The other day my daughter and I went to visit an elderly friend who had been recently hospitalized. As we visited with our friend, the physical therapist came in to teach her to use her new cane in preparation for discharge from the hospital later that week. I watched the PT carefully work with our friend and was duly impressed with her attentiveness until she prepared to leave. It was at this point she helped my friend get comfortable by pulling a towel she was sitting on out from underneath her and placing it underneath my friend’s bandaged arm. She left and shortly afterwards a nurse who did not identify herself entered, announcing that it was time to take “blood sugars.” She placed her large kit on the bed, took out the glucose meter, placed it first on the bed linen, then transferred it to the towel my friend had been sitting on, and on which her bandaged hand now rested, pricked her left arm, took the reading, announced the results (which was of course none of our business and an HIPPA violation) then put everything back into the kit, and left the room with the same gloves she wore when she entered.
And some nurses wonder how hospital-borne infections and cross-contaminations occur!
Also, it was apparent that my friend’s exposed right shoulder drain was extruding purulent greenish drainage and yet at no time did either the PT nor the nurse address this or take extra precautions. As I sat typing this column and reading snippets to my daughters, one of them suggested that I add another very similar story.
Once again we were visiting a hospitalized friend in a different part of town and in an entirely different hospital, but the scenario is strikingly the same. As we waited in the hospital hallway, I took the opportunity to observe the RNs at their work. There was a particular nurse who had my attention, a male nurse who was helping an elderly female patient in a wheelchair whom he had moved into the hallway while he changed the bed linens in her room. Prior to going into her room he did his best to make her comfortable in the wheelchair and as he attempted to place her leg with a dressing in an elevated leg rest he noticed that the device was broken and would not stay in position. Not to let this slight “hiccup” impede his objective, I watched as he went back into her room, removed the trash-filled trash liner from the trash can, and placed the now empty trash can under her leg to serve as a makeshift leg rest. Can we enumerate all the problems with the action this nurse took, and if you think there are none then it’s back to Nursing 101 with you!The Rise of Infections
Today you cannot pick up a trade newsletter, magazine, or even mainstreet newspaper without reading a story about the rise of hospital-borne infections. More often than not, experts lay the blame on overprescription or misuse of antibiotics. However, I also have to wonder how often poor technique, laziness and just not giving a darn on the part of the hospital staff has to do with some of the infections that occur? If we as professionals just took a moment to stop and think how our actions contribute to the infection rate in our units, hospitals and the community, then we could have a huge impact on the problem.
As RNs, we are often the first line of defense for our patients since we see, speak and interact with them nearly 100 percent of the time they are hospitalized. Consequently, we carry a larger burden of responsibility for their care and well-being, which is why we must be vigilant in our role when it comes to the potential for being one of the causative factors in infections. For example, not that long ago there was an active discussion on one of the nursing lists on which I participate about how one nurse made a point to sit on the bed of her patients as she spoke with them. This was her way of showing that she cared and she felt strongly that it was one of her best tools to help calm a nervous patient. The hue and cry that was raised by many of the other list members, especially the infectious disease nurses, just about overwhelmed all other discussions—and rightly so. It never dawned on this nurse that she could be serving as an infection vector.
Stop and Think: "Am I Contributing to the Problem?"
To play our part in the reduction of cross-contamination and infections we must follow and adhere to the infectious disease protocol that is delineated by our hospital. In addition, we should always take a moment to stop and think: “am I doing something that might be contributing to the spread of infection?’ Think about where you place equipment. If it’s sterile, are you putting it in a sterile area? If you are unsure, take a moment and either wipe the area down or select another place to put the equipment. When making the patient comfortable, check that pillows, sheets, and towels are as contaminate-free as possible.
Does that mean you need to change linens each and every time—of course not. However this does mean that you shouldn’t use the towel that the patient had just been sitting on or that was on the floor, and position it in such a way that it comes in contact with an open wound, bandaged area or drain. Sometimes RNs make the mistake of failing to either glove or not glove appropriately and then everyone scratches their head and wonders why they can’t seem to keep a hospital-borne infection in check.
I wonder how many cross-contaminations could be avoided if the RN, doctor or other individual on the healthcare team had simply “stopped and thought” about how their next action might affect the patient? There is a reason why basic nursing skills and practice are the core of our profession, because these simple yet key practices make a huge difference in the quality of care our patients receive. It could make a world of difference.
Geneviève M. Clavreul, RN, PhD,
Healthcare Management Consultant and a former Director of Nursing.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
PARADIGM BYTES
Newsletter for Paradigm 97
May 11, 2009
PARADIGM DEFINED:
1) an outstandingly clear or typical example or archetype.2) a philosophical and theoretical framework of a scientific school or discipline within which theories, laws, and generalizations, and the experiments performed in support of them, are formulated.
Our website...... http://paradigm97.blogspot.com /
MISSION STATEMENT
We believe that nurses need each other for support during the "lean and mean" days to help survive them. We offer research results and other ideas to enrich the nursing experience.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
SNIPPETS
To be posted separately
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
FROM THE MEMBERS
Donna (ExceptionalNurse@AOL.com) wrote the following:
"Thought you might be able to share this slide show I created:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EJkQVhgwq0 "
Thanks!
Donna
Donna Maheady, Ed.D., ARNP
(561) 627-9872, (561) 776-9254 (Fax), (561) 776-9442 (TTY)
Founder and President www.ExceptionalNurse.com
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
INTERESTING READING
Please remember that the REUTERS articles are usually good for 30 days.
(Reuters 5/7 ) - About 6.3 million Americans have diabetes without knowing it, and complications from their undiagnosed disease account for an estimated $18 billion in U.S. healthcare costs each year, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday... http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE54586K20090507?feedType=nl&feedName=ushealth1100
*************************
RANDOM FACT A Costa Rican worker who makes baseballs earns about $2,750 annually. The average American pro baseball player earns $2,377,000 per year.
**********************
NEW YORK (Reuters 4/29 ) - Infants who become infected with HIV from their mothers can have a normal immune response to childhood vaccines, provided they begin treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy in the first year of life, the results of a small study suggest....
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE53S8BK20090430?feedType=nl&feedName=ushealth1100
***************************
NEW YORK (Reuters 4/29) - If used as prescribed, over-the-counter cough and cold medications are very safe for use in children. The deaths that do occur typically involve children younger than 2 years of age who have received an overdose, according to findings reported in the Annals of Emergency Medicine....
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE53S8BD20090430?feedType=nl&feedName=ushealth1100
**********************
RANDOM TIDBIT - The Aflac Duck: Art director Eric David was trying to come up with an idea for a campaign when he realized that the company's name sounds quite similar to a duck's quack.
***************
NEW YORK (Reuters 4/7 ) - Both body mass index (BMI) and waist size influence a person's risk of being hospitalized with heart failure or dying of the condition, new research shows....
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE5366YK20090407?feedType=nl&feedName=ushealth1100
****************************
Self Control Linked To Weight Status in Children A child's inability to delay gratification at age 4 predicted an increased likelihood of being overweight at age 11, data from an NIH-sponsored study showed. ...
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/GeneralPediatrics/13623
(A striking new study says almost 1 in 5 American 4-year-olds is obese, and the rate is alarmingly higher among American Indian children, with nearly a third of them obese).
*************************
Prescriptions rose by more than 15 percent in 3 years, researchers say. http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=625827
**********************
RANDOM TIDBIT The California Raisins: Frustration led to the famous Claymation icons. In 1987, a copywriter at Foote, Cone & Belding was working on the California Raisin Advisory Board
campaign and said, "We have tried everything but dancing raisins singing 'I Heard it Through the Grapevine.'" The idea was pitched to the client, and the sale of raisins increased by 20 percent!
***************
BOSTON (Reuters 4/8) - A sparse form of fat ( brown fat) that helps keep newborns warm is more common in adults than previously thought and that discovery that could lead to a new way to lose weight, researchers said on Wednesday.
Once activated by cold temperatures,so-called brown fat burns calories faster than regular fat. It is normally so dormant in adults that there has been debate over how much adults have or whether they have it at all.... http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE5378SL20090408?feedType=nl&feedName=ushealth1100
****************
RANDOM TIDBIT The Coppertone Girl: The pig-tailed little girl was created by artist Joyce Ballantyne in the image of her three-year-old daughter Cheri. When the ad was originally created, it was believed that a suntan was healthy. The drawing has since been revised to reveal only the girl's lower back.
***************
Don’t Let Your Healthiest Cooking Oils Go Up In Smoke Olive, canola, peanut, sesame, grapeseed . . . these five heart-smart plant oils have one terrific thing in common: They’re rich in monounsaturated and/or polyunsaturated fats, which have cholesterol-lowering benefits. But overheat them and those healthy perks may go up in smoke. Cooking at high enough temperatures to set off smoke means the oil’s breaking down, losing nutrients, and releasing potentially carcinogenic free radicals. And when oil hits its “smoking point,” food cooked in it tastes off. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t cook with these healthful oils. Just pick and choose what you use. Here’s how.
Extra-virgin olive: It’s so heat-sensitive that chefs usually recommend not cooking with it -- it’s too delicate and too expensive. Instead, cook with pure or virgin olive oil, which can take much higher heat. Use them to quickly saute vegetables in a hot pan or slowly roast them in the oven -- just spritz lightly with olive oil, and then roast at 325–350 degrees Fahrenheit for an hour or so, till fork-tender. ... http://realage.typepad.com/food_bites/2009/02/dont-let-your-healthiest-cooking-oils-go-up-in-smoke-.html
*****************
THURSDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- The successful use of a patient's own skin cells to grow tissue-engineered shunts for dialysis could portend a revolution in kidney care, researchers say.... http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=626381
******************
RANDOM TIDBIT The Gerber Baby: In 1928, Gerber was on the hunt for a baby face to help promote their new brand of baby food. Dorothy Hope Smith submitted a simple charcoal sketch of tot (later turned novelist) Ann Turner Cook - promising to complete it if chosen. However, company execs liked it just the way it
was, and Cook has been the baby face of Gerber ever since.
***********
Taking action to improve the Nursing shortfall Policy makers and other government officials are taking steps to reform health care in the United States including introducing strategies to address the national nursing shortage.
Signed into law in February, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes funding to address the shortage of health care workers, including nurses. In addition, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and Congresswoman Nita Lowey recently introduced legislation to address one of the greatest challenges facing the nursing profession and overall nursing shortage - the short supply of nurse educators available to teach the next generation of nurses.... For more information on legislative strategies to address the nursing shortage, visit www.aacn.nche.edu .
********************
RANDOM TIDBIT The Pillsbury Doughboy: The chubby doughboy was created by the Leo Burnett advertising agency in 1965. The original idea was for the icon to be animated, but agency producers instead incorporated a stop-action technique used on The Dinah Shore Show. Actor Paul Frees lent his voice to the Doughboy. Frees was also the voice for Boris Badenov and
Dudley Do-Right on The Adventures of Bullwinkle and Rocky.
***
(Reuters 4/27) - A U.S. physicians' group is recommending that men 40 and older be offered a controversial prostate cancer test, adding to confusion over whether younger men should get the screening test.
The American Urological Association's new guidelines, released on Monday, say a blood test called the prostate-specific antigen or PSA test should be offered to men 40 or older who are expected to live at least 10 years. "Having some baseline PSA level we think is critically important," Dr. Brant Thrasher, chairman of urology at the University of Kansas and a spokesman for the urology group, said in a telephone interview. http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE53Q4TB20090427?feedType=nl&feedName=ushealth1100
***************************
RANDOM TIDBIT Ronald McDonald: The beloved clown made his television debut in 1963, played by future Today weatherman Willard Scott. Nicknamed the "hamburger-happy clown," Ronald's look was a bit different back then: He had curly blond hair, a fast-food tray for a hat, a magic belt, and a paper cup for a nose.
***************************
Age of onset has limited association with body mass index at time of presentation for anorexia nervosa: Comparison of peak-onset and late-onset anorexia nervosa groups Kimura H et al. - BMI at the time of the initial examination is an important clinical characteristic to differentiate peak-onset anorexia nervosa and late-onset anorexia nervosa. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 03/02/09
http://www.mdlinx.com/NurseLinx/newsl-article.cfm/2613815/ZZ5603146585149290157159/?news_id=414&subspec_id=59
***************************
You've probably tried running hot water over your clogged hair spray nozzle, but many times it just doesn't do the trick. Get that bottle of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol out and dip the nozzle into a little bit of it and let sit for a few minutes. Wipe off and you're ready to spray. You'll keep your "do" from becoming a "don't" and you won't waste any hair spray, and therefore, won't be wasting any money !
Handy Hints Forums: http://handyhints.gophercentral.com
**********************
Several state nurses associations have joined to establish the National Federation of Nurses (NFN), Modern Healthcare reports. Announced at the recent Oregon Nurses Association convention, the NFN includes 70,000 R.N.s from state nurse groups in Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon and Washington. Specifically, the NFN will develop and support a national labor agenda that will focus on issues affecting R.N.s and impacting patient care quality at the national level....
http://www.rwjf.org/pr/digest.jsp?id=10310&topicid=1318
**************************
Changing the way organ donation requests are made could prevent relatives denying consent Timing and whether a transplant coordinator makes the request are key factors in whether relatives consent to organ donation, according to a study published on bmj.com today. Demand for organs far exceeds supply and in the UK this results in one patient on the transplant waiting list dying every day. One of the biggest barriers to increased donor rates is the refusal of consent by relatives.
A recent audit of 341 deaths in intensive care units in the UK revealed that 41% of relatives of potential donors denied consent. In an interview study a third of relatives who had refused donation said that they would not refuse again, whereas only a few of people who had given consent regretted their decision. Lead author Dr Duncan Young, from John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, believes that given the refusal from relatives blocks so many transplants from going ahead, it is important to find out what factors would help them uphold the wishes of their next of kin.... http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-04/bmj-ctw042009.php
*******************
Doctors most likely to spot melanoma early in men (Reuters 4/26) - Older men should visit their doctors to check for melanoma because they are less likely to find it themselves in time, U.S. researchers said on Monday. Many men over 40 are not aware of their skin cancer risks, or the need for regular exams to check for early signs skin cancer, when it is easiest to treat, they said.... http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE53J5VZ20090420?feedType=nl&feedName=ushealth1100
********************
Newsletter for Paradigm 97
May 11, 2009
PARADIGM DEFINED:
1) an outstandingly clear or typical example or archetype.2) a philosophical and theoretical framework of a scientific school or discipline within which theories, laws, and generalizations, and the experiments performed in support of them, are formulated.
Our website...... http://paradigm97.blogspot.com /
MISSION STATEMENT
We believe that nurses need each other for support during the "lean and mean" days to help survive them. We offer research results and other ideas to enrich the nursing experience.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
SNIPPETS
To be posted separately
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
FROM THE MEMBERS
Donna (ExceptionalNurse@AOL.com) wrote the following:
"Thought you might be able to share this slide show I created:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EJkQVhgwq0 "
Thanks!
Donna
Donna Maheady, Ed.D., ARNP
(561) 627-9872, (561) 776-9254 (Fax), (561) 776-9442 (TTY)
Founder and President www.ExceptionalNurse.com
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
INTERESTING READING
Please remember that the REUTERS articles are usually good for 30 days.
(Reuters 5/7 ) - About 6.3 million Americans have diabetes without knowing it, and complications from their undiagnosed disease account for an estimated $18 billion in U.S. healthcare costs each year, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday... http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE54586K20090507?feedType=nl&feedName=ushealth1100
*************************
RANDOM FACT A Costa Rican worker who makes baseballs earns about $2,750 annually. The average American pro baseball player earns $2,377,000 per year.
**********************
NEW YORK (Reuters 4/29 ) - Infants who become infected with HIV from their mothers can have a normal immune response to childhood vaccines, provided they begin treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy in the first year of life, the results of a small study suggest....
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE53S8BK20090430?feedType=nl&feedName=ushealth1100
***************************
NEW YORK (Reuters 4/29) - If used as prescribed, over-the-counter cough and cold medications are very safe for use in children. The deaths that do occur typically involve children younger than 2 years of age who have received an overdose, according to findings reported in the Annals of Emergency Medicine....
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE53S8BD20090430?feedType=nl&feedName=ushealth1100
**********************
RANDOM TIDBIT - The Aflac Duck: Art director Eric David was trying to come up with an idea for a campaign when he realized that the company's name sounds quite similar to a duck's quack.
***************
NEW YORK (Reuters 4/7 ) - Both body mass index (BMI) and waist size influence a person's risk of being hospitalized with heart failure or dying of the condition, new research shows....
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE5366YK20090407?feedType=nl&feedName=ushealth1100
****************************
Self Control Linked To Weight Status in Children A child's inability to delay gratification at age 4 predicted an increased likelihood of being overweight at age 11, data from an NIH-sponsored study showed. ...
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/GeneralPediatrics/13623
(A striking new study says almost 1 in 5 American 4-year-olds is obese, and the rate is alarmingly higher among American Indian children, with nearly a third of them obese).
*************************
Prescriptions rose by more than 15 percent in 3 years, researchers say. http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=625827
**********************
RANDOM TIDBIT The California Raisins: Frustration led to the famous Claymation icons. In 1987, a copywriter at Foote, Cone & Belding was working on the California Raisin Advisory Board
campaign and said, "We have tried everything but dancing raisins singing 'I Heard it Through the Grapevine.'" The idea was pitched to the client, and the sale of raisins increased by 20 percent!
***************
BOSTON (Reuters 4/8) - A sparse form of fat ( brown fat) that helps keep newborns warm is more common in adults than previously thought and that discovery that could lead to a new way to lose weight, researchers said on Wednesday.
Once activated by cold temperatures,
****************
RANDOM TIDBIT The Coppertone Girl: The pig-tailed little girl was created by artist Joyce Ballantyne in the image of her three-year-old daughter Cheri. When the ad was originally created, it was believed that a suntan was healthy. The drawing has since been revised to reveal only the girl's lower back.
***************
Don’t Let Your Healthiest Cooking Oils Go Up In Smoke Olive, canola, peanut, sesame, grapeseed . . . these five heart-smart plant oils have one terrific thing in common: They’re rich in monounsaturated and/or polyunsaturated fats, which have cholesterol-lowering benefits. But overheat them and those healthy perks may go up in smoke. Cooking at high enough temperatures to set off smoke means the oil’s breaking down, losing nutrients, and releasing potentially carcinogenic free radicals. And when oil hits its “smoking point,” food cooked in it tastes off. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t cook with these healthful oils. Just pick and choose what you use. Here’s how.
Extra-virgin olive: It’s so heat-sensitive that chefs usually recommend not cooking with it -- it’s too delicate and too expensive. Instead, cook with pure or virgin olive oil, which can take much higher heat. Use them to quickly saute vegetables in a hot pan or slowly roast them in the oven -- just spritz lightly with olive oil, and then roast at 325–350 degrees Fahrenheit for an hour or so, till fork-tender. ... http://realage.typepad.com/food_bites/2009/02/dont-let-your-healthiest-cooking-oils-go-up-in-smoke-.html
*****************
THURSDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- The successful use of a patient's own skin cells to grow tissue-engineered shunts for dialysis could portend a revolution in kidney care, researchers say.... http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=626381
******************
RANDOM TIDBIT The Gerber Baby: In 1928, Gerber was on the hunt for a baby face to help promote their new brand of baby food. Dorothy Hope Smith submitted a simple charcoal sketch of tot (later turned novelist) Ann Turner Cook - promising to complete it if chosen. However, company execs liked it just the way it
was, and Cook has been the baby face of Gerber ever since.
***********
Taking action to improve the Nursing shortfall Policy makers and other government officials are taking steps to reform health care in the United States including introducing strategies to address the national nursing shortage.
Signed into law in February, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes funding to address the shortage of health care workers, including nurses. In addition, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and Congresswoman Nita Lowey recently introduced legislation to address one of the greatest challenges facing the nursing profession and overall nursing shortage - the short supply of nurse educators available to teach the next generation of nurses.... For more information on legislative strategies to address the nursing shortage, visit www.aacn.nche.edu .
********************
RANDOM TIDBIT The Pillsbury Doughboy: The chubby doughboy was created by the Leo Burnett advertising agency in 1965. The original idea was for the icon to be animated, but agency producers instead incorporated a stop-action technique used on The Dinah Shore Show. Actor Paul Frees lent his voice to the Doughboy. Frees was also the voice for Boris Badenov and
Dudley Do-Right on The Adventures of Bullwinkle and Rocky.
***
(Reuters 4/27) - A U.S. physicians' group is recommending that men 40 and older be offered a controversial prostate cancer test, adding to confusion over whether younger men should get the screening test.
The American Urological Association's new guidelines, released on Monday, say a blood test called the prostate-specific antigen or PSA test should be offered to men 40 or older who are expected to live at least 10 years. "Having some baseline PSA level we think is critically important," Dr. Brant Thrasher, chairman of urology at the University of Kansas and a spokesman for the urology group, said in a telephone interview. http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE53Q4TB20090427?feedType=nl&feedName=ushealth1100
***************************
RANDOM TIDBIT Ronald McDonald: The beloved clown made his television debut in 1963, played by future Today weatherman Willard Scott. Nicknamed the "hamburger-happy clown," Ronald's look was a bit different back then: He had curly blond hair, a fast-food tray for a hat, a magic belt, and a paper cup for a nose.
***************************
Age of onset has limited association with body mass index at time of presentation for anorexia nervosa: Comparison of peak-onset and late-onset anorexia nervosa groups Kimura H et al. - BMI at the time of the initial examination is an important clinical characteristic to differentiate peak-onset anorexia nervosa and late-onset anorexia nervosa. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 03/02/09
http://www.mdlinx.com/NurseLinx/newsl-article.cfm/2613815/ZZ5603146585149290157159/?news_id=414&subspec_id=59
***************************
You've probably tried running hot water over your clogged hair spray nozzle, but many times it just doesn't do the trick. Get that bottle of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol out and dip the nozzle into a little bit of it and let sit for a few minutes. Wipe off and you're ready to spray. You'll keep your "do" from becoming a "don't" and you won't waste any hair spray, and therefore, won't be wasting any money !
Handy Hints Forums: http://handyhints.gophercentral.com
**********************
Several state nurses associations have joined to establish the National Federation of Nurses (NFN), Modern Healthcare reports. Announced at the recent Oregon Nurses Association convention, the NFN includes 70,000 R.N.s from state nurse groups in Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon and Washington. Specifically, the NFN will develop and support a national labor agenda that will focus on issues affecting R.N.s and impacting patient care quality at the national level....
http://www.rwjf.org/pr/digest.jsp?id=10310&topicid=1318
**************************
Changing the way organ donation requests are made could prevent relatives denying consent Timing and whether a transplant coordinator makes the request are key factors in whether relatives consent to organ donation, according to a study published on bmj.com today. Demand for organs far exceeds supply and in the UK this results in one patient on the transplant waiting list dying every day. One of the biggest barriers to increased donor rates is the refusal of consent by relatives.
A recent audit of 341 deaths in intensive care units in the UK revealed that 41% of relatives of potential donors denied consent. In an interview study a third of relatives who had refused donation said that they would not refuse again, whereas only a few of people who had given consent regretted their decision. Lead author Dr Duncan Young, from John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, believes that given the refusal from relatives blocks so many transplants from going ahead, it is important to find out what factors would help them uphold the wishes of their next of kin.... http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-04/bmj-ctw042009.php
*******************
Doctors most likely to spot melanoma early in men (Reuters 4/26) - Older men should visit their doctors to check for melanoma because they are less likely to find it themselves in time, U.S. researchers said on Monday. Many men over 40 are not aware of their skin cancer risks, or the need for regular exams to check for early signs skin cancer, when it is easiest to treat, they said.... http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE53J5VZ20090420?feedType=nl&feedName=ushealth1100
********************
RANDOM FACT Michelangelo died in 1564, the same year Shakespeare was born.
******************
6 Hidden Health Plan Perks Get the most out of your health coverage Like most people, you probably use your health coverage to help with things like office visits and prescription drug costs. But did you know it may also help you save on things like a reduced-price gym membership or cover therapy costs? It's true! Make sure you aren't overlooking your plan perks. ,,,
***********************
Aspirin may trigger bleeding in brain, indicate future dementia risk... Aspirin and other medications used as daily therapy to thin blood and prevent blood clotting may actually cause a small amount of bleeding in the brain, which could be a future indicator of dementia, according to newly released research findings.
A report published online in the journal Archives of Neurology identifies this link and risk, describing the resulting culprit as cerebral microbleeds, which are small deposits of the iron-storing protein hemosiderin in the brain that may be a sign of cerebral small-vessel disease. Dutch researchers, as early as 2005, said cerebral small-vessel disease is common in older people and may contribute to the development of dementia. Cerebral microbleeds occur when the walls of blood vessels in the brain become weakened. When microbleeds occur in certain brain areas, they may indicate a type of small vessel disease known as cerebral amyloid angiopathy, in which the accumulation of amyloid (a protein often related to Alzheimer's disease) causes a break down of smooth muscle cells and increases the susceptibility of blood vessels to ruptures and hemorrhages. http://www.caregivershome.com/news/article.cfm?UID=2112
***********************
******************
6 Hidden Health Plan Perks Get the most out of your health coverage Like most people, you probably use your health coverage to help with things like office visits and prescription drug costs. But did you know it may also help you save on things like a reduced-price gym membership or cover therapy costs? It's true! Make sure you aren't overlooking your plan perks. ,,,
***********************
Aspirin may trigger bleeding in brain, indicate future dementia risk... Aspirin and other medications used as daily therapy to thin blood and prevent blood clotting may actually cause a small amount of bleeding in the brain, which could be a future indicator of dementia, according to newly released research findings.
A report published online in the journal Archives of Neurology identifies this link and risk, describing the resulting culprit as cerebral microbleeds, which are small deposits of the iron-storing protein hemosiderin in the brain that may be a sign of cerebral small-vessel disease. Dutch researchers, as early as 2005, said cerebral small-vessel disease is common in older people and may contribute to the development of dementia. Cerebral microbleeds occur when the walls of blood vessels in the brain become weakened. When microbleeds occur in certain brain areas, they may indicate a type of small vessel disease known as cerebral amyloid angiopathy, in which the accumulation of amyloid (a protein often related to Alzheimer's disease) causes a break down of smooth muscle cells and increases the susceptibility of blood vessels to ruptures and hemorrhages. http://www.caregivershome.com/news/article.cfm?UID=2112
***********************
Holopainen A et al. - Nurse teachers, whose commitment to nurse teacherhood was weak, were especially unsatisfied with changes related to their teacherhood. Nurse teachers’ conceptions of their future as nurse teachers were significant in terms of the direction in which they were developing their own teacherhood. Some nurse teachers who were weakly committed to nurse teacherhood considered it unlikely that they would continue in the profession in the future.... http://www.mdlinx.com/NurseLinx/newsl-article.cfm/2695544/ZZ5603146585149290157159/?news_id=399&subspec_id=44
**************************
CHICAGO (Reuters 4/28) - Doctors need to stop taking handouts from drug and medical device companies if they want to clean up the perception that industry has too much influence over the practice of medicine, the Institute of Medicine said Tuesday....
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE53R7PU20090429?feedType=nl&feedName=ushealth1100
***********************
RANDOM FACT Your foot is the same size as the distance between your wrist and elbow. You can put your foot in that area and it will fit.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
HUMOR SECTION
If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their infamous sketch, 'Who's on First?' might have turned out something like this:
COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about buying a computer.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou.
ABBOTT: Your computer?
COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou.
ABBOTT: What about Windows?
COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?
ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?
COSTELLO: I don't know. What will I see when I look at the windows?
ABBOTT: Wallpaper.
COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.
ABBOTT: Software for Windows?
COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?
ABBOTT: I just did.
COSTELLO: You just did what?
ABBOTT: Recommend something.
COSTELLO: You recommended something?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: For my office?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!
ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.
COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just say I'm sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?
ABBOTT: Word.
COSTELLO: What word?
ABBOTT: Word in Office.
COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.
ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.
COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?
ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue 'W'.
COSTELLO: I'm going to click your blue 'w' if you don't start with some straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: That's right. What do you have?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?
ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.
COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?
ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.
COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?
ABBOTT: One copy.
COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money?
ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.
COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?
ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!
(A few days later)
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?
ABBOTT: Click on 'START'.............
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
CEU SITES---(CME and CNE)
Those that are-----Free and Otherwise.........IF you have a favorite CEU/CME site, please share !
Send your links to me: RNFrankie@AOL.com
Free CEs http://www.myfreece.com/welcome.asp
https://nursing.advanceweb.com/CE/TestCenter/Main.aspx
Can either pay $8 / course OR pay $26.99 for a year for all the CE courses you want to take
.
www.nurse.com Pay Only $34.99 for a full year of CONTACT HOURS .
^^^^^^^^
For a Healthy Environment, Nurses and Hospi… CE489
Pulseless Electrical Activity: Where is the… CE497
Critical Blood Loss Demands Fluid Resuscita… CE490
Aspiration: Preventing a Deadly Complicatio… CE491
http://www.nurse.com
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
WEBSITES/ LINKS
Always on the lookout for interesting websites / links. Please send them to: RNFrankie@AOL.com .
RNs launch a national safe staffing campaign http://www.1199seiu.org/media/magazine/sept_2007/safe_staffing.cfm
H.R. 2123, The Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2007
http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_2123.html
Board Supports Your Right to Refuse An Unsafe Assignment: Nurse Practice Act cites three conditions for patient abandonment http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4102/is_200408/ai_n9450263
Click here: Dismantling the Arguments of the Hospital Industry Against a Minimum Safe Standard of Care
These were sent in by BAcello (Barbara):
QIS Surveyor Training Manual
http://www.aging.state.ks.us/Manuals/QISManual.htm
Resident Functional Capacity Screen Manual
http://www.agingkansas.org/ProviderInfo/forms/RFCSManualJuly08.pdf
Resident Functional Capacity Screen Form
http://www.agingkansas.org/ProviderInfo/forms/ResidentFunctionalCapacityScreen.pdf
Restorative and peer-shared tools for ADLs
http://www.kfmc.org/providers/nh/tools/adl/index.html
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2
http://www.solutionsoutsidethebox.net /
This website (for registering the CELL PHONES) was sent in by Laregis@AOL.com (Laura) who sends in a prodigious amount of articles for the Newsletter. Thank you !
https://www.donotcall.gov /
This site has passed the Snopes.com test http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2
the National Nurse's new website: http://nationalnurse.org /
Any time you want to check a rumor ... this is the link:
http://www.snopes.com /
This is fun! See if you can place the state:
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/states_experiment_drag-drop_Intermed_State15s_500.html
Click here: The 411 on Swine Flu Lifescript.com
This webpage has the most comprehensive information about
Swine Flu that I have seen. (from MJSolon@AOL.com)
*******************************************************
********************************************
*
MEDICAL RECALLS
*
*******************************************
******************************************************
You are encouraged to report all serious adverse events and product quality problems to FDA MedWatch at www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm
Tarceva (erlotinib) OSI, Genentech and FDA notified healthcare professionals of the prescribing information for Tarceva. Gastrointestinal perforation (including fatalities), bullous, blistering and exfoliative skin conditions including cases suggestive of Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis, in some cases fatal, and ocular disorders, including corneal perforation or ulceration have been reported during use of Tarceva. The new safety information comes from routine pharmacovigilance activities of clinical study and postmarketing reports. Tarceva monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer after failure of at least one prior chemotherapy regimen. In combination with gemcitabine, Tarceva is also indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic pancreatic cancer. http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2009/safety09.htm#Tarceva
********************
Biosite brand Triage Cardiac Panel Biosite and FDA notified healthcare professionals of the Class 1 recall of the Biosite brand Triage Cardiac Panel, a test is used by health professionals as an aid in the diagnosis of a heart attack (myocardial infarction).The use of the affected lot may lead to false negative results with patient samples containing troponin I at very low levels, with CK-MB, and with myoglobin, possibly resulting in missed or incorrect diagnosis. A false negative test result would indicate that a person has not had a heart attack or heart muscle injury when in fact they have. Lot #W44467B, shipped as 25 individually pouched devices per kit box, was distributed from January 24, 2009 through February 17, 2009. On April 27, 2009, the company sent an urgent recall notice to customers who were instructed to immediately discontinue all use of, and to discard, all affected products. http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2009/safety09.htm#Panel
***************
Testosterone gel products (AndroGel 1% and Testim 1%) FDA notified healthcare professionals that it will require two prescription topical testosterone gel products, AndroGel 1% and Testim 1%, to include a boxed warning on the products’ labels after receiving reports of adverse effects in children who were inadvertently exposed to testosterone through contact with another person being treated with these products. Despite the currently labeled precautions, FDA has received reports of eight cases of secondary exposure to testosterone in children ranging in age from nine months to five years. Since that time, additional reports of secondary exposure have been received by the agency and are presently under review. Of the fully reviewed cases, adverse events reported in these children included inappropriate enlargement of the genitalia (penis or clitoris), premature development of pubic hair, advanced bone age, increased libido and aggressive behavior. The gels are approved for use in men who either no longer produce testosterone or produce it in very low amounts. Both products are applied once daily, to the shoulders or upper arms. FDA has provided recommendations and precautions to minimize the potential for secondary exposure. http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2009/safety09.htm#testosterone
**************
Raptiva (efalizumab) Genentech and FDA notified healthcare professionals of the voluntary, phased withdrawal of Raptiva, a medication for treatment of psoriasis, from the U.S. market due to a potential risk to patients of developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). By June 8, 2009, Raptiva will no longer be available in the United States. Prescribers are being asked not to initiate Raptiva treatment for any new patients. Prescribers should immediately begin discussing with patients currently using Raptiva how to transition to alternative therapies. The FDA strongly recommends that patients work with their health care professional to transition to alternative therapies for psoriasis. http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2009/safety09.htm#Raptiva
******************
ZOLL AED Plus Defibrillator ZOLL Medical Corporation and FDA notified healthcare professionals of a Class 1 recall of ZOLL AED Plus Defibrillators distributed from May, 2004 through February 9, 2009. The recall was initiated because the device may fail to deliver a defibrillation shock, which could result in failure to resuscitate a patient during treatment of sudden cardiac arrest. On February 12 and March 31, 2009, the company sent their distributors and customers recall letters with recommendations and instructions for customers on specific steps to mitigate the identified problems with this device. See the Zoll letter at link below for details. http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2009/safety09.htm#ZOLLAEDplus
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
NURSING HINTS CORNER
Learning about burns As a clinical instructor for a regional burn unit, I teach nurses how to debride blistered , burned skin. To do this, I give the nurses plastic sheets of packing bubbles. Then I show them how to puncture the bubbles and cut away that plastic, using the same instruments and techniques they will use to debride real skin. Lori Jorgens, RN, CCRN
Used with permission from 1,001 Nursing Tips & Timesavers, Third Edition, 1997, p. 34, Springhouse Corporation/www.springnetcom.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
ADVERTISEMENTS from the members
This ad is from Decubqueen (Gerry)..........Accu-RulerAccurate wound measurement designed by nurses, for nurses. Now carrying wound care and first-aid supplies at prices you can afford. By using the following code: Paradigm10 , you will get 10% off of their first order. ( I have ordered through Gerry...and it was a very satisfactory deal. Visit us at http://www.accu-ruler.com /.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
NEW MEMBERS
No new members this issue
**************************
CHICAGO (Reuters 4/28) - Doctors need to stop taking handouts from drug and medical device companies if they want to clean up the perception that industry has too much influence over the practice of medicine, the Institute of Medicine said Tuesday....
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE53R7PU20090429?feedType=nl&feedName=ushealth1100
***********************
RANDOM FACT Your foot is the same size as the distance between your wrist and elbow. You can put your foot in that area and it will fit.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
HUMOR SECTION
If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their infamous sketch, 'Who's on First?' might have turned out something like this:
COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about buying a computer.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou.
ABBOTT: Your computer?
COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou.
ABBOTT: What about Windows?
COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?
ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?
COSTELLO: I don't know. What will I see when I look at the windows?
ABBOTT: Wallpaper.
COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.
ABBOTT: Software for Windows?
COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?
ABBOTT: I just did.
COSTELLO: You just did what?
ABBOTT: Recommend something.
COSTELLO: You recommended something?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: For my office?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!
ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.
COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just say I'm sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?
ABBOTT: Word.
COSTELLO: What word?
ABBOTT: Word in Office.
COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.
ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.
COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?
ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue 'W'.
COSTELLO: I'm going to click your blue 'w' if you don't start with some straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: That's right. What do you have?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?
ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.
COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?
ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.
COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?
ABBOTT: One copy.
COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money?
ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.
COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?
ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!
(A few days later)
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?
ABBOTT: Click on 'START'.............
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
CEU SITES---(CME and CNE)
Those that are-----Free and Otherwise.........IF you have a favorite CEU/CME site, please share !
Send your links to me: RNFrankie@AOL.com
Free CEs http://www.myfreece.com/welcome.asp
https://nursing.advanceweb.com/CE/TestCenter/Main.aspx
Can either pay $8 / course OR pay $26.99 for a year for all the CE courses you want to take
.
www.nurse.com Pay Only $34.99 for a full year of CONTACT HOURS .
^^^^^^^^
For a Healthy Environment, Nurses and Hospi… CE489
Pulseless Electrical Activity: Where is the… CE497
Critical Blood Loss Demands Fluid Resuscita… CE490
Aspiration: Preventing a Deadly Complicatio… CE491
http://www.nurse.com
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
WEBSITES/ LINKS
Always on the lookout for interesting websites / links. Please send them to: RNFrankie@AOL.com .
RNs launch a national safe staffing campaign http://www.1199seiu.org/media/magazine/sept_2007/safe_staffing.cfm
H.R. 2123, The Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2007
http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_2123.html
Board Supports Your Right to Refuse An Unsafe Assignment: Nurse Practice Act cites three conditions for patient abandonment http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4102/is_200408/ai_n9450263
Click here: Dismantling the Arguments of the Hospital Industry Against a Minimum Safe Standard of Care
These were sent in by BAcello (Barbara):
QIS Surveyor Training Manual
http://www.aging.state.ks.us/Manuals/QISManual.htm
Resident Functional Capacity Screen Manual
http://www.agingkansas.org/ProviderInfo/forms/RFCSManualJuly08.pdf
Resident Functional Capacity Screen Form
http://www.agingkansas.org/ProviderInfo/forms/ResidentFunctionalCapacityScreen.pdf
Restorative and peer-shared tools for ADLs
http://www.kfmc.org/providers/nh/tools/adl/index.html
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2
http://www.solutionsoutsidethebox.net /
This website (for registering the CELL PHONES) was sent in by Laregis@AOL.com (Laura) who sends in a prodigious amount of articles for the Newsletter. Thank you !
https://www.donotcall.gov /
This site has passed the Snopes.com test http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2
the National Nurse's new website: http://nationalnurse.org /
Any time you want to check a rumor ... this is the link:
http://www.snopes.com /
This is fun! See if you can place the state:
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/states_experiment_drag-drop_Intermed_State15s_500.html
Click here: The 411 on Swine Flu Lifescript.com
This webpage has the most comprehensive information about
Swine Flu that I have seen. (from MJSolon@AOL.com)
*******************************************************
********************************************
*
MEDICAL RECALLS
*
*******************************************
******************************************************
You are encouraged to report all serious adverse events and product quality problems to FDA MedWatch at www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm
Tarceva (erlotinib) OSI, Genentech and FDA notified healthcare professionals of the prescribing information for Tarceva. Gastrointestinal perforation (including fatalities), bullous, blistering and exfoliative skin conditions including cases suggestive of Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis, in some cases fatal, and ocular disorders, including corneal perforation or ulceration have been reported during use of Tarceva. The new safety information comes from routine pharmacovigilance activities of clinical study and postmarketing reports. Tarceva monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer after failure of at least one prior chemotherapy regimen. In combination with gemcitabine, Tarceva is also indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic pancreatic cancer. http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2009/safety09.htm#Tarceva
********************
Biosite brand Triage Cardiac Panel Biosite and FDA notified healthcare professionals of the Class 1 recall of the Biosite brand Triage Cardiac Panel, a test is used by health professionals as an aid in the diagnosis of a heart attack (myocardial infarction).The use of the affected lot may lead to false negative results with patient samples containing troponin I at very low levels, with CK-MB, and with myoglobin, possibly resulting in missed or incorrect diagnosis. A false negative test result would indicate that a person has not had a heart attack or heart muscle injury when in fact they have. Lot #W44467B, shipped as 25 individually pouched devices per kit box, was distributed from January 24, 2009 through February 17, 2009. On April 27, 2009, the company sent an urgent recall notice to customers who were instructed to immediately discontinue all use of, and to discard, all affected products. http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2009/safety09.htm#Panel
***************
Testosterone gel products (AndroGel 1% and Testim 1%) FDA notified healthcare professionals that it will require two prescription topical testosterone gel products, AndroGel 1% and Testim 1%, to include a boxed warning on the products’ labels after receiving reports of adverse effects in children who were inadvertently exposed to testosterone through contact with another person being treated with these products. Despite the currently labeled precautions, FDA has received reports of eight cases of secondary exposure to testosterone in children ranging in age from nine months to five years. Since that time, additional reports of secondary exposure have been received by the agency and are presently under review. Of the fully reviewed cases, adverse events reported in these children included inappropriate enlargement of the genitalia (penis or clitoris), premature development of pubic hair, advanced bone age, increased libido and aggressive behavior. The gels are approved for use in men who either no longer produce testosterone or produce it in very low amounts. Both products are applied once daily, to the shoulders or upper arms. FDA has provided recommendations and precautions to minimize the potential for secondary exposure. http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2009/safety09.htm#testosterone
**************
Raptiva (efalizumab) Genentech and FDA notified healthcare professionals of the voluntary, phased withdrawal of Raptiva, a medication for treatment of psoriasis, from the U.S. market due to a potential risk to patients of developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). By June 8, 2009, Raptiva will no longer be available in the United States. Prescribers are being asked not to initiate Raptiva treatment for any new patients. Prescribers should immediately begin discussing with patients currently using Raptiva how to transition to alternative therapies. The FDA strongly recommends that patients work with their health care professional to transition to alternative therapies for psoriasis. http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2009/safety09.htm#Raptiva
******************
ZOLL AED Plus Defibrillator ZOLL Medical Corporation and FDA notified healthcare professionals of a Class 1 recall of ZOLL AED Plus Defibrillators distributed from May, 2004 through February 9, 2009. The recall was initiated because the device may fail to deliver a defibrillation shock, which could result in failure to resuscitate a patient during treatment of sudden cardiac arrest. On February 12 and March 31, 2009, the company sent their distributors and customers recall letters with recommendations and instructions for customers on specific steps to mitigate the identified problems with this device. See the Zoll letter at link below for details. http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2009/safety09.htm#ZOLLAEDplus
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
NURSING HINTS CORNER
Learning about burns As a clinical instructor for a regional burn unit, I teach nurses how to debride blistered , burned skin. To do this, I give the nurses plastic sheets of packing bubbles. Then I show them how to puncture the bubbles and cut away that plastic, using the same instruments and techniques they will use to debride real skin. Lori Jorgens, RN, CCRN
Used with permission from 1,001 Nursing Tips & Timesavers, Third Edition, 1997, p. 34, Springhouse Corporation/www.springnetcom.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
ADVERTISEMENTS from the members
This ad is from Decubqueen (Gerry)..........Accu-RulerAccurate wound measurement designed by nurses, for nurses. Now carrying wound care and first-aid supplies at prices you can afford. By using the following code: Paradigm10 , you will get 10% off of their first order. ( I have ordered through Gerry...and it was a very satisfactory deal. Visit us at http://www.accu-ruler.com /.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
NEW MEMBERS
No new members this issue
Please send the prospective members' screen names and first names to me: RNFrankie@AOL.com
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
NOTICE:
I attempt to send notices, etc. to your current email addresses on file and if the newsletters are rejected THREE consecutive times, I must then delete the email address until you contact me with an updated email address; I have no way to reach you without a correct email address....You could always send me your Home number.......lol So please send me your new name/address, ok? RNFrankie@AOL.com
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
EDITORIAL STAFF:
GingerMyst @AOL.com (Anne), GALLO RN @AOL.com (Sue), HSears9868 @AOL.com (Bonnie), Laregis @AOL.com (Laura), Mrwrn @AOL.com (Miriam), and Schulthe @AOL.com (Susan)
~~**~~** ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
PARADIGM 97 CO-FOUNDERS:
MarGerlach @AOL.com (Marlene) and RNFrankie @AOL.com (Frankie)
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
DISCLAIMER: The intent of this PARADIGM BYTES Newsletter is to provide communication and information for our members. Please research the hyperlinks and information provided by our members. The articles and web sites are not personally endorsed by the editors, nor do the articles necessarily reflect the staff's views.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance,
it is the illusion of knowledge.
Daniel Boorstin
Hope to hear from you or why not write me? ..... Frankie
RNFrankie@AOL.com
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
NOTICE:
I attempt to send notices, etc. to your current email addresses on file and if the newsletters are rejected THREE consecutive times, I must then delete the email address until you contact me with an updated email address; I have no way to reach you without a correct email address....You could always send me your Home number.......lol So please send me your new name/address, ok? RNFrankie@AOL.com
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
EDITORIAL STAFF:
GingerMyst @AOL.com (Anne), GALLO RN @AOL.com (Sue), HSears9868 @AOL.com (Bonnie), Laregis @AOL.com (Laura), Mrwrn @AOL.com (Miriam), and Schulthe @AOL.com (Susan)
~~**~~** ~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
PARADIGM 97 CO-FOUNDERS:
MarGerlach @AOL.com (Marlene) and RNFrankie @AOL.com (Frankie)
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
DISCLAIMER: The intent of this PARADIGM BYTES Newsletter is to provide communication and information for our members. Please research the hyperlinks and information provided by our members. The articles and web sites are not personally endorsed by the editors, nor do the articles necessarily reflect the staff's views.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance,
it is the illusion of knowledge.
Daniel Boorstin
Hope to hear from you or why not write me? ..... Frankie
RNFrankie@AOL.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)