International Nurses Association

Some hospitals require the occasional ride along with paramedics, depending on what area of nursing you work in.  For emergency room nurses, the ride along can be very beneficial. It provides insight into the world that paramedics and EMT’s work in. You can see and experience first hand what it is like to treat the patient prior to arriving at the hospital.  A typical Ride Along I’m not sure there is such a thing in medicine as typical, however the description is one ride along, from 7 pm until 3 am. Jamie never gave much thought about the people that delivered her patients to the emergency room.  They were doing their job and she was doing hers. However, all of that changed after her ride along, she learned just how valuable everyone is in the role of medicine. The Friday night ride along went at a very pace, the first call coming in 15 minutes after the shift began. The call was an emergency for a private residence where a baby was burned. A 3-year-o ld pulled a pan of hot greas

Certified Nursing Assistants are individuals that have an interest in the health care profession, however have not earned their nursing degree. Many CNAs are in the process of attending school and earning their degree, however some simply prefer the job of assisting nurses and working with the patients.  CNA’s Duties -           CNAs can take the temperature of a patient and record the information. They will also take blood pressure readings and record the patients pulse. -           CNAs often tend to the hospitalized patient’s hygiene needs. Helping them to and from the shower, or providing bed baths to patients that are unable to shower. -           They will check on the patient, and report back to the nurse any needs or concerns the patient may have.   When a patient calls for assistance, it is most often the CNA that responds, and calls for the attending nurse if necessary. CNAs also perform the less that desirable jobs, such as changing bed pans and cleaning up af

It is always a sad moment when a family gets confirmation that their loved one is suffering from dementia.  As this disease progresses, it can actually be more difficult on the family than on the patient themselves. In the Beginning When a patient is diagnosed with dementia, in most cases they are still fully aware of their medical issues and will most likely comprehend their newly diagnosed condition. At this point, the patient may want to express their wishes with loved ones, which can be very difficult. When a person is aware they are facing a terminal situation, it’s natural that they want to provide their family with information.  This can be of great benefit for the patient, to share their wishes, and to ensure their family is aware of what needs to take place in the future.  Many family members resist this, insisting they don’t want to hear anything about their love one passing.  If you can offer a solution, it may help all parties involved to accept the situation.  

Have you heard the expression that you catch more flies with honey? Well, if you go in with a positive attitude and are respectful and polite, the odds are you will win the patient over with your charm.  Nurse 1 John was not a happy guy at all. He was tired of being in pain, and tired of being hospitalized.  He was transferred from another medical facility, and he nothing short of a grumpy old man, which he informed the staff of upon his arrival. Nurse 1 went in to gather some information from him, and it did not go well. She asked if he was in pain, to which he explained he would not be there if he wasn’t. She went on to ask very routine admittance questions, to most he had very short answers that could easily be considered offensive to most people. After all questions needed for intake procedures were complete, nurse 1 walked out of the room and gave a big sigh of relief. Two hours later it was medication time for John, so nurse 1 walked into his room with his medications.  She

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is in the blood that can build up in the arteries. High levels of cholesterol can be an early indicator of heart disease.  As a general rule, young people, starting at age 20 should get a cholesterol test every 5 years. Women after menopause should get a test annually, cholesterol levels rise after menopause due to the reduction in estrogen levels. High cholesterol can cause heart attacks, it’s very important to be tested as recommended by the physician. A simple blood test is all that is involved, and this little test could save a life.  Blood pressure is known as the silent killer, and for a good reason. A person can have very high blood pressure with no symptoms, which can create a dangerous situation. A blood pressure reading over 140/90 can put a stress on the heart, and make it more likely to fail. Blood pressure should be checked annually age 20-40, provided the numbers are consistently good. After age 40 twice a year providing the read

It can be one of the most frustrating parts of the job, speaking with the insurance company for your patient. There are times you just want to look at the phone and wonder, what planet are these people from? Insurers Goal Keep in mind that behind the person you are conversing with is under a team of executives pushing them to keep cost down. It may come across that the insurance representative is being unreasonable, however you must consider their job depends on their success in keeping those cost with reason.The insurance representative will have a series of questions they will refer to, and depending on the answers, they may insist that the patient can be cared for from home or a rehabilitation center. The representative on the line with you has a goal, and that is to cut cost.  Insurance companies are not out to harm patients; however, the fact is, sometimes their decisions or lack thereof, does just that.  An Insured Patient Mark was 45 years old when he was admitted t

Odds are, you don’t give yourself enough credit. Nurses deserve a lot of credit and gratitude for the jobs they do, and its time you just think about what all it is that you do during a day, and then give yourself a pat on the back. Typical S hift -           Most nurses work 12 hour shifts. That means you spend 12 hours medicating, comforting, and providing care for sick or injured patients.  -           Starting your shift, you visit the patient’s room, introduce yourself to new patients, and say hello to the existing patients that you already are familiar with. Of course, every nurse always asks if there is anything the patient needs, so the needs provided will keep you busy for some time. -           Depending on what shift you are working, you may need to speak with doctors, and accompany them on rounds.  -           If working day shifts in particular, you will speak with insurance representatives, and essentially be an advocate for your patient.  -