Saturday, August 8, 2009


PARADIGM BYTES
Newsletter for Paradigm 97
August 8, 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/ Please copy, paste, and bookmark it.
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.

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SNIPPETS

Indwelling Catheter (Foley) Care There are many reasons for catheterizations-- some for long term and others for just the hospital stay. The patients for foleys could be: Quadriplegics, paraplegics, patients with serious illnesses, patients recovering from surgeries and those recovering from extensive illnesses with orders for complete bedrest.

Prostate surgery patients must have a foley. Usually the catheters are a 16-24 F with a 30 ml balloon. This is inserted by the surgeon so that clots may pass with the urine. Radical prostatectomy involves removal of the prostate, prostatic urethra, and the seminals. This is achieved by the separation of the prostate from the urethra. The catheter must be left in place for two weeks post-op so that the anastomosing of the membranous urethra to the bladder neck to complete the healing process.

Despite the great improvements in catheters, improvements which have reduced the damage to urethra and bladder neck mucosa, the risk of urethral erosion has not been eliminated. After a time, damage to the mucosa may cause a loss of the watertight seal. This leakage of urine around the catheter is called "catheter bypassing". "Catheter bypassing" is most often seen in women; men have a different problem.

Men, on the other hand, have the problem of suffering urethral erosion that can lead to a problem similar to hypospadiasis, in that the ventral portion of the penile shaft can open-- even to the scrotum.

The above problems must be addressed by providers and by nursing staff. If the provider/ NP doesn't order a securing of the catheter tubing, the nurse needs to bring it to their attention unless the nurses are blessed with standing orders to that effect. The securing of the device should be to the upper thigh just above the bifurcation. Some clinicians prefer their male patients to have the tubing secured to the abdomen.

This has become more important, now that Medicare is refusing to cover the cost for UTIs resulting from indwelling catheters.

Despite surveys of nursing personnel all of whom indicate a need for applying the securing device --as high as 98% of the nursing personnel--as part of the patient care, there often isn't a good follow through. Better nurse education to include the rationale for the device, improvement of hospital/ facilities policies, increasing the supply of the devices, and the establishment of a routine practice of using the securing device would be a very positive step towards avoiding the costly damage to the patient's urethra.

This article can be found in full at: http://www.nursingcenter.com/library/JournalArticle.asp?Article_ID=828291# Author: Mikel I. Gray, NP and professor in the Department of Urology at the University of Virginia.

If you want the CEUs 2.5 hrs go to the website. I wanted to offer the complete article........but they wanted $385 ..........so you have just a synopsis here.

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FROM THE MEMBERS

This is from JANNARN who really needs an answer from you all !!! Please respond to her:

1. My son (28) lost his job and health insurance. I'm beside myself w/ worry. So question is, in light of how expensive insurance is, and given the fact that he can't afford it on his dwindling unemployment which he needs to cover his existing bills, what's your opinion on obtaining catastrophic insurance for him...I think it's cheaper but don't know which company to trust.

2. I had a drug/chemical reaction/interaction and developed Lichen Planus. can last for months, even years. Biopsy of my skin revealed : "Lichenoid Dermatitis. Probable lichenoid drug reaction. They are not sure which med caused it but I have a list of possibilities. The ATB I was on isn't listed but my BP med was...been on it for 10 yrs so not sure what the heck caused this. Anyhoooo,
Ever have a patient w/ this ? Using topical steroids for the rash and itch but due to a hx of HTN ,my cardiologist is against using steroids po... But just wanted to know if you ever dealt w/ this...oh....it's also on the inside of my cheeks ! Cindy (Janna@AOL.com)
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MEDICAL NEWS
A Look at the Most Wired Hospitals and Health Systems
While keeping tabs on budgets, some hospital information technology experts are recognizing that wired solutions can help increase revenue or reduce the bottom line.
For their efforts, a few received a prestigious honor – a spot on this year's 100 Most Wired Hospitals and Health Systems list. The list is published by Hospitals & Health Networks, a monthly magazine of the American Hospital Association. It’s based on the 11th annual Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study... http://www.nursezone.com/nursing-news-events/more-news.aspx?articleid=31932
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Nurses File Cal-OSHA Complaint After Hospital Refuses to Supply Swine Flu Masks RNs from the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC) have filed an urgent plea with the state of California to step in and force Sutter Solano Hospital to provide nurses with proper safety equipment when they care for patients infected with the H1N1 “swine flu” virus. The nurses fear that the unsafe procedures at the hospital create a danger of infection for every patient at the facility, as well as for the surrounding community.... http://www.calnurses.org/media-center/press-releases/2009/july/nurses-file-cal-osha-complaint-after-hospital-refuses-to-supply-swine-flu-masks-for-units-with-infected-patients.html
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The nation’s hospitals cinched a deal made with the White House and key members of Congress to save $155 billion in an effort to help reform the U.S. healthcare system.
Read more soon at ModernHealthcare.com.
Comment on this story and read the Daily Dialogue Reader Blog.
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INTERESTING READING

Please remember that the REUTERS articles usually good for only 30 days
Is Walmart taking unacceptable risks sourcing its prescription drugs? Today we released a new report detailing how Walmart sources its much-touted $4 prescription medications from Ranbaxy, the disgraced Indian drug maker.
According to the Department of Justice, Walmart's supplier is responsible for introducing potentially "subpotent, superpotent, or adulterated" drugs into the market. Medications used by millions of Walmart shoppers could have contained active ingredients from unapproved sources, in unapproved blends, and in amounts weaker than FDA-approved doses.
Despite the company's shady dealings, Walmart saw fit to award Ranbaxy with its "prestigious" Outstanding Supplier Award. In fact, Walmart continues to source from the embattled Indian manufacturer even today.... WakeUpWalMart.com
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RANDOM FACT If you try to suppress a sneeze, you can rupture a blood vessel in your head or neck
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Do You Know How Much You're Eating? When’s the last time you were served a pancake the size of a CD (rather than the size of a Frisbee)? How about a scoop of low-fat frozen yogurt half the size of a tennis ball? Technically, those small portions are what a “serving size” is supposed to look like (yes, on this planet). Don’t worry -- nobody else knows what a portion looks like, either. In fact, when the American Institute for Cancer Research asked people what a serving size was for some common foods, almost no one estimated correctly. But you can, if you remember these rules: One bag, one carton, or one tub does not equal one serving. An average bag of tortilla chips contains 13 servings . . . and about 1,820 calories (not that you should be eating them, anyway). If you “have to eat the whole bag” of anything, repackage it into single-serve (ideally, 100-calories) bags. Try these 10 super satisfying 100-calorie snacks.Assume that everything you’re served is much more than a “serving.” (Except for vegetables, in which case, a decorative slice of tomato is not a serving). This is what a portion of some common foods should look like: • 3 ounces of meat or poultry = a deck of cards or a BlackBerry• 1 baked potato = your fist • 1 bagel portion = the size of a small can of tuna• 1 serving of vegetables = half a tennis ball

http://realage.typepad.com/youdocsdaily/2009/06/do-you-know-how-much-youre-eating-really.html
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RANDOM FACTS:
There are 54 countries in African continent .......can you name five?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_African_countries_by_population

AND
There are 14 countries in South America.......can you name three?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_South_American_countries_and_territories

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If you often feel ravenous by noon, despite a good breakfast, try drinking some of this with your morning meal: skim milk. In a small study of overweight people, those who drank about 20 ounces of skim milk with breakfast ate less at lunch than the folks who drank fruit juice in the a.m. An Appetite-Dousing Drink The milk drinkers also felt fuller and more satisfied after their morning meal. Most likely thanks to the whey and casein proteins that are in milk; they’re better at quelling hunger than the carbs in fruit drinks. Find out what the research says about milk and weight loss.... http://www.realage.com/ct/tips/9116
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Phthalate chemical in IV feeding tubes linked to preemie liver problems, German study suggests
Published: Monday, July 27, 2009 Canadian Press Lindsey Tanner, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CHICAGO - A chemical used in many plastic products and already under scrutiny for potential health risks is suspected of raising the risk of liver problems in premature babies, according to a new study.

The small study in a German hospital suggests a chemical known as a phthalate, used in some intravenous feeding bags and tubing, may raise preemies' chances for liver damage.... http://www.cbc.ca/cp/health/090727/x072702A.html
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This was submitted by SandySummers ( ssummers@truthaboutnursing.org ):
More than Half of Emergency Department Nurses Have Been Physically Assaulted at Work, New Study Finds Our nation’s emergency departments are places to receive treatment for injuries, but for thousands of nurses, emergency departments are the sources of injury. A new study by the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) finds that more than half of emergency nurses report experiencing physical violence on the job, including as being “spit on,” “hit,” “pushed or shoved,” “scratched,” and “kicked.” One in four has experienced such violence more than 20 times in the past three years. Just as alarming, one in five nurses have experienced verbal abuse more than 200 times during the same period.

“People who work in helping professions shouldn’t have to put their physical and emotional well-being on hold to do their jobs,” said ENA President Bill Briggs, RN, MSN, CEN, FAEN. “Emergency nurses provide crucial health care services. Their departments and their hospitals depend on them being able to deliver high quality care. They can’t do that if they’re in danger of being verbally or physically abused.” ... www.ena.org http://www.ena.org/news/releases/details.asp?id=167
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Not sure what the result of this meeting was...but here goes:
Joint Committee on Judiciary Holds July 14 Hearing On Bill to Increase Criminal Penalties for Assaulting Nurses Essex County DA Jonathan Blodgett and Worcester County DA Joseph Early to Testify in Support of the Measure, Along With RNs From Throughout the State Who Have Been Assaulted on the Job Nurses Are Assaulted as Much as Police Officers and Prison Guards Yet Oftentimes No Action Is Taken Against Perpetrators http://tinyurl.com/n66xgu
CANTON, Mass., July 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being issued by the Massachusetts Nurses Association: Joint Committee on Judiciary Holds July 14 Hearing On Bill to ...FOXBusiness - USAMichael Moore (D-Worcester) that will make it a crime, punishable by up to two years in prison, to assault a registered nurse while s/he is providing health ...http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/joint-committee-judiciary-holds-july--hearing-bill-increase-criminal-penalties/
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Can we get cultures on that? June 2009 -- A recent article in the Colorado Springs Gazette highlighted the continuing problem of physician abuse of nurses in some care settings. John Ensslin's June 26 piece was "Nurse sues Memorial, claims surgeon threw human tissue at her." The story reports that in mid-2008, Bryan Mahan, the chairman of cardiac and thoracic surgery at Memorial Hospital, allegedly threw and hit operating room nurse Sonja Morris with a 4-by-6-inch piece of bloody tissue (the pericardium), and committed other physical assaults on her...... http://www.truthaboutnursing.org/news/2009/jun/abuse.html
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Sniipped from a press release............. (Thanks to BAcello@AOL.com .. Barbara)
Winkler County Memorial Hospital nurses Anne Mitchell, RN and Vicki Galle, RN, were charged with violating the law by sending an anonymous letter to the Texas Medical Board that expressed concern about a physician at the hospital. After receiving a complaint of harassment from the physician, the Winkler County Sheriff's Department initiated an investigation that resulted in criminal charges against both nurses.Because the two nurses worked for a county hospital – and included medical record numbers of the patients in their reporting (no patient names were disclosed) – the County Attorney's office indicted them on misuse of official information – a third-degree felony that carries potential penalties of two-to-ten years' imprisonment and a maximum fine of $10,000. Mitchell and Galle, both long-time nurses at the hospital, were fired from their positions.... http://www.texasnurses.org/associations/8080/files/ANA_TNA-PR.pdf also see:http://www.texasnurses.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=509
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Think a healthy, natural sweetener with next to no calories is too good to be true? Read on. New research is suggesting that stevia -- a natural compound isolated from the leaves of the plant Stevia rebaudiana -- may fit the bill. It’s low in calories and about 30 times sweeter than sucrose, and it’s been used as a sweetener in Japan for decades. Coming to a Store Near YouAfter the FDA banned stevia from commercial food use in the early 1990s, you could only find it sold as a supplement. Until recently. Now, the FDA has cleared it for use as a sweetener in commercially prepared foods and beverages, with the caveat that excessive levels may be toxic. But because stevia is so sweet, you don’t need much.. .. http://www.realage.com/ct/eat-smart/food-and-nutrition/tip/9081
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FDA says mercury dental fillings not harmful WASHINGTON (Reuters 7/29) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Tuesday silver-colored dental fillings that contain mercury are safe for patients, reversing an earlier caution against their use in certain patients, including pregnant women and children.... http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE56R5I120090729?feedType=nl&feedName=ushealth1100
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RANDOM FACT Fortune cookies were actually invented in America, in 1918, by Charles Jung.
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Swine flu striking pregnant women hard: CDC study CHICAGO (Reuters 7/29 ) - Pregnant women infected with the new H1N1 swine flu have a much higher risk of severe illness and death, U.S. government researchers said on Wednesday, confirming a trend that has worried global health experts. http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE56S1GW20090729?feedType=nl&feedName=ushealth1100
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Handy Hint to Freshen Rooms
- A bowl of lemons adds a fresh scent to any room - and looks pretty in the process. Lemons can keep for up to two weeks at cool room temperature. (And you can always grab one for juice or zest for use in the kitchen.)
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OLIVE OIL........besides being great for cooking (Always buy: Extra Virgin 1st Cold Pressed Olive Oil in a dark-colored bottle), ....Here are other uses !

Ease snoring with a little olive oil before bed. A little olive oil before bed will moisturize and lubricate your throat muscles and help eliminate snoring. Sip olive oil before bed.
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Manage stretch marks. Massage olive oil into skin as your baby grows and never worry about stretch marks. Your skin grows as the baby does and nothing stretches. Probably also good for old stretch marks.
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How to lubricate your bike chain without the use of dirty, smelly oils... It is actually very simple, all you need is a bottle of olive oil (preferably with a pointed tip). Then you go where you keep your bike and position the bottle over the chain and spin the pedals backwards until the chain gone around approx. 2 to 3 times. If it does not seem very lubricated, spin the pedals backwards again until chain seems lubricated. So now instead of your bike smelling like greasy oil, it smells like olive oil! (olive oil also lasts a bit longer)

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Olive Oil with salt or sugar is a great exfoliant. Lightly rub hands with olive oil and then scrub with white sugar or course salt. Scrub away with warm water and your hands will be oh so soft.
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HANDY HINT: Olive oil can also provide a safe and natural lubricant for a close shave. As a soothing aftershave, rub in an extra teaspoon of the stuff after rinsing off. In fact, some products from The Art of Shaving are based on olive oil.
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BOSTON (Reuters 7/09/09) - Giving the "abortion pill" orally instead of vaginally and with antibiotics cut the risk of serious infection and death by 93 percent, researchers at Planned Parenthood reported on Wednesday The threat of infection is now down to 1 in 16,000 from one in 1,000, the researchers reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.... http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE5682VL20090709?feedType=nl&feedName=ushealth1100
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RANDOM FACT: A hippo can open its mouth wide enough to fit a 4 foot tall child inside.
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WHEN CAREGIVERS HARM Problem nurses stay on the job as patients suffer California's oversight board often takes years to mete out discipline for egregious misconduct, leaving the public unaware of the risk.... http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-nurse12-2009jul12,0,2185588.story
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WHY SHOULD YOU LIE DOWN? WHY KEEP ASA BESIDE YOUR BED?

There are other symptoms of a heart attack besides pain in the left arm. One must also be aware of an intense pain on the Jaw, as well as nausea and lots of sweating.....however these symptoms may also occur less frequently.

Note: There may be no pain in the chest during a heart attack. The majority of people (about 60%) who had a heart attack during their sleep did not wake up. However, if that type of pain occurs, the chest pain may wake you up from your deep sleep.

If that happens, IMMEDIATELY dissolve two aspirins in your mouth.and swallow them with a bit of water. Call 911-- DO NOT LIE DOWN Unlock the front door

Afterwards:

* phone a neighbor or a family member who lives by
* say "heart attack"
* say that you have taken the two aspirins
* take a seat on a chair or sofa near the front door, and wait for their arrival..Above all, do no lie down !

The rationale about not lying down is as follows:

Because lying down will INCREASE the intrathoracic pressure. Do not raise your arms over your head either because it increases your cardiac load with the blood from your arms via gravity. Remember, we sit UP cardiac patients when they are having an MI. Oxygen is another "good medicine", but most people don't keep it around the house.
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Common, safe blue food dye may treat broken spines WASHINGTON (Reuters 7/27) - A common and safe blue food dye might provide the best treatment available so far for spinal cord injuries, U.S. researchers reported on Monday....
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE56Q60U20090727?feedType=nl&feedName=ushealth1100
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Many prostate cancers grow too slowly to kill (Reuters 7/27) - A large 15-year study of men who had surgery for prostate cancer found only a small percentage died from cancer, adding to evidence that some men might be able to skip radical surgery to treat the often slow-growing tumors, U.S. researchers said on Monday....
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE56Q5OO20090727?feedType=nl&feedName=ushealth1100
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Formative Infant Feeding Experiences and Education of NICU Nurses Cricco-Lizza R et al. - Nurses' past experiences and education must be addressed if efforts are to be made to promote breastfeeding in the NICU. Breastfeeding education programs for nurses should include reflective components to help nurses identify structural barriers and reframe any negative personal experiences. http://www.mcnjournal.com/pt/re/mcn/abstract.00005721-200907000-00009.htm;jsessionid=K8LJ1CzK7XGYchB3nNM9c82nSLJPwkmMhpnD2XNWF4K2v9DHfLbf!1032775582!181195628!8091!-1
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New Pain Guidelines for Older Patients JAMA 7/1/09 Kuehn BM - Physicians treating patients aged 75 years or older for chronic pain should avoid using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The new recommendation reflects evidence about serious cardiovascular and gastrointestinal tract risks associated with this class of drugs that has emerged since 2002. These drugs also may complicate the treatment of common conditions in this population, such as hypertension and congestive heart failure. ... http://www.mdlinx.com/readArticle.cfm?art_id=2779520
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Study Finds Work Satisfaction Tied to Certification Support The Critical Care Nurses’ Work Environments 2008 study, a follow-up to initial research done in 2006, found nurses consistently rated their relationships with managers and the quality of care higher when their facilities supported certification and continuing education. However, facilities showed less support for these perks.... http://news.nurse.com/article/20090706/NATIONAL01/106290027/-1/frontpage
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Positive family history worsens depression: study HONG KONG (Reuters 7/7) - People with a family history of depression, anxiety and alcohol and drug dependence are not only likely to develop these conditions, but tend to suffer more seriously and need more treatment, a study has found.... http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE5662K020090707?feedType=nl&feedName=ushealth1100
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Kidney damage from medical imaging procedures can cause long-term health problems Kidney injury that can arise after undergoing certain medical imaging procedures increases a patient's risk of having a stroke or heart attack over the next year or two, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN). The findings indicate that seemingly minor and reversible kidney damage from these common clinical procedures is a serious health threat.
Medical imaging often uses contrast agents, substances such as iodine and barium that enhance the contrast of structures or fluids within the body. For example, contrast agents may be used during cardiac angiography and computed tomography procedures to visualize blood vessels and changes in tissues. Exposure to contrast agents can injure the kidneys, but patients are often told that this is only a temporary side effect. Recent research has suggested that such contrast-induced kidney damage may actually be more serious, although no thorough studies have looked into the hypothesis.... http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-06/ason-kdf061809.php
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RANDOM FACT If you are right handed, you will tend to chew your food on your right side. If you are left handed, you will tend to chew your food on your left side.
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The effect of changing position and early ambulation after cardiac catheterization on patients’ outcomes: A single-blind randomized controlled trial Rezaei-Adaryani M et al. - The results of study showed that the levels of comfort, satisfaction and fatigue after catheterization are related to the duration of bed rest and patients’ position in bed. Changing patients’ position accompanied by early ambulation after cardiac catheterization are associated with increasing comfort and satisfaction levels and decreasing the level of fatigue without increasing the amount of bleeding and hematoma.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T7T-4VVN4WC-1&_user=10&_coverDate=08%2F31%2F2009&_rdoc=4&_fmt=high&_orig=browse&_srch=doc-info(%23toc%235067%232009%23999539991%231251077%23FLA%23display%23Volume)&_cdi=5067&_sort=d&_docanchor=&_ct=18&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid= 10&md5=6254023c3f1a34b869dcab96f74a1e00

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HUMOR SECTION

Some of the most tactful people on Earth are English. One office supervisor called a secretary in to give her the bad news that she was being fired. He started the conversation with: "Miss Smythe, I really don't know how we're going to get along without you, but starting Monday, we're going to try."
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CEU SITES---(CME and CNE)
Those that are-----Free and Otherwise..........

Pay Only $34.99 for a full year of CONTACT HOURS http://www.nursingspectrum.com /

Free CEs http://www.myfreece.com/welcome.asp

https://nursing.advanceweb.com/CE/TestCenter/Main.aspx

This site was sent in by FNPMSN@aol.com (Cindy) http://cmepain.com/ !

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WEBSITES/ LINKS
Always on the lookout for interesting websites / links. Please send them to:RNFrankie@AOL.com.

http://www.nationalnurse3.blogspot.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
The Nursing Site
http://thenursingsite.com .

http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2
http://www.snopes.com

http://www.solutionsoutsidethebox.net/

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3
National Do Not Call Registry

www.annualcreditreport.com

If you're buying a used car, it is recommended having a mechanic inspect it first. And screen the car's VIN through the free database at carfax.com/flood

Master the Scholarship Game by Donna Cardillo, RN, MA
http://www.dcardillo.com/articles/scholargame.html

Free Stuff for the Mother-To-Behttp://www.babytobee.com/register.aspx?vid=286

Nurse Leaders Selected for Prestigious National Fellowship to Improve Health CareArticle from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future Renews Support for Faculty Leadership & Mentoring Program News release from the National League for Nursing.

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MEDICAL RECALLS
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Varenicline (marketed as Chantix) and Bupropion (marketed as Zyban, Wellbutrin, FDA notified healthcare professionals and patients that it has required the manufacturers of the smoking cessation aids varenicline (Chantix) and bupropion (Zyban and generics) to add new Boxed Warnings and develop patient Medication Guides highlighting the risk of serious neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients using these products.These symptoms include changes in behavior, hostility, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts and behavior, and attempted suicide.The added warnings are based on the continued review of postmarketing adverse event reports for varenicline and bupropion received by the FDA. ... www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedical Products/ucm170090.htm
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Lantus (insulin glargine) FDA notified healthcare professionals and patients that it is aware of four recently-published observational studies that looked at the use of Lantus (insulin glargine) and possible risk for cancer in patients with diabetes. Three of the four studies suggest an increased risk for cancer associated with use of Lantus. Based on the currently available data, the FDA recommends that patients should not stop taking their insulin therapy without consulting a physician, since uncontrolled blood sugar levels can have both immediate and long-term serious adverse effects. ... http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHuman MedicalProducts/ucm170089.htm
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Colchicine (marketed as Colcrys) FDA notified healthcare professionals of the approval of the first single-ingredient oral colchicine product, Colcrys, for the treatment of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and acute gout flares and of two previously uncharacterized safety concerns associated with the use of colchicine. Oral colchicine has been used for many years as an unapproved drug with no FDA-approved prescribing information, dosage recommendations, or drug interaction warnings...(much more) http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHuman MedicalProducts
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POWERSAIL Coronary Dilatation Catheters
Abbott and FDA notified healthcare professionals of the national Class 1 recall of three lots of POWERSAIL Coronary Dilatation Catheters from United States distribution and one lot from international distribution as a result of four complaints that the distal shaft of the catheter exhibited damage. The damage may cause a leak of contrast material during use, which could lead to catheter functional failures and clinical consequences, including air embolism and myocardial infarction, which has the potential to lead to death.... http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsfor HumanMedicalProducts/ucm174608.htm
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Steam Dietary Supplement Nutracoastal Trading LLC and FDA notified healthcare professionals and consumers of a nationwide recall of the company's dietary supplement product sold under the name Steam. Lab analysis by FDA found that the product contains sulfoaildenafil, an analog of sildenafil. Sildenafil is an active ingredient of an FDA-approved drug for erectile dysfunction (ED), making Steam an unapproved drug. The undeclared ingredient may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs such as nitroglycerin and may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels..... http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlerts forHumanMedicalProducts/ucm174339.htm
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Body Building Products (Marketed as Containing Steroids or Steroid-like Substances)
FDA notified both healthcare professionals and their patients about new safety information concerning products marketed for body building and increasing muscle mass, frequently marketed as alternatives to anabolic steroids for increasing muscle mass and strength and sold both online and in retail stores. These products are promoted to athletes to improve sports performance and to aid in recovery from training and sporting events. Although marketed as dietary supplements, they are not dietary supplements, but instead are unapproved new drugs that have not been reviewed by the FDA for safety and effectiveness ..... http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts /ucm173983.htm
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Nuby Gel Filled Teethers and certain Cottontails and Playschool Teethers: Nation wide Recall Luv N’ Care and FDA notified all consumers/parents and healthcare professionals of a nationwide recall of Nuby Gel Filled, Cottontails, and Playschool Teethers. The firm recalled the products after learning that samples of two lots collected by FDA were found to contain Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus circulans in the gel. These bacteria generally do not cause illness, but bacteria can affect children with weakened immune systems, causing stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, if the teether is punctured and the liquid from the teether is ingested. Product was distributed through retail outlets nationwide and has been found to be marketed on the internet. The products are packaged in a plastic bubble on a printed card and can be identified by the UPC Codes listed. Consumers who have Nuby Gel Filled Teethers and Cottontails and Playschool Teethers with any of the UPC Codes listed should immediately stop using them, discard them or return them to the place of purchase. http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts
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Young You Corporation and FDA notified healthcare professionals and consumers that four weight loss dietary supplements sold and marketed by the firm (Slimbionic, One Weight Loss Pill, SlimDemand Capsules, Botanical Weight Loss) contain an undeclared drug ingredient, Sibutramine, an FDA-approved drug used as an appetite suppressant for weight loss. The FDA has not approved the products as drugs; therefore the safety and effectiveness of this product is unknown. FDA advises that these products pose a threat to consumers because sibutramine is known to substantially increase blood pressure and/or pulse rate in some patients and may present a significant risk for patients with a history of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias or stroke. The products were sold and distributed nationwide via the internet and at the company’s Weight Loss and Rejuvenation Center in Tarzana, Ca.... http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts
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Teva Pharmaceuticals and FDA notified healthcare professionals of a recall of Propofol Injectable Emulsion 10 mg/mL 100 mL vials, lot numbers 31305429B and 31305430B. The product lots identified are being recalled due to the presence of elevated endotoxin levels in some vials within these lot numbers. Teva has been notified of 41 propofol-treated patients who experienced post-operative fever, chills and other flu-like symptoms. Adverse health effects, such as fever, chills, or rigors, are possible with exposure to product with elevated levels of endotoxins. Serious adverse effects, such as disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, acute respiratory distress syndrome, shock, and death, are possible with exposure to product with high endotoxin levels.... http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts
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FDA is evaluating interim safety findings from an ongoing study of Xolair (omalizumab) titled Evaluating the Clinical Effectiveness and Long-Term Safety in Patients with Moderate to Severe Asthma (EXCELS) that suggests a disproportionate increase in ischemic heart disease, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy and cardiac failure, pulmonary hypertension, cerebrovascular disorders, and embolic, thrombotic and thrombophlebitic events in patients treated with Xolair compared to the control group of patients not given the drug. Xolair is approved for use by adults and adolescents (12 years of age and above) with moderate to severe persistent asthma who test positive for reactivity to a perennial airborne allergen, and whose symptoms are inadequately controlled with inhaled corticosteroids. ... http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHuman MedicalProducts/ucm172406.htm
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Nature & Health Co., announced a voluntary nationwide recall of the company's supplement products sold under the following names: LibieXtreme, Y-4ever, Libimax X Liquid, Powermania Liquid and Capsule, Herbal Disiac. Lab analysis by FDA of these products found they contain either tadalafil, an active ingredient of an FDA-approved drug for erectile dysfunction (ED), its analog aminotadalafil, or the analog of sildenafil, an active ingredient of another FDA-approved ED drug, making these products unapproved drugs. The undeclared ingredients may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs such as nitroglycerin and may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels.... http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHuman MedicalProducts
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Brookstone Pharmaceuticals and FDA notified healthcare professionals and consumers of a nationwide voluntary recall of all lots of Concentrated Acetaminophen Drops (NDC#42192-504-16) in 16 ounce (473 ml) bulk containers. The recalled drops were manufactured by Pharmaceutical Associates, Inc. This 16oz container is comparable to the size generally used to package regular strength acetaminophen liquid preparations. This aspect of the product coupled with the absence of an integrated dosage delivery device is a contributing factor to possible dosing errors, especially inadvertent overdosing. Over dosage of acetaminophen may result in liver toxicity, kidney damage, and blood disorders. The firm is recalling its product to the consumer level as a cautionary measure to minimize any confusion and potential risk to patients from dosing errors. http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts
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Vital Pharmaceuticals Inc. and FDA notified healthcare professionals and consumers of a nationwide recall of the powdered dietary supplement, Stealth Chocolate and Stealth Vanilla, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. The product was distributed nationwide, including GNC Distribution Centers, VPX Sports Distribution Center, and internationally. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Consumers should return the product to the store where it was purchased. www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsfor HumanMedicalProducts/ucm171231.htm
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Stamina-Rx Dietary Supplement Products FDA and Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals notified patients and healthcare professionals of a nationwide recall of all products sold under the name Stamina-Rx. FDA lab analysis found that the product contained the undeclared ingredient − benzamidenafil − a drug in the same therapeutic class of active pharmaceutical ingredients that include the PDE5 inhibitors sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil, that are FDA-approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Benzamidenafil is not FDA-approved, and poses a threat to consumers because benzamidenafil may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs (such as nitroglycerin) and may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels. Consumers with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease often take nitrates and may be most susceptible to adverse effects from this product. Stamina-Rx is sold predominantly in health food and drug stores nationwide. Consumers who have this product in their possession should stop using it immediately. http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/
SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm168017.htm
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BiPAP Focus Non-Invasive Ventilator System, Respironics California, Inc. and FDA notified healthcare professionals of a Class I recall of the BiPAP Focus Non-Invasive Ventilator System, model number PCM120PS18-2315P. Power supply failures have occurred on some ventilators. This product was distributed from August, 2006 through April 11, 2008. Customers/distributors may contact Respironics U.S. Customer Service at 1-877-387-3377 or Respironics International Customer Service at 1-724-387-4000. www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHuman MedicalProducts/ucm171242.htm
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NURSING HINTS CORNER

Mucus trap for measurement Many of our critically ill infants have NG tubes. Because they are at risk for dehydration, they many need secretion replacement, but obtaining accurate secretion measurements from large suction containers can be difficult. I've solved this problem by placing a mucus trap in the system. Attach one end of the trap onto the NG tube and the other end onto the intermittent suction tube (you may need an adapter, depending on the equipment you use). This will help you with accurate fluid measurements. Nancy Mueller, RN, BSN
Used with permission from 1,001 Nursing Tips & Timesavers, Third Edition, 1997, p.75, Springhouse Corporation/www.springnetcom.
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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. Visit us at http://www.accu-ruler.com/.
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NEW MEMBERS
Please send the prospective members' screen names and first names to me: RNFrankie@AOL.com

WELCOME TO: debra.baker@sgmc.org (Debra) 8/5/09

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NOTICE:
I attempt to send newsletters 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
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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)

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PARADIGM 97 CO-FOUNDERS:
MarGerlach @AOL.com (Marlene) and RNFrankie @AOL.com (Frankie)
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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.
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
“Apprehension, uncertainty, waiting, expectation,
fear of surprise, do a patient more harm than any exertion.”
Florence Nightingale

Hope to see you online....or WRITE , why don't you?
Frankie
RNFrankie@AOL.com