End of "stiff" report

Now let me first say for those of you who aren't in the medical field, we give a shift report to the nurse coming on before we leave to let them know about their patients. Also I want to warn you we find humor in things you might see as horrible!

So here goes. A nurse is giving report and is interrupted by the clerk and informed one of her patient's heart rate has dropped on the 30's. She acknowledges her and proceeds to finish report so the oncoming nurse decides to go in and check on her. When she arrives the patient is asystole( pulseless). She is a DNR (do not resuscitate) so she let's the leaving nurse know. The leaving nurse proceeds to finish report because she says she needs to hurry up and go home. Next she gives report on the "stiff" patient as if she were still alive and then leaves to go home. When I heard this story today I laughed because I know the nurse and it sounds like her. Now if I were present, she would not have given a report or left before taking care of the deceased patient. Which means calling the family, notifying the supervisor and physician and completing the necessary paperwork. Instead the oncoming nurse was left with these tasks. Have you ever experienced a similar event or situation? What horror story would you like to share? All comments are greatly appreciated!!!

Rooted in Love

My discussion today is not medical but it is healthy. Today we buried my uncle. My families slogan is "Rooted in Love" and we are just that. Today we celebrated the life of a beloved member of our family. We remembered him, we treasure him, we cherish the moments we spent with him but most of all we honor God's wisdom to end his suffering on this earth! As a family we grieved for him, as a family we shall be there to comfort each other, as a family we are ROOTED IN LOVE!

All comments are greatly appreciated!!!!

Knowing Your Medications

I can't tell you how many times I get patients who don't know their medications by name. We ask what medicines are you taking and they reply with " I take a small pink pill, a red one, green one and two white pills. One is a water pill and I know I take a blood pressure pill". Well guess what? You didn't tell me jack! If you don't know what medications you are taking I suggest you make a list and carry it with you. Knowing your meds is very important. You don't want to get something that doesn't interact well with what you are currently taking! You will be very thankful you made a list and your nurse will thank you too!

All comments are greatly appreciated!!!!

Heart Disease and You

As many of you know, I am a cardiac nurse so heart disease is one of my favorite subjects. Heart disease is the single most preventable cause of death. Lifestyle factors play a key role in heart disease. Things like smoking, failing to get regular exercise, and eating a non-healthy diet can significantly increase your risk of heart disease. Some of us are plagued by our genes so it is very important that we take these measures to help reduce our chances of heart disease. What many women dont know is that menopause increases your risk of heart disease. Our symptoms are also different than the classical signs of a heart attack which include: chest pain or pressure, pain down the left arm, jaw pain and shortness of breath. Women are somewhat more likely than men to experience shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain. And as women, we usually are too busy taking care of everyone else and not ourselves so it is important we listen to our bodies and seek medical attention.

We must take those preventative measures to have a healthier heart. Eating properly, getting rid of unhealthy habits (smoking), exercising (30 min of cardio exercise daily is good) and managing other disease processes that increase the risk of heart disease such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Remember only you can make the change and there is no better time than the present!

All comments are greatly appreciated!!!!!!!!

Next of Kin

Have you ever thought to yourself if something were to happen to you the right person would be notified? When I worked on a floor that had an acute stroke unit, we had a patient who had gone jogging and collapsed. He had a stroke and was unable to communicate. No one knew who he was and they had to post his pictures on the news to try and identify him. Eventually his identity became known and family was notified.

I think it is a good idea to keep emergency contact numbers in your wallet behind your ID. I also think when you are out for a jog or stroll we have something with us to identify us and whom to notify in case of emergency. I can't imagine being hospitalized and not being able to say who I am or not have my loved ones there for me. It is something to think about don't you think?

All comments are greatly appreciated!!!

Hospice

When I worked for Hospice, death was a common thing. I was the one who came out in the middle of the night to pronounce someone's loved one as deceased. I comforted them, made phone calls if needed and contacted the funeral home to pick up the body to relieve this stress from the family. Hospice is a god send. For those of you who are reading this, if you have been following my blog you probably read my post about my uncle dying from prostate cancer. Last night he left this earth to go home to Jesus. Knowing this was going to happen and even being quite acquainted to death, it is still heart breaking. The Hospice nurse was there doing the things I once did because none of us would have been able to. The good thing about Hospice is, their services dont stop when the patient dies. They continue to support the family. They are here to serve not only the patient but also the caregiver. Hats off to all the Hospice organizations around the world. My family thanks you for helping us through this transition.

All comments are greatly appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!

Memorial Day

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. It was first enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the civil war) and was expanded after World War I to include American casualties of any war or military action. Most people observe this holiday by visiting cemeteries and memorials.

I do not want to take away from those that gave their lives for our country but I often wonder what it was like for the medical staff. I can't imagine being a nurse during a time of war and seeing all the tragedies they must have encountered. Just thinking about it is enough to make me shiver. I wonder how their psychological status was affected. How they were able to deal with it on a daily basis. Seeing and hearing all the pain of those wounded men and women. Not only do I salute those brave soldiers, I also salute those brave men and women who medically treated them.

All comments are greatly appreciated!!!!

Grandma's Pill Box

Do you know what's in Grandma's pill box? Better yet does grandma know what's in her pill box? Our older adults are living longer and independently but is it always safe? Not too long ago, my 92 year old grandmother was admitted to the hospital for dehydration. She doesn't live alone but she is very independent! I stayed overnight with her on her last night at the hospital and this is when I realized something about her medications. Apparently my relatives set up her pill box and she in turn pours them back in the bottle and takes them how she pleases. This is the problem that resulted in her hospitalization. She got dehydrated from taking too much Lasix (water pill). My resolution was to have them set up her pills in the pill box and then take the pill bottles with them. This way she wouldn't be able to pour them back in. She probably has no clue which pill is which.

Older adults have a slower metabolism, therefore pills stay in their bloodstream longer than normal. If this had been another medication like Digoxin which slows the heart rate or even a blood thinner it could have been more serious .If you have an older loved one and they are taking their own medications, it is advisable that someone knows what they should be taking and set up a pill box for them. Who knows, it could be a life saving task!

All comments are greatly appreciated!!!

Why Get Hospitalized?

It never ceases to amaze me how some people come to the hospital and then refuse all treatment! The purpose of coming to the hospital is to get treated for whatever is ailing you. Yet we have people who get admitted and then decide there is nothing we can do for them. They refuse medications, lab work and procedures needed to help with their course of treatment. Yes, you have the right to refuse all these things but why bother to come? It is a waste of everyone's time and energy in my opinion. The bed you occupy is a bed that someone who wants to be treated can have. The interesting part is they dont refuse food, the use of the TV or telephone and usually call for snacks constantly. Gets me wondering sometimes, if maybe they didn't pay their bills and have no food or electricity at home! What do you think?

All comments are greatly appreciated!!!!

Autism

Autism is still something most people don't talk about and yet it affects 1 in 150 individuals. It is more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes or AIDS. Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that typically lasts throughout a person's lifetime. It is part of a group of disorders known as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). It occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls. Autism impairs a person's ability to communicate and relate to others. It is also associated with rigid routines and repetitive behaviors, such as obsessively arranging objects or following very specific routines. Autism spectrum disorders can usually be reliably diagnosed by age 3, although new research is pushing back the age of diagnosis to as early as 6 months. Parents are usually the first to notice unusual behaviors in their child or their child's failure to reach appropriate developmental milestones. Some parents describe a child that seemed different from birth, while others describe a child who was developing normally and then lost skills. Most times, pediatricians dismiss the parent's concern and say their child will catch up. Follow your instinct and push for further evaluation.


The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development lists Applied Behavior Analysis among the recommended treatment methods for autism spectrum disorders. Some of the most common interventions are Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Floortime Therapy, Gluten Free, Casein Free Diet (GFCF). Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, PECS, SCERTS, Sensory Integration Therapy, Relationship Development Intervention, Verbal Behavior Intervention, and the school-based TEAACH method.

Most recently on May 7, 2009, President Obama included in his Fiscal Year 2010 budget $211 million dollars for Autism!

A friend whose 5 year old son has Autism is doing a fundraiser walk for June 13. If you would like to donate, click the link provided. You can find a walk in your area. http://www.walknowforautism.org/faf/donorR...supId=254705382


I have included another link to get involved on the government level. Let's speak for those who can't and give them the support they need. Who knows, it could one day affect you! http://www.autismspeaks.org/government_affairs/agenda.php



All comments are greatly appreciated.

A Dumb Thief

Today the EKG tech was looking for his EKG machine because it was missing. During his journey through the hospital looking for it, he called security and they had the machine. Apparently someone stole it thinking it was a laptop. Sold this $14,000 machine for $7. The buyer saw the hospital's name on it and brought it to the security office. Now for those of you who don't know what the EKG machine looks like I am posting a picture. I cried laughing thinking how stupid can one be to think this was a laptop. Woo I am cracking up as I type this!

Your comments and thoughts are greatly appreciated!

A Bad Seed

Typically men don't like going to the doctor. This is especially true when rectal exams are concerned! Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of deaths from cancer among US men. It is generally suspected when a hard nodule is felt during a routine rectal exam or an abnormal PSA(prostate specific antigen). These exams are recommended for men 40 and older. Symptoms include difficulty urinating, burning with urination or blood in urine. Early detection is the key. It can prevent metastasis (spreading of the cancer) to other organs.

This is something you men need to think about. It won't only affect you but also your loved ones! I have twin uncles who both were diagnosed with prostate cancer within a year of each other. One is doing fine whereas the other has metastasis and has begun the dying process.

There are many treatments and research is underway to identify the genes that cause prostate cancer.

Your comments and thoughts are greatly appreciated!

Childhood obesity

Recent studies show 16 to 33 percent of children and adolescents are obese. Mostly due to eating habits and lack of exercise. These days a lot of kids spend their time watching TV or playing video games. When I was growing up we played outside mostly. We played baseball,kick ball, volleyball, basketball, dodgeball and football. We had games like junp rope, hop scotch, hide and seek, hula hoop and many other games that kept us active. There was no eating fast food all the time. Parents cooked!

So what has changed all that? We need to teach our kids how to eat healthy but we must lead by example. We also need to encourage them to be active. Obesity leads to diabetes and heart disease. So let's keep our kids healthy and in the process we can keep ourselves healthy.

Your thoughts and comments are greatly appreciated!

My reward!

People always ask if I like being a nurse and I always say yes. Well that isn't completely true. I don't like being a nurse I love it!!!

I love being able to provide the care needed to help someone heal and get back home. I have seen patients who came in and thought to myself that poor family is going to lose their loved one only to see them do remarkably well and go home healthy!

I have also experienced the sadness and pain of watching someone die. I can recall one patient whose family and himself grew on me. He had heart surgery and told me he was going to die. Me being the type of nurse I am told him not on my watch you aren't! To make a long story short, he never got well. I always greeted him saying, "your favorite nurse is back" and he always gave me a smile. I got a smile on this day but he didn't look good. He was going to go to hospice the next day. His son-in-law sent his wife downstairs for a break and shortly after he came to the desk and said he thought he was about to die. I stayed with the patient and waited for them to return. His wife came in and told him it was time to go home and she would be ok and hugged him, then planted a kiss on his lips. He smiled and took his last breath! She immediately gave me a hug and cried. She thanked me for taking great care of her husband and told me he really liked me. She stated that I was the only nurse he ever told I was part of his family. It took all I had to keep from crying in her presence. Her family's gratitude and being able to touch a part of their lives was my reward. It is days like this that inspire me to give 100% of myself towards my patient care. There is no better reward I can ask for!

All comments are greatly appreciated. I'd love to hear your stories.

No Info

Unless you have been hiding under a rock you have heard of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). Under this act, it protects the patients privacy and security of their health information. Every health care organization has patients signing they have received a copy of the privacy act. So why is it families get upset when you can't give them information especially over the phone? Would you not expect the same if you were the patient? What you don't see in that privacy act are the consequences of such a violation. This includes fines ranging from $100 to $250,000 along with imprisonment up to 10 years!

Now I don't know about anyone else but I don't look good in an orange jump suit and I sure don't have money to "give" away!

All comments are greatly appreciated!

Can i offer you some Xanax?

I love it when patients have family members who are active in their care especially when its an older patient, however sometimes they can be a bit overbearing! They might think they are being helpful to the patient or the nurse and sometimes they are. Here is when I feel the need to offer them some Xanax:

The family calls the nurse at least once an hour because the patient needs something and when the nurse responds the patient doesn't want anything!

The family constantly insists the patient needs pain medicine despite what the patient says until finally the patient gives in and decides they need pain medicine!

The family insists the patient needs something to calm them down and when you arrive the patient is fine but the family member is a wreck!

The family wants you to give sleeping medicine to a patient who is already sleep!

Restraints are requested because the patient won't keep still!

Now don't get me wrong, all families don't act this way but there are plenty that do and on these days I go home to a nice cocktail!

Feeding the habit

A patient with known substance abuse is admitted to the hospital with an infection and of course says they are having some pain. The patient requests Dilaudid for pain and Morphine is prescribed upon admission. Days later the admitting physician writes an order for Dilaudid every 2 hours for pain as requested by the substance abuse patient. Why does this happen? We already know the patient is a drug seeker and we give them what they desire. I don't have any problems with treating her "pain" but why give exactly what she wants? I have struggled with this question for many years and maybe someone can enlighten me on why this is. Is it to keep the patient from bugging the doctor?