A hospital nurse from Ohio, Jenn Giroux, is working with Microtek Medical to manufacture and market her invention, StethoClean, a protective plastic sleeve that covers the diaphragm and neck of a stethoscope. Providers can clip a dispenser for sleeves onto their stethoscopes and apply a clean sleeve each time they examine a patient, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

The El Paso Times reported that the University of Texas at El Paso is answering the state's nursing shortage with its 15-month, Accelerated Fast Track Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Also, the state will give the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Nursing $686,500 to add more faculty and students.