Dear Nurses: December 2007

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL NURSES

Updated 12/25

Wishing you the very best for the New Year.

Please enjoy the videos:

Sessions 38 - Happy Holiday
and Sessions 61- From holiday cheers to horrors

Learn more about : Travel and eating

Learn more about: All things food

HIPAA

Updated 3/26

Dear nurses,

Please follow your Institution's policies regarding
the HIPAA law.

The standards of care are an essential part of the
Nursing profession. It provides guidelines within a
framework of practices.

Learn more about : The standards of care

Learn more about : Nursing communication

PCA ( Patient Controlled Analgesia)

Patient Controlled Analgesia may be ordered by
the doctor for the patient who is awake, alert and
able to self medicate. This method of administering
pain medication , is done via a pump, through the
intravenous route. Dosages are decided by the doctor.

However, patient and family teaching should be
included in the care plan. It is not uncommon for
family members to press the pain button for the
patient. Sessions 12 gives an overview of pain
assessment.

Indications for the use of the PCA pump include:

- patients who have surgical intervention

- patients with cancer or chronic pain issues

- conditions such as pancreatitis, sickle cell

anemia and more.

The Numerical Pain Scale is a useful tool when
assessing pain. It is based on a scale of 0-10.

A ladder starts from the ground and escalates to|
the highest point, so does pain start from 0-10.

It is important to do a pain assessment after pain
medication has been given. See image for more
information.

Nursing communication skills - Part 1

Nursing communication skills - Part 2

SIMPLIFYING BASAL SKULL FRACTURE

Basal skull fractures are usually diagnosed by CAT scan.
They are difficult to see on X-Ray. The image above,
shows what the patient with a basal skull may look like.

It is important to be able to identify the signs of a basal
skull fracture.The crack in the base of the skull may cause
CSF ( cerebrospinal fluid) to leak from the nose or ear.
A halo ring may appear on the pillow. Cranial nerves
may also be damaged.

For more helpful information, please click on the links:

Sessions 65 - Stroke or no Stroke
Stroke Assessment

and enjoy learning.

Updated 4 /23

Learn more about : Clinical judgement

BASAL SKULL FRACTURE

Updated 1/25

Dear nurses,
Dearnurses.com is no longer available.Learn more about
ICP monitoring by clicking on the link: ICP monitoring

Basal skull fractures are usually diagnosed by CAT scan.
They are difficult to see on X-Ray. The image above,
shows what the patient with a basal skull may look like.

It is important to be able to identify the signs of a basal
skull fracture.The crack in the base of the skull may cause
CSF ( cerebrospinal fluid) to leak from the nose or ear.
A halo ring may appear on the pillow. Cranial nerves
may also be damaged.

For more helpful information, please click on the links:

Sessions 65 - Stroke or no Stroke
Stroke Assessment

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL NURSES

Updated 12/25

Dear nurses,

Wishing you the very best for Christmas and
the New Year.

Please enjoy the videos:

Sessions 38 - Happy Holiday
and Sessions 61- From holiday cheers to horrors

Learn more about : Travel and eating

Learn more about: All things food

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL NURSES - AVOID HOLIDAY HORRORS!

Learn more about:

Holiday horrors

Learn more about: Triage

Learn more about : Avoiding medication errors

Medical abbreviations and

Safe medication administration

TRAUMA SERIES - IMPALED OBJECT

Impaled object

Updated 6/24

An object is considered to be impaled if it has penetrated and is fixed to the person.

It is a form of trauma. An object may become impaled in any part of the body and may
occur inside or outside.

Helpful hints:

- an object becomes impaled in someone's body, it is advisable to secure the object
as close to the body as possible.

- Cover the object with a dressing or something clean.
- Monitor the site for bleeding and apply pressure if necessary.

It is also advisable to monitor the person for signs of shock.
- Get help ASAP!

TRAUMA SERIES - IMPALED OBJECT

Updated 6/24

An object is considered to be impaled if it has penetrated and is
fixed to the person.It is a form of trauma. An object may become
impaled in any part of the body and may occur inside or outside.

Impaled object

Helpful hints:

- an object becomes impaled in someone's body, it is advisable to
secure the object as close to the body as possible.

- Cover the object with a dressing or something clean.
- Monitor the site for bleeding and apply pressure if necessary.

It is also advisable to monitor the person for signs of shock.
- Get help ASAP!

HIPAA AWARENESS

Updated 3/26

Dear nurses,

Please follow your Institution's policies regarding
the HIPAA law.

The standards of care are an essential part of the
Nursing profession. It provides guidelines within a
framework of practices.

Learn more about : The standards of care

Learn more about : Nursing communication

The surgical patient is at risk for infection, related to
surgical intervention.

- Paralytic ileus may occur .

- Hypothermia due to fluid loss and bodily exposure
during surgery. Hypothermia increases the body's need
for oxygen and possibly may lead to a cardiac event.

Warming measures are necessary.

In the image above, there are people taking a stroll
in the park. Although no one stops to think about
each action that is taken, muscles, bones and joint
are at work.

The human body is made up of muscles, bones and
joints of different sizes. Bones and joints have very
important work to do. They work in unity, to provide
support for the body, as well as protecting vital
organs.

Learn more about: Muscles, bones and joints

Nursing communication skills - Part 1

Nursing communication skills - Part 2

It takes "all hands on deck" to complete the work.

It is important to recognize that classroom skills
are different from clinical skills. A nurse's
performance in the work place takes on a different
challenge from the classroom.

Learn more about: Hemodynamic Monitoring and

Cardiac Assessment.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK TO ALL NURSES - ENJOY NEW TOPICS

Dear nurses,

It is always a pleasure to serve you.

Below, new topics have been added.

Learn more about : Sepsis

Learn more about : IV assessment

Learn more about: Poor circulation

and Diabetes for the layperson

Learn more about : Avoiding medication errors

Medical abbreviations and

Safe medication administration

DIABETIC CARE FOR NURSES - PART 4

Updated 8/25

Learn more about : DKA

Learn more about : Avoiding medication errors

Medical abbreviations and

Safe medication administration

Diabetic complications

Scenario: Sara is a young adult who was diagnosed
with Type 2 diabetes, about a year ago. She has now
been admitted for visual problems.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Sara's eye exam reveals Diabetic Retinopathy. This
condition affects the blood vessels in the eye. Poor
vision and possible blindness may result from leaking
and weakening of the blood vessels.

Diabetic Nephropathy

This condition may further complicated diabetes.
Poor renal function and possibly renal failure may
result. Hemodialysis then becomes necessary.

Learn more about: Poor circulation

and Diabetes for the layperson