International Nurses Association

A mistake is something every human makes. No matter what profession you’re in, it's inevitable. Medical staff are not an exception to this, unfortunately; medical mistakes can result in tragic consequences. With the advancement of equipment and supplies in the medical industry, mistakes have been reduced by up to 70%.   That is a marked improvement, but that does still indicate that mistakes happen.   Related:   Medical Care in Alaska   Medical Mistakes in the United States 1.    Failure to provide the proper tests.   A patient may arrive at the hospital complaining of chest pain.   It is the responsibility of the hospital physician to examine the patient and rule out conditions, such as a heart attack.   In most all cases, the physician would do every test to ensure the problem is not cardiac related.   In the event that they did not order tests, such as EKG’s, that would then be considered a medical mistake should th...

The nursing profession has more workers suffering from insomnia than any profession overall.   It's really not surprising: rotating shifts, long hours, emotionally draining days or nights, and of course the pressure of not making a mistake. It all can take its toll, and that toll may be in the form of insomnia.   Insomnia Facts Do you ever look at s sleeping baby, and think about how you wish you could sleep like that?   Babies have no daily worries. Someone always cares for their needs, so their minds are not preoccupied with “what ifs”, or consumed with thoughts of everything that must be accomplished the following day.   No wonder we can't sleep!   One of the main reasons so many nurses suffer from insomnia is that it's difficult to essentially shut the mind down.   You can physically put your body to bed, however you cannot reach in the brain, flip a switch, and turn of the mind.   Think of it like this; you get a comfortable blanket ...

Cerebral Palsy is a generic term that describes a group of disorders affecting a person's ability to be mobile.   It occurs during pregnancy or shortly after birth, and affects the development of the brain.   It can affect people in different ways, and can affect body movement, muscle control and coordination, relax, posture, and balance. There is no typical case of cerebral palsy, so people can walk, but with limitations, other may be confined to a wheelchair unable to walk. One patient I am familiar with is a twin, born with no complications.   At 3 months of age she had a routine hernia surgery, and anesthesia complications occurred, this patient was then diagnosed with CP, and would never communicate verbally.     People that are diagnosed with this condition generally have some learning disabilities that can range from mild to severe.   A portion of the individuals suffer complications with their voice box, and may be unable to communicate v...

The name “fungal” makes many people cringe.   It is often linked with being unclean, which is not really a fair assessment, since a fungal infection can occur for a number of different reasons. It’s important to make sure your patients understand this, as many are embarrassed by fungal infections.   Fungal Infection Facts Fungi are not plants or animals. Although once thought to be plants, it is now known otherwise.   Fungal spores live in the air or soil, so it’s not difficult for a person to contract an infection.   Rarely serious, it’s often the embarrassment of the sight and mention of the condition that is most difficult.   Patients with fungal infections can try treating them with over the counter medications, but in many cases this is not successful, and stronger treatment is required.   When treating a patient with a fungal infection, keep in mind they are probably embarrassed about their condition.   Assure your patient that fungal...