Dear Nurses

Saturday, June 28, 2008

AVOIDING DEHYDRATION IN THE OUTDOORS


Dear nurses,

Hope you had a good week. Many of you take vacations in the summer months and may choose a drier climate to do so. Sometimes, the consequences of activities in an unfamiliar area, can be more than we bargain for. So, be safe and be aware.
Below, are posts to help you avoid dehydration in the outdoors.
Have a Happy July, 4th, whether you have to work or not.
Enjoy learning more about the Clinical Setting.

RECOGNIZING DEHYDRATION IN THE OUTDOORS

Dear nurse,
Please see below for updated information. Dearnurses.com is no longer available.

Dehydration in a dry climate like the desert may go unnoticed for many hours. In humid weather, sweating is obvious. This however, is not the case in a climate with low humidity,
like the desert.
Loss of body fluids through sweating is subtle and can be ignored until symptoms such as severe headache, muscle weakness and fatigue set in.
Enjoy learning more about the Clinical Setting.

Updated 12/23
Please watch the video for more information:

KNOWING HOW TO AVOID DEHYDRATION


Walking outdoors in a desert climate may lead to dehydrationif the necessary preparation is not made. Here are some helpful suggestions to help prevent dehydration:
- wearing light colored clothing that does not absorb heat
- protecting the head with a hat or cap
- avoiding walking at the hottest time of day, when the sun is high
- adequate fluids, especially ones that replace electrolytes
- making use of foods like bananas to replace potassium
- a little salt in juice, if no sports drinks available

Sorry, Dear nurses.com is no longer available.
Enjoy learning more about the Clinical Setting.
 ** Sessions 24

Saturday, June 21, 2008

HAVE A GOOD WEEK NURSES


Dear nurses,

It is a pleasure to keep you informed . I hope you can learn something from the topics which I have posted this week.
I hope you have a good week and God bless you all.

WHEN A CODE BLUE IS CALLED

Scenario: A patient was transported to the Emergency Room 
 by paramedics, following a  911 call. He was having chest pain 
 and does have a past history of myocardial infarction.

 He was medicated according to ACLS guidelines. On arrival
 in the ER , he was alert and talking coherently. Suddenly, 
 he is barely responding and his cardiac rhythm shows third
degree AV block.

A Code Blue is called and CPR and ACLS guidelines will
be initiated. Lab values will also be done.


                When a Code Blue is called

A Code Blue in a medical facility is usually recognized
as a cardiopulmonary 
arrest. When this occurs, immediate
steps are taken to alert everyone who is assigned to the
code team.

The medical staff require special training in CPR and ACLS
in order to manage a Code Blue. 


ABRUPTIO PLACENTA

Updated 5/24
Dear nurses,

The Clinical setting Step by Step is no longer available.
Please click on the links below: 


for more information.



Abruptio placenta is a condition in which the growing fetus becomes separated from the placenta, which nourishes it. Causes include blunt trauma, multiple pregnancies and hypertension. In order to learn more, just click on the link : The Clinical Setting Step by Step, chapter5.

RECOGNIZING DIABETES INSIPIDUS



Following Transphenoidal  surgery for a pituitary tumor, a patient may be at risk for Diabetes
Insipidus. It is important to know how to recognize and treat this condition. Enjoy watching the
video : What are electrolytes

RECOGNIZING ADULT RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME


condition which may be triggered by such conditions as trauma, pneumonia, pancreatitis
and massive blood transfusions.
Signs and symptoms include anxiety, shortness of breath, tachycardia and cyanosis.
In order to learn more about ARDS and its management, please click on the link :
Also enjoy watching the following SESSIONS Videos: Sessions 13

AVOIDING MEDICATION ERRORS


A medication error can happen at anytime. Every attempt should be taken by the nurse, to avoid a medication error . In order to familiarize yourself with methods to avoid this problem, simply click on the link: http://www.dearnurses.net/the_clinical_setting_step_by_step, (Chapter5).
Also enjoy watching the following SESSIONS Videos: Sessions 21 and 23
For more info on medication errors and pharmacology visit
Medication Errors and Needlesticks:

Saturday, June 14, 2008

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY


Hi guys,

Hope you had a good week. I just wanted to say to those of you who are fathers, have a HAPPY FATHER'S DAY. God bless you all my fellow nurses and have a good week.

UNDERSTANDING CODE BLUE


The responsibility of the nurse when a CODE BLUE is called, can be difficut to understand.
You may learn more by clicking on the links:
or
and enjoy learning.

Saturday, June 07, 2008

HAVE A GOOD WEEK NURSES


Hi guys,


Hope you had a good week. I did some "outdoors stuff "this week and I really enjoyed it. So next week, I would like to share with you how subtle dehydration can occur. Sweating in certain types of climate may go unnoticed and result in dehydration.
Please enjoy reading. God bless you all.

UNDERSTANDING HEMIANOPIA

Updated 5/24
Dear nurses,
The Clinical Setting Step by Step, is no longer available.
Please use the link below: Stroke assessment
 for  more updated information.
 
Hemianopia can be caused by conditions such as strokes or trauma. It causes a loss of vision in half of the visual field.To find out more, please click on the link:

IV INFILTRATION


When the patient in your care has an order for medications such as IV Potassium
(IV Infiltration, Chapter 4) would you know what can happen to the veins, even
when given correctly? Enjoy watching the video:
( Sessions 11 ) and learn more.

NARCOTIC REACTION

As nurses, we medicate patients for Pain (Sessions 12) and *anxiety very often. Have
you ever stopped to consider that patients depending on age or situation, may react
differently to narcotics. To learn more, simply click on the link:
THE CLINICAL SETTING STEP BY STEP, chapter 4.
* Chapter 13

BLUNT TRAUMA AND BRAIN HERNIATION


Whether you work in the ER or not, you make be faced with a situation such as blunt trauma. If the patient in your care had a blow to the head, would you know what to look for? If not well managed, such a patient may be at risk for brain herniation.
To understand more, simply click on the link:

WHEN A PATIENT HAS A FALL


We know as nurses that many patients are at risk for falls ( Sessions 11).
Some patients may have received medications that can result in judgement
being impaired or a physical disability that results in instability on the legs.
To find out more, simply click on the link :