International Nurses Association

You work with a group of people, usually 12 hours a day, several days a week, they literally become like family, and at the very least are very good friends. Just how close should you get to your group of workplace friends?  Benefits of Friends at Work During the times that you are not super busy, it’s nice to have a friendly chat with a buddy, and if they are right there, it is especially easy. When you are having a bad day at work, who better to understand then a friend, and another nurse as well. Friends at work can be there to back you up when needed, and make work easier, but friends can also be there as friends.  Work friends can share in your accomplishments, and be there for you when you have those disappointments, that’s what friends are for. It’s pretty simple to see that friends in the workplace can be a good thing, however there are some potential consequences to workplace friends as well. Related:  The Patient behind the Room Number Disadvantages of...

When a patient has a facial injury, it can be devastating for them. If a face is disfigured or has a problem, there is essentially no way to ignore it. T he face is the first thing you see when someone approaches you.  Facial Wounds The good news is that in today’s world plastic surgeons are able to repair facial injuries to the point that most will become unnoticeable. There are multiple options to heal facial scars, even without a surgeon’s aid. If someone was involved in an auto accident or a similar situation that injures their face, here are some suggestions to offer- -           Be sure to keep the wound clean and moisturized with vitamin E oil -           Rub E oil on the scar 3-4 times per day, this helps avoid a scar that is raised off the skin. -           For multiple scars, a dermabrasion, or several dermabrasion tr...

This is a personal story of grief told by Susan, a retired nurse. Grief is something almost everyone will experience in their lifetime. Grief can be over a loved one, a friend, or a pet among other things. As someone who has certainly had my share of grief, I would like to add a personal touch to this. 1993 The summer of 1993 was a long summer. After a battle with prostate cancer, my father passed away. I had to be there for my mom, so my grief had to be silenced while in her presence. What bothered me the most was that my fiancé and I had decided to get married well ahead of our planned October wedding, I did not think my dad would make it that long. We went away for the weekend and married, with intentions of surprising my parents on my dad’s birthday.  The problem was, he did not make it to his birthday, passing away a few days prior. Much of my grief was over the fact that I did not have the opportunity to share the good news with my f...

Most people have no idea just how much of an impact non-verbal communication has on someone. If a person was walking toward you, saying “Hello, how very nice to meet you!”, it sounds quite pleasant. However, if that person came toward you with hands in the air and an aggressive stance with wide eyes and looking as though they are ready to attack, how would you feel?  Which would you base your reaction on: the kind words, or the intimidating gesture? Obviously, the physical communication prevails in this case. It goes to show that when you communicate with others, especially patients, you should learn to combine body language with what you are saying. Providing the Patient Information The attending physician often leaves orders with the nurses, who then must convey the information to the patient. Depending on the information to be delivered, basing your delivery method on the news itself is often the best way to advise the patient. If the patient is facing ...

Legs take us where we need to go, and they are a body part that we depend on. We assume they will do the job they are intended to do.  Sometimes however there can be a p roblem, and when a leg is out of commission, a body is out of commission.  Restless Leg Syndrome Nothing is worse than being exhausted and lying down in your comfortable bed, ready to close your eyes as soon as your head hits the pillow.   You put your head on the pillow, and then it hits, you must move your legs.   So, you can try to ignore it, but there is no way.   For 10 minutes you lay there, trying not to move, trying to ignore that feeling that you must move your legs.   Eventually you get up, and pace until the feeling subsides.   This can make you feel like a walking zombie, you can be so tired, yet your legs will not allow a peaceful rest.   There are medications, and for me at least, it helps 90%, so be receptive to taking medication when necessary. Warm ba...

Odds are, wherever you practice nursing, it seems very comfortable to you, and perhaps you think you are in the best hospital in the best state. But are you really?   If you happen to live in the dairy state, Wisconsin, you are indeed in the number one state for nurses to be employed in. Much of this is based on the economy, which is good right now in most of Wisconsin. The demand for nurses makes for a higher pay rate, and all around more accommodations made available to hire and retain good nurses.  Colorado, Delaware, and Utah are ranked 6, 7, and 8 for nurses, th ey are fairly need the top as well. These states also have a fairly healthy economy, and health insurance is affordable and easy to obtain in these areas.  Have you always had a dream of living in beautiful Hawaii?  It may have beautiful scenery, however it in ranked at the bottom of the list for ideal hospitals to be employed with.  Louisiana was at...

Antibiotics were a great discovery, and have been used to treat infections since the 1930s. Penicillin was discovered in 1928, and has been used since that time, originally referred to as a miracle drug. The fact is, as far back as Egyptian times, molded bread was used to treat wounds on skin, even at that time, they were on the correct road.  When antibiotics were actually discovered and produced as a pharmaceutical product, people thought this would be a cure-all for everything. Some people were simply taking a daily dose to remain healthy.  Antibiotics were certainly a great discovery, but has a good thing gone too far? Decades of Antibiotics During the 50’s and 60’s in particular, if a person had a runny nose or even a stomach ache, they would be prescribed that miracle wonder drug, penicillin.  It was considered a miracle cure, and utilized by physicians everywhere.  Now here we are decades later, and unfortunately that over-prescribing of ...

When should you alert child protective services?  Essentially, if you have a question on whether you should, always err on the side of caution and contact them. Better to have a fit parent investigated, then to have a child continue to suffer abuse or neglect.  A Saved Child A mid-size hospital had a 7-year-old female admitted to the emergency room on a Friday night. The girl had a very concerned mom and step dad with her, in addition to her 3-year-old brother. The nurse asks how the little girl got the huge gash on her forehead, and the step dad quickly answered that her brother hit her with a metal toy truck. The nurse turned to the little girl, and she answered that he didn’t mean to do it. The nurse had an odd feeling, and stepped out of the room to alert her supervisor.The supervisor visited the room, interacted with the child and the parents, and returned to say everything appeared to be fine to her. The doctor did a complete examination, and also sa...

Do you ever wonder what your patients actually think of you or the other nurses? A survey was done to ask that very question of patients in various hospitals around the country. Answers are by patients. Do you think most nurses enjoy doing what they are doing? -           I think about 80 percent do. I think a few are burnt out and should consider retiring.   -           I think about 60 percent do. I think some nurses have a desire to be a doctor instead, but needed to cut the education time down. -           I believe 95 percent of all nurses love their jobs. Would you rather have a male or female nurse? -           Being female, I always preferred a female nurse.  As I’ve gotten older it does not matter. -         ...