists and turns of the Ozempic saga! This week, we’re covering new FDA warnings and the implications of the Ozempic influencer TikTok fame. 

🎓 Student Loan Forgiveness: Fact or Fiction? With whispers of new loan forgiveness programs, we're slicing through the noise to bring you the real tea. We're here to break down the new programs because knowledge is power.

Buckle up and get ready for a ride through the latest Nurse Report. Let's get started!

 🎭 The Ozempic Drama Continues

Oh, Ozempic! 

The latest darling of the weight loss saga has everyone from TikTok influencers to the neighbor's cat meowing about its miraculous pound-shedding prowess.

The convo around the popular GLP-1 anti-obesity medication is heating up due to an FDA warning about potential serious intestinal side effects, including obstruction or blockage.

I’m sure we can all agree that Ozempic isn't the new kale smoothie; it's a medication initially meant to treat type 2 diabetes. Still, the drug is being talked about as a “miracle drug” and weight-loss shortcut, stirring up more drama than a season finale of Grey's Anatomy.

The comparison might not fit perfectly, but it makes us think about how it’s not unusual for college students to use ADHD medication such as Adderal to cram for exams– and its side effects are still being studied. 

The FDA approved Ozempic in late 2017, and it started to become extremely popular in 2023– Danish parent company Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic sales reached an all-time high of $13.9 billion in 2023, with about 66% coming from the United States. 

As more people use it and see results, the more they tell their friends about these hardcore weight loss journeys– think the working out montage but without all the working out. 

The rumor mill points to celebrities like The Kardashians, Oprah, Amy Schumer, and even Elon Musk using Ozempic. Still, they’re not exactly broadcasting that they’ve been getting a little pharmaceutical help. 

Cue the TikTok frenzy! 🎶

But wait, there's more! 

Enter the stage– GLP-1 influencers. 

A whole new wave of TikTok stars are chronicling their weight-loss journeys with Ozempic and its cousins, becoming the new celebs of the pharma world. From Kim Carlos, the "GLP-1 advocate" with her own podcast, to Rachel Knight Gullette, who credits her impressive weight loss to a weekly shot, these influencers are showing the results in real time. 

But as we know, not all that glitters is gold. 

With great influence comes great responsibility, and some nurse practitioners and other healthcare professionals on TikTok are questioning if they're selling false dreams to their followers. 

TikTok is trying to play referee, flagging content that crosses into the "dangerous weight loss" zone, but still, the debate remains. 

💉💊 Our take:

We’re mixed like that half-skim half-whole latte. 

While it's tempting to jump on the Ozempic bandwagon, let's remember the power of a balanced diet, regular exercise, and, yes, a healthy dose of skepticism. 

And remember, nursing goes beyond the meds and the metrics; it's about the whole picture and supporting our patients (and maybe even each other) through their health journeys.

Let’s be realistic: it’s probably unavoidable to be at least a little concerned with your image.

Still, we should encourage that voice in our head to be hyper-aware of the extremes we’re going to just to look a specific way. 

The fact that people would rather present their weight loss journey as a Herculean feat of willpower and not a medical regime gives us a look into the mentality fueling the Ozempic craze. 

Live your life, live your truth– if something is working for you and it’s healthy, awesome. 

We love data and science, and the drug is way too new to be parading it as a miracle– especially if people it’s not intended to treat are taking it just to shed a few pounds. 

The FDA warning should have anyone considering the drug to think about waiting a little bit. 

As always, nurses must understand the narrative behind popular medications like Ozempic to better prepare for the psychological battlefield our patients might be navigating. 

Our role isn’t just to administer care; it’s to consider a broader understanding of health beyond the scale and BMI chart. 

If those conversations pop up in our professional or personal lives (to the extent we can have them), having a well-informed opinion makes all the difference.

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🎓 Is Student Loan Forgiveness Smoke and Mirrors?

There’s the word on the street about new loan forgiveness programs that sound as sweet as apple pie– but it turns out they’re more like a pie-eating contest... where the pies are on fire... and the water's been replaced with more fire.

🔥🥧There’s a staggering 99% denial rate in specific loan forgiveness programs, meaning only 1% of hopeful hearts find their debt-dissolving dreams come true. 

With denial rates higher than your caffeine levels during finals week, it's no wonder we're side-eyeing those "helpful" servicers.

The current Administration announced an additional $4.9 billion going to student debt relief, which would benefit about 74,000 borrowers, bringing the total loan forgiveness to about $136.6 billion. 

😣That sounds fine and dandy once you realize the total outstanding federal student loan debt is $1.60 trillion.

This new push upgrades the income-driven repayment (IDR) forgiveness, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) programs, and the recent SAVE (“Saving on a Valuable Education”) plan that went into effect for in Summer 2023 and has more benefits planned for July 2024. 

SAVE is (in theory) designed to help people with student loans of less than $122,000 and excellent payment records, but only time will tell if the program works as advertised.

✅ Your Action Plan 

✅ Eligibility Check: Check the SAVE plan website to see if you qualify. 

✅ Document Diligently: Keep a meticulous record of your payments. Paperwork is your best weapon in the world of loan forgiveness. 

✅ Stay Informed: Policies can change fast– we’ll do our best to keep you in the loop, but keep your ear to the ground and stay updated on any shifts in the loan forgiveness world.

It’s worth looking into for any nurse or healthcare professional, especially if you’re early in your career. It offers a chance to lessen financial pressure from student loans– check out the SAVE plan or the PSLF to determine your eligibility and potentially fast-track your financial goals.