International Nurses Association

Obesity is chronic in the United States. Morbid obesity is currently at the highest rate ever reported, which puts an emphasis on bariatric surgery and care.  Types of Bariatric Surgery Gastric Sleeve- this is a fairly safe surgery, as it does not deplete the body of nutrients as some do.Many patients opt for this as it can usually be done with minimally invasive procedures. Care for the patient following this surgery is minimal; in fact it is often done on an outpatient basis.   Gastric Bypass- this surgery is more invasive, and it dumps a portion of minerals out, without allowing for absorption by the body. Patients that have received this surgery can get dehydrated, and can be low on vitamins and minerals if not taking supplements.  Lap Band- this is a minimally invasive technique that is just as the name implies, a band placed inside the body to lessen the size of the stomach Gastric Balloon- a newer procedure that is done under local anesthesia, it is...

How far do you go as a nurse to accommodate you patients?  Do you go far enough?  How much is too far? The number one reason that there is often difficulty in this particular area is that not all nurses interact the same way with patients. Scenario Mr X is a patient that has been admitted for some time. He is unable to do some things for himself, and will occasionally ask for assistance. He spoke with his nurse regarding his toenails, and said that they needed to be clipped. The nurse did as he requested, and clipped his nails. Several days later he mentioned wanting to shave, however his hand was unsteady.  Again, his nurse assisted him. A couple weeks later Mr X had a different nurse, and requested that she cut his toenails and help him shave. This nurse knew all hospital rules and regulations, and she knew that nurses were not to cut nails or assist with shaving. There was in fact specialty staff to do this. When she advised the patient of this, he was very upset, s...

The ACA was a blessing to some, but not all. Could it have been perfected over time?  We will never really know as it is being replaced. As of now, 70% of Americans do not approve of the ACA, so let's see if the new one is any better. The New Health Care Bill This bill does not require people to buy insurance. Instead, it offers incentives to those who do. The new bill tries to encourage insured people to maintain their coverage by setting regulations with insurance companies. The new act will prevent companies from charging more or denying coverage for pre-existing conditions. The only stipulation is, you cannot let your insurance lapse. If insurance does lapse for more than 63 days, it allows the company to tag on a 30% penalty for the year. The tax credits will be based on age, but can go up to 4,000 per year. It's difficult to predict who will win out with the new bill, and who will lose, it takes some time to determine the results.  Related:  Importance of...

Notes are critical to patient care.   They must be detailed and accurate, yet not go on and on so that the reader gets uninterested.   Notes should always be clear and precise, and it's a good idea to go back and read them after you entered them.   Read them as if you did not write them, and as if you are reading them from someone else. Documenting Documentation is vital in a nursing role. Lack of documentation is a serious mistake, and is not tolerated by medical facilities. Many nurses put the emphasis on patient care, which is great, however documentation is part of that patient care. Nurses are busy, everyone knows and understands that, sometimes there is not a moment to breath, and it's hard to find time to document.  The document portion of the job should be considered as important as medication administration, it must be done. Often the busiest times are the times that r equire the most extensive documentation, it's actually an exten...

Care plans are not a favorite among most nurses. It's difficult to develop plans for someone that is hospitalized, and you are unsure how things will go.  However, as time consuming as they are, they are an essential part of nursing.  The Need for a Care Plan Care plans are individualized plans specific to that patient. They are based on the exact needs of the patient, and it coordinates with the patient's diagnoses, and their specific needs. The care plan is designed to inform the following shift exactly what is being done for and with the patient. This is a way of communicating, similar to a log book passed on from staff to staff.  Care Plan Contents In addition to the communication aspect of a care plan, it should provide instructions so that a nurse unfamiliar with the patient could step in and know what to do. This would include special request of family members or the patient themselves.  Care Plan Guidelines Care plans must be completed for e...

When you earn a degree in nursing, you have many doors with opportunity waiting for you. Many people make the assumption that if you earn a degree in nursing, you are going to be a nurse, but that is not always the case.  Some people opt to study nursing, and then use the education to work elsewhere in a health-related field.  Healthcare management is a very good profession. L ike nursing, there will always be jobs available. Healthcare management workers work primarily behind the scenes. They are responsible for maintaining the patient's record, which is a very big responsibility.  Physical Records With patient records now mainly electronic, it's s changing field, and health care management personnel have changed as well. In years past the health care management had offices that were usually located in the basement of the hospital. The main room was filled with file cabinet after file cabinet, and on occasion storage boxes as well.   When a doctor, nur...

Blogs can be great if they are done correctly. Nurses' blogs could be very informative to new nurses, or someone considering nursing as a career. A blog can be a great source of information, mainly because it is not an advertisement; it is coming from a person that is most likely sharing their honest opinion.  A typical Nurses Blog Hi all, today I worked 7 am to 7 pm, but I'm off tomorrow, yippee!  My favorite patient today was an elderly lady, 84 years young. She was being observed for chest pains, and I was amazed at how alert and together she was. I hope I'm that way at her age. She told me the funniest thing; when she was younger she worked in Vegas as a show girl. At lunch she was served chicken, rice, etc., most things elderly people appreciate. I happened to see a pizza delivery guy enter her room. She ordered herself a pizza for lunch.  I guess at 84 you let them have what they want.  The most difficult patient of the day was a man that informed me u...