International Nurses Association

A better question might be: How has it not changed it? T hat would be a very short answer. HIPAA was developed due to the fact a deadline was not made.  The medical community could not accomplish it, so the government took over, and put it into action October 2002. Who Does HIPAA Apply To? -           Insurance companies that deliver  patient decides  must be in compliance with HIPAA. Any type of insurer is required to abide by HIPAA rules and regulations, and can face stiff penalties if they fail to do so.This changed insurance companies considerably; no longer could they simply give out or obtain information with and from medical facilities. If a patient is admitted to a hospital, and has not granted permission, the hospital cannot discuss the patient at all with the insurance company. Of course, this would mean they would not cover the costs, if they don't know why the patient was admitted they can...

When a child comes to the emergency room there is a certain protocol that is followed. The possibility of a case of child abuse must be ruled out when an injury has occurred. What can contribute even more stress is when there are two parents present, they are not together, and not in agreement over the child.  Tensions are elevated, and in the middle of it all can be a child in need of an X-ray or sutures.  How to Handle the Parents Your priority is the patient, the child.  The parents cannot be a major concern until such time the childis examined and is deemed to be ok.  -           Ask, or direct if necessary, the parents to go into a private consult room to have their discussion. Offer to have security accompany them to ensure neither party feels threatened or in danger. Inform the parents they may return once they have settled things and can turn their focus to the child. The parents should not be...

Medical malpractice, or lawsuits filed against medical personnel, is more common than most people realize. 85% of medical lawsuits involve doctors, but on occasion a hospital or a medical practice may be involved.  Witness As a nurse, there is always a chance that you could be called as a witness in the case of a lawsuit. You could be subpoenaed by the defense or prosecution, depending on needs, and what they may feel you can offer.This is never a good position to be in, you will certainly not score points with an employer or coworkers, even if you are forced to testify,there is going to be some resentment. If called to speak, you will be under oath, and you need to be honest, which will hurt or help your coworker and employer. Either way, it will be an uncomfortable situation, one that you would be much better avoiding. Statistics and Facts This is not to imply there is never a time that a lawsuit is not justified, however, there are many lawsuits that are generated and ...

Have you ever heard grandparents telling the story of how they walked to school in sub freezing temperatures, and 3 feet of snow? Okay, they may be exaggerating, but if a nurse that practiced in a hospital more than 50 years ago begins to tell you her stories, listen closely. You will not only find their stories interesting, you will be thankful you live and work in these times.  1965 Nurses Jane was a nurse that got her license in 1964, and went to work in a very large hospital. Pay attention as she describes what it was like then, you'll be thankful you work in these times. Jane said on her first day there, a doctor yelled at her and mumbled stupid nurses under his breath. Jane immediately went to her supervisor, only to be told doctors are just like that, ignore them. Jane said that on one occasion a coworker wore pants, which were white uniform pants, it was very cold outside and the nurse had to walk to work. The nurse was terminated for not wearing t...

A healthy work environment may mean different things to different people. For nurses, a healthy work environment may involve clean surroundings, and proper equipment among other things. A healthy work environment for nurses, equates to a healthier environment for the patients.  What Makes a Healthy Work Environment? A hospital or medical clinic that treats their employees well is on the right track for creating a healthy and safe work environment. An employer that cares for the employees, and values their opinions, is a place that is creating a healthy work environment. A well-run facility that promotes a good work environment wants to ensure that there is enough staff, and that they are properly trained.  Continuing education training will continue on to ensure every employee is up to date of procedures and policies of the hospital.  Hospitals have changed over the years. No longer are they a dull and scary place as you walk in the door. Hospitals are now bri...

The United States recognizes nurses as an LPN, licensed practical nursing, BSN, master of science in nursing, and doctoral of nursing. There are seven layers of nursing in the inter states, all connected, and all essential for the care of patients. Currently Australia is number one in doctorate of nursing graduates.  Canadian nursing is divided into stages, 3 years of education in a technical nursing program qualifies you as an assistant nurse only. 3 years in a college and you can become a registered nurse, after taking the examination.   China has ample opportunities for those to attend vocational schools for nursing, however few educational schools offer masters degree or doctoral programs.  For this reason, most nurses in China have licensed Practical or Registered Nursing licenses. It is almost unheard of to continue education in this field within China. Britain trains nurses heavily in the area of pharmacology, with education of treatment more as a seco...

The simple answer is, sometimes.  Not every suicide can be prevented, but some can.  The national suicide prevention line is available to help anyone that feels they may harm themselves.  Patients on Suicide Watch A nurse was treating a patient that had undergone surgery and was not doing well.  When the patient was speaking to her mom, she indicated she would take her own life. Her mom visited the next day and casually mentioned this to her nurse. The nurse followed protocol, and suicide prevention procedures. The patient was moved to an area where she could be constantly observed, and all objects were removed from her room that could potentially pose harm to her.  The nurse explained to her mom that the threats would be taken seriously, however the mom insisted it was a cry for attention and they should not worry.  The fact is, the mom may have been right. On the other hand, the mom may have been wrong, and if she was it would cost a l...

This is a little difficult question to answer. There are some considerations to be made before making a decision about participating in this special day.   -           The age of your daughter is important. 9-10 years of age is about the right age to consider participating. Working as a nurse, your daughter will need to remain alone in the nurse’s station or break area for a good portion of your shift, so there needs to be enough maturity there to sit quietly and entertain herself.  -           How long is your shift? A twelve-hour shift is too long for more children.  Perhaps arranging for a half day visit is a better option, again, age is a factor. Teens If you have a teenage daughter, she may benefit more from a day at work with you, especially if she has an interest in a medical career. Use your free time during the day to show your daughter around, and ...

Can stimulating one's brain actually hold off the aging process?  All signs point to yes.  Experiment on Aging An experiment was started in 1999 to study a group of individuals that resided in a retirement community. As residents passed away or moved, the new residents that occupied their apartments were followed in their place, over a term of years. The study concluded in 2015. With the results in, it was very obvious that stimulating the brain keeps it active and alert. Half of the residents were given brain exercise to complete on a daily basis; the remaining residents did only what they chose to do. The activities provided were puzzles, word jumbles, and brain exercises of various means. In addition, the residents were to do 30 minutes of physical exercise per day. The residents were not put on any dietary restrictions, they ate as they wanted. They devoted 2 full hours each day to brain activities as part of the study.  The Results are in ...