Saturday, June 28, 2008
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:
Please watch the video for more information:
KNOWING HOW TO AVOID DEHYDRATION
Walking outdoors in a desert climate may lead to dehydration, if 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.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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
video : What are electrolytes
RECOGNIZING ADULT RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME
ARDS ( Adult Respiratory Distress syndrome-SEE SESSIONS 13) is a life threatening
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
Saturday, June 14, 2008
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.
I have added THE CLINICAL SETTING STEP BY STEP( Chapter 4).
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
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:
To understand more, simply click on the link:
WHEN A PATIENT HAS A FALL
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 :